Pretty sure cowboy fans will be pleasantly surprised by this defense

[Kaiser]

Yeah, but, but, but 2014!

I'm sorry, did someone interrupt you from saying "but, but, but 2013!!" ?

 

[CCBoy]

I'm sorry, did someone interrupt you from saying "but, but, but 2013!!" ?

 

[Stash]

I'm sorry, did someone interrupt you from saying "but, but, but 2013!!" ?

You point at the anomaly in 5-plus years as the lone example for success. That's 1 season out of 5. All evidence favors the other side of the argument.

For everything else, there's a ready-made excuse. Would, coulda, shoulda.

 

[CyberB0b]

And this applies to every team and at almost any position.

Not really.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Maturely done...and accepted. Let's talk Cowboys and not fan labels now...

Yes-- back to the discussion at hand.

 

[Kaiser]

You point at the anomaly in 5-plus years as the lone example for success. That's 1 season out of 5. All evidence favors the other side of the argument.

For everything else, there's a ready-made excuse. Would, coulda, shoulda.

I see, the Cowboys should expect their two best players to miss the season with injuries because it happened last year. Past is prologue. Now I understand.

 

[Blackspider214]

I believe this defense will be much better than advertised, our secondary is underated. Our defensive line is young and unproven, but better than most people believe in. But I may be in the few that believe, but I believe the infusion of the young talent will surprise even the most pessimistic fans. We will know a lot after Saturday night, but I think the arrow is pointing upward.

I put zero stock in preseason in general, much less the first game. We went 0-4 and looked god awful in 2014 preseason and ended up being 12-4 and one of the best teams in the league. I've also seen them loom pretty good in the Campo days only to go 5-11. Every team is running a stripped down, vanilla offense and defense. You can't make much from either side of the ball. There are little things the coaches can look at on film but we won't know what this defense is capable until the season starts.

Even if this defense is middle of the pack and competent, this can be a very good season. 2014 like. But if it's a bottom of the league defense, I sense it will be another .500 season.

 

[Stash]

I see, the Cowboys should expect their two best players to miss the season with injuries because it happened last year. Past is prologue. Now I understand.

They were 8-8 when they had them before, what should they expect Nostrodamus?

You want to have it one way - 2014 - and nothing else should matter. Doesn't work that way.

 

[Kaiser]

They were 8-8 when they had them before, what should they expect Nostrodamus?

You want to have it one way - 2014 - and nothing else should matter. Doesn't work that way.

If Dallas has to play their 2013 Defense in the 2016 season, you would have a point. But, umm... you don't.

 

[Stash]

If Dallas has to play their 2013 Defense in the 2016 season, you would have a point. But, umm... you don't.

Oh, got it. So they'll just be better because the names are different, because... Cowboys!

 

[CCBoy]

Oh, got it. So they'll just be better because the names are different, because... Cowboys!

...and for the record, there are many more stances that are worse.

 

[Kaiser]

Oh, got it. So they'll just be better because the names are different, because... Cowboys!

So your point is that the unit of DLaw, Thornton, T. Crawford and Mayora/Russell are exactly the same as Selvie, Marvin Austin, Landon Cohen and Jarius Wynn.

Gotcha.

 

[Stash]

So your point is that the unit of DLaw, Thornton, T. Crawford and Mayora/Russell are exactly the same as Selvie, Marvin Austin, Landon Cohen and Jarius Wynn.

Gotcha.

The point is that they're unproven . You just want to assume that they're proven good, because they're not proven to be bad. You want to hope that things are better when they have a chance to be worse. But you can't handle someone mentioning that possibility.

And then, apparently, you want to judge the performance of an entire defense over a season based on four names. Good luck getting that dog to hunt.

 

[CCBoy]

They were 8-8 when they had them before, what should they expect Nostrodamus?

You want to have it one way - 2014 - and nothing else should matter. Doesn't work that way.

Insults again...yet no factual statistics beyond attitude. The collapse in the team last season, was based upon the offensive side of ball. When both Dez Bryant and Tony Romo were lost for almost an entire season, well:


2015 (4-12)

Total First Downs
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty)
Third Down Conversions
Fourth Down Conversions
Total Offensive Yards
Offense (Plays - Average Yards)
Total Rushing Yards
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards)
Total Passing Yards
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg)
Sacks
Field Goals
Touchdowns
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive)
Time of Posession
Turnover Ratio




Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Total First Downs 307/ 317
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty) 94-175-38/ 113-172-32
Third Down Conversions 66/191/ 81/208
Fourth Down Conversions 8/16/ 5/10
Total Offensive Yards 5361/ 5566
Offense (Plays - Average Yards) 963-5.53/ 995-5.58
Total Rushing Yards 1890/ 1934
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards) 408-4.6/ 461-4.2
Total Passing Yards 3677/ 3861
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg) 334-528-22-7/ 330-506-8-7.6
Sacks 33/ 31
Field Goals 30/32'/ 30/36
Touchdowns 26/ 41
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive) 8-16-0-2 16-19-1-5
Time of Posession 31:07/ 29:08
Turnover Ratio -22

*Poor offense with an average defense



2014 (12-4)


Team Statistics
Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Total First Downs 342 315
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty) 106-205-31/ 86-195-34
Third Down Conversions 95/201/ 89/204
Fourth Down Conversions 3/6 /10/20
Total Offensive Yards 6138/ 5681
Offense (Plays - Average Yards) 1008-6.05/ 970-5.81
Total Rushing Yards 2354/ 1650
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards) 508-4.6/ 392-4.2
Total Passing Yards 4008/ 4187
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg) 328-476-11-8.4/ 371-558-18-7.5
Sacks 30/ 28
Field Goals 25/29/ 16/18
Touchdowns 56/ 43
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive) 16-37-0-3/ 18-22-0-3
Time of Posession 32:51 28:02
Turnover Ratio +6

