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COLUMN By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
IRVING – The Cowboys' game at Indianapolis on Sunday will feature the rarity of a one-man offense against a one-man pass rush.
Quarterback Peyton Manning, his supporting cast depleted by injuries, carries the burden of the Colts offense. A 50-throw game would keep with Manning's season.
Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, his supporting cast in a season-long slump, constitutes the Cowboys' crumbling pass rush.
Manning has always been the focal point of the Colts offense. The deterioration of the Cowboys pass rush comes as a surprise and has played a major role in the overall defensive shortcomings.
A year ago, the Cowboys ranked seventh in sacks with 42, but that did not provide a full measure of the chaos caused by the pass rush. The Cowboys' sacks, hurries and knockdowns totaled 212. Only Philadelphia had more, with 221.
The Cowboys kept quarterbacks on their heels. The defense allowed a 60.1 percent completion rate.
This season, the Cowboys have slid to 20th in sacks-hurries-knockdowns with 97. They also have allowed the third-highest completion percentage at 66.9, and are tied for second in touchdown passes given up at 23.
The pass rush has allowed quarterbacks to get comfortable.
"Not real interested in getting into comparisons," interim head coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday. "I know our guys are working hard to defend the run and also rush the passer."
Some of the shortfall can be attributed to the flow of games.
A year ago, the Cowboys forced opponents to throw by building big leads. The Cowboys led by 10-plus points in 10 games last season. They could turn the pass rushers loose and had 29 sacks in those games. The Cowboys have led by 10-plus points in only four games this season.
Some of the shortfall can be attributed to the regression of complementary players.
Ware ranks fifth in the league for sacks with 9 ½ and 11th in hurries with 24 ½. Jay Ratliff is close to last year's pace with 2 ½ sacks and eight hurries.
The other principal pass rushers have dropped off, which is inexplicable. Ware and Ratliff often draw double-team blocking, leaving the others in advantageous one-on-one matchups.
Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer has experienced the sharpest drop in production. A year ago, Spencer rallied from a slow start to finish with six sacks and 40 hurries, tied for fifth in the league. Spencer is down to three sacks and 13 hurries this season.
Garrett said teams are also assigning extra blockers to Spencer, on the tight-end side. Spencer said he has "no idea," why his production is down but is disappointed by the development.
"Making plays, that's what I do," Spencer said. "I feel I can make more, but what can you do?"
The Colts' game presents the litmus test for the pass rush. If the Cowboys cannot pressure Manning, there will be irrefutable evidence that the pass rush operation is broken.
Playing behind a patchwork offensive line, Manning has taken an uncharacteristic beating. He has been hit more often in 11 regular-season games this year than he was in a full season a year ago.
Manning has taken 13 sacks along with 39 hits on knockdowns this season. A year ago, on the way to the Super Bowl, Manning took 10 sacks and 40 hits in the regular season.
As the hits have increased, so have the mistakes. Manning has thrown nine interceptions in the last four games.
"I really don't count those [hits]," Manning said with a chuckle during a conference call.
His coach does.
"We always say one time is too many," Jim Caldwell said. "We pay particular attention to making certain we keep those sack totals down. When you look at that number, that kind of gives you an indication of where we are."
The Colts have sketchy blocking. The Cowboys have inconsistent pass rushing. Something has to give.
Turning down the heat
Production by the Cowboys' main pass rushers over the last two seasons. The first two numbers are sacks, the next two numbers are quarterback hits – a combination of knockdowns and hurries:
................................Sacks...........................QB hits
Player...................2009.....2010..................2009......2010
DeMarcus Ware........11.......9 ½.....................45........24 ½
Anthony Spencer.......6.........3.......................40........13
Jay Ratliff.................6........2 ½....................11..........8
Stephen Bowen.........3........1 ½....................12..........6
Keith Brooking...........3.........1......................11 ½......4 ½
Bradie James.............2.........0.......................9..........3
Jason Hatcher...........1.........1......................12 ½......2
gfraley@dallasnews.com
IRVING – The Cowboys' game at Indianapolis on Sunday will feature the rarity of a one-man offense against a one-man pass rush.
