These team stats will determine much of our success

[Bobhaze]

Most fans usually get excited about stats for individual players- like rushing yards, passing yards, etc. Nothing wrong with that. Individual success is important. But there are certain team stats that will more accurately indicate team success than individual stats.

Here are some team stats that are really important to winning in the NFL and where we ranked last year and where we can improve:

• Point Differential- last year the Cowboys had a very respectable +113 point differential. That was 7th in the league last year. That’s the points scored vs points given up. Why is this so important? In the last 20 NFL seasons, over 80% of teams playing in the conference championship games and Super Bowls were in the top 10 In points differential. Dallas was the only NFL team in the top ten in point differential last year that did not have a winning record.(Btw- That’s a real sign of bad coaching)

• Total Sacks- last year we had 39 sacks which ranked us 19th in the league. Total sacks are usually a very good indicator of playoff success. This needs to improve if we are going to be a serious contender.
  
  
• Total Turnovers- last year (like most years under Garrett) we only had 17 total turnovers which ranked us 26th in the league. Our defense has been one of the least aggressive in terms of blitz packages in the Marinelli era. That must change. Generating TOs are critical to playoff success.

• Starting field position- last year, we ranked a putrid 30th in starting field position on both offense and defense. Having to cover less ground in a drive is big key to improving offensive efficiency. That’s an indicator of poor STs. Defensively, if can pin the opponent deeper, making them travel further greatly reduces their chances of success.

These aren’t all of the most important team stats. But the ones above are a short list of areas this team can improve or refine in order to compete. Hey- it’s cool to see Zeke rack up yards. But it’s what the TEAM does as a whole that really matters.

Any other team stats that are super important to our success?

 

[conner01]

Stats can be misleading
Point differential last year would look great but in reality it didn’t lead to but 8 wins
Sacks are important but doesn’t mean you will win
To me the small comment about coaching was the most important
Winning involves talent, but scheme is important and nothing in sports is more important than the mental part of the game
Mentally strong teams win games when they lose a starter. Mentally strong team find a way to win even against more talented teams
If MM change change the mental aspect of this team then we will be in the playoffs

 

[Ranched]

Individual stats are topics of good conversation. But the only stat that matters is a teams win percentage.

 

[Bobhaze]

Stats can be misleading
Point differential last year would look great but in reality it didn’t lead to but 8 wins
Sacks are important but doesn’t mean you will win
To me the small comment about coaching was the most important
Winning involves talent, but scheme is important and nothing in sports is more important than the mental part of the game
Mentally strong teams win games when they lose a starter. Mentally strong team find a way to win even against more talented teams
If MM change change the mental aspect of this team then we will be in the playoffs

The deal about point differential is this- teams with the best PD almost always make at least the conf finals. The #2 and #3 teams last year in PD were the chiefs and niners- the two SB teams. We were #7 in PD last year, yet the ONLY team in the top ten without a winning record. That’s coaching!

 

[Future]

The deal about point differential is this- teams with the best PD almost always make at least the conf finals. The #2 and #3 teams last year in PD were the chiefs and niners- the two SB teams. We were #7 in PD last year, yet the ONLY team in the top ten without a winning record. That’s coaching!

The Cowboys had an historically bad record for a team with their point differential. Sturm has commented on it a number of times.

But yea, Jason Garrett was awful.

 

[Stash]

Most fans usually get excited about stats for individual players- like rushing yards, passing yards, etc. Nothing wrong with that. Individual success is important. But there are certain team stats that will more accurately indicate team success than individual stats.

Here are some team stats that are really important to winning in the NFL and where we ranked last year and where we can improve:

• Point Differential- last year the Cowboys had a very respectable +113 point differential. That was 7th in the league last year. That’s the points scored vs points given up. Why is this so important? In the last 20 NFL seasons, over 80% of teams playing in the conference championship games and Super Bowls were in the top 10 In points differential. Dallas was the only NFL team in the top ten in point differential last year that did not have a winning record.(Btw- That’s a real sign of bad coaching)

• Total Sacks- last year we had 39 sacks which ranked us 19th in the league. Total sacks are usually a very good indicator of playoff success. This needs to improve if we are going to be a serious contender.
  
  
• Total Turnovers- last year (like most years under Garrett) we only had 17 total turnovers which ranked us 26th in the league. Our defense has been one of the least aggressive in terms of blitz packages in the Marinelli era. That must change. Generating TOs are critical to playoff success.

• Starting field position- last year, we ranked a putrid 30th in starting field position on both offense and defense. Having to cover less ground in a drive is big key to improving offensive efficiency. That’s an indicator of poor STs. Defensively, if can pin the opponent deeper, making them travel further greatly reduces their chances of success.

