NYG vs. DAL -- Battle in the East

NYG vs. DAL -- Battle in the East
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After eleven consecutive wins, the Dallas Cowboys have proven that they are the league favorite to represent the NFC in the Superbowl. A large portion of the Cowboys' success can be easily attributed to their monster of a rushing attack, beginning with their star-studded offensive line. Week after week, Dallas man-handles every defensive front that lines up across from them. If that's not enough, Dallas sports a young, strong and explosive play-maker in their backfield: Ezekiel Elliot. Truck, juke, spin, hurdle, you name it, the guy does it. Since week 1, Zeke has not been held under 80 yards rushing. Since week 1, the Cowboys haven’t lost a game. In week 1, Jerry Jones' squad hosted the New York Giants.

(Albert Pena/CSM/REX/Shutterstock)

Objective number one: stop the run. In week 1 the Giants were successful in doing so, as they kept Zeke to 51 yards rushing on 20 attempts (2.6 avg.) If they can reproduce this kind of defensive effort on Sunday night, the Giants have a great shot at winning this game. Though this time around the Giants will be dealing with a different beast. The team that debuted in AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX back in September has completely evolved. Entering Metlife will be a team with a rookie quarterback who has now completely settled in, a rookie running back who has done the same and an offensive line that is rolling.

If eleven consecutive wins and the NFL’s leading rusher hasn’t convinced you, let me provide some more perspective. Pro Football Focus has Elliot graded as the number one running back this season with a grade of 86.3, with the next highest being RB Melvin Gordon of the San Diego Chargers with a grade of 83.6. As for the offensive line, four of the five Dallas starters have run-blocking grades above 81 and two above 87, with RT Doug Free struggling at 49.5 (PFF). Looking at the other side of the ball, wearing blue is the league’s best run-stuffing interior lineman: DT Damon “Snacks” Harrison. He owns a run-stop percentage of 17.1 which is almost five percentage points better than the next best, L.A. Rams DT Aaron Donald (12.3). Big Blue also has an emerging star and Defensive Player of the Year candidate at strong safety in Landon Collins, who is PFF’s sixth ranked run defender among safeties (he also leads all safeties with 94 tackles on the season).

The Cowboys’ offense makes no secrets about their plans in the ground game. Dallas leans heavily on outside zone schemes which they utilize on 42.2 percent of their run plays, while using inside zone on 20.0 percent of their run plays, according to PFF. Let’s take a look at how the Giants fared against the Cowboys’ ground attack when they visited Dallas in week 1:

Play #1

Here, the New York front does an excellent job in building a wall across the line of scrimmage. Winning control of the line of scrimmage is crucial in thwarting a ground game. This gives no free yardage for the running back and gives the defense a better chance to push forward, particularly with linebackers as it's now harder for the offensive line to navigate to the second level.

Clearly the Giants defensive line was able to generate penetration up front. Both DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DT Damon Harrison have driven their lineman backwards into the face of Zeke. As important is the outside contain shown by OLB Devon Kennard and FS Nat Berhe. Kennard is disciplined in his contain and is in position to rip through his blocker and tackle Zeke if he were to bounce this. The same can be said for Berhe, who gives Zeke no opportunity to bounce on his side by maintaining outside leverage.

Play #2

In this play the Giants have come out in their nickel package to match up with the Cowboys’ three receiver set. For run support, SS Landon Collins has been brought into the box as the seventh man (NYG is running Cover 1). Now, the Giants have seven defenders versus the Cowboys’ six potential blockers in the box.

Weak-side DE Olivier Vernon is cut loose here. So, he is able to hold contain and chase Zeke down from the opposite side. Contain on the other side of the ball is controlled by SS Landon Collins, who has driven Dallas TE Jason Witten into the backfield. Also, you can see the New York defensive front gets great penetration here as each member is either at or past the line of scrimmage.

Finally, the New York defense has successfully swallowed Zeke. With no opportunity to bounce outside and the inside bottled up with stout gap control, the play goes for a loss.

These plays exemplify not only the talent and athleticism of this New York defense but also the discipline. While this was on display for the majority of the game, there were instances where a now comfortable and confident Zeke would have exploited. Let’s take a look.

Play #3

The Giants do a great job in controlling the line of scrimmage. Pierre-Paul, Harrison and Hankins all have driven their blockers backwards, extended their arms and maintained gap responsibility. Though notice Dallas TE Jason Witten who is pulling here to kick out DE Olivier Vernon.

Here, Vernon successfully beat Witten to the inside and was able to make the tackle. Though on this particular play Zeke displayed poor vision, which is most likely due to this being his rookie debut. Since week one however, Zeke has improved tremendously. The Giants must be careful because if such a scenario were to present itself on Sunday night, today’s Zeke would not hesitate to make the jump cut and explode around the outside. Vernon must be more discipline in squeezing the line with his inside shoulder, thus forcing Zeke to be stuffed up the middle or if he were to bounce, Vernon would be in perfect position to make the play.

Conclusion

For as complicated as the game of football may have become, both the Giants and the Cowboys will have relatively simple gameplans on Sunday. This game will be won or lost at the line of scrimmage. If the Giants can get penetration at the point of attack and limit Elliot’s production, they will likely win. If Dallas is able to create holes in the New York defensive front, allowing Zeke to steamroll, the Cowboys will prevail. Worth noting is an intriguing streak held by Ezekiel Elliot heading into this game. Since Zeke’s days at John Burroughs High School to now week 14 of the 2016 NFL season, he has not lost a single away game. Impressive? Yes. Likely to continue? It remains to be seen. If history has taught us anything, we should all know that if there’s a streak that needs to be broken — call the New York Giants.

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