Sturm: The Zimmer Report -The Positive Response

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The Zimmer Report -The Positive Response
Mazi Smith and DeMarvion Overshown both make huge impressions in win in NYC.

Bob Sturm
Oct 01, 2024




Here we go. Our objectives today will be:
  • Evaluate the overall defensive effort.
  • Life without Micah and DeMarcus Lawrence
  • The best Mazi Smith game we have seen.
  • The 3rd Down Weapon, Agent 0.
  • Look at some All-22 film
  • Splash Plays update through four weeks
Let’s begin.
The overall defensive effort vs New York.

We must always keep the main story as the main story when you win one of these divisional games. The main story is that your defense needed to step up in any situation for us to see that they still have it in them after the battering sessions they’ve received from New Orleans and Baltimore.
For them to step into this situation, cut off all rushing attempts – albeit from a side not considered a good running team – while also winning on 3rd downs and in the red zone all night, and never giving up a single touchdown on the road, this will be the main story of this game for Mike Zimmer’s defense.

This is the response they needed, and it should not be overlooked.

The data below tells plenty of this story by the numbers:


That much green ink suggests that everywhere you looked, the Cowboys were winning downs against the Giants. Yes, we agree, this is not the best version of a Giants offense we have ever seen, but when you look at how this game began and how it turned out, I think we should allow ourselves to appreciate a response from the run defense that is worth noting for its significance.

Surely, Brian Daboll was going to make sure the Cowboys had to show any interest in stopping the run. Baltimore did whatever it wanted, so the Giants had to think they could run it a bit, right?

They were going to run the rock, and we would absolutely not blame them.

So, I did my Stathead search to see how many times the Cowboys had ever hit this trifecta: Have a team determined to run the ball on them (at least 20 run plays), but run for less than 30 yards and less than 2 yards per carry (perhaps redundant).

How many times in 65 seasons of Cowboys football has that happened before Thursday in New Jersey?


Three other times! The last time Dallas did it – in a loss to Cleveland in 1988 – was before Jerry Jones bought this football team.

In other words, I know we have spent several days pointing out that it’s “just the Giants,” but please understand the rarity of it all. Anything that predates this owner and general manager has been around quite a while.

It’s an easy way – seeing a span of 36 years and about 700 games – to appreciate how the defense responded on a very short week. And then, to not allow a touchdown behind it tells us that most of what we talk about today should probably have a relatively positive tone.


Now, what made this game feel like a long three hours is that the Giants had a workable offense, despite the 1.1 yards per carry. As you can see, it was a low-volume game in terms of drives; we usually see about 11 drives per team, per game, but this one only had nine, and two of those were brief at the end of each half. So, seven actual drives.

The complaint there is that the Giants held the ball for a fair amount of time on most of those drives — five of them lasted over four minutes — and, as a result, they dominated possession and forced the defense to play a lot of downs.

I thought the Cowboys faced a passing attack worth keeping an eye on. When Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson get going, they can really stress your coverage, and I believe we probably saw the best version of Daniel Jones I’ve seen.

They were pretty good underneath for sure:


But, again, the job there is to limit the damage and minimize points. I think the main story would be that you went on the road and gave up 1.1 a carry and 15 points in a game where everyone was asking if you could stop anyone in this league.

Thankfully, the Giants were plenty agreeable.

Life without Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence

You don’t have to be a football expert to know that losing DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons at the same time is a very bad situation
I would need to check the archives, but I think David Irving (2017) and Sean Lee (2016) were the last players to win splash play titles for the Cowboys who were not named either Micah Parsons or DeMarcus Lawrence.

Here are this year’s leaders and again, they are the guys who make this defense special:


So, Micah is out with a high-ankle sprain and DeMarcus may have the Lisfranc foot injury. These are both bad things and the only way to sprinkle a little positivity dust on it is to wonder if playing without your edge stars might make the entire defense effort to “do your job” and play a more basic and safe version of the defense without free-lancing. Not sure. There really is no good way to suggest Micah is probably down for the next few and DeMarcus until at least November.

So, to Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson – I don’t need to worry about Marshawn Kneeland – please stand up and be way better than everyone might expect.

The best Mazi Smith game we have seen.

Speaking of being better than expected, let’s get to our player of the game in New York: Mazi Smith.

He may have had only two splash plays on Thursday, but that might be as many as the 2023 first-round pick has had as a Cowboy before this game. He was absolutely wonderful, and if you just watch this reel without any preconceived notions of his career to this point, you would say he looks exactly like you’d expect a first-round defensive tackle to look.

