Poll: BIGGEST reason our defense was so bad in 2025

[Creeper]

All of the above is the right answer although I think the option about continuity is probably the least important.

IMO the order of importance is:

Eberflus
Parsons
Talent
Continuity

Parsons would have improved the pass rush and made a difference in the way QBs approached the Cowboys. But he alone would not make this defense good. Just better.

Talent of course is important, but I think they had enough to be better than what they were, especially after obtaining Quinnen Williams. The problem was their reliance on players coming back from injury - 3 of them - and expecting them all to be 100% effective. Sam Williams, Revel and Diggs I think were all hampered by injuries they were still recovering from. I expect all will be better next season. LB was a big problem. But even when they got Overshown back they still looked bad in pass defense.

I think Eberflus was clearly the biggest problem. He didn't come close to getting the most out of the players he had. He was stubborn in adjusting to his players. He was stubborn about being more aggressive in coverage and in scheming pressure. As bad as this defense was giving up scores on more than 50% of drives, why not run some crazy blitzes more frequently? The other team scoring quickly actually favored the offense which could put point on the board themselves.

The biggest decision the Cowboys will make is the selection of DC this year. After that Pickens, the 1st round draft picks, and who they sign or re-sign in free agency.

 

[cmoney23]

I ended up selecting Eberflus... because it's a coaches job to get the most out of the player. We had/have some talent. But he continuously put in Murray and did nothing to maximize the talent on the team. It appeared that he consistently put players in bad situations.

 

[Cmac]

Eberflus was working with poor talent but had to be the first casualty. This talent on the field only resembled XFL talent, at best.

 

[Doomsday]

Lack of talent was the biggest issue but Eberflus' stubbornness didn't do the players any favors.

 

[kskboys]

It looked like there wasn't any coaching. Everybody was on their own.

Looks even more like there weren't any players worth a damm to coach

 

[john van brocklin]

2025 gave us the most points ever surrendered in a Cowboys season. So…In your opinion, what was the BIGGEST reason our defense was so bad in 2025?

Vote and tell us your reasoning.

I picked a lack of talent. This was the least talented defensive roster I’ve seen in a long time. (Getting Q Williams is a step forward) Eberflus was awful and having 4 DCs in 5 years doesn’t help. But it’s hard for even good coaching to work miracles without some talent.

The GM buying the groceries did a piss poor job.

 

[kskboys]

All of the above is the right answer although I think the option about continuity is probably the least important.

IMO the order of importance is:

Eberflus
Parsons
Talent
Continuity

Parsons would have improved the pass rush and made a difference in the way QBs approached the Cowboys. But he alone would not make this defense good. Just better.

Talent of course is important, but I think they had enough to be better than what they were, especially after obtaining Quinnen Williams. The problem was their reliance on players coming back from injury - 3 of them - and expecting them all to be 100% effective. Sam Williams, Revel and Diggs I think were all hampered by injuries they were still recovering from. I expect all will be better next season. LB was a big problem. But even when they got Overshown back they still looked bad in pass defense.

I think Eberflus was clearly the biggest problem. He didn't come close to getting the most out of the players he had. He was stubborn in adjusting to his players. He was stubborn about being more aggressive in coverage and in scheming pressure. As bad as this defense was giving up scores on more than 50% of drives, why not run some crazy blitzes more frequently? The other team scoring quickly actually favored the offense which could put point on the board themselves.

The biggest decision the Cowboys will make is the selection of DC this year. After that Pickens, the 1st round draft picks, and who they sign or re-sign in free agency.

So, we were 28th last season, lost Parsons/Lewis/Gholston/DLaw, but it's on Eber?

 

[Cowboys5217]

So, we were 28th last season, lost Parsons/Lewis/Gholston/DLaw, but it's on Eber?

Partially, yes. He refused to adjust at all.

 

[GINeric]

I believe it was Eberflus trash *** scheme.

