Overlooked Problems?

[Jake]

For all of the clamoring over rebuilding the defense during the offseason with free agents and too draft picks, will that improve the games that the offense only scored 9-12 points? The defense did their jobs against the Pats and Saints, but the offense failed miserably against the better teams in the league. To be honest, the offense was terrible most of the time against teams with winning records. All of the impressive stats came against really bad teams. I am sure that some of you that has no problem with all of the games that the offense was horrible against opposing defenses and didn’t start playing until the second half. The defense was wore out after th offense made them stay on the field so much. Do any if you think that an upgraded defense is going to fix these problems?

The Cowboys had the worst starting field position in the NFL - that's defense and special teams. Driving 80+ yards every time you have the ball doesn't work.

Was the offense perfect? Heck no. But the offense didn't allow the Bears their highest score (31) of the season. The offense didn't allow the Jets their longest TD pass of the season.

The offense didn't suck at special teams. This team needs improvement across the board.

 

[garyo1954]

The Cowboys had the worst starting field position in the NFL - that's defense and special teams. Driving 80+ yards every time you have the ball doesn't work.

Was the offense perfect? Heck no. But the offense didn't allow the Bears their highest score (31) of the season. The offense didn't allow the Jets their longest TD pass of the season. The offense didn't suck at special teams.

This team needs improvement across the board.

According to Pro Football Reference the worst stating position belonged to

1. Jacksonville Jaguars 25.9 yard line (25 yards, 32.4")
2. Los Angeles Chargers 26.2 yard line (26 yards, 7.2")
3T NY Giants 26.3 yard line (26 yards, 10.8")
3T Dallas Cowboys 26.3 yard line

Dallas led the league in the longest average drive at 39.4 yards. (39 yards, 14.4")
Baltimore was second with a 39.3 yard average drive. (3.6" difference)
Kansas City was third at 37.2 per average drive

Doesn't appear Dallas had any disadvantage in field position. Any advantage they did have was in moving the ball (They were 2.2 yards per drive better than Kansas City.)

Red Zone was a different story.

 

[Aviano90]

The Cowboys offense only started 13 drives in enemy territory. All 13 drives occurred in 5 games. We were 4-1 in those games.

We have a defense that allows other teams to run clock and control the ball on them. They are pathetic.

For years many have claimed Romo NEVER had a defense. Every defense from 2006-2009 was better than any defense from 2016-2019.

Why people want to give this defense a pass is beyond me.

 

[Diehardblues]

Now also in those 8 losses you forgot to mention that the defensive play constantly gave the offense the ball 70,75,80,90 yards away from a TD. There are very few offenses that on a regular basis drive 70,75,80,90 yards for TD's. Between the defense and special teams giving the offense such terrible field position and then make it sound like those 8 losses were all because of the offense. That's like saying it's 12 noon so it's sunny even though there are overcast days.
.

I didn’t say those losses were all on the offense. I said the offense hasn’t been considered by many fans part of the problem. The stats I provided would bring that into question .

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

You give him a thought out response and all I get is stupid one liners!!!!!

Corso is our forum scribe, scrubland roamer. He has the writing g soul of Faulkner and the sensitivity of Rafe Waldo Emerson.
J posed some good points. J got a good response.
Corso crafts his responses according to intellect. The higher the intellect the higher his writing.
That's why he gives you responses more appropriate for a deer stand attendant and me responses suited for a sidewalk barker.
I want to be Corso.

 

[Diehardblues]

The Cowboys offense only stated 13 drives in enemy territory. All 13 drives occurred in 5 games. We were 4-1 in those games.

We have a defense that allows other teams to run clock and control the ball on them. They are pathetic.

For years many have claimed Romo NEVER had a defense. Every defense from 2006-2009 was better than any defense from 2016-2019.

Why people want to give this defense a pass is beyond me.

For the record it was actually pretty similar.
Dallas defensive rankings per year.

2006. 20th
2007. 24th
2008. 25th
2009. 24th
2016. 19th
2017. 25th
2018. 26th
2019 24th
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...&seasonType=REG&experience=&tabSeq=2&role=OPP

 

[Captain-Crash]

this is not a real thread into the "troll guy" comes in and announces this is a "troll" or the "dak hater guys" come in crying about "another hater thread".

 

[Aviano90]

For the record it was actually pretty close.
Dallas defensive rankings per year.
2006. 20th
2007. 24th
2008. 25th
2009. 24th
2016. 19th
2017. 25th
2018. 26th
2019 24th
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...&seasonType=REG&experience=&tabSeq=2&role=OPP

I don’t care about average rankings. The earlier defenses tackled better, created more turnovers, pressured the QB better, proved shorter fields more often, scored more TDs, and had to deal with more turnovers from the offense which put them in worse position more often.

These past few years defenses were smoke and mirrors being protected by the offense and waiting for other teams to make a mistake. They do nothing well.

 

[Ranching]

[QUOTE="GimmeTheBall!, post:
I want to be Corso.[/QUOTE]
You want to be in Corso?

 

[Risen Star]

Well, if you're going to keep this QB then you're going to have to out defense the good teams. That's just a fact.

 

[big dog cowboy]

For all of the clamoring over rebuilding the defense during the offseason with free agents and too draft picks, will that improve the games that the offense only scored 9-12 points? The defense did their jobs against the Pats

Yes. Improving special teams will help a lot also.

Worst starting field position in the league, remember?

#1 offense, so a shorter field means....more points!

