The defense will be better with Zeke

[Dorsett33]

Ok, and when the defense gets on the field, how are they better with Zeke sitting on the bench?

Have you played football before? Particularly on defense? If you have, have you ever been on the field for a long drive? Especially if you're playing CB and your scheme is man or press cover and they send receivers you're covering on 9 routes to try to get you out of the play. Or if your DC constantly calls plays for the SS (cane or reddog) to blitz. Or, you're on the d-line and your banging up against an o-lineman that is about 50-60lbs heavier. And you're on the field for a 14-16 play drive and then your offense gets the ball and 3 plays and out and the D is back on the field. If you've never played this game, it may be hard to understand. But, if you have...I'm surprised you don't understand. That's what's meant by helping the defense.

You have a well oiled machine on offense and control the clock. More than likely, the opposing offense changes their game plan.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

That "evidence" has been refuted and demolished 100 times over, and you just refuse to admit it.

yikes

 

[Sydla]

I watch the actual games. But you keep reading the box scores if you like.

LOL. Awesome.

The canned statement when you can't refute actual evidence................ "but, but....... I watch the games, man!"

 

[Sydla]

How about CONFIDENCE?
Confidence in Knowing your offense has your back even if you have a bad drive.

Ummmmm.............. yeah, not really.

The defense struggled in 2015 because they simply weren't good enough. 2014 was likely an anomaly where everything went right for them.

 

[Sydla]

yikes

But dude........... he watches the games!

 

[erod]

yikes

Enjoy the strat-o-matic version of the NFL. I prefer the real games and how they actually unfold.

Still got that Jeff George poster on the wall? Man, he could generate some stats. The run-and-shoot, too.

 

[Sydla]

The funny thing about this is erod likes to cite stats and how important they are when they work in his favor.

Once stats don't work in his favor, he starts talking about how meaningless stats are and how he watches the games and that's all he needs to know.

LOL.

 

[KJJ]

But it really wasn't part of the problem. They weren't on the field that much more than in 2014.

What is so hard to grasp here?

You're the one having a tough time grasping what's going on you're not only arguing with me but the experts. lol Anyone who watched the games last season and isn't in denial could see our D got worn down in several games. Garrett confirmed it in some of his pressers last season saying the defense is being kept on the field too long. Stephen Jones eluded to it as one of the reasons we drafted Zeke to help the defense. We imposed our will on teams in 2014 with the running game like we did with our great 90s teams. Go back and review our big win over Seattle we were more physical than they were.

We wore down the Legion of Boom by pounding the run at them we had 36 rushing attempts for 162 yards. That game was like watching our great 90s teams with Emmitt. We drove 80 yards on one of the best defenses the league has seen in more than a decade with the game on the line and it ended with Murray busting in for a TD from 15 yards out. We saw none of that last season because we didn't have the runner to take advantage of our OL. Even despite our QB situation having a great runner in the backfield would have accounted for at least 2-3 more wins and might have kept Romo healthy.

 

[Sydla]

You're the one having a tough time grasping what's going on you're not only arguing with me but the experts. lol Anyone who watched the games last season and isn't in denial could see our D got worn down in several games. Garrett confirmed it in some of his pressers last season saying the defense is being kept on the field too long. Stephen Jones eluded to it as one of the reasons we drafted Zeke to help the defense. We imposed our will on teams in 2014 with the running game like we did with our great 90s teams. Go back and review our big win over Seattle we were more physical than they were.

We wore down the Legion of Boom by pounding the run at them we had 36 rushing attempts for 162 yards. That game was like watching our great 90s teams with Emmitt. We drove 80 yards on one of the best defenses the league has seen in more than a decade with the game on the line and it ended with Murray busting in for a TD from 15 yards out. We saw none of this last season because we didn't have the runner to take advantage of our OL. Even despite our QB situation having a great runner in the backfield would have accounted for at least 2-3 more wins and might have kept Romo healthy.

I am arguing one specific point.

You can't claim the defense was on the field too long in 2015 versus 2014 when a clock tells you otherwise.

So if one wants to build the case for Elliott at 4, there are certainly a ton of great reasons to do so. But continually trying to argue that Elliott will keep the defense off the field like Murray did in 2014 compared to what happened in 2015 simply is an erroneous statement. And if the Cowboys themselves are saying that, they are wrong then too.

