Aikman Efficiency Ratings, Week 6

[honyock]

Combined (offense plus defense) rating, Dallas tied with San Diego at #3, trailing Ravens and Broncos (last week was #6)
Offense is #5 (last week #7)
Defense is #7 (last week #13)

So there you have it. At this moment in time, at Week 6, the Cowboys are a top 10 defense.

Just as a comparison, last year at this time the Cowboys were #18 overall, #4 on offense, and #27 on defense.

http://www.aikman.com/AikmanEfficie...man-Efficiency-Ratings-2014-as-of-Week-6.aspx

 

[maxdallasfan]

Mo said this D would be top 10.

 

[gimmesix]

Combined (offense plus defense) rating, Dallas tied with San Diego at #3, trailing Ravens and Broncos (last week was #6)
Offense is #5 (last week #7)
Defense is #7 (last week #13)

So there you have it. At this moment in time, at Week 6, the Cowboys are a top 10 defense.

Just as a comparison, last year at this time the Cowboys were #18 overall, #4 on offense, and #27 on defense.

http://www.aikman.com/AikmanEfficie...man-Efficiency-Ratings-2014-as-of-Week-6.aspx

So it's essentially like some have been saying all along: Give Romo a better defense and the Cowboys are 5-1 (and possibly would be 6-0 if Romo had not been thrown off by his injury in the San Fran game).

Of course, no one knew that better defense was going to be partially the product of a devoted rushing game.

 

[Idgit]

So it's essentially like some have been saying all along: Give Romo a better defense and the Cowboys are 5-1 (and possibly would be 6-0 if Romo had not been thrown off by his injury in the San Fran game).

Of course, no one knew that better defense was going to be partially the product of a devoted rushing game.

Yeah, it's looking exactly that way. Running game or no, I still can't sort out what's gotten into this defense. I'm shocked by it, actually. And it's getting to the point where it's coming from more than one or two players. It seems to be snowballing. You can see a scenario where Spencer gets better and Carter and Lawrence come back, and we end up upgrading fairly significantly a couple of the positions where we're weakest right now (SAM and DE). It's kind of crazy.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Mo said this D would be top 10.

it only took him coming off the field hah

 

[JD_KaPow]

Yeah, it's looking exactly that way. Running game or no, I still can't sort out what's gotten into this defense. I'm shocked by it, actually. And it's getting to the point where it's coming from more than one or two players. It seems to be snowballing. You can see a scenario where Spencer gets better and Carter and Lawrence come back, and we end up upgrading fairly significantly a couple of the positions where we're weakest right now (SAM and DE). It's kind of crazy.

I'm still on the fence. We're giving up a lot of yards and getting away with it*. One of two things is going to happen: we're going to stop giving up a lot of yards, because of Spencer rounding into shape and Carter and McClain getting and staying healthy and Wilcox continuing to improve and Crawford continuing to grow and our DL rotation keeping guys fresh...

Or we're going to stop getting away with it. We started out this way for the first few games last year, and then the takeaways dried up and the timely stops went away and the whole thing collapsed.

I'm cautiously optimistic that the first part will happen and not the second.

*We didn't give up a lot of yards to the Seahawks, but I just can't fathom what they were thinking. If I were the Seahawks and facing us, I would pound us with Lynch all day long. He got two carries in the first half. Bizarre.

 

[NickZepp]

We didn't give up a lot of yards against Seattle. That was great defense all around. Seattle basically only had 2 plays of big yards and no real TD drives. They got their TDs of a blocked punt and a muffed punt leading to a short field. They had one real FG drive the first drive of the game. That was it. Their FG that gave them the 20-17 lead was off a fumble. The FG they got that gave them their last lead at 23-20 was off a short punt to the 40 yard line. They got 15 yards on that drive. I do agree we won't see that sort of consistency from the defense. But there is also no doubt that Dallas' defense is getting off the field more than last year. Even this year turnovers have led to a lot of the scores the defense has been giving up. The Saints got 2 long drives late in that game but that was later in the game when the defense was playing a bit of prevent after the score was 31-3. And the Saints eventually figure things out with their talent.

The defense didn't play horrible the first of last year but by week 5 or 6 you could already tell the defense was falling apart. They gave up 30+ 3 times by week 6. This year the only game that a team has scored over 30 on Dallas is St. Louis. And they got 2 scores off turnovers that game. San Fran got 28. But I think all those points were all after turnovers as well. But one of those was a fairly long drive. We'll see if this defense has staying power going forward though.

 

[pansophy]

Yeah, it's looking exactly that way. Running game or no, I still can't sort out what's gotten into this defense. I'm shocked by it, actually. And it's getting to the point where it's coming from more than one or two players. It seems to be snowballing. You can see a scenario where Spencer gets better and Carter and Lawrence come back, and we end up upgrading fairly significantly a couple of the positions where we're weakest right now (SAM and DE). It's kind of crazy.

Could just be 2nd year in the system and we've had a few moves work out for us. The secondary certainly seems better with Moore instead of Claiborne too.

 

[gdogg24]

Oh good they're out already!!!

 

[Galian Beast]

So it's essentially like some have been saying all along: Give Romo a better defense and the Cowboys are 5-1 (and possibly would be 6-0 if Romo had not been thrown off by his injury in the San Fran game).

