Yakuza Rich
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I did this last week for the defense, but I tweaked it this time around. Essentially, I wanted to find out things like just how good were the opposing offenses each team was going to face, how good were the pass rushes they were facing, how good were the special teams they were facing, etc. So I went over to Footballoutsiders.com and used their statistical tables to find this out.
For a more detailed version, going into how all of the teams' schedules ranked, check out my blog link in my signature below.
Here's just how Dallas' schedule looks like.
OPPOSING OVERALL OFFENSES (Dallas - 16th hardest)
OPPOSING PASS OFFENSE (Dallas - 15th hardest)
OPPOSING RUN OFFENSES (Dallas - 17th hardest)
OPPOSING TEAMS GETTING 10+ YARD CARRIES PERCENTAGE (Dallas -16th hardest)
OPPOSING RUN STUFF % (PERCENT OF TIMES AN OFFENSIVE RUN IS STUFFED) Dallas - 24th hardest
OPPOSING ADJUSTED SACK RATIO (HOW WELL OPPOSING TEAMS PROTECT THEIR QB) - Dallas 5th hardest
OPPOSING TEAMS CARRIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE (TOWARDS RIGHT TACKLE) - Dallas 11th hardest
OPPOSING TEAMS RUNS UP THE MIDDLE - Dallas 15th hardest)
OPPOSING CARRIES TO THE LEFT SIDE (RUNS TOWARDS THE LEFT TACKLE) - Dallas 13th hardest
COMBINATION OF ALL THE OPPOSING OFFENSIVE RANKINGS ABOVE - Dallas 14th hardest
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
1. Overall, the projections are that the opposing offenses are about average that Dallas will be facing.
2. The pass rush will have it's work cut out for them (facing the 5th toughest schedule when it comes to sacking the QB). So the progression of Ware, Spears, Canty, and Ratliff along with the additions Carpenter and Ayodele will be important if they want to sack the QB.
3. We could dominate the passing game. Last year we finished 9th in pass defense. Our schedule is projected to have the 15th best passing offenses.
4. Last year our weak spot on defense was the run defense. Finished 20th overall. Opposing run offenses are projected as the 17th strongest.
Furthermore, we only finished 20th in run stuff %, but our opposing offenses run stuff % ranks 21st. Lastly, Dallas finished 3rd best in defending against 10+ yard carries and the opposing schedule is ranked 17th in that category.
5. It pretty much appears that while Dallas is projected to face a run of the mill schedule when it comes to opposing offenses, this could be a big year for the defense. Their weak spot on defense was defending the run, but the opposing offenses are projected to be rather weak running the ball.
6. How about Chicago? Best defense last year and now they are facing the projected 3rd weakest schedule when it comes to opposing offenses.
FINAL SYNOPSIS
I could see this team being a bit like last year's Washington defense. Solid against the run and very tough to pass on. However, the pass rush has to be a concern. It dipped quite a bit in the second half of last season. Injuries played a part in that as well as youth and teams finally started to motion a tight end towards Ware and that either forced him into pass coverage or gave him a double team.
While Washington had a good defense last season, there hasn't been a Super Bowl team that finished with less than 40 sacks in the regular season in the past 10 years. Washington finished with 35 last year and if Dallas finishes with that amount in 2006, it won't be enough.
Essentially, I see the key either being a vast improvement in production from Ware & Carpenter over Ware & Singleton/Fujita from 2005 or a vast improvement in the play of the 3 down linemen where the stop the run so much more effectively, that it puts the defense in more favorable situations to sack the QB.
Up next, the opposing defenses
Rich...........
For a more detailed version, going into how all of the teams' schedules ranked, check out my blog link in my signature below.
Here's just how Dallas' schedule looks like.
OPPOSING OVERALL OFFENSES (Dallas - 16th hardest)
OPPOSING PASS OFFENSE (Dallas - 15th hardest)
OPPOSING RUN OFFENSES (Dallas - 17th hardest)
OPPOSING TEAMS GETTING 10+ YARD CARRIES PERCENTAGE (Dallas -16th hardest)
OPPOSING RUN STUFF % (PERCENT OF TIMES AN OFFENSIVE RUN IS STUFFED) Dallas - 24th hardest
OPPOSING ADJUSTED SACK RATIO (HOW WELL OPPOSING TEAMS PROTECT THEIR QB) - Dallas 5th hardest
OPPOSING TEAMS CARRIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE (TOWARDS RIGHT TACKLE) - Dallas 11th hardest
OPPOSING TEAMS RUNS UP THE MIDDLE - Dallas 15th hardest)
OPPOSING CARRIES TO THE LEFT SIDE (RUNS TOWARDS THE LEFT TACKLE) - Dallas 13th hardest
COMBINATION OF ALL THE OPPOSING OFFENSIVE RANKINGS ABOVE - Dallas 14th hardest
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
1. Overall, the projections are that the opposing offenses are about average that Dallas will be facing.
2. The pass rush will have it's work cut out for them (facing the 5th toughest schedule when it comes to sacking the QB). So the progression of Ware, Spears, Canty, and Ratliff along with the additions Carpenter and Ayodele will be important if they want to sack the QB.
3. We could dominate the passing game. Last year we finished 9th in pass defense. Our schedule is projected to have the 15th best passing offenses.
4. Last year our weak spot on defense was the run defense. Finished 20th overall. Opposing run offenses are projected as the 17th strongest.
Furthermore, we only finished 20th in run stuff %, but our opposing offenses run stuff % ranks 21st. Lastly, Dallas finished 3rd best in defending against 10+ yard carries and the opposing schedule is ranked 17th in that category.
5. It pretty much appears that while Dallas is projected to face a run of the mill schedule when it comes to opposing offenses, this could be a big year for the defense. Their weak spot on defense was defending the run, but the opposing offenses are projected to be rather weak running the ball.
6. How about Chicago? Best defense last year and now they are facing the projected 3rd weakest schedule when it comes to opposing offenses.
FINAL SYNOPSIS
I could see this team being a bit like last year's Washington defense. Solid against the run and very tough to pass on. However, the pass rush has to be a concern. It dipped quite a bit in the second half of last season. Injuries played a part in that as well as youth and teams finally started to motion a tight end towards Ware and that either forced him into pass coverage or gave him a double team.
While Washington had a good defense last season, there hasn't been a Super Bowl team that finished with less than 40 sacks in the regular season in the past 10 years. Washington finished with 35 last year and if Dallas finishes with that amount in 2006, it won't be enough.
Essentially, I see the key either being a vast improvement in production from Ware & Carpenter over Ware & Singleton/Fujita from 2005 or a vast improvement in the play of the 3 down linemen where the stop the run so much more effectively, that it puts the defense in more favorable situations to sack the QB.
Up next, the opposing defenses
Rich...........
