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

[Trouty]

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

If you don't hate him, can I still do pelvic thrusts?

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

It is just too much.

What is funny is that I'm a positive, optimistic fan and I usually lean too much to the "too high hopes" side of things. But BTB is just 100% cheerleading and they're simply unrealistic with a lot of their stuff.

I don't know... maybe I'm being too hard on them. I just like objective writing though unless it is simply from fans (which of course is all BTB is).

No, you're not being too hard. It's a total echo chamber over there.

 

[Sydla]

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.

Points per game can also be a misleading stat. If you limit teams' drives, that can affect points per game as well.

Points per possession can be a better indicator and we were middle of the pack in the NFL in points per possession indicating a pretty mediocre/average defense, which frankly, I think that's a pretty good description of our defense at this point.

 

[CCBoy]

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

For the last three years the Cowboys has been better against the big play than you may think.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...s-it-rod-marinelli-jaylon-smith-jourdan-lewis


...But instead of carping on the lack of takeaways, I'd like to look at how the Cowboys have defended the big play over time.

The Cowboys consider any reception of 16 yards or more a "big play". Any run of 12 or more yards falls into the same category.

In 2016, the Cowboys gave up 76 pass plays of 16+ yards, the 9th fewest in the league, and 25 rushing plays of 12+ yards, the 6th fewest in the league. Combined, the 101 big plays allowed in 2016 ranked the Cowboys 7th in the league.

Here's how that compares over the last four seasons:

2013 2014 2015 2016
Big plays allowed passing: 111
(32nd) 74
(8th) 78
(10th) 76
(9th)
Big plays allowed rushing: 45
(29th) 35
(18th) 33
(21st) 25
(6th)
Total league rank 31st 8th 12th 7th

For all their limitations in getting takeaways the last two seasons, the Cowboys have been a borderline top 10 defense the last three years against the big play...

 

[RoboQB]

We'll know by Thanksgiving.

 

[Bullflop]

I'm willing to give Rod Marinelli and his capable assistants due credit for their "smoke and mirrors" achievements last season to somehow glean such desirable results from a defense that definitely had limitations in terms of its available talent. For a team that wasn't able to manage any more turnovers than they did, the points that their defense allowed put to shame the best of any magic acts around.

 

[jaybird]

Conversations about the Cowboys defense tend to quickly devolve into a Miller Light-style back and forth (“Great taste” - “Less filling”) where a stat purportedly showing how good (or bad) the defense was is quickly countered by a stat pointing out the opposite.

“The Cowboys defense ranked fifth in points allowed!”

“But they ranked 27th in interceptions!”

Cherry-picking your stats to make your point about the Cowboys defense isn't hard. In fact, it's quite easy, because the Cowboys defense is ranked all over the place. Some examples:

The rest: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...s-it-rod-marinelli-jaylon-smith-jourdan-lewis

My take: This is the most on point explanation of why the Cowboys defense doesn't look pretty on paper that I have read. Enjoy!

One good stat -one negative stat = average Defense! I'm worried, about the defense. Give us anything close to a Seattle defense, and Zeke and Dak are going to the big dance. But until they show me, I'm pestimistic. I do think we got the right defensive coach, but not sure we have enough talent...

 

[Montanalo]

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

For the last three years the Cowboys has been better against the big play than you may think.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...s-it-rod-marinelli-jaylon-smith-jourdan-lewis


...But instead of carping on the lack of takeaways, I'd like to look at how the Cowboys have defended the big play over time.

The Cowboys consider any reception of 16 yards or more a "big play". Any run of 12 or more yards falls into the same category.

In 2016, the Cowboys gave up 76 pass plays of 16+ yards, the 9th fewest in the league, and 25 rushing plays of 12+ yards, the 6th fewest in the league. Combined, the 101 big plays allowed in 2016 ranked the Cowboys 7th in the league.

Here's how that compares over the last four seasons:

2013 2014 2015 2016
Big plays allowed passing: 111
(32nd) 74
(8th) 78
(10th) 76
(9th)
Big plays allowed rushing: 45
(29th) 35
(18th) 33
(21st) 25
(6th)
Total league rank 31st 8th 12th 7th

For all their limitations in getting takeaways the last two seasons, the Cowboys have been a borderline top 10 defense the last three years against the big play...

