Is It a better strategy to finish the Offense or build the defense

[DandyDon52]

Atlanta had a 25 point lead and a 28-9 lead with just under 10 minutes to play so despite their offensive struggles in the second half, they had the game won but their defense couldn't hold. They lost 5 games in 2016, 4 of them in shootouts due to their defense giving up a lot of points. NE's D stepped up making some critical stops and strip sacking Ryan which swung the game in their favor.

All true, but had the offense not messed up on that one late drive where they went backwards and didnt even get a fg, doesnt
that matter??
A good offense gets at least a FG there if not a TD.

 

[DandyDon52]

Also you can say NE defense stepped up, but at same time I could say Atl offense fizzed out, only 7 points in 2nd half just wasnt enough.
That put pressure on the Atl defense.
In OT the Atl defense was wore out after defending 90 plays and being on field for 40 minutes.

 

[KJJ]

All true, but had the offense not messed up on that one late drive where they went backwards and didnt even get a fg, doesnt
that matter??
A good offense gets at least a FG there if not a TD.

Had their defense stepped up when they had those big leads, they would have survived their offense messing up on that late drive. There's no excuse for blowing a 25 point lead in the SB. One big reason they got that big lead was due to their defense making plays including a pick-six. They relaxed a little offensively once they got the big lead and started leaving their defense on the field too much. This was an issue for them during the regular season and it cost them some close high scoring games. They probably thought like everyone watching that they had the Pats beat and tried playing safe by sitting on the lead some. You can't do that facing Tom Brady. Once the tide turned there was no stopping NE.

 

[DandyDon52]

Had their defense stepped up when they had those big leads, they would have survived their offense messing up on that late drive. There's no excuse for blowing a 25 point lead in the SB. One big reason they got that big lead was due to their defense making plays including a pick-six. They relaxed a little offensively once they got the big lead and started leaving their defense on the field too much. This was an issue for them during the regular season and it cost them some close high scoring games. They probably thought like everyone watching that they had the Pats beat and tried playing safe by sitting on the lead some. You can't do that facing Tom Brady. Once the tide turned there was no stopping NE.

I agree, their defense relied on speed and running all over, and as they tired out, NE could do better on offense.
But still the Atl offense, the OC, HC, and defense all were at fault for the loss.
They had the game won, they just needed to eat clock and shorten the game, and they didnt do that.
If you keep passing, every inc is like a timeout for NE.
Atlanta was running pretty good too.
And if your going to pass , do something high % like short passes and to RB's, as long as they catch them the clock keeps ticking.

 

[SDCowboy]

I'm always for upgrading the defense.

 

[Risen Star]

The best strategy is draft BPA, but in terms of signing players you need to maintain your strength. You're not going to be great everywhere. The Cowboys are great along the offensive line. Hold on to that. Don't let Leary walk because you're worried about irrelevant cornerbacks.

Spend your FA resources keeping that line together and making sure Zeke Elliott is the back long term. Don't chip away at your strength to help the defense. You'll end up losing your identity and have either side of the ball incapable of carrying you anywhere.

 

[MarkP88]

The best strategy is draft BPA, but in terms of signing players you need to maintain your strength. You're not going to be great everywhere. The Cowboys are great along the offensive line. Hold on to that. Don't let Leary walk because you're worried about irrelevant cornerbacks.

Spend your FA resources keeping that line together and making sure Zeke Elliott is the back long term. Don't chip away at your strength to help the defense. You'll end up losing your identity and have either side of the ball incapable of carrying you anywhere.

Agreed. Remember how we wasted the back half of the Triplets' careers (in Troy's case, shortened his career) in part by letting an all-time line deteriorate into mediocrity.

 

[jobberone]

You improve wherever you can. You don't limit yourself but instead look for any way to make the team better.

I hate the argument that our offense is good enough to win the super bowl when we didn't win the super bowl. The offense made plenty of mistakes in the loss to GB.

We probably had an offense good enough to win the SB. At the beginning of the year I said 30+ PPG would be the goal and we fell short of that. It is not absolutely necessary to get 30+PPG but it would be better.

We gave up 306 pts or 19.1 PPG so we were near the goal of <=17 PPG. 250-275 pts against would be a better goal next year. Being able to come up with more turnovers and make defensive stops would be just as welcome.

There is need for improvement on both sides of the ball if we want to be at the top.

 

[jobberone]

The best strategy is draft BPA, but in terms of signing players you need to maintain your strength. You're not going to be great everywhere. The Cowboys are great along the offensive line. Hold on to that. Don't let Leary walk because you're worried about irrelevant cornerbacks.

Spend your FA resources keeping that line together and making sure Zeke Elliott is the back long term. Don't chip away at your strength to help the defense. You'll end up losing your identity and have either side of the ball incapable of carrying you anywhere.

