Is This Team Much Different Than Last Year?

[T-RO]

Defense has been the obvious difference from 2016.

Offense - Points/Game
2016 26.5
2017 25.2

Defense - Points Allowed/Game
2016 19.6
2017 24.2
0

If we get healthy I bet we get back to around 20 points a game - for the remaining games. Let's not forget the pass rush has been improved...A LOT.

 

[Kevinicus]

6 of 22 (27%) starters are different. Some of those you could say are for the better, some aren't, but there's no doubt the team is different.

 

[kiheikiwi]

So, off the top of my head, next year's draft haul should be a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3 4ths, 2 5ths (gave up 1 for Xavier Woods trade up) a 6th and a 7th. As I remember we should get two 4ths and two 5th round compensatory picks. So 10 picks overall - at this stage.
Obviously depending on how the team gels the remainder of this season, but to me, this may be the most important draft moving forward for awhile. We have the QB, whether Risen thinks so or not. RB, O-line should have 4 of 5 in place. I think we have our corners.
So needs meet resources - and hopefully during the off-season we pick up Martins contract, and a few quality FA's.
I see the first 6 picks as the quality picks 1 thru 4 rounds. With the 5th, 6th and 7th rounds being for depth.
As Percy just showed, the main culprit is the defense and that's where most of the picks should go, but we do still have needs on offense as well. Soooo where do we go ? We need LBers. We need a high quality 1-tech. We need a high quality Strong Safety. Unfortunately we probably need another DE. But, we also need a TE (depending on Rico's development), a WR, probably a LG.
So what you guys think ....

 

[T-RO]

6 of 22 (27%) starters are different. Some of those you could say are for the better, some aren't, but there's no doubt the team is different.

Pass rush is better. Young secondary is emerging. Also true: o-line isn't as good. It's close to a wash, overall, IMO...esp...once these guys all kick it into full gear:


-Lewis, no training camp
-Hitchens injury...but working back into form
-Lee injury...but he'll be back
-Moore suspension
-Irving suspension...working way back in
-Awuzie...repeated hamstring issues (big plus if he can get healthy)
-Youth, inexperience in spots that will grow

Now obviously the big downers that might not be as temporary:
Taco is giving us nothing and Jaylon is not ready.

 

[T-RO]

So, off the top of my head, next year's draft haul should be a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3 4ths, 2 5ths (gave up 1 for Xavier Woods trade up) a 6th and a 7th. As I remember we should get two 4ths and two 5th round compensatory picks. So 10 picks overall - at this stage.
Obviously depending on how the team gels the remainder of this season, but to me, this may be the most important draft moving forward for awhile. We have the QB, whether Risen thinks so or not. RB, O-line should have 4 of 5 in place. I think we have our corners.
So needs meet resources - and hopefully during the off-season we pick up Martins contract, and a few quality FA's.
I see the first 6 picks as the quality picks 1 thru 4 rounds. With the 5th, 6th and 7th rounds being for depth.
As Percy just showed, the main culprit is the defense and that's where most of the picks should go, but we do still have needs on offense as well. Soooo where do we go ? We need LBers. We need a high quality 1-tech. We need a high quality Strong Safety. Unfortunately we probably need another DE. But, we also need a TE (depending on Rico's development), a WR, probably a LG.
So what you guys think ....

This is yet another reason why the critics of our free agent plans got it wrong. We are loading up!

 

[Sarge]

In its last two games, the Dallas defense has faced 18 opponent drives and allowed a score on 14 of them (78%).

The NFL average is 36%

Bingo. The problem is not on offense. The offense is in place. The defense is atrocious. 14 out 18 drives resulted in a score??? Heads should roll.

 

[big dog cowboy]

They lost their identity. The OL and the run game.

The Cowboys are averaging 25 yards per game less than last year. Less than 7 yards per quarter. I get what you are saying but it's not like their running game has taken a huge hit this year.

 

[T-RO]

The Cowboys are averaging 25 yards per game less than last year. Less than 7 yards per quarter. I get what you are saying but it's not like their running game has taken a huge hit this year.

We've got to hope Collins matures into the position...we've given him the money. We can probably find a good guard in the 4th or 5th round of the next draft.

With all our picks we could easily draft a couple o-linemen--and it's usually not hard to get guards in the middle rounds.

 

[Blackspider214]

We should be 4-1 right now. Absolutely no reason to have lost to the Rams/Packers with how much we dominated in the 1st half at home. This team is pretty much the same last year minus injuries on the defense and the OL being a little weaker.

But because we blew those games, we are fighting for our lives on the road in a few days. Just to get back to .500 and stay afloat.

I also don't buy into the Eagles yet. They started 4-0 last year and people were already getting their crown ready.

 

[T-RO]

We should be 4-1 right now. Absolutely no reason to have lost to the Rams/Packers with how much we dominated in the 1st half at home. This team is pretty much the same last year minus injuries on the defense and the OL being a little weaker.

But because we blew those games, we are fighting for our lives on the road in a few days. Just to get back to .500 and stay afloat.

I also don't buy into the Eagles yet. They started 4-0 last year and people were already getting their crown ready.

Eagles have an outstanding d-front, two extremely good tackles and a decent quarterback. I doubt they are a juggernaut, but they are clearly the team to beat in the NFC East this year.

 

[Jake]

It's easy to look at the standings and conclude that the 2017 (2-3) Cowboys edition isn't nearly as good as the 2016 edition (13-3).

