Matt Eberflus: Accepting Accountability | Dallas Cowboys 2025

Matt Eberflus: Accepting Accountability | Dallas Cowboys 2025

All right. How’s everybody been doing? Okay. Okay. So, uh um just talking about last week, you know, we all accept accountability um you know, for the performances that we have and that’s really what you can go by, the last performance. You know, sitting here last week, we thought the guys were moving in the right direction. Thought we were moving in the right direction and last week didn’t play as well as we wanted to. And we accept, you know, responsibility, accountability for that. uh looked at the tape and uh you know the mistakes you know the good things that happened the mistakes that happened and uh we all take accountability for that. Um, you know, and then you look at what you can adjust, you know, the adjust adjustments and the adaptability has got to be there and, uh, we’re doing that this week and, uh, guys had a really good practice yesterday with those adjustments, you know, so that’s a good thing. And then really it all comes down to our, you know, technique fundamentals and then also the, you know, the effort and then the physicality, all the things that coach speak, you know, and coaches talk about, but that’s real, you know, so it’s always going to be there. Um, that’s since the beginning of time. So, you know, it’s really uh looking how we, you know, how do we respond uh to adversity, uh, you know, during this time, you know, and during this moment. And it’s about putting one foot in front of the other. And that’s what we’re going to do. And then, uh, you know, really about just reinforcing, you know, this is a football team. You know, we’re a football team. We do this thing together. Um, we do it as a unit, offense, defense, special teams, and we tie it together as a whole football team. So, um, we have to be better um, in that area. So, and then, uh, you know, on to Arizona. You know, Arizona’s got a really good, uh, football team. They’re coming off the buy and, uh, you know, obviously the quarterback. Everybody talks about the quarterback. He’s a heck of an athlete, heck of a player. We’ve had an opportunity to play him a few times and, um, you know, he really presents a lot of problems. You know, they got some good skill on the outside. Um, that that’s also an issue. So, we, you know, we’re working to really uh, neutralize that at the best we can and uh, you know, and work on our third down plan as we get going today. So with that, I’ll open up to questions. Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News. Uh Shotti talked about you spending some more time with you guys in the meetings. How much of a benefit is that? That’s always beneficial. You know, that’s always beneficial when you can get that, you know, if it was if it was Frank Reichen there or, you know, any offensive guy that’s been that I’ve been uh you know, with um it’s really beneficial because you can see it through the offensive coordinator’s eyes. um you know he gives insight you know not only in that in a meeting you know a defensive meeting or a unit meeting but also you know us just talking you know in the office together so I think that’s really important to really soak that in and I’ve always you know with even with the quarterbacks that I’ve been with with I’ve always asked them Philip Rivers you know Tony Romo all those guys that I’ve been around I’ve always asked you know what’s tough on you know in terms of a presentation um you know and what we can do to make it look a certain way and uh it’s always been beneficial Did you do that in Chicago when you were the head coach? Did you go in their meetings a little bit more when things were Yeah, I was in there all the time. I was in there all the time. So, it was uh it’s important that you know what’s going on. Um and you can give some insight to the other side. Brian Todd Archer Brian, sorry about that. Is that your brother or Yeah, Scott threw me off. So, uh Todd Archer with ESPN. Um you talk about the accountability part of it. Yeah. How do you hold guys accountable? What do you guys do? What’s the effect? Yeah, it’s it’s real simple. You look in the mirror, right? You don’t look look elsewhere. You look in the mirror and what can I do better? You know, how can I perform better as a football coach um as as a DTackle, defensive back, linebacker, whatever it might be. And then you come up with a plan uh to do that. And you certainly use uh people around you, you know, you use your coaches, use your players, you use everybody around you to do that, to set that plan. And then you grind, you grind to get better. you know, you you you get better every single day. You go out there and uh you grow and that’s how you grow as a football team. How different has this played out the way you thought it would be coming into the season? Yeah, every year is different, you know, every year’s different and you are where you are and uh the the facts are the facts and the realities are the realities and and we have to be better and uh that’s where we are right now and but I believe in the every player in in the room, you know, we got what we need in that room and uh I’m excited about us improving every single week from this point. John Michelle with the athletic, what are some areas that you think that you guys have improved in from week one? Yeah, it’s been up and down, right? I mean, it’s been up and down. We’ve had, you know, some some solid games and we’ve had some games that we were we’re not proud of. So, it’s been up and down, you know. So, it’s been, you know, as a coach, you look at it, you take a step and then take another step and then, you know, back and forth and it’s uh that to me is is, you know, improvement. You know, it’s improvement. You see improvement, you see fundamentals and uh we just got to keep working on those things. And then I can’t imagine you thought you guys would be where you’re at right now through eight games. Why do you What do you think is the biggest reason that expectations? Yeah, I mean it comes back to what I said in the beginning. You know, it’s it’s about, you know, the you know, it’s the details of everything. You know, it’s important that we’re we’re coaching it up right. It’s important