Elliott, in reality, will likely have little effect on the effectiveness of the defense unless he suddenly makes the Cowboys hold the ball 5 minutes more than they did per game than they did in 2014 and 2015. But that's improbable.

 

[Dorsett33]

I get that.

But then if one is building the case for Elliott, don't keep saying he'll keep the defense fresher because they won't be on the field as long and that's why we stunk on defense in 2015.

There are a lot of reasons to like Elliott. But to keep trotting out TOP as a big reason and using the poo defense ni 2015 versus 2014 when we had Murray isn't one of them.

TOP is definitely the big one....as long as we score when we have the ball. I think we have a different dynamic than any RB that we have. I know when I watched them play last year, I was frustrated that D-mac didn't hit the hole quick enough at times. He seemed to dance around too much. We couldn't count on him to make the 3rd and 3. Or, the 4th and 1 or 2. Maybe it was the wrong scheme for him..not sure. He did an admirable job. But, I believe with Zeke, we will be able to make those 3rd and 3s and 4th and 1s or 2s. And, he should help in the redzone. That was another big problem. We became too one dimensional in the redzone. No RB that we could count on to keep the drive going or put fear in the defense.

 

[KJJ]

Of course Elliott improved the team. Anyone we picked at No. 4 (out of the realistic options) would have improved the team except a quarterback. Everyone else would be better than whoever he replaced in the starting lineup.

But again, no matter how well Elliott rushes this season, the vast majority of our games will be decided by whether we pass better than our opponent. That's how it is every season for every team, no matter how well they run the ball.

Having a back defenses respect and running more efficiently will improve the passing game that's what improved it in 2014. Romo led the league in passer rating because he had a great back to lean on and it opened up our passing game especially play action.

 

[ICP]

Many keep saying that the defense will be better with Zeke and that this move will help the Cowboys regain their 2014 form. While that may be true, one thing I remember very clearly from that playoff game in Green Bay is that one of the main reasons the Cowboys lost that game (other than the whole Dez thing) is that the defense couldn't get to Aaron Rodgers even though he could barely move around in the pocket. So I don't know if I buy the whole Zeke will make the defense better argument. Yeah he might help keep em a little less winded but he sure isn't going to help them rush the passer any better or make the secondary and better in coverage. It's talent that does that and we didn't acquire a lot of talent in those areas in free agency or the draft.

 

[Hardline]

Amazing, where was the "a lot of help"?

Did you miss the draft?

 

[CowboyRoy]

Loved the Elliott pick
Like the Jaylon Smith pick, but they'd better be right. If he comes nowhere near healthy enough to play again, this was a big miscalculation.
I'd be lying if I said I knew anything about Collins, but he's a defensive linemen, which is good.
I like the Tapper pick because I've seen every game he's played. He's good and has a great motor.
I don't think Dak Prescott will amount to anything.
Don't know the Purdue kid.
Don't know why we drafted a running back unless he's a kick returner.
The basketball player pick was dumb. Could have gotten him as a free agent.

And I'm really glad they didn't get Paxton Lynch like Jerry wanted. He'll likely be nothing but a guy.

Ok so you like the Elliott pick and the Trapper pick. That is nothing to crow about in my book. The Smith pic is a crap shoot and will do nothing for this team the next few years. Unless this kid can come in being off a year and play incredible Very doubtful.

 

[lqmac1]

Keeping the defense off the field in 2014 an average of 12 fewer plays than in 2013 helped improve the defense from the 3rd worst statistically to middle of the pack in 2014 and that was without Demarcus Ware. We accomplished that with a great running game. We went from ranked 32nd in 2013 on defense to 19th and we improved despite 6 fewer sacks in 2014. If a defense isn't on the field as much it's going to improve by keeping it fresh. Only Seattle and Pittsburgh's defense spent less time on the field in 2014 than the Cowboys defense. Even last season we had 3 more sacks than we had in 2014 but we forced more turnovers in 2014 because our defense was fresh and more alert. If you have a weakness you want to limit its exposure and ball control can limit the time a defense has to spend on the field.

