Updated Defensive Statistics From NFL.com

[Doomsday]

We have 5 new starters on defense this year and it is only week 2. Lets not go crazy, the run defense was excellent last week. They need to clean up some stuff in the secondary but I have no doubt that Jenkins and Scandrick will improve as the year unfolds. Lets save the panic for a few weeks.

 

[Disturbed]

Carolina was 12-4 last year, and everyone is calling them a bad team this year. Hmmm. Dallas needs to stay focused and not buy into this type of thinking because Carolina can be dangerous. Our weak and lackluster defense can cure a lot of offensive woes for other teams this year.

The Cowboys team this year may be like the Colts or Rams teams that would try to outscore teams each week to win. No illusion of a defense at all, just slow them down a little to allow our offense to rest and go score again. Any week our offense is "off" will be a loss.

 

[skinsscalper]

I really don't care what anyone says about the validity of the stats, the defense has sure as hell played on par with those rankings.

The defense has been putrid up until now.

Zero sacks, Zero turnovers. Can't stop a nosebleed.

^^^This

But is there any doubt that the pass defense has monumentally stunk this season regardless of rankings criteria used? They have been horrible so far.

^^^^Only if you're absolutely blind would there be any doubt

Woo Hooo, Our defense has been last in the NFL for 7 weeks and were 2-4 and last in the division but now it's week 8 and we are turning it around!!!

Those first 6 weeks really ment nothing.......Nothing!!!!

Sorry, your thinking is flawed.

Don't expand the sample size to the criteria needed for a "usable" set of stats. It wrecks the "our defense is fine" theory.

With all that being said, I DO believe that the defense will improve. I don't however, buy into the notion that the whole thing will be a 180 degree turn. This defense is mediocre, at best. If we finish in the top half of the league, I will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, I think that you do have to look at this team and admit that we are not playing our best defensive football right now. However, I rewatched the tape from the NY Giants game and I'm here to tell you that we played a much better defensive game then many are giving us credit for.

Defense ranks like this with three games played.

1. Denver (Who has played Cincy, Clev and Oak.)

2. Giants (Who has played Wash, Dal and TB)

3. Jets (Who have played Houston, NE and Tenn.)

4. Vikes (Who have played Clev. Det. and SF.)

5. Philly (Who has played Carolina, NO and KC)

Now, Denver hasn't played anybody. The Giants only beat a bad Wash team by 6 and should have gotten spanked by us with average QB play. The Jets, IMO, appear to be the only team who's defensive ranking might be sound. They have betten NE, who we know is a decent team and Houston who also has skills and a bad Tenn. team. Vikes have beaten nobody and Philly got 48 hung on them by NO.

We are not the team we will be by the middle of the year and hopefully, by the end of the season. We will improve but it's gonna take a little time. If our offense continues to score 30 a game, we don't turn the ball over and we get our stuff together with penalties, you are going to be amazed at how good our defense will be IMO.

Just saying.

 

[Disturbed]

I hope that ABQCowboy is right in his assessment, but I think Jerry needs to start interviewing another defensive coach immediately to help Wade -- at the least to help, maybe take over if things don't improve immediately.

I would not put my head in the sand and say everything will be okay in time. Without adjustments, hard work, and a real commitment by the players - we will continue to be the #32 ranked defense. And the scary part is that the first half of our season was going to be the easiest...meaning we should have padded our stats early.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Football isn't a game easily revealed, statistically, and when you combine that with the tiny sample size, there isn't much to see there. But I sort of see the Cowboys defense as I saw Owens last year. So far, regardless of stats, there has been something missing (and I don't mean attitude). Last year, Owens just looked to me, with my little eyeballs, like a different, far less explosive player. This year, the defense has had that look. I suspect a lot of it is the (by his standards) subpar play of Ware, to this point. I feel very strongly he will turn that around, and when he does, the defense will look much better. There is a danger with Phillips' style of defense. So much is predicated on getting to the quarterback. And when you don't get to the quarterback, you are deeply exposed. That's true of all NFL defenses, to an extent, but Phillips is all-in on the pressure front. So let's see.

I do think there is a point where you have to look at the lack of interceptions as something beyond coincidence. Last year and this year, the team hasn't gotten picks, and that is a big concern. I don't think this type of defense can work without it engineering turnovers.

 

[EPL0c0]

What can Wade or another HC/DC do that would somehow get these guys to not get burned by opposing recievers, or get better pressure on the QB with the players we currently have on the roster.

Can they by some miracle get the pass rush to the QB? Can they, with their presence, fix the lack of depth and experience in the 2ndary?

Don't just say "Fire Wade" ...provide solutions, tell us how Dallas can improve by ax'ing Wade.

And "Bring in (base 4-3 DC's name here)." ...that's not a viable solution, not here at the end of week 3.

