Why So Much Zone D? What Happened To Man Coverage?

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

As I look back on the Dallas/ Eagles game I noticed Dallas playing alot of Zone coverage instead of Man coverage. I am wondering why Stewart and Wade are playing our CB's off so much especially against a West-Coast team that gets the ball out quickly on routes?

The Cowboys are loaded with talent at CB with Henry, Newman, Jones and Jenkins. Not sure why the Cowboys didn't play to the strength of our CB's which is Man or Press-Coverage?

IMHO, if we played more Man or Press coverage there is no way that Desean Jackson or any of their WR's catch the ball and have the yards that they did against the Cowboys.

Also, I noticed that when we played that Zone Coverage, we didn't get to the quarterback as consistantly as we should.

Playing Man-Coverage would allow a guy like Williams to come down as an extra Run-Stopper and/or Blitzer.

This Sunday Night, we face another West-Coast offense that is predicated on getting the ball out quickly and spreading out the defense.

IMO, if we continue to play that much Zone-Coverage, I would think we will be in the same position as we were Monday Night where we gave too much space for the WR's to get underneath the coverage and it sets up play-action down the field as it was done when McNabb hit Desean Jackson down the middle of the field for what should of been TD had Cocky Jackson drop the ball before crossing the Endzone.

Do you think the Cowboys need to play more Man or Press coverage?

I sure do!

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

unless you were a real NFL coach, I cant take your breakdown serious.

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

unless you were a real NFL coach, I cant take your breakdown serious.

Well, you explain what is so wrong what I asked?

 

[Nexx]

our scheme is based off zone coverage.... so you see mostly zone coverage. why they chose this, i have no idea. which one is better, im not qualified to tell you.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

its not wrong, but I dont think it is completely right.

but who am I? im not a professional coach.

 

[theogt]

 

[ENGCowboy]

its not wrong, but I dont think it is completely right.

but who am I? im not a professional coach.

Way to kill a thread!

Any way Im all for a bit of press coverage, but then Im not a pro coach either.

DAMN would you look at that I offered my opinion and didn't bag on a guy asking a question!

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

Way to kill a thread!

Any way Im all for a bit of press coverage, but then Im not a pro coach either.

DAMN would you look at that I offered my opion and didn't bag on a guy asking a question!

Guys, go back to Training camp! Remember what Campo said about our CB's. Just paraphasing here..... Campo said that our CB's are better suited for Press-Cover or Man Coverage.

Campo said that Adam Jones played more of Press-Coverage when he played for the Titians and he was struggling early to pick up Zone Coverage.

: Mike Jenkins: Was a Press-Coverage type of a CB when he played in college.

: Anthony Henry: With his Size, he is physical enough to jam even the biggest of WR's like a Plaxico Buress, for example.

: Newman: has the most versatility because of experience, Size/Speed ratio and is one of the best CB's in football.

Again, this is paraphasing what Campo was saying during camp.

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

our scheme is based off zone coverage.... so you see mostly zone coverage. why they chose this, i have no idea. which one is better, im not qualified to tell you.

You don't need to be a head coach to recognize that if you have this much talent and Zone Coverage isn't working, the D coach needs to adjust.

 

[Boysboy]

Like I said in other threads-it's only week 2. Newman has been hurt. Pacman is still a bit rusty. Spencer has been hurt. Now they should all be good to go either this week or next.

It's not like it's week 12 or 13-give it time b/c this season is a marathon, not a 50 yard dash.

 

[Stash]

I would agree that I would prefer to see more man-to-man coverage myself.

It struck me as odd in training camp to hear how Jenkins and Pacman excelled as man corners and yet the team was teaching them to plan more zone.

Why not have your players do what they do best?

Maybe they're not comfortable with either player yet and would rather take their chances playing zone than risk giving up the big play?

Or maybe the lack of man coverage has something to do with Newman not being 100%?

I'm not really sure, but I wouldn't mind seeing them playing a bit more man coverage given all the cornerback talent they've assembled.

But it's early yet...

