CFZ Things that the Cowboys should be working on in practice from today until when they travel

[RustyBourneHorse]

Well, it's Cowboys and Eagles week round 1. Let's not fool ourselves. Philly is a good team. However, every team has a weakness, and no team this year has been particularly super charged this year. This includes Philly. Therefore, here are some things that the Cowboys should be working on in practice from today until when they travel to Philly.

1. Containing Hurts - if you can contain Hurts, he's beatable. Don't let him break contain. Keep him in the pocket, and let our DLine do their jobs. Prepare for RPOs so that we can send a message that them trying to isolate Parsons won't work like it did last year. Once we establish that, then it'll be easier to keep Hurts in the pocket.
2. defending the Brotherly Shove - we all know when it's 4th and short, they're going to do it. So, figure out a way to stop it.
3. attack the Philly secondary - their secondary has been a weakness all year. Work on getting Lamb and Cooks the ball more, along with Ferguson. If we can do this, we can take advantage of their defence's weakness.
4. protecting Dak's blindsided - we can't be letting Dak get sacked as much as we did the first 3 or 4 plays against the Rams. Protect Dak if we don't want him getting hurt.
5. score touchdowns - this is the biggest thing. Philly scores a lot, so we need TDs.

If the Cowboys can work on these things, then we have a chance to win this game.

 

[Reality]

The real problem the Cowboys have with running quarterbacks (even some non-running ones) is they rush outside and the defensive tackle gets blocked to a side leaving a large throwing and/or running lane open right up the middle in front of the quarterback where he can easily see it and react.

The Cowboys need to regularly use a lot of underneath stunts, both early and delayed, to make Hurts think the holes are a trap, and not an opportunity.

You mention containing Hurts, and that's what it is .. containment .. but it doesn't have to be pocket containment .. they just need to keep bodies between him and the field behind the defense.

This would be a good game to have a spy mirroring him the whole game on defense.

 

[john van brocklin]

Well, it's Cowboys and Eagles week round 1. Let's not fool ourselves. Philly is a good team. However, every team has a weakness, and no team this year has been particularly super charged this year. This includes Philly. Therefore, here are some things that the Cowboys should be working on in practice from today until when they travel to Philly.

1. Containing Hurts - if you can contain Hurts, he's beatable. Don't let him break contain. Keep him in the pocket, and let our DLine do their jobs. Prepare for RPOs so that we can send a message that them trying to isolate Parsons won't work like it did last year. Once we establish that, then it'll be easier to keep Hurts in the pocket.
2. defending the Brotherly Shove - we all know when it's 4th and short, they're going to do it. So, figure out a way to stop it.
3. attack the Philly secondary - their secondary has been a weakness all year. Work on getting Lamb and Cooks the ball more, along with Ferguson. If we can do this, we can take advantage of their defence's weakness.
4. protecting Dak's blindsided - we can't be letting Dak get sacked as much as we did the first 3 or 4 plays against the Rams. Protect Dak if we don't want him getting hurt.
5. score touchdowns - this is the biggest thing. Philly scores a lot, so we need TDs.

If the Cowboys can work on these things, then we have a chance to win this game.

Nice write up, rusty

 

[Bagman]

The real problem the Cowboys have with running quarterbacks (even some non-running ones) is they rush outside and the defensive tackle gets blocked to a side leaving a large throwing and/or running lane open right up the middle in front of the quarterback where he can easily see it and react.

The Cowboys need to regularly use a lot of underneath stunts, both early and delayed, to make Hurts think the holes are a trap, and not an opportunity.

You mention containing Hurts, and that's what it is .. containment .. but it doesn't have to be pocket containment .. they just need to keep bodies between him and the field behind the defense.

This would be a good game to have a spy mirroring him the whole game on defense.

Excellent post. Too much outside pressure and none inside. QBs just step up and decide if they want a 30yd completion or a 15 yd run.I definitely would employ a "spy".

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Nice write up, rusty

Thank you, hopefully, we can do at least most of these in practice and take it to the game.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

The real problem the Cowboys have with running quarterbacks (even some non-running ones) is they rush outside and the defensive tackle gets blocked to a side leaving a large throwing and/or running lane open right up the middle in front of the quarterback where he can easily see it and react.

The Cowboys need to regularly use a lot of underneath stunts, both early and delayed, to make Hurts think the holes are a trap, and not an opportunity.

You mention containing Hurts, and that's what it is .. containment .. but it doesn't have to be pocket containment .. they just need to keep bodies between him and the field behind the defense.

This would be a good game to have a spy mirroring him the whole game on defense.

Exactly, if we can keep him in the pocket, he's liable to throw a pick. That's where the advantage for us is.

 

[baltcowboy]

Well, it's Cowboys and Eagles week round 1. Let's not fool ourselves. Philly is a good team. However, every team has a weakness, and no team this year has been particularly super charged this year. This includes Philly. Therefore, here are some things that the Cowboys should be working on in practice from today until when they travel to Philly.

