Is this team better than the 2016 team?

[J12B]

What do you think?

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

What do you think?

He'll...what do you think you're the one who started the thread. What you're scared to get raked over the coals for voicing an unpopular opinion? Don't be scared, Mr Crow.
LOL-JK.

 

[goshann]

It’s better than last years team but I think 2016 team was better so far

 

[Flamma]

Offensively we may have been better in 2016, but the two defenses are miles apart. I don't think the offenses are as far apart as the defenses. I'll have to give this team the nod.

In 2016 our defense was hidden through TOP by the offense, and not turning the ball over. Dallas did abnormally well with ball security.

 

[Dre11]

It’s better than last years team but I think 2016 team was better so far

This team is better . It's more explosive and it has a better defense.

 

[leeblair]

What do you think?

This team is better coached, therefore better.
The 2016 team had a pretender where the head coach was supposed to be.
Mike McCarthy is just now hitting his stride as the head coach.
The 2016 team had a better, younger, stronger roster, but without leadership they were simply lost.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Hard to top Jeremy Mincey as pass rusher. Parsons got a long way to go to catch up

 

[ShortRound]

Well we know how far the 2016 team went, hopefully this year we go farther.

 

[Proof]

2016 was better

 

[JayFord]

defense? yes

offense? no

 

[Jipper]

I'd take this years defense by a mile...and defenses win championships...so I'll take this team over the 2016 team.

Plus dak is better now

 

[DanA]

defense? yes

offense? no

Offense is a “not sure” for me. Certainly the offense so far hasn’t been as good but it could pick up from here. There’s just too many unknowns to be clarified over the next month or so.

• Is Dak now fit and firing?
• Does Pollard take on a bigger role moving forward?
• Is Peters ready to take on more?
• Does Tyron Smith return, and what does that look like?
• How does Gallup look a month from now? (further away for ACL recovery)
• Can we find a way for Turpin to be effective on offense?
• Will Ceedee settle into a true no.1 with better chemistry at QB?
• Are these rookies going to develop and get better or hit a rookie wall?

 

[Vtwin]

I'll take my chances with this team.

Defense.
More experienced QB.
O-line getting it done. Not at 2016 level but not to shabby just the same.
Running game clicking. Not at 2016 level but more experienced QB evens it up.
Passing game remains to be seen but why shouldn't it be better?

More balanced with a veteran QB instead of a rookie.

Hell yeah! I just talked myself right into it.
Super Bowl or bust!

 

[Whyjerry]

I think this can’t be answered now. No Dak from weeks 2 through 6. The offense is just rounding into place. The defense is definitely better so it’s possible if this offense gets going. Ask the question again in 4 weeks.

 

[Irv88]

This current team is better at every position except qb (yes, romo threw a ball T. Williams giants the eagles) and center. Starting a veteran qb over rookie (no rookie has won a Super Bowl) was the only play.

 

[DanA]

This current team is better at every position except qb (yes, romo threw a ball T. Williams giants the eagles) and center. Starting a veteran qb over rookie (no rookie has won a Super Bowl) was the only play.

No way. 2016 was better in several positions:

• Romo > Dak
• Tyron Smith ‘16 > Tyler Smith
• Frederick > Biadasz
• Leary > McGovern
• Zeke ‘16 > Pollard
• Witten ‘16 > Shultz
• Beasley > N.Brown
• Lee > LVE
• Hitchens > Barr
• D.Irving > Odigizuwa
• McClain > Hankins
• Bailey > Maher

That’s half the first choice players for positions with Martin and D-Law a push. It’s not all that reflective of ability though as Parsons and even Diggs (to a lesser extent) are catalytic players.

​

 

[irishline]

Offensively we may have been better in 2016, but the two defenses are miles apart. I don't think the offenses are as far apart as the defenses. I'll have to give this team the nod.

In 2016 our defense was hidden through TOP by the offense, and not turning the ball over. Dallas did abnormally well with ball security.

That is interesting considering the defense this year is 3rd in points allowed, in 2016 it was 5th in points allowed (16.7 this year vs. 19.1 in 2016).

However this years offense is 14th in points scored while the 2016 team was 5th in points scored. (It was also 5th in yards vs. 24th this year).

Time of possession is only 2 minutes per game higher in 2016 than it is this year ironically. Offensively we are ranked 3rd best in turnovers this year (we were 5th in 2016).

Stats of course don't tell the whole story but the offenses don't seem to be close at all other than the approach of trying to be a run first team (of course starting a backup QB for half of this season isn't helping that). I am guessing our strength of schedule was easier in 2016 given it was a last place schedule but not sure on that (I seem to recall our schedule this year being one of the top 10 easiest - though that didn't take into account the NFC East being better than it was last season).

Overall I agree this team may be better though.

 

[DCowboyz]

Lets just say if we had this D in 2016, we would have won the SB. The offense this year is still a work in progress.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Ask me again in January.

 

[DanA]

That is interesting considering the defense this year is 3rd in points allowed, in 2016 it was 5th in points allowed (16.7 this year vs. 19.1 in 2016).

However this years offense is 14th in points scored while the 2016 team was 5th in points scored. (It was also 5th in yards vs. 24th this year).

Time of possession is only 2 minutes per game higher in 2016 than it is this year ironically. Offensively we are ranked 3rd best in turnovers this year (we were 5th in 2016).

Stats of course don't tell the whole story but the offenses don't seem to be close at all other than the approach of trying to be a run first team (of course starting a backup QB for half of this season isn't helping that). I am guessing our strength of schedule was easier in 2016 given it was a last place schedule but not sure on that (I seem to recall our schedule this year being one of the top 10 easiest - though that didn't take into account the NFC East being better than it was last season).

Overall I agree this team may be better though.

The problem with overall stats is we have the Cooper Rush ‘22 offense and the Dak Prescott ‘22 offense which we haven’t yet seen enough of but I’m confident will at least be better. You can’t compare that to 2016 where it was pretty much the same team all season.