How Much Did We Improve on Defense?

[zrinkill]

No way of knowing anything yet.

Last year this is what people thought during the off season.

Are you happy the Cowboys hired Matt Eberflus as the new Defensive Coordinator?

Matt Eberflus already has the tools to avoid repeating Mike Zimmer disaster

what does Eberflus Defense look like

 

[big dog cowboy]

but will Revel be able to step up in year 2. he underwhelmed in first year, but perhaps due to his injury and recovery.

Yes. He has already said that he is finally healthy.

Saying he underwhelmed isn't unnecessary. He was still recovering.

 

[SlammedZero]

Last season's defense was the worst I've ever witnessed. At this point, even being average would feel like a miracle. I'll gladly take any improvement. It's the little things in life.

 

[ICP]

On paper, I think the defense looks better than it did in 2025—though, to be fair, that isn't a very high bar. The real question is whether they'll come together once they're on the field. I've seen plenty of teams that looked much better on paper, only for it to never click when the games started. As with anything else regarding this team "I'll believe it when I see it"

 

[Stash]

It should be better, but it's not going to be by how much most on this forum seem to think. I suspect it will be a mid 20s ranked defense by the end of the year. That is an improvement, but it will still be a below average defense.

I’m curious as to why you feel that way?

 

[Stash]

I'm looking at the mental makeup of this team, and it's just different. These players are just smarter processors from a thinking standpoint than players we've had in the past: students, self-starting learners. I think that bodes well for them to click as a unit early on. They have the potential to gel early... But we all know potential is just potential until it happens.

The other thing they have going for them is they have a leader as a coach, a guy who actually knows what he's doing and walks the walk.

On that note, Parker is actually giving his defensive players pop quizzes to test their knowledge and understanding of the defense.

He’s placed on huge priority on his players knowing the scheme. Not just their own roles and adjustments, but other positions as well.

 

[Cowfan75Lives]

No we got better. Better players. Better coaches.

I appreciate your confidence, but I'll need to see it on the field

 

[Cowfan75Lives]

It has never been worse than last year. So very difficult to get worse..

Just having a coach gets us two more games.

I see 11, maybe 12 wins in 2026.

I see a better defense, don't agree on tne win totals, though.

 

[Pass2Run]

No way of knowing anything yet.

Last year this is what people thought during the off season.

Are you happy the Cowboys hired Matt Eberflus as the new Defensive Coordinator?

Matt Eberflus already has the tools to avoid repeating Mike Zimmer disaster

what does Eberflus Defense look like

True, true. I'm probably in those threads. But after game 2, I had seen enough of Eberflus.

I'm way more confident in CP because he is obviously competent.

 

[zrinkill]

True, true. I'm probably in those threads. But after game 2, I had seen enough of Eberflus.

I'm way more confident in CP because he is obviously competent.

Hey nothing wrong with being hopeful ...... I hope Parker is so good that Jerry is forced to make him head coach and dump his puppet.

But some of these guys, on other threads, are acting like its a done deal, that Parker is on his way to Canton, that he is the second coming of Tom Landry.

I do not trust this front office ........ or anyone they hire ........ they will have to prove it.

 

[FVSTONE]

Compared to last year, how much did we improve?

If we have Christian Parker last year, we win at least two more games. Just on coaching alone.

We also got Gary, Lawrence, Ezeiruaku more experienced, Quinnen, Kenny Clark, Caleb Downs? Who even does that? We also got Overton, Barham, Jalen Thompson, Dee Winters, Overshown is coming back, we picked up Cobie Durant. And we have guys like Bell and Reddy.

Pinch me. I was ready to give up last year. This is looking like a new team.

And that's a good thing.

Maybe it's not yet complete, but that is indeed one heck of a rebuild.

Anyone sense one more trade coming before the season starts?

I do.

I give the off-season rebuild a solid A.

At this point, 3 decades later I'm personally going to take a CAUTIOUS wait and see approach to this season.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Slow down. They have to prove it first.