1. Containing Hurts - if you can contain Hurts, he's beatable. Don't let him break contain. Keep him in the pocket, and let our DLine do their jobs. Prepare for RPOs so that we can send a message that them trying to isolate Parsons won't work like it did last year. Once we establish that, then it'll be easier to keep Hurts in the pocket.
2. defending the Brotherly Shove - we all know when it's 4th and short, they're going to do it. So, figure out a way to stop it.
3. attack the Philly secondary - their secondary has been a weakness all year. Work on getting Lamb and Cooks the ball more, along with Ferguson. If we can do this, we can take advantage of their defence's weakness.
4. protecting Dak's blindsided - we can't be letting Dak get sacked as much as we did the first 3 or 4 plays against the Rams. Protect Dak if we don't want him getting hurt.
5. score touchdowns - this is the biggest thing. Philly scores a lot, so we need TDs.

If the Cowboys can work on these things, then we have a chance to win this game.

What game of three games that Hurts played against the Cowboys scared you?

 

[Mark]

This would be a good game to have a spy mirroring him the whole game on defense.

Was thinking the same opening this thread. Bell, maybe?

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

What game of three games that Hurts played against the Cowboys scared you?

I know Dak's record against Philly is good, but it was our road game last year that I'm remembering with Rush.

 

[rambo2]

Well, it's Cowboys and Eagles week round 1. Let's not fool ourselves. Philly is a good team. However, every team has a weakness, and no team this year has been particularly super charged this year. This includes Philly. Therefore, here are some things that the Cowboys should be working on in practice from today until when they travel to Philly.

1. Containing Hurts - if you can contain Hurts, he's beatable. Don't let him break contain. Keep him in the pocket, and let our DLine do their jobs. Prepare for RPOs so that we can send a message that them trying to isolate Parsons won't work like it did last year. Once we establish that, then it'll be easier to keep Hurts in the pocket.
2. defending the Brotherly Shove - we all know when it's 4th and short, they're going to do it. So, figure out a way to stop it.
3. attack the Philly secondary - their secondary has been a weakness all year. Work on getting Lamb and Cooks the ball more, along with Ferguson. If we can do this, we can take advantage of their defence's weakness.
4. protecting Dak's blindsided - we can't be letting Dak get sacked as much as we did the first 3 or 4 plays against the Rams. Protect Dak if we don't want him getting hurt.
5. score touchdowns - this is the biggest thing. Philly scores a lot, so we need TDs.

If the Cowboys can work on these things, then we have a chance to win this game.

They certainly have a chance to win the game.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

They certainly have a chance to win the game.

I think so too. But I think stopping the Brotherly Shove should be one of the key focus points this week.

 

[Reality]

Was thinking the same opening this thread. Bell, maybe?

Bell would be good, but I worry that making him sit back would hurt the defense in other areas, especially against their normal running game.

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

I seem to recall an eagles game where Micah spied on hurts and it completely neutralized his scrambling ability. Would love to see that again.

 

[VaqueroTD]

The real problem the Cowboys have with running quarterbacks (even some non-running ones) is they rush outside and the defensive tackle gets blocked to a side leaving a large throwing and/or running lane open right up the middle in front of the quarterback where he can easily see it and react.

The Cowboys need to regularly use a lot of underneath stunts, both early and delayed, to make Hurts think the holes are a trap, and not an opportunity.

You mention containing Hurts, and that's what it is .. containment .. but it doesn't have to be pocket containment .. they just need to keep bodies between him and the field behind the defense.

This would be a good game to have a spy mirroring him the whole game on defense.

 

[Creeper]

The way to defend the Brotherly Shove is to not get in 3rd and 4th and short situations. If the Eagles run that play then make sure your LBs launch over the top to hit Hurts as hard as possible.

But this game will be won in the trenches. pressuring Hurts and keeping Dak clean is the key to victory.

 

[fivetwos]

I think they win this one.

I just hope they somehow figure out how to build on that instead of listening to Jerry uttering the phrase “Super Bowl” every five seconds, and not being fully focused on what comes first.

Things like that are a massive obstacle to overcome in Dallas, and probably goes a long way toward explaining why they can’t win, or even get close, all while having plenty of talented players.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

There's really no way to defend the brotherly shove. At least not consistently.

Want to stop it? Keep them behind the chains.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Isn't this all true for every team?

You don't practice defending the Brotherly Shove. Put 2 bodies in the A gap and hope for the best. Do anything ridiculuous, and you expose yourself to big plays on a fake.

 

[Roland]

I think so too. But I think stopping the Brotherly Shove should be one of the key focus points this week.

I think you have a better shot at keeping them OUT of 3rd/4th and 1 than you do actually stopping that push play. It has shown that it is almost impossible to stop and now they are running plays off of it. We have to stop the run and the short quick passes to the outside. If they can get 4 yrs per rush and quick slants or outs, we will not be able to get of the field. This game could snowball out of control very fast if we come out with a couple of 3 and outs.

What I really hope for is we come out sharp and fast. Scoring on our first drive is critical imo. Come out laser focused and ready to play our divisional rival. Show some urgency. Make this a statement game. Beat our NFC leading rival, in their backyard.

 

[starfan1]

Nothing they get hurt in practice!!