2025 Random Cowboys Stuff Thread

[Genghis Khan]

Per Grok, with the Bears:

Chicago Bears (Head Coach, 2022–2024; Defensive Play-Caller, Week 3 of 2023–2024)

As Bears head coach, Eberflus initially delegated defensive play-calling to Alan Williams in 2022 and early 2023 but took over starting in Week 3 of 2023 after Williams’ resignation. The Bears’ roster was in a rebuilding phase, impacting defensive performance, especially in 2022. Below are the rankings:

2022:
Points Allowed: 31st (27.2 points per game)
Total Yards Against: 28th (375.9 yards per game)
Turnovers (Takeaways): Tied for 25th (14 takeaways: 8 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveries)
Notes: This was a rough year for the Bears’ defense, with a talent-deficient roster leading to poor rankings across the board. Eberflus was not the primary play-caller, and the team struggled with a league-worst 20 sacks and weak run defense (23rd). Takeaways were also below average.

2023:
Points Allowed: 21st (22.3 points per game)
Total Yards Against: 20th (324.2 yards per game)
Turnovers (Takeaways): 6th (28 takeaways: 22 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveries)
Notes: After Eberflus took over play-calling in Week 3, the defense improved significantly. The Bears led the NFL with 22 interceptions (tied for 1st) and ranked 1st in rushing yards allowed (86.4 yards per game). Total yards and points allowed were middling, but the takeaway surge (6th overall) was a hallmark of Eberflus’ scheme. The midseason addition of Montez Sweat helped the pass rush (25th in sacks).

2024 (through Week 12, when Eberflus was fired):
Points Allowed: 13th (~21.5 points per game, estimated based on partial season data)
Total Yards Against: 22nd (~330 yards per game, estimated)
Turnovers (Takeaways): Tied for 7th (~20 takeaways, estimated: ~12 interceptions, ~8 fumble recoveries)
Notes: The 2024 season saw improvement in points allowed (13th) and sacks (12th, with 32 through 12 weeks), but the defense struggled against the run (31st) and was average in total yards (22nd). Takeaways remained a strength, with the Bears on pace for a top-10 finish. Eberflus’ play-calling kept the unit competitive despite roster limitations

 

[Cowboysrock55]

There is, but the best defenses are pressure defenses.

I don't disagree with this. But sacks is only part of that.

 

[Bipo]

He's a decent DC whom the Tards are comfortable with I'm guessing.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

He's a decent DC whom the Tards are comfortable with I'm guessing.

I liked his Colts defenses centered around a badass DT in Buckner. The Bears defenses just sort of felt talentless. I'm curious to see if he can get some of that out of Clark.

 

[Simpleton]

I liked his Colts defenses centered around a badass DT in Buckner. The Bears defenses just sort of felt talentless. I'm curious to see if he can get some of that out of Clark.

I think Quinn showed that you can't really judge a former DC based on their defenses when they were the HC.

Offense is different if the HC is calling plays, but even that's different from being a straight coordinator.

 

[Bipo]

 

[Genghis Khan]

View attachment 696783

RIP. Great player.

 

[Texas Ace]

Keep in mind Eberflus' defenses aren't known for big pass rushing production.

With Micah, I was assuming it'd be different this year since he's so good, but now without him I wouldn't count on a whole lot of pass rush.

Here's Eberflus' defenses sack rankings each year.

Colts DC
2018: 19th (38 sacks)
2019: 16th (41 sacks)
2020: 10th (40 sacks)
2021: 26th (33 sacks)

Bears HC
2022: 32nd (20 sacks)
2023: 31st (30 sacks)
2024: 16th (40 sacks)

So we're going back to the Jason Garrett era defenses?

No sacks and no turnovers?

Great.

 

[bbgun]

So we're going back to the Jason Garrett era defenses?

No sacks and no turnovers?

Great.

Loofa will lead the way.

 

[Genghis Khan]

So we're going back to the Jason Garrett era defenses?

No sacks and no turnovers?

Great.

No, fortunately Eberflus' defenses are known for turnovers.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

So we're going back to the Jason Garrett era defenses?

No sacks and no turnovers?

 

[Bipo]

Clay's NFL season projections and unit grades: The top offenses, defenses, rosters and schedules

Let's project the NFL's best -- and worst -- offenses and defenses. Plus, how do all 32 teams rank overall, and who will make the Super Bowl?

www.espn.com

 

[Simpleton]

Unless we have a bunch of injuries again there is a 0% chance we have the worst defense in the league.

Our DL and LB group are better than last year, even when you factor in losing Parsons, and maybe even CB depending on what the Diggs situation is.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Unless we have a bunch of injuries again there is a 0% chance we have the worst defense in the league.

Our DL and LB group are better than last year, even when you factor in losing Parsons, and maybe even CB depending on what the Diggs situation is.

We were rated the second to last defense when Parsons wasn't on the field. And now he permanently won't be.

I don't think we'll be the worst defense, but the chances of it happening are not zero.

If we're anything better than league average then Eberflus is a magician.

I think the talent on the defense is very pedestrian. At best.

 

[Simpleton]

We were rated the second to last defense when Parsons wasn't on the field. And now he permanently won't be.

I don't think we'll be the worst defense, but the chances of it happening are not zero.

If we're anything better than league average then Eberflus is a magician.

I think the talent on the defense is very pedestrian. At best.

I think league average is about right, I also don't totally buy in to all the "advanced metrics", EPA type shit.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

If we were the worst defense in the league, Micah alone wouldn't make us any good. One player does not make that kind of difference.

ESPN is going full ESPN again.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I think league average is about right, I also don't totally buy in to all the "advanced metrics", EPA type shit.

Yeah I get the focus on Parsons being out. But Bland was out most of last season. Its a totally revamped LBer corp. We had Taco Mazi as a fucking starting DT. I'm not going to pretend to know how good the defense will be this year but I think about 20 is what I'd bet on. I'm guessing it's going to be an average to below average defense.

A competent offense will certainly help the defense as well. Last year the offense was so horrific. And I think if everything breaks right maybe we are a 10-15 defense. Assuming health is all there I think the LBer corp will turn out to be great. Bland, Diggs and Elam could be a very good secondary.

I don't think the Dline is a total mess. Osa and Clark with Solomon Thomas as the third DT actually looks pretty good. Fowler I think is an excellent pass rusher. The other DE spot becomes a big question for this year but with 3 former second round picks I'd sure hope one of them can play respectable football.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I'm not going to pretend to know how good the defense will be this year but I think about 20 is what I'd bet on. I'm guessing it's going to be an average to below average defense.

That's probably about right.

 

[Bipo]

If the offense stays healthy, and one of these RBs steps up, and they can get a defense around 20, they might win double digits.

With a first round exit of course.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

That's probably about right.

It's kind of crazy to think about the turnover in the NFL but over half our starters on defense are going to be new players to the team. Combine that with a new defensive coordinator and it's a lot of unknown.