Dallas Cowboys Making MAJOR Defensive Changes Under Matt Eberflus Before NFL Week 7?

Dallas Cowboys Making MAJOR Defensive Changes Under Matt Eberflus Before NFL Week 7?

[Music] We are once again looking at some changes the Cowboys I would like to see them make at least on the defensive side of the ball. Matt Abra’s firing is one of them. We know they’re not going to. Uh we’ve gone over this plenty of times here on the show. It’s available on the channel. the rants, the ravings, the the crash outs, we’ll call it, over flu and this defense. If you have not checked them out, please go do so. They’ll be in the comments section of today’s show as well. All the latest Cowboys news, rumors, more frustration, happiness, whatever, we have you. Anger maybe more so right now. We got you covered. Hit that sub button so you don’t miss out. All right. So, first like tangible change that could happen. Blitz a little bit. And these, by the way, two and three here are all kind of tied into like please do some more man coverage stuff. Like that’s like the the underlying crux of like they don’t like doing man. They’re not doing a lot of it. I’m going to kind of moneyball my way in here to hey got to play Scott. So I’m going to make you do things that kind of make you play more man coverage in the end. Blitzmore. It was five times against the Panthers. Five. That is it. On those blitzes, by the way, Bryce Young was three of four, 29 yards and a TD and a sack. It’s actually worse than what it was outside of the blitzing, but like do it more than five times. Look, the Cowboys this year are not the best when it comes to blitzing. They’re at.31 EPA per play. There are some massive chunk gains that they’ve also allowed in those moments, but they suck no matter what. So, I am of the belief if you’re bad and no matter what you do here, you probably should try to also generate some stuff in your favor. So, let’s look at some of the pressure rates here. Blitzing 40. These are all per NFL’s NextG stats. 49% pressure rate when blitzing. It’s pretty good. No blitz 35.1. And the tying to pressure, by the way, startlingly different. 2.5 versus 2.8. That’s on average. That.3 means a lot. The sack rate nearly doubles. More importantly, when they blitz versus when they don’t blitz, they cannot get home with four. They have not been good this year outside of James Houston, frankly, at getting home with four rushers. They have to try something different. You cannot keep just saying fourman fronts with like no real stunts will work. This is why your third down defense is so bad. If you can’t get pressure, the quarterback gets time to sit back there and throw. Like, you have to try to blitz. You’re not really trying. you’re at least giving yourself some splash plays to get yourself off the field. So, do you want the Cowboys to blitz a little bit more? Because if you blitz, you’re probably going to play some more man coverage, too. Why for yes and for no? And you’re going to build your cornerback’s ability like not to cover for 4 seconds. It feels like why for yes and for no. Tying into this a little bit, fix your run fits. And much like the Mike Nolan era, there’s probably like five shows worth of like each individual player of like, bro, what are you doing here? Why is this your formation? This was one of the ones that I I noticed in the moment. I’m like, that’s not a good fit. Three tight end package here, all on the right side for Carolina. The math ain’t math. You You got three guys to the left of the center for two blockers. Then you’ve got five guys with the center on the right side against six blockers including the center. That math ain’t math. And then what ends up happening? Guess where Carolina ran? They ran right at Dante Fowler who is standing up and jumping inside. The linebackers can’t fit it properly. And even when the Cowboys are in a proper formation, there’s massive issues fitting the run. Just massive issues. It’s it’s your talk about the linebackers here in a little bit. Man, they are bad right now. And your defensive linemen are getting blown off the ball. I I I watched Marshon Neland, who I think was hurt and was a factor in why didn’t play well, but still get pushed 10 yards off the ball by a freaking tight end and Tommy Tremble. I watched Jay Tia get manhandle. You know what Jay Tia’s average depth of tackle is this year? 12. 12 yards downfield. Now it’s two plays, small sample size. it’s run, you know, but he’s not handling double teams well. You’re honestly better off playing Mazy right now, which is a huge concern. I would like to see the Cowboys in obvious rundowns do some more fiveman fronts. They are per summer sports, they are dead last in the NFL in fiveman front, which includes like you put Maurice Leaf lined up along the defensive line as a standup, you know, outside Sam linebacker at 9.5%. Now, when the Cowboys do some of that fiveman front, it looks like this. You’ve got Maurice Leafoul rolled down. So it it’s kind of like a 4-3 under over whatever you want to call it as a rock who’s a stand up player too. You got Sam Williams lined up as a three technique. Why you really think Sam Liam is going to be able to handle that that responsibility? The answer was no. By the way, they picked up a big chunk gain on this one as well. It was an explosive run the Cowboys allowed. I am down to deploy this type of front, but it should be three defensive tackles in there or at least someone like maybe Marshon Neland. It should be some combination of of Kenny Clark and Osa and and Solomon Thomas or Winfrey when he’s healthy or Mazy. I thought Jay Toy was terrible by the way against the Panthers. Like not putting Leafoul down there especially line up over a slot receiver and Williams playing three technique like of course you can bl you don’t have the personnel right here. This is this is a coaching schematic issue. I’m down to do more fiveman front stuff. You have to put the right guys in the right spots though. Stick with the norm of four defensive lineman and then throw another defensive linement on top of that if you’re going to do that that fiveman front stuff. This run defense is bad. They are not doing their jobs. They have collapsed as of late. They have gone from being like okay above average to bad. Like even the guys who were playing good against like Kenny Clark Kenny Clark was playing really good football the first couple weeks last two they’ve been bad. I don’t know if he’s hurt or what like he’s getting bounc like your your your front four is getting bounced out the club. Your linebackers are seeing red and just filling randomly. It’s a mess. All the numbers come up bad. He can’t do it. OSA is not playing up to what you needed to be playing right now. He’s also 280. like, you know, it just there’s just there’s all kinds of bad. It’s just not it’s not remotely where it needs to be right now for the Dallas Cowboys. 