Linemen not always in a rush
Through the first two games, defense has failed to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks
Sometimes, it works. Cowboys defensive end Everson Griffen aligned at outside linebacker Sunday early in the fourth quarter. At the snap, he dropped into coverage, running into the flat toward a tight end. With Griffen not rushing the passer, inside linebacker Joe Thomas was dispatched instead, blitzing untouched through the “B” gap and popping quarterback Matt Ryan on a quick 4-yard completion. Sometimes, it works. Other times, it does not.
The Cowboys have failed to create consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback through their first two games. Inweek1, the Los Angelesrams’ playdesigns clearly limited the opportunity. There was no such excuse in the team’s 40-39 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
For a defense struggling to generate pressure, Dallas sure sent its best rushers into coverage a good
amount.
According to Pro Football Focus, defensive end Aldon Smithwas on the field for 37 pass plays but in coverage on seven of them. Griffen was in coverage three of 36 times. Rounding out the usage, defensive end Dorance Armstrong twice dropped back into coverage with defensive end Demarcus Lawrence once backpedaling away from Ryan.
Run-stopping nose tackle Antwaun Woods, all 310 pounds of him, dropped back once in the fourth quarter for good measure.
While Mike Nolan is neither the first nor only defensive coordinator to occasionally use his defensive linemen in coverage, the uptick fromthe season opener was noticeable. Smith was the only Cowboys defensive linemanusedin coverageon multiple snaps against the Rams. He dropped back twice on 25 pass snaps.
“I really do believe there is one simple benefit, and that is you believe that you’re freeing up someone else togetpressure basedon the number count by the offense,” Nolan said. “So in a simple way of saying that, you’re trying to defeat protection because there is always somebody assigned to block a potential rusher, someone like an Aldon Smith or another lineman on any teamfor that matter. …
“Well, when that guy drops and you bring somebody else who is not a primary rusher, a lot of times it means you’re defeating protection — not always but that is the objective. So very simply put, any time you see that, it is typically someone trying to defeat protection with someone that is not accounted for and get into the rush versus someone that was accounted for into coverage.”
This iswhat transpiredon
Thomas’ aforementioned quarterback hit.
The Falcons simply failed to account for him. Running back Todd Gurley was assigned to protect for Ryan, but he didn’t recognize presnap that Thomas was blitzing, and the right guard’s attention was centered on double-teamingwoods. In came Thomas.
But then, there were other plays Sunday.
During the first quarter, thecowboysdroppedsmith into coverage on consecutive plays. The first play did not produce quarterback pressure but resulted in a 2yard completion to set up third-and-5. On the second, Smith vacatedfromright defensive end, clearing a line for Ryan to scramble 5 yards and gain a first down.
On the next play, Atlanta capitalized on a zone coverage breakdown and hit on a 42-yard touchdown to tight end Hayden Hurst.
“It’s OK to mix [in defensive linemen into coverage] at times, but you can outsmart yourself,” Nolan said. “And, yes, I’ve done it like many people many times over the years, but there are times when enough is enough. So you have to kind of play that game during a gamebecause there are people who are paid to rush the passer.”
There are greater issues to the Cowboys’ pass rush than Nolan losing the occasional bishop or knight.
At times, Nolan pinpointed, certain linemen have failed to work in unison. He didn’t cite any specific plays, but therewas one snap Sunday, for example, where Griffen crashed inside and Smith rushed outside, penetrating the samegapandcolliding.
It isweek 3. The Cowboys (1-1) have time to improve at executing their pressures.
With a matchup against the Seahawks’ dynamicrussellwilson looming Sunday, they’d better soon.
Cowboys’ CB depth dealt blow
The Cowboys’ cornerback depth just took another hit. Mccarthyonwednesday said starting corner Chidobe Awuzie will miss multipleweeks with ahamstring injury, this coming just days after the club placed Anthony Brownoninjured reserve with a rib injury.
Awuzie’s injury leaves Brandon Carr, rookie Trevon Diggs, C.J. Goodwin, Jourdan Lewis, rookie Reggie Robinson II and Daryl Worley as the remaining healthy players listed as corners on the roster. Lewis had just rejoined the Cowboys after missing the season opener against the Rams with an ankle injury.
Worley and Robinson were getting looks at safety throughout training camp when thecowboyswere still relatively deep at corner.