Is our defense really better this year, or is it something else?

[StarOfGlory]

Yes, this seems like a ridiculous question to ask, but there are two stats that leap out at me as I was just looking at defensive stats this year. Last year, our D gave up an average of 6.1 yards per play. So far this year, our D is giving up 6.0 yards per play. 0.1 yards is not much of a difference.

Another stats that stands out is about the D from that team I'm stuck living 13 miles from the, Sheagles. Last year, they gave up an average of 5.5 yards per play, and this year, they are still giving up 5.5 yards per play. I would not have expected that. I thought they would have been much worse.

Given that the yards per play is virtually the same from last year to this year, why is our defense suddenly so much "better"? Here is the easy answer (and maybe the real answer): our D is on the field an average of 12 less plays per game this year. That's a savings of 72 yards per game for the D. even though the Eagles give up less yards per play, they are on the field for 14 plays more a game than our team.

Why is the D on the field 12 plays less a game? Here's the easy answer...someone finally figured out that running the ball might actually work. Why did it take so long for this to happen? Why did it take so long for us to get a real o-line so this could happen?

 

[Sarge]

I have been trying to say for the last five years we need some semblance of a running game and sticking to it. Some say you don't need a running game but I would beg to differ. Look what's happening right before your eyes with the running game and the results. End of story....

Controlling the clock still matters and it always will. For a variety of reasons.

 

[gmoney112]

That's the lazy answer.

The real answer is shown in the numbers, brah.

I did some research for you because I'm bored.

In 2014, our defense is allowing 5 yards less per drive, over half a point less per drive, a full play less per drive, while maintaining a slightly better TO ratio per drive as last year.

We also moved from 30th in TD's per drive to 8th. 32nd in Punts per drive to 22. Here's a good one, in Points per Redzone opportunity we went from 5.34 to 4.59. If you factor in how many games we lost by 1-3 points last season, that's good for a couple wins by itself.

We're literally playing better on defense in every single facet as far as I can tell, it's not just because "they're on the field less" which is what haters like to say cuz they are scurred. It is certainly helpful to take the ball out of the other's team hands, but we're ballin' pretty hard right now

 

[Jstopper]

Yes, this seems like a ridiculous question to ask, but there are two stats that leap out at me as I was just looking at defensive stats this year. Last year, our D gave up an average of 6.1 yards per play. So far this year, our D is giving up 6.0 yards per play. 0.1 yards is not much of a difference.

Another stats that stands out is about the D from that team I'm stuck living 13 miles from the, Sheagles. Last year, they gave up an average of 5.5 yards per play, and this year, they are still giving up 5.5 yards per play. I would not have expected that. I thought they would have been much worse.

Given that the yards per play is virtually the same from last year to this year, why is our defense suddenly so much "better"? Here is the easy answer (and maybe the real answer): our D is on the field an average of 12 less plays per game this year. That's a savings of 72 yards per game for the D. even though the Eagles give up less yards per play, they are on the field for 14 plays more a game than our team.

Why is the D on the field 12 plays less a game? Here's the easy answer...someone finally figured out that running the ball might actually work. Why did it take so long for this to happen? Why did it take so long for us to get a real o-line so this could happen?

This horse has been beaten multiple times. The yards per play metric is overrated you should focus more on points per drive. Which we are eons better on this year than last year. @percyhoward has given excellent in depth analysis on this. Our defense this year is worlds better than last year not even comparable and it doesn't have as much to do with the running game as you would think. Yes the rest does help but the defense is playing better themselves period.

 

[theSHOW]

Ive got a lazy answer. It is not something else.

 

[IAmLegend]

Obviously our new and improved run-based offense is helping our Defense quite a bit, but our D has improved regardless. Just watching you can tell. Better tackling, better covering of WR's, and most importantly, better run D. We're still not getting pressure on the QB as much as we need to be, but overall our Defense has definitely improved. Marinelli is doing some special things with those guys.