 

[Woods]

The main reasons I think we are playing more zone coverage right NOW is that

1. Jenkins is still a rookie and only playing in his second game. Sure, his strength may be press coverage, and that was what he was good at in college. It's going to take a bit of adjustment in the pros.

2. Maybe Campo/Wade think that Pac is still shaking off the rust. Let's remember this is only his 2nd game back as well after a long lay-off.

3. T New isn't back to full strenght quite yet.

So, based on inexperience at the Pro level (Jenkins), our top CB just coming back (and only playing about 1/2 the snaps), and that Pac is still shaking off the rust, maybe the coaching staff didn't want to risk getting beat deep?

Now a few games from now, when Newman is completely healed and when Pac is in the groove, we just may use more press coverage.

Just a thought . . . .

 

[Danny White]

Don't we usually play zone coverage?

Campo was saying Pacman was more used to man, but I don't think he was suggesting we'd alter our stategy to fit him, rather that he'd have to adjust to our scheme.

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

I would agree that I would prefer to see more man-to-man coverage myself.

It struck me as odd in training camp to hear how Jenkins and Pacman excelled as man corners and yet the team was teaching them to plan more zone.

Why not have your players do what they do best?

Maybe they're not comfortable with either player yet and would rather take their chances playing zone than risk giving up the big play?

Or maybe the lack of man coverage has something to do with Newman not being 100%?

I'm not really sure, but I wouldn't mind seeing them playing a bit more man coverage given all the cornerback talent they've assembled.

But it's early yet...

That's what I am been thinking and saying.

Forget the early stuff, get use to the Press-Coverage/ Man to make teams know that our D is physical and we will smack you in the mouth.

Also, playing more physical will cause more turn-overs.

Hate to say it but playing Zone was one of the reasons we lost to the Giants.

 

[dallasfaniac]

I find that many confuse coverage with cushion, which isn't always the case.

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

Don't we usually play zone coverage?

Campo was saying Pacman was more used to man, but I don't think he was suggesting we'd alter our stategy to fit him, rather that he'd have to adjust to our scheme.

We do play more Zone but you got to go with what fits your players most.

 

[Rampage]

i'm wondering if we play some man to man since bambi won't be out there for a month.

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

The main reasons I think we are playing more zone coverage right NOW is that

1. Jenkins is still a rookie and only playing in his second game. Sure, his strength may be press coverage, and that was what he was good at in college. It's going to take a bit of adjustment in the pros.

2. Maybe Campo/Wade think that Pac is still shaking off the rust. Let's remember this is only his 2nd game back as well after a long lay-off.

3. T New isn't back to full strenght quite yet.

So, based on inexperience at the Pro level (Jenkins), our top CB just coming back (and only playing about 1/2 the snaps), and that Pac is still shaking off the rust, maybe the coaching staff didn't want to risk getting beat deep?

Now a few games from now, when Newman is completely healed and when Pac is in the groove, we just may use more press coverage.

Just a thought . . . .

It's early, this is the time to continue getting players in the best position to make plays and Man maybe the way to go. Our D hasn't forced enough of turnovers.

Again, that is what was one of the things that costs us against the Giants.

 

[Boysboy]

We do play more Zone but you got to go with what fits your players most.

You have to remember too-we were on our way to an easy double digit win until boneheaded mistakes started piling up-Romo forcing an INT instead of playing for another down, Romo fumbling an exchange in the endzone, the opening kicking going out of bounds giving the Eagles the ball at the 40, etc.

Pt being that forget the D scheme, momentum of the game can change in a hurry. The minute we started gifting the Eagles those TDs...BOOM...their offense all of a sudden sprang to life. This is probably the strangest aspect of football.

It was alot like our 2nd Super Bowl with Buffalo-the Bills were controlling the tempo of that game until Thurman Thomas fumbled-then all of a sudden, our entire team came to life.

Like I said, it's only week 2-so hopefully we'll be able curb our mistakes in weeks to come.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm not sure, if they feel Adam Jones is still a bit rusty and with a gimpy Newman they may figure for now it is better to run more zone than man. We will see how we adjust as the season moves on.