Dallas just delivered the worst defensive effort of Week 1, per TruMedia’s defensive expected points added per drive. Seriously, out of 576 defensive performances since the start of the 2025 season, that Week 1 stinker against the New York Giants ranked 574th. They lost 28-20, and their new-look defense under coordinator Christian Parker looked anything but new. It’s a shocking start for a team that overhauled its unit after a league-worst scoring defense in 2025, with nearly half of those players gone. So, what’s going on?
The Communication Catastrophe
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn’t mince words, pinpointing the problem: communication. It’s an old headache for Dallas, but this year it’s different. Schottenheimer said, “Communication is two parts. It’s the person that gives [the call], and the person that receives it has to acknowledge it.” He called out how some of the younger guys on the field weren’t doing their part, leading to “self-inflicted wounds that get you beat.” Think about it: they didn’t even account for running back Devin Singletary. That’s a fundamental breakdown.
The green dot, the middle linebacker with the mic in their helmet, is usually the quarterback of the defense, relaying Parker’s play calls. That job belonged to veteran DeMarvion Overshown. But he’s now sidelined with a hamstring injury for Week 2, which means rookie Jaishawn Barham is stepping into that high-pressure role against the Washington Commanders. A rookie leading the communication for a defense that just gave up a historically bad performance? This is a recipe for disaster if they don’t get some help.
Wagner: The Untapped Solution?
Here’s the wild part: a proven leader, a 2010s All-Decade team middle linebacker, is sitting right there available. We’re talking about Bobby Wagner. He might be 36 years old now, but the dude stuffed the stat sheet in 2025 with the Washington Commanders: 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two interceptions. Yeah, he doesn’t have the same wheels in coverage, but he’s still a beast against the run and, more importantly, he’s a master communicator on the field. He could be a massive mentor for Barham and the rest of the young defense, exactly what Schottenheimer is asking for.
Dallas clearly isn’t afraid of signing older veterans for specific roles, either. They brought in 37-year-old Von Miller, a former Washington teammate of Wagner’s, to be a rotational pass rusher and mentor young defensive linemen. So why not Wagner? It seems his age or simply his desire to keep playing are the only things keeping him from a contract. For a defense that just put up one of the worst Week 1 performances in recent memory, a veteran like Wagner feels like a no-brainer. What are they waiting for?
This Sunday, it’s the Commanders, and all eyes will be on Barham and that defense. Will Dallas finally make the call to Bobby Wagner, or are they content to let these communication woes sink their early season?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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