Verrry interesting...

[silverbear]

Rather quietly, the Cowboys' woeful pass defense has improved significantly over the last few weeks... in the last 3 weeks, opposing quarterbacks have completed 57 of 95 passes (60 per cent), for 633 yards... 3 TDs, 6 ints... 6 sacks for -37 yards leaves opponents with 596 net yards, an average of 198.7 yards per game... opposing QB's ratings are a combined 64.1... if they had been equally productive the entire season, they'd be ranked around 12th in the league today...

You can win in the NFL if you consistently hold your opponents under 200 yards passing...

Going back a few more weeks, the stats are skewed by Matt Hasselbeck's 400 yard performance on MNF, but we also find the Boys' best pass defense effort, against the Bears... Chicago only had 91 net yards passing...

So over the last 6 games, the numbers are 121 completions in 201 attempts (60.2 per cent), for 1411 yards... 8 TDs, 8 ints... 15 sacks for -88 yards... 220.5 yards per game average... an opponent's QBR of 78.1...

Bottom line, over the last few weeks, with the single notable exception of the Seahawks game, the Cowboys' pass defense has been notably more efficient... why this should be is anyone's guess, mine is that after a lot of mixing and matching the Boys just found the best personnel combos, and have schemed better to mask their weaknesses... what I find most interesting about these stats the last few weeks is the 8 interceptions in 6 games, and the 15 sacks... remember, this was a team that about a month ago was on pace to set an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season...

I'm not suggesting that the upgrading the secondary shouldn't be a major priority this offseason at Valley Ranch, I'm simply noting that a unit that was completely horrible a month or more back has actually been playing somewhat better lately... perhaps a player or two has been uncovered in the course of this year's struggles, like a Lance Frazier...

I also find it interesting how many opposing players have limped off the field the last coupla weeks... this suggests that the Boys are doing some hitting out there...

[Sandman]

Actually you make a great point. Look at the Chargers, last year hey draft and start 3 rookies in the backfield and got slaughtered...This year,the same three are pretty solid..Also Bruce Thornton will turn out to be a steal in the 4th round..4 years starter in the SEC and he personally dominated Clayton (now with TB)..Things will be better next year! I say draft the DE/WR ,FS we need, not CB.

[twa]

That would be about the time scott replaced dixon wouldn't it :rolleyes:

[starfrombirth]

Actually you make a great point. Look at the Chargers, last year hey draft and start 3 rookies in the backfield and got slaughtered...This year,the same three are pretty solid..Also Bruce Thornton will turn out to be a steal in the 4th round..4 years starter in the SEC and he personally dominated Clayton (now with TB)..Things will be better next year! I say draft the DE/WR ,FS we need, not CB.


Who the hell is Bruce Thornton? Does he play on our team? :skins: :jints:

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Who the hell is Bruce Thornton? Does he play on our team? :skins: :jints:

Draft. Look at it.

You are fired.

[Yeagermeister]

Who the hell is Bruce Thornton? Does he play on our team? :skins: :jints:
Rookie cb on IR with a knee injury :jints:

[starfrombirth]

Ahhh that's right I had forgotten. My bad. ::blush::

[Zaxor]

someone joked it was about the time L. Scott took over... <sigh> but I believe there is much truth in that joke

[Jimz31]

Scott is not as bad a player as many here make him out to be.

[AsthmaField]

Scott is not as bad a player as many here make him out to be.

He's not terribly good either. He's just infinately better than dixon... like every other safety in the NFL.

I do agree though. Scott plays okay. Dixon doesn't.

[tyke1doe]

Stats, stats, those darn stats. They'll prove anything if you massage them right.

Let's see who we've played over the last six weeks.

Kyle Boller with the Ravens - we made this average QB look like the second coming of Brett Favre.

Craig Krentzel with the Bears - there's a reason he studied microbiology at OSU. He knows where his future lies.

Matt Hasselback with the Seahawks - oh, yeah, you noted he passed for over 400 yards. :rolleyes:

Aaron Brooks with the Saints - he and Joe Horn played tag-team on our defensive secondary.

Donovan McNabb with the Eagles - this may be more of a proving point, although he was severely hampered after Owens went down with an injury.

Patrick Ramsey with the Skins - he's still learning how to play quarterback.

And next up is that world beater Eli Manning, who hasn't won a game yet. :rolleyes:

So, you see, stats can be very misleading. That our defense has improved against some very average offenses really doesn't say a whole lot.

However, I will agree with the point that I think we'll be a bit better next year, especially in the defensive secondary. This was a learning experience for our corners, particularly Nat Jones and Jaquez Reece (spelling?). And I've noticed Newman improving. I think the experience next year will benefit our secondary and a chose free agent pickup should help. And if we get more help along the defensive line, we should be even better. I don't think we necessarily need to invest in CB during the draft next year. We really need to get bigger up front, which should help immensely.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Scott is not as bad a player as many here make him out to be.


Scott just does not have the althetic talent it takes to be a great FS ...which is sad because I think he has the head and heart for it.

[Jimz31]

Scott just does not have the althetic talent it takes to be a great FS ...which is sad because I think he has the head and heart for it.

I agree. I'm just saying that he's not as bad as many here make him out to be.

[BrAinPaiNt]

I agree. I'm just saying that he's not as bad as many here make him out to be.


Yes I agree...the kid takes more then his fair share of rippings from the fan...but he has just became the designated whipping boy over the years so many find it just fun to joke about him.

But even if he is better then most think...he is still not good enough...and once again I get what you are saying but I imagine you would agree 100% that we do need better.

This guy is a great player for depth and should stay in that role.