NO!
The OP wants a state of the defence now, before training camp!
So tell us your view now or else!

 

[blueblood70]

Compared to last year, how much did we improve?

If we have Christian Parker last year, we win at least two more games. Just on coaching alone.

We also got Gary, Lawrence, Ezeiruaku more experienced, Quinnen, Kenny Clark, Caleb Downs? Who even does that? We also got Overton, Barham, Jalen Thompson, Dee Winters, Overshown is coming back, we picked up Cobie Durant. And we have guys like Bell and Reddy.

Pinch me. I was ready to give up last year. This is looking like a new team.

And that's a good thing.

Maybe it's not yet complete, but that is indeed one heck of a rebuild.

Anyone sense one more trade coming before the season starts?

I do.

I give the off-season rebuild a solid A.

Seriously? How about report back in Week 6... Love a better idea on how to answer that question how in the world do you know whether we're improved or not until they start playing real ball?

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Still not adding thing substantive, I see.

Let us try again by adding an article or an adjective to your angry response.
Be best!

 

[Pass2Run]

Hey nothing wrong with being hopeful ...... I hope Parker is so good that Jerry is forced to make him head coach and dump his puppet.

But some of these guys, on other threads, are acting like its a done deal, that Parker is on his way to Canton, that he is the second coming of Tom Landry.

I do not trust this front office ........ or anyone they hire ........ they will have to prove it.

Well, I definitely see something different in Parker. He's very very intuitive, detailed and thorough. And he also understands who he's dealing with and how they operate.

Yeah, we'll have to see. But from what I see right now, Parker has something to him. I don't think CP was a Jerry hire. That's one reason I'm hopeful about CP. I almost didn't even have interest after last year.

I'm not saying Canton. I'm saying step in the right direction and away from the normal Jerry familiarity dart throws.

 

[DUO_CORE]

If we can keep teams in the 20s instead of 40’s, I’ll consider that an improvement.

 

[charron]

Coaching- Bigtime improvement. Not just the DC but CP being able to hand pick his staff to come in and be in alignment for what he is teaching is huge.
SAFETY- Huge improvement over last year.
CB- Mostly the same as last year. Biggest difference will be scheme, health, and the young guys hopefully progressing.
LB- From worst unit in the NFL who couldn't defend a middle school offense to a respectable pro level talent. Huge win.
DT- Largely the same as back half of last year with some possible intriguing additions for run defense.
DE- New additions of Gary and Lawrence should payoff immediately and if EZE can take the next step they could be sneaky dangerous.

 

[HungryLion]

I’m expecting the cowboys opponents to just forfeit the season.

 

[HungryLion]

Compared to last year, how much did we improve?

If we have Christian Parker last year, we win at least two more games. Just on coaching alone.

We also got Gary, Lawrence, Ezeiruaku more experienced, Quinnen, Kenny Clark, Caleb Downs? Who even does that? We also got Overton, Barham, Jalen Thompson, Dee Winters, Overshown is coming back, we picked up Cobie Durant. And we have guys like Bell and Reddy.

Pinch me. I was ready to give up last year. This is looking like a new team.

And that's a good thing.

Maybe it's not yet complete, but that is indeed one heck of a rebuild.

Anyone sense one more trade coming before the season starts?

I do.

I give the off-season rebuild a solid A.

Im excited about Parker too. But claiming the cowboys would have won 2 more games with him alone last season is a bit much considering he has never called a play yet in a game. No?

The cowboys I feel are definitely headed in the right direction but a lot of how good they will be, hinges on rookies and second year players, playing well and improving.

Eze needs to improve.
Revel needs to improve
Lawrence and Downs and Barham are rookies.
Overshown is walking orthopedist bill.

I think we need to see what happens with these guys before we truly know first.

I do like the direction they’re headed though.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

It won't take much to improve.

But I'm NOT buying a hamburger today...just yet.