These aren’t all of the most important team stats. But the ones above are a short list of areas this team can improve or refine in order to compete. Hey- it’s cool to see Zeke rack up yards. But it’s what the TEAM does as a whole that really matters.

Any other team stats that are super important to our success?

First off, great thread idea and information. I think this is a very good conversation starter.

And this stat in particular speaks VOLUMES as to this team's biggest issue:

"Dallas was the only NFL team in the top ten in point differential last year that did not have a winning record.(Btw- That’s a real sign of bad coaching)"

I think red zone scoring efficiency has to be on the list as well. It has been an ongoing issue for this team for several years now and continued improvement is needed. While we may have been 1st in yards offensively, we were still just 6th in scoring.

The numbers did improve over 2018's abysmal ranking but there is clearly still room for improvement, especially for a team constructed like ours, with a solid, once dominant offensive line (we'll see if they can regain that status), a top running back, and a very mobile quarterback. There should be no excuses for why this team isn't better at scoring in the red zone, particularly on the road where they are noticeably worse.

I'm hopeful that Moore and McCarthy can figure out how to be more effective in this specific area.

 

[kskboys]

Sacks, TO's, FP, and point differential.

Yup, another one on the nose for Bob. Ultra, ultra important stuff that we apparently don't even notice.

 

[kskboys]

Stats can be misleading
Point differential last year would look great but in reality it didn’t lead to but 8 wins
Sacks are important but doesn’t mean you will win
To me the small comment about coaching was the most important
Winning involves talent, but scheme is important and nothing in sports is more important than the mental part of the game
Mentally strong teams win games when they lose a starter. Mentally strong team find a way to win even against more talented teams
If MM change change the mental aspect of this team then we will be in the playoffs

Of course. No one thing means you'll win. However, ignoring the details such as the ones Bob named will bring on losses.

Mentally strong teams win when they lose a starter ONLY if the backup is competent. Overpaying too many starters and poor player evaluation leads to incompetent backups which is mostly what we've dealt w/.

 

[glimmerman]

Having a ST will help us win a few games. Turnovers I hope come with the new staff putting a emphasis on it. Get pressure with our front 4. Push in the middle leaving the QB no where to step up. Force the throw and have the corners look for the ball. So many picks missed last year because they don’t turn there heads around.

 

[kskboys]

Having a ST will help us win a few games. Turnovers I hope come with the new staff putting a emphasis on it. Get pressure with our front 4. Push in the middle leaving the QB no where to step up. Force the throw and have the corners look for the ball. So many picks missed last year because they don’t turn there heads around.

Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't, but I'm anxiously looking forward to a different type of D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[glimmerman]

Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't, but I'm anxiously looking forward to a different type of D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You mean you will miss that prevent and bend but don’t break stuff.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Sacks, TO's, FP, and point differential.

Yup, another one on the nose for Bob. Ultra, ultra important stuff that we apparently don't even notice.

Oh...I think my sarcasm meter twitched.

 

[cern]

good post, bob. thought provoking as usual. hopefully, with some beef in the middle of the d-line for the first time in ages, the defense will improve.

 

[Stash]

Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't, but I'm anxiously looking forward to a different type of D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am as well. And I agree with you that at least initially, I think it can go one of two ways and either work great or not, but I think the differences will be extreme. I think that this defense will be more of a feast or famine type, where they make big plays and also give up some big plays, essentially the total opposite of what we had under Marinelli. His bend but don't break philosophy limited giving up big plays but also hindered our defenders from making them as well.

I think that there is more talent on defense than was giving the opportunity to show up in years past and now they will be allowed more of an opportunity to shine.

 

[kskboys]

Oh...I think my sarcasm meter twitched.

No, I agree w/ Bob.

These are truly important facets to playoff success that we don't get or ignore or something.

 

[Stash]

good post, bob. thought provoking as usual. hopefully, with some beef in the middle of the d-line for the first time in ages, the defense will improve.

That's my hope, that the entire scheme won't have to center around trying to prevent fundamental flaws from being exposed by the opponents.

 

[kskboys]

You mean you will miss that prevent and bend but don’t break stuff.

I think it's officially monikered the "Bend Over and Take It" D!!!!

The BOTI D!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kskboys]

That's my hope, that the entire scheme won't have to center around trying to prevent fundamental flaws from being exposed by the opponents.

While giving the other team plays while hoping that they make a mistake.

 

[cern]

That's my hope, that the entire scheme won't have to center around trying to prevent fundamental flaws from being exposed by the opponents.

hopefully, the turnstile is now officially closed.

 

[Stash]

While giving the other team plays while hoping that they make a mistake.

And no more allowing inexperienced (Sam Darnold) or mediocre quarterbacks (Mitch Trubisky) to have career games against us.

If for no other reason whatsoever, having a defense where the opponent doesn't know and expect everything that might be coming their way is going to be a huge advantage. Not being completely predictable will be a big help.