Cowboys Rushing Defense - Data shows the Obvious Points of Failure

[Kwyn]

I think everyone is a little surprised that the rushing defense has been as bad as it is. It’s hard to believe that it’s even worse than last year.

@CalPolyTechnique posted a thread comparing overall 2025 to 2026 defense

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/2025-vs-2026-comparison.547687/

Looking at that prompted me to dig into some rushing data.

I compiled the data from all five games by using nflsavant.com and going week by week.

The glaring reality is that our DEs/OLBs are not only terrible pass rushers, they are also helpless against the rush.

FYI: Expected Points Added (EPA) is how much each individual play impacts the likelihood of scoring on any one drive.

Our edges are completely failing to maintain containment, leading to explosive plays outside.

Cowboys Left Edge (Eze/Lawrence, etc)
• 25 carries
• 164 combined yards
• 6.6 yards per carry
• +0.42 EPA/att allowed

Cowboys Right Edge (Gary/Miller, etc)
• 21 carries
• 154 combined yards
• 7.3 yards per carry
• +0.30 EPA/att allowed

Comparing “everything between the tackles” to the combined outside runs helps paint the picture as well.

Perimeter (True Outside Edge)
• 46 carries
• 318 combined yards
• 6.9 yards per carry

Interior (Tackle, Guard, & Center)
• 113 carries
• 531 combined yards
• 4.7 yards per carry

Our edge defenders share partial blame for the tackle lanes (LT/RT). Runs between OG and OT isn’t just the DTs job.

Here is the combined 5-game breakdown

Target	Carries	Yards	YPC	EPA
LE	21	154	7.3	+0.30
LT	28	147	5.2	-0.16
LG	22	74	3.4	-0.21
Mid	31	129	4.2	-0.16
RG	15	59	3.9	+0.04
RT	17	122	7.2	+0.11
RE	25	164	6.6	+0.42

 

[jblaze2004]

I am guessing the guys getting used to playing a gap and a half defense instead of just 1 Gap. Its too much thinking instead of just playing ball.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Those numbers are abysmal. It’s like every player has forgotten how to play a game they have been playing their whole life.

Simple fundamentals are lacking. It is truly mind boggling how every player is regressing.

I realize firing CP isn’t a “solution” bc there simply isn’t time to install a different scheme. But you have to do something. Maybe bring in a guy as a “consultant “ to mentor Parker and make some tweaks?

Schotty isn’t doing anything to fix what’s broken.

Man, this season has gone down the crapper in a hurry.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I think everyone is a little surprised that the rushing defense has been as bad as it is. It’s hard to believe that it’s even worse than last year.

@CalPolyTechnique posted a thread comparing overall 2025 to 2026 defense

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/2025-vs-2026-comparison.547687/

Looking at that prompted me to dig into some rushing data.

I compiled the data from all five games by using nflsavant.com and going week by week.

The glaring reality is that our DEs/OLBs are not only terrible pass rushers, they are also helpless against the rush.

FYI: Expected Points Added (EPA) is how much each individual play impacts the likelihood of scoring on any one drive.

Our edges are completely failing to maintain containment, leading to explosive plays outside.

Cowboys Left Edge (Eze/Lawrence, etc)
• 25 carries
• 164 combined yards
• 6.6 yards per carry
• +0.42 EPA/att allowed

Cowboys Right Edge (Gary/Miller, etc)
• 21 carries
• 154 combined yards
• 7.3 yards per carry
• +0.30 EPA/att allowed

Comparing “everything between the tackles” to the combined outside runs helps paint the picture as well.

Perimeter (True Outside Edge)
• 46 carries
• 318 combined yards
• 6.9 yards per carry

Interior (Tackle, Guard, & Center)
• 113 carries
• 531 combined yards
• 4.7 yards per carry

Our edge defenders share partial blame for the tackle lanes (LT/RT). Runs between OG and OT isn’t just the DTs job.

