NFC East Rushing Defenses Rankings

[punchnjudy]

Interesting figures.

I think YPC is more meaningful but I understand the point.

Personally I feel the ultimate success of the team will be how efficiently they pass the ball and defend the pass... And that doesn't mean overall yardage, but efficiency.

Without context, I consider it meaningless. Running is easier in unfavorable situations (2nd or 3rd and long, trailing by a big lead) and harder in favorable situations (near the goal line, running out the clock when leading, 3rd or 4th and short). A comparison of, say, ypc on 1st and 10 during the first 3 quarters of games within 10 points could be meaningful. Ypc overall...tripe.

 

[percyhoward]

What it basically comes down to is I just have a lot more faith in our OL than in our defense.

I suspect the Cowboys brass would agree with you there and was a big reason behind Zeke.

This does not compute for me.

 

[jday]

This does not compute for me.

It boils down to this one perceived truth: Zeke's impact will help the defense more than any one single player the Cowboys could have drafted at 4 for that side of the ball and that still would have been applicable were Bosa also available at 4.

I say "perceived" because I understand there are many who would disagree with that assessment, but I fully believe with a healthy Dez/Romo/Zeke, that truth will become acknowledged reality by season end.

 

[percyhoward]

It boils down to this one perceived truth: Zeke's impact will help the defense more than any one single player the Cowboys could have drafted at 4 for that side of the ball and that still would have been applicable were Bosa also available at 4.

I say "perceived" because I understand there are many who would disagree with that assessment, but I fully believe with a healthy Dez/Romo/Zeke, that truth will become acknowledged reality by season end.

I think if Romo and the OL are healthy, you'd feel more impact from a 1st-round defender and 4th-round RB than you would from Elliott alone. Murray and Randle combined for 2200 yards and 16 TD a couple of years ago, and our defense let us down in the playoffs.

How much better will Elliott be than that?

 

[Denim Chicken]

It boils down to this one perceived truth: Zeke's impact will help the defense more than any one single player the Cowboys could have drafted at 4 for that side of the ball and that still would have been applicable were Bosa also available at 4.

I say "perceived" because I understand there are many who would disagree with that assessment, but I fully believe with a healthy Dez/Romo/Zeke, that truth will become acknowledged reality by season end.

I was looking at how many defensive snaps the Cowboys had in 2014 vs 2015 to determine if Zeke would help the Defense by keeping them off the field. Turns out, there was not a lot of diffidence in the number between Murray and our trio of backs last year. Our defense has played the some of the least number of snaps both years.

2014 defense was 28th in the league with 978 defensive snaps (last in leauge = fewest D snaps)

2015 defense was 25th in the league with 998 defensive snaps

 

[Sydla]

It boils down to this one perceived truth: Zeke's impact will help the defense more than any one single player the Cowboys could have drafted at 4 for that side of the ball and that still would have been applicable were Bosa also available at 4.

I say "perceived" because I understand there are many who would disagree with that assessment, but I fully believe with a healthy Dez/Romo/Zeke, that truth will become acknowledged reality by season end.

You will never be able to prove that causation. Again, a large portion of the initial premise of Elliott and Murray and 2014 versus 2015 was that Murray kept the defense off the field longer, kept them fresher and therefore they did better is clearly refuted by actual data that shows little difference in time on the field, number of plays played. Then the pro-Elliott crowd started talking about situations during games (close, 4th quarter, etc) and that's what they meant. And again, stats didn't support that claim either.

The defense will survive or fail on its own merits, not anything to do with that Elliott does or does not do.

Unless of course Elliott is so awesome that we start scoring so quickly like Chip Kelly's first couple of teams did that the defense ends up playing 200 more snaps than your normal defense would over a season.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Elliott and the running game only helps our Defense if we commit to the running game. If that doesn't happen, all of this talk about how Elliott is the most impactful players is nothing but a bunch of noise. I don't agree with the statements many make about Elliott and how he is the single most impactful player.

I think that he could be but the same can be said about a Defensive player IMO.

