Running game is why the defense looks better

Sportsbabe said:
We are 6-1 and playing who are on our schedule. I'm good with that.
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Well, when the schedule becomes teams that are in the playoffs, this defense as it's playing now will not be good enough.

Denver, Indy, Green Bay, San Diego, Baltimore and even Philly will be hard for this defense to control.

Now look at the defensive rankings for each, points per play:
Denver: 4
Indy: 13
Green Bay:5
San Diego:3
Baltimore:1
Philly:6

Dallas: 18
 
radioactivecowboy88 said:
The defense is making plays key tackles, INTs, pass deflections. But I have a hard time believing, that they make those same types of plays if the offense isn't running the ball...

The defense IS stepping up because the offense is making the game easier for them.

I would like to see how they perform if Murray is held down to say 50-60 yrds.
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You have some good points there.
 
BlindFaith said:
Well, when the schedule becomes teams that are in the playoffs, this defense as it's playing now will not be good enough.

Denver, Indy, Green Bay, San Diego, Baltimore and even Philly will be hard for this defense to control.

Now look at the defensive rankings for each, points per play:
Denver: 4
Indy: 13
Green Bay:5
San Diego:3
Baltimore:1
Philly:6

Dallas: 18
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I love it when you guys pull out those crystal "balls". It's such a turn on.
 
Compared to the first four games in 2013, the Cowboys are allowing more yards per game this year (382.3 to 383.8), more yards per play (6.5 to 5.9), more yards per rush (4 to 5), more runs of 10 yards or more (11 to seven) and have fewer sacks (five to 14). The third-down defense is worse too, 32.7 percent to 46.7 percent this year.

So what exactly is better?

The Cowboys have more interceptions (five to four) and have allowed fewer pass plays of 20 yards or more (11 to 16). They are better in the red zone as well, allowing eight scores on 11 possessions compared to 10 in 13 in 2013. Take away two scores given up by the offense, and the Cowboys' defense has allowed 18 points per game.

"I think we're understanding how to play defense and trust me that is a work in progress," coach Jason Garrett said.

Timely, situational play has been their greatest strength. Barry Church's interception in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans led to a touchdown and a 10-0 lead. A Rolando McClain interception in the fourth quarter led to a field goal to salt away the win.

Bruce Carter's pick-six the following week against the St. Louis Rams with 5:58 to play gave the Cowboys a 34-24 lead. Morris Claiborne's awful game ended with a game-sealing interception with 1:02 left.

Last week against the New Orleans Saints, a Carter deflection ended up in Justin Durant's hands for an interception. The Cowboys turned that into a touchdown and a 17-0 lead. After the Saints cut the Dallas lead to 31-17, the defense forced a third-down stop in the fourth quarter that led the Saints into an ill-fated punt. The Cowboys scored on the ensuing drive.
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4734703/cowboys-defense-better-or-is-it

What I see that is a big difference is key moments in the games when a play has to be made this defense is making them, they are not allowing teams to drive the field late in games to tie or take the lead as we often did last season. You can play with all these numbers all you want but when push comes to shove are you making the big plays to kill drives when you need it the most?
 
i think it's more than one thing. we are making key stops, geting key turnovers and getting people off the field on 3rd downs. we are also running the ball and making 3rd downs on offense which takes time away from the opponent. it's more than just the run game but the run game is a key factor
 
conner01 said:
i think it's more than one thing. we are making key stops, geting key turnovers and getting people off the field on 3rd downs. we are also running the ball and making 3rd downs on offense which takes time away from the opponent. it's more than just the run game but the run game is a key factor
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No doubt, offense helps the defense and defense helps the offense. Offense can't win the key battles for the defense players have to step up and guys like Church, Ro, Durant, Carter and others have done that.
 
cowboys2233 said:
Thank you. Folks, if your numbers are telling you that this defense is not playing at a higher level than last year, you're looking at the wrong numbers. Sorry to break it to you. Try again.
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Higher level? Sure, but when the bar is an inch off the ground it doesn't mean your Michael Jordan if you can step over it.

