DFW: Moore: 3 things Cowboys need to do avoid another 8-8 season, reach postseason

[jobberone]

Moore: 3 things Cowboys need to do avoid another 8-8 season, reach postseason

After back-to-back 8-8 seasons, Cowboys need to get over the hump
DAVID MOORE Staff writer dmoore@***BANNED-URL***http://www.***BANNED-URL***/incoming/20130831-ns_14cowsm2_32600550.jpg.ece/BINARY/w620x413/NS_14COWSM2_32600550.JPG
Published: 31 August 2013 07:15 PM

IRVING — In recent days, we’ve learned that owner Jerry Jones has the brain of a 40-year old, quarterback Tony Romo thinks like New Orleans coach Sean Payton and defensive tackle Jay Ratliff has trust issues.

Who knew?

And who knew the Cowboys have the “secret sauce” to get the team back to the Super Bowl? Executive vice president Stephen Jones dropped this gem as the preseason was winding down. The ingredients include…

Well, as Jerry Jones pointed out, if he or his son divulged that information, it would no longer be a secret.

Head coach Jason Garrett wants his players to envision holding the Super Bowl trophy above their heads on a freezing, February night in New York. But first, this franchise must solve the 8-8 puzzle it has been unable to escape the last two seasons.

Save the secret sauce for the postseason. Here are a few ideas of what must occur for the Cowboys to break out of their .500 doldrums.

Finish reading:

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...avoid-another-8-8-season-reach-postseason.ece

 

[SHAMSzy]

Agreed with this article, good read.

 

[noshame]

Good stuff. Spot on.
IMO if we're 7-3 or better at the bye, we'll be in the playoffs.

 

[The Quest for Six]

Unless Dallas finally addresses this offensive line with top draft picks, not one every three years and can control the clock by a consistent running game and balanced offensive attack, nothing will change, it's a mediocre team at best a long the offensive and defensive lines.....unlike championship teams that build their teams from the inside out, Jerry builds his team from the outside in and thus far that's been a complete failure 17 years and counting

 

[percyhoward]

My three are different, because there are only two.

1. Play better defense, especially pass defense.
Since 2010, Dallas has held opposing QB under 80 only 14 times in 48 games (to rank 30th in the NFL over that span). The Cowboys are 10-4 in those games, and 12-18 in all other games. The last 17 times the opposing QB had a rating of 100 or better in the game, the Cowboys are 0-17. In all other games during that time, we are 33-14.

Dallas is the only team to rank 25th or worse in defensive passer rating each of the last three seasons, so you'd think this would have been identified as the #1 area of needed improvement by now.

2. More red zone TD, less red zone FG (running game helps here).
Since 2010, Dallas has only 23 rushing TD in 48 games (to rank 31st in the NFL over that span). The last two years, despite being a top 10 offense in scoring per drive, the Cowboys have ranked 20th in red zone touchdown percentage.

Either of the last two years, if the Cowboys could have made it to the top half of the league in just one of these two categories (defensive passer rating or rushing TD) they would have reached the postseason.

 

[Zordon]

My three are different, because there are only two.

1. Play better defense, especially pass defense.
Since 2010, Dallas has held opposing QB under 80 only 14 times in 48 games (to rank 30th in the NFL over that span). The Cowboys are 10-4 in those games, and 12-18 in all other games. The last 17 times the opposing QB had a rating of 100 or better in the game, the Cowboys are 0-17. In all other games during that time, we are 33-14.

Dallas is the only team to rank 25th or worse in defensive passer rating each of the last three seasons, so you'd think this would have been identified as the #1 area of needed improvement by now.

2. More red zone TD, less red zone FG (running game helps here).
Since 2010, Dallas has only 23 rushing TD in 48 games (to rank 31st in the NFL over that span). The last two years, despite being a top 10 offense in scoring per drive, the Cowboys have ranked 20th in red zone touchdown percentage.

Either of the last two years, if the Cowboys could have made it to the top half of the league in just one of these two categories (defensive passer rating or rushing TD) they would have reached the postseason.

Your 2nd point will determine our season IMO.

 

[jobberone]

My three are different, because there are only two.