This is really eye-opening. I have to admit that I tend to focus on the more conventional defensive stats: points/yards per possession and game, sacks, pass completions, etc. This trend of decreasing the number of big plays is the mark of a good defense. Just out of curiosity, it would interesting to track the percent of big plays were on 3rd down.

 

[Pants]

I see this year's defense being a tale of two stories...the first 8 games (specifically, the earlier ones) will be baptism by fire for the the new players (revamped rookie secondary, Heath with more PT, Smith, Tapper, Charlton)...they will go thru some growing pains...but, in the next 8 games, I think they will be much better...in the 3rd set of games, they just need to win 3, assuming a bye week again this season

 

[Stash]

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

What I've learned is that it all depends on the writer. They have a few like OCC and Tom Ryle who are actually pretty good and support their position with facts. And then they have others who are just SuperFans pumping sunshine.

 

[CATCH17]

I'm willing to give Rod Marinelli and his capable assistants due credit for their "smoke and mirrors" achievements last season to somehow glean such desirable results from a defense that definitely had limitations in terms of its available talent. For a team that wasn't able to manage any more turnovers than they did, the points that their defense allowed put to shame the best of any magic acts around.

It's a true bend but don't break defense.


I'm not a big fan of it but it's easy to learn so guys pick it up pretty quick.

 

[Stash]

What I am curious to see though is, how well these kids are coached. I mean, look at Anthony Brown. I mean yea he had some blown coverages, but nothing close to what a normal rookie at his draft position has. And one of the big ones was on a trick play. Cheeto is a student of the game, so I am less worried about him than Lewis. But even Lewis is a smart kid. Its going to be interesting and i dont think these kids are being given enough credit.

That's where I have my biggest amount of faith, in the secondary coaches.

They got the best performance out of each and every one of the secondary players they had last year, acrosss the board. From Claiborne to Carr to Church to Wilcox to Jones to the rookie Brown. Each veteran played as well as they ever had in Dallas, and the rookie played well above rookie standards.

That's not coincidence, that's good coaching.

 

[Pants]

That's where I have my biggest amount of faith, in the secondary coaches.

They got the best performance out of each and every one of the secondary players they had last year, acrosss the board. From Claiborne to Carr to Church to Wilcox to Jones to the rookie Brown. Each veteran played as well as they ever had in Dallas, and the rookie played well above rookie standards.

That's not coincidence, that's good coaching.

...and we will see if they (the coaches) earn their paychecks this season with the influx of youngens in the secondary, along with getting Heath more involved

 

[Stash]

...and we will see if they (the coaches) earn their paychecks this season with the influx of youngens in the secondary, along with getting Heath more involved

Most definitely. And I forgot to mention Heath's name as yet another player who had the best year that they've had in Dallas. He's yet another one.

In my opinion, these coaches know what they're doing. And I have faith that they will teach these young players and have them in position to make plays.

I think my own faith in this team's secondary play this year would be above the average.

 

[Bullflop]

It's a true bend but don't break defense.


I'm not a big fan of it but it's easy to learn so guys pick it up pretty quick.

Considering our deep coverage problems of the past, it was an emergency precaution.

I'm hoping this year's coverage setup will be better suited to the talent that we drafted.

 

[Frozen700]

With Nolan Carroll we will fall early to 25 or below to start.


Without, we will be around 7-15

 

[Cowboys_22]

We don't need to be top 10.....all we have to do is be a little better than our opponent each and every game. One game at a time.



Go Cowboys!

 

[Irvin88_4life]

My answer is simple - it doesn't matter what it is now.

Fast forward to December and January when I expect it to be much better.

How good will the Cowboys defense be when it's crunch time. When it's playoff time.

Post season matters not July 20th, especially this year given the huge turnover in talent.

You make a great point. This defense did some good things last season and they are really young and will only improve. Sure mistakes will be made but throughout the season they will improve and come playoff time will be more veteran like if you will.

I'm excited about this defense

 

[dallasdave]

If you don't hate him, can I still do pelvic thrusts?