He was quick off the snap, explosive and powerful in holding his ground, and also spent a fair amount of time in the backfield. He fought with determination, cut off running lanes, and showed proper technique, while being overpowering and dominant on more than a few snaps.

Again, I don’t want to say this issue is fixed, but now we have a "we know you have it in you" game, which is not something we could previously say.
Let’s look at some individual plays from above and just watch him:

Here he walks the Giants second-round center right back into the runner.

Above, he does it again and makes the runner cut back into a linebacker.

Here he splits the double-team, penetrates into the rushing lane, and makes the tackle all by himself. This is a play-wrecking splash and exactly what they have needed.

Above, he actually turns the wrong way with the fake, but again, I love the power shown here, even if it is a bit incorrect in his awareness. We can live with that.

Right out of halftime. This one is a beauty if you use the slow-motion function. Great get-off and hand usage and he is back there with the RB in a flash. He is kicking this center’s – John Michael Schmitz – rear in this game.

This one is Mazi not making the play, but doing his job. He turns the center right into the path of the runner causing Daniel Jones to keep and that allows Kneeland to get his splash play. This is the fundamental dominance we need and he needed.

I catch myself rooting for guys like Mazi who have used up everyone’s patience because I know he can be the guy for them. For whatever reason, he was very slow at first, but I am still a believer in his potential. He just needs to believe in his ability to get in there and do well, and maybe this game will be the one where he turned the corner. They must see this Mazi more.

The 3rd Down Weapon, Agent 0.

DeMarvion Overshown had a career-high in snaps on Thursday, playing in 59 of 65 defensive snaps.

I’ve talked about his performance so far as very impressive, but also a mixed bag, as he doesn’t completely seem to know his way around the interior of a defense at the NFL level.

But here’s the thing — he’s learning on the job. He also took a huge step forward in this game, where he was his usual blur on the outside near the sidelines, but inside, he showed noticeable improvement.

Let’s take a look with a Kevin Utz edit:

He just brings so much speed and energy and if he can continue to figure out ways to get off blocks and get after the ball (0:40 is incredible), then you can leave him out there for all spots, not just 3rd downs.

But, man, he is so good on 3rd downs. Look at this one. The Giants want Nabers in space against Overshown. He needs nine yards and gets three, because Overshown is here to kill the play.

2Q - 11:53 - 3-9-DAL 25 - D.Jones pass short right to M.Nabers to DAL 22 for 3 yards

Nabers was not going anywhere. Superb work and again, look at the energy he brings to this defense.

3Q - 9:28 - 3-8-DAL 8 - D.Jones pass short left to W.Robinson to DAL 3 for 5 yards

Here is a 3rd and goal and this time it is Robinson in space against Overshown. The Giants think he has a chance against a linebacker to make him miss and get in the end zone. Again, Overshown had no issue making this four-point play.

Folks, I think he has a real chance to be something special. I also think we need to let him learn on the job, but keep him on the field. The upside is too high to waste.
Look at some All-22 film

Obviously, the Giants do have some guys who make plays and caused issues. So let’s go through about ten more plays and take a look at the good and the bad.

1Q - 12:19 - 3-4-NYG 21 - D.Jones pass deep left to M.Nabers pushed ob at DAL 40 for 39 yards

This was the very first third down of the game and it was a sinking feeling about Andrew Booth against Nabers. I think this is Cover 3, but that confuses me with Booth biting on an inside fake and nearly stumbles and falls. Nabers gets an easy 39 yards and we are left to wonder what Booth is doing. Not a great start for a 3rd or 4th stringer.

1Q - 9:45 - 3-10-DAL 40 - D.Jones pass short right to W.Robinson to DAL 34 for 6 yards

This is a third down where the Cowboys get a stop. Third down versus Cover 3 which still requires the slot – Jourdan Lewis – to basically run with Robinson and tackle him in isolated space. The Giants were hunting for that Nelson Agholor/Caelen Carson moment from Week 3 and the Cowboys never really buckled. Also, Donovan Wilson this week was used so much more in the box – which is easily the best place to play him, not deep where he gets lost in space. Dono is a strong safety for sure.

2Q - 14:46 - 3-9-NYG 35 - D.Jones pass short right to W.Robinson to NYG 46 for 11 yards

This is that same kind of play. Hit your best weapons in the flats and make one guy miss. Here is Robinson again up against Eric Kendricks and he does break it to get the 1st down. This is the very play we see Overshown excel at, but it is definitely not a strength for Kendricks at this age.

