So teams don't need to run the ball. It has been opined that is the reason we are currently ranked the #2 running defense (behind the Chicago bears).
If we were looking at total yardage (which is what NFL.com uses) there is a strong case that ranking may be "skewed"
However if we look at YPC of the running backs we've faced, it might shed a little more light on how we are doing against the run. Especially as compared to other teams.
Marion Barber is the last featured back we faced. With 17 carries compared to Felix Jones' 7 or Tashard Choices 2, that clearly makes Barber the Cowboys #1 back.
Barber avg'd 3.2 yards per carry against us. While not spectacular, that means if you give handed the ball off to MBIII 3 straight times, he still wouldn't pick up a first down (9.6 yards)
MBIII avg'd 2.8 against the Bears, & 4.9 yards against Washington. Of course stats don't tell the whole story, but we can at least argue our run defense is in fact comparable to the Bears, and better than Washington's.
As a counter argument, we have Felix Jones. 8 carries against Washinton (4.8 ypc) 7 carries against Chicago (1.0 ypc), 7 carries against the Texans (6.1 ypc).... We're even worse than Washington.
Then when you bring Tashard Choice into the conversation, 5 carries against Washington (3.6 ypc), 1 carry against the Bears (-1 yard) & 2 carries against Houston (2 ypc)... we're more comparable to the Bears.
Week 2, we faced the Washington Redskins' Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson & Mike Sellers
Portis
--3.5 ypc vs Dallas(18 carries)--2.5 ypc vs Houston (13 carries)--6.3 ypc vs St.Louis (7 carries)
Johnson
--3ypc vs Dallas (3 carries)-- (-3.5) ypc vs Houston (2 carries)-- cut after the Houston game.
Sellers
-- no carries vs Dallas-- 0 yards vs Houston (1 carry) -- 1 yard vs St. Louis (1 carry)
We can argue we are better than the Cowboys Run D, but there really isn't a lot of data to support it.
Week 1 we faced Joseph Addai
4.4 ypc vs Houston (10 carries)-- 4.6 ypc vs NYGiants (20 carries)-- 2.2 ypc vs Denver (13 carries)
Our Run D is comparable to the Giants, not as good as Denver.
Offensively we should have a good game against the Giants. Denver will be a real test.
So, what do you say?
If we were looking at total yardage (which is what NFL.com uses) there is a strong case that ranking may be "skewed"
However if we look at YPC of the running backs we've faced, it might shed a little more light on how we are doing against the run. Especially as compared to other teams.
Marion Barber is the last featured back we faced. With 17 carries compared to Felix Jones' 7 or Tashard Choices 2, that clearly makes Barber the Cowboys #1 back.
Barber avg'd 3.2 yards per carry against us. While not spectacular, that means if you give handed the ball off to MBIII 3 straight times, he still wouldn't pick up a first down (9.6 yards)
MBIII avg'd 2.8 against the Bears, & 4.9 yards against Washington. Of course stats don't tell the whole story, but we can at least argue our run defense is in fact comparable to the Bears, and better than Washington's.
As a counter argument, we have Felix Jones. 8 carries against Washinton (4.8 ypc) 7 carries against Chicago (1.0 ypc), 7 carries against the Texans (6.1 ypc).... We're even worse than Washington.
Then when you bring Tashard Choice into the conversation, 5 carries against Washington (3.6 ypc), 1 carry against the Bears (-1 yard) & 2 carries against Houston (2 ypc)... we're more comparable to the Bears.
Week 2, we faced the Washington Redskins' Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson & Mike Sellers
Portis
--3.5 ypc vs Dallas(18 carries)--2.5 ypc vs Houston (13 carries)--6.3 ypc vs St.Louis (7 carries)
Johnson
--3ypc vs Dallas (3 carries)-- (-3.5) ypc vs Houston (2 carries)-- cut after the Houston game.
Sellers
-- no carries vs Dallas-- 0 yards vs Houston (1 carry) -- 1 yard vs St. Louis (1 carry)
We can argue we are better than the Cowboys Run D, but there really isn't a lot of data to support it.
Week 1 we faced Joseph Addai
4.4 ypc vs Houston (10 carries)-- 4.6 ypc vs NYGiants (20 carries)-- 2.2 ypc vs Denver (13 carries)
Our Run D is comparable to the Giants, not as good as Denver.
Offensively we should have a good game against the Giants. Denver will be a real test.
So, what do you say?