Zeke and Offense helping the Defense, yes they are

[jazzcat22]

Norm Hitzges was just giving some stats.

On 40 possessions.
Through these 4 games. He asked how many times the Cowboys opponents started possessions inside the Dallas 50......
answer is 2, once on Zekes, fumble, and once on the onside kick

of the other 38, how many times was started past the opponents own 40....
answer is 2, both on punt returns. One by Kerley from SF, one by Harris, NY

Of all the other possessions, the opponents have started inside their own 25.
That is 36 possessions of going 75 yards or more.

So the offense is having enough success, for when they do have to punt, they can make the other team have long drives. And with a QB or offense that struggles, that is good for the defense.

Now can the keep that up against the upcoming schedule. Probably not, but it doesn't mean they can't win the games.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I can't remember what game it was but the game where we attempted the onside kick? I actually think that game having short filed position worked in our favor. We just couldn't get off the field it felt like.

I think they both are helping each other out. The defense has managed to get off the field on 3rd down aside from the first half of yesterday.


It hasn't been too many games this year where we have to start off on less than 10 yard line and have to go the distance to score.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Chris Jones is helping the defense.

 

[Tabascocat]

Everything is just different this season. They went from a white collar to a blue collar team, everyone is putting in the work. The defense feeds off the offense and vice versa, even the ST's are much more solid than last year.

This is like watching a totally different team and mindset from seasons past. Usually, it was the Romo, Witten and Lee(Ware) show while the rest of the team just kind of went through the motions. Now, everyone has a different level of energy and looks to be having tons of fun out there.

This team is growing up together, not individually and I already see evidence of better coaching and comradery

 

[Idgit]

Chris Jones is helping the defense.

Was going to say the same thing. That, and Dak's not throwing any picks. Pretty good situation to be in for the defense.

 

[erod]

Was going to say the same thing. That, and Dak's not throwing any picks. Pretty good situation to be in for the defense.

Bingo.

Dallas isn't giving up short fields. When you don't turn it over, the other team has a long way to go. And when you're pounding out first downs, the defense is resting.

But buckle up for the next couple of weeks. Big-time offenses en route.

 

[jrumann59]

Everything is just different this season. They went from a white collar to a blue collar team, everyone is putting in the work. The defense feeds off the offense and vice versa, even the ST's are much more solid than last year.

This is like watching a totally different team and mindset from seasons past. Usually, it was the Romo, Witten and Lee(Ware) show while the rest of the team just kind of went through the motions. Now, everyone has a different level of energy and looks to be having tons of fun out there.

This team is growing up together, not individually and I already see evidence of better coaching and comradery

This team has been predicated on well "I screwed up, but hey Romo will make up for it" Sort of like Jordan and the Bulls in the early 90's

 

[visionary]

As someone who had been critical of him in the past I'm happy to say he played a great game yesterday

He (and the run game) seemed to play a key role yesterday even though we all know that "the running game does not matter"(shout out to @Idgit )

 

[NextGenBoys]

Chris Jones is helping the defense.

I remember when we let McBriar go, I was so frustrated. Who is this Chris Jones guy??? Has gotten better every year it seems.

 

[ShiningStar]

I think so far Zeke and Dak are, as they get better, so will the play calling and so will our options. stop Zeke, Dak burns you, Slow Dak , Zeke runs over you. If Linehan keeps everything balanced and works what the field gives him, we can be as good as any team.

 

[Idgit]

As someone who had been critical of him in the past I'm happy to say he played a great game yesterday

He (and the run game) seemed to play a key role yesterday even though we all know that "the running game does not matter"(shout out to @Idgit )

Thanks for the shout-out. You should probably save it for a post where you've got the argument you're trying to criticize right. I don't know how many times I've corrected the perception that the argument is that 'the running game is not important' or in this case 'the running game does not matter,' but it's probably dozens of times at this point. Oh, well. Some people won't hear what they don't want to hear.

For the record, I'm all for whatever makes it possible for us to continue to have effective QB play. Zeke looked great yesterday, and is doing just about exactly what I expected him to be able to do his rookie year after a slow-ish start. I"m happy to have him onboard, but still think we overdrafted a RB when the real limitations on the team were on defense. I'd still have been happier with a defender or a trade down (or both) early and positioning to get Kenneth Dixon later. But what's done is done. Zeke's going to be a very good RB for us, and I love him in pass-pro, so it is what it is.

