What Defensive Coordinators Know About The Cowboys

[DandyDon1722]

From blogs and the NFL Network--

This is book D coordinators use on the Cowboys and it ain't rocket science.

Teams have blitzed Romo 148 times, the most in the NFL. Almost 50% of the time Romo goes to pass, teams comes after him. The next closest percentage? 38%....38% This statistical differential is staggering considering standard deviation rates of NFL stats.

Passing wise, the Cowboys are in the middle of the pack ranked 16th with 33 attempts per game compared to the Pats in the top slot with 40 attempts per game.

Rushing is in middle of the pack again at 17th with 26 attempts per game compared to the Jets at the top with 35 attempts per game.

So if the Cowboys have balance, why do they see a blitz almost every other time they pass?

Because teams know they can get away with it because we don't make them pay.

So far this season, we rank 17th in the league with a conversation rate of 39%. Now for most teams, this would be a good

BUT...Look at where the Cowboys have been for the past 4 seasons:

2008 43% 9th
2007 42% 10th
2006 49% 2nd
2005 40% 11th

In 2007, the Cowboys only had a blitz percentage of only 13% compared to almost 50% this year. Defenses don't give any QB, especially a young one, that kind of respect. It's earned. The Cowboys made defenses pay for bringing heat. They learned that if they bullied us with the blitz, they'd get their teeth kicked in...not so this year.

This can be attributed to several things, but its quite obvious "The Player" and Romo taking more sacks to protect the ball are just two.

One last thing.

Coordinators are willing to live with the big runs. The blitz factor also accounts for this. Once the back clears the line it's another 20 yards to the safety's who are usually deep in a blitz packages.

The day we start make teams pay for blitzing again...hell's comin' with us.

 

[CATCH17]

We do need to do more screens against the blitz but make no mistake... If you give Romo time he is going to tear you apart.

 

[tunahelper]

The blitzes are usually in the A gaps or two CB/S types off Romo's blind side. You think we could use screens to deter some of these schemes?

 

[sonnyboy]

From blogs and the NFL Network--

This is book D coordinators use on the Cowboys and it ain't rocket science.

Teams have blitzed Romo 148 times, the most in the NFL. Almost 50% of the time Romo goes to pass, teams comes after him. The next closest percentage? 38%....38% This statistical differential is staggering considering standard deviation rates of NFL stats.

Passing wise, the Cowboys are in the middle of the pack ranked 16th with 33 attempts per game compared to the Pats in the top slot with 40 attempts per game.

Rushing is in middle of the pack again at 17th with 26 attempts per game compared to the Jets at the top with 35 attempts per game.

So if the Cowboys have balance, why do they see a blitz almost every other time they pass?

Because teams know they can get away with it because we don't make them pay.

So far this season, we rank 17th in the league with a conversation rate of 39%. Now for most teams, this would be a good

BUT...Look at where the Cowboys have been for the past 4 seasons:

2008 43% 9th
2007 42% 10th
2006 49% 2nd
2005 40% 11th

In 2007, the Cowboys only had a blitz percentage of only 13% compared to almost 50% this year. Defenses don't give any QB, especially a young one, that kind of respect. It's earned. The Cowboys made defenses pay for bringing heat. They learned that if they bullied us with the blitz, they'd get their teeth kicked in...not so this year.

This can be attributed to several things, but its quite obvious "The Player" and Romo taking more sacks to protect the ball are just two.

One last thing.

Coordinators are willing to live with the big runs. The blitz factor also accounts for this. Once the back clears the line it's another 20 yards to the safety's who are usually deep in a blitz packages.

The day we start make teams pay for blitzing again...hell's comin' with us.

Interesting.

I believe more Felix Jones can cure our Blitz Ills.

Nothing more terrifying to a D-Coordinator than a back who can kill your blitz with a run.

Felix is a nightmare in the open field.

 

[DandyDon1722]

We do need to do more screens against the blitz but make no mistake... If you give Romo time he is going to tear you apart.

Good point, especially with Felix and the screen passes. I think this whole thing is more of an indictment of our line than anything else. We just don't handle different blitz packages well. Is it communication, talent, execution?

 

[Rampage]

The blitzes are usually in the A gaps or two CB/S types off Romo's blind side. You think we could use screens to deter some of these schemes?

yup, they go after Flo and Kosier

 

[WarDaddy]

Good point, especially with Felix and the screen passes. I think this whole thing is more of an indictment of our line than anything else. We just don't handle different blitz packages well. Is it communication, talent, execution?

Our blitz pickup took a dive once Parcells left. I dont think this staff makes it a priority...

 

[adbutcher]

Our blitz pickup took a dive once Parcells left. I dont think this staff makes it a priority...

It is sad that you believe that.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Our blitz pickup took a dive once Parcells left. I dont think this staff makes it a priority...

