CFZ Why Defensive Coordinators stopped blitzing us last year

[Bobhaze]

The QB cant beat good teams when contained to the pocket. Not news and has been the formula for 6 years.

Not true. Did you read the numbers in the OP?

 

[conner01]

The answer to the question is simple
The blitz didn’t work
The same reason most top QB’s don’t get blitzed much
They beat you when you blitz
Same reason they don’t blitz Mahomes, Rodgers, Brady

 

[817Gill]

This falls on lack of a consistent running game. Not to mention being able to get pressure with just the front four.

Bingo

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Very interesting stats, and I think it all goes back to Kellen Moore. No change to the playcalling or gameplan to adjust to what the defenses are doing. The fact the offensive line, running game, and Dak had consistency issues late didn't help either, so I wonder what 2022 has in store.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

4 receivers vs 7 or 8 defenders has nothing to do with “accuracy”.

Actually means the windows are tighter and the QB has to be able to read the defenses better. Arm strength and Accuracy is important to beat these defenses.

 

[gimmesix]

It may or may not surprise many Cowboys fans to learn that Dak Prescott is actually one of the most effective QBs against the blitz.

Per Sports Info Solutions, in the 2021 regular season, against the blitz, Dak was 103 of 165 passes for 1,171 yards, 23 touchdowns, with four picks, and a passer rating of 113.2 against the blitz. To put that touchdown total in perspective, Aaron Rodgers was second last year with scoring passes against the blitz — with 15. (Here’s a link to an article written before the WC game last Jan) https://sports.yahoo.com/tried-warn-49ers-don-t-231431436.html

In fact, in 2021, (other than Tampa Bay) the teams that blitzed us the most ended up losing to us. Blitzing the Cowboys offense was not usually an effective defensive strategy because our offense usually made them pay.

However, as we saw in the Denver game and many games thereafter, DCs began to realize that rushing 3-4 players and dropping everyone else into coverage was the way to slow the Cowboys offense.

In the six games we lost last year including the playoff game to SF, defensive teams blitzed less and dared us to run or throw short dink and dunk passes to move the ball. For the most part it was an effective strategy. Let’s look at the games we lost and what % our opponents blitzed: (credit to Bob Sturm for the stats)

• Tampa Bay- L 31-29- they actually blitzed 50% of the offensive plays we ran and we lost. But we racked up a ton of yards and arguably should have won the game if the damn kicker didn’t miss XP and a chip shot FG.
• Denver- L- 30-15- they only blitzed 14% of our snaps. Denver was one of the first teams to recognize that blitzing us was a mistake. They usually rushed 4 and dropped 7 into coverage. Our second worst offensive game of the year.
• Kansas City- L- 19-9- they only blitzed 25% of our snaps. Using mostly the same approach as Denver, they frustrated us all day using mostly a 4 man rush.
  
• Las Vegas- L- 36-33- Amazingly, the raiders only blitzed us 4% of the time. We racked up yards but had loads of mistakes and our defense stunk it up. But again, the low blitz numbers resulted in a L.
• Arizona- L- 25-22- the cards did blitz 35% of the time and was able to frustrate our offense completely until the 4th qtr.
• SF WC game- L- 23-16- the niners only blitzed 18% of the time. Their front 4 were able to put pressure on Dak and also stop the run.

The teams that blitzed us a lot- Carolina, Minnesota, WFT and the Eagles- all got beat consistently. We beat them all. Bottom line- we have made blitzes pay. Now the offense must find a way to make the cover 2 no blitz D pay.

What I thought was interesting is what four players teams would rush. Instead of blitzing, they would do things like send four players off one side and drop linemen back into zone. Lots of unconventional pass rushes. Overloads were the name of the game, so they could get pressure while still playing coverage to make Dak uncomfortable about where to go with the ball. We're going to have to show we can beat that in order to get teams to stop doing it.

The good news is that there were plays available that show we can, and Prescott just missed on them after he had his in-season injury. Hopefully, with a full offseason and full health, he'll be able to make teams pay if they use that strategy. Of course, some adjustments to the offensive game plan will go a long way toward helping as well.

