The third and 20+ defensive formation

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Since last year, when the cowboys have had the opposition on 3rd and 20ish, they've used a formation where they only send 3 rushmen, and everyone else is lined up at the first down line, it forces the team to pass a screen, and that has 4 or 5 cowboys dbs converging, tackling and forcing a punt. It worked all last year, and it worked twice yesterday. Whenever they line up that way, I feel fully confident they'll make the stop (what options do the offence usually have to counter it?), which is a lot different from the year prior when the Eagles and Giants seemed to make 3rd and very long passes successful against us relatively often.

What do you guys think of this formation? With how successful it's been for us, is it surprising more teams don't use it (I mean beyond playing dime... I mean lining up how they do)

 

[EST_1986]

it worked so no complaints here, seems to shut everything down except underneath

 

[jday]

I was wondering the same thing. I've never seen it before until last year and yesterday. I am curious why more teams don't try something similar in those situations and if there is a way to make a defense pay for it.

My first thought is to fake something underneath as convincingly as possible and then hailmary to a guy who can beat single coverage like Dez.

 

[VACowboy]

It has worked, but I hate a 3-man rush.

 

[gimmesix]

Since last year, when the cowboys have had the opposition on 3rd and 20ish, they've used a formation where they only send 3 rushmen, and everyone else is lined up at the first down line, it forces the team to pass a screen, and that has 4 or 5 cowboys dbs converging, tackling and forcing a punt. It worked all last year, and it worked twice yesterday. Whenever they line up that way, I feel fully confident they'll make the stop (what options do the offence usually have to counter it?), which is a lot different from the year prior when the Eagles and Giants seemed to make 3rd and very long passes successful against us relatively often.

What do you guys think of this formation? With how successful it's been for us, is it surprising more teams don't use it (I mean beyond playing dime... I mean lining up how they do)

Not sure how you counter it. You have to throw short enough to not have the coverage come up and make a play on the ball and long enough to give your player some kind of shot at making the first down.

What might be best is to essentially run a screen. Get lots of blockers out in front of the receiver with the ball and try to carve a path for him. You could also do something similar by running a pattern with tight ends/wide receivers near enough to the defense that they could turn around and block after a short pass to a receiver. Either one of those would force the defenders on the far side of the field to have to come across and make the play.

 

[jazzcat22]

I think it worked every time last year and so far this year.
They may have come close a few times within 5 yards or even 2, but it has worked. We got a few games ending picks from it too.

Only thing I see that will get a first down would be some kind of penalty for defensive holding. But allowing the catch in front of them prevents that. So only a late hit would get a team a first down.

 

[AsthmaField]

I like the pass rush so much that I hate to see when they go to a 3 man DL.

However, it works and I fully understand why they do it, so no complaints here.

 

[xwalker]

Since last year, when the cowboys have had the opposition on 3rd and 20ish, they've used a formation where they only send 3 rushmen, and everyone else is lined up at the first down line, it forces the team to pass a screen, and that has 4 or 5 cowboys dbs converging, tackling and forcing a punt. It worked all last year, and it worked twice yesterday. Whenever they line up that way, I feel fully confident they'll make the stop (what options do the offence usually have to counter it?), which is a lot different from the year prior when the Eagles and Giants seemed to make 3rd and very long passes successful against us relatively often.

What do you guys think of this formation? With how successful it's been for us, is it surprising more teams don't use it (I mean beyond playing dime... I mean lining up how they do)

That is a prevent defense. It has been used since the seventies and maybe before that.

The old joke was the all a prevent defense prevented was a win; however, the Cowboys are making it work.

 

[jrumann59]

The only issue with a screen is the DL then can come make play from behind as the blocking in front starts making the path.

 

[jrumann59]

That is a prevent defense. It has been used since the seventies and maybe before that.

The old joke was the all a prevent defense prevented was a win; however, the Cowboys are making it work.

Yes if played on 1st and 10 but when its 3rd and 20+ it is pretty safe.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

That is a prevent defense. It has been used since the seventies and maybe before that.

The old joke was the all a prevent defense prevented was a win; however, the Cowboys are making it work.

Prevent defences are used more in game saving anti-hail Mary situations at end of the game, I haven't seen it used as a 3rd down defence all that often

 

[xwalker]

Prevent defences are used more in game saving anti-hail Mary situations at end of the game, I haven't seen it used as a 3rd down defence all that often

Wade and Rob Ryan both did it at times but it seemed to fail more often than not.

 

[Wolfpack]

You can run a pair of go routes and a pair of crossing posts that that will take the top off the defense and look for the deep throw. It can work if you get a speed mis-match or the safeties blow the crossing posts transfer. Your last guy can run a wheel route behind one of the go's to see if you can get a bad match up.

This takes a long time to develop so the game is, can you hold the ball that long which is hard.

 

[Venger]

HATE a three man rush. HATE HATE HATE. You give someone too much time back there and I don't care how many you have in coverage, you increase the chances the QB will beat you. Or get a defensive hold or something. I understand making them bite on an underneath route but a four man rush is so much better... don't give their QB time and a chance to beat you.

 

[DenCWBY]

HATE a three man rush. HATE HATE HATE. You give someone too much time back there and I don't care how many you have in coverage, you increase the chances the QB will beat you. Or get a defensive hold or something. I understand making them bite on an underneath route but a four man rush is so much better... don't give their QB time and a chance to beat you.

It's also easy to game plan against for good D coordinators who know it's coming in long situations. Don't like it either.

 

[erod]

They did this all last year, too, and I don't think a team has converted on it yet.

It basically forces the QB to throw the ball underneath, then you can just swarm him.

It's a Marinelli creation.

 

[jobberone]

Since last year, when the cowboys have had the opposition on 3rd and 20ish, they've used a formation where they only send 3 rushmen, and everyone else is lined up at the first down line, it forces the team to pass a screen, and that has 4 or 5 cowboys dbs converging, tackling and forcing a punt. It worked all last year, and it worked twice yesterday. Whenever they line up that way, I feel fully confident they'll make the stop (what options do the offence usually have to counter it?), which is a lot different from the year prior when the Eagles and Giants seemed to make 3rd and very long passes successful against us relatively often.

What do you guys think of this formation? With how successful it's been for us, is it surprising more teams don't use it (I mean beyond playing dime... I mean lining up how they do)

Stack three receivers and do a pick. Hope for an error or a missed tackle.

Take 3 defenders to one side of the field and dump a pass off to the other side.

Throw over it but in front of the safety. Good luck with that.

Send three fly patterns and hope to get a mistake or a defender falling down or biting too hard.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Since last year, when the cowboys have had the opposition on 3rd and 20ish, they've used a formation where they only send 3 rushmen, and everyone else is lined up at the first down line, it forces the team to pass a screen, and that has 4 or 5 cowboys dbs converging, tackling and forcing a punt. It worked all last year, and it worked twice yesterday. Whenever they line up that way, I feel fully confident they'll make the stop (what options do the offence usually have to counter it?), which is a lot different from the year prior when the Eagles and Giants seemed to make 3rd and very long passes successful against us relatively often.

What do you guys think of this formation? With how successful it's been for us, is it surprising more teams don't use it (I mean beyond playing dime... I mean lining up how they do)

It looks weird but it works. Better than the old days of giving up 22 on 3rd and 21.