The root of the problem

[JBond]

third and long is our bane on defense and sometimes someone screws up an assignment at the wrong time.

Someone always does something stupid at the wrong time on both sides of the ball.

Why is it continually accepted? Why do the stupid players get to come back year after year and play for us?

 

[ShiningStar]

Why is it continually accepted? Why do the stupid players get to come back year after year and play for us?

Because the fans realize its just not the players, someone has to make the call to keep Brady James here, someone has to make the call that Ken Hamlin should be playing. Its not just Wade there are other coaches that irk the hell out of me.

 

[Temo]

What?

What is the purpose of offense in the first place? Isn't it to score?

Yes, but there is little evidence that Red Zone efficiency is a skill in and of itself and not just a product of small sample size (similar to the kickoff thing you mentioned).

If you rank teams by yards per play, you get the usual suspects like NE, NO, IND as the best teams in the league. If you rank by Red Zone %, then you see crazy stuff like Tampa Bay (this year) and Detroit (last year) near the top. Those teams aren't "good" in the Red Zone, they just happened to score the few times they got into the Red Zone.

You said "what does field position matter when the offense can't score in the red zone", and my answer is that they can score just fine in the red zone and there's no evidence to say conclusively that they have trouble in the red zone. (Esp. as they were 4th in the league in Red Zone % last year with the same personnel and coaching)

 

[khiladi]

Our defense, on the other hand, has THE BEST STARTING FIELD POSITION OF ANY DEFENSE IN THE LEAGUE (25.85 yard line).

How does a whopping 2 difference yards in starting field position between the Dallas offense (27 yards) and Dallas defense (25 yards) establish your point?

 

[BrassCowboy]

Our players made as many if not more stupid mistakes when BP was here. I will never forget the NO game. Wade is not the problem IMO - it is on the players to tackle - Bradshaw and NIcks were all on the players for pitiful tackling as well as the Jacobs run. I just don't see how you can blame the Ginats game on Wade at all!!!!!

I betcha after we went up 10 points in the 2nd quarter there was a rally on our sideline to stop them at the end of the half since we have failed doing it against them so many times. When they came out that series they were overly hyped - thus Spencers 2 offsides - they cannot control their emotion - they take the aggression too far and it ends up causing mistakes - Spencer in particular.

My son gets overly excited in his Basketball game when the game is close and getting near the end and it causes mistakes.

They have to keep themselves under control - that is the key with them - they can't find the balance there.

keeping emotions of the game in check is on the coaching staff, and I am not sure I agree with you there anyways because this team just does not seem to get up for big games and in those games, they just do not seem to play with much enthusiasm.
To me, what is wrong with this team is mostly coaching. Why does it seem that opponents who want to beat us always seem to - Giants, Commanders (came close), Green Bay... I mean, this team has way more talent than they are showing on the field. It is up to the coaching staff to get them ready and make them play as if they are ready.

I say this without even getting into all the bungling excuses and ho hum attitude that Wade expresses after games. It is on the coach to put the best players on the field for that day. If the player is creating many penalties, then maybe sit him down for a bit, pull him out more often. there are many ways to prepare these guys and make them want to play at their best, but telling the media afterwords that so and so "tried his best" is not going to cut it and shouldn't. Good coaches make good players play great. A good player can play good without the coaches help. Good is not going to cut it anymore in today's NFL.

 

[Juke99]

Here's the problem....this team still hasn't learned how to win...I guess a good place to start would be learning how NOT to lose.

It seems that during every big game, someone takes a turn at screwing up...offense, defense, special teams...

When a big play needs to be made, it rarely happens.

And when a big mistake needs to be avoided, it rarely happens.

NFL games seem to come down to 4-5 big plays. We always seem to be on the short side of those plays.

All the statistical analysis in the world isn't going to prove much as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Temo]

How does a whopping 2 difference yards in starting field position between the Dallas offense (27 yards) and Dallas defense (25 yards) establish your point?

First of all, that was hardly the only point I had. It was one of many.

Secondly, check your math. A good offense would hold down defensive starting field position while a good defense would increase offensive starting field position. So the further apart the numbers, the better the team is doing. So a lower number, as you did the math, would indicate that one or the other is not holding up their part of the bargain.

Third, I provided rankings for a reason (see above).

Fourth, here's why those numbers are important:

The offense starts drives (average) at the 27.28 yard line (26th in the NFL). The average offensive drive starting position is approx. the 29.5 yard line, a difference of 2.22 yards for the offense. The offense is 5th in yards gained per drive (33.98) and the top offense is Indy with 40.16 yards per drive. Add on those 2.22 yards to our offense-- again only giving us AVERAGE field position-- would almost half the difference between our offense and the top offense.

Same math for the defense.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

What difference does field position make when you're lousy in the red zone? We're 15th in the league in red zone scoring percentage.

Though we did move up four spots last week -- we were 19th. So props to us.

Maybe because we don't run in the redzone anymore? All we do lately is pass, or run the "Razorback" in the redzone... line up and smash them from the two yard line already!!!!!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Maybe because we don't run in the redzone anymore? All we do lately is pass, or run the "Razorback" in the redzone... line up and smash them from the two yard line already!!!!!

I'm totally with you... But read on here and you'll find that the importance of running the ball has gone the way of the dodo.

 

[khiladi]

First of all, that was hardly the only point I had. It was one of many.

Secondly, check your math. A good offense would hold down defensive starting field position while a good defense would increase offensive starting field position. So the further apart the numbers, the better the team is doing. So a lower number, as you did the math, would indicate that one or the other is not holding up their part of the bargain.

