Stop the Run!

as long as you stock the DT position with undersized linemen, you are always vulnerable especially as the season wears on and these guys have taken a beating. And when your offense can't sustain drives it just accelerates the issue which was a factor in the bad losses last year.

Although they haven't invested in some immovable objects like i had hoped over the past years, They have at least got some guys who are a little bigger (Woods, Ross, Covington (bigger than listed, right?), Hill) on the roster now. So, if they can stay healthy and rotate effectively I don't think we'll get blown off the ball by most teams. Whether they can stop the top run games when it matters most, that is still to be determined.

All that being said, I am encouraged by the overall talent of the dline and hope they can take that next step. I am pretty optimistic about the free agents impact & if Collins is truly healthy, Woods wasn't a fluke, Ross can take a step forward & Hill can translate his potential, It could be significantly better than even last years unit.
 
stasheroo said:
While I feel very encouraged about the relatively strong finish and the player talent assembled on this team, as well as the change at offensive coordinator, one thing still has me concerned, the team's run defense.

For the most part, that area was strong and in most of their games, they stopped the run very effectively. But when they didn't? It essentially guaranteed a loss.

Take a look at the game-by-game results from 2018:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2018.htm

One of the best indicators of whether the game was a win or a loss can be seen in the rushing yards they gave up. With two exceptions - one a one point victory and the other an overtime loss - the line between a win and a loss was 100 yards rushing. Versus the Texans, the Cowboys did hold them to under 100 yards (88), but the game ultimately came down to a coaching decision. Versus the Giants, the Cowboys offense was able to rally for that 'miracle' pass and catch at the back of the endzone to capture that victory. The exceptions to the 'rule'.

But in all other cases, it was dictated by that 100-yard mark. If the Cowboys gave up less? They won. More than 100? and it was an 'L'.

And I don't think anyone can forget the two biggest defeats:

First to Indianapolis when it seemed like nobody even got off the bus, where they gave up 178 yards rushing. (bonus points if you can tell everyone exactly who it was that ran over them!)

And secondly, and most importantly, giving up 273 yards rushing in the playoff loss to the Rams, who claimed that they knew what the Cowboys would do "90% of the time".

Objective number one has to be to eliminate whatever tips and tells allowed the Rams to so thoroughly dominate your defensive line. If that isn't done, it won't matter what players they have on the field. Time for some self-scouting gentlemen! But objective two should be making sure that their run defense gets tightened up, and that it is made a higher priority for the 'Rushmen' on their way to all of these sacks that never seem to happen.

I am of the opinion that Marinelli had the defensive line stunting more than usual in an effort to improve the interior pressure that wasn't getting there otherwise. And I think that teams caught on to that change and ultimately made the Cowboys pay for it when it mattered most.

But for as much optimism as I have in many other areas, run defense remains among my biggest concerns. And the numbers show that when we can stop the run, we can win, and when we can't, we can't.
Click to expand...
It was marlon Mack of the colts,but I cheated and looked it :thumbup:.hopefully the cowboys coaching staff learned from the rams game. . I hate to beat a dead horse but again I also
Feel personnel played a role in the rams and colts game. Prior to the 2018 season,the cowboys coaching staff again refused to address defensive tackle . It was
Simple luck and Antwaun woods working his a** off
To make the roster. Thankfully ,the cowboys signed Christian Covington which should further help the cowboys run defense and finally give them a decent rotation at the one tech
 
Stopping the run makes the play caller go deeper in the playbook looking for more passing plays to call. The deeper they go into the passing playbook the more miscues they are going to have. Over throws, wrong routes, tipped balls, pressured passes, drops and ints. Not too many QB's in this league can win when having to throw the ball 45 times in a game. So our defensive ideology should be: Let's be tough enough upfront to shut down a power run team. That ideology left when Parcells left.
 
Fredbeard said:
It was marlon Mack of the colts,but I cheated and looked it :thumbup:.
Click to expand...

At least you can admit it!
:laugh:

hopefully the cowboys coaching staff learned from the rams game. .
Click to expand...

Any playoff success this season depends on it.

I hate to beat a dead horse but again I also
Feel personnel played a role in the rams and colts game. Prior to the 2018 season,the cowboys coaching staff again refused to address defensive tackle . It was
Simple luck and Antwaun woods working his a** off
To make the roster. Thankfully ,the cowboys signed Christian Covington which should further help the cowboys run defense and finally give them a decent rotation at the one tech
Click to expand...

They've made a conscious decision to go with smaller, lighter, quicker defensive tackles as part of Marinelli's 'Rushmen' philosophy, but the ultimate team sack numbers have never been high enough to justify that decision.
 
stasheroo said:
Actually that wasn't the case, the Rams were gashing the Cowboys both before and after Woods injury. They simply knew exactly what the Cowboys were doing.
Click to expand...

Oh rly? What quarter did he blow the shoulder out?
 
Last edited:
erod said:
We're excellent against average to poor running teams. Good running teams absolutely mash Dallas. Fortunately, there aren't very many of them because most of the NFL doesn't value running the football anymore.
Click to expand...
So over the last several years we have been terrible against all good running teams.....you may want to check the stats on that.
 
stasheroo said:
While I feel very encouraged about the relatively strong finish and the player talent assembled on this team, as well as the change at offensive coordinator, one thing still has me concerned, the team's run defense.

