Sturm: Marnelli Report - Week 7 Giants

[Sturm1310]

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...t-the-only-statistic-that-truly-matters.html/

There are many, many statistics that we track during the course of a football season. Every week, I get a report sent to me that has roughly 300 different team stats which certainly make one eligible for “paralysis by analysis”.

But, when tracking a defense, all of these different stats point to the only stat that truly matters for a defense – limiting points that are being scored against you. The name of the game is to win, but, of course, that is a team accomplishment where you are awfully dependent on the offense (and they are dependent on you). If one of you is substandard, then the other side has to compensate…or lose.

So, on Sunday against the New York Giants – a team the Cowboys have averaged allowing 29.1 points per game in the “Cowboys Stadium” era – they allowed only 21 points for the second meeting in a row. 21 points against, as you can see below, is the season average against Dallas which ranks them 9th in the NFL and 3rd in the NFC in this vital category.

 

[Crown Royal]

One more thing before we get into the data, and that is a play I watched last night about 15 times in a row. I must confess I have a thing for Rolando McClain and the level of play he has brought to the Cowboys defense after the loss of Sean Lee. I know it is blasphemous to say, but I don’t think Lee can do better than what 55 does below.

I actually think Rolando brings things to the table that Lee doesn't. If Ro keeps this level of play up, he seems to be able to do just about everything Lee can do, save some coverage capability. That said, I dunno if this play is a good example. Lee regularly sniffs out pitches and outside runs.

Article is great as usual.

 

[xwalker]

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...t-the-only-statistic-that-truly-matters.html/

There are many, many statistics that we track during the course of a football season. Every week, I get a report sent to me that has roughly 300 different team stats which certainly make one eligible for “paralysis by analysis”.

But, when tracking a defense, all of these different stats point to the only stat that truly matters for a defense – limiting points that are being scored against you. The name of the game is to win, but, of course, that is a team accomplishment where you are awfully dependent on the offense (and they are dependent on you). If one of you is substandard, then the other side has to compensate…or lose.

So, on Sunday against the New York Giants – a team the Cowboys have averaged allowing 29.1 points per game in the “Cowboys Stadium” era – they allowed only 21 points for the second meeting in a row. 21 points against, as you can see below, is the season average against Dallas which ranks them 9th in the NFL and 3rd in the NFC in this vital category.

Good work.

A few thoughts:

The defensive stats that I like and show great improvement from last year to this year are per drive stats. The points allowed per drive, opponent TOP per drive, etc.. This gives some separation from the effect of the Cowboys offense on TOP and that type of thing.

I'm curious about the play where Mincey gave up contain and Eli ran for the 1st down. It seems that sometimes it's OK for the DE to crash inside and sometimes it's not. The LBs and the DEs have to be in sync on it. I don't know if it's part of the defensive play call or if they somehow have to read the situation. They gave up a couple of big runs against Houston when the LB stayed inside and the RDE (Jack Crawford) crashed down inside. Normally, there is a LB in place to keep outside contain when the DE is crashing down inside, but when they're not on the same page they have problems.

Another thing I've noticed is that the DEs tend to go in a straight line towards the QB instead of looping wide and around the OT. This seems to result in consistent but limited pressure; whereas, the wide looping pass rusher sometimes has no effect on the play when the OT just pushes him wide, but probably gets more sacks when things do go right. This direct line style also seems to be good in terms of run defense. I had noticed that in college D-Law often had a more direct line when rushing the QB than some of the other speed rush guys like Barr.

I have not looked at the snap counts against the Giants, but I'm curious if T. McClain's snap count will exceed Hayden's at some point. I'm also curious about how Brent and Hayden would both be active on game-day. Marinelli seems committed to Hayden but I think he really only wants 1 pure 1-tech active on game day with 3 guys that can play the 3-tech spot or as the 2nd pass rushing DT on obvious passing downs.

 

[CCBoy]

If someone reads this article by Mr. Sturm, and can not sense intensity...I just don't know what to say about that supposedly football fan.

Thanks for another intertaining read, Mr. Sturm.

 

[Crown Royal]

If someone reads this article by Mr. Sturm, and can not sense intensity...I just don't know what to say about that supposedly football fan.

Thanks for another intertaining read, Mr. Sturm.

I've always wondered if he applies this same methodology to breaking down the Packers, or if he just watches those games in the same way a casual fan does.

Personally, I wouldn't be able to put that work into breaking my own team down. It would be too frustrating for me to formulate prescriptive opinions and then not do anything about it. It's hard enough doing that without analysis.

 

[CCBoy]

I've always wondered if he applies this same methodology to breaking down the Packers, or if he just watches those games in the same way a casual fan does.

Personally, I wouldn't be able to put that work into breaking my own team down. It would be too frustrating for me to formulate prescriptive opinions and then not do anything about it. It's hard enough doing that without analysis.

Hey, the boundaries of a sports analysis is limited with time and available help in handling the magnitude of review necessary for a single team's work. I'm sure that he does not directions and similar comparisons for those team resembling the categories that are researched for the Cowboys.

I think that support personnel are vital to as an intense a writing task as has been committed to by our Sturm. Bob gives a full palate of presented writings in each and every week.

Myself, I humbled by the vast boundaries that are pushed to give us the quality that we read each posting.

As a fan, I am almost forced to pay attention to the analysis that is drawn in comparisons on a focus with the Cowboys.

Good question, guy...

 

[Plumfool]

The comment about Lee, while may not be popular, is true. RoMac deciphers plays quickly and attacks with great ferocity.

 

[Crown Royal]

Hey, the boundaries of a sports analysis is limited with time and available help in handling the magnitude of review necessary for a single team's work. I'm sure that he does not directions and similar comparisons for those team resembling the categories that are researched for the Cowboys.

