Dallas currently 4th in points allowed per game

[darthseinfeld]

Who would have thought this would have been possible

 

[Direwolf63]

Combine that with the play of Prescott and it's like an episode of the Twilight Zone.

 

[drawandstrike]

We'd rank even higher without the 28 garbage time points from 4 TD's late in the game by the Bears and the Bengals.

 

[bayeslife]

We'd rank even higher without the 28 garbage time points from 4 TD's late in the game by the Bears and the Bengals.

We'd also rank much lower if we didn't control the ball on offense all game.

 

[HomeBiscuit]

That is true. We are practically doggystylin the rest of the league in TOP.

 

[noshame]

Well I'm very proud of the defense but really the quarterbacks we've played against don't amount to a steamy pile of....
Stuff

 

[HoosierCowboy]

We'd also rank much lower if we didn't control the ball on offense all game.

why would you want to poop on the defense like that?

 

[percyhoward]

Average offensive possession
1 Cowboys 3:22
2 Lions 3:10
3 Commanders 2:57
4 Packers 2:55
5 Saints 2:52

Drives faced per game
28 Titans 10.8
29 Commanders 10.4
30 Packers 10.3
31 Cowboys 9.9
32 Lions 9.7

Points allowed per drive
11 Giants 1.73
12 Steelers 1.74
13 Cowboys 1.78
14 Titans 1.82
15 Dolphins 1.87

 

[endersdragon]

We'd also rank much lower if we didn't control the ball on offense all game.

We were 13th in points allowed per drive last week, no doubt that went up after this last game. That's not horrible

 

[JDSmith]

We are currently 9th in the Aikman Efficency Ratings on defense. In 2014 our defense finished as the 15th ranked. I can't remember us making the top 10 any time within the last few years.

 

[percyhoward]

We are currently 9th in the Aikman Efficency Ratings on defense.

That makes sense, because AER puts a premium on takeaways and red zone defense. We're giving up a ton of yards per drive, but we're getting enough takeaways and making enough red zone stops to make the top 10 anyway.

It's important to note that AER looks only at red zone points per red zone opportunity, which means a defense that gives up 10 points on 2 red zone possessions gets more credit than one that allows 7 points on 1 possession, even though that first defense allowed scores on both drives it faced and the second defense kept the opponent out of the red zone once.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Who would have thought this would have been possible

Those who looked at the 2016 season as getting back to what we were successful doing in 2014 and not buying into the nonsense that half the roster was garbage.

 

[SDCowboy]

Combine that with the play of Prescott and it's like an episode of the Twilight Zone.

It's funny cuz it's so true.

 

[pancakeman]

We'd rank even higher without the 28 garbage time points from 4 TD's late in the game by the Bears and the Bengals.

Though I imagine the teams ranked ahead of us also have had some garbage time points against them.

 

[tyke1doe]

Who would have thought this would have been possible

Actually, a lot of us did.

The whole premise behind drafting Ezekiel Elliott was to have a franchise-type back who could take the pressure of Romo, allow us to drive the length of the field, score and keep a talent-strapped defense rested yet strong when it was its turn to take the field.

We are not only winning the time of possession, we're not making mistakes on offense and we're scoring.

Consequently, teams are forced to throw more, thus making more mistakes and putting their defenses back on the field. Our defense is playing exactly how it should play because our offense is playing the way we thought it would when we drafted Zeke. The only difference is that it's Dak at quarterback, and he is driving the offense the length of the field, scoring and limiting his mistakes.

 

[DandyDon52]

Actually, a lot of us did.

The whole premise behind drafting Ezekiel Elliott was to have a franchise-type back who could take the pressure of Romo, allow us to drive the length of the field, score and keep a talent-strapped defense rested yet strong when it was its turn to take the field.

We are not only winning the time of possession, we're not making mistakes on offense and we're scoring.

Consequently, teams are forced to throw more, thus making more mistakes and putting their defenses back on the field. Our defense is playing exactly how it should play because our offense is playing the way we thought it would when we drafted Zeke. The only difference is that it's Dak at quarterback, and he is driving the offense the length of the field, scoring and limiting his mistakes.

That pretty much says it.

 

[jazzcat22]

We'd also rank much lower if we didn't control the ball on offense all game.

however, this was and is the game plan...so it is working...so no need to look at it that way....it is working and that is what matters...all the if and buts makes me nuts....LOL....

 

[jazzcat22]

Actually, a lot of us did.

The whole premise behind drafting Ezekiel Elliott was to have a franchise-type back who could take the pressure of Romo, allow us to drive the length of the field, score and keep a talent-strapped defense rested yet strong when it was its turn to take the field.

We are not only winning the time of possession, we're not making mistakes on offense and we're scoring.

Consequently, teams are forced to throw more, thus making more mistakes and putting their defenses back on the field. Our defense is playing exactly how it should play because our offense is playing the way we thought it would when we drafted Zeke. The only difference is that it's Dak at quarterback, and he is driving the offense the length of the field, scoring and limiting his mistakes.

Very well stated.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The defense has improved dramatically in its tackling and ability to play zone coverage. It's certainly not dominant, but it's very effective. I just can't believe they've improved their tackling by so much. I think with the move of Byron to full-time FS, that would help with the zone coverage and also helps to get rid of Jerome Henderson and the addition of Greg Jackson seems to be a big one.

IIRC, Louis Riddick once said that safeties are the worst coached position in the NFL. I think that's a big reason for Belichick's success, he's shown time and time again the knack for finding and developing quality safeties. Now with Jackson coaching the safeties and seeing the massive improvement in Wilcox and Church and seeing Byron progress, it gives me a lot of hope.

And given our success on offense, ole Vince Lombardi still has it right...this is a game about blocking and tackling.




YR

 

[DandyDon52]

I think secondary play is the best it has been in a long time.
mo played good, carr on the side he should be, jones in his 2nd year and brown the rookie playing good, scandrick back.

in pitt they will face brown, so that will be a big test.