1. Play better defense, especially pass defense.
Since 2010, Dallas has held opposing QB under 80 only 14 times in 48 games (to rank 30th in the NFL over that span). The Cowboys are 10-4 in those games, and 12-18 in all other games. The last 17 times the opposing QB had a rating of 100 or better in the game, the Cowboys are 0-17. In all other games during that time, we are 33-14.

Dallas is the only team to rank 25th or worse in defensive passer rating each of the last three seasons, so you'd think this would have been identified as the #1 area of needed improvement by now.

2. More red zone TD, less red zone FG (running game helps here).
Since 2010, Dallas has only 23 rushing TD in 48 games (to rank 31st in the NFL over that span). The last two years, despite being a top 10 offense in scoring per drive, the Cowboys have ranked 20th in red zone touchdown percentage.

Either of the last two years, if the Cowboys could have made it to the top half of the league in just one of these two categories (defensive passer rating or rushing TD) they would have reached the postseason.

Both of these are absolutely vital. I'd add having a decent turnover differential as well. We need to reduce our opponents scoring at least 3 ppg and preferably 5-7 which I recognize as a large improvement to obtain. We need to score roughly 3 ppg more and 5 would be nice.

 

[RS12]

Turnovers, third down conversions both sides of ball, red zone offense.

 

[Idgit]

My three are different, because there are only two.

1. Play better defense, especially pass defense.
Since 2010, Dallas has held opposing QB under 80 only 14 times in 48 games (to rank 30th in the NFL over that span). The Cowboys are 10-4 in those games, and 12-18 in all other games. The last 17 times the opposing QB had a rating of 100 or better in the game, the Cowboys are 0-17. In all other games during that time, we are 33-14.

Dallas is the only team to rank 25th or worse in defensive passer rating each of the last three seasons, so you'd think this would have been identified as the #1 area of needed improvement by now.

2. More red zone TD, less red zone FG (running game helps here).
Since 2010, Dallas has only 23 rushing TD in 48 games (to rank 31st in the NFL over that span). The last two years, despite being a top 10 offense in scoring per drive, the Cowboys have ranked 20th in red zone touchdown percentage.

Either of the last two years, if the Cowboys could have made it to the top half of the league in just one of these two categories (defensive passer rating or rushing TD) they would have reached the postseason.

Agreed. And, assuming point 1 included getting more takeaways in the passing game, I'd add better ball control on offense as point 3.

 

[percyhoward]

Agreed. And, assuming point 1 included getting more takeaways in the passing game, I'd add better ball control on offense as point 3.

Yes, more INT by our defense hurts opponents' passer rating. But even doubling our INT total from last year would only have moved us up from 29th to 21st in defensive passer rating. Even tripling it would have only bumped us up to 13th. There have been problems with our pass defense the last three years that had nothing to do with a lack of takeaways. We've ranked 29th, 24th, and 26th in yards allowed per pass attempt.

Offensively, ball control wasn't an issue. Our average drive lasted 2:44, which ranked 6th in the league. We did rank 13th in time of possession per game because our defense couldn't get off the field.

Duration of Avg. Possession, 2012
1. Sea 2:56
2. SF 2:51
3. Atl 2:46
4. Pit 2:46
5. SD 2:46
6. Dal 2:44
7. Car 2:42
8. Ind 2:42
9. Was 2:42
10. Hou 2:39

If you mean we simply need to protect the ball better offensively than we did last year, I agree. But this isn't a trend like bad pass defense and low rushing TD have been. (We were 31st in INT per drive in 2012, after ranking 11th on average from 2009-11) Most of the INT last year were caused by not having a real 3rd WR, as shown by the high INT rate on 3rd-WR targets (7.7) and normal rate on the other targets (2.0). Fumble-wise, we were 19th, which isn't much different from our average since 2009 (18th), so we could stand to improve on that. But again, not the perennial problem that pass defense and red zone rushing have been.

 

[30yrheel]

Good stats Percy. But the average cowboy fan will still blame romo.

 

[Dodger]

My three is only one...this:

1. Play better defense, especially pass defense.

Do that, and we're in the playoffs.

 

[Idgit]

Yes, more INT by our defense hurts opponents' passer rating. But even doubling our INT total from last year would only have moved us up from 29th to 21st in defensive passer rating. Even tripling it would have only bumped us up to 13th. There have been problems with our pass defense the last three years that had nothing to do with a lack of takeaways. We've ranked 29th, 24th, and 26th in yards allowed per pass attempt.

