Comparing 2016 Defense to 2014

[Kaiser]

The strategy for 2016 will be identical to 2014 when the team went 12-4. Dallas will try to win with offense and have a “good enough” defense that stays fresh because the offense controls time of possession. Everything comes down to execution and staying healthy, but I thought it would be interesting to compare the 2016 defensive players to 2014 because the current roster is significantly better in quality and depth.


The offense will be largely the same players. Tony Romo and Doug Free are older and more of a injury risk. Zeke replaces DeMarco this year and Collins replaces Leary. QB depth is worse but RB depth is better. Otherwise it’s the same.


On Defense, check out the position comparison:




RDE 2014: George Selvie and some Tyrone Crawford (first year) and Anthony Spencer (injured)


RDE 2016: Demarcus Lawrence, David Irving and Ryan Russell


Winner: 2016 on quality and depth.




1T 2014: Nick Hayden and Terrell McClain, a bit of Ken Bishop and Josh Brent


1T 2014: Thornton, McClain and Maliek Collins


Winner: Clearly 2016.




3T 2014: Henry Melton and some Tyrone Crawford (first year) and Davon Coleman


3T 2016: Tyrone Crawford, Jack Crawford, Maliek Collins


Winner: Clearly 2016.




RDE 2014: Jeremy Mincey and 9 tackles from rookie DeMarkus Lawrence


RDE 2016: Mayowa, Tapper and Randy Gregory


Winner: Complete Wildcard. Mincey played well in 2014 and this year’s group could be very good, very bad or anything in between.




WLB 2014: Bruce Carter and Keith Smith


WLB 2016: Sean Lee and Damien Wilson


Winner: 2016




MLB 2014: Ro McClain and Cam Lawrence


MLB 2014: Ro McClain and Andrew Gachkar (and Anthony Hitchens)


Winner: Wildcard, though McClain had 81 tackles in 2014 and may not repeat that.




SLB 2014: Justin Durant and Kyle Wilber


SLB 2016: Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber, Mark Neozcha and Jaylon Smith


Winner: 2016 because Durant only started 6 games in 2014. Potential to be much better in 2016 if Jaylon Smith comes back at midseason.




Corners: Scandrick, Carr and Claiborne are starters for both years, depth is likely better this year.


Safeties 2014: JJ Wilcox, Barry Church, Jeff Heath and CJ Spillman


Safeties 2016: Byron Jones, JJ Wilcox, Barry Church, Jeff Heath and Kavon Frazier.


Winner: Push at Corner, Safety is clearly better with Byron Jones at FS.

 

[WillieBeamen]

That 2014 Defense generated a lot of turnovers. I think its safe to say, if this years defense doesnt do the same, we will struggle...

 

[DBOY3141]

I think on paper the 2016 defense is better. But paper doesn't win games.

Players like DLaw, Gregroy, and Jones need to take that next step up and make plays.

 

[percyhoward]

Dallas' offense ranked 2nd in TOP in 2014, and 3rd in 2015, which means the offense gave the defense just as much rest both seasons. The difference in 2015 wasn't offensive TOP, it was the much harder schedule of offenses, and the fact that opponents were seldom playing from behind.

The Cowboys won the TOP battle in Green Bay, so the strategy of controlling the clock was successful. The problem wasn't that the defense was tired, it was that the defense allowed Rodgers a 124.5 passer rating.

 

[xvendettax914]

2014 defense was a product of an offense that did the opposite of what it did in 15. Put them in position to make plays, Keeping them ahead. And for the most part off the field. If this years offense can do the same, the turnovers and 3 and outs will come.

 

[Sydla]

Dallas will try to win with offense and have a “good enough” defense that stays fresh because the offense controls time of possession.

 

[jday]

The strategy for 2016 will be identical to 2014 when the team went 12-4. Dallas will try to win with offense and have a “good enough” defense that stays fresh because the offense controls time of possession. Everything comes down to execution and staying healthy, but I thought it would be interesting to compare the 2016 defensive players to 2014 because the current roster is significantly better in quality and depth.


The offense will be largely the same players. Tony Romo and Doug Free are older and more of a injury risk. Zeke replaces DeMarco this year and Collins replaces Leary. QB depth is worse but RB depth is better. Otherwise it’s the same.


