It's no secret that the Dallas Cowboys have become one of the better defensive teams in the NFL. Last season they finished no. 1 in turnovers and were excellent on third down.  They have continued that in 2022 as they lead the NFL in sacks (33), are third against the pass (178.4), have the third-best scoring defense (16.6), and are ranked seventh in yards per game (313.5).

Much like life, nothing is ever perfect in the game of football, and the Cowboys have one deficiency on their defense, stopping the run. Over the first eight weeks of the season, the Cowboys are allowing just over 135 yards per game on the ground which ranks 24th in the league.

The Cowboys are currently on their bye week which makes this the ideal time to get this particular problem solved. A motivating factor in doing so should come from what happened to them a season ago.

For as good Dallas was defensively in 2021 they were 20th against the run and allowed eight consecutive teams to run for over 100 yards from Week 8 to Week 15. The Cowboys never fully got this under control before going into the playoffs and were gashed for 169 yards against the San Francisco 49ers which led to a loss in the first round.

That nightmare is exactly why the Cowboys need to focus on being better against the run. Weaknesses get magnified in the postseason. The Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and the 49ers are all capable of running the ball well and are currently potential playoff opponents for the Cowboys.

Cowboys have the personnel to improve in this area

The Cowboys have solid pieces on the interior of their defensive line with Osa Odighizuwa, Tysten Hill, Quinton Bohanna, Neville Gallimore, and the newly acquired Jonathan Hankins. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is one of the best run defenders in the NFL and has backup with Micah Parsons and Dorance as well as others on the edge.

Parsons also provides help in this area on the second level with his duties as a linebacker. In addition, the Cowboys have veterans Leighton Vander Esch and Anthony Barr, as well as rookie Damone Clark who made his NFL debut on Sunday, to assist Parsons.

In the Cowboys' secondary, particularly at safety, there are more bodies to stop the run. Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson routinely show their skills to come down in the box and give run support. Also, Israel Mukuamu showcased his ability as a run-stopper in the preseason as well as in the last few weeks with injuries at the position safety position.

They also have the right guy to guide them in the right direction

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was sent to the Cowboys from the gates of heaven. He took over one of the worst defenses in the NFL before the 2021 season and has turned it into one of the best units of its kind for two consecutive years with his knack for disguising looks and taking advantage of players' strengths. Now, the challenge for Quinn is to take all of these viable assets and get them to work together as a unit to be better against the run and take the Cowboys' defense to an even more dominant level.

The ingredients are there and so is the chef, now it's just about making an edible dish.

Feature image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports