Cowboys defensive rankings during Super Bowl years

[Rockport]

Jesus......how many times over the years we've seen where the D couldn't get off the field or allow opposing teams to march down the field right after the offense scores. IMO it's the exact reason Jason Garrett is now a former HC. 2007, 2014, and 2016 teams' success were because of offense led by Romo and Dak. For example, how we forget the Rams playoff game the D simply fell apart which Dak had one of his best games. This isn't about propping up Dak.......they are facts we ALL witness......yet some here are arguing other crap. It's why I struggle to take some of his critics seriously.

Great post.

 

[john van brocklin]

Sure looks like it. I’m looking forward to see what Quinn can do with all these youngsters he drafted.

Me too

 

[Brax]

EXACTLY...........Using the yards barometer ONLY for defense is weak and only used by agenda pushers.

Like I said now rankings and stats mean nothing and excuses are flowing

 

[Seven]

Some have convinced themselves that the 2020 defense has been the defense since 2016.

.....We ALL

Some have convinced themselves that the 2020 defense has been the defense since 2016.

......is this where I post; I'm rubber you're glue?

Sticks and stones?

 

[Brax]

Great post.

Like the 9 point philly game or the NO debacle or the masterpiece in NE. Please just stop you are wrong again.

 

[Brax]

If you think this defense was really all that good in any of these years, I have some swamp land to sell you.

2016 was an aberration. They were 5th in points per game but that was largely a by product of the fact they controlled the clock and kept offenses off the field. For example, in that year, their points allowed per drive was actually much lower around the mid teens, I believe. That's because they weren't a very good defense at stopping people from scoring. They were mediocre. They just didn't face the number of drives many other defenses faced.

Go further. The Top 5 points allowed per game defenses were: Patriots, Giants, Seahawks, Broncos, Cowboys. Now look at their points allowed per drive.

NE was #1 in points allowed per drive
NYG were #2 in points allowed per drive
Seahawks were #4 in points allowed per drive
Denver was #3 in points allowed per drive
Cowboys were #14 in points allowed per drive

Who is the outlier there? Cowboys were #1 in time of possession that year, I believe. So in reality they protected what was a really mediocre defense. Same thing in 2018. They were 6th in points allowed per game but 13th in points per drive. Again, they just churned up clock and kept the other team's offense off the field.

This is not a defense of Dak mind you. But it's to point out this myth that the Cowboys had really good defenses a few times in the last few years is not really an accurate statement.

But the stats say so. Are we back to the eye test. The point is there was good defense in those years not 2020 crap. You can’t have both ways which is exactly what the OP wants in yet another Dak BS love thread.

 

[Aviano90]

Just checking… has anyone changed their mind or introduced a new opinion about Dak in this thread?

 

[plasticman]

Here is an interesting fact:

Landry and Johnson both rose in the coaching ranks from the defensive side. However, they have never been ranked #1 in both points and yards for the defense. The Cowboys have been ranked #1 in both categories of offense, yards and points, three times.

The closest the Cowboys ever came to being ranked #1 in defense for both yards and points came in 2003. This was Parcell's first season as a Cowboy HC. They were #1 in yards, #2 in points.

Ironically, the Cowboys ran a 4-3 defense that season only because Parcells didn't have the time or right players to change to a 3-4. They switched the following season.

Getting back to the Cowboys:

The first thing the SB teams all have in common is that they got to the playoffs. This is where we look at their statistical categories. As far as their defensive rankings, they have an equal amount of impressive defenses that didn't get their teams to the Super Bowl despite elite offenses. Look at their conference championship game losses

The difference with Championship seasons was the big defensive plays in the playoffs, especially takeaways. In the 15 playoff games during those 5 championship seasons, the Cowboys amassed a total of 59 takeaways. I think, when we go back and look, that will be the most common thread.

 

[Sydla]

But the stats say so. Are we back to the eye test. The point is there was good defense in those years not 2020 crap. You can’t have both ways which is exactly what the OP wants in yet another Dak BS love thread.

What eye test? The vast majority of defensive stats showed that the 2016 and 2018 defenses were really good. Looking at points per game solely or yards per game solely hides the fact that the defense was protected by not being on the field. It's not that hard a concept to grasp. If your defense isn't on the field as much as other defenses, they likely are going to keep yardage and points totals down. So to confirm that, you look at stats per drive and when you do that you see those "good" 2016 and 2018 defenses were actually not so good because when you compare drive data to the league, the Cowboys were downright mediocre in points per drive, yards per drive, time on the field per drive, etc.

Take Dak out of this. Any person that thinks the 2016 and 2018 defenses were good is trying to spin a certain narrative.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Yet what is it the Dak homers try to stuff down everyone's throats every day? Stats?