If Collins steps in and keeps the OL near the top of the league then you let Leary go unless you can afford it....relatively easy. There is no need to keep Collins as a backup or try to force the issue at RT with someone not suited for it. IMO Green will compete well with Free this next year assuming Free is around. If not then that says all you need to know about what they think of Green.

I agree with keeping the OL strong. That's a good idea. But wisely so.

 

[Thomas82]

Agreed. Remember how we wasted the back half of the Triplets' careers (in Troy's case, shortened his career) in part by letting an all-time line deteriorate into mediocrity.

That's what really accelerated Emmitt's decline more than anything, aside from those injuries he had in '96 and '97.

 

[haleyrules]

True, but dont forget the coaching staff lol we need upgrades there too.

Amen!L

 

[viman96]

I believe it's 9 times a number 1 offense faced a number 1 defense in the Superbowl, and it's 8-1 or 7-2 in favor for the defense, Dallas lost to Green Bay, why because they didn't score enough or they couldn't stop Green Bay on defense.......I've said it all year this defense was a mirage....and now all I hear is this utter FANTASY LEAGUE PLAYERS nonsense that we should invest more in the offense to make it so called elite,,,,,,this team was 13-3 and elite enough last year on offense....Money and assets need to be put into the defense because other than Sean Lee, there isn't much on this defense that would replace another player on a another team

Neither ATL or NE was a top teir defense. I agree the defense needs to improve but in today's NFL a team does not have to be the best to win.

 

[big dog cowboy]

New England gave up 28 points in the Super Bowl and they are world champs.

For the record, it was 21 not 28. The Brady pick 6 can't be put on their defense.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

For the record, it was 21 not 28. The Brady pick 6 can't be put on their defense.

I said New England, not New England's defense. All the points count the same. It's a team game and that seems to escape your argument.

 

[DandyDon1722]

IMo we are not going to beat great QBs if we dont have a pass rush and thats irrespective of what we do on offense,we can be a Juggernaut on Offense but come playoff time one misstep and you lose and you have no margin for error.Having a good passh rush will increase your margin of error on Offense,

Best post of the thread.

Good offenses can carry you to 13-3 in the regular season but it's different in the playoffs. It's simply too hard to win three games (or four) in a row against elite Qb's in a league that puts a premium on passing. Much like Tony in the past and this year with Dak, we have never needed a great defense just a capable one.

Dak put up 31 in a Divisional game and lost and he will continue to put up big points and continue to lose because we cannot get key stops when needed.

Are there anomalies? Yes, rarely, but any hopes of a 90's type of multiple SB run will have to involve a much better defense.

 

[casmith07]

Being that it's hard to do both long term with the salary cap and with few premium draft picks. In my humble opinion we are 3 players away from a Elite offense. 1. Field stretching TE. Witten is the best at what he does but he doesn't stretch the field. 2. #2 receiver with speed to compliment Dez. 3. Solid RT. All I gotta say is Doug Free.

The Defense needs a complete overhaul.We need speed and talent. Lee, Brown and Jones and a bunch of question marks, Drug suspensions, bad backs, nerves not firing and bad luck.

If you were the GM what would you do.

We have been bounced by Green Bay twice in three years precisely because of an inability to rush the passer.

Build the front.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Our defense was ranked higher than Green Bay and Atlanta. But our offense was not. And both of those teams advanced further.

You are what your record says you are. Our offense is very good - much better than our defense. But it's not championship worthy until we win a championship.

The whole reason for my argument wasn't that the defense doesn't need more help than the offense, it does. But you can't act like the offense is just fine and ignore it. It needs help, too. You improve wherever you can possibly improve, that's how you build a team capable of winning a championship. If our offense scores a touchdown on the last possession against Green Bay, they can't kick a field goal to beat us. If our offense doesn't lay an egg in the first half, Green Bay doesn't build a 21-3 lead.

We lost to a QB who took our Defense apart. We were unable to bring pressure and that was what was needed to beat AR and Green Bay. We didn't lose because we couldn't score points. We lost because we couldn't stop a 3rd and 20 to win the game.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

We lost to a QB who took our Defense apart. We were unable to bring pressure and that was what was needed to beat AR and Green Bay. We didn't lose because we couldn't score points. We lost because we couldn't stop a 3rd and 20 to win the game.

Actually we lost because we couldn't score more points than the opponent. The offense wasn't as good as Green Bay's offense.

 

[DandyDon52]

We lost to a QB who took our Defense apart. We were unable to bring pressure and that was what was needed to beat AR and Green Bay. We didn't lose because we couldn't score points. We lost because we couldn't stop a 3rd and 20 to win the game.

Well if dallas scores a td instead of settling for a fg, they probably win that game, so you cant just say the defense lost that game.

 

[GIFTS86]

Add a over the top WR with good return skills too. Try to guard dez zeke Witten beasley lol. Free agency needs a solid #1 #2 whatever. That would unfair lol