Archer: Numbers paint an unflattering, but accurate, picture of the Cowboys' 2015

Cotton

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Numbers paint an unflattering, but accurate, picture of the Cowboys' 2015

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

IRVING, Texas -- By any measure, the numbers tell a bad story for the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.

They are 4-9 with three games to play, one game off the worst record in the NFL.

Sometimes statistics can lie. And sometimes they can tell the truth.

Here is the paint-by-numbers look at why the Cowboys are 4-9 and in last place in the NFC East.

Minus-15

How many times have we heard Jason Garrett say the stat that correlates most to winning and losing in the NFL is turnover ratio? It might be close to 100 times since 2010, and that may be a low estimate.

The Cowboys are minus-15 in the giveaway/takeaway stat, which is worst in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens are second-worst at minus-12. The Cowboys have only eight takeaways (six interceptions, two fumble recoveries) on the year, which is worst in the NFL. Baltimore and the San Francisco 49ers have 11. The Carolina Panthers lead the NFL in takeaways with 33.

Only three teams have more giveaways than the Cowboys’ 23. Dallas has had 15 passes intercepted and lost eight fumbles. Four of the interceptions have been returned for touchdowns by the opposition.

Seven-of-18


The Cowboys were able to establish a power-first mentality last season with DeMarco Murray leading the NFL with 1,845 rushing yards. Nothing says power more than third-and-1 play calls.

Last year the Cowboys converted 18 of 27 third-and-1 opportunities. They relied on the offensive line and Murray to get the job done and they mostly succeeded.

This year the Cowboys are 7-of-18 in third-and-1 situations. In Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, Robert Turbin was stopped for no gain in that situation at the Dallas 10. The Packers were able to take advantage of a short field for a 48-yard touchdown drive on the ensuing possession.

The Cowboys have failed on three straight third-and-1 calls over their past two games.

The Cowboys have used six different personnel groupings in this scenario through the season and none has truly worked well. On Sunday, they went with their jumbo package with extra tackle Charles Brown and they couldn't gain any leverage.

6.9

The Cowboys can’t make any explosive plays in the passing game. They have just 27 pass plays of 20 or more yards this season. They have had two games, including the loss to the Packers, in which they had none. They had 41 pass plays of 20 yards or more through 13 games last season.

Big plays translate to points. On 38 of their 41 big plays last year, the Cowboys scored points, including 31 touchdowns. This year the Cowboys have scored points on 24 of the 27, but eight of those drives ended in field goals.

Cowboys quarterbacks are averaging just 6.9 yards per attempt. Last year Tony Romo and Brandon Weeden averaged 8.4 yards per attempt. The last time the Cowboys QBs averaged fewer than 7 yards per attempt was in 2003 with Quincy Carter as the starter (6.56 yards per attempt).

536

This number is just staggering. It represents how many passes have been thrown since the last Cowboys cornerback recorded an interception. You have to go back to Orlando Scandrick’s takeaway late in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ Week 14 win last year against the Chicago Bears to find the last corner with a pick.

Brandon Carr has gone 33 straight games without an interception. Morris Claiborne hasn't had a pick in his past 12 games.

Given how much teams throw the ball in the NFL these days, it’s hard to fathom this streak. The Cowboys play more man-to-man than zone coverage, which doesn’t lend itself to a lot of picks, but it’s certainly not illegal to pick one off every now and then.

It’s been 16 games since the Cowboys’ last pick. The Arizona Cardinals have the next-longest streak at eight games. Patrick Peterson has their last pick, which came in Week 5.

230

The Cowboys are averaging 17.7 points per game. Yes, Tony Romo has missed all or parts of 11 games but the Cowboys are still supposed to have a great offensive line, they still have Dez Bryant, they still have Jason Witten, they still have Cole Beasley, they still have Terrance Williams.

Instead of Romo-friendly, we have seen just how Romo-reliant the Cowboys have been. Only the St. Louis Rams, who fired their offensive coordinator, and San Francisco 49ers, who fired their starting quarterback, are averaging fewer points than the Cowboys.

The Cleveland Browns are averaging more points per game.

Last year the Cowboys scored 467 points, the second most in franchise history. They scored 30 or more points in a game 10 times last year. They have yet to score 30 points in a game this season.
 

UncleMilti

This seemed like a good idea at the time.
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Its really not that difficult. Theres not a lot of talent after Romo, Dez, Witten and Hardy.

Our CB's suck for the most part, and safety play is terrible. The Dline has been shored up some, and this draft needs to focus on another disruptive player on the DLine, some CB's, a QB, RB and some more speed on the offensive side of the ball.

Its a large list, but where the Cowboys are picking should allow some ability to move down a few spots and pick up some needed draft picks.

Not sure who will be available in free agency, but I'm sure we can pick up a couple role players to help out in other positions.
 
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