our 4th qtr defense this season

[AdamJT13]

The Cowboys have allowed 36.7 percent of their total yards allowed, 31.4 percent of their first downs and 29.8 percent of their points in the fourth quarters of their seven games this season.

Coincidentally, our opponents have had 30.8 percent of their possessions in the fourth quarter, too.

Yardage, first downs and scoring (on a per-possession basis) all go up in the fourth quarter for teams that are losing because the offense opens up, passes more, takes more chances (ie., going for it on fourth-and-2 from its own 46, on fourth-and-15, on fourth-and-10, etc.) and lengthens the game (stopping the clock as often as possible to get more possessions). Likewise, sacks and turnovers usually go up, too. They forget about things such as establishing the run, shortening the game and field position, which help keep down yards, first downs and scoring.

Really, none of the stats you posted are anything unusual or unexpected. That doesn't make it any less frustrating, though.

 

[bbgun]

It's not exactly a mystery: teams pass more in the the 4th quarter, forcing Roy Williams into coverage. Since Roy is a major liability the further he is from the line of scrimmage, the results ain't pretty.

 

[VirusX]

We are not good against the 2:00 no huddle offense plain and simple we need to work on read and react playing..

 

[TheHustler]

i thought this rotation was supposed to make us better in the 4th?

Yeah, its really strange how we get NO pressure in the 4th...

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Sorry guy we did not run the prevent hell RW was blitzing on a few of those plays even Bill talked about it after the game when asked about the 4th qrt come back. Fact is we got a pass interference call that cost us 20 something yards and you had Hassleback throw a jump ball to his TE which was another play that got 22 yards with man coverage coming from Henry. That is not considered Prevent Defense!!! Coaches did not blow this game player either make plays or they don't and the fact is plays where there for the taking and the players just did not make them.

Well said. The players aren't executing and the players on the other team are going at us with a sense of urgency. Those guys on the other teams get paid too and they are going to make plays.

 

[TheEnigma]

I agree, our defense hasn't been playing prevent in those situations. What Is different though in the 4th quarter, is that the opposing offenses go into a "2 minute" offense and due to the youth on our defense, we are not disciplined enough to stop it. Although our defense has been playing phenomenal the past few games save the 4th quarter, our offense still needs to carry our defense for a while longer. Missed opportunities in the redzone, missed field goals, and lack of offensive execution have allowed opposing offenses, (albeit very good offenses) to come back on us.

 

[MikeD17]

of course the numbers are higher in the 4th , teams will figure out what your trying to do against them and do something else. and you got to take in account that your defense is going to get worn down mentally if there counted on stopping the other team every single time.


the cowboys offense and jose cortez are to blame for the loses against the Commanders and seattle

 

[Doomsday101]

of course the numbers are higher in the 4th , teams will figure out what your trying to do against them and do something else. and you got to take in account that your defense is going to get worn down mentally if there counted on stopping the other team every single time.


the cowboys offense and jose cortez are to blame for the loses against the Commanders and seattle

Offense is also willing to take a lot more chances when your playing from behind late in a game

 

[dbair1967]

Coincidentally, our opponents have had 30.8 percent of their possessions in the fourth quarter, too.

Yardage, first downs and scoring (on a per-possession basis) all go up in the fourth quarter for teams that are losing because the offense opens up, passes more, takes more chances (ie., going for it on fourth-and-2 from its own 46, on fourth-and-15, on fourth-and-10, etc.) and lengthens the game (stopping the clock as often as possible to get more possessions). Likewise, sacks and turnovers usually go up, too. They forget about things such as establishing the run, shortening the game and field position, which help keep down yards, first downs and scoring.

Really, none of the stats you posted are anything unusual or unexpected. That doesn't make it any less frustrating, though.

all that would be fine except other than the Philly game, we havent had more than a 13 pt lead on anyone..San Diego was a 4pt lead, NY and Seattle were only 7pt leads...this isnt exactly the types of leads that influence major changes in teams play calling

and it still doesnt change the fact that the defense had the lead and blew it in two losses and one game that we won in OT

David

 

[dbair1967]

the cowboys offense and jose cortez are to blame for the loses against the Commanders and seattle

Cortez mssing field goals did hurt, but against Seattle we would have had a 13-3 lead instead of 10-3...we blew a 13-0 lead in 4+ minutes against Washington, the same thing could have happened vs Seattle

I just cant understand why the concept of having a lead and holding it is such an issue for some...it wasnt like the offense put the defense on our own 5 or 1o yd line and asked them to hold a TD lead...Seattle, NYG and Wash all had long drives (from their side of the 50) vs the defense to either win or tie the game

thats the fault of defense, and the defense alone...you only have to win a game by 1pt...there is no rule that you dont get credit for a win unless you win by double digits or something

David

 

[dools]

it seems like we play horrible against the two minute offense

 

[AdamJT13]

all that would be fine except other than the Philly game, we havent had more than a 13 pt lead on anyone..San Diego was a 4pt lead, NY and Seattle were only 7pt leads...this isnt exactly the types of leads that influence major changes in teams play calling

Look at the drives when we gave up those yards and points. Against the Commanders, it was 12 pass plays and zero running plays on two drives, during which they went for it twice on fourth downs. Against the Raiders, it was eight pass plays and four running plays on two field-goal drives.Against the Giants, between the drive we stopped at our goal line and the touchdown drive, they ran 10 pass plays and four running plays. And they went for it on a fourth-and-10. Against the Seahawks, it was six pass plays and two running plays -- and three of those points you counted came without the defense even stepping on the field. Total it all up, and it's 36 pass plays and 10 running plays, with three fourth-down tries. That's not a change in play-calling? Please.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

