We rank 6th in total defense

[KJJ]

Someone needs to look up our second half and 4th quarter/OT defensive ranking. It's not all about how many yards you give up it's about making critical stops when games are on the line. Giving up yards doesn't get you beat.

 

[dfense]

That's using yards which is a poor way to determine defense.

FootballOutsiders's methodology considers far more factors. We are 22nd overall and 18th in pass defense according to FO.com

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef

And we are 28th in defending #1 WR's.





YR

As opposed to team colors? Football is a game of inches right?

 

[Aven8]

? we have had multiple top 5, top 10 rankings. although I still want more out of offense, the blame goes to the GM, for not finding a viable back up QB option.

How can you put that on Jerry? All he knows about Weeds is he saw him throw a pretty ball in practice. Jerry doesn't study players. This is on the coaches and McClay and Stephen. Why didn't Wade tell them he wasn't going to win any games, etc, he's his coach for goodness sakes!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

In total defense. That's not bad. Take away a few pick sixes and a 100yard return we'd be higher in scoring d too.

I'd say offense is our weakness.

Teams are taking no chances and are for the most part are running the ball and running 3 step drops. We give up big plays off of play action and similar misdirection but outside of a handful of drives teams are conservative.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

How can you put that on Jerry? All he knows about Weeds is he saw him throw a pretty ball in practice. Jerry doesn't study players. This is on the coaches and McClay and Stephen. Why didn't Wade tell them he wasn't going to win any games, etc, he's his coach for goodness sakes!

That's a fair point. Garrett hasn't shown he can develop QBs.

Would you trade a pick for Sean Payton?

 

[CATCH17]

It's a mirage.

Just like when Mike Zimmer defense was ranked #1 in the league all the time.

 

[lostar2009]

our 4th quarter defense has been bad.

Yeah that's when they begin to break. When teams use urgency and go 4 downs on us.

 

[KJJ]

It's a mirage.

Just like when Mike Zimmer defense was ranked #1 in the league all the time.

In 2001 the Cowboys were ranked 4th in defense and finished 5-11. The 2003 team that went 10-6 finished #1 overall in defense. Defensive rankings don't tell the whole story. I don't care what the Cowboys defensive ranking is this season the defense is average at best and it's been awful in the second half, 4th quarter and in OT.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys held leads and 6 of their 8 losses and the defense couldn't hang on. In 2 OT games our defense didn't give our offense a single opportunity with the ball. The loss to the Saints in OT was the quickest end to an OT game ever.

 

[Nightman]

No sacks and no turnovers.

I wanted 50 sacks and we'll be lucky to get 30.

The turnovers are fluky, but QB strips and INTs come from pressure.

 

[Staubacher]

Well I watched every game and I see a defense that cannot generate a pass rush, gives up 3rd and longs, cannot close games to save their lives, and treat turnovers like the plague. So I really do not care what some metric says about them being 6th.

 

[Staubacher]

That's a fair point. Garrett hasn't shown he can develop QBs.

Would you trade a pick for Sean Payton?

If Payton goes to the NYG we are screwed for years. Eli has a lot of time left and with those receivers Payton will have more weaponry than he ever had in NO.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

How can you put that on Jerry? All he knows about Weeds is he saw him throw a pretty ball in practice. Jerry doesn't study players. This is on the coaches and McClay and Stephen. Why didn't Wade tell them he wasn't going to win any games, etc, he's his coach for goodness sakes!

scouting. our drafts have been pretty bad as well.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The stats are for losers...the only stat that makes a difference to winning or losing is scoring offense and scoring defense. The rest of the stats are just for fantasy football.

I wouldn't care if we ranked last in total yards on offense and defense if we led the league in scoring offense and defense then we wouldn't be talking about the stupid draft right now.

then this defense is average. because we rank in the middle of the pack in scoring defense.

our offense did have top 10 finishes in scoring. being 2nd one year.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Does not with the eyeball test look like a 28th Defense nor does it look like 6th ranked defense, not the weakness of the team I will agree. Whomever chose to keep Weeden bears much of the responsibility IMO, he was a deer in the headlights and was easier to defend than any currently starting QB. I find it hard to believe the coaches did not understand the limitations of his talent, same coaches we have now manipulating Cassel.

22nd ranked defense, not 28th.

18th in pass defense seems reasonable and so does 26th against the run.

We didn't really stop Eli in the first game, were terrible against the Falcons and the Patriots.

I think that believing that a good #2 QB is out there and they're not hard to find is a bit naïve. 16 teams in this league can't find good #1 QB's, but much good #1 and #2 QB's. I can see why they liked Weeden...great arm and threw with accuracy. Also came from Chudzinski's offense which was similar. Gave him a year off and figured he could sit and learn.

I have bigger issues with the pet cats we have like Hayden and in particular, Barry Church. Last year the pet cat was Claiborne. We insisted on starting him even though he stunk. Then he got injured and the pass defense improved with the less heralded Sterling Moore taking over.




YR

 

[Blackspider214]

Total defense means nothing. Watch the games. This team gets no consistent pressure and all we heard all offseason was going to be how good that line was going to be. We never ever get a stop when we need it. Dead last in forced turnovers. We make zero plays. There are little no no playmakers. This defense is not that great. We were without our stars on offense for 2 months and they never forced the action and changed the game.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Not a surprise -- the team really doesn't have a CB1 -- the best is probably Mo and he is ideally suited as a CB2.

From examining the best defenses from a statistical standpoint, you really need to stop 2 things:

#1 WR. Those are the guys that will make the big plays and can change the entire complexion of the game.


The easy dink and dunk passes. They are the bail out throws the QB has to make. If you can stop those with the #1 WR, the QB's job now becomes entirely more difficulty. We have been terrible defending RB's and #3 WR's this year.





YR

 

[CrownCowboy]

This defense hasn't played with a lead much either

There is no excuse for how inept this team is at creating turnovers. Period.

 

[percyhoward]

Passer rating differential (team's passer rating minus opponents passer rating) is usually a good indicator of W-L..

2015 21st (Off 25th, Def 16th)
2014 2nd (Off 1st, Def 13th)

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

If Payton goes to the NYG we are screwed for years. Eli has a lot of time left and with those receivers Payton will have more weaponry than he ever had in NO.

I'm not so sure that Payton would choose them. That would mean Mara would have to give up control. He has Jerry Reese but the Mara's use their GM's more as chamberlain's than GMs. Functionally it's little different than what we do and Jones gives much more power his subordinates.

I don't know about that but I do know that Payton is leaving NO now largely over control issues with Benson. He might not want to go to either NY or Dallas frankly but at the end of the day in that type of thing I think Jerry is a better compromiser and deal maker.