News: Spagnola: History And Recent Past Should Keep Defensive Priorities Real

[CCBoy]

Spagnola: History And Recent Past Should Keep Defensive Priorities Real
Friday, February 12, 2016 4:59 PM CST

By Mickey Spagnola
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...nt-past-should-keep-defensive-priorities-real





IRVING, Texas – Twenty-some years has a way of creating perceptions, actually causing me to chuckle this past Super Bowl Sunday.

There has been all this talk of just how great the Denver defense was in that 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, and it certainly was, some insisting this was one of the greatest defensive performances ever in Super Bowl history. There were other performances being compared to what the Broncos pulled off, like those of Baltimore and Chicago and Seattle and Tampa Bay. Think the Miami Dolphins, too, being mentioned, giving up just seven points each time in their back-to-back victories in Super Bowls VII and VIII.

All causing me to think, hey, what about the Cowboys?

Did folks forget the Cowboys’ No. 3 total defense in 1971 spanked the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, 24-3, the group better known as Doomsday for good reason? Then shellacked the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII, 27-10, Randy White and Harvey Martin sharing MVP honors after the Cowboys’ No. 1-ranked defense in that 1977 season (Doomsday II) finished with eight takeaways, including four interceptions of Denver quarterback and former teammate Craig Morton.

Pretty good defense, right?

And then there were the Cowboys of the 1990s, still one of only two teams to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span, the Cowboys in Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII and XXX beating the New England Patriots to the punch (XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXIX).

Most identify the Cowboys championships in those years with offense, sprinkled with Hall of Famers Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Larry Allen, he in just the last of those three title years. They remember Jay Novacek and that dominant offensive line with the likes of Nate Newton and Erik Williams, Mark Tuinei, John Gesek and Kevin Gogan. They remember the Cowboys gouging Buffalo thefirst time with 52 points and then 30 more the next time, Aikman the MVP in XXVII and Emmitt the MVP in XXVIII.

But lest you’ve forgotten, let some of these numbers do the talking: The Cowboys owned a top-10 defense in each of those years, along with the 1994 one when losing the opportunity in the NFC title game to have made four straight a possibility. The Cowboys had the NFL’s No. 1 defense in 1992 and 1994. They were ranked 10th in 1993 and ninth in 1995.

Standing out in Super Bowl XXVII always has been the 52 points the NFL’s fourth-ranked offense scored. But forgotten is all this: The Cowboys set the single-game Super Bowl record with nine takeaways in that game, intercepting four passes and recovering five of the Bills’ eight fumbles. The Cowboys returned two of those takeaways for touchdowns and would have had a third if not for Leon Lett’s early celebration inside the 5-yard line on a fumble return, or Don Beebe’s commendable hustle to knock the ball out from behind in a 52-17 game with just 4:42 left.

Oh, and guess what’s No. 2 on that takeaway record list? Those eight by the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII? Want to take a stab at No. 3? Why, the Cowboys’ seven in Super Bowl VI.

Now sure, the Bills did score 17 points in Super Bowl XXVII. But remember, those first seven came giftwrapped by the Bills special teams ending the Cowboys’ first possession of the game with a blocked punt recovered at the Dallas 16. Other than that, the NFL’s No. 2-ranked total offense and third-ranked scoring team produced just 10 points on their own. Also, do not forget those four sacks, along with the hit by Hall of Fame defensive end Charles Haley knocking Bills quarterback Jim Kelly out of the game in the second quarter.

And this was not just a one-time wonder defensive performance in that game for the Cowboys that playoff season. In their three 1992 playoff season victories, opponents averaged just 15.66 points a game, just a bit more than the 15.2 the Cowboys gave up that season.

Even in their 30-13 Super Bowl XXVIII victory the next season, seems everyone remembers Emmitt’s 132 yards rushing and two touchdowns. But the Cowboys defense held Buffalo to just those 13 points and that dynamic offense to just 3.9 yards a play. The Cowboys sacked Kelly three times and collected three more takeaways. And the real MVP should have been Cowboys safety James Washington finishing with, and let this sink in, 11 tackles, an interception to set up a Cowboys touchdown, a forced fumble to set up a field goal and his early third quarter fumble recovery returned for a touchdown that tied a game (13-13) in which the Cowboys trailed 13-6 at halftime...

 

[Rockport]

My point exactly. Offense sells tickets and defenses win CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

 

[mrmojo]

Cowboy teams are the most underrated SB champions in history. I still believe the 93 team was the greatest ever, they did not have a weakness on defense, offense or special teams. Too bad the 70s and 90's SB Champs don't get the recognition they deserve.