 

[gimmesix]

Yes, this seems like a ridiculous question to ask, but there are two stats that leap out at me as I was just looking at defensive stats this year. Last year, our D gave up an average of 6.1 yards per play. So far this year, our D is giving up 6.0 yards per play. 0.1 yards is not much of a difference.

Another stats that stands out is about the D from that team I'm stuck living 13 miles from the, Sheagles. Last year, they gave up an average of 5.5 yards per play, and this year, they are still giving up 5.5 yards per play. I would not have expected that. I thought they would have been much worse.

Given that the yards per play is virtually the same from last year to this year, why is our defense suddenly so much "better"? Here is the easy answer (and maybe the real answer): our D is on the field an average of 12 less plays per game this year. That's a savings of 72 yards per game for the D. even though the Eagles give up less yards per play, they are on the field for 14 plays more a game than our team.

Why is the D on the field 12 plays less a game? Here's the easy answer...someone finally figured out that running the ball might actually work. Why did it take so long for this to happen? Why did it take so long for us to get a real o-line so this could happen?

I believe our third-down defense also has been better, which helps in that regard.

There's no doubt that the running game is a major contributor, but we've also just done some things better on defense than we were last year.

 

[gimmesix]

Obviously our new and improved run-based offense is helping our Defense quite a bit, but our D has improved regardless. Just watching you can tell. Better tackling, better covering of WR's, and most importantly, better run D. We're still not getting pressure on the QB as much as we need to be, but overall our Defense has definitely improved. Marinelli is doing some special things with those guys.

I really can't wait to see this defense when all the parts are in place (if we can avoid injuries enough to have that) because I'm interested in seeing what Spencer back in full form, a healthy Melton and Lawrence can add to the pass rush. It might be nothing, but it's just kind of nice to have not even seen yet what this defense can really be and having it play as well as it has.

 

[theSHOW]

That's the lazy answer.

The real answer is shown in the numbers, brah.

I did some research for you because I'm bored.

In 2014, our defense is allowing 5 yards less per drive, over half a point less per drive, a full play less per drive, while maintaining a slightly better TO ratio per drive as last year.

We also moved from 30th in TD's per drive to 8th. 32nd in Punts per drive to 22. Here's a good one, in Points per Redzone opportunity we went from 5.34 to 4.59. If you factor in how many games we lost by 1-3 points last season, that's good for a couple wins by itself.

We're literally playing better on defense in every single facet as far as I can tell, it's not just because "they're on the field less" which is what haters like to say cuz they are scurred. It is certainly helpful to take the ball out of the other's team hands, but we're ballin' pretty hard right now

I was so lazy I didn't read this til you liked my post. My excuse is I'm at home watching the Horned Frogs now....but I do agree with what you looked up. This Dallas D is amazing. Go Frogs!

 

[MRV52]

The offensive line and the running attack, but last game they shut down the Seahawks all game except on long drive for 3 Points. I think they are starting to turn the corner.

 

[bark]

One thing I've noticed is there is better communication/less blown coverages than I've seen in yrs. the only time I saw that this yr was when we played New Orleans and it was on the other side of the field for a nice change.....I'm sure rob will get that ironed out though

 

[BAT]

I have been trying to say for the last five years we need some semblance of a running game and sticking to it. Some say you don't need a running game but I would beg to differ. Look what's happening right before your eyes with the running game and the results. End of story....

Controlling the clock still matters and it always will. For a variety of reasons.

Exactly. TOP is a D's best friend. The running game is keeping this D fresher so they can fly around and smack opposing O's with abandon.

 

[percyhoward]

Yes, this seems like a ridiculous question to ask, but there are two stats that leap out at me as I was just looking at defensive stats this year. Last year, our D gave up an average of 6.1 yards per play. So far this year, our D is giving up 6.0 yards per play. 0.1 yards is not much of a difference.

Given that the yards per play is virtually the same from last year to this year, why is our defense suddenly so much "better"? Here is the easy answer (and maybe the real answer): our D is on the field an average of 12 less plays per game this year.

