We should expect to see DEs at LBs a lot

[gimmesix]

This quote by Nolan seems to be pretty telling about how he views the linebacker position.

"We'll see when he gets in, but it would be my hope that he would add to the pass rush on the edge in some cases, maybe even strengthen our base defense as a linebacker potentially," defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. "But I think he's one of those guys that's got versatility. He's kind of like a DPR (designated pass rusher), SAM-type of a player. We have two or three other players who are similar in that role. But I have not had a conversation with him thus far."

It will be interesting to see if the front seven base defense is what some of us suspect it will be:

DL - Griffen, DT, DT, Lawrence
LB - J. Smith, LVE, A. Smith

Essentially, it's a 5-2 with A. Smith playing the SAM. I think this is one of the reason we weren't that worried about linebacker numbers. We're not going to play Joe Thomas, Luke Gifford or Justin March instead of either A. Smith, Griffen or Lawrence.

In nickel, we take out one of the DTs, insert Smith or Griffen inside. I think we're going to do everything possible to have Griffen, Lawrence and A. Smith on the field as much as possible.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Obviously, if offenses want to avoid the 5-3 looks they can run three receivers as their base and run out of it. They still have to deal with A. Smith, Griffen and Lawrence, but it would possibly force us to put more beef inside at least on the early downs.

 

[DogFace]

I’d like to see him move them around too. Have Lawrence and Griffen rush from the same side some.

I think he will. Vanilla is in the past.

 

[Cowboyny]

This quote by Nolan seems to be pretty telling about how he views the linebacker position.



It will be interesting to see if the front seven base defense is what some of us suspect it will be:

DL - Griffen, DT, DT, Lawrence
LB - J. Smith, LVE, A. Smith

Essentially, it's a 5-2 with A. Smith playing the SAM. I think this is one of the reason we weren't that worried about linebacker numbers. We're not going to play Joe Thomas, Luke Gifford or Justin March instead of either A. Smith, Griffen or Lawrence.

In nickel, we take out one of the DTs, insert Smith or Griffen inside. I think we're going to do everything possible to have Griffen, Lawrence and A. Smith on the field as much as possible.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Obviously, if offenses want to avoid the 5-3 looks they can run three receivers as their base and run out of it. They still have to deal with A. Smith, Griffen and Lawrence, but it would possibly force us to put more beef inside at least on the early downs.

This is what we were discussing over the summer, the SOLB in his system is more of a stand-up DE, then a traditional LB. Nolan's defense is about stopping the run with the front 7.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Agree... Nolan is going to use multiple fronts to get our best players on the field. Aldon would be a great candidate for the “Joker” role—- line him up anywhere there is a mismatch along the OL and watch him collapse the pocket.

If our front 7 plays to their potential, they should be a highly active and disruptive group.

 

[ItzKelz]

I just want to see what we look like. I've drank the kool-aide and based on everything that I have been reading I believe we will have a top defense with a top pass rush that will help create turnovers.

Now I just want to see it so I can talk trash with facts instead of theory.

 

[Jfconrow]

Sounds good until a DE gets hurt, then what? Back to a 43 and the LB depth issue

 

[jazzcat22]

Sounds good until a DE gets hurt, then what? Back to a 43 and the LB depth issue

So from this all you get is if a player gets hurt? That is part of the game. We will see how they deal with it IF that happens.

 

[jazzcat22]

Agree... Nolan is going to use multiple fronts to get our best players on the field. Aldon would be a great candidate for the “Joker” role—- line him up anywhere there is a mismatch along the OL and watch him collapse the pocket.

If our front 7 plays to their potential, they should be a highly active and disruptive group.

The Joker role is gone...oh, mean the football term...I was just thinking, the Joker is now in NY.

 

[Future]

They aren't going to be running much 5-2 because you can't get a 5th DB on the field when you do.

The whole LB/DE thing is being blown way out of proportion. All it's really going to mean is whether those guys are in a 2-point or 3-point, and how far outside they lineup. It's not like they're going to have Aldon Smith dropping into coverage for 30 snaps a game.

 

[gimmesix]

This is what we were discussing over the summer, the SOLB in his system is more of a stand-up DE, then a traditional LB. Nolan's defense is about stopping the run with the front 7.

Yeah. It's just nice to hear confirmation from the coach, which is the main reason I posted the quote when I saw it.

 

[gimmesix]

They aren't going to be running much 5-2 because you can't get a 5th DB on the field when you do.

The whole LB/DE thing is being blown way out of proportion. All it's really going to mean is whether those guys are in a 2-point or 3-point, and how far outside they lineup. It's not like they're going to have Aldon Smith dropping into coverage for 30 snaps a game.

No. We're talking about the base, not the nickel. As I said, it will depend on how many three- or four-receiver sets the opposition runs. When a fifth DB is on the field, we'll likely have Aldon Smith, Griffen and Lawrence all on the line as pass rushers.

 

[gimmesix]

I just want to see what we look like. I've drank the kool-aide and based on everything that I have been reading I believe we will have a top defense with a top pass rush that will help create turnovers.

Now I just want to see it so I can talk trash with facts instead of theory.

I don't disagree with that. It's exciting to think about the possibilities, but it means nothing until we see it.

 

[Future]

No. We're talking about the base, not the nickel. As I said, it will depend on how many three- or four-receiver sets the opposition runs. When a fifth DB is on the field, we'll likely have Aldon Smith, Griffen and Lawrence all on the line as pass rushers.

Nickel is base.

