The Dallas Cowboys being unhappy with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus isn't exactly breaking news. Though this unit has had some understandable struggles adjusting to a new scheme, it was an absolute lowlight to see Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears run wild against their former head coach. This was a week after the now-benched Russell Wilson passed for over 400 yards and terrorized the Cowboys' secondary as well.
Brian Schottenheimer already made his thoughts clear on how the defense needs to improve prior to Week 3. However, following even more gaffes against Chicago, Schottenheimer was forced to once again put some heat on Eberflus on Tuesday.
"We're not giving up 16-, 17-, 18-yard explosives. We're giving up 35 and 40 and 45. At the end of the day, that's not good enough, man. We gave up six explosives for, like, 215 yards," "Brian Schottenheimer
Schottenheimer harped on Dallas giving up several explosive plays and said point-blank, "That's not good enough, man."
The coach's point here is obvious. It isn't as if the Cowboys are just giving up the bare minimum of explosive plays; the franchise is the league's worst defense based on the obscene chunks of yardage other teams have been easily ripping off. This points to a lack of execution, as well as poor play calling, from the struggling Eberflus.
Brian Schotteheimer Adds Even More Heat to Matt Eberflus' Seat in Week 4
It isn't as if the defensive coordinator wasn't already facing a high level of pressure. However, it is understandable that the head coach is turning up the heat even more after Week 3. Getting blown off the field by the Bears is a new low. One that has Cowboys fans questioning exactly where this season is heading.
You cannot reasonably ask Dak Prescott to score 35-40 points each week. This is especially the case now that CeeDee Lamb is lost for the next several weeks of the season after suffering a high-ankle sprain. This hit to the offense makes it even more vital that Eberflus find a way to turn around the struggles of the first three weeks of the season.
With this in mind, it is very much on the table that if the Cowboys were to lose in blowout fashion on Sunday, Dallas opts to make a change. You simply cannot find a worse performance than the Dallas defensive coordinator has put on over the first three weeks, and it would send a message to the rest of the roster if he were to be demoted or outright let go.
Tolerating failure of this level speaks to organizational issues, and Eberflus and Schottenheimer both understand this. If the season is going to turn around, it must start this week against the Green Bay Packers. Otherwise, the Cowboys are going to be forced to make a difficult decision, one that likely ends with the current DC searching for a new landing spot after another failed tenure.