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The Cowboys continue to struggle trying to contain running quarterbacks, and now here comes Washington's Jayden Daniels on Sunday with Baltimore's Lamar Jackson the next week. How can they break this trend? What's the key to fixing this? – Bill Harris/Plano, TX
Patrik: The formula isn't rocket science. The execution of it, however, is a different story. When it comes to running QBs, you want to do two things: collapse the interior of the pocket and then keep contain from the outside to avoid them breaking out into space where they can either tear off chunk yardage with their legs or make a big play downfield against corners that don't know if they should crash down to get him or stay back in coverage.
The problem is the Cowboys haven't done well at executing the blueprint, in years past or in Week 1 against the Jaxson Dart. The Giants QB routinely tore off chunks of yards almost at-will. The interior pressure wasn't consistent, nor was the pressure from the outside and, when it hurried him, there was no containment, and he was off to the races. Make those mistakes again versus Jayden Daniels and former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, the most difficult of all to contain, and things will get worse than they did at MetLife Stadium.
Nick: The key is to absolutely make it a priority. That's the advantage the quarterbacks have on the defense, they bring an element that is tough to match up with.
So if the defensive end is going to crash down and try to stop the ballcarrier every single time, he's going to get beat by the quarterback on the bootlegs and waggles. So it has to be a top priority. To me, this is why you paid the money you did to get Quinnen, Kenny Clark, Otito and Bullard. If they can't handle the running game inside, then it's on them. But the defensive ends and OLBs have to keep their eyes on the quarterback first and foremost.
Now, on the scramble plays when he gets out of the pocket, that's even harder to defend. But I would imagine the fact the safeties will play closer to the line of scrimmage, should help with that. Either way, you have to keep these guys in the pocket and force them to beat you as a passer first.
Nick:
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