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Use promo code Cowboys at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. See site for details. A big thank you to our advertiser Omaha Stakes. Link will be in the comments section and the description of today’s show. That’s omahastak.com. Promo codec Cowboys. Next up, look, I think you have to get a new linebacker. I It’s or at least change your deployment of them. It’s bad right now. Um, honestly, I think the majority, not all, but I think like the the single biggest issue in your run defense against Carolina, you’re not fitting the run properly from your linebacker group. You’re you’re just not. Kenneth Murray, it’s the he’s the same guy he’s been over the course of his career. He doesn’t fit the run properly. When he when he triggers, a it’s slow. It’s not always to the right spot. He’s he’s too slow on the trigger. He He’s athletic. can try him in some coverage stuff, but like I don’t think he should be one of your I guess he has to be one of your early down base linebackers, but if you’re going to do two linebacker sets against the run, I’m going Sanborn and Leafoul right now. That’s how bad it is. Sanborn, the onoff splits are startling. You know, it’s 3.85 uh when he is on the field on defense. Mentioned this in in a previous video. Uh 3.86 yards per carry on the field, 6.35 off the off the field in terms of yards. It was the Jets game and the Panthers game for when Sanour’s been off the field and when San Bourne’s been on it. He just is a starting league gap between your linebacker play with Sanour and everybody else. Shamar James is athletic. He’s fun. He he’s he’s a blast to watch, but he doesn’t know where he’s going yet. The the tackles are all coming downfield. He’s jumping to the wrong gap. He and Murray both are. He’s young. I like him. I think there actually some promising coverage stuff. He can be on the field on third downs. I guess you put Leafoul out there on first and second. I I don’t think that’s a great option right now. They’re also playing with Sam and like H, you know, is that really his best fit? I’m I’m not so sure. I would go try to find somebody else. I don’t know who that is. Um Eric Kendricks is like the best one on this list, but like also does he want to come play for a bad team? Cuz that’s how you’re going to be viewed by other by by free agents. It’s it’s going to be bad. Like Isaiah Simmons is athletic, but like that’s the exact same issue you’re facing right now. You can go trade for somebody if you wanted to. Logan Wilson’s basically lost his job in Cincinnati. The Dolphins suck. Demario Davis is good, but does he want to come play for a bad team? I don’t know if Cody Barton’s any better. Guys like Jerome Baker and Devin Bush, maybe Deon Bush could be a fun option, but like should you be buying in a goodish linebacker? These guys might not be good either. Like Overshon’s going to get back. This might end up being a change in the offseason where you again shuffle your linebacking core pretty significantly. Name a linebacker you want to get. Let me know in the comments section of today’s show. Name a linebacker you want to go add. Next up, I have to do something with Donovan Wilson. Like there is something that I have to do. He cannot continue to play the way he is being deployed. Either bench him because he can’t cover. How many blown assignments involve Donovan Wilson in some capacity? I get he’s a captain or if you’re not going to bench him, stop playing him as a deep safety. Like you have to find a way to stop doing this. Like you cannot continue to deploy Donovan Wilson as a deep safety. It doesn’t work. I don’t understand why Matt Eberflouse is so committed to playing Wilson back deep. He has played more deep snaps, which I’m counting as PFF’s free safety snaps, which I think is pretty accurate, not in the box, than he ever has in his career. He’s about to surpass his total snaps deep in like two weeks this rate, maybe a month. Stop it. He’s not good in that area. I don’t know why they’re not having W Thomas be your deep 50. Try Elijah Clark. Try Maris Bell. Try something. I I’m tired of Donan Wilson in coverage getting his ankles broken. He can’t cover tight ends and man. He can’t do it. Stop it. Try something different there. Try Bell. I know he But Bell was bad in the preseason. We are in the try stage. try please. My next one is actually maybe a bit more controversial. I have seen enough of the Sam’s experiment, frankly. Um, I I can’t I can’t keep doing this with him. I have been extremely disappointed with the play of Sam Williams this year. I don’t think he’s a very good run defender. He kind of continuously finds a way to take himself out of gaps and slice in. And I feel like he’s not staying gap sound. He’s not keeping contained very well. And he’s not really doing that much as a pressure player. Over the last three weeks, or sorry, four weeks, he’s got four penalties, one quarterback hit, and one sack. His best plays have helped the other team. Man, there’s always something with Sam Williams. He’s got four penalties this year, four missed tackles, 12 pressures total. Cannot be your ratio as a pass rusher. I I don’t think he’s very good against the run. I’m not seeing that much juice in the pass rush. There’s a there’s some moments of it, but nothing consistent for a guy that the Cowboys were kind of like saying they might want to extend. Not a singular reason to extend him right now. Do you agree with me the Cowboys should bench Sam Williams? One for yes, zero for no. Let me know in the comments section of today’s show. Now, how how I would deploy my edges, by the way, if Williams is like or maybe that’s like cut down on the snaps. I I would give all of the pass rush reps his way to James Houston. I get that they don’t trust Houston as a run defender. I understand that. He’s very undersized. But you know what, man? It’s not like Sam Limbs playing any better. I thought Clowney didn’t play much. I don’t think he was very good against Panthers. Thought he had a really rough day against Carolina. Probably still ramping him up. Nean it was banged up. That’s why he didn’t play well against the run. When he’s healthy, he’s good there. Ezra, I thought was actually pretty solid. Um, it’s coming for him, but it’s just not there yet. I just I just I’m over the experiment with him. I am I I can’t stand him continuously finding a way to be among your penalty leaders every single year. Every year he does it. He’s He’s an undisiplined player. He’s got four penalties. Nobody else on defense has more than two. Got double the next guy. Just just bad. [Music]