 

[CATCH17]

I keep coming back to Carson Wentz.


At 4 your going to get a guy like Bosa, Jack, or Ramsey who aren't huge difference makers.


Take the bigtime QB prospect.

 

[stilltheguru88]

I keep coming back to Carson Wentz.


At 4 your going to get a guy like Bosa, Jack, or Ramsey who aren't huge difference makers.


Take the bigtime QB prospect.

Wentz is a huge difference maker on the bench. Smart.

 

[CATCH17]

Wentz is a huge difference maker on the bench. Smart.

Wentz is a huge difference maker on the bench. Smart.

He'll put us 2 years ahead of schedule when Romo is done.


Bosa, Ramsey, and Jack are all just nice players and don't have huge upside.

 

[stilltheguru88]

He'll put us 2 years ahead of schedule when Romo is done.


Bosa, Ramsey, and Jack are all just nice players and don't have huge upside.

Nice dodge. I'll leave you alone now.

 

[Floatyworm]

"So let’s not act like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones or COO Stephen Jones, or anyone else in this organization, doesn’t understand the importance of defense, since that perception is being thrown around quite loosely lately. They sure do know, and realize why a stout defense is needed to complement an explosive offense to win a Super Bowl."

If that is the case...then why is Marinelli still here? He is the problem. You just don't blow 8 leads in a season...and not point fingers....

 

[Idgit]

He'll put us 2 years ahead of schedule when Romo is done.

Bosa, Ramsey, and Jack are all just nice players and don't have huge upside.

I agree that the QB, if he's rated as a blue chip player, is the obvious choice, but let's not fool ourselves. Taking the QB means passing on more than just 'nice players' for the defense. It means choosing to forego a potential impact starter on a unit that's kept us from getting where we want to go for years now.

 

[CCBoy]

"So let’s not act like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones or COO Stephen Jones, or anyone else in this organization, doesn’t understand the importance of defense, since that perception is being thrown around quite loosely lately. They sure do know, and realize why a stout defense is needed to complement an explosive offense to win a Super Bowl."

If that is the case...then why is Marinelli still here? He is the problem. You just don't blow 8 leads in a season...and not point fingers....

Blame the offense, for last season...they simply didn't score a minimum level of points for wins.

 

[CCBoy]

I agree that the QB, if he's rated as a blue chip player, is the obvious choice, but let's not fool ourselves. Taking the QB means passing on more than just 'nice players' for the defense. It means choosing to forego a potential impact starter on a unit that's kept us from getting where we want to go for years now.

I agree...add in Ramsey, Jack, Bosa, or Buckner and see if the defense doesn't improve significantly over time.

I would love the prospect of a matched pair of interchangeable safeties with Ramsey and Jones. That would fix at least half of the secondary...bam!

 

[noshame]

I keep coming back to Carson Wentz.


At 4 your going to get a guy like Bosa, Jack, or Ramsey who aren't huge difference makers.


Take the bigtime QB prospect.

Honestly, if you take a defender that high you are nuts. A QB literally holds the outcome of a game in his hands each and every play, not that he has to make great plays(but it would be nice), just don't choke...see Cam. It's true, defense was the major factor in the super bowl, but a elite QB could have tipped the scales in either direction, neither team had one.

 

[CCBoy]

Honestly, if you take a defender that high you are nuts. A QB literally holds the outcome of a game in his hands each and every play, not that he has to make great plays(but it would be nice), just don't choke...see Cam. It's true, defense was the major factor in the super bowl, but a elite QB could have tipped the scales in either direction, neither team had one.

At the very top...it's only the quarterback. (the true not being able to see)

 

[Stash]

I'd have no problem with the vast majority of draft and free agency resources going to stocking the defense. None at all. I think it's the right thing to do.

That said, if I have the opportunity to get a franchise quarterback at #4, that's what I'm doing, ten times out of ten.

I can add talent at every position on my team through free agency, except one - franchise quarterback. When guys like Kaepernick, Dalton, and Tannehill are having $100 million deals thrown at them while questions about them still remain, it's clear to me how scarce of a commodity the position truly is.

 

[CCBoy]

I'd have no problem with the vast majority of draft and free agency resources going to stocking the defense. None at all. I think it's the right thing to do.

That said, if I have the opportunity to get a franchise quarterback at #4, that's what I'm doing, ten times out of ten.

I can add talent at every position on my team through free agency, except one - franchise quarterback. When guys like Kaepernick, Dalton, and Tannehill are having $100 million deals thrown at them while questions about them still remain, it's clear to me how scarce of a commodity the position truly is.

