Special Contributor Bob Sturm answered questions in a chat Thursday. Here are some highlights.
Question: Is there statistical evidence that backs up Dallas giving up the most 15+ yard 3rd downs in the league? Or is that just a homercentric view?
Bob Sturm: I just looked it up. 3rd downs where a team concedes at least 15 yards. The NFL average defense has given up 14 this season. The Cowboys have given up 13. The 3 worst offenders are the Chargers (24), the Giants (22), and the Browns (19). So, I guess, no, there is no evidence that backs that up.
Question: I am saddened that the Sean Lee-Ragonk combo is not taking the league by storm. Is LB the biggest area to be addressed for 2016?
Bob Sturm: Sadly, it sure looks like it. I really enjoyed McClain's season last year and hoped he would be a mainstay. Now, he looks like he should be replaced. Lee has us all wondering if the Cowboys need to stop depending on him because his body cannot handle it. Now, it seems like they could consider looking for 22 year old replacements to handle each spot. Maybe they have one in house with Anthony Hitchens and another with Damien Wilson. But, neither seems to have the coaching staff head-over-heels to put them on the field.
Question: Have you seen Gavin Escobar recently? Just curious what he's doing now that he no longer plays for the Cowboys.
Bob Sturm: A fantastic question. Very frustrating year for Gavin Escobar. Since the return of James Hanna in NY, the Escobar snaps have dropped from roughly 28 snaps a game to about 15. He is clearly the 3rd TE now. It is truly another difficult year.
Question: Is JJ Wilcox good at football playing?
Bob Sturm: Yes. He is. But, how good? And are his negatives going to be deal breakers? His poor angles seem to suggest that you should consider a better safety to play the Earl Thomas role if you can find one. But, sometimes, the cost is too high so you do the best you can. He is a player I have always liked, but after that play on Sunday night and his diminishing playing time in the last month, you can see the clock is ticking on this bunch.
Question: You are the "x's and o's" guy. Are the coaches putting the players in a position to succeed, and the players are not getting it done? Or is the team being out-coached at critical moments/areas?
Bob Sturm: I would argue that when you are 2-6, there is enough blame to go around. Are the coaches putting players in a good spot? Sometimes, but not enough. Linehan and Marinelli have both been the targets of ridicule at different times. The coaches have not had players lined up or deployed properly at the end of the New Orleans and Philadelphia losses. That is a very bad look. The players have disappointed repeatedly as well. The front office put faith in Joseph Randle and Rolando McClain and Devin Street and Gavin Escobar and Terrance Williams and Brandon Weeden. How many times have we wondered this season about the wisdom behind that? The front office also bet heavily that Tony Romo and Sean Lee would stay healthy, despite the fact that they both get hurt on a near-annual basis. It has been a rough year where you need some good fortune. The Cowboys have not received a whole lot of that.