Is the defense actually better?

[ConstantReboot]

The defense is so much better this year and improving each and every week which is scary.

Last year we started out pretty good and started to go down hill very fast. Games like Denver and New Orleans really made us look a lot worst than what it was.

This year the bleeding has stopped. Our coaches Henderson and Eberflus has to be credited with this turn around just as much as Marinelli. We are covering and defending the ball better during passes and our linebackers are making plays all over the field.

Our worst defensive game was the Rams. That when Ro and Durant was out with injuries and they picked on Mo quite a bit. Ro and Durant are back and Mo no longer is our weakest link. Plus will be getting back Lawrence and Brent to add to our dline rotation. Thus this defense is not only better than last year, its even going to get better during the coming weeks.

Dallas is going to be a very strong contender if that happens and it will most likely will.

 

[AdamJT13]

I also think that we are playing a little over our heads on defense since "making a play " and turnovers can be fluky and consistent defense is not easy if you depend on those.

If "making a play" is fluky, is "giving up a big play" fluky, too?

We've given up a lot of big plays on defense -- 10 plays of 30 yards or more (only four teams have allowed more), including four plays of 50 yards or more (only three teams have allowed more). Both of those are a higher rate than we allowed last year (23 of 30-plus and nine of 50-plus), even though we have been much better on defense in most other ways. So perhaps those big plays allowed are the flukes, and not the plays we've been able to make? And perhaps those fluky plays are why our yards allowed per play is similar to last season?

 

[burmafrd]

If "making a play" is fluky, is "giving up a big play" fluky, too?

We've given up a lot of big plays on defense -- 10 plays of 30 yards or more (only four teams have allowed more), including four plays of 50 yards or more (only three teams have allowed more). Both of those are a higher rate than we allowed last year (23 of 30-plus and nine of 50-plus), even though we have been much better on defense in most other ways. So perhaps those big plays allowed are the flukes, and not the plays we've been able to make? And perhaps those fluky plays are why our yards allowed per play is similar to last season?

the D is somewhat better but not as much as some here proclaim. I worry if we come up against a really good Pocket Passer with real weapons. NO was messed up when we played them; Peyton, Brady, Rogers, Rivers, those guys and teams would worry me. We still have no real pass rush from the edge and a strong O line will negate our interior rush....

 

[Risen Star]

In Strum's latest blog about the defense the stats suggest that we are giving up the same yardage per play as last year, but the defense appears better because it is facing less plays.

The eye test - at least my eye test - would say that the defense is playing better. Given that the Tampa 2 doesn't worry about giving up yards, is yards per play the best way to judge our defense? How much better is our defense with Moore playing over Claiborne?

I don't have answers but thought it was worth a discussion.

I'd say Sturm is right. The defense is probably marginally better but the big difference is the offense keeping them off the field as much as possible.

This is a very talent deficient defense.

 

[percyhoward]

That seems like a great stat (that I haven't studied much), at least in terms of measuring a defense's effectiveness.

Looking at 3rd down percentages doesn't really give you a full picture. Giving up four straight 1st downs on 2nd down, then stopping them on a 3rd down (resulting in a 0% conversion rate) may be much worse than giving up a 1st down on 3rd, then immediately forcing a 3 and out (resulting in a 50% conversion rate).

Yes, the win correlation of DSR is significantly higher than that of 3rd down conversion %.

 

[percyhoward]

I'd say Sturm is right. The defense is probably marginally better but the big difference is the offense keeping them off the field as much as possible.

It would seem that way if you just count opponents' drives. Our defense is facing fewer drives per game this year. Then you look at what's happening on a per drive basis, and you have to give the defense most of the credit.

Give last year's defense this many drives to face per game, and its performance is not nearly as good as this year's.

 

[burmafrd]

It would seem that way if you just count opponents' drives. Our defense is facing fewer drives per game this year. Then you look at what's happening on a per drive basis, and you have to give the defense most of the credit.

Give last year's defense this many drives to face per game, and its performance is not nearly as good as this year's.

you are not factoring in that our D this year is more rested during the game.

 

[Risen Star]

you are not factoring in that our D this year is more rested during the game.

That's a huge factor.

 

[Sportsbabe]

In Strum's latest blog about the defense the stats suggest that we are giving up the same yardage per play as last year, but the defense appears better because it is facing less plays.

The eye test - at least my eye test - would say that the defense is playing better. Given that the Tampa 2 doesn't worry about giving up yards, is yards per play the best way to judge our defense? How much better is our defense with Moore playing over Claiborne?

I don't have answers but thought it was worth a discussion.

