yards against the Cowboys are long...

[kramskoi]

Dallas is second only to Indianapolis on the Bendability Index of Defensive Efficiency...19.8 YPPA [yards per point average]...Indy leads at 19.86...what this means is that opposing teams have to work very hard for points...it is an important post-season indicator...

...now if Dallas was 2nd in Scoreability [another post-season indicator] they'd be in very good shape and would likely be undefeated right now...but they only rank 24th...and of course New Orleans ranks 1st...

...considering they also rank 2nd in points allowed, it "seems" that Dallas finally has the type of defense that can snap the December jinx...ray:

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I love all you stat boys

thanks alot

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Good stuff, kramskoi. Let's hope the defense keeps it up. They're flying under the radar right now. If they start forcing turnovers, the Cowboys will be THERE.

 

[poost]

I truly believe our defense is what gets us through December. In years past I think our offense spoiled our defense, and they would just rely on outscoring people. This year I love watching our defense. Except those first two weeks, we have been playing pretty solid. We don't look confused pointing fingers at each other etc. Now if our offense catches up I think we can have a special season.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Nice post, very interesting.

I hate to say it, but I think our D is going to disappoint some people in the next few weeks.

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems like while they are good, people are thinking they're great. And I'm not sure about that.

If nothing else, it'll be hard to hold down the Chargers and Saints just because they are so good on offense. So I think our O is going to have to win a couple of games down the stretch.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Nice post, very interesting.

I hate to say it, but I think our D is going to disappoint some people in the next few weeks.

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems like while they are good, people are thinking they're great. And I'm not sure about that.

If nothing else, it'll be hard to hold down the Chargers and Saints just because they are so good on offense. So I think our O is going to have to win a couple of games down the stretch.

No one is saying it will be easy against the Chargers and Saints, but our defense is playing better than the teams they faced so far. Our D is capable of keeping us in all five of our remaining games. If they do, the rest is up to the offense.

 

[Don Corleone]

Nice post, very interesting.

I hate to say it, but I think our D is going to disappoint some people in the next few weeks.

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems like while they are good, people are thinking they're great. And I'm not sure about that.

If nothing else, it'll be hard to hold down the Chargers and Saints just because they are so good on offense. So I think our O is going to have to win a couple of games down the stretch.

Our D has kept us in every game this year. No reason to think that will change all of the sudden.

It is up to the offense to beat these good teams, but it certainly helps when the defense doesn't give up easy points.

Knock on wood, this has been the one year where we haven't been blown out by any opponent thus far. A huge credit to our defense.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Guys... Nobody loves our D more than I do. It's the main reason I like Wade.

Just saying that we're probably going to give up more than 17 points a few times.

I would love to be wrong and for our D to smash everyone the rest of the year, though.

 

[Don Corleone]

Guys... Nobody loves our D more than I do. It's the main reason I like Wade.

Just saying that we're probably going to give up more than 17 points a few times.

I would love to be wrong and for our D to smash everyone the rest of the year, though.

I agree that holding the upcoming teams to 17 points will be tough, and I also agree that the offense will need to hold up its end of the deal.

However, I am encouraged that we've held some good offenses in check since the KC game. Mainly the Falcons, Eagles, and even the Packers.

The Packers game is an example of where our offense couldn't deliver, and hence the loss. If our offense could have done anything that day, we would have won the game.

 

[Idgit]

Guys... Nobody loves our D more than I do. It's the main reason I like Wade.

Just saying that we're probably going to give up more than 17 points a few times.

I would love to be wrong and for our D to smash everyone the rest of the year, though.

If NO executes like they did Mon, the defense can play perfect coverage and it still won't matter that much. They can put points on anybody, and we'll have to be able to keep pace with them.

SD we should be able to contain. The other NFCE games we already know what we're up against and I'd be surprised if they exploit us on D.

 

[Don Corleone]

If NO executes like they did Mon, the defense can play perfect coverage and it still won't matter that much. They can put points on anybody, and we'll have to be able to keep pace with them.

SD we should be able to contain. The other NFCE games we already know what we're up against and I'd be surprised if they exploit us on D.

The Pats looked pathetic on D, but at this point, I don't know how much of that was the Saints offense confusing them, or how much of it is due to the Pats D just stinking it up.

 

[Idgit]

The Pats looked pathetic on D, but at this point, I don't know how much of that was the Saints offense confusing them, or how much of it is due to the Pats D just stinking it up.

They had sever straight blown coverages, yep. But they also got beat for TDs where they had tight coverage and good position, and it just didn't matter because the balls were placed perfectly.

