Trevon Diggs had a blunt message after the Dallas Cowboys were upset by the Carolina Panthers Week 6, and it’s not something defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is going to want to hear.
The Panthers finished with 30 points and 410 total yards against a Cowboys defense that is currently ranked dead last in the league in total defense, giving up over 411 yards per game.
“Yeah its very frustrating,” Diggs said after the loss to Carolina, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “It’s all these points (given up), the receivers are running wide open down the field, too many busted coverages. It’s a lot. I feel like we’re all over the place and we really don’t have no identity.”
Oof. That’s not something defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, whose “HITS principle” stands for hustle, intensity, takeaways and playing smart situational football, is going to want to hear.
More About Trevon Diggs’ Comments on Dallas Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus, ‘No Identity’ Defense
GettyDallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs had some damning comments on Matt Eberflus’ defense.
Eberflus, who has been coaching in some capacity since 1992, was brought in because he has built solid defenses in the past. Through six games, he has yet to build anything in Dallas. The Cowboys have just 11 sacks and have forced only four takeaways (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries) thus far.
Things aren’t going to get any easier from here, either, as Dallas still has to face the Commanders (twice), the Lions, the Chiefs and the Eagles again, to name a few.
Diggs’ latest comments also don’t come as much of a surprise considering what he has said previously. The veteran CB has been vocal for months about wanting the Cowboys to lean more on man coverage. Earlier this season, he openly pushed for a more aggressive approach, suggesting that he and fellow corner DaRon Bland could thrive with more press coverage instead of sitting back in a soft zone.
Eberflus has largely resisted that shift, but Diggs’ stance clearly hasn’t changed.
Analysts Also Calling for Change from Cowboys Defense, Eberflus
Diggs wasn’t the only one wondering what was going on with Eberflus’ defense.
“I have never seen an NFL defense with so many people running WIDE OPEN,” former Cowboys great Michael Irvin wrote on X.
“It’s been six games, and it’s time for a change on defense. Big or small, something has to be fixed,” Cowboys.com’s Nick Eatman wrote after the loss.
“If you’re going to pay two cornerbacks north of $20 million per season, do you really need to play so much zone defense? … Sure, you want them to understand how to play the ball and sometimes bait the receiver. But more often than not, the best corners are the best because they can cover. And we’ve seen both Diggs and Bland play exceptional 1-on-1 defense.”
Eatman makes some good points there. When he was head coach of the Chicago Bears, Eberflus had one of the best cover corners in the NFL in Jaylon Johnson, but for the most part refused to use him in man-to-man coverage, instead utilizing zone.
To be fair, a pass rush that actually complements the secondary, creating pressure so Diggs and Bland aren’t left on islands, would also be a big help.
Still, Diggs’ comments aren’t wrong. There’s still time to change that narrative, but if the Cowboys can’t figure things out on defense soon, it’s going to be a very long season for everyone involved.
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