Dallas Cowboys' Defense Needs an Overhaul
The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Baltimore Ravens for more than one reason. Yet, it was a disastrous defensive performance that paved the way to a 34-17 loss. The Cowboys had no chance of stopping the Ravens' running game and that was clear right out of the gate as different ball carriers racked up big […]
The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Baltimore Ravens for more than one reason. Yet, it was a disastrous defensive performance that paved the way to a 34-17 loss. The Cowboys had no chance of stopping the Ravens' running game and that was clear right out of the gate as different ball carriers racked up big gain after big gain. The Ravens made it more than clear than the Cowboys need a complete overhaul on defense.
The Ravens rushed for 294 yards on Tuesday. Gus Edwards led the team with 101 yards, in seven carries, by the way, Lamar Jackson got 94, and J.K. Dobbins finished his night with 71. In the meantime, while Jackson didn't have a monster game passing the ball, he did pass for a 38-yard touchdown in a play in which at least one Cowboy blew his coverage.
As Bill Barnwell so eloquently put it on Twitter, the Ravens ran four verticals, and the Cowboys did not. In the broadcast booth, Troy Aikman was right when he said "there's nothing fancy about the route." The defense just didn't do their job, as was the case for most of the night.
In a year in which the Cowboys have allowed over 30 points in eight games, this might've been their worst performance on defense.
The problems the defense has faced all season start at the defensive coordinator position. Mike Nolan hasn't fulfilled the expectations of implementing a more complicated scheme to help this team win. The scheme he's trying to work with might not be the problem, but Nolan is.
At this point, it feels like he's time in Dallas is done. It's just a matter of whether or not he'll get to finish the season or if he doesn't make it to January. We'll see.
But it isn't just about the coach leading the defense. It's also about the players he's leading. You see, I loved watching Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch in 2018 when they were making big plays. But the truth is, we haven't seen that since… well, 2018. This isn't their first bad year. Last season they also struggled, even without Mike Nolan. It's time to face the fact that they aren't the players we thought they were. Maybe they bounce back to become solid linebackers, but don't expect to be an elite duo or anything of the sort.
The Cowboys can't address the linebacker position as one that's taken care of because they'll need to make an upgrade. And the same is true for just about every other position on the team's defense.
At cornerback, the Cowboys have Trevon Diggs locked up for the next three years but that's about it. Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are on contract years and even they aren't that good to feel confident about the position going forward. At safety, even Xavier Woods and Donovan Wilson have tons of question marks around them. Sure, Wilson forced two Vikings' turnovers in Week 11, but is he a consistent starter?
In the defensive line, the Cowboys still have no clear answers at defensive tackle. Trysten Hill played well prior to his injury and Antwaun Woods and Neville Gallimore had a pretty impressive game against the Steelers. Yet all season, the Dallas Cowboys have lost in trenches due to poor interior defensive line play.
The one position I believe the Cowboys' defense should be fine going forward is defensive end. Despite plenty of critics, DeMarcus Lawrence is playing at a pretty high level. Since he's been healthy, he's the guy the team wanted to be when they paid him that much money. There's a reason why he's Pro Football Focus' third highest-graded edge defender in the NFL. Beyond Lawrence, Randy Gregory will also be around in 2021 and perhaps even Aldon Smith.
Next season should be better for the Dallas Cowboys as Dak Prescott, Blake Jarwin, Tyron Smith, and La'el Collins should return healthy. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the offense going forward. But the defense? It's time for a big overhaul.
Featured Image Via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
