Poll: BIGGEST reason our defense was so bad in 2025

[Stash]

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

Wrong.

If you believe that, you’re thinking small. It’s not either/or, it’s all of the above.

Every reason listed is negative. And they ALL played a part.

Just because I know Eberflus is a lousy coach doesn’t mean I absolve the GM or think they had great players all over the field.

 

[cmoney23]

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?

Idk, man. I don't think Bland or Diggs are just suddenly terrible players. They are press man corners and he almost refused to play man...

"The Cowboys began the season as the most zone-heavy team, running man coverage on only about 3.2% to 4.8% of snaps (last in the NFL). "

Now they did use more man, peaking against Washington in week 7, but he went right back to heavy zone concepts as the season went on.

Murray was trash and he basically refused to not play him.

With that said, talent is a huge problem, but I think it's more on Eberflus than that talent.

 

[GoCowboysGo]

All respect, Bob, but my reasoning is this…

• GM hired the DC (I don’t believe them when they say they were all in agreement).
• GM got his feelings hurt when Parsons wanted his agent to finish negotiations in case the contract maybe had poison pills, then trading a future HOF-er entering his prime. (I guess that’s point 4)
• Schotty ignored problems that started from the very beginning, he could’ve fired or relieved Fluss of his duties, instead he sat on his hands, sat back and let the defense fail.
• Players, to me, contributed with lack of discipline, but when they don’t even hit the field because coaches forgot they were on the team that’s all on the GM and HC.
• They were counting on sacks and turnovers for success instead of playing sound, fundamental football and winning every snap possible. Lazy.
• Lastly, the team is built from the outside in by the GM, a sure fire path to losing, or hanging around the .500 rim.

 

[MisterWaffles]

All of those are part of it, for sure - but far and away it's the lack of talent. There are no game-wreckers on the Cowboys defense. There's also almost no depth. There are some pretty good starters, some average starters and a couple of downright bad starters. Couple that with a total lack of depth behind them and that's the #1 problem, for sure. They just straight up need a big influx of talented guys on the defense. Minus that, shuffling coordinators won't move the needle a ton and won't make them a contender.

 

[kskboys]

Idk, man. I don't think Bland or Diggs are just suddenly terrible players. They are press man corners and he almost refused to play man...

"The Cowboys began the season as the most zone-heavy team, running man coverage on only about 3.2% to 4.8% of snaps (last in the NFL). "

Now they did use more man, peaking against Washington in week 7, but he went right back to heavy zone concepts as the season went on.

Murray was trash and he basically refused to not play him.

With that said, talent is a huge problem, but I think it's more on Eberflus than that talent.

Diggs has not been good for 3-4 years. Bland was never a great cover guy.

When you lack talent in the secondary, you are forced to play zone.

We had no one to replace Murray. Our talent level on D is just that bad.

Why was Eber good in INDY for 4 years, then suddenly bad here?

 

[gimmesix]

You forgot to list our GM

I'd say that's understood in lack of talent, but some probably would blame McClay for that. I still believe if you hand someone a dollar and say go get me a defensive back, then the guy you handed a dollar is going to end up with someone like Elam. The Joneses mandate how we shop for talent.

 

[Chasing6]

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.

Jerry Jones.

 

[Bobhaze]

You forgot to list our GM

You’re right. Guess I was just thinking that’s a given. He’s the biggest problem this team has to overcome every year.

 

[StarLord]

Lack of talent, but they are all solid reasons for a historically bad defense.

 

[ICP]

Stack it all up and turn your attention to poor ownership/management

 

[Floatyworm]

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.

I broke down more video this year than I have in quite some time....This really was on Eberflus...for multiple reasons.....

1. Constantly running that deep zone defense. CBs playing off 10-12 yards. Once teams figured out we weren't jumping routes....It was easy first downs all season long.

2. Eberflus' stubbornness to play his favorites....Sanborne...Sam Williams....Murray...Elam...which constantly did things to get you beat.

3. His refusal to blitz....

4. His refusal to play guys like Winfrey....Logan....Thomas...Revel....EZ...Fowler...Houston

5. Moving Bland to the slot was a horrible move by Eberflus. Exposed his lack of catch up speed....And took away what he does best.... is use the sideline to his advantage.

6. @ the beginning of the year Eberflus was running a lot of 4-3.......3 Lbers trying to cover.....and our lack of speed got exposed.

Honestly....I can't recall another defensive coordinator getting this exposed on a weekly basis. Everything this guy did was just wrong...Wrong scheme in short yardage...giving up easy 1st downs...Or playing a single high safety......And we are getting Absolutely no pass rush...and getting beat deep repeatedly....with no safety help in sight. How many times did a CB give up a long fade route thinking he had safety help over the top....Yet there was no one there???? Communication in the secondary seemed to be a problem all season long. Seemed like no one had any idea what defense they were in half the time. Makes you wonder WTH were these guys doing during the week of practice?????

 

[Acceptablename]

I'm glad Eberflus is gone but he didn't have adequate tools to create his defense. I also think his personality didn't jive with today's young men's attitude.

 

[Whirlwin]

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.

Injuries didn’t help much also.

 

[conner01]

I think the continuity is huge. You draft guys to fit a scheme, then stick them in another scheme. All of the above is a problem but constant scheme chsnges is a big part. Good defenses chsnge coaches but not scheme and you don’t see this type of collapse

 

[big dog cowboy]

• GM got his feelings hurt when Parsons wanted his agent to finish negotiations in case the contract maybe had poison pills, then trading a future HOF-er entering his prime.

 

[GoCowboysGo]

That’s how I’d feel if my idiot boss was trying to set me up with a bad contract and he’s too cheap and too lazy to field a team able to win a divisional playoff game in 30 years, yet believes only he can fix it.

That attitude was possible because the boss is the same way.

 

[JayFord]

The DC is responsible for putting the pieces you have in position to make plays. Sure those pieces are flawed, but you have to be able to identify what's best for your squad and do it. Didn't happen at all. It was a lot of the same week after week.

Thats where ive been

The pieces we had werent good at all, but to not figure out what they can do or what they can do a lil bit better was awful management

 

[baltcowboy]

I watch as teams with similar success as we have had the last 3 seasons fire people in the front office. Specifically the GM and president of football operations. The Joneses are telling us that there is nothing wrong with the way they build rosters but the coaching is the problem. I find that quite odd. Someone should have been fired for that Mazi draft class alone. That roster gutted our roster. Combine that with Guyton class I might have to get rid of my entire scouting department.

 

[starfan1]

Wrong.

If you believe that, you’re thinking small. It’s not either/or, it’s all of the above.

Every reason listed is negative. And they ALL played a part.

Just because I know Eberflus is a lousy coach doesn’t mean I absolve the GM or think they had great players all over the field.

Exactly

 

[jazzcat22]

Wish it was multiple choice.
Where is Jerry on the list?

I said lack of continuity, but Eberflus refusal to change his scheme to fit the players was a huge part of it also.
With a new DC coming in, and I think there will be a significant amount of changes in the defense. Not just another scheme but also players it still may take some time for them to gel.