2014 Cowboys Defense--Predicting Where It Will Rank

[Verdict]

This is an opportunity for everyone here to go on record and state where they think the Cowboys will rank statistically on defense this year. For the purpose of this exercise, where do you think this defense will rank, plus or minus 2 spots in the following categories.... with my rating in bold:

Scoring Defense: 8th (6th to 10th)

Total Yards Given Up: 13th (11th to 15th)

Pass Defense: 15th (13th to 17th)

Rushing Defense: 10th (8th to 12th)

Some of this optimism will be due to the actual performance of the offense by making first downs, keeping drives alive, and running the football, especially in short yardage situations.

The defense will be better coached, be healthier, and play to the players strengths. I like the players we have acquired. If Rolondo McClain makes the team and has a significant impact, then we could surprise many.

 

[jazzcat22]

I like the optimistic outlook. But even I'm not going to have them leap that high.

If they get in the top 20, it will be one of the great defensive turn arounds.
I'm thinking over all 22 to 25 range mostly for wishful thiking, no lower than 28.
now it's not where there end up being ranked for me. it's can they make the critical stops late in the game when needed. Keep the other team from scoring. get a sack or turnover.
Make a stop on 3rd and 4th down.

Scoring Defense, 18 to 20. focus and emphasis needs to be on this
Total yards, 22 to 26
rushing, 21 to 25.
passing, 22 to 26

 

[Verdict]

I

I like the optimistic outlook. But even I'm not going to have them leap that high.

If they get in the top 20, it will be one of the great defensive turn arounds.
I'm thinking over all 22 to 25 range mostly for wishful thiking, no lower than 28.
now it's not where there end up being ranked for me. it's can they make the critical stops late in the game when needed. Keep the other team from scoring. get a sack or turnover.
Make a stop on 3rd and 4th down.

Scoring Defense, 18 to 20. focus and emphasis needs to be on this
Total yards, 22 to 26
rushing, 21 to 25.
passing, 22 to 26

I hope that the team exceeds your expectations. Mine might be a bit optimistic, but I really think that this team will be statistically better on defense due to the offense's performance. I think defensively we have improved quite a bit, too. That's the reason for my optimism.

 

[blindzebra]

Gonna say 16.

If it gets to 20 we run away with the East...lower than 15 and we are serious contenders.

 

[Future]

We'll get better just because we don't play the Broncos, Chargers, Lions, or Packers this year.

 

[casmith07]

I think we're somewhere in that middle of the bell curve. Anywhere from 12th to 26th, with basically a handful of statistics separating all the teams in there.

 

[CCBoy]

I think we're somewhere in that middle of the bell curve. Anywhere from 12th to 26th, with basically a handful of statistics separating all the teams in there.

I'll take a return to defensive parody.

 

[xwalker]

This is an opportunity for everyone here to go on record and state where they think the Cowboys will rank statistically on defense this year. For the purpose of this exercise, where do you think this defense will rank, plus or minus 2 spots in the following categories.... with my rating in bold:

Scoring Defense: 8th (6th to 10th)

Total Yards Given Up: 13th (11th to 15th)

Pass Defense: 15th (13th to 17th)

Rushing Defense: 10th (8th to 12th)

Some of this optimism will be due to the actual performance of the offense by making first downs, keeping drives alive, and running the football, especially in short yardage situations.

The defense will be better coached, be healthier, and play to the players strengths. I like the players we have acquired. If Rolondo McClain makes the team and has a significant impact, then we could surprise many.

I wouldn't make any attempt at a prediction without seeing them in some preseason games and seeing where everybody stacks up health-wise in TC.

They have players at every position that "might" be really good. I doubt if it works out optimally at every position, but the possibility does exist.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I predict a modest improvement:

Scoring Defense: 15th

Total Yards Allowed: 21st

Pass Defense: 22nd

Rush Defense: 15th

I also say the Cowboys get 42 sacks (8 from Demarcus Lawrence) and 18 interceptions.

 

[CowboyDan]

We'll get better just because we don't play the Broncos, Chargers, Lions, or Packers this year.

We play the Seahawks, Saints, 49ers and Colts


I'll go with 28th. That's up 4 spots!!

 

[CowboyDan]

I predict a modest improvement:

Scoring Defense: 15th

Total Yards Allowed: 21st

Pass Defense: 22nd

Rush Defense: 15th

I also say the Cowboys get 42 sacks (8 from Demarcus Lawrence) and 18 interceptions.