Running the ball and running it effectively can help limit turnovers our QBs last season combined for 20 INT's compared to 11 INT's in 2014. Due to our rushing game only producing 8 TD's in 2015 compared to 16 rushing TD's in 2014 it put pressure on our QBs which led to mistakes. We had a combined 7 more turnovers in 2015 than in 2014 which put our defense back on the field having to defend a short field in some cases. There's no question we need better defenders on defense but right now our best defense is a solid, efficient offense that can maintain the ball and put TD's on the board. We've added a couple of backs that can put TD's on the board and take some pressure off Romo.

The Cowboys averaged just over 17 points a game last season which was the second lowest in the league. We we're having to depend on our QBs and Bailey for most of our points. Being able to move the ball on the ground in the redzone and bang it in, in goal line situations is going to help the team and keep the defense off the field. A fresher defense is a better defense. Last season our D was being worn down in games due to ineffective QB play and not being able to move the chains in short yardage situations especially on 3rd and one where we were the worst in the league. We should see a big improvement in that area in 2016.

How dare you make so much sense? I can't believe you didnt go blind and agree with the OP! I should report you

 

[AdamJT13]

I Get the Stats portion of it. What I'm asking is how does it affect the Play calling of the opposing Defense? What does that opposing D Coordinator Have to game plan for during the week? What does that LB have in the back of his mind based on what he saw in film all week?

Does Zeke being in the Backfield on lets say 3rd and Goal from the 3 give Dez, Witten and Beasley less attention form the D that let's say McFadden would.

I'd say the difference is marginal. And there are very few plays when that situation even arises -- and even fewer when who is at running back is even a factor.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Many keep saying that the defense will be better with Zeke and that this move will help the regain their 2014 form. While that may be true, one thing I remember very clearly from that playoff game in Green Bay is that one of the main reasons the Cowboys lost that game (other than the whole Dez thing) is that the defense couldn't get to Aaron Rodgers even though he could barely move around in the pocket. So I don't know if I buy the whole Zeke will make the defense better argument. Yeah he might help keep em a little less winded but he sure isn't going to help them rush the passer any better or make the secondary and better in coverage. It's talent that does that and we didn't acquire alot of talent in those areas in free agency or the draft.

IT doesnt make the defense better. That is what is so laughable. Will it keep them fresher and off the field more? Yes, but when they get on the field, they are no better with Zeke sitting on the bench. Unless he is going to cover someone.

 

[KJJ]

I am arguing one specific point.

You can't claim the defense was on the field too long in 2015 versus 2014 when a clock tells you otherwise.

So if one wants to build the case for Elliott at 4, there are certainly a ton of great reasons to do so. But continually trying to argue that Elliott will keep the defense off the field like Murray did in 2014 compared to what happened in 2015 simply is an erroneous statement. And if the Cowboys themselves are saying that, they are wrong then too.

Elliott, in reality, will likely have little effect on the effectiveness of the defense unless he suddenly makes the Cowboys hold the ball 5 minutes more than they did per game than they did in 2014 and 2015. But that's improbable.

Show us what the clock says? Just a play or two longer on the field by your defense can help cost you a game. I didn't say Zeke would keep our defense off the field like Murray did in 2014. Murray had an MVP caliber year in 2014 setting a Cowboys franchise rushing record and Romo also had a career year. You're just wasting both our time.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Well true if you are looking at it in a vacuum.

But let's look at the whole picture. Which is the better "team"?

Romo + McFadden + Ramsey playing S

Romo + Elliott + Wilcox/Church playing S

The argument then isn't so clear cut.

Romo/Elliot/Wilcox/Church easily.

There has been countless arguments on here of DBs impact with no pass rush. I am a believer of, if you dont have a pass rush, it wont matter who you put back there.

 

[Hardline]

Ramsey and then Henry in the 2nd would have been more prudent if we thought we needed a back. WE could have easily have signed Miller in FA if we thought we needed an upgrade. Trading back and picking up an extra 2nd would have been even better. Then taking 3 defensive players with those first 3 picks. Plenty we could have done.

Zeke is elite. You take elite over great . Zeke will be a superstar,Ramsey will not. Defense was addressed with with some solid additions that have a shot to make this roster.