On Defense, check out the position comparison:




RDE 2014: George Selvie and some Tyrone Crawford (first year) and Anthony Spencer (injured)


RDE 2016: Demarcus Lawrence, David Irving and Ryan Russell


Winner: 2016 on quality and depth.




1T 2014: Nick Hayden and Terrell McClain, a bit of Ken Bishop and Josh Brent


1T 2014: Thornton, McClain and Maliek Collins


Winner: Clearly 2016.




3T 2014: Henry Melton and some Tyrone Crawford (first year) and Davon Coleman


3T 2016: Tyrone Crawford, Jack Crawford, Maliek Collins


Winner: Clearly 2016.




RDE 2014: Jeremy Mincey and 9 tackles from rookie DeMarkus Lawrence


RDE 2016: Mayowa, Tapper and Randy Gregory


Winner: Complete Wildcard. Mincey played well in 2014 and this year’s group could be very good, very bad or anything in between.




WLB 2014: Bruce Carter and Keith Smith


WLB 2016: Sean Lee and Damien Wilson


Winner: 2016




MLB 2014: Ro McClain and Cam Lawrence


MLB 2014: Ro McClain and Andrew Gachkar (and Anthony Hitchens)


Winner: Wildcard, though McClain had 81 tackles in 2014 and may not repeat that.




SLB 2014: Justin Durant and Kyle Wilber


SLB 2016: Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber, Mark Neozcha and Jaylon Smith


Winner: 2016 because Durant only started 6 games in 2014. Potential to be much better in 2016 if Jaylon Smith comes back at midseason.




Corners: Scandrick, Carr and Claiborne are starters for both years, depth is likely better this year.


Safeties 2014: JJ Wilcox, Barry Church, Jeff Heath and CJ Spillman


Safeties 2016: Byron Jones, JJ Wilcox, Barry Church, Jeff Heath and Kavon Frazier.


Winner: Push at Corner, Safety is clearly better with Byron Jones at FS.

Good write up Kaiser. I agree with most of what you said. I would add, the Cowboys also look to be better overall on offense...although, my concerns for Romo staying healthy now are much more pronounced then what they were then...

 

[DFWJC]

That 2014 Defense generated a lot of turnovers. I think its safe to say, if this years defense doesnt do the same, we will struggle...

True

The main reason for the turnovers in 2014 was that our opponents were playing from behind....and if not, they feared they soon would be.

 

[Kaiser]

I think on paper the 2016 defense is better. But paper doesn't win games.

Players like DLaw, Gregroy, and Jones need to take that next step up and make plays.

Agree, it all comes down to staying healthy and executing. But the team is clearly better in 2016, three of the four DL spots and the Will and FS positions are all much better this year than 2014.

 

[percyhoward]

If there's ever been a more ignored, more misunderstood concept than 2014 TOP vs. 2015 TOP, I haven't seen it.

 

[percyhoward]

True

The main reason for the turnovers in 2014 was that our opponents were playing from behind....and if not, they feared they soon would be.

That, and the fact that the schedule we faced in 2014 was full of weak, turnover-prone offenses.

 

[Sydla]

If there's ever been a more ignored, more misunderstood concept than 2014 TOP vs. 2015 TOP, I haven't seen it.

Anyway you slice it, it's been misunderstood. Even total plays faced is basically the same between the two seasons.

I blame the pro-Elliott crowd who started this out of control train.

 

[Kaiser]

If there's ever been a more ignored, more misunderstood concept than 2014 TOP vs. 2015 TOP, I haven't seen it.

Then change the words "time of possession" to "control of the game". The difference between 2014 and 2016 TOP was the 2016 was eating up TOP running the ball because they had no effective passing game. TOP while the game's outcome was still in question were very different things, though I don't have the stats at hand.

 

[percyhoward]

Anyway you slice it, it's been misunderstood. Even total plays faced is basically the same between the two seasons.

I blame the pro-Elliott crowd who started this out of control train.

Also, people in the media perpetuate this idea that the defense has no control over how long it must stay on the field. Sturm still writes about how many plays the defense was "asked to face" or how many minutes it was "asked to play."

 

[percyhoward]

TOP while the game's outcome was still in question were very different things, though I don't have the stats at hand.