2Q - 5:39 - 4-1-NYG 49 - D.Singletary left end pushed ob at DAL 48 for 3 yards

This was a huge play for the Giants and a frustrating one for Dallas. Fourth and 1 and this is that 15 play drive where Dallas could not get off the field, it seemed. It is another 4th down and Dallas actually has a perfect run defense with DeMarcus Lawrence winning front side and Donovan Wilson coming untouched off the back. This play is so dead, but somehow, he makes Donovan miss in space with a spin and then outraces Marist Liufau to the marker. Watch Overshown’s effort. The Giants win that snap, but we are seeing some strong defense from some guys on this night.

2Q - 1:16 - 3-4-DAL 16 - D.Jones sacked at DAL 20 for -4 yards (D.Lawrence).

This is another four-point play and it shows Micah and DeMarcus next to each-other. I would like to show the “Micah doesn’t have enough sacks” crowd what he does on plays where he gets no statistics (but he does get a splash), but also should get 80% of the credit for this sack. He abuses the Right Tackle, draws a hold, and chases Daniel Jones right into Lawrence. What a player.

3Q - 3:42 - 3-10-NYG 32 - D.Jones pass short middle to W.Robinson to NYG 38 for 6 yards

Look at this 3rd and 10. Spread out the Cowboys, ID man coverage, and then get the ball to a play-maker who can make Jourdan Lewis. Lewis makes another great tackle in space and this how you end drives. Superb work in front of another five man pressure. This is what makes Mike Zimmer’s defenses work on 3rd down.

4Q - 13:41 - 4-3-DAL 45 - D.Jones pass short left to M.Nabers to DAL 37 for 8 yards

The Giants won several of these, too. They get man coverage on this 4th and 3 and Diggs is all by himself against Nabers. Could he play this tighter? Probably, but obviously, in a one-score game you better not miss. I think this is where I will need some help to ask Diggs to risk one miss being taken to the house. So, yes, it was frustrating to see this catch conceded, but I wanted to point out risk/reward and Diggs was probably smart here. Another field goal forced.

4Q - 3:34 - 3-6-NYG 45 - D.Jones pass incomplete short middle to W.Robinson (J.Lewis).

So this is the play where Micah Parsons goes down injured and where Jourdan Lewis might have saved the game with a PBU. Again, Cover 1 and a 5-man pressure are paired and the Giants are thinking if they can one of these, there is nothing but green grass in front. It is a series of quick decisions and quick reactions and the Cowboys dodged a bullet here. 86-Slayton vs Amani Oruwariye looks way more open if Daniel Jones had a chance to do it again.

4Q - 3:30 - 4-6-NYG 45 - D.Jones pass incomplete deep left to M.Nabers (T.Diggs).

This is the very next play, so you have no Micah and no DeMarcus. Now it is 4th down and Zimmer rolls out a Cover 6 and no blitz. Interesting and this is your personnel for Pittsburgh. They get away with it, but Jones and Nabers nearly make it work as they convert to sandlot mode. Nabers suffers a concussion on this play, too, as Diggs and him battle for the ball. I think I like Cover 1 more on 4th down, but I don’t get a vote.

4Q - 0:28 - 1-10-NYG 41 - D.Jones pass incomplete deep left to W.Robinson

This is the last-ditch effort after the Cowboys missed the field goal. There is no Nabers and no Parsons, so both teams have to make it up for a few snaps on the end. The Cowboys realize that only a touchdown beats them, so Zimmer properly calls a safe Cover 2. At least we think the Cowboys realize it as Malik Hooker decides to poach an interception and is willing to risk jumping in front of the danger. The issue, of course, is he is the last line of defense and misses the ball. If Robinson caught that, he would walk in for the winning touchdown. I have veteran safeties for their high football IQ and Mr Hooker, this was not that. I have no idea what he was thinking but thank goodness.

4Q - 0:15 - 3-10-NYG 41 - D.Jones pass deep right intended for J.Hyatt INTERCEPTED by A.Oruwariye at DAL 4.

Last ditch against the prevent and this is where the Cowboys kill the game finally with a safety behind and Amani Oruwariye trailing with the interception against Jalin Hyatt. A great way to see the player who replaced Booth come up with a play or two to help the cause. Good for Amani. He needs to stay ready, because they might need him again soon.

SPLASH PLAYS - WEEK 4


 
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