{"id":33555,"date":"2025-09-23T22:56:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T22:56:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=33555"},"modified":"2025-09-23T22:56:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T22:56:38","slug":"cowboys-defense-in-crisis-three-fixes-dallas-must-make-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=33555","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys defense in crisis: Three fixes Dallas must make now"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"article-body\">\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/library.sportingnews.com\/styles\/crop_style_16_9_desktop_webp\/s3\/2025-09\/USATSI_27141694.jpg.webp?itok=A4Izobp7\" alt=\"Cowboys defense in crisis: Three fixes Dallas must make now image\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Dallas Cowboys sit at an early crossroads. Through three games, the defense has surrendered 92 points, allowed multiple touchdowns of 25+ yards, and ranks near the bottom in third-down stops (about 53.7%). They\u2019ve forced just one turnover and produced only four sacks. That combination is a recipe for disaster, and unless sweeping changes come soon, the Cowboys risk wasting another season with Dak Prescott trying to do too much.<\/p>\n<p>Cowboys Defensive Snapshot (Through 3 Games)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Points Allowed: 92 (30.6 per game)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Sacks: 4<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Takeaways: 1<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">3rd-Down Defense: 53.7% (last in NFL)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>1. Scheme shift: Less zone, more man<\/p>\n<p>Under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Dallas Cowboys have leaned heavily on zone coverage \u2014 reports indicate usage on more than 90% of defensive snaps. Opponents are feasting on the soft spots with seam and vertical routes. Trevon Diggs believes variety is key, saying, \u201cJust the different coverages we have: a lot of zone, a lot of man\u2026 just mixing it up. Keeping the offense on their toes.\u201d That\u2019s precisely what Dallas must do \u2014 mix in more man-to-man, let Diggs press receivers, and create turnovers instead of allowing free runs downfield.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Shake up the lineup<\/h3>\n<p>Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has already sounded the alarm, admitting, \u201cGuys have to step up.\u201d That acknowledgment now needs to translate into action. With Micah Parsons traded to Green Bay, Dallas\u2019s pass rush lost its most disruptive weapon. Veterans like Osa Odighizuwa and newcomer Kenny Clark must elevate their play, while underperforming starters should be rotated out. Giving younger defenders meaningful snaps would not only spark urgency but also send the message that jobs are earned, not guaranteed.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Reevaluate the coordinator<\/h3>\n<p>Eberflus\u2019s scheme is under heavy scrutiny. The overreliance on soft zones, the lack of consistent pressure, and dreadful third-down defense bring back memories of Mike Nolan\u2019s disastrous 2020 unit. If the next few weeks don\u2019t show measurable improvement \u2014 fewer big plays allowed, more pressure, and better third-down execution \u2014 Dallas must consider a change at coordinator. Sticking with a failing formula risks letting the season spiral out of control.<\/p>\n<p>The Cowboys still have talent to build around. Diggs is a game-changer when freed to play aggressively, Odighizuwa is solid in the trenches, and Clark brings veteran stability. But talent alone isn\u2019t enough without the right scheme and leadership. If the Cowboys truly want to compete in 2025, their defense must stop being a weakness and start becoming a weapon \u2014 and the time to act is now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cowboys\u2019 defense has been a liability through the opening weeks, surrendering big plays at an alarming rate. It\u2019s time for Dallas to make bold adjustments \u2014 from scheme to personnel to coaching.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dallas-cowboys"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cowboys defense in crisis: Three fixes Dallas must make now - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=33555\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cowboys defense in crisis: Three fixes Dallas must make now - Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Cowboys\u2019 defense has been a liability through the opening weeks, surrendering big plays at an alarming rate. 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