I saw these comments from a Cowboys fan on Trueblue...

[DavidS]

Only in Dallas....

..........can a pass rusher collect 20 sacks in a single season - leading the entire NFL - and be accused of not doing enough - people like Sapp saying, "He needs to step it up."


..........can an undrafted QB come out of nowhere and lead his team to a franchise-best 13-3 record, win 66% of all his games, break numerous franchise records held by pro legends Aikman, Staubach, and others, earn 2-time Pro Bowl honors..........................and have fans calling for his head and demanding that he be traded for Jay Cutler.


..........can a head coach who has a 22-11 career record in Dallas and whose playcalling led to his defense leading the entire NFL with 59 sacks have people calling for his head and have media provocateurs question if his job is in jeopardy.


..........can a quarterback (an offensive player) be blamed for a playoff loss that was mostly the fault of defense and special teams.



..........can fans forget about how bad Carter, Leaf, Stoerner, Hutchinson, Cunningham, Testaverde, Henson, Wright, etc. were - none of whom ever won a playoff game for the Cowboys


Some very interesting points.

 

[Primetime42]

Solid points

 

[Doomsday]

Everyone keeps talking about sacks when it comes to Wade Phillips. What about the 365 points the defense gave up? I thought the job of the defense was to stop the other team from scoring we are the only team in the division to give up over 300 points and even though we were first in sacks we were also ranked 20th in points allowed per game, and 22nd in takeaways. That isnt going to get it done.

 

[JoeyBones31]

But what was the point really? Was it a sarcastic remark, then I agree, but was he or she complaining about the team?

I just don't get it ?

 

[bbgun]

I stopped reading at the "pro-Wade" blurb.

 

[JBS]

Everyone keeps talking about sacks when it comes to Wade Phillips. What about the 365 points the defense gave up? I thought the job of the defense was to stop the other team from scoring we are the only team in the division to give up over 300 points and even though we were first in sacks we were also ranked 20th in points allowed per game, and 22nd in takeaways. That isnt going to get it done.

I completely agree with your sentiments, however, after wade took over the playcalling the defense played much better in just about every facet. Over the course of the last 9 games the defense had some superb performances. They gave up a total of 8pts to the Gmen at home, 9 to the bucs, 10 to the skins, and 9 to seattle. The defense also played great vs the niners, barring a late 4th quarter let down when the game was already over we probably hold san fran to under 17 as well. Then you have the steelers game in which we only gave up 20 points but 7 of those 20 were at the hands of Romo.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that this defense needs to step it up in many different categories, however, after watching the 2nd half of last year and the way our defense improved I have solid reasoning to believe they can go from good to great. Now it is just a matter of seeing whether they do it or not.

 

[DavidS]

..........can fans forget about how bad Carter, Leaf, Stoerner, Hutchinson, Cunningham, Testaverde, Henson, Wright, etc. were - none of whom ever won a playoff game for the Cowboys



This is what stood out the most to me. I believe many Cowboy fans have forgotten about how much of a struggle we were in without a franchise QB. We are very lucky that Tony Romo has become what he is because its very rare that an undrafted Qb becomes a star. We could very much still be looking for our "franchise Qb" if we didnt strike gold with him.

 

[JBS]

I stopped reading at the "pro-Wade" blurb.

hey BB, what "DC Suburb" do you live in? I live in Rockville, MD.

 

[bbgun]

hey BB, what "DC Suburb" do you live in? I live in Rockville, MD.

Lived in Silver Spring for nine years, but now I'm in Takoma Park.

 

[JBS]

Lived in Silver Spring for nine years, but now I'm in Takoma Park.

that is pretty crazy, I used to live in silver spring as well. Right off of Georgia and Layhill....

 

[bbgun]

that is pretty crazy, I used to live in silver spring as well. Right off of Georgia and Layhill....

I was at Washington Ave and East-West Hwy. My older sister worked at "Westat" in Rockville for years.

 

[hendog]

I was at Washington Ave and East-West Hwy. My older sister worked at "Westat" in Rockville for years.

