FRISCO, Texas – The football season is rapidly approaching.
The Cowboys will head to training camp in less than a month. This will be our first chance to observe Brian Schottenheimer’s initial season with the revamped roster and coaching staff. Once we reach Oxnard, we should start gaining insights into the 2025 Cowboys team.
What questions remain? We’ve put together our annual compilation of critical inquiries that need addressing as we enter the regular season. The writing team, including Patrik Walker, Tommy Yarrish, Nick Eatman, Mickey Spagnola, Kyle Youmans, and Kurt Daniels, provide their perspectives on pressing matters.
In this segment, we’ll explore the new defense led by Matt Eberflus, who has experience as the head coach of the Bears, as well as serving as a defensive coordinator in Indianapolis and a linebackers coach in Dallas nearly a decade ago.
14) What does Eberflus’ defense entail?
Tommy: One guarantee from a Matt Eberflus defense is the emphasis on takeaways. Throughout his seven years as a defensive playcaller, his units have only once finished outside the top 10 for takeaways, and even that year they landed in the league’s top half at 14th. When functioning optimally, his defense can also excel in stopping the run; Eberflus has had top 10 units in five out of seven seasons, though they ranked 31st and 28th in 2022 and 2024, respectively. However, they reclaimed the top spot in 2023, showcasing his ability to turn a struggling defense around, though he now faces a new challenge with the Cowboys.
We may also anticipate a shift in focus to the pass rush, a departure from Eberflus’ previous styles. The Cowboys boast a deep pass-rushing unit, and ramping up pressure on opposing quarterbacks could lead to even more turnovers, a strategy Eberflus will likely advocate.
Kyle: For those nostalgic for Dan Quinn’s defenses, Matt Eberflus is expected to deliver comparable results and effort. His defenses have consistently exhibited intense effort, similar to Quinn’s units from 2021-23. However, notable differences exist.
While Quinn’s defenses focused on creating turnovers and pressuring from the edges, Eberflus’ approach will emphasize tackling fundamentals and increasing pressure from the interior, particularly the three-technique and linebackers. This doesn’t exclude pressure from edge rushers like Micah Parsons but anticipates a more dynamic contribution from players like Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas, allowing linebackers to pursue the ball and focus on solid tackling to prevent big plays.
Nick: This defense aims to amplify turnover production, which is beneficial for everyone involved. The threat of turnovers can make offenses play cautiously, and when turnovers occur, the offense gains valuable field position.
In terms of scheme, we may see modifications in the defensive line’s midpoint. Under Dan Quinn, the bigger 1-technique tackles were favored for a read-and-react defense, while Eberflus prefers quicker defensive tackles who can maneuver into gaps and create disruptions, keeping offenses off balance and allowing linebackers to make plays.
Moreover, expect a more traditional 4-3 defense with Eberflus. Unlike Quinn’s near-4-2-5 style, featuring linebackers like Markquese Bell and Donovan Wilson near the line, Eberflus will primarily deploy three linebackers in its base setup.
Kurt: When asked about his philosophy following his hiring, Eberflus stated, “Simply put: we take the ball away, we stop the run, and we make exciting plays.” While we haven’t witnessed extensive specifics yet, his past success as a defensive coordinator, including consistent top-ten finishes in takeaways and rushing yards allowed during his time with the Colts, is promising. However, his performance in three seasons with the Bears wasn’t quite as impressive. This raises a crucial question: is it the scheme or the players? For Dallas this year, it’s hoped that the answer will be a combination of both.