 

[gimmesix]

Accuracy isn’t why they couldn’t beat this defense

Actually, it is a big part of it. We missed on some plays that would have made teams have to abandon their defensive plan. We complain about Moore not adjusting, and that was an issue, but plays were there to be made and we didn't make them.

One of the ones that sticks in my mind was a fourth-down throw that Prescott practically threw in the ground when it should have been an easy pitch and catch with Wilson. That was a momentum killer. I think it was in one of the first games where Dak was coming off his in-season injury and he just wasn't the same, so I'm not blaming him. He should hit those throws this season, but his misses last season after the injury played a huge role in the offense's struggles.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

It may or may not surprise many Cowboys fans to learn that Dak Prescott is actually one of the most effective QBs against the blitz.

Per Sports Info Solutions, in the 2021 regular season, against the blitz, Dak was 103 of 165 passes for 1,171 yards, 23 touchdowns, with four picks, and a passer rating of 113.2 against the blitz. To put that touchdown total in perspective, Aaron Rodgers was second last year with scoring passes against the blitz — with 15. (Here’s a link to an article written before the WC game last Jan) https://sports.yahoo.com/tried-warn-49ers-don-t-231431436.html

In fact, in 2021, (other than Tampa Bay) the teams that blitzed us the most ended up losing to us. Blitzing the Cowboys offense was not usually an effective defensive strategy because our offense usually made them pay.

However, as we saw in the Denver game and many games thereafter, DCs began to realize that rushing 3-4 players and dropping everyone else into coverage was the way to slow the Cowboys offense.

In the six games we lost last year including the playoff game to SF, defensive teams blitzed less and dared us to run or throw short dink and dunk passes to move the ball. For the most part it was an effective strategy. Let’s look at the games we lost and what % our opponents blitzed: (credit to Bob Sturm for the stats)

• Tampa Bay- L 31-29- they actually blitzed 50% of the offensive plays we ran and we lost. But we racked up a ton of yards and arguably should have won the game if the damn kicker didn’t miss XP and a chip shot FG.
• Denver- L- 30-15- they only blitzed 14% of our snaps. Denver was one of the first teams to recognize that blitzing us was a mistake. They usually rushed 4 and dropped 7 into coverage. Our second worst offensive game of the year.
• Kansas City- L- 19-9- they only blitzed 25% of our snaps. Using mostly the same approach as Denver, they frustrated us all day using mostly a 4 man rush.
  
• Las Vegas- L- 36-33- Amazingly, the raiders only blitzed us 4% of the time. We racked up yards but had loads of mistakes and our defense stunk it up. But again, the low blitz numbers resulted in a L.
• Arizona- L- 25-22- the cards did blitz 35% of the time and was able to frustrate our offense completely until the 4th qtr.
• SF WC game- L- 23-16- the niners only blitzed 18% of the time. Their front 4 were able to put pressure on Dak and also stop the run.

The teams that blitzed us a lot- Carolina, Minnesota, WFT and the Eagles- all got beat consistently. We beat them all. Bottom line- we have made blitzes pay. Now the offense must find a way to make the cover 2 no blitz D pay.

The reason they stopped blitzing was they found out they can stop the run and rush the passer with 3 or 4 players. Flood the passing lanes with 6 or 7 and take away passing lanes. With 6 or 7 you can put coverage in front and on top of the recievers and force them to drink and dunk only. They took away the big play ability. We should have been able to run the ball against that type of front but we couldn't. We had to make them pay but we didn't.

 

[Risen Star]

They stopped blitzing us because they realized our fraud QB can't handle a cover 2.

40 million a year and he's confused by the most basic of NFL defenses.

 

[eromeopolk]

It may or may not surprise many Cowboys fans to learn that Dak Prescott is actually one of the most effective QBs against the blitz.

Per Sports Info Solutions, in the 2021 regular season, against the blitz, Dak was 103 of 165 passes for 1,171 yards, 23 touchdowns, with four picks, and a passer rating of 113.2 against the blitz. To put that touchdown total in perspective, Aaron Rodgers was second last year with scoring passes against the blitz — with 15. (Here’s a link to an article written before the WC game last Jan) https://sports.yahoo.com/tried-warn-49ers-don-t-231431436.html

In fact, in 2021, (other than Tampa Bay) the teams that blitzed us the most ended up losing to us. Blitzing the Cowboys offense was not usually an effective defensive strategy because our offense usually made them pay.

