"Last year was terrible. Dallas gave up 30.1 points per game, dead last in the NFL. They allowed 377.0 total yards per game, which ranked 30th. The pass defense got cooked for 251.5 yards per game, also dead last. Even the run defense was below average, giving up 125.5 rushing yards per game. So no, I'm not going to sit here and pretend this defense was one lucky bounce away from being good. It was bad, really bad."
"The good part? Dallas did not treat it like a minor problem this offseason. The Cowboys changed the whole feel of the defense. They got heavier up front, added some pass rush, got younger at linebacker, and brought in more range on the back end. Now we get to the real question. How much better can the Cowboys defense be in 2026? I think they can make a big jump. I'm not talking about top-five, but a defense that's capable of punching back instead of getting dragged all over the yard."
"Dallas is shifting toward a heavier 3-4 defensive front, and I love the fit. This defense needed more size and strength. It needed a guy who could line up, eat blocks, and quit letting offenses run downhill. The foundation is simple: Quinnen Williams, Otito Ogbonnia, and Kenny Clark. In this front, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark make sense as the big defensive ends while Otito Ogbonnia fills the middle. That gives Dallas some beef on the line of scrimmage."
"No more getting pushed around snap after snap, or asking linebackers to make miracle plans with offensive linemen climbing clean to the second level. This front should help Dallas muddy up the run game and make teams earn their yards. Around here, we call that grown-man football. The Run Defense Should Take the Biggest Step. Dallas gave up 125.5 rushing yards per game last season. That will not work if we want the Cowboys to be a playoff tea"
Dallas’s defense performed poorly last season, allowing 30.1 points per game and 377.0 total yards per game, ranking dead last in the NFL. The pass defense allowed 251.5 yards per game, also dead last, while the run defense allowed 125.5 rushing yards per game. The offseason response focuses on changing the defensive identity by adding heavier personnel, improving pass rush, and bringing younger linebackers and more range in the secondary. The scheme shifts toward a heavier 3-4 front built around Quinnen Williams, Otito Ogbonnia, and Kenny Clark to strengthen the line of scrimmage. The run defense is expected to improve the most by making opponents earn yards instead of running downhill.
Read at Inside The Star
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