The TRUTH about our pass defense

[SMCowboy]

With everyone so sure that we can't cover anyone, and that our pass D is so bad, I thought I would throw this bit of information out for everyone to consider.

While we currently are 18th in the league in passing yards per game allowed, that really do not tell the whole story because we have also seen the 4th most passes thrown against us. A few stats that are much more telling are:
Yards/Att: 6th
Yards/Comp: 9th
QB Rating: 4th
Completion Percentage: 4th

That in itself shows a pretty solid passing D. To further expand probably the best way of judging how good a passing D is, is to average out rankings in:
Yard/Att
QB Rating
Comp %
Yards/Game

When you average those out for all 32 NFL teams, Dallas ranks #4 in the league behind only: Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Tampa Bay.

While I am not against drafting a CB, we in all actuality are not hurting in our pass D this year. In the NFL now days, when teams are able to put out 4 and 5 quality WR's (Green Bay, New England, and us for example), you can't expect to stop them, all you can hope to do is slow it down and get some INT's and sacks and make them hurt themselves.

 

[EPL0c0]

With everyone so sure that we can't cover anyone, and that our pass D is so bad, I thought I would throw this bit of information out for everyone to consider.

While we currently are 18th in the league in passing yards per game allowed, that really do not tell the whole story because we have also seen the 4th most passes thrown against us. A few stats that are much more telling are:
Yards/Att: 6th
Yards/Comp: 9th
QB Rating: 4th
Completion Percentage: 4th

That in itself shows a pretty solid passing D. To further expand probably the best way of judging how good a passing D is, is to average out rankings in:
Yard/Att
QB Rating
Comp %
Yards/Game

When you average those out for all 32 NFL teams, Dallas ranks #4 in the league behind only: Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Tampa Bay.

While I am not against drafting a CB, we in all actuality are not hurting in our pass D this year. In the NFL now days, when teams are able to put out 4 and 5 quality WR's (Green Bay, New England, and us for example), you can't expect to stop them, all you can hope to do is slow it down and get some INT's and sacks and make them hurt themselves.

improved play from our Dline aside, our 2ndary has stepped up this year, and IMO, the biggest player to step up has been Jacques Reeves.

There seems to be no fear/worry about letting him get all this playing time. It's letting Newman/Henry get healthy and the defense is still effective out there.

 

[Kangaroo]

I know when we go soft zone I get worried me made the rookie QB look better. We should have continued to blitz the young QB it was working on The chosen one why not try and rattle the young guy early

 

[SMCowboy]

I know when we go soft zone I get worried me made the rookie QB look better. We should have continued to blitz the young QB it was working on The chosen one why not try and rattle the young guy early

Partially because Aaron Rodgers beat the blitz with his legs and with the quick passes.

 

[03EBZ06]

Also keep in mind that because we have had number of games with big leads and 4th quarter becomes a garbage time and that our defense goes into the prevent defense, while opponents becomes pass happy in futile attempt to make come backs.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would say the defense as a whole is not exactly where I want them to be but they are not as bad as some try to claim.

 

[Future]

With everyone so sure that we can't cover anyone, and that our pass D is so bad, I thought I would throw this bit of information out for everyone to consider.
.

Great post, great facts...I'm bookmarking this one for when I get in arguments with my friends because I have been sayign the same thing

 

[Manster68]

In 2006, Dallas' defensive yards per pass attempt was 7.4.

Through 12 weeks into this season, that number is now 6.4.

Taking a whole yard off the yards per pass attempt is quite significant.

Dallas is giving up a lot of passing yards due to the fact that teams have to pass more in trying to keep up with the Cowboys.

 

[SMCowboy]

In 2006, Dallas' defensive yards per pass attempt was 7.4.

Through 12 weeks into this season, that number is now 6.4.

Taking a whole yard off the yards per pass attempt is quite significant.

Dallas is giving up a lot of passing yards due to the fact that teams have to pass more in trying to keep up with the Cowboys.

Exactly, which is why I have NO problem if we trade up and try and get a Darren McFadden. The one thing that this team is missing is a RB that is a threat to take it to the house anytime they touch the football.

 

[HighTechDave]

Also keep in mind that because we have had number of games with big leads and 4th quarter becomes a garbage time and that our defense goes into the prevent defense, while opponents becomes pass happy in futile attempt to make come backs.

 

[eduncan22]

Most of our problems have been in our Nick/Dime D and our Safeties.

Newman/Reeves have played outstanding.

 

[superpunk]

improved play from our Dline aside, our 2ndary has stepped up this year, and IMO, the biggest player to step up has been Jacques Reeves.

I am thrilled with our pass defense, but I don't see where Reeves has stepped up. IMO, he doesn't give up the big play because we won't allow him to, by playing him 10 yards off consistently. Even so, if you look at clips of the big plays we've allowed, in general it's either Reeves or Jones trailing the play. (Note, it's possible they aren't responsible)

Basically, I think they're two of the worst corners in the NFL, and when teams face us they go after them hard. (Of course, considering the alternative....) I don't expect much out of them, but even so I find myself still disappointed by them.

 

[03EBZ06]

Most of our problems have been in our Nick/Dime D and our Safeties.

Newman/Reeves have played outstanding.

Reeves have given up lot of receptions and yardage. He is doing an adequate job and still learning, but far from being outstanding.