I think that support personnel are vital to as an intense a writing task as has been committed to by our Sturm. Bob gives a full palate of presented writings in each and every week.

Myself, I humbled by the vast boundaries that are pushed to give us the quality that we read each posting.

As a fan, I am almost forced to pay attention to the analysis that is drawn in comparisons on a focus with the Cowboys.

Good question, guy...

I also wonder if Dan or Donovan get pissy that he uses interns for his pet project

 

[Risen Star]

I actually think Rolando brings things to the table that Lee doesn't. If Ro keeps this level of play up, he seems to be able to do just about everything Lee can do, save some coverage capability. That said, I dunno if this play is a good example. Lee regularly sniffs out pitches and outside runs.

Article is great as usual.

Lee is more instinctive. McClain is a better athlete all around.

 

[xwalker]

I also wonder if Dan or Donovan get pissy that he uses interns for his pet project

They should be happy that he doesn't take another job without them. Donovan should be happy to have that job and Dan is just a radio comedian and those are a dime-a-dozen.

 

[speedkilz88]

WEEK 7 VS NEW YORK – DEFENSIVE NUMBERS

Back to back performances against the Seahawks and Giants where they had a total of 16 3rd Down wins out of 26 opportunities. 5-13 in Seattle and 5-13 vs the Giants. That will win some games and then the strips of 2 Giants fumbles and a 3rd that was disallowed.

Also, 59 snaps again. The recipe keeps working.

That would only be 10-26

 

[Crown Royal]

Lee is more instinctive. McClain is a better athlete all around.

That's what I feel too. I think Lee would make that play, because it was all about sniffing it out and taking the right angle to the runner, which is what Lee is also great at. What lee cannot do is savage through lineman like they are nothing and just destroy a guy in his tracks.

Just a disclaimer - their differences are not incredibly severe. I give lee a slight edge in instinctiveness, which really manifests in the passing game, but that isn't like saying McClain is a fool. McClain is clearly a very perceptive player. And while Lee may not be as physically gifted, his speed and power are always surprising, and he does have a knack for slipping blocks.

A 4-3 under with these two guys should be a deadly combination if Lee can come back and play for a while.

 

[Doomsday101]

I actually think Rolando brings things to the table that Lee doesn't. If Ro keeps this level of play up, he seems to be able to do just about everything Lee can do, save some coverage capability. That said, I dunno if this play is a good example. Lee regularly sniffs out pitches and outside runs.

Article is great as usual.

I agree and this is not a knock on Lee at least in my view. I think Ro is built to handle the MLB position at 6-4 259 lbs as opposed who is Lee at 6'02" 234 lbs, I think Lee ability to make the quick reads, and his speed and quickness dropping into coverage is his strengths that will serve him at a SLB or WLB.

 

[BBQ101]

I've always wondered if he applies this same methodology to breaking down the Packers, or if he just watches those games in the same way a casual fan does.

He said in an earlier chat on that site that he only breaks down the Cowboys like this. Says he would never have the time to do more than one team. Here is the particular question and reply from here: http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...estions-at-4-p.m.-wednesday-ask-yours-now.ece

October 15 2014 4:38 PM
Do you analyze the Packers as closely as you do the Cowboys? Or do you just try to enjoy them as a fan? Somewhere in the middle?
bracketdan

October 15 2014 4:39 PM
I do not. I watch them for fun and then get back to work on the Dallas Cowboys. There is no way I could do this for 2 teams.
Bob Sturm

BBQ

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Lee is more instinctive. McClain is a better athlete all around.

Agree. Lee, the cerebral Mike LB, knows where to be. McClain, on the other hand, gets to where he needs to be on pure athletic ability.

 

[Stash]

One issue I had was with the amount of cushion Moore was continually giving up to any receivers lined up on his side. It made things too easy for Manning far too often and went against the press techniques that worked out so well for the Eagles defense just the week before.

I hope we're not giving up those kind of easy completions all season.

 

[Crown Royal]

Agree. Lee, the cerebral Mike LB, knows where to be. McClain, on the other hand, gets to where he needs to be on pure athletic ability.

See this is what I was hoping not to convey. Just because Lee is slightly more cerebral doesn't make McClain a fool who just happens to be fast and strong, else he would just be Ernie Sims. McClain has a very instinctive feel for the game and is rarely fooled. The play Bob posted shows how he can sniff out a play very very well.

Lee just very specifically spends a ton of time in the film room which comes out in the passing game. He knows what QBs are trying to do a lot of the time.

 

[Crown Royal]

One issue I had was with the amount of cushion Moore was continually giving up to any receivers lined up on his side. It made things too easy for Manning far too often and went against the press techniques that worked out so well for the Eagles defense just the week before.

I hope we're not giving up those kind of easy completions all season.

The Giants were trying to bait Moore into a stop & go route for later in the game. Every time he showed over coverage they went to the stop route.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

See this is what I was hoping not to convey. Just because Lee is slightly more cerebral doesn't make McClain a fool who just happens to be fast and strong, else he would just be Ernie Sims. McClain has a very instinctive feel for the game and is rarely fooled. The play Bob posted shows how he can sniff out a play very very well

Lee just very specifically spends a ton of time in the film room which comes out in the passing game. He knows what QBs are trying to do a lot of the time.

Now why did you have to go and say that?

Both players are very instinctive but Lee prides himself on film study so he can be where he needs to be as a Mike given his limited abilities. McClain is instinctive and wills himself into plays. If I was a blocker, I would rather face Lee's finesse as opposed to McClain's raw power.

 

[Future]

Lee is more instinctive. McClain is a better athlete all around.

Idk about that.

I think Lee's success is largely a product of knowing what's coming thanks to film study whereas McClain uses his instincts a lot more. End result is basically the same, but I think the two are pretty different.