Photo Credit: Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — The Cowboys’ defense has been a disaster and are ranked last in many categories. It is not a shocking development given the unit’s performance on the field every week but Dallas’ defense is allowing the most points in the league and have the fewest takeaways in the league (3).
The run defense is an utter embarrassment. Running backs are continuing to have career-high days against the Cowboys. Dallas allowed 208 rushing yards at Washington in week seven, marking the third time in the last four weeks that the squad has allowed over 200 rushing yards in a game. To put things in perspective, over a span of the last four seasons combined, Dallas allowed only two 200-yard rushing games. It is at the heart of the Cowboys’ dilemma this season as the defense sets new record lows and the same recurring issues pop up week after week.
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan discussed what he believes to be the greatest underlying problem with the run defense.
“ I would say gap integrity and playing as a unit. I would say that we got knocked off the ball a few times, but more importantly I think our gap integrity is what was the fault more than anything else…there’s nothing really designed to let the quarterback run free or let the running back run through your defense. Most often it’s because the integrity of your defense has been broken.”
Nolan further explained that to mean guys doing their individual jobs. When players stray from their job when a play breaks down, that exposes holes and the other players around them. Football is a team effort but fans watching the Cowboys’ defense on the field currently see players acting out independently as solo artists, and frankly the speed/tenacity that should accompany defenders on every play is nonexistent. When one player blows an assignment that reflects poorly on the rest of the group and they have to try and compensate for the issue.
“ Sometimes it’s easy to go outside of your area of responsibility, because there’s less strain to got there. I think that sometimes influences players to go there. Where, if their job takes a little more strain to do- very simply, if you’re a three-technique and you’re getting reached, as an example, and you are reached, it’s a lot easier just to run behind the block rather than continue to fight forward and regain the control you’ve lost. It’s a lot easier to just to back door and run around he block. Well, that exposes the players around you. “
The sad part is that is only the tip of the iceberg for Dallas. Sure, the front seven cannot bottle up running backs at the line of scrimmage by filling gaps, but the secondary is dealing with eye discipline issues.
Scheme has nothing to do with eyes being in the wrong place; on the quarterback instead of on the receiver a player is tasked with covering. The issue continues to resurface each week and it is costing the defense big plays. Mike Nolan broke down the blown play by Trevon Diggs in week seven where Terry McLaurin ran right past him on a vertical route, and the play the previous week where Daryl Worley got handily beat by Christian Kirk on a go route in similar fashion.
“ I think Trevon’s yesterday was strictly his eyes. His eyes got him in trouble- he’s looking inside, he stopped his feet and then the guy went right by him. The guy didn’t even stutter. He was just running vertical. I thought in the game that he kind of gave him a stutter or something to get him to stop, but he didn’t. Trevon’s eyes were just bad on the play. And a week ago, I don’t know if it was Daryl’s eyes so much as he just slowed down…If you don’t have good eyes, you can get in trouble in this game real quick-no matter what position you play.”
If the issues are not corrected and drastic changes are not made, history will continue repeating itself for the Dallas defense and the memes will continue.