Of course, no one knew that better defense was going to be partially the product of a devoted rushing game.

Honestly, it was just a half of football, and honestly, it was just 3 bad passes. He went 10/14 in that half and had 3 interceptions. He's been great since then. Even week 2 he wasn't as bad as people think, he just wasn't as dynamic as he was and is again.

 

[coult44]

Yeah, it's looking exactly that way. Running game or no, I still can't sort out what's gotten into this defense. I'm shocked by it, actually. And it's getting to the point where it's coming from more than one or two players. It seems to be snowballing. You can see a scenario where Spencer gets better and Carter and Lawrence come back, and we end up upgrading fairly significantly a couple of the positions where we're weakest right now (SAM and DE). It's kind of crazy.

What's gotten into this defense is Church, RMAC, Durant, the entire DLINE, and most of all MARINELLI.....I have to say he has changed my mind. I was completely wrong about him. I compared Rod to the OLD man, and I was way off base. He has these guys playing fast and furious. They are hitting like crazy, flying to the ball, and all coming up big. Crap, I just thought about OS and the difference he has made since taking over. Whatever it is, I LOVE IT...

 

[jday]

Mo said this D would be top 10...and made the ultimate sacrifice to make sure he didn't make a liar of himself.[/quote]

fixed

 

[big dog cowboy]

So it's essentially like some have been saying all along: Give Romo a better defense

He can't do it all that has been proven. But I think we have all seen what he can do with a much improved defense and a commitement to a running game.

 

[gimmesix]

Honestly, it was just a half of football, and honestly, it was just 3 bad passes. He went 10/14 in that half and had 3 interceptions. He's been great since then. Even week 2 he wasn't as bad as people think, he just wasn't as dynamic as he was and is again.

I don't disagree, but combined with Murray's fumble returned for a TD, it was just too much to overcome.

I like the way Dallas identified that that main problem was the conditioning of his legs and put him to work in the weight room on his "day off." It was a smart move that got him back to form possibly quicker than it would have taken if he had just worked himself back into game shape.

The day off and extra weight room work are definitely paying off.

 

[Setackin]

Mo said this D would be top 10.

Guess he will be a good commentator in a couple yrs...

 

[gimmesix]

He can't do it all that has been proven. But I think we have all seen what he can do with a much improved defense and a commitement to a running game.

It's good to see this happening to a QB who has deserved better than what he has gotten from those areas throughout his career. And it's definitely good for us Cowboys fans.

I believe the running game can keep it up. I hope the defense can as well and possible even improve with Spencer and Melton shaping up, Carter rejoining the mix and Brent and Lawrence being added. We also could have Okoye, but I don't know where we'll find room for him unless we cut Hayden, which I don't see happening.

It'll be interesting to see how good Dallas can be with a line of:

Mincey/Lawrence
Crawford/Melton
Hayden/Brent
Selvie/Spencer

Wonder if we'll cut both extra ends when that happens, with Crawford also able to play end?

 

[honyock]

Mincey/Lawrence
Crawford/Melton
Hayden/Brent
Selvie/Spencer

Wonder if we'll cut both extra ends when that happens, with Crawford also able to play end?

I'm guessing that's how it will play out at the 1. The coaching staff hasn't shown any indication that they want Hayden replaced, and theyv'e invested a lot of time and patience to Brent. I wonder if they'll cut McClain and continue to keep Bishop as a game day inactive.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm guessing that's how it will play out at the 1. The coaching staff hasn't shown any indication that they want Hayden replaced, and theyv'e invested a lot of time and patience to Brent. I wonder if they'll cut McClain and continue to keep Bishop as a game day inactive.

I don't know. That's why I have to two ends Edwards and Jack Crawford being cut. I don't think either has shown that much. But does Dallas need four 1-techs?

 

[honyock]

I don't know. That's why I have to two ends Edwards and Jack Crawford being cut. I don't think either has shown that much. But does Dallas need four 1-techs?

yeah, I can't see them doing that. I was thinking they could keep Bishop by cutting Okoye and McClain. But McClain can play at both 1 and 3 so he may be the extra interior lineman they keep. And honestly I don't remember the details of McClains FA contract, what kind of cap hit it would be to let him go.

I'd like to see them figure out how to keep Bishop if possible once this all shakes out.

 

[gimmesix]

yeah, I can't see them doing that. I was thinking they could keep Bishop by cutting Okoye and McClain. But McClain can play at both 1 and 3 so he may be the extra interior lineman they keep. And honestly I don't remember the details of McClains FA contract, what kind of cap hit it would be to let him go.

I'd like to see them figure out how to keep Bishop if possible once this all shakes out.

I haven't seen much from McClain for it to bother me if he's cut. Brent (if he shows he's better) and Hayden can man the spot with Bishop inactive. If Okoye is better than Hayden, then I wouldn't mind switching that position out completely with Brent and Hayden, but I don't see Dallas getting rid of Hayden and I think Okoye is seen as more of a 3-tech.

I believe it would cost us $300,000 to cut McClain. I wish he had proven at this point to be a better option than Hayden because McClain is under contract for two more years while Hayden is a free agent at the end of this season. Of course, I'd prefer that neither make the roster next year and we just upgrade the spot.

The development of Bishop and play of Brent could ultimately determine if that's necessary, but I truly don't know if Brent is any better than McClain or Hayden.