Here is the combined 5-game breakdown

Target	Carries	Yards	YPC	EPA
LE	21	154	7.3	+0.30
LT	28	147	5.2	-0.16
LG	22	74	3.4	-0.21
Mid	31	129	4.2	-0.16
RG	15	59	3.9	+0.04
RT	17	122	7.2	+0.11
RE	25	164	6.6	+0.42

Those are some ugly numbers.
Seems like the DEs and OLbs are always out of place and undecisive.

 

[Gambit]

Conversely, how often do the Cowboys attack edges in run game?

 

[Gambit]

Those numbers are abysmal. It’s like every player has forgotten how to play a game they have been playing their whole life.

Simple fundamentals are lacking. It is truly mind boggling how every player is regressing.

I realize firing CP isn’t a “solution” bc there simply isn’t time to install a different scheme. But you have to do something. Maybe bring in a guy as a “consultant “ to mentor Parker and make some tweaks?

Schotty isn’t doing anything to fix what’s broken.

Man, this season has gone down the crapper in a hurry.

So what's the solution?

We change dcs and systems again next year?

I really hate we are here. Big draftnic and cant even begin to care about it this year.

Something has to give.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So what's the solution?

On paper the Cowboys defensive roster is better than the product on the field.

That is a result of poor coaching.

Improve the coaching and watch the product improve on the field.

 

[Gambit]

On paper the Cowboys defensive roster is better than the product on the field.

That is a result of poor coaching.

Improve the coaching and watch the product improve on the field.

Who picks said coach?

Im not disagreeing with you. Ive just lost all confidence this front office can hire the right coaches.

 

[Hawkeye19]

So what's the solution?

We change dcs and systems again next year?

I really hate we are here. Big draftnic and cant even begin to care about it this year.

Something has to give.

I think we made our bed with CP and will have to lie in it this season. There isn’t any external solutions until the offseason.

If the team doesn’t make the playoffs and underachieves— then this staff is gone and we are (hopefully) looking at a new and competent HC, and yes, yet another DC to help right the ship.

 

[Kwyn]

Those numbers are abysmal. It’s like every player has forgotten how to play a game they have been playing their whole life.

Simple fundamentals are lacking. It is truly mind boggling how every player is regressing.

They aren’t regressing. It’s who they are.

Lawrence and Eze both were scouted as being seriously deficient in being able to set the edge.

The right side has one guy, Gary, who’s not helpless against the run

Gary has been an above average run defender in the fairly recent past but he’s in decline.

Miller, years ago, used his raw athleticism to adequately defend the run although it wasn’t his strength. He’s a liability against run now.

So, one of our four primary edge defenders even has a chance against the run.

It’s curious how this season very few fans are willing to hold any defensive player accountable except Bland.

For the other 24 defenders, only five or six of whom are even average NFL players, it’s a coaching problem.

 

[Hawkeye19]

They aren’t regressing. It’s who they are.

Lawrence and Eze both were scouted as being seriously deficient in being able to set the edge.

The right side has one guy, Gary, who’s not helpless against the run

Gary has been an above average run defender in the fairly recent past but he’s in decline.

Miller, years ago, used his raw athleticism to adequately defend the run although it wasn’t his strength. He’s a liability against run now.

So, one of our four primary edge defenders even has a chance against the run.

It’s curious how this season very few fans are willing to hold any defensive player accountable except Bland.

For the other 24 defenders, only five or six of whom are even average NFL players, it’s a coaching problem.

Eze was actually decent against the run last year. They shifted to a gap and a half scheme and no one is good at it

CP needs to tailor the scheme to what his players do well: 1 gap, more man coverage.

What worked for him in Philly is simply not translating here

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I know the thread is addressing rushing defense but this guy



He's a liability.........his confidence is cooked

 

[Beast_from_East]

On paper the Cowboys defensive roster is better than the product on the field.

That is a result of poor coaching.

Improve the coaching and watch the product improve on the field.

I agree Big Dog, the scheme is totally wrong for our personnel.

CP is running a 1.5 gap scheme with predominantly zone coverage. He did not do this in Philly, they ran a 1.0 gap scheme with predominantly man coverage. I have no idea why he is using a totally different scheme from what he was running in Philly.