However, as we saw in the Denver game and many games thereafter, DCs began to realize that rushing 3-4 players and dropping everyone else into coverage was the way to slow the Cowboys offense.

In the six games we lost last year including the playoff game to SF, defensive teams blitzed less and dared us to run or throw short dink and dunk passes to move the ball. For the most part it was an effective strategy. Let’s look at the games we lost and what % our opponents blitzed: (credit to Bob Sturm for the stats)

• Tampa Bay- L 31-29- they actually blitzed 50% of the offensive plays we ran and we lost. But we racked up a ton of yards and arguably should have won the game if the damn kicker didn’t miss XP and a chip shot FG.
• Denver- L- 30-15- they only blitzed 14% of our snaps. Denver was one of the first teams to recognize that blitzing us was a mistake. They usually rushed 4 and dropped 7 into coverage. Our second worst offensive game of the year.
• Kansas City- L- 19-9- they only blitzed 25% of our snaps. Using mostly the same approach as Denver, they frustrated us all day using mostly a 4 man rush.
  
• Las Vegas- L- 36-33- Amazingly, the raiders only blitzed us 4% of the time. We racked up yards but had loads of mistakes and our defense stunk it up. But again, the low blitz numbers resulted in a L.
• Arizona- L- 25-22- the cards did blitz 35% of the time and was able to frustrate our offense completely until the 4th qtr.
• SF WC game- L- 23-16- the niners only blitzed 18% of the time. Their front 4 were able to put pressure on Dak and also stop the run.

The teams that blitzed us a lot- Carolina, Minnesota, WFT and the Eagles- all got beat consistently. We beat them all. Bottom line- we have made blitzes pay. Now the offense must find a way to make the cover 2 no blitz D pay.

As I said last year. Dak Prescott was not checking down to the Running back early enough in his progression. This is because he was coached or brain washed to get the ball to Lamb. When teams don't blitz choosing coverage, it is to take away WR deep routes or longer clearing routes to the WR (Lamb routes). Look at the cushion DBs would give Cooper and Dak would not look his way. Pollard and Zeke would literally be uncovered with a defenders 10 yards away and Dak would just hold the ball until the defense figured out the only place he could go was to a check down, but then it is too late.

Example, look at the receptions of Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston during the Super Bowl runs. Emmitt average +50 rec. and Moose average +40 rec. That is nearly 100 catches by your RB and FB. Compare to Pollard and Zeke or just Zeke (one back offense).

That is why Dak looks dumb standing in a pocket over 3 seconds and ends up sacked, or getting nothing when he goes too late to the RB check down. Aikman would make the RB check down look like a no.1 target designed route. He did that to get the LBs out of deep coverage drops. Once they dropped down it was over with Irvin, Harper, Martin, Williams, and Novacek. Also, why would you not want to get the best run after catch player the football. That is why the position is called RB.

 

[Ken]

We need to run the ball against these pass orientated defenses

Ding ding ding...we have a winner!

Here i thought it was all Dak's fault. lol

See the Chiefs who had the same problem with an "all world" qb but also lack a running game.

 

[Ken]

The answer to the question is simple
The blitz didn’t work
The same reason most top QB’s don’t get blitzed much
They beat you when you blitz
Same reason they don’t blitz Mahomes, Rodgers, Brady

WAIT!

Are you suggesting Dak is a top QB? *GASP* lol

 

[john van brocklin]

Ding ding ding...we have a winner!

Here i thought it was all Dak's fault. lol

See the Chiefs who had the same problem with an "all world" qb but also lack a running game.

Hope our OL can be above average we need them in both the run and pass game.

 

[TexasBoys2288]

4 receivers vs 7 or 8 defenders has nothing to do with “accuracy”.

Most NFL QBs given the time that a 3 or 4 man rush provides will find an open receiver. A good QB scrambles around, spots the opportunity, and puts the ball on the money no matter how many defenders there are. Just admit that Dak is not that accurate downfield.

 

[JBond]

It may or may not surprise many Cowboys fans to learn that Dak Prescott is actually one of the most effective QBs against the blitz.

