FanPost

WWGD (What Will Garrett Do?)

In this Series of posts I am going to look at the Defenses that Dallas will be facing this year. I will give a Scouting report on each(hopefully) then based off that I will try to set out what I think the Game plan that I think Garrett will employ. This will be based off my "Air Garrett" posts (Version 1,Version 2) where I set out this statement:

That is what I think "Air Garret" is all about. Attacking the Defense at it's weakest point. Study the opponents carefully. Find out where they are lacking defensively. I bet you will see alot of plays designed to target that area.

Well on Sunday September 11th, 2011 The Dallas Cowboys meet the New Jersey York Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium. The Jets are coming off a fairly successful Season in which they Reached the AFC Championship game for the second year in a row. They are a Smash mouth "old School team" that relies on a pounding Ground game coupled with one of the best Defenses in the league led by their All pro CB Darrelle Revis. So where are the Weak points? Look past the Jump to find out.

Well seeing as my "Call for help" failed....I guess I have to wing this on my own (so to speak). First off, let's go to KD Drummond and his article Advanced (Stats) Scout: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets

Some Key points on the Defense from there:

  • Teams tried to attack the Jets with a quick tempo last season, 30.3 seconds used on the play clock, the 5th ‘defensive pace' in the league.
  • Rex Ryan is going to be bringing it from the secondary and all over the field. The Jets ranked 1st in the league in percentage of sacks by their DBs, 26.8%. This might be the worst case scenario for not only a young line, but one that hasn't spent any time together in regular season action. Add in the fact that the FB will have one week with the team, and Tony Romo will need to have his head on a swivel. I'm expecting numerous screens in this game, a facet of Jason Garrett's offense that has steadily improved over the years
  • Unlike Nnamdi Asomugha, Revis has lined up all over the field. From PFF.com: "In 2010, Darrelle Revis lined up for 204 snaps at right cornerback, 442 snaps at left cornerback, 116 snaps in the slot, and 77 in the middle of the formation as some variety of safety... [he] spent no more than 52.7% of his snaps in any one position last season."
  • From Pro Football Focus' Jets Team Preview

Strength Up Front

...We’re looking at the guys up front, and in particular Mike DeVito and Sione Pouha. Those two men combined for a +44.9 rating against the run in all games last year, and can look forward to some defensive reinforcements courtesy of a draft where the Jets added some youth to the unit (Muhammad Wilkerson,Kenrick Ellis, etc). The Jets can do so many things on defense because of guys like DeVito and Pouha.

Pressure off the Edge

If you saw our 2010 Pass Rushing Productivity article you’d have noticed that the Jets didn’t fair so well with two guys in the Bottom 10. In fact, it’s fair to say that they had some big issues generating pressure without having to get extremely exotic with their formations, packages and blitzes. So what is the solution to this? Hoping Jamaal Westerman and his 138 career snaps can make the jump to pass rushing stud? Or hoping that Aaron Maybin can channel some pressure?[RELEASED] It looks like the Jets are going to be over compensating for an inability to generate pressure without getting creative and leaving them exposed in coverage.

Now from our resident Draft guru ChiaCrack and How to Beat the Jets

Their defense is exotic and similar to ours, except that the Jets have true lock down cornerbacks on the outside. They lack a true pass rusher like we have in DeMarcus Ware. The Jets did add disruptive defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson in the first round and big boy Kenrick Ellis.

One last Supplement to this from OCC and his post, Key Matchups: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets:

Witten will likely go up against the Jets inside linebacker duo of Bart Scott (+29.9), the third ranked ILB in the league, and David Harris (+7.3), who is ranked 25th in the league. Both of them, but Scott in particular, are formidable against the run, yet neither is that much of a threat against the pass.

Scott has a +1.2 grade against the pass, Harris has a -1.6. For your reference, the Cowboys' Bradie James (+2.2) and Keith Brooking (+1.8) both graded out better against the pass.

[...] We already saw the run-stuffing prowess of the Jets ILBs. But it doesn't stop there. DE Mike DeVito was the second best run-stuffing 3-4 DE in the league last year (+17.0) and NT Sione Pouha ranked fourth best among all defensive tackles against the run (+19.0).