that the guys are playing it right. You know, it’s it’s coach and player player and coach. Um you really can’t pinpoint one thing. You know, it’s it’s it’s it’s a couple things. Uh but it’s important that we work on what we need to work on, you know, in terms of that. You know, it’s be it the run game or the pass game or the details of of each. Nick Harris fourstar telegram your defensive front against Denver didn’t touch boat Nicks until the fourth quarter didn’t register a QB hit until the fourth quarter in the run game there was some issues too what do you attribute that to and what’s been the teaching points this week yeah I mean obviously we want to have uh hits on the quarterback want to have pressure uh on the quarterback you know some of that’s ball out quick um but uh you know it’s it’s it’s really about the pressure game being able to pressure with the front four and then being able to pressure with the you know five or six whatever you’re going to send but um you know I can do a better job there for And Sean, you talked yesterday about how you guys are going to use the extra day on Friday to to work some more film work and mock game stuff. What does that look like on the defensive side of the ball for you? Yeah, just reviewing what we did uh the first couple days. So, we we’ll do our first and second down. We’ll touch that, do our third downs that we’re going to do today. You know, we’ll get a good number of plays in there and uh just hone in on the details of the calls. You think extra day comes at a good time for you guys? I do. I do. It’s always It’s always good to have a bonus day. You get a chance to work and and really get the details in there. Um, make sure guys clearly understand, you know, by asking questions, you know, in the meeting and having them give it back to you. That’s always an important part with coaching and, uh, you can see where they are. Joe Hoy, Dallas Morning News. We talk all the time about what 3D season’s in, three years can be from a scheme standpoint for a defense in terms of development of players drafted within the last three years. How can that affect that? Say that again. In terms of developing the players drafted the last three years, you know, when you have three DC’s in three years, how can that affect potential development for these guys? Yeah, I mean it’s uh every year is different, right? You get so many new players every single year. So I don’t I don’t really uh make an excuse or an explanation there. I really don’t. Um because you come in every year, you know, I’ve come in, you know, you come in a first year and you’re a top 10 defense, you know, that’s happened, you know. So to me it’s uh it’s about uh you know, working with the guys that you have, having continuity with the group that you have, having the guys play next to each other, that’s important. Um, you know, and that hasn’t happened as much as I would like, you know, in terms of injury and it’s nobody’s fault. Um, but, uh, I just think that the continuity piece of it is big and, uh, guys working together. And you have some rookies that are taking larger roles and other guys that maybe, you know, because of injuries have to take larger roles as well. How do you go about trying to develop them mid-season and kind of get the most out of them while they’re pressed into roles that they might have not expected? Yeah, I think as a coach, you you want to develop the entire roster. you know, we know injuries are going to happen and it’s important that a coach, you know, and we understand that and we do um that we develop the entire roster. You know, if it’s a practice squad guy or if it’s a guy that’s been a backup and all a sudden he’s starting, you know, the guys are well aware of that in the NFL you think you’re down and all a sudden you’re up and you’re playing. So, it’s important that they, you know, they do understand that and uh we as coaches develop that way. Tommy Tommy Arcowboys.com. When opposing offenses are getting their lineman to the second level, how do you nullify that? And when you do have a linebacker that’s caught on a guard or a tackle, what’s the coaching point to try and and get off of that? You talking about screens? Screens are the pitch to Harvey last week where where guys climbed and got up there. Yeah. Uh, you know, when when a uh when an offensive lineman jumps up like that, somebody in the front line’s free. you know, we’re on on a one-on-one, so they got to win their one-on-one, you know, you know, you I assume you’re talking about the run plays. Yeah. So, when that happens, you got to have overlaps by your defensive lineman. Um, and they’re on a one-on-one, so that’s important. Um, you can do a good job with the linebackers in terms of foot faking, you know, and then coming behind. Uh, but if you go behind, you got to make the play. So, um, there’s a couple things there, but when they jump that fast, it’s it’s comes down to guys owning their gap. And then you’ve played some good tight ends this year already. What what difference does McBride present in terms of what he can do? Yeah, he’s he’s one of the best in the league. We all know that. Um he’s very strong at the catch point and he’s strong after the catch, you know. So that’s that’s the biggest thing. He’s got a big body, got a big catch radius. Um he’s strong player, really good player, you know, and he’s he’s a better blocker than people give him credit for. He’s really good in in the blocking game, you know, in the scheme in that part of of his game. Um so yeah, I’ve always admired his game. Christie Christy Scales Cowboys radio 1053 the fan um Matt when Jonathan Ganon was one of your position coaches in Indie um could you see that he was fasttracking for DC and ultimately head coach and uh if so what traits did you see then that are reflected in well the first time you know when I interview coaches you know I bring them in and I tell them you know a few things I said you know teach me one of your defenses and I’m going to teach you you know something we do you got to teach it back to me and And I I talk to them about, you know, fundamental drills. You know, they always, you know, bring us a change of clothes and, you know, then we’ll go out on the grass and we’ll talk about fundamentals