Per Sports Info Solutions, in the 2021 regular season, against the blitz, Dak was 103 of 165 passes for 1,171 yards, 23 touchdowns, with four picks, and a passer rating of 113.2 against the blitz. To put that touchdown total in perspective, Aaron Rodgers was second last year with scoring passes against the blitz — with 15. (Here’s a link to an article written before the WC game last Jan) https://sports.yahoo.com/tried-warn-49ers-don-t-231431436.html

In fact, in 2021, (other than Tampa Bay) the teams that blitzed us the most ended up losing to us. Blitzing the Cowboys offense was not usually an effective defensive strategy because our offense usually made them pay.

However, as we saw in the Denver game and many games thereafter, DCs began to realize that rushing 3-4 players and dropping everyone else into coverage was the way to slow the Cowboys offense.

In the six games we lost last year including the playoff game to SF, defensive teams blitzed less and dared us to run or throw short dink and dunk passes to move the ball. For the most part it was an effective strategy. Let’s look at the games we lost and what % our opponents blitzed: (credit to Bob Sturm for the stats)

• Tampa Bay- L 31-29- they actually blitzed 50% of the offensive plays we ran and we lost. But we racked up a ton of yards and arguably should have won the game if the damn kicker didn’t miss XP and a chip shot FG.
• Denver- L- 30-15- they only blitzed 14% of our snaps. Denver was one of the first teams to recognize that blitzing us was a mistake. They usually rushed 4 and dropped 7 into coverage. Our second worst offensive game of the year.
• Kansas City- L- 19-9- they only blitzed 25% of our snaps. Using mostly the same approach as Denver, they frustrated us all day using mostly a 4 man rush.
  
• Las Vegas- L- 36-33- Amazingly, the raiders only blitzed us 4% of the time. We racked up yards but had loads of mistakes and our defense stunk it up. But again, the low blitz numbers resulted in a L.
• Arizona- L- 25-22- the cards did blitz 35% of the time and was able to frustrate our offense completely until the 4th qtr.
• SF WC game- L- 23-16- the niners only blitzed 18% of the time. Their front 4 were able to put pressure on Dak and also stop the run.

The teams that blitzed us a lot- Carolina, Minnesota, WFT and the Eagles- all got beat consistently. We beat them all. Bottom line- we have made blitzes pay. Now the offense must find a way to make the cover 2 no blitz D pay.

Zeke was ineffective against simple traditional fronts. Expect more of the same this year. Dak is not a thread the needle type QB, so a coverage based defense will lead to frustrating results.

 

[Denim Chicken]

That same OL was playing when they were killing blitzing defenses.

No actually, Denver was the game where Tyron started his inactive streak and the game after is when Williams was benched for McGovern.

 

[Sydla]

It may or may not surprise many Cowboys fans to learn that Dak Prescott is actually one of the most effective QBs against the blitz.

Per Sports Info Solutions, in the 2021 regular season, against the blitz, Dak was 103 of 165 passes for 1,171 yards, 23 touchdowns, with four picks, and a passer rating of 113.2 against the blitz. To put that touchdown total in perspective, Aaron Rodgers was second last year with scoring passes against the blitz — with 15. (Here’s a link to an article written before the WC game last Jan) https://sports.yahoo.com/tried-warn-49ers-don-t-231431436.html

In fact, in 2021, (other than Tampa Bay) the teams that blitzed us the most ended up losing to us. Blitzing the Cowboys offense was not usually an effective defensive strategy because our offense usually made them pay.

However, as we saw in the Denver game and many games thereafter, DCs began to realize that rushing 3-4 players and dropping everyone else into coverage was the way to slow the Cowboys offense.

In the six games we lost last year including the playoff game to SF, defensive teams blitzed less and dared us to run or throw short dink and dunk passes to move the ball. For the most part it was an effective strategy. Let’s look at the games we lost and what % our opponents blitzed: (credit to Bob Sturm for the stats)

• Tampa Bay- L 31-29- they actually blitzed 50% of the offensive plays we ran and we lost. But we racked up a ton of yards and arguably should have won the game if the damn kicker didn’t miss XP and a chip shot FG.
• Denver- L- 30-15- they only blitzed 14% of our snaps. Denver was one of the first teams to recognize that blitzing us was a mistake. They usually rushed 4 and dropped 7 into coverage. Our second worst offensive game of the year.
• Kansas City- L- 19-9- they only blitzed 25% of our snaps. Using mostly the same approach as Denver, they frustrated us all day using mostly a 4 man rush.
  
