Cowboys are well aware that Achilles heel is run defense. So how can they fix it? – Dallas Cowboys Blog

FRISCO, Texas – Mike McCarthy has not called plays in his two-plus seasons as the Dallas CowboysHe’s the head coach of the team, but he is also an expert on how to attack his own defense: running the ball. There are many.

“We’ve been talking about this since training camp,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been talking about the way we were going to be challenged from Day 1. Pass rush is something we recognize as a strength, but it’s a privilege at the moment. Until we take care of this run challenge, that’s what it’s going to be.”

For all the great work the Cowboys’ defence has done, it ranks 29th in rushing yardage allowed per game (143.1) as well as 26th in yards/carry (4.75).

The Cowboys allowed 240 yards in their two previous games.Chicago Bears) and 207 yards (Green Bay Packers) on the ground. This is the third consecutive time that the Cowboys have allowed more than 200 yards of rushing in consecutive seasons (Weeks 6-7 in 2020, Weeks 10-12 around their Week 11 bye 2013).

This week, against the Minnesota Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), they will look to avoid a third straight game allowing at least 200 yards rushing for the first time since 1960, the franchise’s inaugural season.

The Cowboys held a double-digit lead at the halftime in their previous two games. Yet, the opponent has run. Mobile Justin Fields This is more understandable when it comes to quarterback for the Bears. However, the 38-year old Aaron Rodgers? The Packers ran by design on 62% of their plays, which was the highest rate ever in a game started by Rodgers, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

“There’s an element that you just want to nail it perfectly, so that’s where we’re aiming toward to make sure we get that part right,” defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “We know how important it is. And as we’ve seen through some of those last few weeks, there are some teams that, ‘Hey, this fully committed to how we want to get it on [by rushing the ball].’ If that doesn’t get our attention to say, ‘This is how it has to go down,’ then it would be hard-pressed to find another way to get it across.”

The Vikings are 23rd in run offense. Dalvin Cook With 727 rushing yards, is eighth in league. Cowboys are the New York Giants On Thanksgiving, Saquon Barkley Leads the NFL in rushing (931 yard). The Cowboys will face six of the top 10 running backs in the NFL in their last eight games. This does not include Indianapolis’s reigning rushing champion. Jonathan TaylorAlthough he has only played seven games, he ran 147 yards last week.

“I think that’s part of the fun,” Quinn said. “Our league, there’s so many different ways. Sometimes you meet a team that just wants to let it go and have it done that way. Another team wants to come back and run it like we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks.”

“As you get into each week, you’ve got to make sure you’re able to match it and play, even if they’re showing another style one week and they show a different one in that week. That ability to adapt in the game is crucial, I believe. I’m certainly counting on us to be able to get that done.”

There has been a lot of frustration. Some players have spoken out about their job of doing what they do best. Quinn said some of it can be traced to “overtrying.”

“You must keep your gaps open and stop it. Linebacker: “You have to be accountable.” Micah Parsons said. “We must keep our gaps open, go downhill and stop them. This will continue until we stop it. Period … Until we put this out, them running the ball, we’ll never be as good as we need to be.”

Said safety Malik Hooker, “Cut the leakage, fit the run how we’re supposed to, and I feel like we’ll be all right down the road.”

Only two Super Bowl winners (2019) have been outside the top 11 in run defence over the past 10 seasons. Kansas City Chiefs, 2012 Baltimore Ravens), and only two have allowed more than 4 yards per carry (2019 Chiefs, 2018 New England Patriots).

Are the Cowboys able to stop the run with the right men?

“100%,” Quinn said.

So it’s not a talent issue?

“Nope,” he said.

Cowboys added a 340-pound defense tackle Johnathan Hankins The following are the Las Vegas Raiders Prior to the trade deadline but were more hurt, especially against the Packers was on the perimeter runs

On the interior runs, there was what the Cowboys call too much, “leakage,” where a runner gains more yards after contact.

They are being watched by their opponents. They know exactly where to test Dallas’ defense. The Cowboys are experts on the subject. They’ve known it since training camp.

“It really comes down to pad level and staying square and all the fundamentals of our run defense,” McCarthy said. “It’s hard. It’s ugly and that’s the beauty of it.”