Teams are in "base" 3-4 or 4-3 on like 30% of plays. So the number of snaps where the distinction between OLB and DE matters is incredibly small. That's not to mention that a 5-2 is functionally the same as a 4-3 over, which the Cowboys have run a ton of anyway.

 

[Cowboyny]

Yeah. It's just nice to hear confirmation from the coach, which is the main reason I posted the quote when I saw it.

We get some things right, lol

 

[xwalker]

They aren't going to be running much 5-2 because you can't get a 5th DB on the field when you do.

The whole LB/DE thing is being blown way out of proportion. All it's really going to mean is whether those guys are in a 2-point or 3-point, and how far outside they lineup. It's not like they're going to have Aldon Smith dropping into coverage for 30 snaps a game.

This quote by Nolan seems to be pretty telling about how he views the linebacker position.



It will be interesting to see if the front seven base defense is what some of us suspect it will be:

DL - Griffen, DT, DT, Lawrence
LB - J. Smith, LVE, A. Smith

Essentially, it's a 5-2 with A. Smith playing the SAM. I think this is one of the reason we weren't that worried about linebacker numbers. We're not going to play Joe Thomas, Luke Gifford or Justin March instead of either A. Smith, Griffen or Lawrence.

In nickel, we take out one of the DTs, insert Smith or Griffen inside. I think we're going to do everything possible to have Griffen, Lawrence and A. Smith on the field as much as possible.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Obviously, if offenses want to avoid the 5-3 looks they can run three receivers as their base and run out of it. They still have to deal with A. Smith, Griffen and Lawrence, but it would possibly force us to put more beef inside at least on the early downs.

Hybrid: DL/LB when he is standing up. Just referenced as DL when he has his hand down.

Primary Defensive Alignments Used by Mike Nolan in the past
4 DL, 1 hybrid, 2 LB, 4 DB
3 DL tight, 2 hybrid, 2 LB, 4 DB (3-4 type DL alignment)
4 DL, 2 LB, 5 DB (Nickel)
3 DL wide, 1 hybrid, 2 LB, 5 DB

Notes on DL alignments:
3 DL tight alignment: A 3-4 type DL alignment (3 DL between outside shoulder of OTs)
3 DL wide alignment: A 4-3 DL but with 1 DT removed and replaced by a LB. (1 DL between outside shoulders of OTs)
4-3 DL (2 DL between outside shoulders of OTs)

 

[gimmesix]

Nickel is base.

Teams are in "base" 3-4 or 4-3 on like 30% of plays. So the number of snaps where the distinction between OLB and DE matters is incredibly small. That's not to mention that a 5-2 is functionally the same as a 4-3 over, which the Cowboys have run a ton of anyway.

I don't think Nolan's quote is referring to nickel as base. He's talking about base defense with a DPR at linebacker. Now, it could be three linemen, three linebackers (one a DPR) and five DBs or maybe four lineman, a linebacker and a DPR (which I doubt) as a nickel base, but since he's talking about a SAM linebacker, it's most likely a 4-3 with a DPR at linebacker, which is essentially a 5-2 since five linemen would actually be out there.

 

[xwalker]

This quote by Nolan seems to be pretty telling about how he views the linebacker position.



It will be interesting to see if the front seven base defense is what some of us suspect it will be:

DL - Griffen, DT, DT, Lawrence
LB - J. Smith, LVE, A. Smith

Essentially, it's a 5-2 with A. Smith playing the SAM. I think this is one of the reason we weren't that worried about linebacker numbers. We're not going to play Joe Thomas, Luke Gifford or Justin March instead of either A. Smith, Griffen or Lawrence.

In nickel, we take out one of the DTs, insert Smith or Griffen inside. I think we're going to do everything possible to have Griffen, Lawrence and A. Smith on the field as much as possible.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Obviously, if offenses want to avoid the 5-3 looks they can run three receivers as their base and run out of it. They still have to deal with A. Smith, Griffen and Lawrence, but it would possibly force us to put more beef inside at least on the early downs.

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/som...gnments-used-by-cowboys-dc-mike-nolan.462845/

 

[gimmesix]

Hybrid: DL/LB when he is standing up. Just referenced as DL when he has his hand down.

Primary Defensive Alignments Used by Mike Nolan in the past
4 DL, 1 hybrid, 2 LB, 4 DB
3 DL tight, 2 hybrid, 2 LB, 4 DB (3-4 type DL alignment)
4 DL, 2 LB, 5 DB (Nickel)
3 DL wide, 1 hybrid, 2 LB, 5 DB

Notes on DL alignments:
3 DL tight alignment: A 3-4 type DL alignment (3 DL between outside shoulder of OTs)
3 DL wide alignment: A 4-3 DL but with 1 DT removed and replaced by a LB. (1 DL between outside shoulders of OTs)
4-3 DL (2 DL between outside shoulders of OTs)

Yeah, I think there are some clear indications of his plans to use those here.

4 DL and a hybrid could be Griffen, Poe, Crawford/Hill, Lawrence and Aldon Smith (hybrid).

I expect that more than 3 DL tight and 2 hybrids because it's likely we'd want to play three bigger DL in that case, which would mean remove either Griffen, Lawrence or Aldon Smith. We might could play one of them on the DL in that case, but it doesn't seem ideal.

3 DL wide and 1 hybrid also looks like a good fit with the three ends.

 

[ChuckA1]

I'm excited. I've been waiting for a defense that could give the offense trouble on repetitive plays. Hopefully, this is the formula.

 

[mahoneybill]

As long as they aren’t playing the run while on the way to the QB and the DBs aren’t playing the I never look for the ball defense I will be happy