Wow, 8 sacks? That's as good as our All-Time Sack Leader's rookie season. Read that again.

 

[Future]

We play the Seahawks, Saints, 49ers and Colts


I'll go with 28th. That's up 4 spots!!

Other than the Saints, none of those teams are the type to put up 500 yards.

 

[CowboyDan]

Other than the Saints, none of those teams are the type to put up 500 yards.

Oh, I was thinking scoring.

 

[Doomsday]

Plus we played the Saints last season, so that is a wash.

I think they will finish between 20 and 25.

 

[12+88=7]

This is an opportunity for everyone here to go on record and state where they think the Cowboys will rank statistically on defense this year. For the purpose of this exercise, where do you think this defense will rank, plus or minus 2 spots in the following categories.... with my rating in bold:

Scoring Defense: 8th (6th to 10th)

Total Yards Given Up: 13th (11th to 15th)

Pass Defense: 15th (13th to 17th)

Rushing Defense: 10th (8th to 12th)

Some of this optimism will be due to the actual performance of the offense by making first downs, keeping drives alive, and running the football, especially in short yardage situations.

The defense will be better coached, be healthier, and play to the players strengths. I like the players we have acquired. If Rolondo McClain makes the team and has a significant impact, then we could surprise many.

Just by going off last year,

Scoring defense 8th would have been 20.9 PA, Dallas was at 27.0. That's a TD a game improvement.

Total yards, 5402 was 13th, Dallas was at 6645. That's an improvement of 77.7 YPG.

Pass defense, 3730 was 15th, Dallas was at 4589. That's an improvement of 53.7 YPG.

Rush defense, 1668 was 10th, Dallas was at 2056. That's an improvement of 24.3 YPG.


It's very possible Dallas can achieve these goals. The one defensive ranking that counts is points allowed. If Dallas were to cut scoring down by 1 TD per game it would definitely add up to a couple more wins.

 

[CowboyDan]

Plus we played the Saints last season, so that is a wash.

I think they will finish between 20 and 25.

Good point.....and last year was in NOLA. (I was there ). At least we have them in our house this year.

 

[Hoofbite]

We'll get better just because we don't play the Broncos, Chargers, Lions, or Packers this year.

Yeah, thankfully Matt Flynn and Josh McCown are one of a kind QBs that Dallas doesn't have to play this year.

 

[DFWJC]

This is an opportunity for everyone here to go on record and state where they think the Cowboys will rank statistically on defense this year. For the purpose of this exercise, where do you think this defense will rank, plus or minus 2 spots in the following categories.... with my rating in bold:

Scoring Defense: 8th (6th to 10th)

Total Yards Given Up: 13th (11th to 15th)

Pass Defense: 15th (13th to 17th)

Rushing Defense: 10th (8th to 12th)

Some of this optimism will be due to the actual performance of the offense by making first downs, keeping drives alive, and running the football, especially in short yardage situations.

The defense will be better coached, be healthier, and play to the players strengths. I like the players we have acquired. If Rolondo McClain makes the team and has a significant impact, then we could surprise many.

Wow!

If the offense has no devastating injuries and the defense at that level, they will playing a home playoff game.

I don't see the defense doing THAT well, but even if split the difference from last years train wreck and your prediction, they would make the playoffs.

 

[DogFace]

12th overall D.

 

[burmafrd]

This is an opportunity for everyone here to go on record and state where they think the Cowboys will rank statistically on defense this year. For the purpose of this exercise, where do you think this defense will rank, plus or minus 2 spots in the following categories.... with my rating in bold:

Scoring Defense: 8th (6th to 10th)

Total Yards Given Up: 13th (11th to 15th)

Pass Defense: 15th (13th to 17th)

Rushing Defense: 10th (8th to 12th)

Some of this optimism will be due to the actual performance of the offense by making first downs, keeping drives alive, and running the football, especially in short yardage situations.

The defense will be better coached, be healthier, and play to the players strengths. I like the players we have acquired. If Rolondo McClain makes the team and has a significant impact, then we could surprise many.

LOL. No way we improve that much unless we end up against really poor Offenses all year long. The 2003 D was top rated mainly because they did not face a single top 10 offense the whole season and the average was something like 16th if I remember correctly.

By the way, does anyone know why the NFL ranks on yards instead of points?