When it pertains to Dak Homers they will use every excuse in the book.
When it comes to excuses we are Superbowl champs every year baby!
Look for us to repeat this coming season as Dak will do what Dak does best .500 ball and beating only dog teams!

P.S.Anybody recall when Dak beat a playoff team?

 

[Diehardblues]

What eye test? The vast majority of defensive stats showed that the 2016 and 2018 defenses were really good. Looking at points per game solely or yards per game solely hides the fact that the defense was protected by not being on the field. It's not that hard a concept to grasp. If your defense isn't on the field as much as other defenses, they likely are going to keep yardage and points totals down. So to confirm that, you look at stats per drive and when you do that you see those "good" 2016 and 2018 defenses were actually not so good because when you compare drive data to the league, the Cowboys were downright mediocre in points per drive, yards per drive, time on the field per drive, etc.

Take Dak out of this. Any person that thinks the 2016 and 2018 defenses were good is trying to spin a certain narrative.

Yep … our offenses dominating TOP masked our defenses weaknesses both years . Those defenses couldn’t make a stop to save their lives.

Doesn't anyone recall Rodgers bashing us in playoffs or in 2018 Rams running down our throats for like 300 yards rushing to end our season . Amazing how fans can use stats to spin their dribble. Sad

 

[Diehardblues]

The Homers or the extremes on both sides are a problem.

But this is a Cowboy fan site. It’s not ESPN. We should expect some over the top bubbly love for our players , especially a popular and polarizing QB.

Id suggest the bulk of fans ignore these Homers much like we should the Trolls. Neither are healthy for our site.

Id argue most Cowboy fans are more reasonable and in the middle seeing our QB’s assets and liabilities.

 

[Diehardblues]

Coming to a Cowboys fan site and not expecting some over zealous fans is like going to a home game and not expecting Cowboy cheerleaders. C’mon Man.

 

[Diehardblues]

Trolls come here for one reason. To torment fans. And these Homers are an easy target with their love fest threads about our players.

We see members with our QB in their Avatar and screen name. Again, this is a Cowboys fan site. We should not expect objectivity and critical thinking from everyone.

 

[kskboys]

@kskboys

I’ll ask my most valued expertise football X and O guy on why total yards is used for official rankings. He’s explained it before. Easier than looking it up.

Because every yard given up is actually given up by the D. Points are often given up by the O, so if one were to use points to evaluate a D, you'd have to extrapolate the points that had nothing to do w/ the D's performance.

There are exceptions, such as Bellychickens formed D's, as they can be effective despite giving up yards. However, to have that exception, you'd have to have a mastermind such as Belly over your D. And there's only one of those in the NFL.

 

[kskboys]

EXACTLY...........Using the yards barometer ONLY for defense is weak and only used by agenda pushers.

It is. There are many stats that must be evaluated to truly assess a D, or anything else for that matter. As a standalone stat, yards come the closest, which is why the NFL uses yards. The majority of fans are unable to comprehend complicated stats to truly assess. The fans on this board are mostly exceptions to that rule, as the fans that reside on here are way more into football than your everday run of the mill football fan.

You can use points allowed to assess how your team is doing, no doubt. However, if you are trying to assess just your D, yards is more accurate than points.

 

[acr731]

Amazing how fans can use stats to spin their dribble. Sad

Goes both ways. Dak homers want to shove his personal stats down our throats and claim the reason for 29-27 since 2016 is terrible defense. The rest throws out defensive stats to show the defenses haven't been quite as bad as the slobberers claim they were. Neither side is right or wrong.

The problem is one side, the slobberers side, insists the other side aren't real fans for not thinking Dak is the best QB in the history of the NFL when he's not even in the top 200 all time.

 

[Diehardblues]

I heard Dak visits Rockport a few nights a week to 'thank' him for all the slobbering posts he makes every day.

Imagine if no one responded to them. They’d fall off the front page faster than you could shake a stick at.

 

[Diehardblues]

Goes both ways. Dak homers want to shove his personal stats down our throats and claim the reason for 29-27 since 2016 is terrible defense. The rest throws out defensive stats to show the defenses haven't been quite as bad as the slobberers claim they were. Neither side is right or wrong.

The problem is one side, the slobberers side, insists the other side aren't real fans for not thinking Dak is the best QB in the history of the NFL when he's not even in the top 200 all time.

Yep

The Haters vs the Homers is a dead end bottomless pit.

 

[acr731]

Imagine if no one responded to them. They’d fall off the front page faster than you could shake a stick at.

Responding provides validity . Ignoring is strongest message.

True. The only reason he keeps posting the garbage is because he wants to be an ace hole to members who don't worship at the Dak alter like he does. Although I wonder sometimes if he really isn't that big of a Dak fan, that he just likes being an ace hole to everyone.