Offensively, ball control wasn't an issue. Our average drive lasted 2:44, which ranked 6th in the league. We did rank 13th in time of possession per game because our defense couldn't get off the field.

Duration of Avg. Possession, 2012
1. Sea 2:56
2. SF 2:51
3. Atl 2:46
4. Pit 2:46
5. SD 2:46
6. Dal 2:44
7. Car 2:42
8. Ind 2:42
9. Was 2:42
10. Hou 2:39

If you mean we simply need to protect the ball better offensively than we did last year, I agree. But this isn't a trend like bad pass defense and low rushing TD have been. (We were 31st in INT per drive in 2012, after ranking 11th on average from 2009-11) Most of the INT last year were caused by not having a real 3rd WR, as shown by the high INT rate on 3rd-WR targets (7.7) and normal rate on the other targets (2.0). Fumble-wise, we were 19th, which isn't much different from our average since 2009 (18th), so we could stand to improve on that. But again, not the perennial problem that pass defense and red zone rushing have been.

Just a smart, smart post, percy.

I don't understand why all the guys who jump up and down about every other thing about the team can't seem to get behind the pass-defense-must-improve argument. Why is that? It seems like it would be common ground for all of us 'happy fans' who see it as one of the major issues for this franchise, and the 'Realists' who just want to keep it real, except when it comes to improving the pass defense. Yet, whenever it's brought up in a thread, there are one or two of us who post about it every time, and then, silence.

I think Risen Star stays away from it because it's too close to his anti-CB position. But why everybody else? You think we'll all relish this time to gang up and kick the organization where it hurts. Instead, I always feel like a brought my torch and pitchfork all the way over here for nothing.

 

[percyhoward]

My three is only one...this:



Do that, and we're in the playoffs.

That may be true, if we improve enough. Remember, the 2011 Giants won the Super Bowl with the league's 21st-ranked pass defense (allowing 400 points), but offensively they were able to score touchdowns by either pass or run, and they made the playoffs by outscoring people.

Defensive Passer Rating
Giants 21st
Cowboys 25th
Rushing TD
Giants 6th
Cowboys 30th

 

[Richmond Cowboy]

Turnovers, third down conversions both sides of ball, red zone offense.

I can't stress your second point more. On defense, giving up the third down conversion is deflating and on offense it derails drives and in the redzone results in field goals instead of TDs.

 

[percyhoward]

I don't understand why all the guys who jump up and down about every other thing about the team can't seem to get behind the pass-defense-must-improve argument. Why is that? It seems like it would be common ground for all of us 'happy fans' who see it as one of the major issues for this franchise, and the 'Realists' who just want to keep it real, except when it comes to improving the pass defense. Yet, whenever it's brought up in a thread, there are one or two of us who post about it every time, and then, silence.

There are large numbers of people (like the author of this article in the OP) who recognize the importance of the passing game from an offensive point of view only and who make no mention of pass defense, and a much smaller but more fervent cadre who insist it doesn't matter how many rushing TD you score, but I think there's a general agreement that pass defense and red zone running have been the problems for this team. From there, it then splinters into what's the best philosophy for solving those problems. I've got nothing against any philosophy that works, I just hope we find one.

 

[blindzebra]

I have a different 3:

Run the ball better, not necessarily more.

Win the turnover battle...more take-aways.

Stay healthy.

 

[percyhoward]

Turnovers, third down conversions both sides of ball, red zone offense.

3rd Down Conversion %
offense 43.9 (5th)
defense 40.1 (23rd)

For the offense, this was more a red zone issue than a 3rd down conversion issue. Our 43.9% conversion rate went down to 34.5% (10 of 29) in the red zone and 25% (2 of 8) inside the 10.

The last five SB winners ranked an average of 7th in red zone TD%. The last two years, Dallas has ranked 20th.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The two things I'll look at...

1. Turnover +/-

2. Defensive YPA.

 

[ShiningStar]

I only have one, score more points than the other team. You can do everything right, you can do everything wrong, but at the end of the game you have more points, well any football fan can tell you, there are no other points that matter.