• Las Vegas- L- 36-33- Amazingly, the raiders only blitzed us 4% of the time. We racked up yards but had loads of mistakes and our defense stunk it up. But again, the low blitz numbers resulted in a L.
• Arizona- L- 25-22- the cards did blitz 35% of the time and was able to frustrate our offense completely until the 4th qtr.
• SF WC game- L- 23-16- the niners only blitzed 18% of the time. Their front 4 were able to put pressure on Dak and also stop the run.

The teams that blitzed us a lot- Carolina, Minnesota, WFT and the Eagles- all got beat consistently. We beat them all. Bottom line- we have made blitzes pay. Now the offense must find a way to make the cover 2 no blitz D pay.

You sure about Philly? They were a low blitzing team last year.

 

[Doomsday77]

It’s not just the running game. The OL must protect better against only a 4 man rush and KMoore needs to find more creative to get the ball to their playmakers- Lamb, Pollard, Zeke, eventually Gallup. The guys who can get YAC need the ball in situations where they can do their thing.

Just please do not call a WR bubble screen or any screen for that matter until they learn how to block...

 

[Hennessy_King]

The problem was our o line and especially in the run game. Too many times the numbers were in our favor and still couldnt run the ball effectively. And we saw against the 49ers our o line was totally outclassed

 

[Flamma]

It may or may not surprise many Cowboys fans to learn that Dak Prescott is actually one of the most effective QBs against the blitz.

Per Sports Info Solutions, in the 2021 regular season, against the blitz, Dak was 103 of 165 passes for 1,171 yards, 23 touchdowns, with four picks, and a passer rating of 113.2 against the blitz. To put that touchdown total in perspective, Aaron Rodgers was second last year with scoring passes against the blitz — with 15. (Here’s a link to an article written before the WC game last Jan) https://sports.yahoo.com/tried-warn-49ers-don-t-231431436.html

In fact, in 2021, (other than Tampa Bay) the teams that blitzed us the most ended up losing to us. Blitzing the Cowboys offense was not usually an effective defensive strategy because our offense usually made them pay.

However, as we saw in the Denver game and many games thereafter, DCs began to realize that rushing 3-4 players and dropping everyone else into coverage was the way to slow the Cowboys offense.

In the six games we lost last year including the playoff game to SF, defensive teams blitzed less and dared us to run or throw short dink and dunk passes to move the ball. For the most part it was an effective strategy. Let’s look at the games we lost and what % our opponents blitzed: (credit to Bob Sturm for the stats)

• Tampa Bay- L 31-29- they actually blitzed 50% of the offensive plays we ran and we lost. But we racked up a ton of yards and arguably should have won the game if the damn kicker didn’t miss XP and a chip shot FG.
• Denver- L- 30-15- they only blitzed 14% of our snaps. Denver was one of the first teams to recognize that blitzing us was a mistake. They usually rushed 4 and dropped 7 into coverage. Our second worst offensive game of the year.
• Kansas City- L- 19-9- they only blitzed 25% of our snaps. Using mostly the same approach as Denver, they frustrated us all day using mostly a 4 man rush.
  
• Las Vegas- L- 36-33- Amazingly, the raiders only blitzed us 4% of the time. We racked up yards but had loads of mistakes and our defense stunk it up. But again, the low blitz numbers resulted in a L.
• Arizona- L- 25-22- the cards did blitz 35% of the time and was able to frustrate our offense completely until the 4th qtr.
• SF WC game- L- 23-16- the niners only blitzed 18% of the time. Their front 4 were able to put pressure on Dak and also stop the run.

The teams that blitzed us a lot- Carolina, Minnesota, WFT and the Eagles- all got beat consistently. We beat them all. Bottom line- we have made blitzes pay. Now the offense must find a way to make the cover 2 no blitz D pay.

If I remember correctly, the 18% of the time the 49ers blitzed us, it worked. But if a defense can get pressure with 4, or stop the run with 5 guys in the box, no team is going to have a good day.