How the Dallas Cowboys Defense can Contain the Chargers Offense
The Dallas Cowboys lost their season opener to Tampa Bay. It was a close game, with many positive things to work with, but still lost. To be fair, it's very hard to beat the team who just won the Super Bowl, especially when Tom Brady is the one throwing the ball. Even though Brady got […]
The Dallas Cowboys lost their season opener to Tampa Bay. It was a close game, with many positive things to work with, but still lost.
To be fair, it's very hard to beat the team who just won the Super Bowl, especially when Tom Brady is the one throwing the ball. Even though Brady got plenty of yards through the air, the defense was able to step up an impress in many ways that's shown improvement.
Even though Brady wasn't sacked, enough of the Cowboys defenders got Brady on the move. Noting that Brady isn't near the same quarterback when forced to move from the pocket, dropping his completion percentage down from 71% to 43% in 2020.
However, Justin Herbert's a different animal. He's the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. In addition to displaying plenty of arm strength in 2020, he's a threat with his legs as well.
If the Cowboys want to win, they'll need to do what Washington did and attack the Chargers offense.
There are Chargers players who can change the nature of this game. Players like Kennan Allen or Austin Eckler especially. Still there's areas the team can play to slow them down. Here are the ways that the Cowboys defense can take over.
Interior Pass Rush
With Rashawn Slater coming off an impressive rookie debut, the Dallas Cowboys are going to need more pressure from other places. Places where the Chargers aren't as strong on the offensive line.
Corey Linsley is one of the best centers in the game, but the guards who surround him are going to be who the team needs to attack the most. Chargers starting guards Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi are both coming off uneven games.
According to PFF, Feiler scored 91.8 in the run, but only 16.5 in pass protection. Meanwhile Aboushi scored 64.9 in the run and a 73.8 in pass protection.
This is prime real-estate for players like Osa Odighizuwa, Carlos Watkins or Brent Urban. Odighizuwa scored the second best pass rush grade on the defensive interior (60.1). Urban and Watkins each scored above a 50 (average) against the Bucc's as well.
The interior pass rush will be key in applying pressure to a quarterback like Justin Herbert. One of the two sacks on Herbert came from the inside, and that must be what's hit hard.
He won't need to stand still in the pocket like Brady to make plays, and getting to him from up front will be huge.
Filling the Edges
Speaking of pass rush, the Dallas Cowboys pass rush on the outside will be imperative, but will be missing pieces. Randy Gregory might miss the game after testing positive of COVID, but could still play if he registers two straight positive tests.
Even worse was the news of DeMarcus Ware's availability for the season.
If BOTH Lawrence and Gregory were to miss the game, the only edges on the team would be Terrell Basham, Dorance Armstrong, Bradley Anae and Chauncey Golston.
Basham seems like the obvious fill-in on the outside, but Armstrong has quietly making aa bigger name for himself on the deffense.
Assuming Basham and Armstrong are the starting edge's could lead the team to running more three-man fronts. Giving the team more speed on the outside with Parsons and Jaylon Smith.
Even more eye-opening to this is the possibility of Chargers right tackle Bryan Bulaga missing the game. If Storm Norton were to miss the game, it'd give the Dallas Cowboys an opportunity to take advantage.
Norton had to fill in last week against the Washington. He registered a 68.6 pass blocking grade, giving up only one sack. Not bad considering he's a swing tackle despite not being the level of protection that would come from Bulaga.
However the Cowboys attack the outside, they'll need more than just one player to step up. If the team plays without their starting ends, expect a number of looks and rotations to add juice on the outside.
Prevent the Deep Ball
Expect Trevon Diggs to cover Mike Williams all game long as he did for most of the game against Mike Evans. This is not the match up we should be concerned about.
Truthfully, if the Chargers watched film, they saw the wink link in the Cowboys secondary from game one: Anthony Brown.
Anthony Brown is still a reliable corner on most plays, but going up against Antonio Brown exposed his weakness is the deep pass.
The Chargers deep play ability comes in the form of former Cowboy Jalen Guyton. Guyton averaged 18.3 yards per reception in 2020, and leads the team again after one game (16.3). There will need to be a deep safety almost all game long to take away these deep plays.
Damontae Kazee will be key in helping prevent these deep passes. If he plays as the single-high safety, expect him to shadow more towards the side of no. 15.
There will be plenty of 5-10 yard passes to go around. Whether it's to Williams, Kennan Allen or dump offs to Eckler and Jared Cook. The Dallas Cowboys will have to live with these but they cannot give up the deep passes again.
Continue to Force Turnovers
Going back to last season, the Dallas Cowboys have caused at least one turnover in 8 straight games, going 4-4. Last week, the team caused 2 interceptions as well as 2 fumbles. In normal circumstances, that's enough to win.
The Chargers gave up an interception and a fumble in their game against Washington, in what was a highly defensive battle. The Cowboys don't have the defensive firepower that LA does and in addition to keeping their offense on the field, they'll need to find ways to take the ball from the Chargers.
Not only did the Chargers win the turnover battle in their game, they won the time of possession battle as well. LA possessed the ball 13 minutes longer, almost a full quarter for he game.
Washington did a good job of keeping the Chargers out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. To make up for the despairing difference in talent on defense, the Cowboys need to force the ball away at every opportunity.
Players like Donovan Wilson and Trevon Diggs have forced the most turnovers for Dallas going back to last season (6 total combined) and will need to do it again on Sunday.
The Dallas Cowboys offense need to find ways to extend drives on offense, but when the defense on the field, taking the ball away will be one of the most crucial things if they want to win.