I say yes. It's about wins and losses to me. It's about making stops on 3rd down. It's about keeping the opponent out of the end zone. It's about making the stop when the game is on the line. I don't know what Bob Sturm is talking about and don't care. A lot of people are putting up stats against last years team and they appear to measure up thus far ... but that doesn't matter to me ... just like Romo's numbers doesn't matter to others.

 

[joseephuss]

The defense allows a scoring drive 29.7% of the time, which ranks 6th best. In 2013 it was 39.7% of the time, which ranked 30th. In 2012 it was 38.9% of the time, which ranked 26th. In 2011 it was 33.3% of the time, which ranked 19th.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

One thing I didn't see last year was our DBs knocking down passes. Clearly we're swarming better, tackling more effectively and hitting harder than last year. The pass rush is still a step too slow, but I believe that will come. If you rewatch the Seattle game, our coverage was stellar in the secondary. The linebacking corps is full of playmakers even without Lee. I'm worried that it will strike midnight and Cinderella won't be able to find her slipper, but from what I've seen so far I'd have to say yes the defense is better

Yes and we are prideful and have an attitude. It shows.
I love it.

 

[cmoney23]

yes

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Look at the QB Rating allowed. Much improved.

Part of the reason why they are facing less plays is that they are allowing less yardage thru the passing game and the opposing passing games are less efficient. The problem with yards per play is that it doesn't consider down and distance and it doesn't consider penalties.

Statistics have shown there is no correlation between penalties and winning (case in point, the Seahawks won the SB last year while being the most penalized team in the league). But, when you dig further you do see a correlation between *offensive* penalties and winning. It's just that the defensive penalties are meaningless when you look at the *big picture*.

The opposing team is likely to get some penalties during the game and that will put them in 2nd and 3rd and long situations. So the yards allowed per play is not nearly as important because the offense is moving back some. But, if the offense can throw the ball effectively they can get those first downs despite their penalties moving them back.

That's the main difference...last season we couldn't stop anybody on the pass regardless of their mistakes (penalties, missed blocks, etc). This year we can.

I do agree, that the offense is playing a large role in the defense's play I've been saying that for a while now. You have to run the ball to save your defense, especially coming into December. Not only protect your defense from being score upon, but from getting injured as well (defensive players are more than twice as likely to get injured as offensive players).

But, the numbers do show that the defense is better at where it counts...stopping the pass.







YR

 

[BlindFaith]

It would seem that way if you just count opponents' drives. Our defense is facing fewer drives per game this year. Then you look at what's happening on a per drive basis, and you have to give the defense most of the credit.

Give last year's defense this many drives to face per game, and its performance is not nearly as good as this year's.

This doesn't account for how football is actually played and how emotion and momentum and confidence all play a part. That's why stats are over rated.

The simple fact that the offense is now extending drives, eating more time off the clock, winning the time of possession battle. Reducing the number of drives a team has. All that helps a defense. Keeping them fresh is a big one. Keeping them emotionally in the game is another. If the defense knows that if they do their job, that the offense will then get the ball and burn some time off the clock, then the defense can give it balls to the wall when they are out there. If they get a stop and then are right back out on the field in 3 plays, it can be a beat down. And then factor in that once a defense starts feeling successful it gains confidence. Confidence creates emotion. Emotion creates effort. Effort means guys are flying to the ball, getting into passing lanes. Giving it their all on every play.

Stats can't measure heart, emotion or confidence. That's the biggest change from last year. The defense now has all three.

 

[Doomsday101]

This doesn't account for how football is actually played and how emotion and momentum and confidence all play a part. That's why stats are over rated.

The simple fact that the offense is now extending drives, eating more time off the clock, winning the time of possession battle. Reducing the number of drives a team has. All that helps a defense. Keeping them fresh is a big one. Keeping them emotionally in the game is another. If the defense knows that if they do their job, that the offense will then get the ball and burn some time off the clock, then the defense can give it balls to the wall when they are out there. If they get a stop and then are right back out on the field in 3 plays, it can be a beat down. And then factor in that once a defense starts feeling successful it gains confidence. Confidence creates emotion. Emotion creates effort. Effort means guys are flying to the ball, getting into passing lanes. Giving it their all on every play.

Stats can't measure heart, emotion or confidence. That's the biggest change from last year. The defense now has all three.

True 92/93 Cowboys defense was the same in terms of not having to play as many snaps because the offense would dominate time of possession but part of winning TOP is the fact the defense is winning 3rd down. In the last game Dallas had the ball for 37:39 while Seahawks 22:21 but Dallas was also held Seahawks to 5 of 13 in 3rd down situations.

 

[Blackspider214]

In Strum's latest blog about the defense the stats suggest that we are giving up the same yardage per play as last year, but the defense appears better because it is facing less plays.