 

[jday]

I think if Romo and the OL are healthy, you'd feel more impact from a 1st-round defender and 4th-round RB than you would from Elliott alone. Murray and Randle combined for 2200 yards and 16 TD a couple of years ago, and our defense let us down in the playoffs.

How much better will Elliott be than that?

I understand your thoughts on this. But that is a dangerous game to play and too many times in the last few drafts the Cowboys played this game and lost.

In picking Zeke, they didn't just simply draft a running back. They drafted a guy who can be a strong positive voice in the lockerroom, a guy who opens up the entire playbook the moment he steps on the field, phenomenal vision and short area quickness all wrapped up in a guy who plays with power. And he's not described as a "willing blocker;" in just about everything I've read and seen, he is an exceptional blocker. You don't hear or read about the guy who does everything well coming out at RB very often. Sure, you get guys who are excellent runners. But guys with as many tools as Zeke are rare...not to be found anywhere else but the first round...the rare cases are the exception, not the rule.

Factor in what he adds to an already potent offense and the Cowboys create a situation where the opposing offense becomes one-dimensional playing catch up. Check Zeke's numbers; he has a knack for finding the end zone.

But the truth is, if you were against the pick or simply had a different pet cat or ideal draft scenario, which likely tipped the scales towards defense, you won't be happy until he holds up a championship trophy worst case scenario or lights up the regular season best case. Given the ladder, you should see a dramatic difference in how much better the entire team plays when they can dictate their will on the ground.

 

[percyhoward]

I understand your thoughts on this. But that is a dangerous game to play and too many times in the last few drafts the Cowboys played this game and lost.

You can't make contact with every swing, but the smarter move would have been to keep swinging to build a playoff-caliber defense while Romo is still here. If those intangibles you mentioned end up being what separates this team from the 2013 Broncos, that'll work too. Huge if, though.

 

[jday]

You can't make contact with every swing, but the smarter move would have been to keep swinging to build a playoff-caliber defense while Romo is still here. If those intangibles you mentioned end up being what separates this team from the 2013 Broncos, that'll work too. Huge if, though.

That "if" is made huge, more by the incessant injury bug than by a substandard defense. This defense has the potential to be middle of the pack if not above average, provided the offense does it's part. I won't guarantee a Super Bowl any time soon; and while I feel confident the Cowboys have a playoff caliber team, I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm 100% certain they will still be playing in January. Too many things can go wrong, particularly on the injury front to disrupt that from becoming a reality.

That said, by season end, you (and the rest of the anti-Zeke/picking a rb at 4 crowd) are going to love you some Zeke.

 

[the_h0wey]

The road to the playoffs always begin with winning the NFC East first. After drafting Zeke, it's clear that we will go back to punching teams in the mouth this year, just like 2014, by running the ball.

I got to thinking, what does the NFC East look like stopping the run? Here's what I found out:

NFC East Team - Rank - Rushing Yards Allowed

'boys - 22nd - 1,934 yards
Giants - 24th - 1,942 yards
Skins - 26th - 1,962 yards
Eagles - 32nd - 2,153 yards

LINK: http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/aggregates...t=900&statgroup=rushing&category=rushingYards

That being said, I fully expect us to rush our way to the NFC East crown, and beyond.

Nice. I figured we'd be top 4 for sure

 

[DC Cowboy]

I would never describe Gurley as 'Shifty'. I believe Zeke has him there.

I also believe them both to be about the same speed.

I think the only place Todd has him is in power...

They may be closer in power than we think. Keep in mind Zeke is a converted FB

 

[percyhoward]

That "if" is made huge, more by the incessant injury bug than by a substandard defense. This defense has the potential to be middle of the pack if not above average, provided the offense does it's part. I won't guarantee a Super Bowl any time soon; and while I feel confident the Cowboys have a playoff caliber team, I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm 100% certain they will still be playing in January. Too many things can go wrong, particularly on the injury front to disrupt that from becoming a reality.

That said, by season end, you (and the rest of the anti-Zeke/picking a rb at 4 crowd) are going to love you some Zeke.

Oh I'll be enjoying his ROY season as much as you will, believe me.