Key Matchup: C Hank Fraley vs. NT Jason Ferguson

Dallas ranks 24th against the run, giving up 115 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry. With all the new talent on defense why have they been so poor against the run? Here’s a telling stats:

Dallas’ leading tacklers:

Dat Nguyen
Roy Williams
Anthony Henry
Keith Davis
Bradie James
Terence Newman

Four of their top six tacklers (and three of their top four) are members of the secondary. With Day Nguyen a possible scratch this week, make that four of the top five. Dallas’ opponents’ RBs are having great success getting not only into the 2nd level of the Dallas D but the 3rd level as well.

Will the Eagles have the same level of success? A lot of that depends on how C Hank Fraley handles Cowboys NT Jason Ferguson. The C vs. NT matchup is always key against 3-4 defenses and it will be especially true this week.

Fraley is an adequate center. He is one of the better centers in the league on screen passes and when pulling and he does ok as a pass blocker. He does not, however, excel as a straight drive blocker, which could be a problem against Ferguson.
Of all the new addition to the Cowboys’ D, Ferguson was the most important to making that 3-4 defense work. So far, the unit hasn’t jelled and the Cowboys D line has not been able to keep defensive linemen off of their LBs. If Fraley can handle Ferguson by himself and allow guards Shawn Andrews and Adrien Clark to block down on the next level, Brian Westbrook will be able to make some big plays in the running game. Ferguson is able to occupy Fraley and a guard, Westbrook’s job will be much harder.