No team likes to lose. But losing at home after an amazing season opener has to be an even more sour taste than normal. It’s even harder when Eric Kendricks is part of a Cowboys defense that crumbled underneath an overpowering run offense from the Saints.
Eric Kendricks and Cowboys Defense: Where to Go From Here
Everyone Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth
It’s a common phrase coming from Mike Tyson and it describes how the Cowboys defense feels after the loss to the Saints.
Several interviews with players show sullen personalities and defeated gazes. After taking out the Browns, everything appeared to be smooth sailing. However, the Cowboys’ ship couldn’t survive the waters of the New Orleans Saints.
Every loss stings, but there’s often what is considered a 24-hour rule. Feel the loss and let it go so that you can build towards what’s next.
That’s what Eric Kendricks says in response to an interview question. He comments:
“We’ve got to feel this for the next twenty-four hours. I feel like, when you look around the locker room, you can sense it. Everyone is obviously disappointed. We didn’t want that especially in the home opener but the NFL will humble you like that. This isn’t the first time I’ve been a part of that. But we’ve got to make a stand.”
And there will be plenty of opportunities to do just that.
Kendricks and the Cowboys Struggle to Stop the Run
Earlier in the interview, Kendricks also says that “they can’t give up big plays when you start the game like that”. For this Cowboys defense, it was a broken record.
Every single drive minus the last two ended in a touchdown for the Saints. It seemed like every touch of the football was lightning.
And it was a team effort. Micah Parsons, star EDGE rusher was constantly stuck. His pressures didn’t produce many errant passes.
Caelen Carson, a rookie corner, was beaten nearly every time Carr threw the ball in his direction.
DeMarvion Overshown, last week’s shining star, seemed absent in this game, along with several other players.
Kendricks played a good game, but he couldn’t play alone.
So how do the Cowboys prevent a repeat against the Ravens, 49ers, and every other run offense they’ll face for the rest of the year?
Solutions to the Cowboys Stopping the Run Defense
The Cowboys have to find a way to create constant energy. What happened in the game with the Saints was a sudden lack of dynamic play. Parsons couldn’t break the edge, and therefore, everyone else crumbled.
Those big explosive plays downfield start at the line of scrimmage. If they aren’t handled there, the energy kind of decimates as you go further up. Kendricks says the team came into the first quarter hot, but that passion vanishes when it’s 14-3 at the end of the first and the second starts no better.
The run game is the biggest sore spot on the Cowboys defense. Zimmer’s schemes work great for a passing offense, which is what they practiced against all training camp and played against in the Browns game last week–the passing game.
An option for this could be to spread the linebackers out more. Instead of simply bunching them in the middle to support the failing D-Line, it’s more effective to spread them across the middle. This allows for more flexibility in changing direction more easily.
Because that’s where the Cowboys constantly got tripped up–the misdirection left Parsons, Kendricks, and other players running back and forth, exhausted. It drained them.
Instead of rushing in out of desperation, they need to sit back, even pulling a Safety up, and push their corners to play. Man is supposed to be their strength. They’ve got to prove that by cutting off the run game.
Maybe then, they’ll perform better against a versatile offense.
The Season Has Only Just Begun for the Cowboys
Although getting punched in the mouth is tough, with football, there’s plenty of time to readjust.
“Get back to it” is how Eric Kendricks ends his interview, and it’s the mentality of many of the players on the team.
Get back to it and try for better next week.
Main Photo: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