Here they are:

Average time of possession, 2015
margin + or - 8 points
Dallas 3:05 (2nd in NFL)

1st-3rd quarter
Dallas 3:07 (2nd in NFL)

Our TOP wasn't skewed by drives that we had while trailing by more than one score in the 4th quarter. We were actually worse in those situations (2:33, 6th in NFL).

 

[dallasdave]

The strategy for 2016 will be identical to 2014 when the team went 12-4. Dallas will try to win with offense and have a “good enough” defense that stays fresh because the offense controls time of possession. Everything comes down to execution and staying healthy, but I thought it would be interesting to compare the 2016 defensive players to 2014 because the current roster is significantly better in quality and depth.


The offense will be largely the same players. Tony Romo and Doug Free are older and more of a injury risk. Zeke replaces DeMarco this year and Collins replaces Leary. QB depth is worse but RB depth is better. Otherwise it’s the same.


On Defense, check out the position comparison:




RDE 2014: George Selvie and some Tyrone Crawford (first year) and Anthony Spencer (injured)


RDE 2016: Demarcus Lawrence, David Irving and Ryan Russell


Winner: 2016 on quality and depth.




1T 2014: Nick Hayden and Terrell McClain, a bit of Ken Bishop and Josh Brent


1T 2014: Thornton, McClain and Maliek Collins


Winner: Clearly 2016.




3T 2014: Henry Melton and some Tyrone Crawford (first year) and Davon Coleman


3T 2016: Tyrone Crawford, Jack Crawford, Maliek Collins


Winner: Clearly 2016.




RDE 2014: Jeremy Mincey and 9 tackles from rookie DeMarkus Lawrence


RDE 2016: Mayowa, Tapper and Randy Gregory


Winner: Complete Wildcard. Mincey played well in 2014 and this year’s group could be very good, very bad or anything in between.




WLB 2014: Bruce Carter and Keith Smith


WLB 2016: Sean Lee and Damien Wilson


Winner: 2016




MLB 2014: Ro McClain and Cam Lawrence


MLB 2014: Ro McClain and Andrew Gachkar (and Anthony Hitchens)


Winner: Wildcard, though McClain had 81 tackles in 2014 and may not repeat that.




SLB 2014: Justin Durant and Kyle Wilber


SLB 2016: Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber, Mark Neozcha and Jaylon Smith


Winner: 2016 because Durant only started 6 games in 2014. Potential to be much better in 2016 if Jaylon Smith comes back at midseason.




Corners: Scandrick, Carr and Claiborne are starters for both years, depth is likely better this year.


Safeties 2014: JJ Wilcox, Barry Church, Jeff Heath and CJ Spillman


Safeties 2016: Byron Jones, JJ Wilcox, Barry Church, Jeff Heath and Kavon Frazier.


Winner: Push at Corner, Safety is clearly better with Byron Jones at FS.

Better team !!!

 

[LocimusPrime]

Defense didn't look scary in 2014 and it doesn't look scary in 2016 - push

 

[Rogerthat12]

Then change the words "time of possession" to "control of the game". The difference between 2014 and 2016 TOP was the 2016 was eating up TOP running the ball because they had no effective passing game. TOP while the game's outcome was still in question were very different things, though I don't have the stats at hand.

So true Kaiser!

The basic distinction from 2014 and 2015 with reference to TOP is that in 2014 Dallas was also scoring points.

TOP alone is meaningless but TOP while scoring points is the difference.

In 2015 we simply did not have the passing attack to go along with the ground game.

The defense needs to be better regardless and in 2014 the playing with the lead in some games was helpful for the defense.

 

[Kaiser]

The basic distinction from 2014 and 2015 with reference to TOP is that in 2014 Dallas was also scoring points.

TOP alone is meaningless but TOP while scoring points is the difference.

Exactly, using things like "Total amount of time of possession" is exactly how you get completely fake stats like "Women make 77% of what men make".

 

[cowboys2233]

I think on paper the 2016 defense is better. But paper doesn't win games.

Players like DLaw, Gregroy, and Jones need to take that next step up and make plays.

Yeah, player by player, I would agree, 2016 seems much better. On the other hand, I watched that 2014 defense play and they were far better than the sum of their parts. In other words, prove it. But yes, I think there is a lot of reason for optimism in this small two-year window (Romo) we have.