FRISCO, TEXAS — After Sunday’s loss to the Browns, there is no sugarcoating the disastrous performance by the Cowboys’ run defense.
Cleveland imposed their will with the run game, totaling 307 rushing yards. To put things in perspective here, that is a franchise single-game record in rushing yards given up. In week four, there was no trickery or surprises by the Browns from what the Cowboys studied on tape in preparation. Dallas knew they would run the ball, but failed to combat it with numerous missed tackles that led to yards after contact for the dawgs.
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan expressed his thoughts on the contributing factor to the tackling issues, “ We did a poor job playing together as one. We played individually. We didn’t play well in our techniques. “
How one person on defense plays affects another. When a play breaks down and a player goes to chase the ball carrier and leaves his gap responsibility, he has to communicate and make sure that there is a teammate there to cover that gap or gaping holes will result. That is what transpired over and over again against the Browns. Players decided to take matters into their own hands, which led to guys overrunning or under running plays when the runner cut back.
“ If you picture their running game yesterday, when a ball cuts back for example and goes one way then cuts back to the other, a good defense obviously has a primary [gap] to where he was headed but you will see more players fall back to finish on the ball when it cuts back, “ Mike Nolan described to media. “ So, they’re basically tracking the ball carrier much like the running back is doing when he is trying to cut back against the grain…you are talking about people, if you have too many guys breaking down that’s a lot to fix. I think yesterday- I do believe yesterday- we had more than one error on any particular play there in those runs and we weren’t fitting them very well. “
Cowboy defenders were not filling their gaps and the Browns took full advantage. Instaead of being patient, trusting the scheme/plan, and waiting for the running back to head towards the primary gap or falling back to the secondary gap if the runner cut back towards that space, players were acting out individually and reacting to try and make a play on the ball. That exposed open rush lanes for Cleveland. Chaos ensued. Sunday was not a scheme problem for Dallas but a discipline problem. Until that is fixed, the same recurring problem will follow.
