Dallas is having its best defensive season in 7 years. In 2009 Dallas finished second in points against, giving up 15.6 points a game. That year they got a King Kong sized gorilla off the franchise’s back, and Wade Phillips as well, with a playoff win versus Philadelphia. That team ended their year with two consecutive shutouts versus division rivals, keyed off by an emphatic week 15 defensive beat down of recent Cowboys antagonist the New Orleans Saints.
This year Dallas is giving up 17.8 points a game, within reach of their 2009 levels, and have done so without a shutout against well worn foes. They also lack the star power of the 2009 squad led by DeMarcus Ware, Marcus Spears, Terrance Newman, still prime time Jay Ratliff and big ticket signing Ken Hamlin.
In fact Dallas is within striking distance of some of its best all time defensive teams. If this current defensive squad gets better over the season, as winter weather sets in, defenses gel, and offenses lose their early season edge, they could challenge the Super Bowl teams of the 70s and 90s. The 1973 team gave up 14.5 and the 1993 team gave up 14.3.
Its difficult to understand why this Cowboys defense is playing so well. A ball control offense and playing with the lead certainly help, but do not explain it all. In 2014 Dallas had a fantastic running game, won a play off game, and went 12-4 en route to winning the NFC East. However they gave up 22 points a game. That’s more than a field goal per game than the 2016 squad is turning in.
A lack of snap counts does not explain everything either, as Dallas is 13th in Defensive Plays From Scrimmage. They do rank number one in Time of Possession just as they did in 2014, but they aren’t in the top half of Yards Per Play, giving up an inglorious 5.6 yards per offensive snap.
It was difficult to anticipate this performance. In 2013, first year of the switch back to the 4-3 scheme with Monte Kiffin, Dallas yielded a franchise worst 27 points a game. 2014 was better with 22, and 2013 was a step back with 23.7. There was no reason to anticipate a leap of 6 points between 2015 and 16. The running game is not the sole difference as the 2014 defensive squad was so poor and also featured a strong rushing attack.
It’s a lot of little things that have led to this vastly better defensive performance. Opposition wide receivers are not taking advantage of a confused Dallas secondary. A team that struggled to convert Man Cornerbacks to competent Zone players appears to have finally done so. Shifting Brandon Carr to the right side has improved his play a great deal. Finally healthy, Morris Claiborne is looking like the football player Dallas expected when they Drafted him with the 6th overall pick.
JJ Wilcox is not making bad plays and allowing his good plays to shine. He’s the biggest hitter in the back seven. His hits have set the tone for the whole team, even with part time play.
Sean Lee is healthy as well, and is fourth in the NFL in tackles. Barry Church is 25th. These guys are doing a yeoman’s work.
One change that has been evident since the season started has been Dallas’ pursuit to the ball. They are gang tackling with pizzazz, and stripping the ball all the way. In 16 games in 2014 Dallas recorded 20 forced fumbles. This season through six games they have 10. They are on pace to end the year with 26 forced fumbles. Marinelli’s ball stripping drills look like they’re paying off. David Irving has tallied three forced fumbles alone.
Another big change is the seemingly sudden drop in penalties. Talented teams draw penalties and don’t get penalized, so perhaps there is more talent on this defense than was previously realized. They are penalized less and drawing penalties more. It makes a big difference for this team if they can get an opponent in first and 20. Dallas coaches have chosen first and 20 over second and 10. With Dallas giving up nearly 6 yards a play, first and 20 puts teams out of reach.
The Cowboys have also been much improved in quality of play. There have been very few secondary brain failures leading to busted coverage. There is an occasional defensive over run, or blitzers clogging the same gap but it is not destroying this defense like it has in the past. The ever competent Barry Church has been their garbage man when it comes to cleaning out the trash, and the quality athletes Dallas has on the back end and outside are running down big plays and saving Touchdowns.
Dallas defense is midway on a mountain, climbing out of the infernal defensive hell of the last six seasons. The reasons are many and the cause is clear. Give him some talented players and Marinelli is a wizard.
- Zones are working.
- Middle of the defense is playing great. Terrell McClain, Church, Lee, Byron Jones.
- Secondary has leveled up. Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne; Anthony Brown is not a rookie.
- There has been a decrease in bad plays.
I’m @nickwelp on Twitter and AustonianAggie in the comments.