There are two reasons a defense would face fewer plays per game. One is by not having to face as many possessions because its own offense is keeping opposing offenses off the field. That's certainly happening. In the category of plays per possession, the offense has gone from 21st in 2013 to 4th this season. People who think a running game doesn't have a significant effect on an offense need to look at that stat.

The other reason a defense would face fewer plays per game -- the one that seems to be escaping some of us -- is the defense holding opposing offenses to fewer plays on those possessions. This defense has gone from 28th in 2013, to 8th this year in fewest plays per possession. Right now, that's an even bigger jump than the one the offense has made. And it's not even the plays that matter as much as it is the points.

Last year, our defense faced 11.5 drives per game, giving up 2.31 points on those drives, for 26.6 points per game.

This year, it has faced an average of 10.3 drives per game, giving up 1.69 points on those drives, for 17.5 points per game.

So we've improved by 9 points per game, and some of that is because of our offense limiting the number of opponents' possessions. Not number of plays, because once an opponent's possession has started, there's nothing our own offense can do to limit the number of plays in that possession. Only the defense can do that.

Thanks to the offense controlling the clock, our defense is facing 10% fewer drives than in 2013. But on the average drive, our defense is allowing 27% fewer points than in 2013.

What makes this even more amazing is that our offense and special teams have put the defense in some bad positions this year. Look where our defense ranks when you filter out opponent's drives that came after Dallas turnovers.

Opponents' TD % on drives NOT beginning after turnover, 2014
1 Lions 10%
2 Bills 13%
3 Eagles 14%
4 Ravens 15%
5 Cowboys 15%

Compare that to last year.

Opponents' TD % on drives NOT beginning after turnover, 2013
28 Jaguars 25%
29 Packers 26%
30 Cowboys 27%
31 Commanders 28%
32 Bears 29%

 

[lane]

Exactly. TOP is a D's best friend. The running game is keeping this D fresher so they can fly around and smack opposing O's with abandon.

ro mac was the missing piece...

everyone is feeding off this monster...

now that claiborne is off the field....well the front 7 can go have fun..and they are having fun.

 

[Stinger_Splash]

Just by watching by eye, I do think the defense is playing better than last season. They are more discipline, they play with an edge, and more importantly, they get off the field with timely stops. The running game certainly has helped though. The biggest weaknesses I see is the lack of pass rush and the lack of run stopping which all can improve once we get everyone healthy on the D-Line. I would not say the defense is any better, but they are simply playing better like I said.

 

[kevm3]

They are playing better, especially due to McClain, but a big part of it is also the time of possession from the offense. It's amazing how much better a defense will play when the offense is converting 3rd downs and controlling the clock.

 

[Idgit]

It's pretty obvious that we're playing better defense right now than we were at the end of last season, I would think. And it looks like the points/defensive series data backs that up pretty much exactly.

 

[Alexander]

I don't get why the concept of a fresher more opportunistic defense is so hard to grasp.

If you want to call it "better", so be it.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

We need more data. The defense has been all over the board so far, making crappy QBs look awesome and awesome QBs look crappy. They've spotted crappy teams multiple touchdowns early and then shut them down later,,, they've shut crappy teams down early and then let them come back late. You're trying to draw conclusions based upon statistics of a defense that hasn't stabilized yet.

 

[Beast_from_East]

That's the lazy answer.

The real answer is shown in the numbers, brah.

I did some research for you because I'm bored.

In 2014, our defense is allowing 5 yards less per drive, over half a point less per drive, a full play less per drive, while maintaining a slightly better TO ratio per drive as last year.

We also moved from 30th in TD's per drive to 8th. 32nd in Punts per drive to 22. Here's a good one, in Points per Redzone opportunity we went from 5.34 to 4.59. If you factor in how many games we lost by 1-3 points last season, that's good for a couple wins by itself.

We're literally playing better on defense in every single facet as far as I can tell, it's not just because "they're on the field less" which is what haters like to say cuz they are scurred. It is certainly helpful to take the ball out of the other's team hands, but we're ballin' pretty hard right now

Nice analysis bro.