Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice is joined by Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer to discuss what Dallas needs to prioritize this offseason – starting with a refresh on the defensive side of the ball. Check out the full conversation on “Football 301” – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
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The Cowboys.
And I actually don’t know that this one’s that hard.
I just had to find a new defensive coordinator.
Now, it’s not- It’s not just that, but I think that’s like the start.
Like you need Yeah.
Someone who can do more with less, who’s like, “I might not have the most talented group, But don’t worry, we’re…” To your point, “We’re gonna reach mediocrity.”
We’re going to be competent; we’re not going to be giving up 35.
40 points, we’re going to give the offense a chance.
To succeed here.”
So, in addition to obviously adding personnel, It would be great to add better players there, but I do think coordinator is where They’re going to start.
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And I know for as much as you’ve probably talked about Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons, as much as I’ve talked about Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons, as much as every morning talk show has talked about it, As I was preparing for this, I’m like, “I still don’t think they’ve taken enough heat.”
Because If you look at the season…
Honestly, it’s like they have a top-notch…
The hook.
No, they’re not off the…
I’m not done talking about it, okay?
I’m still coming back.
They have a top-five offense.
Our social team’s like, “Yes!”
Yeah.
They have a top-five offense; they’ve had a great Dak Prescott season.
Yes.
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The George Pickens thing worked out.
I think the Brian Schottenheimer thing, for as much as I probably made fun of it at the time, I think that worked out.
I’m all aboard.
And because of the Micah Parsons mismanagement, they’re not in the playoffs in a year where It’s wide open.
Mm-hmm.
In the postseason, where if their, if their defense was just like the 20th-best defense, We might be having a conversation that, “Man, they are…
I know they haven’t done it in previous years, but with the Pickens addition, With CeeDee Lamb healthy, with the O-line, with the run game, With the way Dak’s playing against these really hard defensive coordinators, they really have a chance.”
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And they threw that away.
Yeah.
Not just because they wanted to trade Micah.
Parsons, but because of the timing.
Like, if they would’ve done it in the spring, Now, maybe you’re adding players and draft capital, and your defense isn’t as bad.
If you waited ’til the trade deadline, at least you would’ve had Micah Parsons for the first Like, whatever, eight weeks of the season.
That would’ve made a big difference.
It really would have.
They could really be like a Peyton.
Manning’s Colts kind of team, you know, as far as just supernova offense, Top-five offense, lock it in.
They’re trying to score 30 every game and just have to have that.
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Opportunistic defense that they had.
Of course, there was the Bob Sanders year, But really, what the key was to the Colts was playing with leads.
Playing a bunch of Cover 2 with Tony Dungy and then Dwight Freeney, You know?
And then, like, okay, he can tee off on a pass, You know, all these quarterbacks have to drop back now ’cause they’re trying to keep up with Peyton.
That’s not…
So, I think the Cowboys can run the ball too, ’cause they nailed the Tyler Guyton pick.
Signing too, bringing him over as the run game guy.
Uh, it’s just that the… Yeah, it’s frustrating because what, What you said about Eberflus too, II got another question on this.
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With Eberflus, it’s that he’s very… His defense is very simple, Very safe, um, very like, “Hey, we’re gonna make quarterbacks be methodical,” make them make good decisions over and over.
You need dudes, though.
That’s the thing.
If you play that way and guys don’t make plays.
For you, you just get gashed because quarterbacks aren’t threatened at all.
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