I don't understand why some of you are putting this on the offense. Whether there were missed oppourtunities or not, doesn't change the fact that the D didn't hold 'em in the end. While I'll agree that the defense has been outstanding the last 3 weeks, they too have had their problems. Most notably the exact thing we are talking about here. Perhaps NO lead is safe with our defense. It seems like maybe we are getting a false sense of security behind the D's play through the first 3 quarters. If we can't have a 7 point lead with 2:00 to go, and hold it, what makes anyone think that a 10 point lead with 5:00 to go would be different. All you hear is "our defense played great, it's our offense that should have put the game away." Both sides of the ball need to put it away, if the defense wouldn't have given up a field goal at the end of the first half, we would've won too. It can go both ways. That's why it falls on the TEAM, not the offense or defense.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

Look at the drives when we gave up those yards and points. Against the Commanders, it was 12 pass plays and zero running plays on two drives, during which they went for it twice on fourth downs. Against the Raiders, it was eight pass plays and four running plays on two field-goal drives.Against the Giants, between the drive we stopped at our goal line and the touchdown drive, they ran 10 pass plays and four running plays. And they went for it on a fourth-and-10. Against the Seahawks, it was six pass plays and two running plays -- and three of those points you counted came without the defense even stepping on the field. Total it all up, and it's 36 pass plays and 10 running plays, with three fourth-down tries. That's not a change in play-calling? Please.

I think he was talking about OUR offense, at the time.

 

[AdamJT13]

I think he was talking about OUR offense, at the time.

No, he wasn't. He was responding to my explanation why yards, first downs and scoring increase in the fourth quarter of games, and he was referring to our opponents' play-calling. As I explained, teams that are behind in the fourth quarter and are running out of time change their offensive strategy. The result is more possessions, more points, more yards and more first downs (with the accompanying increase in sacks and turnovers, as well).

 

[dbair1967]

No, he wasn't. He was responding to my explanation why yards, first downs and scoring increase in the fourth quarter of games, and he was referring to our opponents' play-calling. As I explained, teams that are behind in the fourth quarter and are running out of time change their offensive strategy. The result is more possessions, more points, more yards and more first downs (with the accompanying increase in sacks and turnovers, as well).

but not always...not every team comes from behind Adam...and again, 3-7-10 pt deficits dont dictate major changes in your play calling or approach over an entire quarter. Naturally if you are going down to the end of the game and are a TD or long distance away for a potential FG then you will pass alot...

the Skins had the biggest defecit other than Philly (which doesnt really matter what the score or situation is with them anyway, they are going to pass regardless).

and none of that still changes the fact that my argument all this week is that our defense blew two games, and nearly two others because we couldnt stop teams at the end of a game...people say "the offense didnt do enough" but the offense did do enough, we had leads...leads the defense in turn blew...

David

 

[dbair1967]

No, he wasn't. He was responding to my explanation why yards, first downs and scoring increase in the fourth quarter of games, and he was referring to our opponents' play-calling.).

I guess I am not getting your comment about Seattle scoring 3 pts when our defense wasnt on the field..it was 10-3 with about 2 mins to go and they were 81 yds away...we let them score a TD to tie the game

I've never said anything about the defense being at fault for the final FG...

I did make the point to one person that HAD Cortez made the FG he missed (which so many are saying cost us the game) we would have had a 13-3 lead, and then noted that we blew a 13-0 lead to Wash in around 4 mins or so

David

 

[AdamJT13]

but not always...not every team comes from behind Adam...

Exactly. And not every team has come from behind against us (see the final possessions for San Diego and San Francisco, for example). But given the fact that teams are able to score more and gain more yards when they change their play-calling in the fourth quarter, it's not surprising that we've given up points and yards in those situations some of the time.

and again, 3-7-10 pt deficits dont dictate major changes in your play calling or approach over an entire quarter.

But we haven't been giving up those yards and points over the entire quarter -- only when the opponent gets desperate enough to change their play-calling. And that's exactly when all of those things (yards, points, turnovers, etc.) increase.

 

[AdamJT13]

I guess I am not getting your comment about Seattle scoring 3 pts when our defense wasnt on the field..it was 10-3 with about 2 mins to go and they were 81 yds away...we let them score a TD to tie the game

I've never said anything about the defense being at fault for the final FG

You've been counting those three points in your stats. Here's what you posted to start this thread --

------------------------------
3 quarters SEATTLE 4th quarter
169 Yards 120
12 First downs 8
3 Points 10
------------------------------

The defense really allowed only seven points in the fourth quarter, since it had no part in the final three.

 

[dbair1967]

But we haven't been giving up those yards and points over the entire quarter -- only when the opponent gets desperate enough to change their play-calling. And that's exactly when all of those things (yards, points, turnovers, etc.) increase.

ok fine Adam, wouldnt knowing what the other team was going to do make it easier to stop them? it should, except in the case of blowout games where the defense is playing extremely loose and conceding short to intermediate plays to run clock

we shouldnt be blowing these leads...you mention that we didnt blow the SD and SF games, but both teams did DRIVE into our side of the field and had ints to end the come back hopes

David