Film Notes: Cowboys' D surging

After breaking down film, Scouts Inc. gives its take on what to watch in the NFL this weekend:

Trap coverage in Dallas

One of the reasons the Cowboys are surging now is the new, aggressive approach of their defense. It all starts with the corner "rerouting" the receiver by forcing him to take an outside release. Meanwhile, the inside receiver releases and runs an out route as he and the quarterback read that the short-to-intermediate perimeter is open with the corner appearing to go vertical with the outside receiver. However, the corner feeds the outside receiver to the safety, and turns back and steps into the hole the QB thought was vacated. This brings one of two results: either an interception or a big hit the receiver never saw coming. This scheme used to be a staple of the New England pass defense, as former Patriots corners Asante Samuel and Ty Law did a great job of baiting QBs into throwing into a hole that was not there. Dallas now is carrying on the same scheme.

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