But I was told weeks ago that our defensive problems were the cause of people who didn't even play on the defensive side of the ball....

I'm still trying to make sense of that.....

 

[shabazz]

2025 gave us the most points ever surrendered in a Cowboys season. So…In your opinion, what was the BIGGEST reason our defense was so bad in 2025?

Vote and tell us your reasoning.

I picked a lack of talent. This was the least talented defensive roster I’ve seen in a long time. (Getting Q Williams is a step forward) Eberflus was awful and having 4 DCs in 5 years doesn’t help. But it’s hard for even good coaching to work miracles without some talent.

How could anybody NOT pick lack of talent.

Mike Ditka couldn't have done anything with this starting day roster.

If you start with crap you end up with crap and rearranging it wont make it smell any better.

 

[Beaker42]

Everpuss never adjusted or schemed to try to mask some of our deficiencies and continually played guys who sucked - Sanborn, Murray, Elam - instead of younger guys who could’ve helped. His overall DB schemes cost us 3-4 wins. I’m glad he’s gone.

 

[kskboys]

Partially, yes. He refused to adjust at all.

Man, you guys will fall for anything. Worst collection of talent ever seen on a D. No DC in the history of the NFL could've made any sort of D out of this mess.

I'm not even an Eber fan, barely know who he is.

Where were the adjustments last season when we were 28th w/ Parsons/Lewis/Gholston/DLaw?

 

[kskboys]

Everpuss never adjusted or schemed to try to mask some of our deficiencies and continually played guys who sucked - Sanborn, Murray, Elam - instead of younger guys who could’ve helped. His overall DB schemes cost us 3-4 wins. I’m glad he’s gone.

All our players sucked, dude. There was no one better to play.

 

[kskboys]

How could anybody NOT pick lack of talent.

Mike Ditka couldn't have done anything with this starting day roster.

If you start with crap you end up with crap and rearranging it wont make it smell any better.

Well said. It's just insane.

People are wanting to rearrange the chairs on the Titanic.

 

[Jarv]

You forgot to list our GM

Thank you, I was thinking the same.

 

[kskboys]

I ended up selecting Eberflus... because it's a coaches job to get the most out of the player. We had/have some talent. But he continuously put in Murray and did nothing to maximize the talent on the team. It appeared that he consistently put players in bad situations.

He did get the most out of them. The players are bad, there were no situations they could've put them in to succeed. Think Mazi Smith. Why wasn't he put into a better situation to succeed?

 

[shabazz]

Well said. It's just insane.

People are wanting to rearrange the chairs on the Titanic.

The truly amazing part is that the 40% of fans that think it was just on Uberpuss are validating and approving Jerry's GM performance by proxy

 

[Stash]

I picked Flus.. but to be honest I could have ticked all the boxes.

I agree.

Flus is certainly the biggest problem, but it’s not an either/or issue, every thing listed played a part in the debacle that was the 2025 defense.

But when every, single player gets noticeably worse?

Coaching and scheme tops the list.

 

[kskboys]

The truly amazing part is that the 40% of fans that think it was just on Uberpuss are validating and approving Jerry's GM performance by proxy

Ouch.

My best guess is that if they admit the players suck, then they have to admit our D isn't good. The hope is that it was all Eber and the players will be good under a different DC. One of the strangest things I've ever seen.

And I don't even know if Eber sucks or not. I do know he fixed the INDY D and they were very good. Yes, he sucked as a HC, wouldn't be the first time a coordinator was not HC material. Josh McDaniels is possibly the best OC in the game, and he sucks as a HC.

Just strange.

 

[HungryLion]

50/50

DC and lack of talent.

Eberflus sucked and refused to adjust at all.

That said the cowboys defense really really needs a lot more talented players.

Literally they need like 6 good players to make the defense solid. 2 edge rushers. 2 linebackers, a safety and corner.

It’s a lot. So I voted lack of talent.