DC.COM Blog: Subtle Difference Between Cowboys And Saints

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by rphillips at 2/10/2010 3:35 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Takeaways.

It's hard to complain about a Cowboys defense that finished second in the NFL in points allowed (250) and pitched two consecutive shutouts to win the NFC East. By season's end it became the backbone of the team.

The Saints weren't as productive, allowing 341 points and finishing 25th in total yards allowed (235.6). Their strength -- and ultimately a boost to their top-ranked offense -- was 39 takeaways, second only to the Packers' 40. The Cowboys finished with 21, tied for fourth-fewest.

The Saints won their final two games -- the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl -- thanks to a pair of Tracy Porter interceptions. As the Super Bowl wore on, you started to wonder if the Saints could stop the Colts unless Peyton Manning made a big mistake. He finally did.

The Cowboys' defense, to me, is the biggest reason why they should be considered legit contenders next year. If you're capable of holding an opponent under 20 points on any given week, you have a chance to win a championship. But more takeaways will mean better field position for the offense, and maybe that would help the Cowboys' discrepancy between yards gained (2nd; 399.4) and points scored (14th; 22.6).

-Rob

 

[CoCo]

Said another way...

Is it good enough these days to build a defense that bends but doesn't break? Or do you really need a pressure, gambling defense to force mistakes so that you not only get the ball back, but you get it with good field position - maybe even within the end zone.

Of course that gambling D is also susceptible to the big play.

That is the biggest question mark that hangs over our defense.

 

[casmith07]

Said another way...

Is it good enough these days to build a defense that bends but doesn't break? Or do you really need a pressure, gambling defense to force mistakes so that you not only get the ball back, but you get it with good field position - maybe even within the end zone.

Of course that gambling D is also susceptible to the big play.

That is the biggest question mark that hangs over our defense.

The Saints could afford to gamble because they had Darren Sharper roving the defensive backfield.

We might be able to afford gambling more with Mike Jenkins emerging as one of the league's best corners. Until then, I'd rather be a bend-don't-break defense and see our offense get more productive. Imagine if we had Miles Austin from the get-go instead of Roy Williams running around wasting plays by getting shut down at the line of scrimmage.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Two words - Playmaking safety.

 

[burmafrd]

They could afford to gamble on D with an offense like theirs. Frankly we should be able to gamble as well.

 

[Idgit]

Two words - Playmaking safety.

Playmaking FS. Yes. How awesome would this defense be with an elite player with range at that position? I'm not one for Madden scenarios, but I do wonder what it might take to pry Ed Reed away for two seasons or so at this point in his career. How much was Darren Sharper worth to the Saints this season, for example?

 

[CoCo]

A prolific offense like the Saints, to me isn't a reason to play gambling defense.

In some respects I think there are times you play a gambling defense because you CAN'T play bend but don't break.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I do wonder what it might take to pry Ed Reed away for two seasons or so at this point in his career. How much was Darren Sharper worth to the Saints this season, for example?

Reed is talking retirement and Sharper should have been signed when he left Minnesota. At this point, I'm drafting someone we can keep for the next 10-12 years.

 

[Teague31]

i was sure the headline was going to refer to kickers.:bang2:

 

[Don Corleone]

So what happens if they play a game with no takeaways? They lose handily. See the game against the Cowboys.

I do believe we need ballhawks on defense, but not at the expense of yards given up.

It seems Asante Samuel would fit in well with the Saints. A boom or bust type player that bites on double-moves. Either a pick 6 or a TD going the other way.

 

[jobberone]

A little more pressure up front will do wonders for TOs. Also the DBs need to be taught to turn and look for the ball in a timely fashion. Jenkins does it. Why can't the others. We could also strip the ball better and more often.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I agree, they definitely need to force more turnovers! That's the next step in 2010 to become a truly dominant defense.

 

[NextGenBoys]

You've got to be kidding me.

Takeaways are subtle???

That's one of the most important defensive stats, we've all been complaining about our lack of turnovers for over a year now.

 

[stilltheguru]

The Saints could afford to gamble because they had Darren Sharper roving the defensive backfield.

We might be able to afford gambling more with Mike Jenkins emerging as one of the league's best corners. Until then, I'd rather be a bend-don't-break defense and see our offense get more productive. Imagine if we had Miles Austin from the get-go instead of Roy Williams running around wasting plays by getting shut down at the line of scrimmage.

You mean our second best reciever? I don't get it. ZRINKILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!


We do need another dog on the defense though. Maybe Taylor Mays?

 

[Future]

The other difference, NO could score almost at will for most of the season. It's easy to try to break on a ball when you know that even if your guy scores, you'll answer.

The Cowboys defense had to be near perfect at times, in a handful of games one big play would have lost them the game.

 

[gmoney112]

Their offensive line and receiving core let them gamble on defense. When your offense can't be stopped it lets you gamble more on defense to maximize the amount of possessions you'll have. Sharper is also a baller. The combination of that offense with a ballhawk safety let's you do a lot of things. They can have him and their corners and safeties jump routes all game because they know they're going to score 28+.

 

[NextGenBoys]

The other difference, NO could score almost at will for most of the season. It's easy to try to break on a ball when you know that even if your guy scores, you'll answer.

The Cowboys defense had to be near perfect at times, in a handful of games one big play would have lost them the game.

It goes both way.

The defense failed to generate turnovers, forcing the offense to be near perfect on many occasions in regards to turnovers.

It's alot easier to take a chance on offense after forcing some turnovers.

 

[Idgit]

Reed is talking retirement and Sharper should have been signed when he left Minnesota. At this point, I'm drafting someone we can keep for the next 10-12 years.

I'm not really beating a drum for Ed Reed, but the fact that he's talking retirement is part of the reason I mentioned it. Maybe he is just tired of playing. It's also possible he doesn't enjoy playing in a secondary that's suddenly got some holes. Who knows.

And I was on the Sharper bandwagon when he was available. Still, it's hard to overstate the impact he had on the Saints defense this year. I'm all for finding someone like one of those guys in the draft. Just let me know where he is and give me a guarantee that he'll be elite next year.

 

[Sarge]

They have a better S. They have better WR's overall and they pass protect far better......reality.

 

[VACowboy]

Reed is talking retirement and Sharper should have been signed when he left Minnesota. At this point, I'm drafting someone we can keep for the next 10-12 years.

Nate Allen.