This has a lot to do with Nolan.
The defense was pretty horrible last year too, just not as bad as this defense. This defense is historically bad.
I am going to beat a dead horse but the problems at DT and Safety are killing this defense. We must have the worst DTs and safeties in the league, If there is a worse interior DL, show me.
The DEs are nothing special either. Go back to the videos of Demarcus Ware playing DE and watch how he never allowed any runners to get outside him. The Cowboys DEs are not setting the edge and forcing everything back inside. Kyler Murray was killing them running outside. I get it he is quick but the Cowboys kept getting trapped inside and when that happened no one else was anywhere near enough to make the play. What happened to swarming to the ball? It is clear to me, teams are attacking the edges against the Cowboys. The Browns did it with a lot of success and the cards did it tonight. That Cards are an average team. The Cowboys made them look like Super Bowl cantenders.
Jaylon Smith was the spy but Murray just outran him to the edge.
If we saw anything tonight it is how much a good safety can improve a defense. Budda Baker was all over the field making plays. Both Arizona safeties were making plays in the passing and running games. That's how a defense is supposed to be.
Nolan has to have a lot to do with the problems. I get the feeling he is determined to make it work and he is being stubborn about it. But at this point I just don't see how they do not make a change. But Nolan is not the only problem. The Cowboys lack talent at key positions. Edgar Allan Poe is no bueno. I think Gallimore is going to surpass him with a few more games experience - and that is not saying a lot. Even the kid Hamilton got in there tonight and made at least one play. Poe never get his name called.
This is the defense we are going to see all year. There is no magic wand to make this better. The Cowboys are in a difficult situation. The guys they paid are letting them down in a big way.