The New York Giants brought their revamped defense into Dallas to take on one of the best offensive lines in the league and one of the most hyped up RB prospects since Adrian Peterson in Ezekial Elliot. With Dak Prescott making his first start at QB, everyone and their mother expected a heavy dose of Elliot running behind the heralded offensive line and expectation for Elliot were for him to have a strong opening game. The Giants didn’t get the memo though and decided that a rude awakening was in store for him. Elliot was only able to get 2.5 yards per carry and Giants were buzzing in the backfield all game. So how did the Giants make one of the strongest running games on paper look anemic with Elliot on the field? The four main factors I saw watching the film were that the WILL LBs were aggressive in attacking the line of scrimmage, that Damon Harrison, Johnathan Hankins, and Olivier Vernon were dominating the interior linemen of the Cowboys, the safeties were aggressive and sure tacklers, and that the Cowboys TEs were not capable of blocking Vernon or Jason Pierre-Paul.

Play 1

Situation: 1st and 10 at DAL 25

Description: Q1 – (15:00) E. Eliot Right Tackle to DAL 25 for 1 Yard (N. Berhe).

Cowboys Play: 21 Strong Dive Right w/ Man Blocking

OLB Jonathan Casillas (#52) blows up this play by being quick with his read and being aggressive in attacking the line of scrimmage. The first thing he does is read the backside guard (# 71 La’el Collins) and diagnose this play quickly as a dive run to the other side of the field based on the combo block. RG Zach Martin (#70) is supposed to pick him up on this play and expects him to stay more outside as he his reading the play. But the quick diagnoses of the play plus Casillas knowing FS Nat Berhe (#29) is coming on the run blitz from the outside allows him to quickly attack the hole. Martin is taken by surprise and doesn’t get a hand on him. This forces RB Ezekial Elliot (#21) to bounce to the outside. RT Doug Free (#68) has DE Jason Pierre-Paul (#90) pinned to the inside but WR Terrence Williams (#83) completely whiffs on Berhe coming on the blitz from the edge. This allows Berhe to set the edge and take down Elliot for a short gain. Berhe doesn’t make this tackle though unless Casillas funnels Elliot to the outside with his aggressive play.

Play 2

Situation: 2nd and 5 at NYG 41

Description: Q1 – (12:05) (Shotgun) E. Eliot Left Tackle to NYG 40 for 1 Yards (O. Vernon)

Cowboys Play: 25 Strong Power Off Tackle Left

Both DT Johnathan Hankins (#95) and DT Damon Harrison (#98) do a great on this play from their DT positions. Hankins, on the play side, recognizes that the play is going to be an outside run and immediately steps to his outside. LT Tyron Smith (#77) is responsible for him on a down block but Hankins initial outside step throws this block off completely and Smith is beaten to the outside. While Smith gets his hands on him, Hankins is effectively clogging up the intended running lane and forces Frederick (#72) to block him on the pull block. Harrison, on the backside, does a great job of using his hands to keep Martin’s (#70) cut block off of him and his pursuit from the backside keeps Elliot (#21) from cutting it back, forcing him to the outside. This allows DE Olivier Vernon (#54) to make a play on Elliot. Vernon is a complete mismatch for TE Jason Witten (#82) and as soon as Elliot tries to run by him, he tosses Witten away like a rag doll and makes the tackle for a short gain.

Play 3

Situation: 2nd and 2 at NYG 12

Description: Q1 – (8:40) (Shotgun) E. Eliot Up the Middle to NYG 10 for 2 Yards (J. Pierre-Paul)

Cowboys Play: 22 Strong Dive Right w/ Man Blocking

The combo block by Free (#68) and Martin (#70) is very good on this play initially as Free seals Hankins (#95) to the outside and Martin is able to work is way up to Casillas and there is a small hole there. But Pierre-Paul (#90) and Hankins do a good job closing down the hole from the outside to keep Elliot for a short gain. Witten (#82) is supposed to keep Pierre-Paul to the outside with his block but Pierre-Paul reads the block and crashes to the inside. He ends up where Hankins was supposed to be and limits Elliot (#21) to a short gain. Hankins also does a good job of recovering from the initial combo black and shoves Free into the hole, further clogging up the running lane for Elliot.

