Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys secondary has changed a lot in a short amount of time.
Looking back at the 2024 Dallas Cowboys season, there wasn’t much that went to plan or left fans feeling great about the direction of a team that fell from first to third in their own division. The obvious weaknesses this team had going into the campaign predictably held them back, and even the few strengths they needed to lean in to to have any success were hampered by injuries, inconsistent play, or just too many unforced mistakes. One of these potential strengths was in the secondary, where defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was brought in to team up with secondary coach Al Harris. This duo’s expertise in coaching defensive backfields paired with the excitement of potentially having DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs together for a full season for the first time, along with veteran Jourdan Lewis and a deep safety group, made the Cowboys secondary a group to expect big things from.
After getting only 11 games out of Diggs and seven from Bland, just one of which came together in a Week 12 primetime loss to the Bengals, both Zimmer and Harris are no longer here. Neither is Lewis who became one of the first departures in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
We’ve documented how the Cowboys have stepped out of their comfort zone to work the roster this offseason, but also how the reason their approach truly feels any different is simply because of how inactive last offseason was. Put the two together, and at least on offense, the end result is humbling when looking at some of the familiar issues this team is facing heading into the draft. This being the side of the ball where the Cowboys also have the most new coaches and a new play-caller in charge with HC Brian Schottenheimer, perhaps a more long term view is needed to evaluate the scheme fits these coaches have brought in so far to make a difference.
Taking the same look at the Cowboys defense now, the same patience may not be afforded if this team has any ambitions of being close to the level of either the Washington Commanders or Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Matt Eberflus is back in the building as defensive coordinator, and with his arrival comes an expectation of what he’s already capable of from a past stint as linebackers coach for the Cowboys. The team prioritized signing Osa Odighizuwa at the all-important 3-technique position in Eberflus’ scheme, shuffled the depth chart considerably at linebacker by signing Jack Sanborn and trading for Kenneth Murray, and added a former first-round pick to help replace Lewis at cornerback with Kair Elam. Clearly, the expectation is to field a competitive defense right away under Eberflus. However, the Cowboys’ much more pressing needs at skill positions on offense have completely stolen the spotlight away from the possibility of this team addressing the secondary early in the draft. If they fail to do...