Its like drafting a CB that played exclusively man coverage in college and you put him in a zone defense and wonder why he looks lost. We either need a new scheme to fit our current personnel or we need new personnel to fit our current scheme.

That is the only way to fix this.

 

[Whirlwin]

For me, it’s pretty simple
Chaos,
No one‘s keeping their assigned lanes,
They all gather around the ball carrier, but no one makes the tackle
A movea twist there and he’s gone because there’s no one left to tackle him,
Seen it multiple times, the ball carrier, the quarterback surrounded by white, and all of a sudden gone
How are they not keeping their assigned lanes, it’s like a kickoff,
The defender on the right can’t go to the left. It leaves a lane open.

 

[tunahelper]

Numbers match the eye test. When I focus on Gary and Eze I see them jumping inside and losing containment a lot. They do not play with discipline. They overreact and bite on plays by a step and then get gashed. Not sure what they are seeing and the coaches need to be in their ears. Dumb players make dumber mistakes.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

I think everyone is a little surprised that the rushing defense has been as bad as it is. It’s hard to believe that it’s even worse than last year

Everyone is surprised? Not true at all. Every year, a large % of the Zaney Zoners in here see a few names added to defense, and just assume, once again, that the defense will be substantially better. Most people in here were referring to Downs as a guaranteed lock as a Pro Bowl player, or Christian Parker as a MASSIVE upgrade at DC (based on some quotes he had, and some preseason games, LOL)

I kept saying that defense is 95% attitude and heart. Refusing to be beat. A CULTURE of refusing to surrender.

What in Hades would any sane person think, after watching last year's sissy parade on defense, that the culture here had changed? Not me. But I kept getting lectured about Q Williams, future all pro Downs, EZE, Gary.... but the culture is always the same (we know why).

Oh well. We will draft some outside LB next year, and everyone in here will do the same annoying thing all over again, guaranteeing we will be a Top 10 defense and coming up with more lame nicknames for it again. But then The Sissy Squad will take the field again, and we'll be right back here once again. Rinse. Repeat. It's the Zaney Zoner way.

 

[shabazz]

CP and Demarcus Dixon have done the once unthinkable.......they've literally un-coached Quinnen and Clark

I haven't been this disappointed since I found out that "Sexual Chocolate" was just a fictitious band

 

[Cowboyny]

I think everyone is a little surprised that the rushing defense has been as bad as it is. It’s hard to believe that it’s even worse than last year.

@CalPolyTechnique posted a thread comparing overall 2025 to 2026 defense

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/2025-vs-2026-comparison.547687/

Looking at that prompted me to dig into some rushing data.

I compiled the data from all five games by using nflsavant.com and going week by week.

The glaring reality is that our DEs/OLBs are not only terrible pass rushers, they are also helpless against the rush.

FYI: Expected Points Added (EPA) is how much each individual play impacts the likelihood of scoring on any one drive.

Our edges are completely failing to maintain containment, leading to explosive plays outside.

Cowboys Left Edge (Eze/Lawrence, etc)
• 25 carries
• 164 combined yards
• 6.6 yards per carry
• +0.42 EPA/att allowed

Cowboys Right Edge (Gary/Miller, etc)
• 21 carries
• 154 combined yards
• 7.3 yards per carry
• +0.30 EPA/att allowed

Comparing “everything between the tackles” to the combined outside runs helps paint the picture as well.

Perimeter (True Outside Edge)
• 46 carries
• 318 combined yards
• 6.9 yards per carry

Interior (Tackle, Guard, & Center)
• 113 carries
• 531 combined yards
• 4.7 yards per carry

Our edge defenders share partial blame for the tackle lanes (LT/RT). Runs between OG and OT isn’t just the DTs job.

