Matt Eberflus has a history of quick defensive turnarounds

[Bobhaze]

It’s hard to believe but the Cowboys will be experiencing their third defensive coordinator in three seasons. From Dan Quinn in ‘23 to Mike Zimmer in ‘24 and now Eberflus in ‘25. Eberflus will be the 9th Cowboys DC since 2000. Stability has been hard to find.

Honestly though, I think based on his past performance, Eberflus could be an improvement. Look at his prior performance as DC in Indianapolis:

• As the colts DC from 2018-2021, ME turned Indy’s defensive ranking from a lowly 30th in 2017 to a top 10 defense in 2018. And didn’t have a ton of talent to work with.
• Eberflus improved the Colts rushing defense from 26th in 2017 to 8th in 2018, allowing just 3.6 ypc, and did not allow a single 100-yard rusher all season.
• In 2019, the colts again ranked 11th in total defense and ranked 7th in rushing yards given up, and gave up only 8 rushing TDs all season.
• In his first year as HC in Chicago, the bears led the league in INTs.

Eberflus wants to use pressure to force TOs and utilizes more zone coverages in the secondary than we’ve seen last few years. His defenses have historically been good to excellent against the run. Lord knows we haven’t seen that around here in a loooong time.

None of us know yet of course what Matt Eberflus will be able to do with this defense. We still need some help at DT and maybe LB. But it’s hard to overlook the fact that Eberflus had instant positive impact with the colts.

Excited to see if Matt Eberflus can do a similar turnaround in Big D as he had in Indy his first year.

 

[pansophy]

My biggest concern is that we have been drafting corners who can play man-to-man for years now to fit Quinn's defense. Are they going to be able to adjust to playing zone? I would love for someone to tell me Diggs and Bland will flourish in a zone scheme.

 

[fivetwos]

I see Eberflus as an above average NFL DC who is fully capable of running a good defense, but he isn’t some miracle worker. He will need the horses.

The way this roster is built, they are going to need one or two seventh round DTs to step up or they won’t be able to stop anyone who commits to the run.

Will that be HIS fault, or the philosophy of the FO who continue to think that position isn’t important?

 

[CT Dal Fan]

What I have read about Eberflus' defenses is that he is not a big blitz guy. He wants a front four that can generate pressure and fast LB's that can cover.

To that end, now we know why re-signing Osa was such a priority; as well as bringing back Dante Fowler and drafting Donovan Ezeiruaku and Shamar James.

 

[gtb1943]

I can see our Pass D being better while our run D still sucks basketballs through garden hoses

 

[fivetwos]

I can see our Pass D being better while our run D still sucks basketballs through garden hoses

Yup, and when you’re behind in a game often enough the stats are likely to fall that way.

This team is yet again built to play with a lead. Problem is they aren’t good enough to consistently do that against the better teams.

I dunno, maybe the plan is to hope the opponent doesn’t notice the obvious weakness that’s been there for about a decade and change.

 

[Mikexike]

I can see our Pass D being better while our run D still sucks basketballs through garden hoses

That is one damn durable/flexible garden hose

 

[big dog cowboy]

• As the colts DC from 2018-2021, ME turned Indy’s defensive ranking from a lowly 30th in 2017 to a top 10 defense in 2018. And didn’t have a ton of talent to work with.

Well, at least he has experience with that.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

Run Defense isn't just about the Joes. It is just as much about discipline as it is the players. Being great at Run D doesn't get you big contracts, getting to the passer and making splash plays is what gets you paid in today's highlight driven culture. I hope Matt E can get the guys to play as a group and get each player to just do their job within the playcall. Don't do to much, don't over shoot a gap because you have a feeling or hunch, just play your position and do your job. This is something that Bill B was great at, his defenses were always disciplined and the players did their job.

As far as playing more zone, I like it. I think Bland will be a nightmare for opposing QBs with his instincts. Interested to see if Diggs can adjust and play zone, which will require him to come up and tackle not just run someone out of bounds.

 

[WillieBeamen]

My biggest concern is that we have been drafting corners who can play man-to-man for years now to fit Quinn's defense. Are they going to be able to adjust to playing zone? I would love for someone to tell me Diggs and Bland will flourish in a zone scheme.

Legitimate concern. See the 2023 playoff game against the Packers….

 

[FanofJerry]

Doesn't mean squat when we're trying go hang at rim.

That's the owners goal, hang at rim

 

[dupree89]

I can see our Pass D being better while our run D still sucks basketballs through garden hoses

 

[jazzcat22]

I see Eberflus as an above average NFL DC who is fully capable of running a good defense, but he isn’t some miracle worker. He will need the horses.