As per Wade Phillips.

When Anthony Henry gets fully healthy will he start or still play like he is now?
I’d rather he be playing, he’s one of our best players. Once he’s well, like Newman, they need to be out there. It still helps you to have your starters out there.

 

[SMCowboy]

Most of our problems have been in our Nick/Dime D and our Safeties.

Newman/Henry have played outstanding.

FIFY

Reeves has played solid for a 3rd CB.

 

[WarDaddy]

Remember when everyone talked about how poor the Colts Run D was last year and how that would be their achilles heel in the playoffs? And also how they were only winning because of Payton Manning being great in spite of the defenses struggles?

But if you paid attention to them last year, they had a couple of games (JAX especially) where they got abused but overall made stops when they had to. That fact was over looked. If you look at the Run Ds "rating", yards per game, it was poor and that caused the misconception. Plus they had an issue where they never had the whole defense in tact until very late in the season or I believe when the playoffs started.

I get the same feeling about the Cowboys pass D this year. Looking at the yards per game you could say we have struggled but how many big plays have been surrendered? When are teams having success (completions) and what's the score in the game when it happens? There are a lot of other factors that go into surrendering yardage and you would think the so-called ratings would factor those in.

Anyway, I liken the Cowboys pass D this year to the Colts run D last year. Both are good enough when they have to be...

 

[SMCowboy]

Remember when everyone talked about how poor the Colts Run D was last year and how that would be their achilles heel in the playoffs? And also how they were only winning because of Payton Manning being great in spite of the defenses struggles?

But if you paid attention to them last year, they had a couple of games (JAX especially) where they got abused but overall made stops when they had to. That fact was over looked. If you look at the Run Ds "rating", yards per game, it was poor and that caused the misconception. Plus they had an issue where they never had the whole defense in tact until very late in the season or I believe when the playoffs started.

I get the same feeling about the Cowboys pass D this year. Looking at the yards per game you could say we have struggled but how many big plays have been surrendered? When are teams having success (completions) and what's the score in the game when it happens? There are a lot of other factors that go into surrendering yardage and you would think the so-called ratings would factor those in.

Anyway, I liken the Cowboys pass D this year to the Colts run D last year. Both are good enough when they have to be...

Indy's run was bad last year during the year, it was nothing like our pass D because the yards per game look bad because teams throw the ball a ton of times against us.

Indy's run D was averaging giving up OVER 5 yards a carry last year. Injuries definately had a LOT to do with it, but make no mistake, it was not just the number of carries that made them look bad.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I always felt that if you fix the pass rush you fix the woes in the secondary.

With Wade Phillips installing so many packages so as to play to the strength of each individual player, the Cowboys are becoming very very good at stopping the past.

People really need to go back and look at the type of numbers the Packers were putting on in the air before they played the Cowboys. We were able to stop Favre for two reasons. 1) He bought and ate the cheese and thought we couldn't cover. 2) Wade Phillips installed different packages to keep the passing attack off balance, which kept up confusion and allow several uncontested hits on the Quarterback.

 

[aikemirv]

I always felt that if you fix the pass rush you fix the woes in the secondary.

With Wade Phillips installing so many packages so as to play to the strength of each individual player, the Cowboys are becoming very very good at stopping the past.

People really need to go back and look at the type of numbers the Packers were putting on in the air before they played the Cowboys. We were able to stop Favre for two reasons. 1) He bought and ate the cheese and thought we couldn't cover. 2) Wade Phillips installed different packages to keep the passing attack off balance, which kept up confusion and allow several uncontested hits on the Quarterback.

I think #2 is key. Last year everyone knew what to expect with our coverage schemes. This year we are changing so many times that the O does not know what to expect and it has helped us a great deal. He has done it at the right time of the year too IMO. Just enough time to get it down before playoffs and not too early so teams only have but so much time to prepare for it.

This may have not been by design but because of our injuries.

 

[NextGenBoys]

With everyone so sure that we can't cover anyone, and that our pass D is so bad, I thought I would throw this bit of information out for everyone to consider.

While we currently are 18th in the league in passing yards per game allowed, that really do not tell the whole story because we have also seen the 4th most passes thrown against us. A few stats that are much more telling are:
Yards/Att: 6th
Yards/Comp: 9th
QB Rating: 4th
Completion Percentage: 4th

That in itself shows a pretty solid passing D. To further expand probably the best way of judging how good a passing D is, is to average out rankings in:
Yard/Att
QB Rating
Comp %
Yards/Game

When you average those out for all 32 NFL teams, Dallas ranks #4 in the league behind only: Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Tampa Bay.

While I am not against drafting a CB, we in all actuality are not hurting in our pass D this year. In the NFL now days, when teams are able to put out 4 and 5 quality WR's (Green Bay, New England, and us for example), you can't expect to stop them, all you can hope to do is slow it down and get some INT's and sacks and make them hurt themselves.

Very, very nice work. That is a breath of fresh air regarding our pass defense. Nice research.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I think #2 is key. Last year everyone knew what to expect with our coverage schemes. This year we are changing so many times that the O does not know what to expect and it has helped us a great deal. He has done it at the right time of the year too IMO. Just enough time to get it down before playoffs and not too early so teams only have but so much time to prepare for it.

This may have not been by design but because of our injuries.

That was my biggest problem with the Parcells/Zimmer Regime.