Defensive Stats pretty horrific

[Beast_from_East]

Total defensive rank..............28th...........allowing 409.2 ypg

Passing defense....................31st...........allowing 326.4 ypg

Rushing defense...................4th..............allowing 82.8 ypg

Total points allowed............22nd..............allowing 27.2 ppg


Basically our pass defense is non existent and teams just pass up and down the field at will against us. The rushing defense is pretty good, but why should teams even bother running when they passing lanes are wide open every freaking play? And to top it off, we have to score 4 TDs to have any chance of winning.

And there are still folks on this board that blame Romo for our 2-3 record.......................amazing.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

And here I thought the "keys" to winning were running the ball and stopping the run...

 

[Future]

And here I thought the "keys" to winning were running the ball and stopping the run...

KC, SD, and Denver all ran for more than 100 yards and outgained us by a wide margin on the ground.

Dallas ran the ball better than NYG and STL.

So, at least in terms of this season, there is a direct parallel between winning and the run game. On the flipside, we threw for more yards than KC and Denver. The only game where the team that threw for more yards has won was SD, but they also ran for more yards.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

Shoulda retired old man.

 

[Idgit]

I can't decide if it's fun, or frustrating watching it slowly dawn on people what the issues have been for this team for so long. When the protection improves, but the pass defense doesn't, and the results remain remarkably similar, it should start some alarm bells somewhere. That feeling of deja vu ought to be settling in.

Of course, instead, we've got threads with pages of back and forth re: play calling, and whether or not 500+ yards, a 140+ QBR, and a 5-1 TD:INT ratio is sufficient offensively. Yes, the pass defense is really, really bad right now.

 

[RastaRocket]

And here I thought the "keys" to winning were running the ball and stopping the run...

Why run on us when you can pass at will?

 

[Kevinicus]

What I find most sad is that 27.2 ppg is only as bad as 22nd in the NFL.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Two weeks ago I recall seeing some articles about how we may have a super bowl defense. Two weeks later and the general consensus seems to be that we have the worst defense in the history of the NFL. And the truth is probably that we have a middle-of-the-road defense.

And that might be more than sufficient if the offense doesn't stall like it did against SD and runs on all cylinders like it did against Denver.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I can't decide if it's fun, or frustrating watching it slowly dawn on people what the issues have been for this team for so long. When the protection improves, but the pass defense doesn't, and the results remain remarkably similar, it should start some alarm bells somewhere. That feeling of deja vu ought to be settling in.

Exactly right.

You had an awful lot of people who were sure the offensive line was holding this team "hostage".

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Why run on us when you can pass at will?

That's part of it.

But I also think the defense "sells-out" against the run, which improves its performance vs the running game but costs a great deal vs the passing game.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Two weeks ago I recall seeing some articles about how we may have a super bowl defense. Two weeks later and the general consensus seems to be that we have the worst defense in the history of the NFL. And the truth is probably that we have a middle-of-the-road defense.

And that might be more than sufficient if the offense doesn't stall like it did against SD and runs on all cylinders like it did against Denver.

I agree with that take.

I'm disappointed in the defense, but I don't think it's as bad as the last two weeks have shown.

 

[RastaRocket]

That's part of it.

But I also think the defense "sells-out" against the run, which improves its performance vs the running game but costs a great deal vs the passing game.

I can agree with that, because I haven't noticed our defense get gashed by 10+ yard runs at will like last season. This upcoming Washington game should be interesting. I know RGIII and Morris are running less effectively but they really ran it straight down our throats last season.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I can agree with that, because I haven't noticed our defense get gashed by 10+ yard runs at will like last season. This upcoming Washington game should be interesting. I know RGIII and Morris are running less effectively but they really ran it straight down our throats last season.

The linebackers are getting scorched because they aren't dropping far enough into their zones... part of that is because they are biting on play action.

 

[CaptainCreed]

I am not ecstatic about our D either but let's let it play out a couple weeks. Those numbers are somewhat inflated by us playing the number 1 offense so far. Let's see how it is against more mediocre opponents in the coming weeks and how it holds up against two strong tests against NO and GB. If we look as poor against them then we will know our chances to advance far in the playoffs are slim. Sample size people.

 

[percyhoward]

What I find most sad is that 27.2 ppg is only as bad as 22nd in the NFL.

That's not really an accurate number for the league's defenses, because it includes all your opponent's special teams scores and defensive scores, and doesn't account for how many drives your defense faces. For example, a team whose offense can't stay on the field will have a defense that faces more possessions against them.

Dallas' defense actually ranks much worse in points allowed per drive -- 30th.

 

[CaptainCreed]

That's not really an accurate number for the league's defenses, because it includes all your opponent's special teams scores and defensive scores, and doesn't account for how many drives your defense faces. For example, a team whose offense can't stay on the field will have a defense that faces more possessions against them.

Dallas' defense actually ranks much worse in points allowed per drive -- 30th.

Great stat, I am just hoping that number is inflated by playing Denver and this defense can improve in the coming weeks before we play NO and GB. Any idea what it was prior to the Denver game? I understand SD tore us up as well but am wondering if we were more middle of the pack prior to playing Denver who has done that to everyone so far this year.

 

[Soth]

We just need to score 40 points per game and we should be fine.. (unless we are playing Denver, in which case we would need to score 60 points)

 

[percyhoward]

Great stat, I am just hoping that number is inflated by playing Denver and this defense can improve in the coming weeks before we play NO and GB.

There's reason for hope. Here are the points per drive of our 5 opponents, comparing what they did against the Cowboys with what they've done against the rest of their schedule:

Giants vs. Dallas: 2.21
Giants vs. NFL: 0.94

Chiefs vs. Dallas: 1.55
Chiefs vs. NFL: 1.51

Rams vs. Dallas: 0.58
Rams vs. NFL: 1.75

Chargers vs. Dallas: 2.73
Chargers vs. NFL: 2.91

Broncos vs. Dallas: 4.64
Broncos vs. NFL: 5.00

AVG vs. Dallas: 2.34
AVG vs. NFL: 2.42

Dallas' Remaining Schedule
AVG vs. NFL: 1.92

 

[CaptainCreed]

There's reason for hope. Here are the points per drive of our 5 opponents, comparing what they did against the Cowboys with what they've done against the rest of their schedule:

Giants vs. Dallas: 2.21
Giants vs. NFL: 0.94

Chiefs vs. Dallas: 1.55
Chiefs vs. NFL: 1.51

Rams vs. Dallas: 0.58
Rams vs. NFL: 1.75

Chargers vs. Dallas: 2.73
Chargers vs. NFL: 2.91

Broncos vs. Dallas: 4.64
Broncos vs. NFL: 5.00

AVG vs. Dallas: 2.34
AVG vs. NFL: 2.42

Dallas' Remaining Schedule
AVG vs. NFL: 1.92

Thanks for the research!

 

[CowboysLegend365]

I thought you had to stop the run and force the pass. We are stopping the run and praying they don't pass lol