Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus answered questions this week and said the team will focus on forcing turnovers in the 2025 season.
Eberflus explained that the Cowboys “will take the ball away” to set up easy opportunities for the offense, and the defense will “make exciting plays for our football team,” according to the Cowboys.
These comments are not surprising based on his previous experience as a defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts.
During his four seasons with the Colts from 2018-2021, Eberflus led the team to top-10 finishes in takeaways every season while also being one of the strongest defensive units against the run.
Eberflus explained that the team will stop the run by focusing on the fundamentals and “playing your technique.”
“Obviously, the better players you have, the better they are. So it’s important to have that too, but it’s about guys being in the right spot and being where they’re supposed to be, and with the demeanor that they need to have,” he explained, according to the Cowboys.
“It’s both [scheme and personnel]. It’s always both. You can run the same scheme with really good players, and it works really well, and run the same scheme with other guys, and it’s not as good. But this is a player’s game, so the talent level does matter, and I do believe we can be where you’re supposed to be and have really good fundamentals to really help enhance the run game.”
One of the biggest pieces in the Cowboys’ defense is linebacker Micah Parsons, who has already proven himself to be one of the most explosive and impactful players in the NFL.
Eberflus described Parsons as a “premier pass rusher” and said he plans to utilize him in ways that will put him in the best position to succeed next year.
“We’re going to use him that way, certainly, and he’s one heck of an athlete that can do a lot of different things for us on defense. And when you have a guy like that, you want to be able to utilize his skill set. As we’re around him more, we’ll see what that skill set is and really take advantage of that,” he explained, per the Cowboys.
“He knows that we’ll just make him in the best light that he can be in terms of position, in terms of pass rush, and really utilizing what he does best, and that’s rushing the passer.”
Dallas will now have to prioritize re-signing Parsons to a long-term contract this offseason while adding pieces along the defensive line to help Eberflus and the defensive unit slow down opposing teams’ rushing attacks.