CFZ The Cowboys on-going struggle on grass fields

[rambo2]

This post isn’t just about the Browns game. It’s about a trend that’s been happening for years.

Your first intuition is to get defensive and start fluffing the cowboys roster and matchup vs the browns.

Just thought I would mention that the Cowboys will win the 1st game just like they did last year. You can do that trend next year if you want.

 

[HungryLion]

Just thought I would mention that the Cowboys will win the 1st game just like they did last year. You can do that trend next year if you want.

Ok Mr Jones

 

[Bobhaze]

True, but I think that teams that are good or great on grass improve as well when they play on turf.

I think the drop-off from turf to grass for the Cowboys the last couple of seasons has been greater than the advantage they have when playing good grass teams at home on turf.

The one thing I am hoping to see this season is more consistency on defense.

That unfortunately means it will be less exciting than it was under Quinn, but I am hoping that slow-and-steady wins the games for the Cowboys.

I will take less exciting for more road wins, especially in the playoffs.

 

[Cowboys5217]

We are built for turf and speed. Grass will always be a problem with that build. Luckily, we usually don't have to play many games on grass, but it has bitten us in the butt in playoff games.

 

[reddyuta]

I really don't get this,we practice on grass fields but still look slow on them in games

 

[T-RO]

The difference is stark. I have collected detailed data for the past two seasons.

I'll share this one little nugget:

- On artificial turf Dallas is 21-2 and the Cowboys average outscoring opponents by 14.9 points per game. (Cowboys destroy teams)
- On grass Dallas is 3-8 and averages getting out-scored by 2.2 points.

I won't get into more details at this time, but will say that the contrast in turnover ratio pops out.

 

[Hardline]

Both teams play on the same field. It's neither an advantage or disadvantage.

 

[T-RO]

Both teams play on the same field. It's neither an advantage or disadvantage.

Tell that to Troy Aikman who admitted he couldn't throw a wet ball. Good thing he didn't play outdoors for the Bills in ever-wet Buffalo!

Tell that to Tua Tagovailoa who was throwing regularly for 300-400 yards, but had to play on the road in KC in the playoffs in -3 temps with 15 mph wind. Didn't go so well...

Football isn't played in a vacuum. Field conditions, comfort level, opposing fans and other vicissitudes play a huge factor.

Left fielders in quirky Boston with that "Green monster" fence learn to master its conditions. Visiting outfielders struggle. If you grow up playing quarterback in the midwest you learn to throw in the wind. Etc.

 

[DogFace]

What about playoff fields??

 

[fivetwos]

Cleveland loves their grass.

You’d have to ask @RustyBourneHorse

I think hay is his thing.

 

[Hardline]

Tell that to Troy Aikman who admitted he couldn't throw a wet ball. Good thing he didn't play outdoors for the Bills in ever-wet Buffalo!

Tell that to Tua Tagovailoa who was throwing regularly for 300-400 yards, but had to play on the road in KC in the playoffs in -3 temps with 15 mph wind. Didn't go so well...

Football isn't played in a vacuum. Field conditions, comfort level, opposing fans and other vicissitudes play a huge factor.

Left fielders in quirky Boston with that "Green monster" fence learn to master its conditions. Visiting outfielders struggle. If you grow up playing quarterback in the midwest you learn to throw in the wind. Etc.

I don't need to tell them that. you didn't mention a grass field at all. and you didn't mention both teams play on the same field turf.

 

[Streifenkarl]

Like you said, obviously grass fields mean road games. There aren't many teams who win a ton of road games. Dallas is middle of the pack on the road.
Another less obvious reason is Dallas built their defense ( through Quinn) for speed on their home field (turf). When Dallas plays on grass, the speed edge is taken away, leaving nothing but an undersized defense.

Even though I think we're reading more into it than there really is (we just look bad against contenders and some have grass fields) this is an interesting take. If you build a defense that is strong in the trenches, the surface of the pitch doesn't matter as much. If you build it upon speed and agility then it does.

Would be interesting to compare Micah's stats on grass vs turf.

 

[Hoofbite]

So not very good on the road?

 

[plymkr]

I agree. We have been built for speed and lacked toughness, especially on defense. I think we also don’t practice on grass much. Different shoes and cuts, etc.

I just watched the highlights of the Cardinals game from last year. Easily we were more talented even with 3 offensive linemen out. What killed us is our defense. Watching those highlights it looked like the Cardinals were running on solid ground and on defense we were running in the mud. It was bad. Our offense didn’t play good but our defense looked like they were wearing cement shoes.

 

[plymkr]

We do have a grass practice field at the Star.

That even makes it more perplexing. I think it’s also a mental thing. Our team seems to be mentally unstable at times with certain things such a as: playing on the road, playoffs, getting behind a pressing and forcing, bad time management.

 

[T-RO]

So not very good on the road?

**In the past two years we are 6-1 in road games played on artificial turf.**

I'm an analytics guy so I know we've played some soft team over these 7 games, but it's still telling.

Grass games have been kryptonite.

 

[cowboyed]

Here‘s an interesting trend with the Cowboys the last 5 years: We are 6-16 playing on grass fields (including 2 playoff games) One reason I mention it is we open the season next Sunday in Cleveland on a grass field.

In the last 5 seasons, for whatever reason the Cowboys have played their worst games on grass fields. Obviously all those games are on the road where winning is inherently harder, but the Cowboys road record is way better on turf. Sometimes it may be we are just playing way better opponents. At any rate, here is our record playing on grass fields the last 5 seasons:

• 2019: 1-2
  • Win at Wash
  • Losses at Philly, at Chi
• 2020: 0-3
  • Losses at Wash, at Philly, at Balt
• 2021: 2-2
  • Wins: at Wash and at Philly
  • Losses: at Tampa Bay, at KC
• 2022: 2-5
  • Wins at Tenn and in Wild Card win at Tampa Bay
  • Losses: at Philly, at GB, at Jax, at Wash, at SF in Divisional playoff game
• 2023: 1-5
  • Win at Carolina
  • Losses at Ariz, SF, Philly, Mia

So we have won 6 of our last 22 games on grass. Explanations? We play the egirls at their grass field every year which is tough. But we also have a game at Wash each year. Losing to below average grass field teams in the last 5 years on the road like Ariz, Chicago, and Wash stand out. But we have also played some really good opponents on grass like SF twice, GB twice, Philly 5 times, Balt and at KC. So all those have been tough road matchups anyway.

Any other ideas why we are 6-16 on grass the last 5 seasons?

There are options playing on grass against the Browns. Convince our special teams that they can smoke it. A healthier and organic solution - bring a herd of goats and a pack of moles and have at it during the walkthrough. What a symbiotic solution! You can see my creative juices are fearlessly flowing this morning despite Depends.

 

[mcmvp]

Lol, that's really funny. Let's get some more deep thoughts on how the Cowboys could struggle. The Browns have absolutely no answer for Michael Parsons. They are going to have their hands full the Cowboys.

Interesting as the Browns have a top 5-10 offensive line. It seems they may have a better answer for Parsons than the Cowboys have for Myles Garrett

But your post really has nothing to do with the OP’s topic.

As for the topic, it could just be they have faced more average to above average teams on the road and on grass than they have at home. They are 20-22 on the road over that same stretch

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

You’d have to ask @RustyBourneHorse

I think hay is his thing.

Grass is better than hay.

 

[MyFairLady]

Not surprising. We are built to light it up on turf. Would expect the last time we were a good team on grass would be 2016.