Play 4

Situation: 1st and 10 at DAL 10

Description: Q1 – (4:07) E. Eliot Left Tackle to DAL 12 for 2 Yards (O. Vernon)

Cowboys Play: 21 Weak Counter Left w/ Man Blocking and Pulling TE

The Cowboys run 21 Weak Counter Left out of Double TE Right Formation with a man blocking scheme and a pulling TE. Casillas (#52) and Hankins (#95) are the stars of the play. Hankins does a great job splitting the combo block of Collins (#71) and Smith (#77) and ends up head up on Collins. This prevents Collins from working up to Casillas leaves Smith responsible for picking up Casillas. Casillas does a great job reading the play and attacking the line of scrimmage aggressively. Smith has no chance to get on Casillas and this forces TE Geoff Swaim (#87) to pick up Casillas on the pull block instead of Vernon (#54). Swaim gets minimal contact on Casillas and Casillas and Hankins force Elliot (#21) to cut to the outside. Vernon is unblocked on the play thanks to the great play of Hankins and Casillas and he makes the simple tackle on the edge.

Play 5

Situation: 2nd and 10 at NYG 27

Description: Q2 – (12:09) (Shotgun) E. Eliot Up the Middle to NYG 28 for -1 Yards (O. Vernon)

Cowboys Play: 23 Weak Trap Left w/ Pulling TE

This play is very well blocked by the Cowboys offensive line and the Giants are almost gashed for a big gain. Vernon (#54) makes one heck of a play though and cuts Elliot (#21) down for a loss. Vernon recognizes that the trap run is coming his way once Smith (#77) doesn’t block him and immediately is looking for Witten’s (#82) pull block. Vernon sees it and immediately and attacks down the line of scrimmage. Witten barely gets a hand on him lets Vernon get inside past his upfield shoulder (which is the deadliest sin of pull blocking). Vernon’s aggressiveness allows him to meet Elliot before he hits the hole and stop him for a loss on the play.

Play 6

Situation: 2nd and 6 at NYG 50

Description: Q2 – (8:33) E. Eliot Right End to NYG 50 for No Gain (D. Thompson; K. Wynn)

Cowboys Play: 26 Weak Counter Right w/ Zone Blocking and Pulling TE

The Giants at this point have started to get into Elliot’s head. The Cowboy’s TEs have been whipped by the Giants DEs multiple times and Elliot does not trust them. This is evident here as the Giants catch a huge break on this play. The Cowboys have this counter blocked very well as the Defensive line gets washed down to the defense’s right and Witten (#82) seals DE Kerry Wynn (#72) to the outside on the pull block. Elliot (#21) just needs to hit the hole and all he has to beat is FS Darien Thompson (#27) for a big gain. Instead, he cuts to the outside as he expects the DE to beat Witten to the inside again. This allows Thompson to pursue him from his safety position and Thompson makes a great open field taken to stop Elliot for no gain. This is all set up though by the Giants DEs having the advantage over the Cowboys’ TEs for most of the game.

Play 7

Situation: 2nd and 1 at NYG 26

Description: Q2 – (6:58) E. Eliot Left Tackle to NYG 24 for 2 Yards (D. Harrison)

Cowboys Play: 25 Weak Zone Off Tackle Left

The Giants do two things very well on this play. The first is the defensive line does not lose gap integrality (the most important thing in defending the zone run) as they run effectively with the offensive linemen. This limits the opportunities for Elliott (#21) to cut up the field and hit a crease in the defense. The second thing is OLB Kennen Robinson (#57) does a great job attacking the line of scrimmage and getting penetration. Frederick (#72) is supposed to get Robinson but Robinson attacks the hole so quickly that Frederick cannot get even close to him. This forces Elliot to cut back and the Giant’s defensive line collapses (especially Harrison (#98)) on top of him due to their good gap disapline

Play 8

Situation: 1st and 10 at NYG 11

Description: Q2 – (5:38) E. Eliot Left End to NYG 15 for -2 Yards (D. Harrison)

Cowboys Play: 27 Strong Power Sweep Left

This play shows off three of the four key things the Giants did to limit Elliot. The first is Vernon (#54) going up against Witten (#82). Witten is supposed to seal Vernon to the inside with the help of a chip block by Swaim (#87). Vernon instead pushes Witten backward and to the outside, clogging up the intended running lane. The second is the aggressive play of SS Landon Collins (#21). Collins is very aggressive in his run fit and buries his shoulder into Frederick (#72) on the pull. While Frederick does push him past Elliot (#21), Collins aggressiveness and Vernon’s penetration forces him into a small hole. Harrison (#98) dominating the interior linemen is the third factor seen on this play. He may be 350 pounds, but he has some serious lateral agility as he beats La’el Collins (#71) across his face with his quick feet. Harrisons does a good job mirroring Elliot and as soon as he cuts up the field, Harrison is there for the tackle.

