From linebacker rotations to a pass rush that hasn’t produced and a secondary giving up big plays, what supporters see as glaring issues are being brushed off as minor growing pains.
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The Linebacker Question
When asked about his linebackers, Eberflus leaned into praise rather than concern.
“I think Jack [Sanborn] has really played the run well. I thought he did a nice job last week and the prior weeks as well. He’s really doing a good job in command of the defense… and then K9’s [Kenneth Murray] had some good weeks… He’s one of the leaders of the defense, and he’s out there making the calls.”
That’s not the way fans see it. Jack Sanborn has become a frequent target of frustration, with many calling for rookie Marist Liufau to see more snaps.
Liufau’s limited action has already shown flashes as a physical edge-setter with a knack for forcing turnovers, yet Eberflus waved off the question of playing time with, “The playing time will be based on the practices.”
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To a fan base that watches linebackers struggle on Sundays, comments like these sound less like accountability and more like dismissal.
The Pass Rush Problem
Per NFL Pro Insights, the Cowboys have relied on four-man fronts more than any defense in the NFL, lining up that way on 86 percent of snaps and rushing four on nearly 80 percent of dropbacks. Despite the commitment, the defense has managed a pressure rate of just 28.6 percent, bottom-10 in the league. They’ve notched only two sacks, tied for third fewest.
Asked about whether the solution is simply to blitz more, Eberflus said, “That would be a simple answer, right? Blitzing is good, right? But rushing four and dropping the rest of the guys is good, too. You know, so you got to mix it. You got to match it up. It’s based on protections, based on the offense’s look. You got to marry those together.”
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The problem for fans is that neither option has translated into results. The pressure is inconsistent, the sacks are missing, and what Eberflus describes as mixing and matching has yet to provide clarity on how the pass rush will turn things around.
The Coverage Crisis
Dallas has leaned heavily on zone coverage in Eberflus’ first season, using it on 93.4 percent of dropbacks. That is the highest rate in the NFL and on pace to be the most by any defense since 2018. Opponents have capitalized, averaging 9.4 yards per attempt against the Cowboys in zone, second most in the league.
The problems have been especially glaring on deep passes. Dallas has allowed 415 yards and five touchdowns on throws downfield, the most deep yards any defense has surrendered through the first three games of a season in the Next Gen Stats era.
Eberflus pointed to execution and consistency when pressed about communication breakdowns, saying, “It’s a play here or there. It’s got to be 100 percent. It’s important that we do it every single play… It’s going to be loud this week. We got to make sure that we’re on point there.”
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To frustrated fans, those words do not explain what they see on the field. Zone coverage has repeatedly left the secondary exposed, and the breakdowns have become a defining feature of the defense’s early struggles.
Eberflus continues to describe the defense as growing and improving, but fans see the same problems piling up each week. Whether it is linebacker rotations, a pass rush that is not producing, or a secondary left vulnerable in zone, his explanations often come across as brushing aside concerns rather than addressing them.
