These team stats will determine much of our success

[Bobhaze]

Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't, but I'm anxiously looking forward to a different type of D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me too! I’m so tired of watching the most predictable vanilla defense in the league week after week, year after year. Back in 2012-13, when the defense was historically bad, I think Jerry listened to some advisers that told him, “when you don’t have a lot of stars on defense, you need to keep everything in front of you.” Unfortunately, that philosophy became standard practice around here for nearly a decade- even after the talent improved.

I’m hopeful our new defensive philosophy will at least be willing to take more chances on occasion. You can’t force TOs when the QB has all day to make a decision.

 

[Stash]

hopefully, the turnstile is now officially closed.

I think the 2020 defense will be more exciting to watch, in both good ways and bad. I think they're going to make more big plays, but at least initially, I also think they're going to give up more big plays.

 

[Bobhaze]

And no more allowing inexperienced (Sam Darnold) or mediocre quarterbacks (Mitch Trubisky) to have career games against us.

If for no other reason whatsoever, having a defense where the opponent doesn't know and expect everything that might be coming their way is going to be a huge advantage. Not being completely predictable will be a big help.

Amen to this. Our defense make Sam Darnold look like a Hall of Famer last year. He could have smoked a cigar back there waiting for a receiver to break open. I can’t remember how many QBs said our defense was the easiest to read in the league.

 

[Stash]

Amen to this. Our defense make Sam Darnold look like a Hall of Famer last year. He could have smoked a cigar back there waiting for a receiver to break open. I can’t remember how many QBs said our defense was the easiest to read in the league.

He certainly did!

He went from saying 'The Cowboys do what they do' after throwing for over 330 yards and two TD's against us in that win for the Jets - after that multi-week layoff - to "seeing ghosts out there" against Belichick and an actual modern NFL defense.

And the same for Trubisky, the guy the Bears are clearly giving up on. If that guy could play against a Marinelli defense every week, he'd be a Hall of Fame candidate. It was pathetic to watch.

 

[75boyz]

Most fans usually get excited about stats for individual players- like rushing yards, passing yards, etc. Nothing wrong with that. Individual success is important. But there are certain team stats that will more accurately indicate team success than individual stats.

Here are some team stats that are really important to winning in the NFL and where we ranked last year and where we can improve:

• Point Differential- last year the Cowboys had a very respectable +113 point differential. That was 7th in the league last year. That’s the points scored vs points given up. Why is this so important? In the last 20 NFL seasons, over 80% of teams playing in the conference championship games and Super Bowls were in the top 10 In points differential. Dallas was the only NFL team in the top ten in point differential last year that did not have a winning record.(Btw- That’s a real sign of bad coaching)

• Total Sacks- last year we had 39 sacks which ranked us 19th in the league. Total sacks are usually a very good indicator of playoff success. This needs to improve if we are going to be a serious contender.
  
  
• Total Turnovers- last year (like most years under Garrett) we only had 17 total turnovers which ranked us 26th in the league. Our defense has been one of the least aggressive in terms of blitz packages in the Marinelli era. That must change. Generating TOs are critical to playoff success.

• Starting field position- last year, we ranked a putrid 30th in starting field position on both offense and defense. Having to cover less ground in a drive is big key to improving offensive efficiency. That’s an indicator of poor STs. Defensively, if can pin the opponent deeper, making them travel further greatly reduces their chances of success.

These aren’t all of the most important team stats. But the ones above are a short list of areas this team can improve or refine in order to compete. Hey- it’s cool to see Zeke rack up yards. But it’s what the TEAM does as a whole that really matters.

Any other team stats that are super important to our success?

Third down conversion on offense and getting off the field, ie forcing 3 and outs on dee.
Long referred to as the "money down" it applies to both offense and defense.

 

[SackMaster]

Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't, but I'm anxiously looking forward to a different type of D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Completely agree. I don't know if MM and his staff will work out, but at least it won't be the SOSDS (Same old stuff, different season) this year.

 

[CouchCoach]

Bullet, I would add one thing, especially with the Cowboys. Number of games missed by starters.

Any team that gets the balance out of whack to the starters as this one does, needs a hell of a lot of luck in the health department and when that hasn't happened, they've not done well.

 

[glimmerman]

While giving the other team plays while hoping that they make a mistake.

What do you know about the new DC and his scheme. I am not familiar with him.

 

[Bobhaze]

Bullet, I would add one thing, especially with the Cowboys. Number of games missed by starters.

Any team that gets the balance out of whack to the starters as this one does, needs a hell of a lot of luck in the health department and when that hasn't happened, they've not done well.

That’s a good ‘un Coach. Under Garrett, missing a starter might be an automatic loss. (Chaz Green - Exhibit A) One good thing on Big Mac’s resume- in 2010 when the pack won it all, they had a ton of injuries but were able to patch together an effective lineup. Coaching...what a concept.

