Is this team better than the 2016 team?

[Havic]

The defense and special teams is, offense....remains to be seen.

 

[Flamma]

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.

Don't forget there's half a season left. Another thing you might want to consider is to take time off possession statistics with a grain of salt. They're worthless in this case.

TOP can be due to a good ball control offense, or a good defense that keeps giving you back the ball. It could be the same, or very similar for two totally different reasons.

Same could be said for a statistic on turning the ball over when comparing two different teams. It's better to compare turnover differential.

 

[noshame]

If they expand Dak and Pollard's mobility similar to 2016 we'll be a far better team .
Short yardage?
No problem Zeke at tail back, Pollard at wing, if they crowd the middle pitch to Pollard he'll be gone. If they bring everybody up to the LOS , fake to Zeke, Dak bootleg to other side with RPO.
As soon as Tyron returns move the kid inside and we're the best OL in the league. Take the need to throw deep away from Dak with the use of Pollard and Turpin he won't need to.
PLAYOFFS BABY

 

[Xeven]

Teach Parsons to catch and be RB and we will never lose lol.

 

[Scottishcowboy]

The O is 2016 was better. 3 linemen at the peak of their powers (Smith, Fredrick, Martin) and Zeke looking like they'd start his gold jacket measurements sooner rather than later.

We played time of possession football in 2016 in large, to keep our suspect D off the field.

If I was pushed, I'd roll the dice with 2022 as the D is much better and I reckon our O can improve as the season progresses.

 

[MyFairLady]

This defense is definitely better. The 2016 offense was better. Better O line. Zeke was incredible. Dak was a beast. If this offense can start to use Dak more like we did in 2016 we could be a threat. The Chicago game was a great start.

 

[dckid]

What do you think?

No question. This is the best team since 2007, and they should have made it to the championship game.
This team is better than 2014,2016, 2018 and last year.

 

[dckid]

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.

​

Lol.
Romo got injured in the preseason. Rookie Dak is no match for current Dak.
Sum of the parts is better than individual pieces.
Better coaching this year. The league is also wide open this year

 

[Cowboys5217]

I'll answer this question in January.

 

[CowboyFrog]

If the offense keeps growing, yeah this team should be better, but that will be judged in this second half of the season..They have to take care of business to get into the playoffs and we need to win playoff games. otherwise its just groundhog day for the 27th year.

 

[DanA]

Lol.
Romo got injured in the preseason. Rookie Dak is no match for current Dak.
Sum of the parts is better than individual pieces.
Better coaching this year. The league is also wide open this year

I would have left Romo out but the post I’m quoting put it in. I agree the 2022 team is better.

 

[75boyz]

I just think the oline of the 2016 team was so special and having the 3 headed monster of Tyron, Fred Beard and Martin all in their prime is kinda hard for me to get past in terms of saying this year's team is better.

That oline was both the engine and transmission of that team.

The pass defense of the 2022 team is trying to become almost as dominant a unit as the 2016 team's oline.

But as of right now, I still take that 2016 team because of oline dominance.

 

[IslandCowboy]

Not sure, but the competition in the NFC is stronger so comparatively this team is in a worse spot to go deep.

 

[CWR]

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!

Any year you field such a dynamic defense, you have a legitimate chance. We need to figure out how to stop running qbs though.

If the offense continues to run the ball and Dak is steady, this team has a lot of potential. Personally, I'm at NFC championship or bust. I just want to see progress, although one could argue back-to-back playoff appearances is progress in Dallas.

 

[kskboys]

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.

Not on D. This team is better on D, and it's not close.