Now for a little Research of my own:

Name: *Darrelle Revis :

Height: 5-11
Weight: 198
40 Yrd Dash: 4.38
20 Yrd Dash: 2.49
10 Yrd Dash: 1.46
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 16
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 10'5"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.08
3-Cone Drill: 6.56

Name: *Antonio Cromartie

Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
40 Yrd Dash: 4.47
20 Yrd Dash: 2.70
10 Yrd Dash: 1.58
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 18
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 11'00"
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:


Dates: 03/16/06
Height: 6-2
Weight: 208
40 Yrd Dash: 4.38
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash:
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 42
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle: 3.89
3-Cone Drill: 7.02

Name: *Dez Bryant

Height: 6020
Weight: 225
40 Yrd Dash: 4.52
20 Yrd Dash: 2.51
10 Yrd Dash: 1.53
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 14
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 11'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.46
3-Cone Drill: 7.10

Name: Miles Austin

Height: 6021
Weight: 215
40 Yrd Dash: 4.47
20 Yrd Dash: 2.64
10 Yrd Dash: 1.56
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 40 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'03"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.14
3-Cone Drill: 7.09

So what does all this mean? Well near as I can tell the Jets rely on their two corners to "stop the pass" then use everyone else to "stop the run"....which works if you have Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Very few teams have the WR core that can deal with two outstanding Corners....

Another thing that Jason Witten is a match up Nightmare for the Jets. Along with Felix and Murray out of the backfield, Dallas matches up well with The Jets "D".

So What Will Garrett Do?

Well how do you avoid good run stopping Linemen and LB's? You Pass right? Wrong..you run, not at them though, around them... I think Garrett's "run Game will involve alot of "stretch plays" to force the Corners to come up and make tackles, something which few corners like to do. This also has the beneifit of "wearing the Defensive down" so to speak, by making them chase Felix and Murray sideline to sideline. It is hard to bring those ILB's on a bunch of Blitzes is they are worn out from chasing the RB's all over the field.

Now the Main Key here for Garrett is to understand that the plays may not work in the beginning. With a team that is as good at stopping the run as the Jets are, he has to understand that while great in thoery, those stretch plays aren't going to show immediate results.

Now for the Passing game....it is all about the matchups. Now the key thing here is the versatility of Witten, Felix and Murray. The Jets are great about sending those ILB's and Secondary on Blitzes. So how to combat that? Motion, Motion, Motion. Sample:

Start out in a Balanced 12(?) setup(1 WR, Two TE's Two RB's) here are the Players;

O-line- Free, Nagy, Costa, Koiser, Smith

WR-Dez

TE's Witten, Phillips

Running Backs- Murray, Felix

Now obviously this is A "running formation" right? Don't be so hasty, my friend. Look at the "Skill" Players: Dez, Witten , Phillips, Felix, Murray. What do they all have in common? Great hands, and decent runners(Dez and the RB's being great runners)

So Dallas could go with a Stretch play to either side(Balanced set remember?) Or they could get Funky. Personally I like Funky.

Witten Goes into motion, lines up out wide as a WR(Witten vs Cromartie anyone?) Now you could still run from this also, remember Felix and Murray backfield. Now Phillips motion into the back field, then Felix moves to the Slot Position. So now effectively you have created a 3WR, 2 RB set from a purely running set....And they say The Defense creates confusion...HAHA

Now the Great thing is this. If Dallas does go to a one WR set who do you think covers the WR? Revis or Cromartie? My bet is Revis...and if so, If I am Romo, I am licking my chops at that matchup....both Austin and Dez are taller, bigger, and more explosive(both "off the line and vertically) than Revis.... quick hitch fake , then throw it over the top....

And If Cromartie or Revis lines up against Witten? I am Laughing my A$$ off if I'm Romo....

Now but What about All those Blitzes Romo will see? Well that is the great thing about all the motion.. it puts two really good blockers to help with any blitzers that may get through. and If the ILBs Blitz? that means Dez has room to run on a quick slant..... If the Safety covering Felx blitzes? Quick throw his way...5-6 yards ...Oh you want to play nickel? guess what? Here some Off tackle Murray for ya.....and yes there will be Screen passes....

As always I welcome any comments and Critiques that you all may have.....Let me know if this is something that you guys want to see as a Weekly Series....Poll Time!

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