 

[DanA]

If we can be no.1 for turnovers and RedZone efficiency we’d be a hell of a good team. Points differential is nice to have too but we don’t necessarily have to improve in that area much.

 

[Redball Express]

Most fans usually get excited about stats for individual players- like rushing yards, passing yards, etc. Nothing wrong with that. Individual success is important. But there are certain team stats that will more accurately indicate team success than individual stats.

Here are some team stats that are really important to winning in the NFL and where we ranked last year and where we can improve:

• Point Differential- last year the Cowboys had a very respectable +113 point differential. That was 7th in the league last year. That’s the points scored vs points given up. Why is this so important? In the last 20 NFL seasons, over 80% of teams playing in the conference championship games and Super Bowls were in the top 10 In points differential. Dallas was the only NFL team in the top ten in point differential last year that did not have a winning record.(Btw- That’s a real sign of bad coaching)

• Total Sacks- last year we had 39 sacks which ranked us 19th in the league. Total sacks are usually a very good indicator of playoff success. This needs to improve if we are going to be a serious contender.
  
  
• Total Turnovers- last year (like most years under Garrett) we only had 17 total turnovers which ranked us 26th in the league. Our defense has been one of the least aggressive in terms of blitz packages in the Marinelli era. That must change. Generating TOs are critical to playoff success.

• Starting field position- last year, we ranked a putrid 30th in starting field position on both offense and defense. Having to cover less ground in a drive is big key to improving offensive efficiency. That’s an indicator of poor STs. Defensively, if can pin the opponent deeper, making them travel further greatly reduces their chances of success.

These aren’t all of the most important team stats. But the ones above are a short list of areas this team can improve or refine in order to compete. Hey- it’s cool to see Zeke rack up yards. But it’s what the TEAM does as a whole that really matters.

Any other team stats that are super important to our success?

Average yards per play?

Average yards per rush?

Average yards per pass

Average yards per game/net yards per game

Average penalties/penalty yardage per game

I have to read this post and some of the answers more.

 

[xwalker]

Most fans usually get excited about stats for individual players- like rushing yards, passing yards, etc. Nothing wrong with that. Individual success is important. But there are certain team stats that will more accurately indicate team success than individual stats.

Here are some team stats that are really important to winning in the NFL and where we ranked last year and where we can improve:

• Point Differential- last year the Cowboys had a very respectable +113 point differential. That was 7th in the league last year. That’s the points scored vs points given up. Why is this so important? In the last 20 NFL seasons, over 80% of teams playing in the conference championship games and Super Bowls were in the top 10 In points differential. Dallas was the only NFL team in the top ten in point differential last year that did not have a winning record.(Btw- That’s a real sign of bad coaching)

• Total Sacks- last year we had 39 sacks which ranked us 19th in the league. Total sacks are usually a very good indicator of playoff success. This needs to improve if we are going to be a serious contender.
  
  
• Total Turnovers- last year (like most years under Garrett) we only had 17 total turnovers which ranked us 26th in the league. Our defense has been one of the least aggressive in terms of blitz packages in the Marinelli era. That must change. Generating TOs are critical to playoff success.

• Starting field position- last year, we ranked a putrid 30th in starting field position on both offense and defense. Having to cover less ground in a drive is big key to improving offensive efficiency. That’s an indicator of poor STs. Defensively, if can pin the opponent deeper, making them travel further greatly reduces their chances of success.

These aren’t all of the most important team stats. But the ones above are a short list of areas this team can improve or refine in order to compete. Hey- it’s cool to see Zeke rack up yards. But it’s what the TEAM does as a whole that really matters.

Any other team stats that are super important to our success?

OK.

 

[atlantacowboy]

I look at one stat............wins.

 

[Jake]

Total Sacks- last year we had 39 sacks which ranked us 19th in the league. Total sacks are usually a very good indicator of playoff success.
Total Turnovers- last year (like most years under Garrett) we only had 17 total turnovers which ranked us 26th in the league. Our defense has been one of the least aggressive in terms of blitz packages in the Marinelli era.

Starting field position- last year, we ranked a putrid 30th in starting field position on both offense and defense. Having to cover less ground in a drive is big key to improving offensive efficiency. That’s an indicator of poor STs. Defensively, if can pin the opponent deeper, making them travel further greatly reduces their chances of success.
These aren’t all of the most important team stats. But the ones above are a short list of areas this team can improve or refine in order to compete. Hey- it’s cool to see Zeke rack up yards. But it’s what the TEAM does as a whole that really matters.

Any other team stats that are super important to our success?

Three things in BOLD that have nothing to do with Dak or the offense yet some have spent the entire offseason complaining about nothing but Dak and the offense.

These are the people I do not take seriously because it's obvious they don't understand the game.