Watching the pre season... Where would

[Longboysfan]

You attack the Cowboys Defense.

Me - I'm going to pound the ball between the tackles.
Pass outside under Ware and Ellis.


You attack the Cowboys Offense...
Sit 7 to 8 in the box.
Stop the run.
Hope you can cover well enough and rush the passer.

 

[lurkercowboy]

I think that both starting OLBs are weak in pass coverage. When we see opponents start to game plan, I think they will try to pick on Ellis in coverage.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Cowboys will use a zone extensively with the linebackers except when blitzing. If they send a extra wideout (3 WR set) expect the FS (Watkins?) to cover the third WR.

If I were to attack the Cowboys defense it would be with my tight ends and running backs. To attack their offense. Press the receivers and blitz!

 

[31smackdown]

I noticed a couple of times that Ware dropped really deep in the zone and was a good 10-15 yards off the LOS leaving the whole side open for an easy 7-8 yard dump off.

I wonder if this is to allow Henry to play over the top of his guy more...

 

[fortdick]

Cowboys will use a zone extensively with the linebackers except when blitzing. If they send a extra wideout (3 WR set) expect the FS (Watkins?) to cover the third WR.

If I were to attack the Cowboys defense it would be with my tight ends and running backs. To attack their offense. Press the receivers and blitz!

If they send out three WR's, we should be in the nickel. Phillie set that up last year and we stuffed them coming out in the nickel as a base. Not many teams are going to use three WR's on first down, except like the Iggles. Having you free safety cover the slot is asking for trouble.

I think our D will be attacked with the short underneath stuff and in the flats to keep Ellis and Ware honest. The only way you can get past our CB's is to throw quick slants, but Roy should make them pay for that.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'd try spreading them out like Parcells said and see how well they work out of the nickel. Definitely try to attack Watkins on patterns designed where he's supposed to help out and test him on his positioning in the plays. Probably go with some 2 TE sets. Dallas didn't do well against TE's last year as Davis/Pile were a liability and Roy may lack the height to consistently compete with taller TE's and none of our LB's are particularly good in pass coverage. I'd also try to attack the interior in the running game to test Ferguson and Ayodele. Perhaps a lot of 3 WR sets and running the ball from that formation which would get OT's run blocking on Ware and test our DT's.


YAKUZA

 

[bpfred]

A lot of how you would attack the Cowboy's defense depends on your offensive weapons and the matchups you like. In general, the Cowboys defense is big and physical--they try to bully you. The way to attack a bully is to make them run.

If I'm the Giants or Eagles I want to get Barber/Westbrook isolated in pass routes on Ellis/James/Ayodele or Watkins/Williams. Ellis, especially, won't have the quickness to handle them as receivers out of the backfield, and Watkins, being a long strider, won't be able to handle their cuts. With Ellis and Ayodele moving from DE to LB I want to isolate them in pass coverage as much as possible--it could be RB/WR/TE (anybody that can run and catch the ball).

If I'm the Giants or Commanders I want to isolate Shockey/Cooley on the linebackers or safeties. Particularly any of Ellis/James/Ayodele.

Note--I wouldn't be afraid of Ware either, but it wouldn't be the best matchup. I want to run at Ware more than pass on him if I've got the personnel.

A few quick thought for what it's worth.

 

[Crown Royal]

I'd put in my second string and just give up, knowing they are going to cause pain to my first stringers. :-D

 

[FLcowboy]

I'd wait to see the first game before making any judgements. None of us saw the defense play anything but a plain vanilla straight up defense, designed to test the regulars for their ability to fight through blocks, and to make coverage without any elaborate schemes.

None of us know how well Ellis made the transition to LB, although we should have some inclination due to Parcells' decision to name him as the wstarter from almost day 1 in the preseason.

We all saw Ware stuff Bush for no gain in the flat. That was some indication of his speed and ability to recover.

Me, I'm going to wait a couple of games before game planning the Cowboys. Too many unknowns.

 

[bobtheflob]

I'd get a big back and pound it up the middle. That was our biggest weakness last year and we don't know yet if that's been solved. It would also serve to wear down Ferguson and we all know the depth problems at NT.

If Davis is in, I would mix it up with some playactions to try to catch him out of position.

Against the Cowboys offense it would be tough for any team to match up well. I'd make sure to show lots of different looks and include plenty of blitzing down the middle. I'd double TO and have my other corner try to jam Glenn at the LOS so that I could hopefully get some pressure on Bledsoe before he has time to get a good pass off.