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Fraley: With offense sputtering, Cowboys' D needs to provide turnovers, points
10:16 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News | gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – As the Cowboys' offense dithers, an additional burden falls upon the defense.
Preventing points, as it did better than any defense in the NFC last season, will not be enough for this group. Until the indecisive offense finds its identity, the defense will have to create points, too.
That means the flamboyance of defensive scores. It means the basic of takeaways.
It could mean more risk-taking, a tactic that does not fit well into coach Wade Phillips' philosophy of defense. This suddenly strange week calls for something different.
The Cowboys face an interception machine in Sunday's home opener. Chicago's Jay Cutler has thrown 45 interceptions since opening day 2008. Minnesota's Brett Favre, a compulsive gambler, has 30 interceptions in the same span.
To recover from the opening-night loss at Washington, the Cowboys must take advantage of Cutler. If Cutler throws for more than 300 yards again but goes without an interception, the Cowboys are looking at hard times.
The defense played well against Washington, allowing only a pair of field goals and 250 yards of total offense. The defense also did not have a takeaway. Washington's defense had one takeaway that produced the Redskins' lone touchdown.
"We stopped them from the end zone, but we didn't create turnovers," end Marcus Spears said. "You can see the outcome. We've got to get it done. We have to create turnovers. However they come, you take them."
Since the start of last season, the Cowboys are 10-3 when they have at least one takeaway and 2-4 in all other games. In that span, the Cowboys have 21 takeaways overall, the second-lowest total in the league. Washington has 18.
What are the Cowboys missing without takeaways?
Start with the defensive score, which enhances the chance of winning. Four teams – Miami, New England, Seattle and Washington – had a defensive score on the opening weekend. All four won. A year ago, teams were 55-21 for games with a defensive score.
The Cowboys have a defensive score in only five games since opening day 2008, tying for the fifth-lowest total in the league.
The Cowboys are also riding a losing streak in terms of field position.
A year ago, the Cowboys had the NFL's third-lowest starting point on offense at their 27.6. Against Washington, the offense had an average starting point of its 27.2. When facing long distances to the end zone, an offense can pile up yards and not score.
That is the story of the Cowboys' offense. It needs the jump-start of better field position, which a takeaway provides.
"Some of it was where we had the ball," Phillips said of the offense's troubles against Washington. "Normally, when you move the ball better than the other team, you win. We didn't."
High-takeaway defenses such as Green Bay and New Orleans walk a tightrope. In pursuit of takeaways, they leave themselves open to big plays by using tactics such as daring blitzes and disguised zone coverages.
Phillips uses blitzes, but he does not believe in exposing any part of the defense. His players believe they can follow that approach and come up with takeaways.
"You're conscious of creating turnovers, but that doesn't mean you take risks that take you out of your game," inside linebacker Keith Brooking said. "We feel very confident in our defense schematically. Start taking risks, that can break your back defensively. That's the only thing that can hurt this defense."
The Cowboys' defense must find a way to play its game and support the offense. That group of young princes needs all the help it can get.
• • •
10:16 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News | gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – As the Cowboys' offense dithers, an additional burden falls upon the defense.
Preventing points, as it did better than any defense in the NFC last season, will not be enough for this group. Until the indecisive offense finds its identity, the defense will have to create points, too.
That means the flamboyance of defensive scores. It means the basic of takeaways.
It could mean more risk-taking, a tactic that does not fit well into coach Wade Phillips' philosophy of defense. This suddenly strange week calls for something different.
The Cowboys face an interception machine in Sunday's home opener. Chicago's Jay Cutler has thrown 45 interceptions since opening day 2008. Minnesota's Brett Favre, a compulsive gambler, has 30 interceptions in the same span.
To recover from the opening-night loss at Washington, the Cowboys must take advantage of Cutler. If Cutler throws for more than 300 yards again but goes without an interception, the Cowboys are looking at hard times.
The defense played well against Washington, allowing only a pair of field goals and 250 yards of total offense. The defense also did not have a takeaway. Washington's defense had one takeaway that produced the Redskins' lone touchdown.
"We stopped them from the end zone, but we didn't create turnovers," end Marcus Spears said. "You can see the outcome. We've got to get it done. We have to create turnovers. However they come, you take them."
Since the start of last season, the Cowboys are 10-3 when they have at least one takeaway and 2-4 in all other games. In that span, the Cowboys have 21 takeaways overall, the second-lowest total in the league. Washington has 18.
What are the Cowboys missing without takeaways?
Start with the defensive score, which enhances the chance of winning. Four teams – Miami, New England, Seattle and Washington – had a defensive score on the opening weekend. All four won. A year ago, teams were 55-21 for games with a defensive score.
The Cowboys have a defensive score in only five games since opening day 2008, tying for the fifth-lowest total in the league.
The Cowboys are also riding a losing streak in terms of field position.
A year ago, the Cowboys had the NFL's third-lowest starting point on offense at their 27.6. Against Washington, the offense had an average starting point of its 27.2. When facing long distances to the end zone, an offense can pile up yards and not score.
That is the story of the Cowboys' offense. It needs the jump-start of better field position, which a takeaway provides.
"Some of it was where we had the ball," Phillips said of the offense's troubles against Washington. "Normally, when you move the ball better than the other team, you win. We didn't."
High-takeaway defenses such as Green Bay and New Orleans walk a tightrope. In pursuit of takeaways, they leave themselves open to big plays by using tactics such as daring blitzes and disguised zone coverages.
Phillips uses blitzes, but he does not believe in exposing any part of the defense. His players believe they can follow that approach and come up with takeaways.
"You're conscious of creating turnovers, but that doesn't mean you take risks that take you out of your game," inside linebacker Keith Brooking said. "We feel very confident in our defense schematically. Start taking risks, that can break your back defensively. That's the only thing that can hurt this defense."
The Cowboys' defense must find a way to play its game and support the offense. That group of young princes needs all the help it can get.
• • •