Breaking Down the Cowboys' Dominance in the Running Game
by Ryan Basen on Sep 29, 2009 2:54 PM EDT
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A week ago the Panthers' pass defense let them down, allowing Atlanta to convert four straight third downs on a touchdown drive that put the Falcons ahead to stay.
On Monday night the Panthers' run defense was just an anemic. In the 21-7 loss to Dallas, the Panthers, particularly the front seven, looked to be just as confused as the pass defense was against Atlanta. Defenders were again out of position, did not always execute and overall seemed to be guessing what the Cowboys were doing. Dallas' offense dictated tempo, especially a running game that rolled up 212 yards on 32 plays (6.6 yards per carry).
The Cowboys ran for at least 10 yards on six different plays, scored on a 5-yard run and broke off a 7-yard run on a third-and-1. Using misdirection, pump fakes and draws, Dallas kept the Panthers' read-and-react defense off balance most of the night.
Three weeks into the season, a Panthers defense geared towards preventing the big play is giving up tons of medium-sized plays. Defenders don't appear to be anywhere near comfortable in new coordinator Ron Meeks' system. Last week that manifested itself in the passing game against Atlanta. Monday it was on full display against the ground game -- especially four key second-half plays that helped the Cowboys score the 10 points they needed to go ahead for good:
The situation: Second-and-6, midfield. 7-0 Panthers. 12:30 to play in the third quarter.
Formations: Dallas lined up in the I-formation with a tight end on the left and one receiver on each side. The Panthers' corners were in press coverage with both safeties back deep.
What happened: Tailback Felix Jones ran a misdirection play 40 yards to the left.
How it happened: The tight end went in motion right and the Panthers' left outside linebacker slid up to line up over him. A safety moved up behind the linebacker, stopping six yards from the line of scrimmage. The Panthers defense now had nine players in the middle or on its left side.
Quarterback Tony Romo and Jones sold a run to the right, then Jones took the handoff and ran left, away from all the traffic. Jason Witten, lining up at fullback, sealed off the inside and the left tackle took out the right outside linebacker. The Panthers' right defensive end, Julius Peppers, played run but bought the misdirection and shifted left. He tried to recover, but took an inside angle. Jones bounced to the outside and shot through a gaping hole as Peppers made a token attempt to tackle him. He ran for 40 yards before he was pushed out of bounds by two defensive backs.
The result: Dallas had a first down at the Carolina 10, leading to a field goal that drew the Cowboys within 7-3.
The situation: First-and-10, Carolina 35. 7-3 Panthers. 7:20 to play in the third.
Formations: Dallas went to the wildcat, with tailback Tashard Choice lined up in the shotgun. A tight end was on each side, two receivers were lined up right and another receiver left. The Panthers' right outside linebacker showed blitz.
What happened: Choice took the snap, faked a handoff and ran up the middle for 10 yards.
How it happened: The receiver lined up in the right slot went in motion left. Choice made the fake to him and the receiver ran left. Two Panthers linebackers pursued the receiver, opening up space for Choice. Choice found a hole up the middle. The Panthers' left defensive end shed a block and combined on the tackle with free safety Charles Godfrey.
The result: Dallas had a first down on the Carolina 25.
The situation: Second-and-4, Carolina 19. 7-3 Panthers. About 6 minutes left in the third.
Formations: Dallas lined up with a tailback directly behind Romo and a fullback to the right. A tight end lined up left with one receiver in the right slot and one receiver in the left slot. The Panthers' defensive backs lined up several yards off the receivers.
What happened: Two plays after the Choice 10-yard run, receiver Patrick Crayton took an end around left for 14 yards.
How it happened: The tight end went in motion right, drawing the left outside linebacker to shift left. A safety slid up just behind that linebacker, four yards off the line of scrimmage.
Romo faked a handoff to Choice running right. Peppers, the right defensive end, bit on the fake. Crayton took the handoff from Romo and swept left around Peppers. A receiver pushed corner Richard Marshall back and a pulling offensive lineman took out the safety lined up on the right side of the Panthers defense. Marshall fought off the block and tackled Crayton.
The result: The Cowboys had a first-and-goal at the Carolina 5.
The situation: First-and-goal, Carolina 5. 7-3 Panthers. About 5 minutes to play in the third.
Formations: Dallas lined up in the I with a tight end left and two receivers right. The Panthers were in tight man coverage; a linebacker lined up on the right and showed blitz. The free safety was lined up over left tackle six yards off the line.
What happened: Choice ran left for five yards and a score on a draw play.