That's a fair look, but where does the money, even when combined with a 'rookie' contract and a veteran QB, run?

Tony Romo hits the cap this season, at 13.31% of the cap. Still on his rookie contract, Zach Martin accounts for 1.56% of the cap...and Cole Beasley for 2.14% of the cap.

Just a generalized expectations, for a veteran QB and a top of first round QB also, would bump the QB percentage up to approximately a 10% level.

A QB taken at the 4th pick this year, would expect to make $20,000,000 for a four year contract, with an option for a 5th season. That would be at $5,000,000 a season. That figure would be a projected salary for a starter quality QB being brought in with Tony ahead of him. Just for ball park, that is adding to salary demands about $7 - $10 million to the cap drain.

This QB salary bunch would eat up about 23% of the salary.

When one figures that the average per team amount throughout the NFL sits at about 9% of a team's cap cost.

The only feasible solution, would be drafting at the first round and bargain shop for an immediate backup similar to last season...

Even if one directs his draft towards a top of first round QB pick, he has to be very careful in that selection.

Having multiple positional weaknesses, could make that selection a hollow pick as well.

 

[Stash]

That's a fair look, but where does the money, even when combined with a 'rookie' contract and a veteran QB, run?

Tony Romo hits the cap this season, at 13.31% of the cap. Still on his rookie contract, Zach Martin accounts for 1.56% of the cap...and Cole Beasley for 2.14% of the cap.

Just a generalized expectations, for a veteran QB and a top of first round QB also, would bump the QB percentage up to approximately at a 10% level.

A QB taken at the 4th pick this year, would expect to make $20,000,000 for a four year contract, with an option for a 5th season. That would be at $5,000,000 a season. That figure would be a projected salary for a starter quality QB being brought in with Tony ahead of him. Just for ball park, that is adding to salary demands about $7 - $10 million to the cap drain.

This QB salary bunch would eat up about 23% of the salary.

When one figures that the average per team amount throughout the NFL

Is it much different than if they used that same #4 draft pick on any other position? By comparison, and given the change in rookie contracts over the last few years, rookie first round quarterbacks are significantly cheaper than they were before.

And, if I'm getting quality quarterback play in two-three years at $5 million per year after Romo has retired, I'll consider that a blessing.

 

[CCBoy]

Is it much different than if they used that same #4 draft pick on any other position? By comparison, and given the change in rookie contracts over the last few years, rookie first round quarterbacks are significantly cheaper than they were before.

And, if I'm getting quality quarterback play in two-three years at $5 million per year after Romo has retired, I'll consider that a blessing.

If one pays for it through the top slot in the draft, that also adds to the overall cost of a quarterback...right now. That is reflected in a projection on talent levels available at other positions. This will reflect in what is aimed for during free agency.

Also, what can now be done as to a functioning veteran to back up Tony Romo?

Say one drafted Wentz, well his and Tony's salaries would account for about 18% of the entire cap, and that is without a legitimate backup prospect in the now.

That is a lot against a cap, and that is just two players in a single position.

 

[Stash]

If one pays for it through the top slot in the draft, that also adds to the overall cost of a quarterback...right now. That is reflected in a projection on talent levels available at other positions. This will reflect in what is aimed for during free agency.

Also, what can now be done as to a functioning veteran to back up Tony Romo?

Say one drafted Wentz, well his and Tony's salaries would account for about 18% of the entire cap, and that is without a legitimate backup prospect in the now.

That is a lot against a cap, and that is just two players in a single position.

It certainly is. But, after this 4-12 season, it's a cost I would be willing to pay to ensure I didn't find myself in this same position again. Like this season, if it happens again, there's very little a team can do during the season.

I can get all the money I need to take care of my quarterback position by reworking Brandon Carr's contract, which is long overdue, whether Carr likes it or not.

 

[CCBoy]

It certainly is. But, after this 4-12 season, it's a cost I would be willing to pay to ensure I didn't find myself in this same position again. Like this season, if it happens again, there's very little a team can do during the season.

I can get all the money I need to take care of my quarterback position by reworking Brandon Carr's contract, which is long overdue, whether Carr likes it or not.

That part is true...but a lot of other things need to happen, to project where the Cowboys were prior to all of last season's injuries.

 

[cowboyblue22]

They are not going to draft a qb number 4 jones believes that he will be good for three or more years so they are going to put pieces aroundhim. When in reality it don't matter because they are not one or two or three players away from competing for a superbowl.By the time they get a credible defense built tony will be done.