The Dallas Cowboys pass-rush is among the worst in the NFL
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys may be undervaluing the need to improve their pass rush, which by multiple measures, rated near the bottom of the league.
Virtually everyone was in agreement that the Dallas Cowboys needed to upgrade their pass rush this offseason. Unable to generate pressure, the Cowboys postseason came to a premature end against the Green Bay Packers for the second time in three seasons.
Where fans and media disagree is the level of concern the Cowboys should pay to upgrading their pass rush in 2017. Sack totals indicate the Cowboys were above average in 2016, but those totals are wildly misleading and may lead to dangerous determinations.
The Cowboys were among the worst in the NFL
According to ESPN Stats and Information, the Dallas Cowboys only created pressure on 23 percent of the time their opponents were passing. That’s third worst in the entire NFL!
Bob Strum conducted a similar exercise where he calculated the sack rate for the Cowboys. The sack rate is how many drop backs the opponent had before Dallas was able to generate a sack. According to his calculations the Cowboys collected a sack every 18.6 pass plays. That number ranks them only 18th in the league.
It doesn’t matter whether you value sacks more or pressure more, one thing is clear – the Dallas Cowboys were not good pass-rushers in 2016
Timing is Everything
Another reason sack totals fail to tell the real story is in the quality department. Not all sacks are created equal meaning collecting a sack in a blow-out win over the Cleveland Browns is considerably less valuable than getting a sack against the Packers on 3rd down in the playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys pass rush struggled against quality competition and quality competition is inevitably who they face in the postseason. If the Dallas Cowboys hope to find greater success in 2017 they need to find a way to get to the passer in obvious passing downs.
The Primary Upgrade: Taco
While sack totals improved to slightly above league average last season, there was no denying Dallas’ impotence when things mattered the most. Because of this the Cowboys cashed in their first round pick for defensive end, Taco Charlton.
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Charlton, at times an unstoppable force in college, is penciled in as a starter by most around the Cowboys organization. On a defensive line thin on blue-chip talent, the chances of Taco logging considerable snaps in Rod Marinelli’s rotation are high.
Rarely do rookie pass-rushers make much of a pass-rushing impact in the NFL. 10-sack rookies are an anomaly and traditionally exclusive to top-5 draft picks. But after totaling a respectable 36 sacks in 2016, many are undervaluing the need to improve in the pass-rush department.
That would be a mistake.
2017
Season totals can be deceiving. For a team like the Cowboys that usually play with a lead, they face considerably more passing situations than the average NFL team. Their sack totals are SUPPOSED to be higher as a result. But when isolating effectiveness per passing situation, the Dallas Cowboys very clearly drop to the bottom of the league.
Additionally, sack totals mean very little in the playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys must find a way to be dominant in obvious passing situations. Situations that arise often when facing the Aaron Rodgers’ and Tom Bradys of the NFL.
Next: Who will be this season's surprise sack-master for the Cowboys?
The Dallas Cowboys were much worse in the pass rush than many are admitting. With a generally modest offseason investment, the Cowboys are clearly banking on building up significant leads and praying for the best in 2017.