You mention the Pats, if you recall, the special teams allowed a blocked punt that basically gave NE an easy TD on a short 30 yard drive. Otherwise, the Cowboys offense outscored the Pats offense in that game.

 

[Dreski]

Offense had its struggles last year, but imo as good as Kellen Moore was as an OC, I think he didn’t have the freedom of changing the foundation that Garrett had in place with the offense.

You could add wrinkles, Presnap movement, RPO plays, but I think the defenses we went up against figured out that we still had the same philosophies on O.

That’s where I think McCarthy will help out Moore. He’s a good choice for someone mentor our young OC.

I think we will be better at scheming against teams. Hopefully we will see less games where we see the opposing D take away our playmakers. Just my train of thought! Could be completely off lol

 

[Creeper]

Not saying I disagree, but the Cowboys put p 443 yards against the Vikings and 473 yards against the Rams. Its true the Cowboys only had 50 yards rushing against the Vikings but the Cowboys ability to throw the football hurt them when they key on Zeke.

There were games where the offense disappeared but there were games against good teams where they moved the ball effectively.

 

[DandyDon52]

I think we will be better schematically, having a game plan and not going into a contest with the single-minded stubbornest of "we do what we do" will be to the offenses advantage. Not saying defensive upgrades aren't needed but being predictable on offense negated any talent advantage we had until we would stubbornly make adjustments.

yeah MM and kellen and new staff should produce a better offense, just have to wait and see.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Not sure how it could be overlooked given how MM has talked about the inconsistencies on offense.

 

[buybuydandavis]

For the record it was actually pretty similar.
Dallas defensive rankings per year.

2006. 20th
2007. 24th
2008. 25th
2009. 24th
2016. 19th
2017. 25th
2018. 26th
2019 24th
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...&seasonType=REG&experience=&tabSeq=2&role=OPP

Defensive rankings are generally by gross yards, which distorts the rankings if you have a ball-control offense. I know we've had seasons in the past where our defensive rankings were boosted because our defense averaged about one less drive a game to defend than the league average.

Go see drive stats, points/drive and yards/drive.

Interestingly, our defensive stats look about average the last couple of years, diverging from the defensive rankings.
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/nfl/overall-drive-statsdef/2019

 

[PAPPYDOG]

For all of the clamoring over rebuilding the defense during the offseason with free agents and too draft picks, will that improve the games that the offense only scored 9-12 points? The defense did their jobs against the Pats and Saints, but the offense failed miserably against the better teams in the league. To be honest, the offense was terrible most of the time against teams with winning records. All of the impressive stats came against really bad teams. I am sure that some of you that has no problem with all of the games that the offense was horrible against opposing defenses and didn’t start playing until the second half. The defense was wore out after th offense made them stay on the field so much. Do any if you think that an upgraded defense is going to fix these problems?

Common man it's the defenses fault always!!!
They need to keep the opponents scoreless all game long in order for us to win scoring 10-14 pts on average!
Also lets not forget that stinky defense has us 80% of the time behind score wise!!!
Lets face the FACTS and only the FACTS that when our offense faces a playoff caliber team they simply can't score till its GARBAGE time!

 

[fivetwos]

For all of the clamoring over rebuilding the defense during the offseason with free agents and too draft picks, will that improve the games that the offense only scored 9-12 points? The defense did their jobs against the Pats and Saints, but the offense failed miserably against the better teams in the league. To be honest, the offense was terrible most of the time against teams with winning records. All of the impressive stats came against really bad teams. I am sure that some of you that has no problem with all of the games that the offense was horrible against opposing defenses and didn’t start playing until the second half. The defense was wore out after th offense made them stay on the field so much. Do any if you think that an upgraded defense is going to fix these problems?

Do you think tapping out the cap to bring back that SAME offense is the answer?

Give 100M to the "#1" WR who disappeared in those games so we dont "waste the draft pick?"

 

[fivetwos]

Oh and BTW, you're taking for granted that the same defense returns, which it will not.

Quinn and Jones arent signed just to begin.

Someone posted a current defensive depth chart several weeks back. This is a 4-5 win defense right now without some serious attention.

So we are going to add a 20M WR to the highest paid OL, the highest paid RB, a close to 40M QB....the same one that you admit did nothing in big games.. but now have a much worse defense because of it?

How is that going to work out?

 

[Bullflop]

The Cowboys have been lax when it comes to paying much-needed attention to their defensive needs in both the distant and the recent past. I'm much inclined to consider that fixing the defense will be placed in high priority during the early portion of the upcoming draft. We shall see if MM's preference to seek those with the highest talent levels, regardless of need, will become our main objective over need. It would be a new twist to our former tendencies to accentuate need over talent.

Of course, our recent coaching changes will play a significant role in 2020, as well, in energizing and improving the entire team. The special teams should be a strong candidate for a talent resurgence, if the Dallas FO and its staff has anything to say about it. There's no doubt but what the Cowboys' special teams has been a weak link for way too long. Jerry was obviously pretty miffed about that at year's end last season.

Several vet free agent are certain to be lost. Most of us know all too well who they are and which ones are likely to depart. The upcoming draft and veteran free agency will surely play a significant role in this staff replacing those who are destined to depart and go elsewhere. MM, the scouts and new coaching acquisitions are certain to have a major influence upon those decisions. Their ideas about acquiring new players with superior talents will hopefully govern who is taken and when, with superior talent being a greater priority than in the past.