How it happened: Romo did a pump fake to his right, freezing safety Quinton Teal on that side of the field. The right outside linebacker and the other safety thought pass and dropped back into coverage. Romo handed off to Choice, who ran inside left. Offensive linemen blocked the linebackers and the fullback blocked the free safety, opening a huge hole.
The result: The third straight effective running play capped a five-play, 58-yard drive with the touchdown that put Dallas ahead to stay.
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Cowher, Shanahan or Gruden?
Who would you guys prefer as John Fox’s successor?
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
If I HAD to choose between those three...
Bill Cowher, but I’m not really sold on any one of them honestly.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
I don't see at all what there is to knock on Cowher
The whole it took 14 years to win Superbowl is lame, since most coaches don’t win one at all, and considering you only have a 1/32 chance anyways. He went to the AFC Championship almost 50% of the time he was a head coach. Plus he’s got relationships out the wazoo… He’d bring in a heck of a GM and staff.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
I'm not knocking Cowher, not at all.
I just said I wasn’t sold on him. His amazing working relationship with Dick LeBeau definately shaped the dominant defense of that team. They were compeditive year in and year out because of defensive dominance.
Each and every year they had a mediocre at best offense and when the offense came together they went to the AFC championship that 50% of the time.
I love Bill Cowher as the coach of the Steelers and the coach I remember, I’m just not sold on him being the coach of the Carolina Panthers, not unless we get a glimpse of the kind of staff he would surround himself with.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
Awhh Humbug
Fox lover ;)
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
Nope, I'm firing up the Parcells bandwagon!
I think there’s a more realistic chance of luring him to Charlotte to audit the team and clean house in the offseason than convince Bill Cowher to give up on the family time he so desperately wanted, leave his cushy TV job and come coach the Panthers.
Don’t you think every team who’s needed a coach the last 2 years didn’t call Cowher first? I guarantee they all did, but him declined.
If Fox is the problem, then Parcells will get rid of him. He would also ensure that no player makes the 53 man roster without having a desire and commitment to excellence. I said it in another topic, but look what Parcells did to the Cowboys and Dolphins, now, imagine what he could do with the talent we already have.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
Aren't the Dolphins 0-3?
And many people calling last year a fluke?
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
Were we a fluke too?
Let’s put that in perspective a little.
Furthermore, they lost to the Falcons, Colts and Chargers… not exactly slouches.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
Maybe we were???
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
cowher
when cowher retired from the steelers, he made it seem like he wasn’t done coaching, he just wanted a break. he said he definitely wanted a year off, but he wasn’t done for good. there weren’t too many good jobs available last year. i think next year, though, there will be a couple enticing jobs available, including the Panthers.
by usana_gaines on Sep 30, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Replacement coach
I would take Cowher or Gruden and not look back. Hopefully we could package Peppers and Delhomme in the deal. We are a middle of the road team and it is never going to change until Jerry R wakes up and cleans house. There was a national talk show on WFNZ this morning talking about how they grade teams, and they use four points to judge their results to determine who will go to the playoffs and SB. They are owner,general manager,coach and quarterback. A few teams got A’s the Cowboys got B- and the Panthers “nothing”, he said we are just a middle of the road team and will never get better until there are changes starting at the top (I don’t mean the owner).
Jason Garrett with Kevin Green as DC
Wide open offense, super-aggressive defense. Give me games full of big plays on both sides of the ball, for both teams. If nothing else, it would be entertaining as hell… :)
Nice analysis Ryan
I really like the ‘anatomy of a drive’ perspective. It makes me wonder if Barber being out threw off the defensive plan and we weren’t prepared for Jones.
Of course, I could just be making excuses too.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
Barber out
Barber being out could have thrown off our d. Felix Jones is a totally different type of back with blazing speed and with Pep flopping around on the corner we didnt stand a chance. Not to many people are able to get seperation from him and there were quite a few times Pep was damn near just patting him on the back as he blew by. If i remember correctly didnt he want to go to Dallas anyway !
Seems like every year Fox does well
It is because he did something well that nobody was expecting. 2003 nobody expected much from 7-9 team the previous year. In 2005 nobody knew Steve Smith was as good as he is. In 2007 nobody expected our running game to be that good. But once teams figure out we can do something good, they address that and Fox is a deer in head lights.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
Excellent recap
I get the feeling that it’s hard to balance “Read and React” with “Stay Home.” Couple that with the tacklers not being able to grasp the Cowboys’ jerseys and several people falling on their @$$es (cleat problems?) and a 3-5 yard cutback run becomes a 40-yard romp.
by panthersnbraves on Sep 30, 2009 2:47 PM EDT reply actions
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