Dallas defense should be a tough test for (Texans) offense
Texans know 3-4, but not like this
Dallas defense should be a tough test for offense
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
When the Texans line up against the Cowboys' 3-4 defense this week, it won't be foreign to them.
Although they had little success, the Texans used the same scheme for four seasons. They ranked next to last in total defense in 2003 and 2005. Their best finish came in 2002, when they ranked 16th among the NFL's 32 teams.
The Cowboys haven't had similar struggles in the 3-4k. Now in their third season in the scheme, the Cowboys rank ninth in total defense. They are fifth against the run, allowing just 75.3 yards per game.
"If you play the 3-4 and have good personnel, it's a great defense," right tackle Zach Wiegert said. "They are all very gap sound. They are all smart players. They don't do a ton of stuff, but they just do what they do really well."
With Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson and Chris Canty manning the front, and linebackers Greg Ellis, DeMarcus Ware, Akin Ayodele and Bradie James on the second level, the Cowboys' front seven is daunting.
"They have some big, talented players out there, and they create mismatches for your backs and even for your tackles," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "(Cowboys coach Bill Parcells) built a heck of a crew over there. And their back end, starting with the safety (Roy Williams) and the corner (Terence Newman), they're as good as there is in this business."
The Cowboys, who often play Williams near the line of scrimmage to bolster their run defense, make stopping the run their top priority.
"You always have to look for (Williams) because he's like another linebacker on the field," Wiegert said. "Usually they'll play seven guys and then if you start hurting them on the run, they'll bring him up to shut the run down."
It figures to be a task unlike any the Texans have faced this season. Only four teams have allowed fewer rushing yards per game than the Cowboys.
Texans center Mike Flanagan said: "They're lining up, saying, 'You can't beat us. We're not disguising anything. We're going to be right here. If you're going to beat us, you're going to have to physically dominate us, man-on-man.' "
Dallas' defense is not without flaws. After watching the Cowboys allow an 87-yard touchdown pass and a 40-yard flea flicker in last week's loss at Philadelphia, the Texans are hoping there are plays to be made against the Cowboys.
"You go through the course of a season and you're going to get beat," quarterback David Carr said. "That stuff happens, but good teams respond to that. And I have no reason to doubt they won't bounce back from that. So we're going to have to play a pretty solid game."
Dallas defense should be a tough test for offense
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
When the Texans line up against the Cowboys' 3-4 defense this week, it won't be foreign to them.
Although they had little success, the Texans used the same scheme for four seasons. They ranked next to last in total defense in 2003 and 2005. Their best finish came in 2002, when they ranked 16th among the NFL's 32 teams.
The Cowboys haven't had similar struggles in the 3-4k. Now in their third season in the scheme, the Cowboys rank ninth in total defense. They are fifth against the run, allowing just 75.3 yards per game.
"If you play the 3-4 and have good personnel, it's a great defense," right tackle Zach Wiegert said. "They are all very gap sound. They are all smart players. They don't do a ton of stuff, but they just do what they do really well."
With Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson and Chris Canty manning the front, and linebackers Greg Ellis, DeMarcus Ware, Akin Ayodele and Bradie James on the second level, the Cowboys' front seven is daunting.
"They have some big, talented players out there, and they create mismatches for your backs and even for your tackles," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "(Cowboys coach Bill Parcells) built a heck of a crew over there. And their back end, starting with the safety (Roy Williams) and the corner (Terence Newman), they're as good as there is in this business."
The Cowboys, who often play Williams near the line of scrimmage to bolster their run defense, make stopping the run their top priority.
"You always have to look for (Williams) because he's like another linebacker on the field," Wiegert said. "Usually they'll play seven guys and then if you start hurting them on the run, they'll bring him up to shut the run down."
It figures to be a task unlike any the Texans have faced this season. Only four teams have allowed fewer rushing yards per game than the Cowboys.
Texans center Mike Flanagan said: "They're lining up, saying, 'You can't beat us. We're not disguising anything. We're going to be right here. If you're going to beat us, you're going to have to physically dominate us, man-on-man.' "
Dallas' defense is not without flaws. After watching the Cowboys allow an 87-yard touchdown pass and a 40-yard flea flicker in last week's loss at Philadelphia, the Texans are hoping there are plays to be made against the Cowboys.
"You go through the course of a season and you're going to get beat," quarterback David Carr said. "That stuff happens, but good teams respond to that. And I have no reason to doubt they won't bounce back from that. So we're going to have to play a pretty solid game."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:45 PM
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