 

[Dorsett33]

It's funny how this is coming up now when myself and a few others on this board said this during the draft of how Zeke will help the defense. Many were in disagreement. Or denial. But anyway, it's not too late for the party. Winning cures everything!

 

[visionary]

Thanks for the shout-out. You should probably save it for a post where you've got the argument you're trying to criticize right. I don't know how many times I've corrected the perception that the argument is that 'the running game is not important' or in this case 'the running game does not matter,' but it's probably dozens of times at this point. Oh, well. Some people won't hear what they don't want to hear.

For the record, I'm all for whatever makes it possible for us to continue to have effective QB play. Zeke looked great yesterday, and is doing just about exactly what I expected him to be able to do his rookie year after a slow-ish start. I"m happy to have him onboard, but still think we overdrafted a RB when the real limitations on the team were on defense. I'd still have been happier with a defender or a trade down (or both) early and positioning to get Kenneth Dixon later. But what's done is done. Zeke's going to be a very good RB for us, and I love him in pass-pro, so it is what it is.

Ok I was just kidding
We're on the same page here "whatever it takes to win" and I was also on board with taking a defender or QB instead of Zeke

If he is the next Emmitt then it will have been worth it (but mostly because we lucked into Dak)

 

[CowboyRoy]

Norm Hitzges was just giving some stats.

On 40 possessions.
Through these 4 games. He asked how many times the Cowboys opponents started possessions inside the Dallas 50......
answer is 2, once on Zekes, fumble, and once on the onside kick

of the other 38, how many times was started past the opponents own 40....
answer is 2, both on punt returns. One by Kerley from SF, one by Harris, NY

Of all the other possessions, the opponents have started inside their own 25.
That is 36 possessions of going 75 yards or more.

So the offense is having enough success, for when they do have to punt, they can make the other team have long drives. And with a QB or offense that struggles, that is good for the defense.

Now can the keep that up against the upcoming schedule. Probably not, but it doesn't mean they can't win the games.

Can we win a SB with this defense? No chance. The rest is just window dressing.

 

[Idgit]

Ok I was just kidding
We're on the same page here "whatever it takes to win" and I was also on board with taking a defender or QB instead of Zeke

If he is the next Emmitt then it will have been worth it (but mostly because we lucked into Dak)

I'm not used to good-natured kidding from you, visionary. It was very confusing for me.

We're in agreement, too, probably, that they were very reckless with the QB2 position this offseason and that we lucked into Dak. Not that we're complaining about that, either.

 

[percyhoward]

Was going to say the same thing. That, and Dak's not throwing any picks. Pretty good situation to be in for the defense.

Also, our offense is 4th in percentage of drives that end in scores.

 

[ShiningStar]

in due time everyone comes to the same page. Right now, the team hit some wins and some teams at the right time. the league doesnt take away wins regardless how you do it. We dont pick the teams and we cant fault their bad choices. Dallas is in the same boat and they adjusted just right and getting better play out of a 4th round Qb than some of the others. Thats a win right there. The draft is still iffy at best, lets give it some years. Its been 20 plus of bad team after let down after high expectations, so lets ride the wave and see where it takes us. The draft is over, for better or worse and a few spare pieces, this is our team. Love it or hate it, its what we got. Win today, lose tomorrow but make it all count. If we lose but we fix it, thats the goal, if we lose but stay in the same rut, 8-8 8-8 8-8, the dam has to break. Right now, we won, on to the next one, nothing changes that.

 

[ShiningStar]

Also, our offense is 4th in percentage of drives that end in scores.

you are the best, but sometimes you talk a whole other language. Glad you are here .

 

[percyhoward]

So the offense is having enough success, for when they do have to punt, they can make the other team have long drives. And with a QB or offense that struggles, that is good for the defense.

The opponent's average starting field position is their own 27-yard line, same as last year. That ranks as 11th-best from a defensive point of view, so yes, it does help the defense. But it's the same as last year, when we had no Dak, and no Zeke.

What's helping the defense more than anything this year is that we're scoring more points, and that has a lot to do with Dak and Zeke.

 

[percyhoward]

Through 4 games, we rank 16th in opponent's average starting field position after we punt. IOW, 15 defense's opponents have worse average starting field position.

Last year, we ranked 11th.