Third, I provided rankings for a reason (see above).

Fourth, here's why those numbers are important:

The offense starts drives (average) at the 27.28 yard line (26th in the NFL). The average offensive drive starting position is approx. the 29.5 yard line, a difference of 2.22 yards for the offense. The offense is 5th in yards gained per drive (33.98) and the top offense is Indy with 40.16 yards per drive. Add on those 2.22 yards to our offense-- again only giving us AVERAGE field position-- would almost half the difference between our offense and the top offense.



Same math for the defense.

Let me repeat:How does a whopping 2 difference yards in starting field position between the Dallas offense (27 yards) and Dallas defense (25 yards) establish your point?<Anybody familiar with the Wade-style of defense understands that it is primarily a bend-don't-break defense...

 

[Idgit]

Great thread, Temo. Discussions like this is why the board rocks, when it rocks.

 

[Temo]

Let me repeat:How does a whopping 2 difference yards in starting field position between the Dallas offense (27 yards) and Dallas defense (25 yards) establish your point?<Anybody familiar with the Wade-style of defense understands that it is primarily a bend-don't-break defense...

Ok. I'll try to explain it slowly so the math makes sense to you.

So your offense is awesome and sets up your defense with great field position at the opponents 20. Similary, your defense is awesome and sets up the offense with great field position at the 30. DIFFERENCE IS +10.

Your offense is still awesome and Defense starts at the opponents 25. Defense is now awful so your starting field position is now the 25. DIFFERENCE IS 0.

Your offense sucks at the defense starts at the opponents' 30 and your defense sucks and your offense starts at the 20. DIFFERENCE IS NOW -10.

So to sum up:

• HIGH DIFFERENCE means BOTH are doing well
• LITTLE TO NO DIFFERENCE means ONE OR THE OTHER is NOT doing well
• NEGATIVE DIFFERENCE means BOTH suck.

 

[CF74]

How does a whopping 2 difference yards in starting field position between the Dallas offense (27 yards) and Dallas defense (25 yards) establish your point?

I had the same thought but was to lazy to type it out...:laugh2:

 

[Temo]

I had the same thought but was to lazy to type it out...:laugh2:

Because you guys aren't appreciating how field position is calculated. Good field position for defense is small, while good field position for defense is big... so a small DIFFERENCE between these numbers means one or the other isn't doing their job.

 

[craig71]

I think the offense is ranked #3 overall which is good and still has room for improvement.

I think the team ranks #10 in scoring which needs to be improved upon.

I think the offense is ranked #5 overall with 8 yds per pass.

I think the offense is ranked #2 overall with a 5 yd per rush average.

I think the offense is ranked #22 overall in rushing attempts,that needs to be improved upon.

I think the offense is ranked #8 overall in rushing yards per game and there is room for improvement.

I think the defense is ranked #14 overall which is not what I expected from them.

I think the defense is ranked # 5 overall in points allowed which is hard to believe sometimes.

I think the defense is ranked #17 overall in yards per play.

I think the defense is ranked #14 overall in 3rd down percentage.


I look at those numbers and see that the defense is lagging behind the offense.Yet on gameday I see a team that has no true direction on either side of the ball at moments.

Craig

 

[CF74]

Because you guys aren't appreciating how field position is calculated. Good field position for defense is small, while good field position for defense is big... so a small DIFFERENCE between these numbers means one or the other isn't doing their job.

Dos yardas, si way...

 

[khiladi]

Ok. I'll try to explain it slowly so the math makes sense to you.

So your offense is awesome and sets up your defense with great field position at the opponents 20. Similary, your defense is awesome and sets up the offense with great field position at the 30. DIFFERENCE IS +10.

Your offense is still awesome and Defense starts at the opponents 25. Defense is now awful so your starting field position is now the 25. DIFFERENCE IS 0.

Your offense sucks at the defense starts at the opponents' 30 and your defense sucks and your offense starts at the 20. DIFFERENCE IS NOW -10.

So to sum up:

• HIGH DIFFERENCE means BOTH are doing well
• LITTLE TO NO DIFFERENCE means ONE OR THE OTHER is NOT doing well
• NEGATIVE DIFFERENCE means BOTH suck.

I still don't get it.. Dallas offense starts at the 27, the Dallas defense starts at the 25... That's a whopping 2 yards difference per basic math...

 

[Temo]

Dos yardas, si way...

If you're not going to make an effort to see why 2 yards matters, despite asking the question, then why ask at all.

 

[khiladi]

I especially love stats like these:

The offense averages 34 yards per drive, 5th best in the leagueThe defense gives up 28 yards per drive, 14th in the league.

The offense doesn't score, but the defense prevents the opposing offense from scoring and these 'rankings' mean exactly what?

 

[jobberone]

Let me repeat:How does a whopping 2 difference yards in starting field position between the Dallas offense (27 yards) and Dallas defense (25 yards) establish your point?<Anybody familiar with the Wade-style of defense understands that it is primarily a bend-don't-break defense...

By the eyeball method, the offense is giving the defense good field position to do their bend don't break pattern. The defense gives up too many field position yards then the offense starts it all over again.

The avg number of yards a drive and the starting positions for the offense and defense supports the above argument.

We're not capitalizing on the yards the offense is giving us. We're just giving them back. That's one reason we're not scoring more points off all those yards. We were at an almost 80 points per thousand yards of offense the last two years. We're much below that this year. The reason is the long drives necessary to score and all the mistakes we're making to stop those drives.

Does that make more sense?