The Problem with Cowboys Defense and No Playoff Wins

[rwalters31]

This is not exactly accurate.

Zone vs Man is not necessarily about time to get to the QB. It's more about limiting big plays and protecting coverage players that are not good enough to play man.

The Cowboys both man and zone and very little Tampa-2. IIRC, the stats show that they played more man than zone the past 2 or 3 years.

They tend to play off-man more than press which is also designed to limit big plays. Playing press-man with a poor pass rush is a receipe for giving up big plays. Sometimes they will play press on the side where the FS is providing backup coverage and the other side will play off-man with no Safety help. There are many variations including a mix of zone and man.

A blitz generally means man coverage. You often hear announcers says the pass rush has to get home on the blitz because they can only play man for a short period of time.

The decision on what coverage to play involves everyone in the back 7. Even with elite CBs, there will be issues if the LBs can't cover.

A healthy Jaylon Smith would do a lot for the coverage abilities of the defense even if they keep the same DBs.

Not bad! The answer is to attack with a defense that can change or alter the offensive play. This is to generate turn overs and quick exist. The Cowboys are not good at this on defense. Against good to very good offenses the zone is to soft and play to far off the receivers. This will always make for a one and done playoff. A look back at the defenses that have gone to the playoffs have always been attacking and aggressive. In the playoffs who wins the turn over battle is winner. The old saying that if you don't have a great defense you got nothing is always true!!

 

[reddyuta]

The difference that I noticed the most is how much faster the front 7 for Atlanta is compared to ours...We are too slow on defense...

understatement of the season,we must be the slowest D in the league,one of the reasons why Rod is hesitant to blitz.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Do you guys think that our secondary is slow or just our front 7?

 

[DandyDon52]

We also don't have someone named Dan Quinn. He's the reason for that front 7 in Atlanta. He did the same at Seattle and you should've seen the defense he built in Florida with another Easley, Dominique. Sheriff Floyd etc

Exactly, Marinelli also has a say in the players we go for, and they are the wrong type players.

What we need are new coaches, who will then get the right players.

Seattle defense went downhill a little since Quinn left.

 

[DandyDon52]

The Problem with Cowboys Defense

This is a story of the Cowboys defense and why it fails in the Play Offs. The Zone defense was meant to operate with a pass rush that gets to the QB quickly. When the QB has more than 2.5 seconds, he can see the holes in the zone and find his receivers (Cowboys and Giants playoff games against Packers). When the pass rush cannot get to the QB quickly then the best option is to press the receivers until the QB has no or little option (second half of Cowboys/Packer Div game). The Falcons had a good pass rush so that Rogers had little time to find an open receiver and you could now see that the Packers where just an average offense when Rogers was contained. So, do you stay with a defensive line that can play with average offenses during the regulator season but has NO chance during playoffs against very good offenses?

The Falcons have the best solution that they got from the SeaHawks that is an attacking defense is the best defense. If you cannot get to the QB quickly then press the receivers. Attack all the time and don’t wait for the opposing offense to attack you.

The Cowboys seem to have a problem with DL generating a good pass rush. This would could be fixed with a very good DT upgrade to put the QBs in a hurry up mode. The other is to upgrade the secondary and LBs to teach the art of pressing receivers/running backs.

If you had a choice what would you do in the Off Season?

If you want a better or different defense you need a new DC first, Marinelli will keep doing same things and getting same type players.
Bend dont Break is what he does, and you saw how that worked in the GB game.

 

[Bullflop]

I like the potential at LB more than most other positions on defense. Wilson looks like he could move to MLB if Jaylon is not an option. Physically Nacho has a high upside. He was derailed by injury this season. Hitchens is good enough.

I agree that the potential is there but would really like to see something considerably more concrete than that. Hopefully, that area will be considered a major strength next year, come what may, whether that position is destined to be included in the draft or not.

 

[stilltheguru88]

They need more that good DTs. They need consistent edge rushers. Vic Beasley led the league in sacks. We don't have anyone like that. Beasley was wreaking havoc all game.

Like I said, get one of Poe/Williams/Short/Logan and draft Charles Harris at 28 and probably another edge guy in round 4 if the value is close to the BPA. That's why I cringe when I see people wanting Demarcus walker at 28. No speed or quickness whatsoever.

 

[StarBoyz83]

we haven't ignored those spots

Lawrence
Crawford
Gregory
#93
the bum we signed from carolina

True. Unfortunately it hasnt worked out. The bum was the best one on the list lol

 

[TwoDeep3]

The problem is the front end of the defense does not disrupt the opposing quarterback.

I have been saying this for a few years now. Work on both the offensive line and defensive line and this team gets better.

All the pseudo-scheming going on here ignores that coaches coach better when they have better players.

Get a pass rush that disrupts - and that is not necessarily sacks - and then watch the back end of this defense improve.

Marinelli can only do so much with the smoke and mirrors he creates when he doesn't have a defensive line.