*Good offense with an adequate defense


2013 (8-8)


Team Statistics
Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Total First Downs 325 /388
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty) 80-213-32/ 122-231-35
Third Down Conversions 63/180 /91/210
Fourth Down Conversions 4/6 /9/18
Total Offensive Yards 5458 /6645
Offense (Plays - Average Yards) 951-5.7 /1091-6.07
Total Rushing Yards 1504 /2056
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards) 336-4.5/ 437-4.7
Total Passing Yards 4226/ 4835
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg) 375-586-12-7.2/ 403-623-15-7.8
Sacks 35 /34
Field Goals 28/30/ 25/29
Touchdowns 51 51
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive) 12-33-1-5/ 17-33-0-1
Time of Posession 29:02/ 30:58
Turnover Ratio +8

*Good offense with a very poor defense


The strength of this team improves quite a bit, with a strong offense - which Dallas should have this season.

The defense should at least be adequate to good...hence, with a weak schedule, should mean an improved record as well.

 

[tyke1doe]

Slow meet roll.
Repeat after me, it's only preseason. It's only preseason. It's only preseason.

 

[Sydla]

So your point is that the unit of DLaw, Thornton, T. Crawford and Mayora/Russell are exactly the same as Selvie, Marvin Austin, Landon Cohen and Jarius Wynn.

Gotcha.

Whew that was a brutal DL.

 

[CCBoy]

Slow meet roll.
Repeat after me, it's only preseason. It's only preseason. It's only preseason.

There's no place like home...

 

[percyhoward]

All that matters is winning.

And PPD and DPR are the stats that correlate most strongly with...winning.

 

[CCBoy]

And PPD and DPR are the stats that correlate most strongly with...winning.

Straight up, stats and attitudes set aside...do you think that the record for this year's Cowboys will be improving significantly from last season?

I sure do...and not even stepping out on a ledge, for that.

 

[Stash]

Insults again...yet no factual statistics beyond attitude. The collapse in the team last season, was based upon the offensive side of ball. When both Dez Bryant and Tony Romo were lost for almost an entire season, well:


2015 (4-12)

Total First Downs
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty)
Third Down Conversions
Fourth Down Conversions
Total Offensive Yards
Offense (Plays - Average Yards)
Total Rushing Yards
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards)
Total Passing Yards
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg)
Sacks
Field Goals
Touchdowns
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive)
Time of Posession
Turnover Ratio




Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Total First Downs 307/ 317
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty) 94-175-38/ 113-172-32
Third Down Conversions 66/191/ 81/208
Fourth Down Conversions 8/16/ 5/10
Total Offensive Yards 5361/ 5566
Offense (Plays - Average Yards) 963-5.53/ 995-5.58
Total Rushing Yards 1890/ 1934
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards) 408-4.6/ 461-4.2
Total Passing Yards 3677/ 3861
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg) 334-528-22-7/ 330-506-8-7.6
Sacks 33/ 31
Field Goals 30/32'/ 30/36
Touchdowns 26/ 41
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive) 8-16-0-2 16-19-1-5
Time of Posession 31:07/ 29:08
Turnover Ratio -22

*Poor offense with an average defense



2014 (12-4)


Team Statistics
Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Total First Downs 342 315
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty) 106-205-31/ 86-195-34
Third Down Conversions 95/201/ 89/204
Fourth Down Conversions 3/6 /10/20
Total Offensive Yards 6138/ 5681
Offense (Plays - Average Yards) 1008-6.05/ 970-5.81
Total Rushing Yards 2354/ 1650
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards) 508-4.6/ 392-4.2
Total Passing Yards 4008/ 4187
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg) 328-476-11-8.4/ 371-558-18-7.5
Sacks 30/ 28
Field Goals 25/29/ 16/18
Touchdowns 56/ 43
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive) 16-37-0-3/ 18-22-0-3
Time of Posession 32:51 28:02
Turnover Ratio +6

*Good offense with an adequate defense


2013 (8-8)


Team Statistics
Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Dallas Cowboys Opponents
Total First Downs 325 /388
First Downs (Rushing-Passing-By-Penalty) 80-213-32/ 122-231-35
Third Down Conversions 63/180 /91/210
Fourth Down Conversions 4/6 /9/18
Total Offensive Yards 5458 /6645
Offense (Plays - Average Yards) 951-5.7 /1091-6.07
Total Rushing Yards 1504 /2056
Rushing (Plays - Average Yards) 336-4.5/ 437-4.7
Total Passing Yards 4226/ 4835
Passing (Comp - Att - INT - Avg) 375-586-12-7.2/ 403-623-15-7.8
Sacks 35 /34
Field Goals 28/30/ 25/29
Touchdowns 51 51
Touchdowns (Rushing - Passing - Returns - Defensive) 12-33-1-5/ 17-33-0-1
Time of Posession 29:02/ 30:58
Turnover Ratio +8

*Good offense with a very poor defense


The strength of this team improves quite a bit, with a strong offense - which Dallas should have this season.

The defense should at least be adequate to good...hence, with a weak schedule, should mean an improved record as well.

All of those numbers invalidated by the unsupported claim that " the defense should at least be adequate to good".

But I'm in total agreement that this offense should be "strong". Given the investments made there, I feel anything outside of a top 3-5 ranking would be a big disappointment and might cost somebody their job. Barring injury of course.