The eye test - at least my eye test - would say that the defense is playing better. Given that the Tampa 2 doesn't worry about giving up yards, is yards per play the best way to judge our defense? How much better is our defense with Moore playing over Claiborne?

I don't have answers but thought it was worth a discussion.

We are actually getting stops on 3rd down much more and we are not on the field for as many snaps because our offense controls clock.

 

[Bull Frog]

All I know is that Seattle got the ball twice in the last two minutes and we stopped them on fourth down then intercepted the greatest QB in the league to end the game. Last year we would've let them go down the field and score a TD. They are playing better, they are tackling better and the gaping holes in our zone seem to be smaller. There will be a game when the offense is not clicking so we shall see how they do then, but right now this no name bunch is playing fairly well.

 

[BlindFaith]

This doesn't account for how football is actually played and how emotion and moment and confidence all play a part. That's why stats are over rated.

The simple fact that the offense is now extending drives, eating more time off the clock, winning the time of possession battle. Reducing the number of drives a team has. All that helps a defense. Keeping them fresh is a big one. Keeping them emotionally in the game is another. If the defense knows that if they do their job, that the offense will then get the ball and burn some time off the clock, then the defense can give it balls to the wall when they are out there. If they get a stop and then are right back out on the field in 3 plays, it can be a beat down. And then factor in that once a defense starts feeling successful it gains confidence. Confidence creates emotion. Emotion creates effort. Effort means guys are flying to the ball, getting into passing lanes. Giving it their all on every play.

Stats can't measure heart, emotion or confidence. That's the biggest change from last year. The defense now has all three.

True 92/93 Cowboys defense was the same in terms of not having to play as many snaps because the offense would dominate time of possession but part of winning TOP is the fact the defense is winning 3rd down. In the last game Dallas had the ball for 37:39 while Seahawks 22:21 but Dallas was also held Seahawks to 5 of 13 in 3rd down situations.

Hey, the defense played a great game against Seattle. I'm not questioning that. Rod had a great game plan for them. And the guys played hard.

I do think the defense as a whole is definitely better than what we threw out there the second half of last year. And they have another year in this scheme. I do think we are still not as talented at certain positions as we need to be. Spencer is a big question answered, in a positive way. He will only keep getting better over the next 3 or 4 games. Crawford is excelling at the 3, but time will tell how he holds up there over the long run. Melton's been hurt, but has been active. Selvie has contributed, though as expected, not near the level he was at last year. Hayden and Mincey are still the two weak links along that line.

Our linebackers have played very well, when healthy. Getting Carter back along side Ro Mac and Durant is a very nice combination. Much more productive than what we rolled out there after all the injuries we had at the position last year.

I still question our safeties, more so in that we don't have a true center field type guy. But we seem to be covering it up well for the most part. Seattle really didn't have a threat at tight end, but we have been gauged there this year - San Fran, Tennessee.

We are moving in the right direction on defense. As long as we can stay middle of the pack, with our offense rolling and removing the turnovers that we've had, we should be a playoff team.

 

[MissouriCowboy]

They are better at keeping teams out of the end zone.

Points per drive given up:

2013 - 2.31 (30th in the league)
2014 - 1.69 (7th in the league)

Biggest thing right there.

 

[Doomsday101]

Hey, the defense played a great game against Seattle. I'm not questioning that. Rod had a great game plan for them. And the guys played hard.

I do think the defense as a whole is definitely better than what we threw out there the second half of last year. And they have another year in this scheme. I do think we are still not as talented at certain positions as we need to be. Spencer is a big question answered, in a positive way. He will only keep getting better over the next 3 or 4 games. Crawford is excelling at the 3, but time will tell how he holds up there over the long run. Melton's been hurt, but has been active. Selvie has contributed, though as expected, not near the level he was at last year. Hayden and Mincey are still the two weak links along that line.

Our linebackers have played very well, when healthy. Getting Carter back along side Ro Mac and Durant is a very nice combination. Much more productive than what we rolled out there after all the injuries we had at the position last year.

I still question our safeties, more so in that we don't have a true center field type guy. But we seem to be covering it up well for the most part. Seattle really didn't have a threat at tight end, but we have been gauged there this year - San Fran, Tennessee.

We are moving in the right direction on defense. As long as we can stay middle of the pack, with our offense rolling and removing the turnovers that we've had, we should be a playoff team.

I don't disagree but what I am seeing is guys not waiting for a star player to make the plays these guys are playing as a unit, guys seem to know where they need to be and are flying to the ball and are showing very good fundamentals in their tackling, I'm not seeing all the missed tackles I had been seeing with last years team. I agree more talent needs to be added to the defense and there are things we need to improve on for this season but the confidence and hustle this unit is playing with right now has made a big difference over what I have seen in the last 2 to 3 season.