Play 9

Situation: 1st and 20 at DAL 10

Description: Q4 – (11:51) E. Elliot Right Guard to DAL 12 for 2 Yards (D. Harrison; J. Casillas)

Cowboys Play: 24 Strong Belly Right w/ Man Blocking

What Hankins (#95) did on this play was one of best things you will see a DT do on a play. Hankins gets one on one with Free (#68) and plays perfect two-gap technique once he recognizes the run is going towards him. Whichever way Elliot (#21) decides to go, he can react and be in that hole. The only way this works though is if Hankins is in complete control of Free. Once Elliot decides to cut to the outside, Hankins is able to shed Free and clog up the hole for a short gain. Hankins technique bails out Casillas (#52) as he jumps to the outside and gets caught up in the backside of Pierre-Paul (#90). If Hankins guess wrong, Elliot is off to the races for a big gain.

Play 10

Situation: 1st and 10 at DAL 25

Description: Q4 – (6:13) E. Elliot Left Tackle to DAL 25 for No Gain (D. Kennard; O. Vernon)

Cowboys Play: 25 Zone Stretch Left

Before I get into this play, I first need to mention that Smith (#77) blows his blocking assignment. He is supposed to go after OLB Devon Kennard (#59) on the outside but loses complete track of where he was on the field once Kennard widens out with Witten. With Witten (#82) blocking Landon Collins (#21), this leaves Kennard unblocked and ready for the tackle. Vernon (#54) beats him to the spot as he drives La’el Collins (#71) three yards into the backfield. Once Elliot is in Vernon’s vicinity, he tosses Collins to the side and he and Kennard make the tackle for minimal gain.

Play 11

Situation: 1st and 10 at DAL 36

Description: Q4 – (4:57) E. Elliot Left End to DAL 31 for -5 Yards (L. Collins). PENALTY on DAL-L. Collins, Offensive Holding, 10 Yards, Enforced at DAL 36 – No Play

Cowboys Play: 27 Weak Zone Stretch Left

This play has all four of the key points I mentioned in my intro as Landon Collins (#21), Vernon (#54), Harrison (#98), Thompson (#27), and Casillas (#52) all make this play happen. Harrison turns Frederick’s (#72) shoulders to the sidelines and uses this advantageous position to keep his gap integrity on the play side. Vernon manhandles La’el Collins (#71) again by attacking Collins outside shoulder and turning him 90 degrees. This forces Collins to hold him on the play and combined with Harrison pushes Elliot (#21) to the outside. Casillas and Thompson take great aggressive pursuit angles to the ball and force Smith (#77) to have pick either Thompson or Casillas to block. Smith tries to take on Thompson but Casillas shoves him out of the way and both of them force Elliot to try to turn the corner instead of attacking the line of scrimmage. Landon Collins during this whole is doing a good job of keeping the edge against Swaim (#87) and uses great hand placement to keep Swaim off his body. Once he sees Elliot try to break to the outside, he disengages from Swaim and makes a great tackle for a big loss. Collins would not be in position for this play though if it wasn’t for a great job by Harrison, Vernon, Thompson, and Casillas.

Conclusions

The Giants were not a one trick show against the Cowboys. The OLBs were aggressive in their run fits, the defensive line continuously beat the interior line of the Cowboys, the safeties were excellent coming downhill, and the DEs made life hell for the Cowboys’ TEs. No defense is perfect though and the Giants’ run defense has a few kinks in it. MLB Kelvin Shephard and OLB Devon Kennard made one play between them and the DEs and DTs behind the first group of defensive linemen did not show close to the same defensive capabilities against the run. But Giant’s fans should be proud of how this defense dominated Elliot. Elliot showed the physical tools with his quick burst and surprising strength as he rarely fell backward and carried tacklers after contact. His vision was off from time to time but he didn’t have a chance today. The Giant’s defense were better than the Cowboys’ TEs and offensive linemen and the defense’s tackling was superb. It may be only one game but opposing offense beware, the Big Blue Wrecking Crew’s run defense may be coming