Defense this and Defense that. What got us somewhere in 14?

[SHAMSzy]

At 4? No. If our scouts love him trade down, get an extra pick, and sure.

 

[ccb04]

Several things contributed to 2014, to include.....

- Tony Romo missed just 1 game & had the best year of his career

- A healthy Dez Bryant had 16 TD catches

- Murray led the league in rushing

- Defense was 2nd in the league in takeaways

- They led the league in time of possession

- Offense was at or near the top in 3rd down efficiency

 

[Doomsday101]

LOL. Panthers=best running team in the NFL=turnovers. As someone pointed out here we finished 10th in turnovers in 2014 with a no name defense basically because we ran the ball, mostly had a lead and got turnovers. Turnovers happen when you have a lead something I am sure the Panthers had most of the year. I would bet anything without looking that they lead the league in point differential.

Untrue turnovers are not a result of having a lead, hell Panthers scored 14 quick points on Dallas not because of their offense but because their defense those TO happened when the game was 0-0. Great defense is capable of going out and making big plays and when your offense is having to depend on a backup QB the defense becomes even more of a critical factor. People talk about time of possession? Dallas had TOP over opponents this past season with an avg of 31:07 to 29:08

 

[BAT]

And as successful as the 2014 offense was, team loses in the playoffs because it can't pressure a one legged QB and get them off the field.

Even with a dominant running attack, the next step requires an elite defense, that is not a one player fix. Cowboys need an infusion of talent on that side of the ball.

 

[cowboyblue22]

the cowboys need a infusion of talent on both sides of the ball and other places

 

[Vtwin]

The offense was able to protect the defense right up until it mattered most at which point the defense could not make the one play it had to make.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Our running game is what was the difference maker in 2014. We had a true running back for the first time since 22. Our running game limited Romo to 30 passes or less in most cases. We controlled the clock. It kept a sorry defense off the field for most of the game. It allowed us to control the tempo too.
I laugh when everyone on here says we need a 1tech DT. Or another safety or corner that will touch the ball 2 times a year. Give me the guy that will touch the rock 30+ times a game and set the tone for not only the offense but the whole team. I still say the one guy I want at number 4 even is the RB from Ohio State. I think he is exactly what our team needs.

1TDT, And Secondary are more pressing needs than RB.

 

[DallasDomination]

I understand the offense got us where we were in 2014. But if I may counter that with this. The defense was the reason we didn't go further than we did. You really think even if Dez makes that catch and we score, that our defense would of stopped Rodgers? We were losing that game either way. And in the championship game or superbowl who's stopping Wilson/lynch or Brady/Edelman. We need to get this defense rolling.

 

[Redball Express]

Our running game is what was the difference maker in 2014. We had a true running back for the first time since 22. Our running game limited Romo to 30 passes or less in most cases. We controlled the clock. It kept a sorry defense off the field for most of the game. It allowed us to control the tempo too.
I laugh when everyone on here says we need a 1tech DT. Or another safety or corner that will touch the ball 2 times a year. Give me the guy that will touch the rock 30+ times a game and set the tone for not only the offense but the whole team. I still say the one guy I want at number 4 even is the RB from Ohio State. I think he is exactly what our team needs.

agreed wholeheartedly.

We need another cowbell runner to make this team competitive again.

I like DMAC and wish we had him in his prime.

But he is not.

He will not carry he load.

Controlling time of possession..

minimizing the number of throws for Romo ..

helping the defense stay fresh..

is going to do more than any DT, CB or whatever.

We all realized the Murray thing was coming..

but we say what happened when we needed to run the ball to win games..

didn't happen.

And running by committee doesn't work.

It never has..not with Dorsett and Walker..

not with MBIII and Felix Jones.

When you look at GB with Eddie Lacey..

that is the sort of offense we need.

Please draft a RB with our top pick and let's start to get back to where we have a chance in games again.

If Hardy doesn't return..we should have money for a guy like the Dolphins Lamar Miller if needed.

Let's please not repeat and compound our mistakes.

 

[waving monkey]

A lead back can't hurt. It's those little extra yard and half at the end of a run.
That third down conversion over and dependably over. Time of possession.
1tech DT cant hurt either.

But Wentz is the answer in the football IQ test

 

[rockj7]

Our running game is what was the difference maker in 2014. We had a true running back for the first time since 22. Our running game limited Romo to 30 passes or less in most cases. We controlled the clock. It kept a sorry defense off the field for most of the game. It allowed us to control the tempo too.
I laugh when everyone on here says we need a 1tech DT. Or another safety or corner that will touch the ball 2 times a year. Give me the guy that will touch the rock 30+ times a game and set the tone for not only the offense but the whole team. I still say the one guy I want at number 4 even is the RB from Ohio State. I think he is exactly what our team needs.

I'll tell you what didn't get us anywhere in Green Bay in 2014.............. You guessed it Defense Oh I remember it lije it was yesterday looking at our FS standing frozen in the end zone looking at Rodgers throw a TD. Where was the offense on the sideline nothing they could do. Build your defense

 

[Zekeats]

Untrue turnovers are not a result of having a lead, hell Panthers scored 14 quick points on Dallas not because of their offense but because their defense those TO happened when the game was 0-0. Great defense is capable of going out and making big plays and when your offense is having to depend on a backup QB the defense becomes even more of a critical factor. People talk about time of possession? Dallas had TOP over opponents this past season with an avg of 31:07 to 29:08

How do you score 14 points with the game being 0-0?

