The Cowboys registered a 30-23 win over the Commanders on Christmas that left Jerry Jones in an upbeat mood when he appeared on Dallas radio station 105.3 the Fan on Friday morning. That was the case, at least, until the topic of conversation turned to the Cowboys defense, which has been a source of great disappointment for Jones, and Cowboys observers everywhere, all season.
Jones’ comments did not appear to bode well for embattled defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who is the Cowboys’ third defensive coordinator in three years. While Jones acknowledged that the lack of continuity in that job is a problem, he also said that plenty of teams around the league do just fine even with turnover at the coordinator spot–and made clear that he’s not happy with the state of the team’s decision-making.
Cowboys Defense: ‘A Lot of Work to Do’
Jones was asked about the Cowboys defense, which rates 30th in yardage allowed at 6,029 yards, and dead last in passing yards allowed at 4,057, and whether he was happy with the leadership he has seen from the top of that group. He did not mention Eberflus, but his implications were clear.
Said Jones: “No. No. Not at all. We have a lot of work to do there. I’m sorry if I have let my enthusiasm for the win yesterday misrepresent. No. Not at all. We got a lot of work to do over there. But we can do it. And we can do it with-say, manage the continuity that we don’t have. Some of these teams have had the same continuity on their defensive scheme for years. That’s the game.”
GettyDallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Cowboys’ Logan Wilson Decision Bothered Jones
One specific decision seemed to irk Jones in particular–as it did many Cowboys fans. Rather than play Logan Wilson, the linebacker the team acquired from the Bengals at the trade deadline in November, the Cowboys gave 49 snaps to Kenneth Murray and 42 to Shemar James, two linebackers who have struggled badly. Jones felt the trade for Wilson could upgrade the defense, but the coaches have been reluctant to put him on the field.
“First of all, I don’t have an explanation for you for why Wilson wasn’t in there,” Jones said. “He planned to be in there, we planned to have him in there. I don’t have that at this time. He needs to be in there. He has good instincts. The reason we got him was because he reads the play quick and can basically be in his lane of responsibility and react quick. It’s critical that a linebacker have quick reacting.
“He’s able to do that. That’s why we got him. But I don’t have an answer about yesterday.”
Linebackers, Defensive Backs Due for Upgrade
Jones cited linebacker and defensive backs as areas the Cowboys badly need to address this offseason. The corner combo of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland was dinged by injuries, and the team could you some refreshing there. They linebacker crew needs an utter overhaul, though.
“Those things are, and can, and is a work in progress to be addressed,” he said. “If we can get those addressed, and keep advancing the ball moving, so to speak, on the offensive side of the ball, we can be a heck of a team.”
And Jones made clear–he wants to be realistic about the state of the team, but he does feel the Cowboys are close.
He said: “I am not the eternal optimist. … I have a lot of times when I see too many flaws, so I have to do tricks to keep me going positive, too. Our future, with what we have set up on both sides of the ball, bodes well for us.”
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