Is that true? I will argue here that there has a small decline, but not a great difference. LG, RT and MLB are the only spots where I really see decline.

Consider some of our wins last year:
-A last second miracle against Pittsburgh despite the fact we couldn't stop their offense.

-A win over the Vikings where they were missing about a third of their starters and where we were outgained. Dak had a QB rating of 51.

-A win against the Eagles where we'd been down 20-10 before punter Chris Jones sprinted for 30 on 4th down. We were on our own 27 yard line facing 4th and 8!

-A win against a Bears team that was decimated w/injury and relying on backup QB

-Win over hapless Cleveland

-Two nail-biter wins against Skins

-We were down 14 in SF

The margin separating success and failure in the NFL is often razor thin. I'm not as discouraged as some fans. We have a few poignant holes and we'll get them addressed...either during this season...or in the offseason.

I think the longterm outlook for the team is positive.

And what happened when we reached the playoffs? The defense wasn't good enough to make the plays needed to win those games. So far, it looks worse than last year.

"Oh, but Aaron Rodgers is awesome and the Packers hold every play!"

The Falcons didn't have much trouble disposing of them the following week.

 

[percyhoward]

The Cowboys are averaging 25 yards per game less than last year. Less than 7 yards per quarter. I get what you are saying but it's not like their running game has taken a huge hit this year.

Last year's run game was dominant, this year's has been inconsistent. But as long as the offense keeps scoring points, the run game is practically a non-issue compared to the league's 32nd-ranked defense in points allowed per drive.

 

[big dog cowboy]

But as long as the offense keeps scoring points, the run game is practically a non-issue compared to the league's 32nd-ranked defense in points allowed per drive.

 

[Blackspider214]

Eagles have an outstanding d-front, two extremely good tackles and a decent quarterback. I doubt they are a juggernaut, but they are clearly the team to beat in the NFC East this year.

Clearly? No. Too early to say that. They struggled to beat the Giants and Chargers.

There is not a team in the NFC right now that is clearly ahead of the pack. I still think we can beat Philly twice.

 

[Alexander]

Of course it is.

Every team each year is unique.

Last year's team fed off of youthful energy and the idea Romo was not coming back to save them.

This year, I see a bit of a mess. I see some arrogance based off of last year. And a bunch of shock when someone is aggressive. Especially on defense.

 

[Alexander]

In its last two games, the Dallas defense has faced 18 opponent drives and allowed a score on 14 of them (78%).

The NFL average is 36%

We all expected a learning curve when you gut the secondary, but not this.

 

[Bullflop]

In the offseason, everyone and our granny were predicting there'd be tough times with the inexperience in the secondary. Add to that the number of crucial injuries to our rookies like Awuzie, Lewis and Switzer, along with that of Lee, the suspensions of Damontre Moore and Irving, not to mention the loss of Church. All of this going against us and now we're shocked and dismayed at our extremely poor defensive play?

Let's take a deep breath and see we're simply getting what we knew would be a problem early-on this season. It's nothing new or unexpected. The defense will get better soon with returns of our missing defenders and better production from the rookies who are due to develop in a more timely fashion. The fat lady may be clearing her throat backstage but she's got a long way to go before she'll be singing at this opera's end.

 

[Gameover]

It's easy to look at the standings and conclude that the 2017 (2-3) Cowboys edition isn't nearly as good as the 2016 edition (13-3).

Is that true? I will argue here that there has a small decline, but not a great difference. LG, RT and MLB are the only spots where I really see decline.

Consider some of our wins last year:
-A last second miracle against Pittsburgh despite the fact we couldn't stop their offense.

-A win over the Vikings where they were missing about a third of their starters and where we were outgained. Dak had a QB rating of 51.

-A win against the Eagles where we'd been down 20-10 before punter Chris Jones sprinted for 30 on 4th down. We were on our own 27 yard line facing 4th and 8!

-A win against a Bears team that was decimated w/injury and relying on backup QB

-Win over hapless Cleveland

-Two nail-biter wins against Skins

-We were down 14 in SF

The margin separating success and failure in the NFL is often razor thin. I'm not as discouraged as some fans. We have a few poignant holes and we'll get them addressed...either during this season...or in the offseason.

I think the longterm outlook for the team is positive.

Last years team wins the last two games

 

[mattjames2010]

LG - Getting better. Progress is being made.

RT - Has Collins really been worse than Turnstile Free?

MLB - The plan wasn't for Jaylon to get nearly as many snaps as he has. We all know he was forced into action. Get back the original plan to put Hitch back in there and you should see improved play.

The plan this season was to improve as the season went along especially in the OL and secondary. The 2017 Cowboys aren't as good as the 2016 version.....yet. Will they be by January is the real question. Until then comparing W's and L's from last year isn't an honest way of judging the teams.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/jonathan-cooper/7788
https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

Cooper has a 39.7 grade
Collins has a 43.6 grade

Travis Frederick and Zack Martin seem to be playing at their usually high level, while PFF has Smith as average

https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/travis-frederick/7812
https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/zack-martin/8651

Cooper/Green and Collins are simply killing the cohesion on this line. Nothing is improving here, Collins is out of position and needs to be back at G and we need to start looking for a RT.

 

[Corso]

Of course it is.

Every team each year is unique.

Last year's team fed off of youthful energy and the idea Romo was not coming back to save them.

This year, I see a bit of a mess. I see some arrogance based off of last year. And a bunch of shock when someone is aggressive. Especially on defense.

Mmm... No argument.
I wish I could argue, but I see what you're seeing.