The Dallas Cowboys defense isn’t getting any better indicating something needs to be done before it’s too late.
When Cowboys Nation called out for their franchise to go full-on 40-burger this season, they never imaged it would be a team-wide mantra. Because it hasn’t just been the Dallas Cowboys offense embracing the 40-burger, but the defense and special teams as well. That’s not a good thing…
“40-burger”, of course, refers to 40-points, and it’s clear the high octane Dallas Cowboys offense is more than capable of regularly producing that elite benchmark point total fans have been clamoring for since the offseason. We just never imagined the rest of the team would join the cause and enable the competition to put up 40-burgers themselves.
The Dallas Cowboys not only have the best offense in the NFL, but also the worst defense in the NFL. And frankly, a solid case can be made their special teams are the worst in the league as well – even with that miracle onside kick that feels like ions ago.
The Cowboys defense has given up 29, 39, 38, 49 points respectively over the first four weeks of the season. Trending in the wrong direction on the scoreboard and seemingly getting worse by the day, it’s clear something must be done. But what exactly?
The Dallas Cowboys moved from Rod Marinelli and his Cover-3 single high scheme to Mike Nolan’s multiple look defense this year. To say it’s more complicated is an understatement. The Cowboys alternate between different fronts as well as different coverages early and often. The goal is to be less predictable as they were under Marinelli. Unfortunately, the players have had trouble adapting to the changes and there’s been numerous breakdowns at all levels.
While it’s not Rob Ryan 2.0 (remember that mess?) it’s still a pretty disorganized clusterfudge. The question at hand is whether or not the growing pains are worth it or not. And if the Cowboys would be better served playing their unspectacular vanilla brand of football they left behind in the offseason.
It stands to reason, just having an average defense would put this team over the top. The offense is that good. But it’s not really that easy since this defense is lacking in maturity, talent, and effort, as well. Those are separate issues that won’t be solved just by switching to a different defensive scheme.
Additionally, the Cowboys can only hope to go so far with a simple coverage scheme like before. As we know, elite QBs have no problem picking that apart and even though the Cowboys would likely get a couple more regular season wins, they’d be greatly reducing their ceiling in the playoffs. That’s why a certain level of growing pains are worth it.
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This isn’t to say they should continue their current course either. The Cowboys clearly need to simplify some things and only add new elements once Step 1 has been properly digested. Perhaps a better understanding and comfort level will help the Cowboys improve some of the aforementioned issues like effort and execution.
Going back to the old scheme isn’t the answer. But asking the team to keep doing the same thing they’re struggling with this year isn’t the answer either. It’s somewhere in the middle and it has to be an on-going project because a simple defense will get carved up in the postseason.
Team 40-burger was supposed to be a compliment for the offense, not an indictment on the defense.