I think we can stop the Saints running game perfectly fine. But they can score points in droves if Brees can setup and push the ball down the field. Hopefully, we'll get enough pressure on them to stop that with our front four. I don't think we can, though. It's going to be a lot like the Pats game in '07.

 

[Zman5]

Considering how well the defense played against GB when they hardly got any rest due to our offense constantly going 3 and out, I'm not too worried about our defense against SD. They may have some problems with NO but that's going to depend on how well the offense plays against them.

 

[Rockytop6]

Nice post, very interesting.

I hate to say it, but I think our D is going to disappoint some people in the next few weeks.

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems like while they are good, people are thinking they're great. And I'm not sure about that.

If nothing else, it'll be hard to hold down the Chargers and Saints just because they are so good on offense. So I think our O is going to have to win a couple of games down the stretch.

The Boys haven't faced 2 QBs like the Chargers and the Saints. The D has played really well, but at the same time, we have played defenses where Romo's passes bounced off their chests and they couldn't int it.

I believe our D will play well but the Chargers and Saints will score on the Cowboys. It will take the D playing well and Romo making good decisions and avoiding turnovers.

If we stay healthy, avoid turnovers and stupid penalties, then we have a good chance of beating both these teams.

 

[kramskoi]

They had sever straight blown coverages, yep. But they also got beat for TDs where they had tight coverage and good position, and it just didn't matter because the balls were placed perfectly.

I think we can stop the Saints running game perfectly fine. But they can score points in droves if Brees can setup and push the ball down the field. Hopefully, we'll get enough pressure on them to stop that with our front four. I don't think we can, though. It's going to be a lot like the Pats game in '07.

...it could be a shoot-out but only if Dallas has their offense in-sync by that time...

IF Dallas can get after them rushing only four then their chances improve...you won't make a living blitzing Brees with that offense...his setup and release is too fast...

...the one thing that could hamper NO is Bush...he has a bad tendency to dance around, causing negative plays on the offense occasionally...but Henderson, Meachem and Colston are all good receivers [Moore is too once he returns] and that's not to mention Shockey and Thomas...they catch virtually everything and Brees is so accurate it only helps ensure a high catch rate...

...the best way to limit the NO offense is to have a potent offense of your own...one that can run and sustain long, clock-eating drives...limit possesions...win the turnover differential and special teams...bend but don't break on defense...you have a chance, whether it's a good one or not is a different story...

...don't buy the reputation of the Saints being all finesse...they have 5 more rushing attempts to date than passing...this is a well-balanced football team that can run as well as pass...they get so much respect in the passing game it opens everything up...

 

[Sarge]

Dallas is second only to Indianapolis on the Bendability Index of Defensive Efficiency...19.8 YPPA [yards per point average]...Indy leads at 19.86...what this means is that opposing teams have to work very hard for points...it is an important post-season indicator...

...now if Dallas was 2nd in Scoreability [another post-season indicator] they'd be in very good shape and would likely be undefeated right now...but they only rank 24th...and of course New Orleans ranks 1st...

...considering they also rank 2nd in points allowed, it "seems" that Dallas finally has the type of defense that can snap the December jinx...ray:

Interesting post - thanks.

 

[92DoverTiger112]

Where did we rank last year in these same statistics, and then what about 2007....Just to see how relevant these stats are...

 

[Four]

I love all boys

...dude

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Dallas is second only to Indianapolis on the Bendability Index of Defensive Efficiency...19.8 YPPA [yards per point average]...Indy leads at 19.86...what this means is that opposing teams have to work very hard for points...it is an important post-season indicator...

...now if Dallas was 2nd in Scoreability [another post-season indicator] they'd be in very good shape and would likely be undefeated right now...but they only rank 24th...and of course New Orleans ranks 1st...

...considering they also rank 2nd in points allowed, it "seems" that Dallas finally has the type of defense that can snap the December jinx...ray:

what is scorability?

 

[JBond]

Nice post, very interesting.

I hate to say it, but I think our D is going to disappoint some people in the next few weeks.

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems like while they are good, people are thinking they're great. And I'm not sure about that.

If nothing else, it'll be hard to hold down the Chargers and Saints just because they are so good on offense. So I think our O is going to have to win a couple of games down the stretch.

Bend but not break combined with few defensive turnovers can lead to problems against the best offensive teams. I agree. Lets hope they are able to take it up to the next level to finsish the season and into the post season.

If the offense and special teams perform to their capabilities I think we can go a long way this year.