For the most part, that area was strong and in most of their games, they stopped the run very effectively. But when they didn't? It essentially guaranteed a loss.

Take a look at the game-by-game results from 2018:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2018.htm

One of the best indicators of whether the game was a win or a loss can be seen in the rushing yards they gave up. With two exceptions - one a one point victory and the other an overtime loss - the line between a win and a loss was 100 yards rushing. Versus the Texans, the Cowboys did hold them to under 100 yards (88), but the game ultimately came down to a coaching decision. Versus the Giants, the Cowboys offense was able to rally for that 'miracle' pass and catch at the back of the endzone to capture that victory. The exceptions to the 'rule'.

But in all other cases, it was dictated by that 100-yard mark. If the Cowboys gave up less? They won. More than 100? and it was an 'L'.

And I don't think anyone can forget the two biggest defeats:

First to Indianapolis when it seemed like nobody even got off the bus, where they gave up 178 yards rushing. (bonus points if you can tell everyone exactly who it was that ran over them!)

And secondly, and most importantly, giving up 273 yards rushing in the playoff loss to the Rams, who claimed that they knew what the Cowboys would do "90% of the time".

Objective number one has to be to eliminate whatever tips and tells allowed the Rams to so thoroughly dominate your defensive line. If that isn't done, it won't matter what players they have on the field. Time for some self-scouting gentlemen! But objective two should be making sure that their run defense gets tightened up, and that it is made a higher priority for the 'Rushmen' on their way to all of these sacks that never seem to happen.

I am of the opinion that Marinelli had the defensive line stunting more than usual in an effort to improve the interior pressure that wasn't getting there otherwise. And I think that teams caught on to that change and ultimately made the Cowboys pay for it when it mattered most.

But for as much optimism as I have in many other areas, run defense remains among my biggest concerns. And the numbers show that when we can stop the run, we can win, and when we can't, we can't.
Click to expand...
Marlin Perkins and he's 100 years old but a herd of wildebeast were on his butt.
 
Eanwen said:
That may be true in general but not in these specific cases, especially against the Rams. They primarily moved the ball by running and the Cowboys only forced one punt and zero turnovers.
Click to expand...

The Panthers RBs/WRs had 33 rushing yards at half

Washington RBs had 40 rushing yards at half

Titan's RBs had 26 rushing yards at half
 
stasheroo said:
While I feel very encouraged about the relatively strong finish and the player talent assembled on this team, as well as the change at offensive coordinator, one thing still has me concerned, the team's run defense.

For the most part, that area was strong and in most of their games, they stopped the run very effectively. But when they didn't? It essentially guaranteed a loss.

Take a look at the game-by-game results from 2018:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2018.htm

One of the best indicators of whether the game was a win or a loss can be seen in the rushing yards they gave up. With two exceptions - one a one point victory and the other an overtime loss - the line between a win and a loss was 100 yards rushing. Versus the Texans, the Cowboys did hold them to under 100 yards (88), but the game ultimately came down to a coaching decision. Versus the Giants, the Cowboys offense was able to rally for that 'miracle' pass and catch at the back of the endzone to capture that victory. The exceptions to the 'rule'.

But in all other cases, it was dictated by that 100-yard mark. If the Cowboys gave up less? They won. More than 100? and it was an 'L'.

And I don't think anyone can forget the two biggest defeats:

First to Indianapolis when it seemed like nobody even got off the bus, where they gave up 178 yards rushing. (bonus points if you can tell everyone exactly who it was that ran over them!)

And secondly, and most importantly, giving up 273 yards rushing in the playoff loss to the Rams, who claimed that they knew what the Cowboys would do "90% of the time".

Objective number one has to be to eliminate whatever tips and tells allowed the Rams to so thoroughly dominate your defensive line. If that isn't done, it won't matter what players they have on the field. Time for some self-scouting gentlemen! But objective two should be making sure that their run defense gets tightened up, and that it is made a higher priority for the 'Rushmen' on their way to all of these sacks that never seem to happen.

I am of the opinion that Marinelli had the defensive line stunting more than usual in an effort to improve the interior pressure that wasn't getting there otherwise. And I think that teams caught on to that change and ultimately made the Cowboys pay for it when it mattered most.

But for as much optimism as I have in many other areas, run defense remains among my biggest concerns. And the numbers show that when we can stop the run, we can win, and when we can't, we can't.
Click to expand...
I actually have a lot of hope for Daniel Wise, in this respect. His poor 40 time made him slide, but from everything I hear this kid can play.

Basically, to help stop the run up the middle, you need some of those low built guys. Around 6' and around 300lbs. If we got a guy or two like that who is good(emphasis on being good, not some stiff) our LB's would be even better than they already are.

I like your analysis about the stunts. Sounds correct.
 
stasheroo said:
While I feel very encouraged about the relatively strong finish and the player talent assembled on this team, as well as the change at offensive coordinator, one thing still has me concerned, the team's run defense.