Specifically, the oofensive staff....specifically, the offensive coordinator. I'n sorry by Felix Jones has not been gone all season. Yes he has had injuries but so does every NFL player. At some point, Felix Jones, and even Barber, need to be receivers, and also part of consistent 2-back sets. If it's not a running play then Barber can be the blitz-pickup man and Jones can run to the flat. Or if it's a 1-back set and the defense is showing blitz, an automatic audible to the screen should be called. The problem is, Garrett instructs audibles to go to the intermediate middle passing game. By the time the play develops, the back has whiffed on the blitz pickup and Romo is on his back. Thanks Garrett!

 

[masomenos]

Well, I guess the blitz rate explains why we run the draw so often.

 

[CF74]

Specifically, the oofensive staff....specifically, the offensive coordinator. I'n sorry by Felix Jones has not been gone all season. Yes he has had injuries but so does every NFL player. At some point, Felix Jones, and even Barber, need to be receivers, and also part of consistent 2-back sets. If it's not a running play then Barber can be the blitz-pickup man and Jones can run to the flat. Or if it's a 1-back set and the defense is showing blitz, an automatic audible to the screen should be called. The problem is, Garrett instructs audibles to go to the intermediate middle passing game. By the time the play develops, the back has whiffed on the blitz pickup and Romo is on his back. Thanks Garrett!

A simple pitch to the right with Felix or Choice about 3 times a game can also cure the pressure from the left and the middle. I will say that I have seen a few passes to Felix in the flats get stuffed, they must be keying on him and our tells...

 

[joseephuss]

So far this season, we rank 17th in the league with a conversation rate of 39%. Now for most teams, this would be a good

Maybe if they spent less time talking and more time working they would do a better job on 3rd downs.

 

[casmith07]

8-3 and we don't make them pay?

 

[HoosierCowboy]

hey, we are 8-3 so we are doing something right--but Staubach looking right and pumping the ball to a back and them turning left and hitting Dorset on the screen would be nice

 

[joseephuss]

hey, we are 8-3 so we are doing something right--but Staubach looking right and pumping the ball to a back and them turning left and hitting Dorset on the screen would be nice

They ran a play like that against the Raiders. Romo looked to the left at Choice in the flat and then turned to his right and threw a screen to Witten I believe. It didn't really work. More screens would be nice, but then again this offense is not really that good at running them. They also don't have Dorsett who was great at knowing how to set up his blockers on a screen.

 

[Eskimo]

Why is blitzing effective?

1. Barber and Choice don't scare DCs.

2. The OL is horrible at picking them up and often let one man come completely clean while someone is being double-teamed or someone is blocking air

3. The WRs other than Miles cannot beat press coverage

4. We can't run screens

5. We rarely run pitch plays

What would I suggest?

1. Spend half of all practices working on blitz pickups. I would suggest the OL spend all their time on blitz pickups until this is mastered. Lots and lots of running should fix the mental mistakes - out to the fence they go on asthma field

2. Felix should be the main RB

3. Threaten defenses with pitch plays with Free, Davis or Kosier pulling and leading the play

4. Insert Ogletree who has the quickness to beat press coverage

5. Once blitz pickup is mastered, work on screens and then work on them some more

 

[joseephuss]

Why is blitzing effective?

1. Barber and Choice don't scare DCs.

2. The OL is horrible at picking them up and often let one man come completely clean while someone is being double-teamed or someone is blocking air

3. The WRs other than Miles cannot beat press coverage

4. We can't run screens

5. We rarely run pitch plays

What would I suggest?

1. Spend half of all practices working on blitz pickups. I would suggest the OL spend all their time on blitz pickups until this is mastered. Lots and lots of running should fix the mental mistakes - out to the fence they go on asthma field

2. Felix should be the main RB

3. Threaten defenses with pitch plays with Free, Davis or Kosier pulling and leading the play

4. Insert Ogletree who has the quickness to beat press coverage

5. Once blitz pickup is mastered, work on screens and then work on them some more

If Barber doesn't scare DCs, then why has Dallas had better success against the blitz in past years prior to Felix's arrival?

I don't think you have to scare DCs to be effective. Every play doesn't have to be a 50 yard TD play to keep a team from blitzing. Make the 5 yard to 10 yard conversions consistently when teams blitz and you will get them to back off.

 

[DandyDon1722]

If Barber doesn't scare DCs, then why has Dallas had better success against the blitz in past years prior to Felix's arrival?

I don't think you have to scare DCs to be effective. Every play doesn't have to be a 50 yard TD play to keep a team from blitzing. Make the 5 yard to 10 yard conversions consistently when teams blitz and you will get them to back off.



That is exactly right. A ten yard slant backs 'em off as much as a 60 yard post.

 

[sbark]

....maybe we've just gotten to the point were happy the wr's know the routes off the play called......not to worry about confusing them with hot patterns (als W.Welker) at this point....would just re-muddy the waters

 

[Idgit]

Good OP.

Many of the rest of you are just pulling stuff out of your orifices in this thread. What a bunch of unsupportable nonsense.