Those Runs up the Middle

[kskboys]

This is going to be unpopular, and this is in no way an endorsement of the DTs on the roster nor the team philosophy about addressing the position, but the issues with the run defense are less about defending the inside run, and more about properly setting the edge on off tackle runs.

The ends are more concerned with getting upfield and creating havoc on the pass rush, and frequently blow their contain/edge setting responsibilities. This happened time and time again on Sunday. Fowler, Armstrong and Lawrence all allowed chunk runs to their sides by abandoning their outside leverage and slanting hard inside. The other issue has been the defense running a big nickel constantly, and sacrificing a LB for playing Kearse/Wilson in that role. It helps with covering TEs, and has enhanced blitz opportunities against the pass, but they have a hard time holding up in the running game.

If the ends can play better with their eyes rather than blindly charging inside off the snap, the run defense will be much improved. To what extent that affects the pass rush would be the resulting question.

Nope. Run D starts w/ the DT's. If you are weak there, that makes you weak everywhere.

Check out the stats on the runs when Hankins was playing. It will surprise you.

 

[Captain43Crash]

Gallimore has no push on run plays. He just gets moved wherever the O line wants him to go. He gives you nothing on pass plays either. We might need to pick up another DT. I don’t see how the team can keep playing him.

Remember last year when Martin mentioned how solid he was. I thought he would take off from their, but it never happened.

I say pick up Suh before someone else does.

 

[nalam]

What happened to Gallimore? He was the only guy I had any hope of being a starting quality DT this year, and he showed up with nothing.

The guy shows up Tarzan like but plays like Jane ( no disrespect to Her LOL)

I thought he will help this year but was wrong.

 

[Doomsday]

How was Hankins?

 

[buybuydandavis]

They had three 1tech DTs active for the game and all 3 on the field at times.
Hankins
Watkins
Bohanna

Hankins is clearly better than Watkins.

Here's a shocker (to me at least): PFF has Watkins at 75.1.

Hankins and Watkins - maybe we've managed to get a significant upgrade to DT midseason?

We're starting to look like a contender. I thought the season was over after Game 1, but we're getting a lot quality play now.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I think Quinn was trying to go to a 3-4 look a lot of the time using Parsons and Tank as stand up OLBs but it didn't seem to really work against the Bears. That's the issue when dealing with a superior athlete at QB.. It makes you indecisive as a defender. In reality if the Cowboys had stayed assignment sound the OLBs should have crashed on the back every time they ran at them and the ILBs and/or safeties should have been there for the QB Fields. The issue was that our guys couldn't make up their minds and ended up getting nobody a lot of the time. We absolutely HAVE to figure this out by the time we see Philly again..

Bohanna. Hankins. The Vanilla Gorilla. They've been half-heartedly trying to get a NT for more 3 man fronts for a while now. They may have a legitimate one in Hankins. Osa is a nice size for a 3 man front DE. We've certainly got a lot of LB/DEs as rushmen.

 

[kskboys]

Here's a shocker (to me at least): PFF has Watkins at 75.1.

Hankins and Watkins - maybe we've managed to get a significant upgrade to DT midseason?

We're starting to look like a contender. I thought the season was over after Game 1, but we're getting a lot quality play now.

PFF does not have the means to grade NT's. Do they even get a plus grade when they push the middle of the pocket into the QB's lap?

 

[xwalker]

Here's a shocker (to me at least): PFF has Watkins at 75.1.

Hankins and Watkins - maybe we've managed to get a significant upgrade to DT midseason?

We're starting to look like a contender. I thought the season was over after Game 1, but we're getting a lot quality play now.

Adding 1 player to a rotation can make other players better. That's what I saw with Hankins.

It's not perfect. He did end up on the ground a few time when they wham blocked him (One OL engages him they on a delay block another slams into him from the side) but they generally couldn't push him backwards.

 

[kskboys]

Adding 1 player to a rotation can make other players better. That's what I saw with Hankins.

It's not perfect. He did end up on the ground a few time when they wham blocked him (One OL engages him they on a delay block another slams into him from the side) but they generally couldn't push him backwards.

Hankins is prolly the 10th or so best NT in the game. Watching him, it's easy to understand what a DJ Reader could bring to a D.

 

[FVSTONE]

I watched as closely as I could, and every time I saw Galley and Osa in there on those runs up the middle.

Is it really worth it to give up those middle runs just to play lanky guys at DT?

They were getting GASHED!!!!!!!!!!!! Every poster on this site could have put a 100 on them is we suited up for the Bears!

 

[RonnieT24]

PFF does not have the means to grade NT's. Do they even get a plus grade when they push the middle of the pocket into the QB's lap?

PFF doesn't have a means to grade any position.. because what they need is a list of every player's responsibility on every play.. which they have ZERO chance of getting. But they're a fun thing to kick around among fans I guess.

 

[buybuydandavis]

PFF does not have the means to grade NT's. Do they even get a plus grade when they push the middle of the pocket into the QB's lap?

PFF is one of the few metrics likely to give any credit for an NT collapsing the pocket. They can, and should, grade a collapsing of the pocket as a "win". Don't know if they do. Don't know if they even publish their "win" criteria.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Adding 1 player to a rotation can make other players better. That's what I saw with Hankins.

It's not perfect. He did end up on the ground a few time when they wham blocked him (One OL engages him they on a delay block another slams into him from the side) but they generally couldn't push him backwards.

Add someone at the top of the rotation, and you're bouncing the *worst* guy in the rotation off the field. And just adding without subtraction dives everyone more rest. Probably most important for DTs.

What say you on Watkin? I was surprised to see PFF rate him so highly. Between him and Hankins I'm very encouraged about what was our clear Achilles' heel.

 

[xwalker]

Add someone at the top of the rotation, and you're bouncing the *worst* guy in the rotation off the field. And just adding without subtraction dives everyone more rest. Probably most important for DTs.

What say you on Watkin? I was surprised to see PFF rate him so highly. Between him and Hankins I'm very encouraged about what was our clear Achilles' heel.

Last season they played Justin Hamilton for 9 games as the big DT. He played more snaps when active than Bohanna.

Watkins is not great but he is consistent.

Players like Hill and Hamilton flashed more big plays but were not consistent.

Quinn's approach to run defense is bend don't break. He values limiting big run plays more than he values an occasional tackle for loss.

Quinn wants the big plays to come from pass defense.

LB Clark could be a big improvement. Barr was often the culprit on many big runs. Barr just can't run anymore. In the Bears game on one outside run play Barr was the near side LB & LVE was the backside LB. Barr couldn't get there to cut off the runner. LVE made it all the way to the sideline (i.e. Ran several extra yards than Barr in the same time span).

 

[Captain-Crash]

I'll be honest, I was thinking you had the wrong idea about what lanky means too. Lanky usually describes someone with long arms and legs.

yep, it describes me at my weight now. 6' 6" and 240 right now after dropping some weight.