Calling it now

[Corso]

JK, I hope they are what we all hope them to be.

 

[aria]

Our defense is going to be MUCH better than it has been. I am talking top 10 at worst and top 5 in turnovers and sacks.

You do realize there’s 31 other teams in the league, right?

 

[cowboyec]

You do realize there’s 31 other teams in the league, right?

screw'em.
COWBOYS

 

[xwalker]

And when we lose one of our 3 safeties for the year.......?

New scheme. They are replacing all Safeties with CBs. To offset that, they will play 3 LBs instead of Nickel.

 

[big dog cowboy]

They were 8th in yards allowed.

But they were most definitely not the 8th best defense.

Like it or not, that's the way defenses get ranked.

 

[T-RO]

Can any of you guess which of the 32 teams forced the most fumbles in 2017?
Yeah. That would be your Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas forced TWICE the league average and well ahead of the second place team. We had 27. Problem was that we only recovered 11.

We get better bounces on 3 or 4 of those and this team would have made the playoffs again.

 

[Jake]

They were 8th in yards allowed.

But they were most definitely not the 8th best defense.

29th in 3rd down conversions allowed. Significant improvement in that one area would make a big difference.

 

[aria]

Can any of you guess which of the 32 teams forced the most fumbles in 2017?
Yeah. That would be your Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas forced TWICE the league average and well ahead of the second place team. We had 27. Problem was that we only recovered 11.

Interesting. I did not know that. Very nice.

 

[T-RO]

And when we lose one of our 3 safeties for the year.......?

Depth is our secondary might be my biggest concern for the season. And not just safety.

We often put 6 DBs on the field. We get a few guys out and it could be challenging.

 

[Sydla]

8 is the key number focus on it embrace it

1 is the key number to focus on.

As in only one stat has them rated 8th.

Most others show them to have been a mediocre defense. Embrace that reality.

 

[Sydla]

Like it or not, that's the way defenses get ranked.

I would hope we are a smart enough fan base to understand it’s silly to claim this defense is the 8th best because we finished 8th in yards allowed.

 

[Sydla]

29th in 3rd down conversions allowed. Significant improvement in that one area would make a big difference.

By most measures they were middle of the pack, at best. As you pointed out they were bad at 3rd down conversions. They were bottom third in opposing passer ratings. They were in the teens in scoring per game, scoring per drive, etc. middle of the pack in sacks. Middle of the pack in turnovers.

But hey 8th in total yards given up = 8th best defense!

 

[erod]

Now that's the way to stay positive

Do you honestly think we're getting through an entire season without losing one of them for an extended period of time? Is this your first year watching football?

Heath has missed time. Frazier has, too, and he has a blood clotting issue. And Woods is light.

 

[bayeslife]

29th in 3rd down conversions allowed. Significant improvement in that one area would make a big difference.

Think they forced the fewest 3 and outs or close to it also

 

[Sydla]

Do you honestly think we're getting through an entire season without losing one of them for an extended period of time? Is this your first year watching football?

Heath has missed time. Frazier has, too, and he has a blood clotting issue. And Woods is light.

They must love Kam Kelly.

Only explanation as to why they are so light at S. Even last year when they had Jones, Woods, Frazier and Heath, they brought Blanton into camp.

 

[erod]

They must love Kam Kelly.

Only explanation as to why they are so light at S. Even last year when they had Jones, Woods, Frazier and Heath, they brought Blanton into camp.

I still think they're playing chicken with Seattle. Earl Thomas can make too big of an impact not to step up and get this done.

 

[AbeBeta]

Top 10 sure I can see that but top 5 is tough to crack

If we are top 5 it will be because the offense is dominant and the D is a smidge past better than decent

 

[Cowpolk]

1 is the key number to focus on.

As in only one stat has them rated 8th.

Most others show them to have been a mediocre defense. Embrace that reality.

8

 

[Aviano90]

Like it or not, that's the way defenses get ranked.

Top 8 defense? We should have gone offense in round 1 then. Defense was set.

 

[Sydla]

8

As I said, simple thinking.