Saints-Cowboys: Black & Gold Xs & Os—Defensive Gameplan

It's been awhile since I've written a true game plan article. I am only doing so to get back into it before the playoffs. Once we hit the playoffs, I absolutely will have in-depth game plan articles for all three games. (That's right, there will be three, and they will culminate in Drew Brees and company hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.)

The other reason is that Dallas should be in the playoffs. It is at least possible that the Saints could play them again. Never mind, Roy Williams' comments; the Saints will show up at home on Saturday night on national TV, and will make it very difficult for the Cowboys to come away with a win.

And it will all start with the defense. The Saints' D has struggled in recent weeks at the beginning of the game. Some of that is good initial plans by the oppositions' play-callers. Some of it has been poor execution by the Saints.

This is the week to right that wrong, as the Cowboys struggle out of the gate as much as any offense in football. But don't allow your mind to think because of that they are easy to stop. They are very talented and have a very effective running game.

Their offensive line is a veteran group which opens big holes in the running game and does a pretty good job protecting Tony Romo.

A few tendencies that stand out from some brief film study of the Cowboys' offense:

1. They will run a draw on the opening series, and probably within the first three plays. It is just who they are.

2. I only saw two plays versus the Chargers in which they did not have a tight end lined up on the line. It is pretty much a rule in their offense that they must.

2b. They run a lot of two tight end sets. Most of the time they throw the ball when they split one of them out. When both are in the formation, they are probably going to run the football.

They also like to run a lot of two back, two tight end sets to give them an extra body to block inside.

3. Overall, their running game is more complex than most teams. They will run some zone, but also a lot of counters, and some iso-type runs. They run from a multitude of different formations and personnel groupings. They even throw in a wildcat with Tashard Choice.

Gregg Williams' head is probably spinning thinking about how to stop this vaunted ground attack, given the Saints' difficulties to do so in the second half of the season.

4. Most teams gain their complexity in their passing attack, but the Cowboys' passing game is pretty elementary, by NFL standards. They do what works, and make only minor adjustments based on their opponents.

They do a good job of creating matchups, such as a tight end on a small corner, or speedy Miles Austin going against a slow linebacker.

5. The Cowboys often get good field position after kickoffs because Felix Jones is an electric returner with tremendous speed, and the Cowboys do a wonderful job of blocking up ahead of him.

The Saints are going to need deep kickoffs from Thomas Moorstead and speed to get downfield and blow up the wedge.

Gregg Williams' Plan

It is hard to say that you want to commit everything to stopping the run, given that the Saints will most likely be scoring early and often, and therefore forcing the Cowboys to throw the football.

But at the same time you don't want to get gashed by the run because you aren't ready for it. Because of this, and because the Cowboys often get into run formations to run the football, I would tell my defense that a power formation from them equals eight in the box from us.

The Cowboys do like play action a lot, so this could be dangerous, but stopping the run is the key to slowing this offense down. I would use some run blitzes, especially against power formations. I would slant the entire line away from a two tight end side, since they often like to run away from that.

I would just do different things in order to slow this running game down. I would sell out to stop the run.

I would play a Cover One man-to-man coverage, with Darren Sharper taking Jason Witten man-to-man and Randall Gay going against Miles Austin. I think Malcolm Jenkins can take Roy Williams out of the game.

I would not blitz a ton, but play the run and allow the linebackers to play the backs out of the backfield. If they stay, then the linebackers can come.

If I'm going to get burned, it's not going to be by the running game. I'd rather it be the passing game.

I will have an offensive preview out, hopefully tomorrow.

Geaux Saints!