Cowboys Rushing Defense - Data shows the Obvious Points of Failure

[JohnsKey19]

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 is an entire front 6-7 issue. The overall LB play is bad. Barham makes some splash plays in between the tackles but lacks range, and Winters is overall terrible. While not a complete solution, a good LB would clean up a good chunk of this mess around the line of scrimmage.

 

[Kwyn]

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

Look at LG, Mid and RG. Right up the middle is not good by any stretch, but part of that 4.7 is also on the EDGE players.

 

[Kwyn]

This is an entire front 6-7 issue. The overall LB play is bad. Barham makes some splash plays in between the tackles but lacks range, and Winters is overall terrible. While not a complete solution, a good LB would clean up a good chunk of this mess around the line of scrimmage.

Winters and Overshown are both poor against the run and Barham is still a rookie. A starting WIL needs to be a priority in the off season.

 

[BobSacamano]

I know the thread is addressing rushing defense but this guy



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

It looks like they (the Dline) are automatons, just attacking their gaps and not the ball carrier. In that first clip.

I think lil Christian has bogged them down with all of his buzzwords.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Who picks said coach?

I'll give you a hint:

Socks to the jocks.

 

[Creeper]

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

Excellent analysis. Thank you.

The sad part is I think this has been true for at least 3 years. I recall seeing some stats from 2 years ago showing the Cowboys run defense giving up the most yards, by far, on outside runs. I recall one game where they gave up about 200 yards and something like 90% of it was to the outside.

I am not sure what the problem is. Sometimes the ends bite on the inside fakes leaving the edges uncontained. Sometimes RB run the G-T gap and pick up a lot of yards. But if the Edge forces the play inside, someone has to be there to make the tackle and that is where I think they give up yards. Is it a recognition problem? Are guys out of position? Someone is supposed to come up and fill that gap. I don't care how bad the players are on defense, It seems impossible that any professional defense can be as bad against the run as Dallas. This is why I tend to think it is scheme.

 

[cowboyblue22]

i think a lot of the problem is that the players are not smart enough to grasp the scheme and the coaches are not smart enought to teach it i dont think its physical thing

 

[JayFord]

My old coach told me

Look, if youre getting blown off the ball just take a knee and clog up the running lane

Yes as a defensive lineman ive had game where my run support wasnt up to par

But more games than enough NO ONE ran on my side…is it because i got the tackle? No….its because i played my lane and clogged my hole

Worse come to worse, cut block the offensive lineman……..