The Dallas Cowboys Defense: the Dan Quinn Factor
Dan Quinn was known as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and the Legion of Boom. They dominated many years under his guidance. Now Dan Quinn has taken a below average defense and turned it around in Dallas into one of the the top in the NFL in just 3 years. They play primarily a 4-3 and he has an excellent defensive line and a game changer in Micah Parsons. They get great pressure with their 4 man rush but have made some changes due to injury of late.
They are near the top in several categories:
Points allowed: 16.7 ##4 in the league (just 2 years ago they were at 29.6 ppg)
takeaways: #3 with 2.0 per game
Opponents yards per game: 288 yards #5
Opponents passing yards per game:#3
interceptions: #1 in interceptions per pass
Sacks: #9 in the league in Sack Percentage, small drop off from last year where they were 2nd.
Completions allowed: #8
Great Red Zone Defense: #8 in touchdowns allowed
Noticeable differences in the defense and what makes them successful:
1. They seem to be blitzing less in 2022 and 2023 stunting more with their active defensive line. They utilize more 4 man games and are getting great pressure from Lawrence and Parsons. According to PFF, they lead the league and have stunted on 124 snaps. The 2nd closest is the 49ers with 82. They have only blitzed 1/5 times this year at slightly below 20%. Micah parsons is unblockable at times as he had 10 qb pressures in the playoff game vs the Bucs.
2. They are playing more man coverage this season after cooling off last year. This year they are 3rd in the category. In 2022 they were 15th and the year before they were 3rd. They played a ton of single high. This year there is a considerable difference as they are more balanced with several cover 2 and hole concepts. They also play their variations of cover 3.
3. Trevon Diggs is a great CB and has been rock solid all year. But he is out now and lets see how that changes. He is a great CB as was evident against Mike Evans last night holding Mike Evans to 6 catches for 74 yards, most of it late when the game was on the line. He has been matched up often against a teams top WR, which was evident at times vs Mike Evans in the playoff game last week.
4. Dan does a great job of moving players around and playing to their strength and let's look at some of his schemes. You will see Micah Parsons as a LB in a 4-2 a mike in a bear look and then either on the left side and right side in their base scheme. They play to his skill set designing some pressures for him and getting matchups they like. It causes issues preparing for them defensively because you have to have special plans and schemes for Parsons and where he aligns. You want to try to avoid a matchup issue with him on a RB. SEE BELOW
5. They do a good job of using the safeties in the middle of the field as hole defenders, taking away those in breaking concepts that teams like to run. They do it in their nickel often and it can cause problems for qb's in their progressions. They don't play them as deep as other teams and they are active in the middle of the field, jumping routes.
Lets go to some film:
Vs the Chargers you saw some 5 man pressures as well as standard 4 man rush games. They played more man and have been playing man even with Diggs out. They seemed to bring more pressure this game. ]
Here are 3 examples of 5 man pressures
#1 Below they are in the load front and run an inside twist and the LB off the edge. The Left DE just beats his man inside. Nice coverage downfield in man free
#2 Also, in that game, they bring the slot pressure and play man free. The Chargers have guys open but no time for Herbert to get the ball to the sail route or the out up top because of the pressure.
#3 Bringing the edge to the bunch side here. They get pressure, force the quick thrown as the qb Herbert is under duress.
They also brought 4 man rush type pressures:
Standard 4 man rush with the tackle end game at the bottom of the screen. The tackle does a great job getting up field and forcing the QB to step up. Although they mess up the coverage, either combo or man, the pressure causes a bad throw.
They are so well coached, Good luck trying to run boot at Micah Parsons, The Cowboys are in 4 and sort it out very nicely below.
Stunts: Here's 2 they ran vs the Bucs . Quinn will find your weakness and attack it with games.
1st one is a T and E stunt
2nd one is one where Parsons rushes inside and the DT will be a late looper.
Moving Parsons around to create protection issues.
Here's some examples of Micah Parsons being utilized in 2022. In addition to being on the line as a defensive end, Quinn will have the Micah package each game.
#1 Bear , he's at the middle linebacker spot. He gets the mismatch on the RB
Moving Parsons around to create protection issues.
Here's some examples of Micah Parsons being utilized. In addition to being on the line as a defensive end, Quinn will have the Micah package each game.
#1 Bear , he's at the middle linebacker spot. He gets the mismatch on the RB
Asking a RB to block him is tough as he comes clean from the mike position in the bear look.
#2 Here is Micah in the 4-2 look, they get the mismatch with RB on #55 as they run a cross dog. Nice job of getting pressure.
#2 Here is Micah in the 4-2 look, they get the mismatch with RB on #55 as they run a cross dog. Nice job of getting pressure.
The pressure gets home as they try to take the LB with a rb.
The LB as well as Parsons gets home.
But it changes protection and puts a good rusher on a center or RB.
These are just some of the reasons the Cowboys defense is top 10 in several categories. Dan Quinn is a top coordinator and outstanding football coach. Hope you enjoyed the article.