Cowboys rumors today on if Dallas will make more key changes on defense under Matt Eberflus. Firing Matt Eberflus is one change that Cowboys Report host Tom Downey would welcome, but it’s not exactly likely right now. Instead, he’s got some personnel and schematic changes that would benefit the Cowboys!

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The biggest Cowboys change needed in the secondary is to play more man coverage. Several of ideas below are “moneyball” ways to force Matt Eberflus to do that:
– Blitz A Little Bit
– Fix Run Fits
– Get A New Linebacker
– Do Something With Donovan Wilson
– Bench Sam Williams

The Cowboys blitzed 5 times against the Panthers, tied for their fewest of the season. While blitzing might lead to more negative plays, it also creates good ones for the Cowboys. Look at the metrics:
– Pressure Rate: Blitz: 49.0% | No Blitz: 35.1%
– Time To Pressure: Blitz: 2.50 | No Blitz: 2.80
– Sack Rate: Blitz: 8.2% | No Blitz: 4.2%

Get in the comments and reply to today’s questions on this edition of the Cowboys Report:
– Do you want the Cowboys to blitz more? Type ‘Y’ for Yes, ‘N’ for No
– Name a linebacker you want to get!
– Should the Cowboys bench Sam Williams? Type ‘1’ for Yes, ‘0’ for No
– Name a player you want to bench!

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Cowboys free agent and trade targets at LB:
Josey Jewell (free agent)
Isaiah Simmons (free agent)
David Long Jr. (free agent)
De’Vondre Campbell (free agent)
Eric Kendricks (free agent)
Logan Wilson (Bengals)
Jordyn Brooks (Dolphins)
Demario Davis (Saints)
Cody Barton (Titans)
Jerome Baker (Browns)
Christian Harris (Texans)
Tommy Eichenberg (Raiders)
Marte Mapu (Patriots)

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Donovan Wilson has struggled this year, in part because he’s playing more deep snaps than in recent years:
2025: 219/403 (54.3%)
2024: 431/1008 (42.8%)
2023: 296/776 (38.1%)
2022: 426/1102 (38.7%)

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Cowboys 2025 Free Agents:
Trey Lance (QB): Signed with Chargers
Cooper Rush (QB): Signed with Ravens
Will Grier (QB): Re-signed
Rico Dowdle (RB): Signed with Panthers
Brandin Cooks (WR): Signed with Saints
KaVontae Turpin (WR): Re-Signed
Chuma Edoga (OT): Signed with Jaguars
Brock Hoffman (OG): Re-signed
Zack Martin (OG): Retired
Linval Joseph (DT)
Osa Odighizuwa (DT): re-signed
Carlos Watkins (DT): Signed with Titans
Chauncey Golston (DE): Signed with Giants
DeMarcus Lawrence (DE): Signed with Seahawks
Carl Lawson (DE)
Tyrus Wheat (DE): Re-signed
Darius Harris (LB): Re-signed
Eric Kendricks (LB)
Nick Vigil (LB)
C.J. Goodwin (CB): Re-signed
Jourdan Lewis (CB): Signed with Jaguars
Israel Mukuamu (CB): Re-signed
Amani Oruwariye (CB): Signed with Titans
Markquese Bell (S): Re-signed
Juanyeh Thomas (S): Re-signed
Bryan Anger (P): Re-signed
Trent Sieg (LS): Re-signed

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