Cowboys: Phillips' defense based on speed
Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
Jimmy Johnson liked his defensive players fast.
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Bill Parcells liked them big.
Wade Phillips likes them big and fast.
With that in mind, it's no surprise that even the biggest of the Dallas Cowboys defensive players reported to training camp last week either below their playing weight from last season or right at the number coaches requested in the offseason.
"I want them to be able to run," Phillips said Monday. "I want them to run as fast as they can run.
"We will work on leverage and things like that if we need to, but I would rather have a guy that can run. A big guy that can run is better than just a big guy."
Rule No. 1 of Phillips' aggressive version of the 3-4 defense is swarm the ball. Parcells preferred a more cautious approach.
Under Phillips, inside linebackers will no longer be required to take direct hits from guards and centers, a staple of Parcells' version of the scheme. Under Phillips, inside linebackers Bradie James and Akin Ayodele will be covered up more by defensive tackles, which will allow the linebackers to roam the field.
Phillips' style is more in tune with that of Johnson, who led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories in the early 1990s with a speed heavy defense.
"We want them running to the football," Phillips said. "We want great pursuit. You still have to stuff people when it's time to. But there is a little more leeway with this defense."
That's why James weighs 245, a far cry from the 260 pounds he packed on his 6-foot-2 frame last season.
"I had to play at 260 last season to protect myself, but I know I can't play at that weight in this scheme because it's so demanding with all the running around," James said. "But I can't lose too much weight because I still have to deliver a punch."
Strength coach Joe Juraszek spearheaded Phillips' drive to make the defense leaner.
"I told Joe early when I got here what I wanted," said Phillips, who replaced the retired Parcells in February. "(Juraszek) doesn't just gear (his offseason conditioning program) to what the players want. He also gears it to what the coach wants.
"And he let them know pretty quick I want them to be able to run."
James wasn't the only big loser. Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams weighs 221 pounds, eight fewer than last year.
"We didn't have any fines for players being overweight, which is probably a first here," Phillips said. "We had people who came in under the weight we wanted, and some people like Roy came in even under what we had tagged for them."
Defensive end Chris Canty didn't lose any weight, choosing instead to add muscle mass to his 6-7, 299-pound frame.
"A lot of people said, 'Man, you look skinny,' but I still weigh the same," Canty said. "I did a lot of running, a lot of agility work to become a better athlete.
"Bill wanted us to get to the ball too. But this whole scheme, from linemen to the secondary, is based on speed. We're trying to create negative plays and disrupt the offense using our speed and athletic ability."
San Antonio Express-News
Jimmy Johnson liked his defensive players fast.
advertisement
Bill Parcells liked them big.
Wade Phillips likes them big and fast.
With that in mind, it's no surprise that even the biggest of the Dallas Cowboys defensive players reported to training camp last week either below their playing weight from last season or right at the number coaches requested in the offseason.
"I want them to be able to run," Phillips said Monday. "I want them to run as fast as they can run.
"We will work on leverage and things like that if we need to, but I would rather have a guy that can run. A big guy that can run is better than just a big guy."
Rule No. 1 of Phillips' aggressive version of the 3-4 defense is swarm the ball. Parcells preferred a more cautious approach.
Under Phillips, inside linebackers will no longer be required to take direct hits from guards and centers, a staple of Parcells' version of the scheme. Under Phillips, inside linebackers Bradie James and Akin Ayodele will be covered up more by defensive tackles, which will allow the linebackers to roam the field.
Phillips' style is more in tune with that of Johnson, who led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories in the early 1990s with a speed heavy defense.
"We want them running to the football," Phillips said. "We want great pursuit. You still have to stuff people when it's time to. But there is a little more leeway with this defense."
That's why James weighs 245, a far cry from the 260 pounds he packed on his 6-foot-2 frame last season.
"I had to play at 260 last season to protect myself, but I know I can't play at that weight in this scheme because it's so demanding with all the running around," James said. "But I can't lose too much weight because I still have to deliver a punch."
Strength coach Joe Juraszek spearheaded Phillips' drive to make the defense leaner.
"I told Joe early when I got here what I wanted," said Phillips, who replaced the retired Parcells in February. "(Juraszek) doesn't just gear (his offseason conditioning program) to what the players want. He also gears it to what the coach wants.
"And he let them know pretty quick I want them to be able to run."
James wasn't the only big loser. Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams weighs 221 pounds, eight fewer than last year.
"We didn't have any fines for players being overweight, which is probably a first here," Phillips said. "We had people who came in under the weight we wanted, and some people like Roy came in even under what we had tagged for them."
Defensive end Chris Canty didn't lose any weight, choosing instead to add muscle mass to his 6-7, 299-pound frame.
"A lot of people said, 'Man, you look skinny,' but I still weigh the same," Canty said. "I did a lot of running, a lot of agility work to become a better athlete.
"Bill wanted us to get to the ball too. But this whole scheme, from linemen to the secondary, is based on speed. We're trying to create negative plays and disrupt the offense using our speed and athletic ability."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:09 PM
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