Quarterbacks are running free versus the Cowboys defense, here’s what’s going wrong and the simplest fix they can make now
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of defensive problems but the most noticeable one is how quarterbacks are running against them.
The Dallas Cowboys have a quarterback problem. Not on offense, of course, where Dak Prescott just became the franchise’s all-time touchdown passer. But on defense. And it’s that they can’t keep them from running the darn football.
Through two weeks, the Cowboys have allowed 128 rushing yards against quarterbacks in 13 attempts (exlcuding sneaks). That’s the most by NFL team. They’ve given up eight first downs in such runs (most int he league, as well).
37% of the rushing yards the Cowboys defense has given up has been against quarterbacks. And those runs represent 62% of the first downs the Cowboys have given up against the run.
And with Lamar Jackson coming up on Week 3, defensive coordinator Christian Parker has to come up with a fix quickly. Below are a few observations from watching the film of what’s going wrong and adjustments that need to be made, some of which are frankly on the players and not coaching.
The simplest fix the Cowboys need to make now
Defenses like to run stunts to manufacture pressure and confuse blockers. Problem is… the Cowboys are just not doing a good job of it right now. And when you run a stunt poorly, usually what happens is huge, and I mean huge running lanes emerge.
The play below is a good example. With three Cowboys players inneffectively running a stunt (Kenny Clark and Donovan Ezeiruaku crash into each other), Jayden Daniels has nothing but green in front of him. He easily identifies it and makes the most of it.
At least two other of Daniels’ scrambles happened against the Cowboys running stunts. Until they clean it up, it’s one of the easiest adjustments Parker could make. They weren’t good in Week 1, either. Will Steele from Skywalker Unleashed pointed out on X they’ve struggled with stunts since training camp.
The solution? Just call fewer stunts.
The Cowboys defense has been better when staying away from them and it should result in fewer easier looks for running QBs like Daniels and Lamar Jackson next Sunday.
Other problems exist
Now, running fewer stunts is an easy adjustment that should lead to increased results but unfortunately, this is far from a bandaid situation. One of the biggest problems the Cowboys have had agaisnt rushing quarterbacks has been making the tackle.
Against QB scrambles, they’re already up to four missed/broken tackles. That’s a major problem because the Cowboys scheme often needs linebackers and defensive backs to have coverage assignments and rarely is someone freed up to spy on the quarterback.
That’s a fine trade off if you can make it work—especially because you won’t be playing this kind of quarterback every week. Play solid coverage on the back end and allow the QB to pick up a handful of yards little by little. Make him earn it and put together long drives. The problem for the Cowboys right now, however, is when those missed tackles turn small gains into explosive rushes and first downs.
Several times in Week 2, the Cowboys coverage held up, prompting Daniels to keep it. The problem was missed tackles in the second level and the lack of a productive pass rush. The below play is the perfect example.
On third-and-two, the Cowboys have everything locked up in coverage, but Daniels isn’t pressured until the very end, at which point defensive linemen fail to make a play on the QB. After Daniels takes off, Winters has a hance at making a stop on the open field but misses the tackle.
So while there are adjustments Parker could make, some of the issues are clearly based on execution. The easiest fix that comes to mind right now is lowering the stunt rate. But players have to rush better and tackle better if they’re going to improve against the Baltimore Ravens.
We’ll see how things go down in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this Sunday.
