To rush quarterbacks, Cowboys coach calls for dogs, not blitzes
JAIME ARON AP Sports Writer
Article Launched: 11/01/2007 05:05:26 PM MDT
IRVING, Texas—Coach Wade Phillips is quick to say the Dallas Cowboys don't blitz much.
You just have to understand his definition of "blitz."
To Phillips, blitzing means sending six or even seven rushers, so many that the secondary is forced into one-on-one coverage without anyone left to protect the middle of the field.
"We just don't do that," he said. "I think you're taking too many chances. You can give up big plays easily. And it's not real sound most of the times. So I'm not a big blitz proponent."
Instead, Phillips calls for "dogs." That means the three defensive linemen are joined by two outside linebackers instead of one, as usual.
"They used to call it 'red dog' when everybody was playing a 4-3 and they brought a fifth guy," Phillips said. "So when we bring (Greg) Ellis and (DeMarcus) Ware, that's just a five-man rush. ... If there's a free safety in the middle, then you're running some kind of dog. That's the way I (call it)."
Got that?
Whatever the name, the Cowboys should be able to do it better once they have both starting cornerbacks in place for the first time. Anthony Henry (high ankle sprain) went down Sept. 30, the same game Terence Newman (foot, knee) played for the first time.
"You take calculated risks according to your personnel," Phillips said. "We'd play more man-to-man if we had man-to-man people. If we don't have man-to-man people, we don't play that much man-to-man."
After practice
Thursday, Phillips said there was "more of a possibility that (Henry) will be worked into the lineup" against the Eagles.
"I doubt very seriously he'll start, but there is a better chance he'll work back in," Phillips said.
———
WHOA, BUDDY:@ When Buddy Ryan went from defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears to head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, his defensive coordinator was a guy named Wade Phillips.
Phillips was with Ryan from 1986-88, overseeing a defense that included Reggie White. With Randall Cunningham running the offense, the Eagles went from five wins in '86 to 10 wins and a division title in '88.
"We were trying to build a football team and I thought we did well," Phillips said. "Of course we had some good players, especially defensively. Taking a team that hadn't won, and building, that was enjoyable for me."
Ryan was quite the character, and not in the jolly way Phillips is. Crusty is a better word. Example: Faking a kneel-down and throwing a touchdown pass to run up the score against Tom Landry and the Cowboys.
Phillips called it "the most embarrassed I've been in pro football."
"We were ahead by 10 points and it's five seconds left in the game or 10 seconds or whatever there were, and you're going to fake a kneel-down and throw the ball on somebody? The game is over," Phillips said. "Mike Quick could've gotten hurt. Or Randall Cunningham or someone on the play. then after that, they called interference and there was no time left. And we ran it in for a touchdown. I've just never coached that way."
Phillips told Ryan how he felt.
"He didn't care what I thought," Phillips said.
Obviously not. In 1989, when Phillips was working in Denver, Ryan was behind the infamous Bounty Bowl, when he allegedly targeted Dallas kicker Luis Zendejas.
———
QUICK HITS:@ Phillips is 4-2 after byes. He won his first four then lost the last two, both by two points at home. ... This is the final game NT Tank Johnson has to sit out. He'll make his Dallas debut a week from Sunday against the Giants. ... Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been added to the board of trustees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jones also is among 124 nominees for the Hall's Class of 2008 in the contributor category. Former Cowboys personnel director Gil Brandt is, too. Ex-Dallas players in the running include DEs Charles Haley, Jim Jeffcoat, Ed "Too Tall" Jones; WR Drew Pearson, TE Jay Novacek and RB Herschel Walker. Former offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese is in the running as a coach. The list will be pared to 25 semifinalists. ... Phillips blasted music during practice Thursday to simulate the noisy conditions they'll likely face Sunday night. Soulja Boy was among the featured artists, much to Phillips' chagrin. "I'm more West Coast rap," he said, laughing.
Article Launched: 11/01/2007 05:05:26 PM MDT
IRVING, Texas—Coach Wade Phillips is quick to say the Dallas Cowboys don't blitz much.
You just have to understand his definition of "blitz."
To Phillips, blitzing means sending six or even seven rushers, so many that the secondary is forced into one-on-one coverage without anyone left to protect the middle of the field.
"We just don't do that," he said. "I think you're taking too many chances. You can give up big plays easily. And it's not real sound most of the times. So I'm not a big blitz proponent."
Instead, Phillips calls for "dogs." That means the three defensive linemen are joined by two outside linebackers instead of one, as usual.
"They used to call it 'red dog' when everybody was playing a 4-3 and they brought a fifth guy," Phillips said. "So when we bring (Greg) Ellis and (DeMarcus) Ware, that's just a five-man rush. ... If there's a free safety in the middle, then you're running some kind of dog. That's the way I (call it)."
Got that?
Whatever the name, the Cowboys should be able to do it better once they have both starting cornerbacks in place for the first time. Anthony Henry (high ankle sprain) went down Sept. 30, the same game Terence Newman (foot, knee) played for the first time.
"You take calculated risks according to your personnel," Phillips said. "We'd play more man-to-man if we had man-to-man people. If we don't have man-to-man people, we don't play that much man-to-man."
After practice
Thursday, Phillips said there was "more of a possibility that (Henry) will be worked into the lineup" against the Eagles.
"I doubt very seriously he'll start, but there is a better chance he'll work back in," Phillips said.
———
WHOA, BUDDY:@ When Buddy Ryan went from defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears to head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, his defensive coordinator was a guy named Wade Phillips.
Phillips was with Ryan from 1986-88, overseeing a defense that included Reggie White. With Randall Cunningham running the offense, the Eagles went from five wins in '86 to 10 wins and a division title in '88.
"We were trying to build a football team and I thought we did well," Phillips said. "Of course we had some good players, especially defensively. Taking a team that hadn't won, and building, that was enjoyable for me."
Ryan was quite the character, and not in the jolly way Phillips is. Crusty is a better word. Example: Faking a kneel-down and throwing a touchdown pass to run up the score against Tom Landry and the Cowboys.
Phillips called it "the most embarrassed I've been in pro football."
"We were ahead by 10 points and it's five seconds left in the game or 10 seconds or whatever there were, and you're going to fake a kneel-down and throw the ball on somebody? The game is over," Phillips said. "Mike Quick could've gotten hurt. Or Randall Cunningham or someone on the play. then after that, they called interference and there was no time left. And we ran it in for a touchdown. I've just never coached that way."
Phillips told Ryan how he felt.
"He didn't care what I thought," Phillips said.
Obviously not. In 1989, when Phillips was working in Denver, Ryan was behind the infamous Bounty Bowl, when he allegedly targeted Dallas kicker Luis Zendejas.
———
QUICK HITS:@ Phillips is 4-2 after byes. He won his first four then lost the last two, both by two points at home. ... This is the final game NT Tank Johnson has to sit out. He'll make his Dallas debut a week from Sunday against the Giants. ... Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been added to the board of trustees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jones also is among 124 nominees for the Hall's Class of 2008 in the contributor category. Former Cowboys personnel director Gil Brandt is, too. Ex-Dallas players in the running include DEs Charles Haley, Jim Jeffcoat, Ed "Too Tall" Jones; WR Drew Pearson, TE Jay Novacek and RB Herschel Walker. Former offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese is in the running as a coach. The list will be pared to 25 semifinalists. ... Phillips blasted music during practice Thursday to simulate the noisy conditions they'll likely face Sunday night. Soulja Boy was among the featured artists, much to Phillips' chagrin. "I'm more West Coast rap," he said, laughing.
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