Fix the line, fix the team.

 

[Parche]

The Colts safety Sanders came back from injury during their playoff run and helped carry the defense. I recall their D being really good during that run.

Yeah! Me too, thats why I searched the numbers, cause I recall the same.

 

[Parche]

The problem is the front end of the defense does not disrupt the opposing quarterback.

I have been saying this for a few years now. Work on both the offensive line and defensive line and this team gets better.

All the pseudo-scheming going on here ignores that coaches coach better when they have better players.

Get a pass rush that disrupts - and that is not necessarily sacks - and then watch the back end of this defense improve.

Marinelli can only do so much with the smoke and mirrors he creates when he doesn't have a defensive line.

Fix the line, fix the team.

I know Im not discovering anything saying this, but take the same D that we already have, but put it there a healthy and bit younger DeMarcus Ware, and lets say, Greg Ellis... and this would be a really nasty one.

 

[haleyrules]

The biggest problem for the Defense has been the FO fixation with Offensive talent first and a lack of Defensive talent evaluation. It seems the FO treats the Defense like the unwanted stepchild. That will change this offseason.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

The Cowboys seem to have a problem with DL generating a good pass rush. This would could be fixed with a very good DT upgrade to put the QBs in a hurry up mode. The other is to upgrade the secondary and LBs to teach the art of pressing receivers/running backs.

If you had a choice what would you do in the Off Season?

A good way to look at it is Dallas needs a disruptive impact player on the d-line; DE would be preferable but a havoc-wreaking DT would be just as good.

 

[rwalters31]

I know Im not discovering anything saying this, but take the same D that we already have, but put it there a healthy and bit younger DeMarcus Ware, and lets say, Greg Ellis... and this would be a really nasty one.

You are correct about players on the team that can be very productive. The problem is they are not put in a position to utilize their best talent. Position of best talent is what New England does with great success with other teams cast offs. We have some that are not very good at anything but are used at several positions. The entire secondary scheme wise is terrible. The zone/Tampa Two is to soft, the man coverage play to far off the receivers, and the press coverage needs to be a lot more physical and directional.

Conclusion: The Cowboys need to get better at their schemes and the players at the positions. Looking at other teams that are being successful in the playoffs are aggressive and attacking that cause the other team to make mistakes. This is the defensive team that we should be looking to field next season. We do want to play in another Super Bowl instead of playing one and done.

 

[rwalters31]

A good way to look at it is Dallas needs a disruptive impact player on the d-line; DE would be preferable but a havoc-wreaking DT would be just as good.

Building from the inside out is always the best approach. When you win at the line of scrimmage you win! Now if only the FO could learn this very basic concept!!

 

[ufcrules1]

The Problem with Cowboys Defense

This is a story of the Cowboys defense and why it fails in the Play Offs. The Zone defense was meant to operate with a pass rush that gets to the QB quickly. When the QB has more than 2.5 seconds, he can see the holes in the zone and find his receivers (Cowboys and Giants playoff games against Packers). When the pass rush cannot get to the QB quickly then the best option is to press the receivers until the QB has no or little option (second half of Cowboys/Packer Div game). The Falcons had a good pass rush so that Rogers had little time to find an open receiver and you could now see that the Packers where just an average offense when Rogers was contained. So, do you stay with a defensive line that can play with average offenses during the regulator season but has NO chance during playoffs against very good offenses?

The Falcons have the best solution that they got from the SeaHawks that is an attacking defense is the best defense. If you cannot get to the QB quickly then press the receivers. Attack all the time and don’t wait for the opposing offense to attack you.

The Cowboys seem to have a problem with DL generating a good pass rush. This would could be fixed with a very good DT upgrade to put the QBs in a hurry up mode. The other is to upgrade the secondary and LBs to teach the art of pressing receivers/running backs.

If you had a choice what would you do in the Off Season?

JPP

 

[Cmac]

Film don't lie......no team speed or ball hawks

 

[Sarge]

19.........those teams were won from the offense. Same thing with GB when they won. Giving up over 22 points a game is very bad and sorry but you aren't right

Agree. Having a good offense has no bearing on rating how bad your defense was. Bad is bad.

 

[Everson24]

I agree, we need more than one draft, hopefully Jaylon and Tapper pan out. If they do, we can get two drafts in one this year. The addition of one or two free agents would be great. Doesn't have to be "big time" free agents, just steady roll players. Although a couple a "big time" players would be great.

I think this is the year we bring in a JPP type free agent which would buy us some time to see if guys like Tapper and Lawrence pan out. I would hate to spend 3 draft picks at DE when we have other spots on this roster that need players and depth.

You only have so many draft picks, so it may be time to exercise a more agressive FA plan this off-season while we wait on some of our younger guys.

 

[Everson24]

2009 Saints had 31,8 ppg on offense... so, 21 was really good enough.. cant believe those numbers.

That Saints D led the NFL in turnovers that year. That is huge when you have a powerful offense like they did.