Is this defense better? Marginally so. The question is, is it good enough to win in the playoffs? Because it would take a complete meltdown for us not to make the playoffs.

Most said at the beginning of the year that if this defense could just be around average we could make the playoffs. I think this defense is a little less than average, but we are getting more out of our offense than we expected.

But as of now, this defense is not going to be enough to win in the playoffs. Just my opinion.

Can we get better? Hopefully Brent and Lawrence and possibly Okoye come in and upgrade us. Spencer keeps getting better. Crawford keeps getting better. Other than that though, everybody else is pretty much what they are. Maybe add in Wilcox, but he's being replaced more and more by Heath, which isn't a good sign.

But hey, would should all be happy to just make the playoffs, right?
 
Doomsday101 said:
Compared to the first four games in 2013, the Cowboys are allowing more yards per game this year (382.3 to 383.8), more yards per play (6.5 to 5.9), more yards per rush (4 to 5), more runs of 10 yards or more (11 to seven) and have fewer sacks (five to 14). The third-down defense is worse too, 32.7 percent to 46.7 percent this year.

So what exactly is better?

The Cowboys have more interceptions (five to four) and have allowed fewer pass plays of 20 yards or more (11 to 16). They are better in the red zone as well, allowing eight scores on 11 possessions compared to 10 in 13 in 2013. Take away two scores given up by the offense, and the Cowboys' defense has allowed 18 points per game.

"I think we're understanding how to play defense and trust me that is a work in progress," coach Jason Garrett said.

Timely, situational play has been their greatest strength. Barry Church's interception in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans led to a touchdown and a 10-0 lead. A Rolando McClain interception in the fourth quarter led to a field goal to salt away the win.

Bruce Carter's pick-six the following week against the St. Louis Rams with 5:58 to play gave the Cowboys a 34-24 lead. Morris Claiborne's awful game ended with a game-sealing interception with 1:02 left.

Last week against the New Orleans Saints, a Carter deflection ended up in Justin Durant's hands for an interception. The Cowboys turned that into a touchdown and a 17-0 lead. After the Saints cut the Dallas lead to 31-17, the defense forced a third-down stop in the fourth quarter that led the Saints into an ill-fated punt. The Cowboys scored on the ensuing drive.
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4734703/cowboys-defense-better-or-is-it

What I see that is a big difference is key moments in the games when a play has to be made this defense is making them, they are not allowing teams to drive the field late in games to tie or take the lead as we often did last season. You can play with all these numbers all you want but when push comes to shove are you making the big plays to kill drives when you need it the most?
Click to expand...

Fact alert, fact alert!!!!

Too many words and not enough numbers Dooms.
But with that being said .... that wasn't almost it .... that was IT.:bow:
 
conner01 said:
i think it's more than one thing. we are making key stops, geting key turnovers and getting people off the field on 3rd downs. we are also running the ball and making 3rd downs on offense which takes time away from the opponent. it's more than just the run game but the run game is a key factor
Click to expand...

I think that was 3 things: (1) we are making key stops; (2) getting key turnovers; (3) getting people off the field on 3rd downs
 
Sportsbabe said:
Fact alert, fact alert!!!!

Too many words and not enough numbers Dooms.
But with that being said .... that wasn't almost it .... that was IT.:bow:
Click to expand...

Game is based on making play not stats alone. There will always be turning points in a game, key plays late in a game where either guys step up and make the play or they fail, this unit has been making plays.
 
Doomsday101 said:
Game is based on making play not stats alone. There will always be turning points in a game, key plays late in a game where either guys step up and make the play or they fail, this unit has been making plays.
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Me and you are eye to eye on this. I think Fantasy Football is another thing that is ruining our precious game. It's crazy to me.
 
Sportsbabe said:
Me and you are eye to eye on this. I think Fantasy Football is another thing that is ruining our precious game. It's crazy to me.
Click to expand...

