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Garrett continues ball security emphasis
October, 9, 2014
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- Jason Garrett has put even more emphasis on avoiding turnovers this week, something that's hard to do considering how much time the Dallas Cowboys spend talking about ball security and forcing turnovers.
Last week, the Cowboys hung pictures of several members of the Houston Texans loosely holding the ball away from their bodies, where it could be knocked away.
Garrett doesn't focus on many stats, but he's adamant that winning or losing the turnover battle each week is the single most important statistic in football.
This year, teams that win the turnover battle are 50-16.
It's even more important this week because the Seattle Seahawks' defense at home has produced turnovers at a dizzying rate. In their last 18 regular-season home games, Seattle is 17-1 and has produced 48 turnovers.
In 13 of those games, they've produced at least two turnovers. Six times, they've produced three or more. The turnovers are the primary reason they've won those 17 games by an average of 16.3 points.
DeMarco Murray has fumbled in the first quarter in four of the Cowboys' five games this season. At practice this week, Garrett had all of the skill position players holding a football high and tight as they went through a variety of individual drills.
Murray and punt returner Dwayne Harris lost fumbles last week.
"The ball is important every week," Garrett said. "We put the ball on the ground a little bit and we have to find ways to rectify that issue. Let's continue to make an important emphasis in practice and make sure it shows up in the game.
"There's nothing we emphasize more than securing the ball and going to get the ball. We drill it every day in practice. The turnover ratio is the most important stat in football."
October, 9, 2014
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- Jason Garrett has put even more emphasis on avoiding turnovers this week, something that's hard to do considering how much time the Dallas Cowboys spend talking about ball security and forcing turnovers.
Last week, the Cowboys hung pictures of several members of the Houston Texans loosely holding the ball away from their bodies, where it could be knocked away.
Garrett doesn't focus on many stats, but he's adamant that winning or losing the turnover battle each week is the single most important statistic in football.
This year, teams that win the turnover battle are 50-16.
It's even more important this week because the Seattle Seahawks' defense at home has produced turnovers at a dizzying rate. In their last 18 regular-season home games, Seattle is 17-1 and has produced 48 turnovers.
In 13 of those games, they've produced at least two turnovers. Six times, they've produced three or more. The turnovers are the primary reason they've won those 17 games by an average of 16.3 points.
DeMarco Murray has fumbled in the first quarter in four of the Cowboys' five games this season. At practice this week, Garrett had all of the skill position players holding a football high and tight as they went through a variety of individual drills.
Murray and punt returner Dwayne Harris lost fumbles last week.
"The ball is important every week," Garrett said. "We put the ball on the ground a little bit and we have to find ways to rectify that issue. Let's continue to make an important emphasis in practice and make sure it shows up in the game.
"There's nothing we emphasize more than securing the ball and going to get the ball. We drill it every day in practice. The turnover ratio is the most important stat in football."