The way this roster is built, they are going to need one or two seventh round DTs to step up or they won’t be able to stop anyone who commits to the run.

Will that be HIS fault, or the philosophy of the FO who continue to think that position isn’t important?

Very possibly his schemes and styles will get more out of the players than the previous coaches did.
Zimmer was here for one year, and he pretty much knew that. So with him trying to undo what Quinn did was not going to be great.

The FO has tried to address DT, just not to the fans liking. Yes they could have done better. But it is what they have.
As Bob said in his OP, Eberflus turned around the Colts with not much to work with.

 

[CATCH17]

Is it going to be the bend don’t break / passive style?

If so then gross.

 

[5Stars]

Yeah, this defense will dominate the NFL. What a coach has done with other players will not automatically translate to other players, but he will get these players to put the fear into other teams when they play.

Yeah, right!

 

[Hawkeye0202]

And didn’t have a ton of talent to work with.

I'm not sure fans appreciate the challenges........ especially keeping a top unit.

 

[reddyuta]

My biggest concern is that we have been drafting corners who can play man-to-man for years now to fit Quinn's defense. Are they going to be able to adjust to playing zone? I would love for someone to tell me Diggs and Bland will flourish in a zone scheme.

very good point ,even Revel whom we drafted played mostly man in College and some guys can seemlessly play both but some cant

 

[CWR]

My biggest concern is that we have been drafting corners who can play man-to-man for years now to fit Quinn's defense. Are they going to be able to adjust to playing zone? I would love for someone to tell me Diggs and Bland will flourish in a zone scheme.

Yeah that's the big problem. I'm not sure how he makes a hybrid work, because I don't know these guys can play zone as well.

 

[75boyz]

Is it going to be the bend don’t break / passive style?

If so then gross.

Yep, exactly.
Mixing zone and man is one thing but if I look up again and that so called zone cushion given up by the CB off the LOS appears to be 10 yards even before the snap it's just another simple death by a 1000 papercuts defensive display.
And the better QBs will slice and dice it up.

I sure do hope the run dee is vastly improved.
The whole defense changes that way.

 

[blueblood70]

It’s hard to believe but the Cowboys will be experiencing their third defensive coordinator in three seasons. From Dan Quinn in ‘23 to Mike Zimmer in ‘24 and now Eberflus in ‘25. Eberflus will be the 9th Cowboys DC since 2000. Stability has been hard to find.

Honestly though, I think based on his past performance, Eberflus could be an improvement. Look at his prior performance as DC in Indianapolis:

• As the colts DC from 2018-2021, ME turned Indy’s defensive ranking from a lowly 30th in 2017 to a top 10 defense in 2018. And didn’t have a ton of talent to work with.
• Eberflus improved the Colts rushing defense from 26th in 2017 to 8th in 2018, allowing just 3.6 ypc, and did not allow a single 100-yard rusher all season.
• In 2019, the colts again ranked 11th in total defense and ranked 7th in rushing yards given up, and gave up only 8 rushing TDs all season.
• In his first year as HC in Chicago, the bears led the league in INTs.

Eberflus wants to use pressure to force TOs and utilizes more zone coverages in the secondary than we’ve seen last few years. His defenses have historically been good to excellent against the run. Lord knows we haven’t seen that around here in a loooong time.

None of us know yet of course what Matt Eberflus will be able to do with this defense. We still need some help at DT and maybe LB. But it’s hard to overlook the fact that Eberflus had instant positive impact with the colts.

Excited to see if Matt Eberflus can do a similar turnaround in Big D as he had in Indy his first year.

4 since 2020 !! I know Nolan is easy to forget, but I'm sure that's tough on the players too we're always being hard on some of these players like Mazi, I mean you keep getting a different defensive coordinator that changes everything kind of hard to improve...

I get Jerry seems cheap and free agency and What not but don't get it twisted he does allow his coordinators to pick players in the draft and free agencies, and I know that ME has got a lot of these players IE 2 DTS in the draft and that confusing trade up for that FL LB james.. That has to be Eberflus, I mean who in the world would trade up for a linebacker like that unless they knew something most of us didn't know you know that he could fit his defense.. I'm pretty sure he must have slipped a note or was banging on a table to go up and get that guy he seemed slow he doesn't seem like somebody you would trade up to go after like that wouldn't have fell down to them anyway but I'm betting he wanted him he targeted him....

And I guarantee the Sanborn and Murray pickups at linebacker were also him. And I'm sure his assistants you got white cotton brought over Solomon Thomas.. So, I know we didn't get any brand name guys but he's grabbing players that I believe is going to fit his system especially Sanborn the linebacker from Chicago going to run his stuff just like Kendricks ran Mike stuff last year so he should have a good start with all this time between now and game one to get his defense installed...