Would this team be better with a Cover-2 Scheme?

[CPonder14]

Just throwing it out there. Obviously we would need to change Defensive coaches to do this, but i was thinking last night, and it didn't seem so bad.

 

[Frozen700]

Hell no!

Cover 2 Zone? i was never a fan of it....its annoying, Keith Davis and Roy leave a bad taste in my mouth, and nightmares when i think about the last 2 years we ran some of it under Parcells

i think we should run more Cover 3 type zones, with 1 safety patrolling the deep middle, and the 2 outside corners manning the deep sidelines

or if we run cover 2...it better be man, with 2 deep, with tight bump and run coverage...i would like that

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Hell no!

Cover 2 Zone? i was never a fan of it....its annoying, Keith Davis and Roy leave a bad taste in my mouth, and nightmares when i think about the last 2 years we ran some of it under Parcells

i think we should run more Cover 3 type zones, with 1 safety patrolling the deep middle, and the 2 outside corners manning the deep sidelines

or if we run cover 2...it better be man, with 2 deep, with tight bump and run coverage...i would like that

I agree.

Until we can shut off the short passing lanes on 3rd down I'm very skeptical about this team being able to hold NE under 40 points.

 

[Hostile]

We use some Cover 2. This defense mixes up a lot of looks. That's called, keeping the Offense on guard for anything. The best way to really make this Defense better has never changed. The best Defenses in NFL History are the ones who make a QBs life hell by constantly applying pressure. We're improving, but there is room for more improvement.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Cover 2 was our package of choice for the last 7 years under Zimmer. We use it occasionally now with Wade, although we prefer to run a lot more Cover 4. I'm not a fan of the Cover 2. If you run the 4-3 Cover 2, you need really fast players in the front seven...particularly at LB. Which we don't have. If you get the fast players, they are usually smaller and thus they usually as good with blitzes and they wear down much easier. Good, one-on-one tackles get replaced by relying on gang tackling. Also in the 3-4...provided you have a coach who knows how to run it like Wade...it is more confusing for the O-Line and the QB. Plus, I think a lot of players like Ware and Ellis are better rushing the passer standing up than with their hand in the dirt once they get used to doing so. Not to mention that the 3-4 usually gets you bigger players which has its advantages. But if you're constantly trying to run the Cover 2, now you have to worry about your LB's in coverage.

The defense has improved quite a bit in the most important defensive categories this year from last year (yards allowed per pass attempt, QB rating allowed, sacks per pass attempt, etc). I think the 3-4 is the right scheme for Dallas, they just needed to have a coach who knew how to run the thing. Surely the defense isn't exactly where we want it, but considering it's the first year in the system along with injuries to Ferguson (people can talk about Ratliff, but if Fergy is healthy Ratliff is even more effective coming off the bench), Henry and Newman. Perhaps more importantly, we've seen a lot of young players either break out or get revived under Phillips like Ratliff, Canty, James, Watkins, Hamlin, etc.





YAKUZA

 

[Yakuza Rich]

We use some Cover 2. This defense mixes up a lot of looks. That's called, keeping the Offense on guard for anything. The best way to really make this Defense better has never changed. The best Defenses in NFL History are the ones who make a QBs life hell by constantly applying pressure. We're improving, but there is room for more improvement.

The one thing I've noticed is that we usually send either 5 or zone blitz or stunt when we go to Cover 2. Under Zimmer we'd usually just rush 4 straight up.

In the last 2 games we've rushed the QB quite well and they already have 43 sacks on the season (most for a Cowboys team since 1994 when they had 47). I think if there's room for improvement, it's probably with being consistent with the pass rush on a game by game basis. Because they have sacked the QB quite a bit this season.




YAKUZA

 

[CPonder14]

Cover 2 was our package of choice for the last 7 years under Zimmer. We use it occasionally, although we prefer to run a lot more Cover 4. I'm not a fan of the Cover 2. If you run the 4-3 Cover 2, you need really fast players in the front seven...particularly at LB. Which we don't have. If you get the fast players, they are usually smaller and thus they usually as good with blitzes and they wear down much easier. Good, one-on-one tackles get replaced by relying on gang tackling. Also in the 3-4...provided you have a coach who knows how to run it like Wade...it is more confusing for the O-Line and the QB. Plus, I think a lot of players like Ware and Ellis are better rushing the passer standing up than with their hand in the dirt once they get used to doing so. Not to mention that the 3-4 usually gets you bigger players which has its advantages. But if you're constantly trying to run the Cover 2, now you have to worry about your LB's in coverage.

The defense has improved quite a bit in the most important defensive categories this year from last year (yards allowed per pass attempt, QB rating allowed, sacks per pass attempt, etc). I think the 3-4 is the right scheme for Dallas, they just needed to have a coach who knew how to run the thing. Surely the defense isn't exactly where we want it, but considering it's the first year in the system along with injuries to Ferguson (people can talk about Ratliff, but if Fergy is healthy Ratliff is even more effective coming off the bench), Henry and Newman. Perhaps more importantly, we've seen a lot of young players either break out or get revived under Phillips like Ratliff, Canty, James, Watkins, Hamlin, etc.





YAKUZA

Yeah i guess your right, but i disagree with us having slow linebackers.

Ware, and Burnett would be great outside backers in the Tampa-2 scheme.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The one thing I've noticed is that we usually send either 5 or zone blitz or stunt when we go to Cover 2. Under Zimmer we'd usually just rush 4 straight up.

In the last 2 games we've rushed the QB quite well and they already have 43 sacks on the season (most for a Cowboys team since 1994 when they had 47). I think if there's room for improvement, it's probably with being consistent with the pass rush on a game by game basis. Because they have sacked the QB quite a bit this season.