From what I see/hear, these guys are fired up and they are focused. Guys are taking responsibility for their own actions rather than pointing fingers. We hear promises of self-improvement. Maybe they're BS'ing when they say that, but I think Wade's doing an OK job with what he has to work with right now.

 

[JustDezIt]

What can Wade or another HC/DC do that would somehow get these guys to not get burned by opposing recievers, or get better pressure on the QB with the players we currently have on the roster.

Can they by some miracle get the pass rush to the QB? Can they, with their presence, fix the lack of depth and experience in the 2ndary?

Don't just say "Fire Wade" ...provide solutions, tell us how Dallas can improve by ax'ing Wade.

And "Bring in (base 4-3 DC's name here)." ...that's not a viable solution, not here at the end of week 3.

From what I see/hear, these guys are fired up and they are focused. Guys are taking responsibility for their own actions rather than pointing fingers. We hear promises of self-improvement. Maybe they're BS'ing when they say that, but I think Wade's doing an OK job with what he has to work with right now.

good post - would like to hear the answers to these from the whiners

 

[EPL0c0]

good post - would like to hear the answers to these from the whiners

There's nothing wrong w/ being upset. Hell, I'm upset w/ the lack of pass rush and poor 2ndayr play vs the giants, but I can honestly say that I have no idea what they can do other than to work harder.

What I'm seeing is team neutralize the pass rush by keeping TEs/RBs in to chip/block. I think the key is the interior linebackers. When they do blitz, they *MUST* get to the QB b/c with the attention the Dline/OLBs are getting, there has to be mismatches. Brooking/James are the keys IMO.

We can't blitz every down b/c that leaves the 2ndary one-on-one and right now I don't think that's a good thing. the saftey play is better this year than last year, but I still worry about the young CBs.

Overall as a unit, they all have to tackle better, but again, that's something a new/different coach can't do much about, its up to the guys to execute.

Leadership is there with Ratliff, Ware, James, Newman. They don't need a coach yelling and such. They just have to execute.

the offense is a bit different though. They too have to execute, but I think Tony needs to get a little better at reading the defenses and garrett needs to push the run game more. It's been their strongest unit, why not go with what works.

 

[Eaglestart]

its no surprise the defense didn't play well. Look out for a breakout game tonight ,they are inconsistent just like the offense which looks super bowl caliber one game and drop a bomb the next week.

Yep!

Look at the Eagles. Plyed like poo last week and surprise! The defense we saw against Carolina decides to show up yesterday.

You will KILL the Panther's tonight. I'll hate it.:

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Points Allowed.......................27.0............ranks 26th in NFL

Rushing Yds Allowed...............135.5..........ranks 23rd in NFL

Passing Yds Allowed................303.0.........ranks 32nd in NFL

Total Yds Allowed..................438.5..........ranks 32nd in NFL


We are the worst team in the entire NFL against the pass and nobody has allowed as many yards from scrimmage as we have. (per game basis)


I never thought we would be the worst defense in the entire NFL.

UPDATES:

Total Yards Allowed: 382.7.....ranks 26th in the NFL

Passing Yards Allowed: 268.....ranks 27th in the NFL

Rushing Yards Allowed: 114.7....ranks 17th in the NFL

Points Allowed: 20.3....ranks 17th in the NFL

NOW CAN YOU SEE WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT SAMPLE SIZE???!!!

 

[Disturbed]

UPDATES:

Total Yards Allowed: 382.7.....ranks 26th in the NFL

Passing Yards Allowed: 268.....ranks 27th in the NFL

Rushing Yards Allowed: 114.7....ranks 17th in the NFL

Points Allowed: 20.3....ranks 17th in the NFL

NOW CAN YOU SEE WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT SAMPLE SIZE???!!!

Those rankings still blow....this defense should be top 7 based on talent....so the defense had a better game, they still need to improve significantly for this team to compete with real contenders.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Those rankings still blow....this defense should be top 7 based on talent....so the defense had a better game, they still need to improve significantly for this team to compete with real contenders.

It's not that the defense had a better game, it's that the people kicking out the statistics didn't wait for the **** game to be played before having a premature coronary.

 

[AdamJT13]

Points Allowed: 20.3....ranks 17th in the NFL

Counting only defensive points allowed (for all teams), we're at 18.0, which is tied for 14th.

 

[masomenos]

UPDATES:

Total Yards Allowed: 382.7.....ranks 26th in the NFL

Passing Yards Allowed: 268.....ranks 27th in the NFL

Rushing Yards Allowed: 114.7....ranks 17th in the NFL

Points Allowed: 20.3....ranks 17th in the NFL

NOW CAN YOU SEE WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT SAMPLE SIZE???!!!

Ha, I was thinking the same exact thing. I'd bet the rankings get even better after next weeks game.