Vanilla is out. New Dallas Cowboys defense to play more schemes, disguise coverages
Despite reports to the contrary, the Dallas Cowboys defense wasn’t atrocious in 2019.
It ranked ninth in total defense and 11th in scoring.
However, the big plays were lacking as the Cowboys were 19th in sacks and woeful in takeaways, ranking 30th with just 10 fumbles and seven interceptions.
Reasons for the lack of splash plays, outside of a so-called lack of playmakers, included a refusal to blitz and predictable coverages under former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, and passing game coordinator Kris Richard, who called the defenses the past two seasons.
One of the biggest changes that came with the hiring of Mike McCarthy as head coach is a new philosophy on defense under new coordinator Mike Nolan. The Cowboys will continue to be a base 4-3 scheme but also employ the 3-4 as they plan to play multiple schemes with a variety of personnel.
Even more exciting for a secondary that notched just four interceptions last season and lost its best player, cornerback Byron Jones, to the Miami Dolphins in free agency is that they will no longer just play vanilla defenses. They will be more complex and plan to give offenses a tougher time with Nolan calling the plays.
There will be variance in schemes and more coverages and more pre-snap disguises, safety Xavier Woods happily acknowledged on a coverage call with reporters about what he’s learned during the virtual zoom position meetings.
“As far as defensively, it’s totally different,” Woods said. “A lot more defensive [schemes] than what we’ve played the past two years. More than just Cover 3 and man-to-man. More pre-snap disguises.”
Woods is pleased with what he has learned from the secondary coaches Maurice Linguist and Al Woods as they have evolved from learning the new defenses to film study where each player calls out the schemes.
“We all make mistakes because this is new, “he said. “[But] they’ve taught us well. They’ve installed the defenses so that we understand them well, and that’s all we can ask for in this moment of time.”
Woods said the virtual position meetings have allowed them to bond with their new teammates as best they can. And he is already creating a connection with veteran free-agent addition Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who is replacing the-departed Jeff Heath as his counterpart in the back of the secondary.
“We feed off each other,” Woods said. “He has knowledge to give me, and what I know I give him. Hopefully, we keep that going all the way throughout the season.”
“We’re gonna gel, become a family, become a brotherhood and hopefully be able to make a Super Bowl run.”
