The Cowboys base defense

[nalam]

It appears to me CP runs a modified 3/4 defense, but I am open to the fact that I could be wrong.

I always believed the 3/4 works best with a large NT and 2 oversized DEs. We are running it with 3 DTs. This would explain to me the lack of pass rush push, but why is the run defense so bad?

I also remember the concern in TC over lining up Downs at a hybrid slot/ safety position as opposed to a more traditional safety position.

Barham has looked like the only LBer qualified to play his position.

Bland is either completely awful now or should be in the slot where Downs is playing.

I am looking for feedback on here to my above observations. Admittedly, there are better football minds on here than mine. So, any help explaining the above is appreciated.

Key point is immovable NT and two big DEs, we have DTs , none of them are NT type except Otto, Also primary responsibility of DEs is engage the OL and let OLBs flow to the QB but DT like QW is not having patience to be just engaging he wants to pass rush , that means run D gets 2nd priority.

 

[xwalker]

It appears to me CP runs a modified 3/4 defense, but I am open to the fact that I could be wrong.

I always believed the 3/4 works best with a large NT and 2 oversized DEs. We are running it with 3 DTs. This would explain to me the lack of pass rush push, but why is the run defense so bad?

I also remember the concern in TC over lining up Downs at a hybrid slot/ safety position as opposed to a more traditional safety position.

Barham has looked like the only LBer qualified to play his position.

Bland is either completely awful now or should be in the slot where Downs is playing.

I am looking for feedback on here to my above observations. Admittedly, there are better football minds on here than mine. So, any help explaining the above is appreciated.

They play 3-4 when they expect run and 4-2-5 Nickel when they expect pass.

Downs is playing Safety now because they have too many injuries at that position.

Reddy Steward is playing Nickel.

CB Ameer Speed played 62% of defensive snaps.

Bland has played the most snaps of anyone on defense...99%

They need Porter to play full time.

 

[atlantacowboy]

The best defensive coaches figure out who they got, what they do best, and then design a defense around them. CP doesn't seem to be fitting his defense with the defensive personnel on this roster. They aren't good at anything.

 

[Blast From The Past]

It appears to me CP runs a modified 3/4 defense, but I am open to the fact that I could be wrong.

I always believed the 3/4 works best with a large NT and 2 oversized DEs. We are running it with 3 DTs. This would explain to me the lack of pass rush push, but why is the run defense so bad?

I also remember the concern in TC over lining up Downs at a hybrid slot/ safety position as opposed to a more traditional safety position.

Barham has looked like the only LBer qualified to play his position.

Bland is either completely awful now or should be in the slot where Downs is playing.

I am looking for feedback on here to my above observations. Admittedly, there are better football minds on here than mine. So, any help explaining the above is appreciated.

Learning to actually wrap up and tackle would help as well as having a spy on a running qb that should be tackled frequently behind the los. Missed tackles are the vain of this defense. They are in the backfield ready to tackle and they miss. Mind boggling.

 

[xwalker]

I thought it was interesting how it was completely ignored in TC that Q just came from a team where he openly complained about playing in a 3-4. Yet somehow this time will be better? There were other obvious things like Overshown not lasting more than a week taking that type of damage. The whole 0 missed tackles in preseason game 1 fooled me and I thought they would catch on faster. But here is some statistical hope for everyone. This is the first half of NFL season vs second half of NFL season with teams that transform their defense like that. (4-3 to 3-4, or vice versa) There are some obvious growing pains for most teams in NFL history.

Defensive Metric	First Half of Season (Weeks 1–8)	Second Half of Season (Weeks 9–18)	Trend / Variance
Points Allowed Per Game	24.8 – 27.2 PPG	21.2 – 22.5 PPG	Immaterial to Moderate Improvement
Total Yards Allowed / Game	365 – 385 YPG	330 – 345 YPG	Noticeable Tightening (30–40 YPG reduction)
Rushing Yards Allowed / Carry	4.6 – 4.9 YPC	4.1 – 4.3 YPC	Significant Stabilization (gap control improves)
Sack Rate / Pressure %	Lower (Bottom third of NFL)	Higher (League average to Top 10)	Scheme chemistry unlocks edge rushers

When Bill Parcells said "Efff it" and converted our undersized fast defense to a 3-4, we didn't go through as many growing pains because we had an amazing draft with guys like Demarcus Ware, Marcus Spears, and Jay Ratliff becoming instant contributors. I don't think it's fair to hold anything against Caleb Downs yet. Dude is trying to learn the NFL, much less a unit full of guys trying to get chemistry in a new scheme.

The Rams hired Wade Phillips in Aaron Donald's 3rd season.

It actually lessened the punishment on the undersized Donald because he played 3-4 DE vs the run and saw far fewer double-teams, etc..

He still played 3-tech DT in the 4-2-5 Nickel.

 

[xwalker]

The 3-4 came about as a run stopping scheme.

3 big dudes occupying blockers with the 4 LBs filling gaps.

But the OLBs do still have some coverage responsibilities. At least one of them.

We dont have 3-4 outside LBs. We have 4-3 DEs pretending.

As Ive said before, we basically run a 5-2. And we tell all 5 upfront guys to play the run first, stay in your lanes and then get to the QB.

Play action and passes to the TEs have KILLED us. Because we have a tentative, read and react front.

CP needs to let Gary, EZE and Lawrence rip. I know these guys have more pass rush ability. Let them do it.

And CP does nothing to confuse a defense. No stunts, no games, very little to no blitzes, either run blitz or pass.

So CP doesnt try and manufacture pressure, but yet still has our secondary playing soft zones.

Bland is an outside Corner. His strength is man coverage. Porter is the same. I think Revel is the same. Let them do their thing.

Taking Fangios defense, drawing up a bunch of cool plays like in Madden, being chill with the players doesnt make a good, let alone, great DC.

Football is more chess than checkers. We are being outcoached. Plain and simple.

Is it really coaching/scheme?


Tampa Bay game:
2 rookie starters
2 rookies playing significant snaps
Practice Squad player at Nickel CB
Career ST player CB Ameer Speed 62% of defensive snaps.
A DL named Garcia playing some snaps.
A LB obtained for a 5th.
37 year old Von Miller.
Safety with a broken arm.

The offense and ST forced the defense to defend a short field multiple times:
Offense had 2 INTs.
Turnover on ST.

5th game of the season.
Brazil
@ Houston
Short Week vs Bucs

 

[kskboys]

It appears to me CP runs a modified 3/4 defense, but I am open to the fact that I could be wrong.

I always believed the 3/4 works best with a large NT and 2 oversized DEs. We are running it with 3 DTs. This would explain to me the lack of pass rush push, but why is the run defense so bad?

I also remember the concern in TC over lining up Downs at a hybrid slot/ safety position as opposed to a more traditional safety position.

Barham has looked like the only LBer qualified to play his position.

Bland is either completely awful now or should be in the slot where Downs is playing.

I am looking for feedback on here to my above observations. Admittedly, there are better football minds on here than mine. So, any help explaining the above is appreciated.

Most of the runs seem to me to be off tackle, which has very little to do w/ the DTs.