Cowboys now playing 3-4 defense instead of learning it
8/24/2006 3:42 PM
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
IRVING, Texas (AP) -No more guesswork for Dallas defenders. Instead of trying to learn the 3-4 defense, the Cowboys are just playing it this season.
That wasn't always the case last year after coach Bill Parcells finally made the transition to the defensive scheme he'd always preferred but that had never been a staple in Dallas.
``This year, everybody knows what to expect. Everybody's not guessing out there. We all have some experience,'' said Bradie James, the fourth-year linebacker in charge of calling the defensive signals.
``We're a lot more comfortable. You just see guys out there, how fast everybody is running around, not thinking,'' said cornerback Terence Newman, the first player Parcells drafted after coming to the Cowboys in 2003. ``Being in the second year is a boost.''
The Cowboys are off to a good start this preseason, having allowed only 10 points with six sacks in two games even while playing conservatively. The first-team offense for Seattle, the NFL's highest-scoring team last season, managed only 56 yards and a field goal.
Dallas plays its first home game Saturday night against San Francisco, then wraps up the preseason five nights later against Minnesota.
While only the preseason, Parcells likes the swagger he's seeing on defense.
``My players have a little more attitude and confidence,'' Parcells said. ``We are bigger, we are faster.''
Exactly what he wanted when he switched defenses following the 6-10 record in 2004, his second season in Dallas.
Before last season, Parcells added 310-pound nose guard Jason Ferguson and veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn - players he'd had before in the system. Six of the eight draft picks in 2005 were defenders, including first-round picks and starters DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. Defensive end Chris Canty, the fourth-round pick, has also become a starter.
The primary additions since were free agent Akin Ayodele, a starter the last two seasons in Jacksonville and now one of the starting inside linebackers for the Cowboys. He plays ahead of rookie Bobby Carpenter, this year's first-round pick.
Greg Ellis is making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker. The Cowboys have so much depth at linebacker that this week they traded Scott Shanle, who started half of the games last season, to New Orleans.
Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle La'Roi Glover left in free agency during the offseason, but Ferguson is the prototypical wide body Parcells likes clogging the middle.
``Most of our decisions now center around personnel than how we do things,'' Parcells said.
Plus, Parcells isn't still teaching the scheme to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who had always run the 4-3 sets and had a top-ranked defense in Parcells' first season.
That first-year success, when the Cowboys went to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, probably put off any significant defensive changes. The team's overall setback in 2004 changed Parcells' mind.
Dallas has the NFL's 10th-ranked defense, allowing 301 yards per game last season in the transition to the 3-4. Now with the personnel in place and Zimmer fully understanding the scheme, there are bigger expectations.
``We've got some stallions out there,'' Newman said.
``Mike sees definitely very clearly what we're looking for,'' Parcells said. ``I could just tell by the conversation and the questions he asked that he's thinking down the road.''
When Zimmer turned in his game plan to Parcells before the first preseason game, the head coach immediately handed it back. The detail-oriented Parcells wanted the plan cut in half.
``What I'm having to do now is keep his mind from racing because he's seeing the possibility of things,'' Parcells said.
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
IRVING, Texas (AP) -No more guesswork for Dallas defenders. Instead of trying to learn the 3-4 defense, the Cowboys are just playing it this season.
That wasn't always the case last year after coach Bill Parcells finally made the transition to the defensive scheme he'd always preferred but that had never been a staple in Dallas.
``This year, everybody knows what to expect. Everybody's not guessing out there. We all have some experience,'' said Bradie James, the fourth-year linebacker in charge of calling the defensive signals.
``We're a lot more comfortable. You just see guys out there, how fast everybody is running around, not thinking,'' said cornerback Terence Newman, the first player Parcells drafted after coming to the Cowboys in 2003. ``Being in the second year is a boost.''
The Cowboys are off to a good start this preseason, having allowed only 10 points with six sacks in two games even while playing conservatively. The first-team offense for Seattle, the NFL's highest-scoring team last season, managed only 56 yards and a field goal.
Dallas plays its first home game Saturday night against San Francisco, then wraps up the preseason five nights later against Minnesota.
While only the preseason, Parcells likes the swagger he's seeing on defense.
``My players have a little more attitude and confidence,'' Parcells said. ``We are bigger, we are faster.''
Exactly what he wanted when he switched defenses following the 6-10 record in 2004, his second season in Dallas.
Before last season, Parcells added 310-pound nose guard Jason Ferguson and veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn - players he'd had before in the system. Six of the eight draft picks in 2005 were defenders, including first-round picks and starters DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. Defensive end Chris Canty, the fourth-round pick, has also become a starter.
The primary additions since were free agent Akin Ayodele, a starter the last two seasons in Jacksonville and now one of the starting inside linebackers for the Cowboys. He plays ahead of rookie Bobby Carpenter, this year's first-round pick.
Greg Ellis is making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker. The Cowboys have so much depth at linebacker that this week they traded Scott Shanle, who started half of the games last season, to New Orleans.
Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle La'Roi Glover left in free agency during the offseason, but Ferguson is the prototypical wide body Parcells likes clogging the middle.
``Most of our decisions now center around personnel than how we do things,'' Parcells said.
Plus, Parcells isn't still teaching the scheme to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who had always run the 4-3 sets and had a top-ranked defense in Parcells' first season.
That first-year success, when the Cowboys went to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, probably put off any significant defensive changes. The team's overall setback in 2004 changed Parcells' mind.
Dallas has the NFL's 10th-ranked defense, allowing 301 yards per game last season in the transition to the 3-4. Now with the personnel in place and Zimmer fully understanding the scheme, there are bigger expectations.
``We've got some stallions out there,'' Newman said.
``Mike sees definitely very clearly what we're looking for,'' Parcells said. ``I could just tell by the conversation and the questions he asked that he's thinking down the road.''
When Zimmer turned in his game plan to Parcells before the first preseason game, the head coach immediately handed it back. The detail-oriented Parcells wanted the plan cut in half.
``What I'm having to do now is keep his mind from racing because he's seeing the possibility of things,'' Parcells said.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:07 PM
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