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

[Beast_from_East]

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.

The talent level has also increased compared to last year when we were signing guys off the street to play on Sunday.

 

[AdamJT13]

It's more than just the defense being fresher because the offense can sustain drives.

In the first halves of the past three games -- before fatigue would even be a factor -- our opponents have had 12 possessions (not including those with almost no time left right before the half) and have gained a total of 253 yards (21.1 per drive) and scored a TOTAL of 3 points. They've punted eight times, turned it over twice, kicked a field goal and missed a field goal. Only one drive has even gotten inside our 20-yard line.

 

[Clove]

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.

Myself from watching by eye, I can clearly see that it's hard for teams to find people open unlike last year. We don't get serious pressure, but we get disciplined pressure, shutting down the outside scrambling and good push up the middle. Push up the middle makes QBs nervous because it's right in front of them.

I also notice that when receivers do catch balls, they get punished. The cowboys are bringing the pain. I also see us walk up to the line and press guys, and pretty fast linebackers. If we ever get a serious pass rusher and a mean push up the middle, this defense could be dominant. Let's be honest here. We're not going to get everything we need, it's impossible because of financial resources allocated to others, so Coaching will have to do the rest.

 

[percyhoward]

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.

All five of these offenses rank in the top 10 in time of possession (longest average drive), and all five of their defenses are in the bottom 10 in points allowed per drive. IOW, five of the league's "freshest" defenses are among its worst defenses.

NFL rank
Off. TOP/Pts. Allowed
Saints 4th/30th
Bears 6th /24th
Panthers7th /27th
Steelers 8th/26th
Rams 9th/25th

(Cowboys 2nd/7th)

The Cowboys' offense has definitely been a factor in limiting the number of opponents' drives, but the offense is not a factor in how the defense has performed on those drives.

 

[Screw The Hall]

One of the big differences I'm seeing between this year and last year's defense is the opposing offenses lack of stringing successful plays together. As a defense you don't always need to be dominant but just have one interruptive play in a set of downs that takes the playcaller out of his comfort zone.

Everyone says just get off the field on 3rd down, which is true, but they fail to mention how you do it. You need 1 play that interrupts the flow of the opposing team's gameplan and all of a sudden things get tougher ... more unfamiliar.

This defense might give up a 12 yard run but then they'll stone the RB the very next play. All of a sudden it's 2nd and 10 and the discomfort starts to build. It still shows in the statistics as 2 runs that averaged 6 yards a piece. But what the stats won't show is that one of the two plays was disruptive to the offense continuing their drive. Last year it seemed teams could go long stretches without ever having to deviate from what they wanted to do because they could string successful play after successful play together. I'm not seeing that near as much this year.

 

[Temo]

I'll just put this little piece here, in regard to our much improved pass defense:

Brandon Carr
2013 Games Started: 16
2014 Games Started: 6

Orlando Scandrick
2013 Games Started: 15
2014 Games Started: 4

Barry Church
2013 Games Started: 16
2014 Games Started: 6

JJ Wilcox
2013 Games Started: 4
2014 Games Started: 6

Wilcox is quickly becoming one my pet favorite players.

 

[Temo]

Also, we went from 7.0 Net yards per play per pass attempt to 6.7.

But increased from 4.7 Y/A on the ground to 5.1.

 

[FLCowboyFan]

To me it's obvious they are better just by watching them fly to the ball. All of the stats come from them playing good positional football and playing fast. I think that all comes from Marinelli freeing them up by modifying the defensive scheme.