#cowboys-defense

#cowboys-defense

A third-round pick in 2023, he was getting a lot of positive buzz in training camp and flashed his potential in the early preseason games. But a torn ACL ended his rookie year before it could really begin, pushing his regular-season debut until Week 1 of the following season.

The move is hardly surprising for Ezeiruaku, as the outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense are typically going to be more oriented towards edge rushing. For example, last year the Eagles listed Jaelan Phillips, Nolan Smith, and Jalyx Hunt as outside linebackers even though they did effectively the same thing that Cowboys defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney, James Houston, and Ezeiruaku himself did in 2025.

The Dallas Cowboys have set a new direction for their defense for the fourth year in a row. They hired and recently introduced first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker. The insights into what Parker's defense will look like that came from the press conference have put the former rival Philadelphia Eagles coach back in the headlines as the face of a defense that desperately needs this reset.

The NFL playoffs begin Saturday, but we're also keeping an eye on coach movement. What's new with Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh? How did the John Harbaugh-Ravens split go down? What are the Raiders thinking after securing the No. 1 pick and moving on from Pete Carroll? The NFL coaching carousel is spinning fast, and only accelerating with Harbaugh's dismissal. We canvassed sources across the league to gather intel on potential moves every team could make.

I watched the 2025 Cowboys defense, and it was like owning a jacked-up 4×4 that still gets stuck in the mud. The potential was obvious, but the execution? That's where the wheels fell off. We saw penalties in critical moments, missed tackles that made me question defenders, communication busts on seemingly every play, and the thing that bothered me most, the team didn't lack talent.

As a unit, the defensive line is at 39% in Pass Rush Win Rate (12th) and 32% Run Stop Win Rate (6th), so the plan is to push the middle of the pocket and make every Justin Herbert dropback feel crowded. Individually, the star power inside has been Quinnen Williams, who is number one in Run Stop Win Rate (46%) among inside defensive linemen, while Osa Odighizuwa is also top-10 (39%).

"The adjustments that we should be making (defensively) should be with these next three games in mind," Jones said. "With three games left in the short time that we've got to play them in, then that will impact any adjustments that you make regarding coaching with the time frame we're dealing with. That's a legit question."

A week ago, we debated whether or not the season was already lost. Now, it seems hope springs eternal. Winning will do that to you. Yes, yes, it was just the Raiders. But the Cowboys crushed a team they were supposed to crush, and most importantly, the defense looked darn good doing it. And yet, it was still just the Raiders. Up next is a gauntlet that features the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, and Chargers.

The Cowboys, sitting at 3-4-1, are seeking to steady their form after a rocky stretch, while the 2-5 Cardinals aim to stop their slide and find some momentum in front of a national audience. Dallas have been one of the league's most exciting offensive teams, averaging just over 30 points per game. Dak Prescott has been in sharp form, throwing for 2,069 yards and 16 touchdowns with a 70% completion rate.

How many of us can say that we're disappointed, but not surprised? Against a Carolina Panthers team that was also without two of their starting offensive linemen, the Dallas Cowboys' defense provided little to no resistance and got steamrolled. Although the defense recorded a turnover, they didn't do much else to stop the Panthers. It's a shame, too, because Dak Prescott was once again terrific from the pocket and George Pickens did all he could to elevate the passing attack practically singlehandedly.