No way - I used to live in the basement at "Westat" and this pretty lady would bring me food. Maybe she's your sis.... nah couldn't be.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

But what was the point really? Was it a sarcastic remark, then I agree, but was he or she complaining about the team?

I just don't get it ?

He, Red Dragon, was complaining about the fans and media. He's a very solid supporter of the team yet pretty objective too.

Take any of those stats he mentioned, put them for another team, and we'd laugh at the idea of questioning those who made the stats happen.

 

[theWave21]

I agree with the points above. I think the major achillies heel of the defense was starting field position. I've been looking for that stat but can't seem to find it. I'm willing to bet the Cowboys ranked among the league's worst in this category. A short field makes leads to points scored, no doubt about it. The problem has been addressed, hopefully it makes a difference.

 

[dbair1967]

Everyone keeps talking about sacks when it comes to Wade Phillips. What about the 365 points the defense gave up? I thought the job of the defense was to stop the other team from scoring we are the only team in the division to give up over 300 points and even though we were first in sacks we were also ranked 20th in points allowed per game, and 22nd in takeaways. That isnt going to get it done.

6 of the teams 36 tds allowed were on our offense and special teams, so we gave up 30 total offensive tds for the season. That would have tied us for 5th best in the league. So the pts allowed thing doesnt reveal the whole truth.

Hell we lost the Cardinals game itself due two two special teams tds allowed.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I wonder if someone has improved the accuracy of the points allowed stat by eliminating TDs scored against the team's offense and special teams via INTs, fumbles, and kick and punt returns. It would also be nice to somehow factor in starting field position.

This is why the yards allowed isn't such a bad stat.

Heh, beat me to it, David. Good job. Wish someone had this for all teams so we could compare.

 

[starfrombirth]

I completely agree with your sentiments, however, after wade took over the playcalling the defense played much better in just about every facet. Over the course of the last 9 games the defense had some superb performances. They gave up a total of 8pts to the Gmen at home, 9 to the bucs, 10 to the skins, and 9 to seattle. The defense also played great vs the niners, barring a late 4th quarter let down when the game was already over we probably hold san fran to under 17 as well. Then you have the steelers game in which we only gave up 20 points but 7 of those 20 were at the hands of Romo.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that this defense needs to step it up in many different categories, however, after watching the 2nd half of last year and the way our defense improved I have solid reasoning to believe they can go from good to great. Now it is just a matter of seeing whether they do it or not.

They also gave up 44 to Philthydelphia, 2 80+ yd runs to Baltimore to win that game. Either of which would have put us in the playoffs. Anything else?

 

[DavidS]

I wonder if someone has improved the accuracy of the points allowed stat by eliminating TDs scored against the team's offense and special teams via INTs, fumbles, and kick and punt returns. It would also be nice to somehow factor in starting field position.

This is why the yards allowed isn't such a bad stat.

Heh, beat me to it, David. Good job. Wish someone had this for all teams so we could compare.

Thanks

 

[Doomsday]

6 of the teams 36 tds allowed were on our offense and special teams, so we gave up 30 total offensive tds for the season. That would have tied us for 5th best in the league. So the pts allowed thing doesnt reveal the whole truth.

Hell we lost the Cardinals game itself due two two special teams tds allowed.

Good info, but in factoring that we would be tied for 5th does that take into account TDs other teams gave up on offense, ST etc?

 

[dbair1967]

They also gave up 44 to Philthydelphia, 2 80+ yd runs to Baltimore to win that game. Either of which would have put us in the playoffs. Anything else?

The defense played very well against Baltimore, save the two long runs at the end of the game (both because of awful tackling by Hamlin)

The entire team mailed it in vs Philly.

The defense for the most part was dominant from the point that Wade took it over completely. The offense was never the same after Romo got hurt, the special teams were pathetic all yr. The defense the 2nd half of the season played at a level where we could have won every one of our games the 2nd half of the yr save the Philly game. The defense wasnt great that day, but the offense was just horrid.