The Dallas Cowboys’ defense is straight-up reeling right now. Through five weeks of the season, these guys have only managed to get five sacks, which is the third fewest in the entire NFL. Think about that. Their 36 pressures are the eighth fewest, and the whole defense rates dead last in EPA/play. And yeah, that absent pass rush is the biggest reason why. Historically, there’s no better way to win on defense than by getting after the quarterback. It’s supposed to cover up bad coverage, make QBs mess up, and for, like, every other team out there, it even helps create turnovers. The Cowboys? Not so much.
Where Did the Pass Rush Go?
No joke, Dallas has a serious problem. Without a real pass rush, these Cowboys don’t stand a chance this season. They could stumble into a division title, sure, but how are they gonna do anything against actual contenders in the postseason? It’s not happening. They desperately need to find some answers for that pass rush, and fast. The calls from fans to trade for a rusher are relentless and loud, with names like Maxx Crosby, Khalil Mack, and Josh Sweat constantly getting tossed around. On paper, any of those guys would absolutely make a difference. It’s not like Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary are lighting it up this year, so either of them could be benched without anyone even batting an eye. So why haven’t they made a move?
One Piece Away? Or Way More?
Here’s the rub: asking price. Outside of the L.A. Chargers, teams just aren’t looking to sell right now. Things could change closer to the November 10 trade deadline, when we see who’s for real and who’s pretending, but that’s still weeks away. If the Cowboys want to upgrade now, they’d have to put together an offer so good it would probably be an overpay. But the bigger question is, would one big piece even be enough? Adding a Crosby, Sweat, or Mack would definitely improve the defense, but could it really turn the worst defense in the NFL into a legitimate contender? Getting them to just “average” would be a monumental effort. Average might cut it in the regular season, but if 2023 taught us anything, it takes way more than a nice ranking to win in the playoffs. Remember Dan Quinn’s defense? Top five ranking that year, and they still ended up with a historic postseason defeat. The offense might’ve even been better back then, too. Gimmicks don’t work in the postseason, so blowing up the farm for a player who only shines in the regular season probably isn’t the smartest move.
Another option is to look within. Bringing in a blitz-heavy coach like Mike Pettine is a solid start, but they also need to try out other players in pass-rushing roles. James Houston, one of their top rushers last season, has been riding the pine for most of the year. He needs more meaningful snaps to get things going. DeMarvion Overshown, who was once their best pass rusher not named Parsons, could be put back into a downhill role. He’s due back soon and could totally benefit from Pettine’s blitzes.
Whatever they decide, the Cowboys cannot afford to waste another second. At 2-3, they’ve got a losing record, and they can’t just flounder around anymore. There are some winnable games coming up, and they could realistically be sitting at 5-3 by the deadline. But then again, they could just as easily crash and burn. It’s crunch time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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