Notable DEF stats

[LatinMind]

Dallas is ranked 6th with 18.6 first downs allowed a game
Dallas is ranked 13th with 5 3rd down conversions a game.
Dallas is ranked 5th in opp avg time of poss
Dallas is ranked 14th in first downs per play

Sooner or later people are going to have to start giving this defense credit.

Oh and the whole Dallas is at the bottom of the league in yrds per play. Its kind of a stat out of whack because they are ranked 5th in opponents total plays ran against their defense. So them big plays dallas has given up drive up that avg alot.

 

[DogFace]

Yes. Points allowed and Aikmans rankings are more important stats.
The most important stat in the game is points.

 

[jazzcat22]

I heard someone on BSPN make a comment.
That the Dallas defense isn't doing as well as it seem, gave the yards per play as an example, but failed about points given up. That's positive, so can't comment on that can they.
Anyway, he went on to say, because of the offense's TOP, it keeps the defense off the field.

What a dumb arse...isn't this what was said they wanted to do, help protect the defense, and isn't this what a lot of teams plan is anyway.....is that not football 101.

 

[Ashwynn]

Thats definitely not bottom feeder defense numbers. Hat tip to the D. There a ton better then I was expecting and maybe better than I was hoping for.

 

[Oh_Canada]

I heard someone on BSPN make a comment.
That the Dallas defense isn't doing as well as it seem, gave the yards per play as an example, but failed about points given up. That's positive, so can't comment on that can they.
Anyway, he went on to say, because of the offense's TOP, it keeps the defense off the field.

What a dumb arse...isn't this what was said they wanted to do, help protect the defense, and isn't this what a lot of teams plan is anyway.....is that not football 101.

Well it surprises me little that the little minded network would use yards against as a measure of a defense's effectiveness. They gave up a ton of late yards to the Rams to milk the clock, same goes for the Saints. In both cases they got stops when they needed too. The defense is not steel curtain like but it's better than expected and probably middle of the road overall.

 

[RastaRocket]

I still think we have an average defense benefiting from the run game. They are fresh out there this year. Much better than last season, but if we can't dominate the clock on offense I'm not sure I trust them yet.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I was listening to a few radio shows about how the Cowboys defense is "smokes and mirrors" because they don't do anything well and have no strength's. I think they do a solid job of getting off the field and taking advantage of mistakes QB's make and their secondary have been solid in coverage.

 

[Moderately_Askew]

Before the season started I said all I wanted from the defense this year was average play. If Dallas can get average play from the defense the entire year I think Dallas will make a splash in the playoffs.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Put 8 in the box to contain Beast Mode and Wilson. Have O-Scan shadow Harvin. Safeties need to keep everything in front of them and make hard-hitting tackles. They have nobody else offensively that scares me. Game. Over.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Just curious, do you consider opponent time of possession an offensive or defensive stat?

I think it's a bit of both. The defense can contribute by forcing 3-and-outs and short drives, and the offensive can contribute by pounding the rock and winding the clock.

Overall, this season, I'd give the offense a little more credit for that stat, but I definitely give the defense its due too.

 

[loublue22]

all we really needed was for them to be average

if you asked me before the season if I'd take the #20 defense I would have done so happily

 

[JoeyBoy718]

all we really needed was for them to be average

if you asked me before the season if I'd take the #20 defense I would have done so happily

Yep. I've been impressed. I have to give the offense and the play calling some credit for sticking to the run and controlling the time of possession, but the defense has been very impressive on its own. They usually have about two bad drives a game where they just look awful and let the offense drive down the field with ease, but that's a lot better than last year when they had about two drives a game where they DIDN'T let the offense score at will.

 

[TheFinisher]

Our defense plays with their hair on fire, swarms to the ball and are making their open field tackles. Not to mention are playing a physical/scrappy brand of football.

I'll ride with that type of defense any day of the week.

 

[big dog cowboy]

This last off season there were many who refused to give Marinelli any credit because we had a failed DL. They said he.......well you read the posts.

Oops.

 

[xwalker]

Just curious, do you consider opponent time of possession an offensive or defensive stat?

I think it's a bit of both. The defense can contribute by forcing 3-and-outs and short drives, and the offensive can contribute by pounding the rock and winding the clock.

Overall, this season, I'd give the offense a little more credit for that stat, but I definitely give the defense its due too.

Yes, offensive time of possession can definitely skew some of those stats. The 14th rank in 1st downs per play should take time of possession out of the equation.

 

[Alexander]

Our defense plays with their hair on fire, swarms to the ball and are making their open field tackles. Not to mention are playing a physical/scrappy brand of football.

I'll ride with that type of defense any day of the week.

The tackling has definitely improved.

 

[percyhoward]

Just curious, do you consider opponent time of possession an offensive or defensive stat?

Yes, offensive time of possession can definitely skew some of those stats.

There's actually a way around that. Look at the TOP per drive. The Dallas defense's average drive faced ranks 13th in the league. The offense's TOP has no effect on this. It's mostly just good defense.

The defense is allowing 1.75 points per drive this year, which ranks 7th.

http://cowboyszone.com/threads/hear...-at-yards-per-play.302397/page-2#post-5728626

 

[Hoov]

There's actually a way around that. Look at the TOP per drive. The Dallas defense's average drive faced ranks 13th in the league. The offense's TOP has no effect on this. It's mostly just good defense.

The defense is allowing 1.75 points per drive this year, which ranks 7th.

http://cowboyszone.com/threads/hear...-at-yards-per-play.302397/page-2#post-5728626

Didn't know that. That is good.

 

[dstovall5]

I'm still skeptical(a lot of us are), can you blame us with the crap we've had the past 3 years? Nice we're playing good right now, but we honestly haven't played that many good QBs. I know you can't knock them for that because it's not like they set the schedule, but I'm definitely curious as to how we perform against Wilson, Cutler, Luck, and our division rival QBs.

One thing no one can dispute, is that they've been better then last year despite losing some quality defensive players. Hats off to the D for that, because right now they're making lemonade without lemons.