and drills and and exactly how you you teach press technique, exactly how you teach force, all those types of things. And we got done with with the first two segments of, you know, him teach me, I, you know, I teach him that part of thing. And then I said, “Hey, go change and then we’ll go out on the turf and go to the fundamentals.” And I literally told that to Jonathan Ganon and uh it was it seemed like it was 30 seconds. He was in a suit and he’s in his sweats in 30 seconds. I was like, “Dang, that’s fast.” So, he’s he’s a fast- minded guy. He’s very very sharp. Um he’s he’s good with the play, very good with the players. Um you know, he’s he’s made a really fast rise, you know, in the profession. And, you know, that does not surprise me. Um he’s he’s a he’s a wonderful human being, a wonderful guy, uh also. and he’s got a beautiful family, too. So, uh, it was a pleasure to work with him and, uh, he’s a good friend. Garrett Podell, CBS Sports. Hey, Matt. Um, a lot of the players, they say, you know, you said you had a good practice yesterday. They’re really, you know, understanding what you’re teaching them, but then the execution of those things hasn’t shown up on game day. Why do you think that is, and how is that able to be fixed? Yeah, all you can do is go about what you did yesterday, right? So, you know, the guys did have a good practice yesterday. U, they did have great understanding of the scheme. Um, and we just got to do that one day at a time, you know. So, understanding or not of it is that we got to make sure that we just keep doing that day by day and that’s how you get better. Nick, how challenging has the safety health been and what does that kind of look like this week and trying to get guys like ready more I guess accustomed to that type of role? Yeah, that comes down to a couple things. First of all, you have to understand that you’re going to have challenges and adversity during the course of a season. uh and you when you have a few guys go down, you got to coach them up, you know, and that comes back to the point I was making uh a couple minutes ago is in terms of development. You got to develop those guys. Um you know, Zion was with us, you know, Ready was with us, you know, you know, a few uh last stop and stuff. So, those guys have a good understanding of it, you know, so uh we’ll coach them up and they’ll be there. Shotty was talking about there would be changes, um personnel wise this week. How big of a difference do you think the changes you will can can make? Yeah, I I think there, you know, there when you make changes and adjustments, you know, they have to be within the scheme, you know, they got to be within the scheme and stuff the guys know. Um, but you can also, you know, make subtle changes that, you know, 10 15% that are that are that truly are different, you know. So, it’s important that the guys stick to the fundamentals uh when they do that. I know I keep saying that word, but that’s that’s what what wins and that’s important that guys do that. Is Ezaru ready for more? Yeah, you know, I’ve said it up here before. You know, he’s had a really good season. He’s stacked games together. Um, you know, he’s done a good job in terms of his his his basics. Um, and he gets great pressure. You know, he had a couple good pressures last week. He’s had some good during the course of the course of the year. Um, you know, he got the one versus Washington on a game we were we were running. But, yeah, I love where he is. Um, and the one thing about him is that he brings a lot of passion and a lot of energy, the juice that you need, you know, that really separates the really good defenses uh in the league uh to the to the average ones. Brad Shane, Cowboys Radio 1053, the fan. Matt, do you do you think every player can play every scheme? Uh, no, I do not. Um, you know, you can’t ask a a big uh three four DTackle to play in an attack front. You know, you can’t do that. Um, you can’t ask a first and second down white linebacker to cover on third down as a third down uh, you know, linebacker. So, I would say no. Coach, City Staples, DGT Sports, have you experienced a lack of consistency in a team before like this and and that being the case, how did you respond then and are you able to use that now? Yeah, same way you always respond with adversity. You look in the mirror. uh you do a great job of uh self-evaluation and then you come up with a plan and then you work your plan and then you have a great determination uh to be able to work that plan and you know part of that is not you know you got to make sure that you know everybody’s on board you know it’s important that you talk to everybody. It’s important that you do a good job with that in terms of the communication and then you work together to get it done. Have you seen anybody in particular on the defensive side of the ball really step up in times like this? Yeah, a lot of the guys have. you know, Solomon Thomas has has been great. You know, Osa has been awesome. You know, really KC’s been awesome. You know, Dline, um, you know, K9’s been great. You know, Shamar for a young guy also brings that great energy and passion to the game. So, excited about him and he’s shown some really good leadership, uh, traits and, uh, you know, and then Don Bland, you know, has always always been that, you know, all the guys listen to him and look up to him because of the great player that he is. But, uh, yeah, so that’s that’s what we do. finish with Kell. Um, double backing on Brad’s question. Do you think some of the personnel that you have is still making adjustments to your scheme because they were playing in another scheme? Uh, no. Yeah, I don’t think that’s the issue. I don’t think that’s the issue. You know, they they played in a 4-3 scheme before here and then before they, you know, played more of a 4-3, but some of the some of the five down odd stuff, you know, with with Q, but, you know, it’s still an still get up the field, you know. So I think it’s same same type of stuff. Thank you.

Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen speaks with media before Thursday’s practice to discuss the Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals and more.

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