For the most part, that area was strong and in most of their games, they stopped the run very effectively. But when they didn't? It essentially guaranteed a loss.

Take a look at the game-by-game results from 2018:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2018.htm

One of the best indicators of whether the game was a win or a loss can be seen in the rushing yards they gave up. With two exceptions - one a one point victory and the other an overtime loss - the line between a win and a loss was 100 yards rushing. Versus the Texans, the Cowboys did hold them to under 100 yards (88), but the game ultimately came down to a coaching decision. Versus the Giants, the Cowboys offense was able to rally for that 'miracle' pass and catch at the back of the endzone to capture that victory. The exceptions to the 'rule'.

But in all other cases, it was dictated by that 100-yard mark. If the Cowboys gave up less? They won. More than 100? and it was an 'L'.

And I don't think anyone can forget the two biggest defeats:

First to Indianapolis when it seemed like nobody even got off the bus, where they gave up 178 yards rushing. (bonus points if you can tell everyone exactly who it was that ran over them!)

And secondly, and most importantly, giving up 273 yards rushing in the playoff loss to the Rams, who claimed that they knew what the Cowboys would do "90% of the time".

Objective number one has to be to eliminate whatever tips and tells allowed the Rams to so thoroughly dominate your defensive line. If that isn't done, it won't matter what players they have on the field. Time for some self-scouting gentlemen! But objective two should be making sure that their run defense gets tightened up, and that it is made a higher priority for the 'Rushmen' on their way to all of these sacks that never seem to happen.

I am of the opinion that Marinelli had the defensive line stunting more than usual in an effort to improve the interior pressure that wasn't getting there otherwise. And I think that teams caught on to that change and ultimately made the Cowboys pay for it when it mattered most.

But for as much optimism as I have in many other areas, run defense remains among my biggest concerns. And the numbers show that when we can stop the run, we can win, and when we can't, we can't.
Click to expand...
It was Marlon Mack, I remember because I had him on one of my FF teams, but I benched him that game....lol. Mack has been a pretty good RB for them and had struggled in the couple weeks previous with bruised knee, iirc, and a concussion a couple games before ours, but was fully healthy coming into our game. The Colts have quietly put together a pretty good OL and got their stud center back for our game. There was a good breakdown by a former NFL coach on that game, just can't remember who. He had pointed out that the Colts OL changed their blocking for our game. They had been predominately a ZBS, but went to man blocking that game and that's what really seemed to confuse our DL and LBs Our players weren't getting the looks they expected or prepared for and they all seemed a step slow/out of position because of it.
 
stasheroo said:
They've made a conscious decision to go with smaller, lighter, quicker defensive tackles as part of Marinelli's 'Rushmen' philosophy, but the ultimate team sack numbers have never been high enough to justify that decision.
Click to expand...
I'm with you 100%.

Some people think the NFL has changed over the years. It hasn't. Run the ball, stop the run has always been championship football. If our offense can run the ball, we are balanced. If our defense can stop the run that makes our opponent is one dimensional. So that puts our balance offense against their one dimensional offense. Guess who has a better chance of winning?

So our defensive philosophy should be: create and maintain a big and physical front seven.

Run the ball. Stop the run.
 
ClappingCarrot said:
And not to mention we shut down the run game against Seattle in the playoffs.

I think the real issue in the Rams game was a lack of adjustment/coaching in the second half and the fact that half our defense needed surgery.
Click to expand...
After every loss Garrett says he needs to go look at the tape to know what went wrong. He didn't have time at halftime of the Rams game to study the tape and see what needed adjusting.
 
Reverend Conehead said:
The Rams appeared to have found the magic bullet to run all over our defense. It was so frustrating. They ran down our throats at will. I hope our coaches have been studying that film because our opponents certainly will. It's the blueprint for how to beat the Cowboys.
Click to expand...
And the Rams keyed on stopping Zeke from running the ball. Our opponents will notice that too. Hopefully Moore will open up the offense and not let teams just load the box to stop the run.
 
McKDaddy said:
as long as you stock the DT position with undersized linemen, you are always vulnerable especially as the season wears on and these guys have taken a beating. And when your offense can't sustain drives it just accelerates the issue which was a factor in the bad losses last year.

Although they haven't invested in some immovable objects like i had hoped over the past years, They have at least got some guys who are a little bigger (Woods, Ross, Covington (bigger than listed, right?), Hill) on the roster now. So, if they can stay healthy and rotate effectively I don't think we'll get blown off the ball by most teams. Whether they can stop the top run games when it matters most, that is still to be determined.

All that being said, I am encouraged by the overall talent of the dline and hope they can take that next step. I am pretty optimistic about the free agents impact & if Collins is truly healthy, Woods wasn't a fluke, Ross can take a step forward & Hill can translate his potential, It could be significantly better than even last years unit.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't have mattered if they have multiple All-Pro DTs against the Rams.

The Rams out schemed the Cowboys with their running game.
 
The Colts and Rams have two of the better offensive lines in the league. We were beat down by both and out-coached by the Rams. Woods and Crawford were abused badly. Our LB's were iced in those games, great game planning by the opposition.
 
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