Cowherd: "We watch Detroit, Green Bay, Washington, Baltimore. These power

Dec 12, 2024, 1:32 PM

running teams are now front and center. Do you think there is a reason for it schematically?

(the following matches up with what we have seen from our defense(until Sammy Brown got up to speed) and the way defenses are playing us, and Texas likely will, to prevent the Wescoe deep shots.

Greg Cosell: "I do. I think there are a number of reasons. Philly is the #1 example. They lead the league in rushing. But what you are seeing more of in the league in no particular order is

1. A lot more 12 personnel. Offenses are playing with more multiple tight ends - 2 and sometimes 3 tight ends.

2. You're seeing issues with offensive lines in pass protection. That's been a major issue throughout the league for a lot of teams. If you have issues in pass protection, you try to run the football and alleviate that problem.

3. There has been far more 2 high safeties structure coverages. That's been the trend over the last couple of years. Where there's 2 high safeties instead of 1 safety sitting in the box. So, the numbers tend to favor the run game.

4. More and more teams are playing big nickel, playing with 3 safeties as sort of a base defense instead of a third linebacker. So you're seeing smaller players on the field so the run game has become more and more prevalent.

5. But, overall the pass protection thing really stands out to me. I remember years ago talking to Jon Gruden. He said you don't have a passing game if you can't protect. Protection has been a big issue in the league." - Greg Cosell

We've been good in pass protection this year but we're not especially powerful in run blocking. We've seen a lot of 2 high safeties to prevent the big plays down the field.

Without a solid run game, it's going to be tough to hit the big plays down the field. It would be great if Mafah could regain his attacking style by next weekend and punish these safeties and corners, though that seems doubtful. We need to figure something out in the running game so that we can make Texas pay for 2 high safeties.

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Cowherd: "We watch Detroit, Green Bay, Washington, Baltimore. These power

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