Here is the combined 5-game breakdown

Target	Carries	Yards	YPC	EPA
LE	21	154	7.3	+0.30
LT	28	147	5.2	-0.16
LG	22	74	3.4	-0.21
Mid	31	129	4.2	-0.16
RG	15	59	3.9	+0.04
RT	17	122	7.2	+0.11
RE	25	164	6.6	+0.42

This has been a huge issue for years

 

[Rockport]

I think everyone is a little surprised that the rushing defense has been as bad as it is. It’s hard to believe that it’s even worse than last year.

@CalPolyTechnique posted a thread comparing overall 2025 to 2026 defense

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/2025-vs-2026-comparison.547687/

Looking at that prompted me to dig into some rushing data.

I compiled the data from all five games by using nflsavant.com and going week by week.

The glaring reality is that our DEs/OLBs are not only terrible pass rushers, they are also helpless against the rush.

FYI: Expected Points Added (EPA) is how much each individual play impacts the likelihood of scoring on any one drive.

Our edges are completely failing to maintain containment, leading to explosive plays outside.

Cowboys Left Edge (Eze/Lawrence, etc)
• 25 carries
• 164 combined yards
• 6.6 yards per carry
• +0.42 EPA/att allowed

Cowboys Right Edge (Gary/Miller, etc)
• 21 carries
• 154 combined yards
• 7.3 yards per carry
• +0.30 EPA/att allowed

Comparing “everything between the tackles” to the combined outside runs helps paint the picture as well.

Perimeter (True Outside Edge)
• 46 carries
• 318 combined yards
• 6.9 yards per carry

Interior (Tackle, Guard, & Center)
• 113 carries
• 531 combined yards
• 4.7 yards per carry

Our edge defenders share partial blame for the tackle lanes (LT/RT). Runs between OG and OT isn’t just the DTs job.

Here is the combined 5-game breakdown

Target	Carries	Yards	YPC	EPA
LE	21	154	7.3	+0.30
LT	28	147	5.2	-0.16
LG	22	74	3.4	-0.21
Mid	31	129	4.2	-0.16
RG	15	59	3.9	+0.04
RT	17	122	7.2	+0.11
RE	25	164	6.6	+0.42

All the Cowboys podcast pundits as well as the HC/OC are saying the biggest problem is the interior. I mean you can drive bat crazy tesla through those holes.

 

[Adreme]

I think everyone is a little surprised that the rushing defense has been as bad as it is. It’s hard to believe that it’s even worse than last year.

@CalPolyTechnique posted a thread comparing overall 2025 to 2026 defense

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/2025-vs-2026-comparison.547687/

Looking at that prompted me to dig into some rushing data.

I compiled the data from all five games by using nflsavant.com and going week by week.

The glaring reality is that our DEs/OLBs are not only terrible pass rushers, they are also helpless against the rush.

FYI: Expected Points Added (EPA) is how much each individual play impacts the likelihood of scoring on any one drive.

Our edges are completely failing to maintain containment, leading to explosive plays outside.

Cowboys Left Edge (Eze/Lawrence, etc)
• 25 carries
• 164 combined yards
• 6.6 yards per carry
• +0.42 EPA/att allowed

Cowboys Right Edge (Gary/Miller, etc)
• 21 carries
• 154 combined yards
• 7.3 yards per carry
• +0.30 EPA/att allowed

Comparing “everything between the tackles” to the combined outside runs helps paint the picture as well.

Perimeter (True Outside Edge)
• 46 carries
• 318 combined yards
• 6.9 yards per carry

Interior (Tackle, Guard, & Center)
• 113 carries
• 531 combined yards
• 4.7 yards per carry

Our edge defenders share partial blame for the tackle lanes (LT/RT). Runs between OG and OT isn’t just the DTs job.

Here is the combined 5-game breakdown

Target	Carries	Yards	YPC	EPA
LE	21	154	7.3	+0.30
LT	28	147	5.2	-0.16
LG	22	74	3.4	-0.21
Mid	31	129	4.2	-0.16
RG	15	59	3.9	+0.04
RT	17	122	7.2	+0.11
RE	25	164	6.6	+0.42

4.7YPC is also pathetic. 6.9 is historically bad but 4.7 is awful.