Here are the key takeaways from the Dallas Cowboys defense this season. Fixing these defensive issues could end up being Dallas.
The Dallas Cowboys have found their way to the postseason for the third straight season. With the playoffs looming, the Cowboys have just three regular season games left. After an embarrassing loss to Buffalo, the Cowboys defense is looking to get back on track and finish the year strong.
The final stretch of the game has big playoff implications for Dallas. Staying afloat in the final weeks will be crucial to making the NFC playoffs. Head coach Mike McCarthy’s excellent offseason adjustments have completely transformed the Cowboys’ excellent red zone offense.
On the other side of the ball, the defense was singled out as one of the better offenses in the league. That raised questions about Dallas’ ability to beat top teams, which seems justified at this point. The Cowboys are seriously missing Trevon Diggs right now, which is causing problems on all three levels of the defense. Here are three keys to turning around the defense in Dallas in January.
3 keys to defensive success in Dallas Stopping the run It’s no secret that the way to beat the Dallas Cowboys is to run, run, run. Their defense allowed 266 yards on the ground against Buffalo, who only ran the ball seven times all game. This kind of playoff performance sends the Cowboys home early, and now other teams know how to beat them.
Unfortunately, 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith has yet to live up to what was supposed to be their 330-pound linebacker. The Cowboys suffered as a result, forcing them to make personnel changes to soften the blow on the ground. Micah Parsons returning to the varsity linebacker at times could help solve a lot of the problems they face at running back. Their current defenders aren’t cutting it.
This has created a scheme that teams can use on the field against Dallas. Compensating for Diggs’ injury Trevon Diggs’ injury hurts the Cowboys’ defense, and their cornerbacks will have to step up big in his absence. Their current cornerback, Daron Bland, was a good replacement for Diggs. Bland has similar flaws to Trevon Diggs, both of whom are prone to getting burned.
He needs more than just good dribbling skills to be a successful cornerback in this league. Dan Quinn asks a lot of his defense and uses the more manly coverage of the league. For Dallas’ defense to reach its full potential, Daron Bland must step up when needed. Dealing with movement The league’s top forwards have added movement to their attacks, creating inconsistencies and confusion in opposing defenses.
The Dallas Cowboys are one of the worst teams against the move, in part because they saw a lot against San Fransisco earlier this year. The three most mobile teams: San Fransico, Miami and Kansas City are all Super Bowl contenders this year. For the Cowboys to reach similar heights, they will need to figure out how to shut down this type of offense quickly. A snap move throws Dallas for a loop. They need to figure out how to end it quickly if they want to represent the NFC in Super Bowl Fifty-Eight.
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