Quarterback Peyton Manning, his supporting cast depleted by injuries, carries the burden of the Colts offense. A 50-throw game would keep with Manning's season.
Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, his supporting cast in a season-long slump, constitutes the Cowboys' crumbling pass rush.
Manning has always been the focal point of the Colts offense. The deterioration of the Cowboys pass rush comes as a surprise and has played a major role in the overall defensive shortcomings.
A year ago, the Cowboys ranked seventh in sacks with 42, but that did not provide a full measure of the chaos caused by the pass rush. The Cowboys' sacks, hurries and knockdowns totaled 212. Only Philadelphia had more, with 221.
The Cowboys kept quarterbacks on their heels. The defense allowed a 60.1 percent completion rate.
This season, the Cowboys have slid to 20th in sacks-hurries-knockdowns with 97. They also have allowed the third-highest completion percentage at 66.9, and are tied for second in touchdown passes given up at 23.
The pass rush has allowed quarterbacks to get comfortable.
"Not real interested in getting into comparisons," interim head coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday. "I know our guys are working hard to defend the run and also rush the passer."
Some of the shortfall can be attributed to the flow of games.
A year ago, the Cowboys forced opponents to throw by building big leads. The Cowboys led by 10-plus points in 10 games last season. They could turn the pass rushers loose and had 29 sacks in those games. The Cowboys have led by 10-plus points in only four games this season.
Some of the shortfall can be attributed to the regression of complementary players.
Ware ranks fifth in the league for sacks with 9 ½ and 11th in hurries with 24 ½. Jay Ratliff is close to last year's pace with 2 ½ sacks and eight hurries.
The other principal pass rushers have dropped off, which is inexplicable. Ware and Ratliff often draw double-team blocking, leaving the others in advantageous one-on-one matchups.
Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer has experienced the sharpest drop in production. A year ago, Spencer rallied from a slow start to finish with six sacks and 40 hurries, tied for fifth in the league. Spencer is down to three sacks and 13 hurries this season.
Garrett said teams are also assigning extra blockers to Spencer, on the tight-end side. Spencer said he has "no idea," why his production is down but is disappointed by the development.
"Making plays, that's what I do," Spencer said. "I feel I can make more, but what can you do?"
The Colts' game presents the litmus test for the pass rush. If the Cowboys cannot pressure Manning, there will be irrefutable evidence that the pass rush operation is broken.
Playing behind a patchwork offensive line, Manning has taken an uncharacteristic beating. He has been hit more often in 11 regular-season games this year than he was in a full season a year ago.
Manning has taken 13 sacks along with 39 hits on knockdowns this season. A year ago, on the way to the Super Bowl, Manning took 10 sacks and 40 hits in the regular season.
As the hits have increased, so have the mistakes. Manning has thrown nine interceptions in the last four games.
"I really don't count those [hits]," Manning said with a chuckle during a conference call.
His coach does.
"We always say one time is too many," Jim Caldwell said. "We pay particular attention to making certain we keep those sack totals down. When you look at that number, that kind of gives you an indication of where we are."
The Colts have sketchy blocking. The Cowboys have inconsistent pass rushing. Something has to give.
Turning down the heat
Production by the Cowboys' main pass rushers over the last two seasons. The first two numbers are sacks, the next two numbers are quarterback hits – a combination of knockdowns and hurries:
................................Sacks...........................QB hits
Player...................2009.....2010..................2009......2010
DeMarcus Ware........11.......9 ½.....................45........24 ½
Anthony Spencer.......6.........3.......................40........13
Jay Ratliff.................6........2 ½....................11..........8
Stephen Bowen.........3........1 ½....................12..........6
Keith Brooking...........3.........1......................11 ½......4 ½
Bradie James.............2.........0.......................9..........3
Jason Hatcher...........1.........1......................12 ½......2