I think many fall in love with stats. You take the seahawks game and you see Lynch avg 6.1 a carry. Fact is he had 1 good run and was shut down the rest of the time. Anyone who watched the game damn well knew Lynch was shut down that 1 run meant nothing but overall seahawks were facing 2nd/3rd and long
 
BlindFaith said:
That's the second time you've mentioned fantasy football. What, at all, does any of this have to to do with fantasy football? Because of numbers and stuff?
Click to expand...

Because numbers do not always tell the entire story. Way too often last year when Dallas needed the defense to step and make a play they failed. I don't see this current unit as the 85 Bears I do see unit that is making key plays at key moments that have helped seal the games for Dallas
 
BlindFaith said:
There was some debate in another thread as to what the actual impact is of time of possession and controlling the clock thus limiting the number of plays the other offense has.

There was also some debate as to whether this defense is improved, and if so, that the improvement is more of a reason as to why we are top 10 in time of possession vs the offense controlling the clock.

So I looked at some stats, per play stats for the defense. Total yardage, points, first downs etc are really meaning less. You need to compare play to play.

But to really demonstrate this point I will list our rankings for Totals:
Total 1st Downs: 1
Total 3rd Downs: 6
Total Points: 10
Total Yards: 14

Looks awesome right? Pretty dominant, top 10 kind of defense. But not so fast.

We are also leading the league in Defensive Plays per game. (56.7) Let's see how we look at a play per play basis:
1st Downs per play:10
3rd Downs per play:19
Points per play:18
Yards per play:27

Not so hot anymore. Let's also throw in 18th for 3rd Down Conversion %. Do these numbers really support the idea that the defense is getting a lot of 3 and outs? Stopping the offense? And speaking of opposing offenses, aside from New Orleans and Seattle ( 7 and 8 respectively) the other 5 opponents are as follows:
NY: 15
San Fran: 21
St Louis: 23
Houston: 24
Tennessee: 29

Now let's compare our offense and defense to that of Philly, because Philly is a fast past offense and we will be playing them soon. Philly is ranked 31st in TOP, we are ranked 2nd. Philly is ranked 3rd in number of plays, we are ranked 7th. Philly averages 22.82 seconds per play (32nd), we average 30.80 (1st).

Philly's defense is also ranked 31st in Defensive Plays per game. 15.1 more plays per game than Dallas.

What would our defense look like from a Totals perspective if they had to be on the field 15.1 more plays a game?
Total 1st Downs: 25
Total 3rd Downs: 19
Total Points: 27
Total Yards: 32

Looks very much like last year.

What's saving us is that we are running the ball. We are #1 in the league in rushing attempts per game (33.6) That's up from only 21 attempts per game last year. We are up on number of offensive plays per game 65.9 compared to 59.8. We average 30.8 seconds per play, up from 29.11. We are controlling the ball 4 minutes and 40 seconds longer this year than last year.

So yes, the running game is helping the defense, very much in fact. And no, the defense is not really much better than last year and should still be a big concern, especially come playoff time.
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Save time and just realize that Mincey is the reason the team is winning.
 
Doomsday101 said:
I think many fall in love with stats. You take the seahawks game and you see Lynch avg 6.1 a carry. Fact is he had 1 good run and was shut down the rest of the time. Anyone who watched the game damn well knew Lynch was shut down that 1 run meant nothing but overall seahawks were facing 2nd/3rd and long
Click to expand...

There you go. I love you man!!!:thumbup:
 
Doomsday101 said:
Game is based on making play not stats alone. There will always be turning points in a game, key plays late in a game where either guys step up and make the play or they fail, this unit has been making plays.
Click to expand...

Measure "making plays" for me. Numbers don't lie. This defense gives up a lot of yards per play. And they give up quite a few points per play. And they are not even average at stopping third downs or giving up first downs.

Are you willing to count on "big plays" and "key stops" every game? What if they don't get those big plays and key stops? Then they are what they are. A team giving up yards and points. And a lot of yards at that. 27th in the league. Are you ok with that? Or do you think that at some points those yards will lead to even more points.

If I were a betting man, I't bet on the stats and not on hoping for a big play or a key stop.
 
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