[wileedog]

And if we get more help along the defensive line, we should be even better. I don't think we necessarily need to invest in CB during the draft next year. We really need to get bigger up front, which should help immensely.

If we can add some real punch along the front 7 and a true FS then I'd go to war again with what we have at CB.

Newman seems to have gotten over his early struggles, Frazier has been at least as good as Mario ever was, Hunter will be back, and we never got a real look at Thornton. Put a superior coverage FS back there with them and spend the money/draft picks on DL and LB. More pressure up front will do wonders for our 'suspect' secondary.

[Nors]

By moving Scott there Roy is playing more SS.

Dixon was a liability in coverage and forced Roy to play more Centerfield.

Getting Roy involved in the box has had an impact. Shanle starting past two games has helped our D as well. Our D has played very good past two weeks.

Actually getting QB pressures and creating turnovers.

[MichaelWinicki]

If we can add some real punch along the front 7 and a true FS then I'd go to war again with what we have at CB.

Newman seems to have gotten over his early struggles, Frazier has been at least as good as Mario ever was, Hunter will be back, and we never got a real look at Thornton. Put a superior coverage FS back there with them and spend the money/draft picks on DL and LB. More pressure up front will do wonders for our 'suspect' secondary.

If we put a safety out there that can cover someone in the slot and you'll see the pass defense take a big step forward.

[boysfanindc]

You mean it is not the scheme? You mean you actually have to have some talent?

Wow, there is a concept. ;)

[Tio]

Ive been more impressed with our improved run defense. Remember earlier when we couldn't hold anyone back? Our run defense was always needed in our scheme, and it slowly led to a better defense overall...

[jimmy40]

Stats, stats, those darn stats. They'll prove anything if you massage them right.

Let's see who we've played over the last six weeks.

Kyle Boller with the Ravens - we made this average QB look like the second coming of Brett Favre.

Craig Krentzel with the Bears - there's a reason he studied microbiology at OSU. He knows where his future lies.

Matt Hasselback with the Seahawks - oh, yeah, you noted he passed for over 400 yards. :rolleyes:

Aaron Brooks with the Saints - he and Joe Horn played tag-team on our defensive secondary.

Donovan McNabb with the Eagles - this may be more of a proving point, although he was severely hampered after Owens went down with an injury.

Patrick Ramsey with the Skins - he's still learning how to play quarterback.

And next up is that world beater Eli Manning, who hasn't won a game yet. :rolleyes:

So, you see, stats can be very misleading. That our defense has improved against some very average offenses really doesn't say a whole lot.

.Great post. Nice to see someone else living in the real world.

[jterrell]

He's not terribly good either. He's just infinately better than dixon... like every other safety in the NFL.

I do agree though. Scott plays okay. Dixon doesn't.
aye.

Scott is just a tad slow and a tad small.
Dixon is simply not good enough to make a decent NFL team.

[jterrell]

Great post. Nice to see someone else living in the real world.
Problem is though if you want to take that tactic you have to figure in the Culpepper's of the world in the earlier torchings.

The Defense has been markedly better lately which is nice since it couldn't have gotten any worse.

[The30YardSlant]

He's not terribly good either. He's just infinately better than dixon... like every other safety in the NFL.

I do agree though. Scott plays okay. Dixon doesn't.

And that aint saying much, considering my dog could play SS better than Tony Dixon.

[RxMan]

During a post-game interview on the radio 3 weeks ago they asked a player (I think it was Roy) about the improved defense seen in that game. His comment was that they stopped messing with so many schemes and just went back to 'old school Zim defense'. I know there are alot of Zimmer haters around and I am not too fond of him either. That is why the quote stuck out to me. Anyways, the last 3 games have been much better.

[jimmy40]

Problem is though if you want to take that tactic you have to figure in the Culpepper's of the world in the earlier torchings.

The Defense has been markedly better lately which is nice since it couldn't have gotten any worse.I see us playing horrible offenses, nothing more. I bet you bought into that #1 defense thing last year too. Well, untill we actually played somebody.

[tyke1doe]

During a post-game interview on the radio 3 weeks ago they asked a player (I think it was Roy) about the improved defense seen in that game. His comment was that they stopped messing with so many schemes and just went back to 'old school Zim defense'. I know there are alot of Zimmer haters around and I am not too fond of him either. That is why the quote stuck out to me. Anyways, the last 3 games have been much better.

Did you expect Roy to say the reason the Cowboys have improved on defense is because we've faced crappy offenses? :rolleyes:

The reason why we've played different schemes is that we haven't had to face teams with as much offensive power as the Vikings. And when we did (Seattle and New Orleans) we got our behinds handed to us.

Again, the Bears, Skins and an Eagle team with Pinkston at wide receiver aint gonna scare many teams. Sorry, but until we stop someone like the Vikings or even the Saints (is that asking too much), then I'm not convinced this defense is vastly improved. I do think, however, they're playing better, particularly Newman. But I'm not ready to say it's simply a change in defensive schemes, as if the Cowboys didn't realize that earlier in the season. If so, they either should have changed schemes earlier or someone isn't as astute (Zimmer) as he thinks he is.

[tyke1doe]

Problem is though if you want to take that tactic you have to figure in the Culpepper's of the world in the earlier torchings.

The Defense has been markedly better lately which is nice since it couldn't have gotten any worse.

And that, essentially, underscores our point.

If you factor in the Culpeppers contributing to our poor display on defense, then you have to consider the anemic offense we've faced in trumpeting any "improvement" we've made on defense.

The only team we've played in six weeks that has an average to above-average offense is New Orleans. And Aaron "Wrong way" Brooks and Joe Horn torched us as will.

Sorry, but we win no brownie points improving against the likes of the Bears and Redskins.