 

[Zekeats]

I'll tell you what didn't get us anywhere in Green Bay in 2014.............. You guessed it Defense Oh I remember it lije it was yesterday looking at our FS standing frozen in the end zone looking at Rodgers throw a TD. Where was the offense on the sideline nothing they could do. Build your defense

Please. If Murray doesn't gift wrap a fumble nobody is even talking about AAROD

 

[Zekeats]

And as successful as the 2014 offense was, team loses in the playoffs because it can't pressure a one legged QB and get them off the field.

Even with a dominant running attack, the next step requires an elite defense, that is not a one player fix. Cowboys need an infusion of talent on that side of the ball.

And how did this years "Rushmen" do for you? with no running game and an infusion of talent along the defensive line with Hardy and Gregory we finished with 4 wins. Listen besides 07 and 09 Romo lead teams have been about a .500 winning percentage besides 2014 when we finally had a running back and running game. The 2014 defense sucked and our running game still got us 12 wins and a controversial call from going to the NFC championship game in 20 years.

 

[Zekeats]

Several things contributed to 2014, to include.....

- Tony Romo missed just 1 game & had the best year of his career

- A healthy Dez Bryant had 16 TD catches

- Murray led the league in rushing

- Defense was 2nd in the league in takeaways

- They led the league in time of possession

- Offense was at or near the top in 3rd down efficiency

All highlighted areas stem from the running game.

 

[BAT]

And how did this years "Rushmen" do for you? with no running game and an infusion of talent along the defensive line with Hardy and Gregory we finished with 4 wins. Listen besides 07 and 09 Romo lead teams have been about a .500 winning percentage besides 2014 when we finally had a running back and running game. The 2014 defense sucked and our running game still got us 12 wins and a controversial call from going to the NFC championship game in 20 years.

Not saying not to draft a RB, only that even with a strong even dominant rushing attack, Cowboys still need an elite D to become true championship contenders.

The saying "defense wins championships" is only a truism because the proof is there for all to see. Look at all the teams that played in the conference finals, all 4 teams not only had dangerous offenses but more importantly had pressure defenses, ranked at the top of the league.

 

[Zekeats]

Not saying not to draft a RB, only that even with a strong even dominant rushing attack, Cowboys still need an elite D to become true championship contenders.

The saying "defense wins championships" is only a truism because the proof is there for all to see. Look at all the teams that played in the conference finals, all 4 teams not only had dangerous offenses but more importantly had pressure defenses, ranked at the top of the league.

We did this ^ in 2014. We didn't even lose a game on the road until the GB game. If DeMarco didn't fumble that ball running through a 10 yard hole OR if not for a flawed ruling on the Dez CATCH then this team would have been on to Seattle. Our recipe for winning was running the football, keeping our own defense off the field and making the game easier for Romo.
Also, its not like Ray Lewis is sitting there at number 4. What player is going to make this a great defense? You can't even count on any of the top defenders because they all have major ? marks. Bosa is NOT Watt, Jack is coming off a major injury and are you really ready to waste another top ten pick on a corner with ?s.....is he a corner, is he a safety???

The safest pick in this draft happens to be our biggest need.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Several things contributed to 2014, to include.....

- Tony Romo missed just 1 game & had the best year of his career

- A healthy Dez Bryant had 16 TD catches

- Murray led the league in rushing

- Defense was 2nd in the league in takeaways

- They led the league in time of possession

- Offense was at or near the top in 3rd down efficiency

And most of these things were directly related to time of possession, staying ahead of third down, and the rushing attack.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Our running game is what was the difference maker in 2014. We had a true running back for the first time since 22. Our running game limited Romo to 30 passes or less in most cases. We controlled the clock. It kept a sorry defense off the field for most of the game. It allowed us to control the tempo too.
I laugh when everyone on here says we need a 1tech DT. Or another safety or corner that will touch the ball 2 times a year. Give me the guy that will touch the rock 30+ times a game and set the tone for not only the offense but the whole team. I still say the one guy I want at number 4 even is the RB from Ohio State. I think he is exactly what our team needs.

Not even close,,,, no passing game and no defense is what killed this season. Having Murray on the field would not have saved us.

 

[BAT]

We did this ^ in 2014. We didn't even lose a game on the road until the GB game. If DeMarco didn't fumble that ball running through a 10 yard hole OR if not for a flawed ruling on the Dez CATCH then this team would have been on to Seattle. Our recipe for winning was running the football, keeping our own defense off the field and making the game easier for Romo.
Also, its not like Ray Lewis is sitting there at number 4. What player is going to make this a great defense? You can't even count on any of the top defenders because they all have major ? marks. Bosa is NOT Watt, Jack is coming off a major injury and are you really ready to waste another top ten pick on a corner with ?s.....is he a corner, is he a safety???

The safest pick in this draft happens to be our biggest need.

I have no problem with taking Zeke Elliott, or even Henry. Only saying not to do so at 4. Trade down and pick up as many 2nd & 3rd rounders as possible where the true value in this draft resides, because the Cowboys have multiple pro bowlers all over their offense (at every level) but only a single pro bowl alternate (Lee) on D. It will require multiple picks to fix this defense.