YAKUZA

You need to post more. Thats some education I gots right there.

Good stuff.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The defense has improved quite a bit in the most important defensive categories this year from last year (yards allowed per pass attempt, QB rating allowed, sacks per pass attempt, etc). I think the 3-4 is the right scheme for Dallas, they just needed to have a coach who knew how to run the thing. Surely the defense isn't exactly where we want it, but considering it's the first year in the system along with injuries to Ferguson (people can talk about Ratliff, but if Fergy is healthy Ratliff is even more effective coming off the bench), Henry and Newman. Perhaps more importantly, we've seen a lot of young players either break out or get revived under Phillips like Ratliff, Canty, James, Watkins, Hamlin, etc.
YAKUZA

Great post Rich... But, I disagree on Ferguson. I don't see him returning as a starter for this team. And the chance is even greater that you won't see Ratliff as coming off of the bench for this team any time soon-- he's a starter for the forseeable future, be it for Spears or in the middle, but the kid is going to remain a starter.

 

[Ren]

Just throwing it out there. Obviously we would need to change Defensive coaches to do this, but i was thinking last night, and it didn't seem so bad.

we where playing A LOT of cover 2 towards the end of last season...

that should answer your question

 

[theogt]

As others have pointed out, the Cover 2 is probably the scheme that we're least suited for personnel-wise. In other words, it'd be one of the worst possible decisions you could make for our defense.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Ware, and Burnett would be great outside backers in the Tampa-2 scheme.

I can't disagree about Burnett, but Ware would never ever play OLB in a 4-3, for any team. If we didn't play a 3-4, he'd be playing defensive end rushing the passer. He is a complete linebacker, but he's a pass rusher first and foremost.

 

[burmafrd]

I would man the two WRs with Henry and Newman and have Hamlin as deep support, with Roy patrolling the middle- on non passing downs. If the TE goes out then Roy goes with him. Unless the TE is one of the best then I switch Roy and Hamlin. The one flaw in this arrangement is if they have a real good receiving RB- James is still not that good in coverage and would be exploited. Of course in this alignment Ellis and Ware are rushing the passer 100% of the time.
In the nickel I would bring in watkins and Reeves and have Roy play contain at the Line with Burnett as either another rusher or to help in coverage.
BOTTOM line is that I drop the zone all together for man on man coverage with only a deep safety and maybe someone roaming the middle.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

As others have pointed out, the Cover 2 is probably the scheme that we're least suited for personnel-wise. In other words, it'd be one of the worst possible decisions you could make for our defense.

Which makes it great that we ran it so much the last two years, doesn't it?

I love the D we play now. I wouldn't change a thing. The single free safety and mutilple looks rock.

And no offense, but putting Ware at 43 OLB is one of the worst ideas ever.

 

[Future]

I can't disagree about Burnett, but Ware would never ever play OLB in a 4-3, for any team. If we didn't play a 3-4, he'd be playing defensive end rushing the passer. He is a complete linebacker, but he's a pass rusher first and foremost.

Very well put

I actually think Burnett would be better in the middle, doing the same types of things as Derek Brooks and Urlacher

 

[Apollo Creed]

We'd need a lot faster LBs to run a Cover 2, sometimes when Burnett comes in and we go with speed guys in coverage we'll run it - but for the most part we usually try to cover up our weaknesses.

No sense in changing it, our defense is finally coming into it's own, in the most important part of the season. Guys are getting their timing down on blitzes, it seems if they are finally getting Wade's scheme. Which consists of constantly bringing an extra guy, and never showing glaring tendancies like our 'vanilla' version of the 3-4 last year. Ware and Ellis are reaping the benefits of this, and if we can keep getting rush off the edge - we'll be able to beat that Pats and that spread offense in February. Force them to play smash mouth football with you, no gimmicks.

 

[AsthmaField]

No way is Ware a 4-3 OLB. He'd be a DE in a 4-3, all day long.

Burnett on the other hand, would be a very nice 4-3 OLB. I really like what Kevin brings us at ILB too though.

The defense we're running now is light years better than the tampa-2 we used to run under Zimmer.

This defense keeps them guessing and with Ratliff, Tank and Hatcher on the DL and Ellis, Ware and Spencer at LB... we can produce pressure on the QB from a nearly endless variety of ways, angles and positions. It can come from anywhere and in the Tampa-2, pressure comes from the front 4... about the only way to surprise the offense with pressure is a blitz or some type of stunting.

Phillips is using Ellis at DE and putting Ware and Spencer at OLB, which is a real nice package. He's using Ratliff, Bowen and Hatcher to get inside pressure. He's mixing it up and is constantly adding wrinkles that the offense has to adjust to.

The variety is one of the things that makes his defense so outstanding. And it is outstanding.

Just wait for next year. We're going to have a monster pass rush in year two of Phillips scheme.

 

[windward]

We use some Cover 2. This defense mixes up a lot of looks. That's called, keeping the Offense on guard for anything. The best way to really make this Defense better has never changed. The best Defenses in NFL History are the ones who make a QBs life hell by constantly applying pressure. We're improving, but there is room for more improvement.

Dead on, Hos.

 

[Nors]

I can't believe on the eve of 2008 we are still pondering this what if!

Parcells spent 3 years buillding a 3-4 defense and we hired another 3-4 Coach in Phillips. We have two 10+ edge sack rushing OLB's. Creating a lot of turnovers.

We are 13-2 and #1 seed in NFC. And you want to change schemes now? LOL - You are thinking too much!

 

[Nors]

Those that want a cover 2 defense your man Zimmer will be available soon!