BTB: No way the Dallas Cowboys defense is a top 10 unit. Or is it?

[Sydla]

I have to chuckle at the notion that the MSM media beats us up, irrationally, more than any other team.

I can pull up multiple MSM articles predicting good things for the Cowboys and positive stories about the Cowboys. One of the more unattractive qualities Cowboys fans possess (and I suspect this is a problem for many fan bases) is the belief that the media purposely tries to undercut us. It's bizarre whining.

Like for example, the crap Aikman gets at times from Cowboys fans when doing our games. It's downright bizarre to me.

 

[MileyDancer]

We still need one more defensive draft to contend (imo).

 

[jobberone]

No we are not a top ten D. We need TOs, pressure and pass defense. That's all up in the air and we have no injuries to date.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

No we are not a top ten D. We need TOs, pressure and pass defense. That's all up in the air and we have no injuries to date.

The number of teams that can consistently create pressure and turnovers can probably be counted on one hand. It is possible to be top 10 and not be dynamic with pressure and turnovers.

 

[jobberone]

The number of teams that can consistently create pressure and turnovers can probably be counted on one hand. It is possible to be top 10 and not be dynamic with pressure and turnovers.

Not for me.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Not for me.

So how many teams do you have in your top 10? For most people it's 10.

 

[dallasdave]

I adore your displeasure with BtB, Asthma!

I, too, share the same exact feelings (and, like yourself, fall on the optimistic-spectrum of fandom).

I cringe when I go there. The responses/posts co-sign and enable their "editors", too. I so badly want to rain on their parade, but have already been "flagged" for questioning some longtime member there.

Gah!

Give em an umbrella

 

[jobberone]

So how many teams do you have in your top 10? For most people it's 10.

I haven't given it a lot of thought. Too premature for me anyway. We have too many questions at present. We'll see. I have hopes we will be good enough over the long haul.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

All I know at this time is that this years defense will be different than last years. considering how last year ended, I'm happy

 

[AsthmaField]

I hate these kind of hot takes.

Why don't you share what part of the article you disagree with. The article at least tries to have a reasoned analysis of our scheme and what it's goals are.

One would think from your post that it's nothing but exclamation marks and pelvic thrusts.

I'm content with you hating me.

 

[dallasdave]

I'm content with you hating me.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Lets be real, this defense was awful.

Look at this chart of opposing qb passer ratings last year




The brightside was that went 13-3 because Dak out played most of these QBs in these matchups.

 

[jday]

So how many teams do you have in your top 10? For most people it's 10.

lmao.

 

[jday]

Lets be real, this defense was awful.

Look at this chart of opposing qb passer ratings last year




The brightside was that went 13-3 because Dak out played most of these QBs in these matchups.

Did you read the article?

I only ask because the opposing QB high ratings were explained in detail. Bend don't break means QB's can complete 100% of their passes, so long as said pass doesn't go beyond 16 yards, the Cowboys are good with it. They allow the dink and dunk stuff and tighten up in the red zone which is why they were 5th in the league in actually allowing points. So, if you consider what it is Marinelli wanted them to accomplish, they were far from awful.

 

[plasticman]

I am interested in producing a formula that uses different stats and assigns a weighted score to each and then a total score. the trick is to determine which stats are weighted more than others.

I think that some of the data should include yards per time of possession, turnovers, 4th quarter turnovers, sacks, sacks that end drives, INT's, endzone INT's, three and outs, 4th quarter three and outs, drives that started in the defense's territory and were stopped or ended with a FG attempt, stops behind the line on running plays, goal line stands, points allowed, 4th quarter points allowed, and overtime stops.

 

[jday]

I am interested in producing a formula that uses different stats and assigns a weighted score to each and then a total score. the trick is to determine which stats are weighted more than others.

I think that some of the data should include yards per time of possession, turnovers, 4th quarter turnovers, sacks, sacks that end drives, INT's, endzone INT's, three and outs, 4th quarter three and outs, drives that started in the defense's territory and were stopped or ended with a FG attempt, stops behind the line on running plays, goal line stands, points allowed, 4th quarter points allowed, and overtime stops.

I'd be very interested to see the final product of that.

Here's your real challenge though: Different defensive schemes focus on stopping different things. Like the article pointed out, what Marinelli's line one focus with his bend don't break defense is preventing the big play and by extension points scored. If you place this defense, however, under the various microscopes and evaluation tools analyst use, chances are your going to come back with the results that they were about average to above average. Nevertheless, in terms of preventing the big play, the Cowboys were one of the top teams. So how do you grade them? By what Marinelli wants or by the tools analyst use to compare them to other teams that likely scheme to do something completely different.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I can't fault Asthma...BTB does have that reputation after all. It just so happens this particular article didn't follow that trend.

I fault him for not reading the article. I think that's fair.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I'm content with you hating me.

You're going to be really bummed when you find out I don't hate you.

 

[jday]

I fault him for not reading the article. I think that's fair.

Ordinarily I'd agree, but it wasn't like he assumed what the article was about and started arguing it before he read it. He simply made it clear he doesn't take BTB too seriously when it comes to their defense of the Cowboys and I have a hard time blaming him for that perspective because BTB does have that homer reputation.

The people I find fault with are the ones that start debating the topic before reading the article. That's ridiculously annoying.

 

[Sydla]

Lets be real, this defense was awful.

Look at this chart of opposing qb passer ratings last year




The brightside was that went 13-3 because Dak out played most of these QBs in these matchups.

We even made Wentz look competent. That's how bad this defense really was.

And honestly, I am not sure how one can sit there and expect it's going to be much better, especially when the bulk of the improvement is supposed to come from rookies and bench guys turned starters - Charlton, Awuzie, Heath, etc.