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The Parker Report - Another Defensive Collapse
Just when we thought that progress was made, they demonstrate how far away they remain.
Bob Sturm2 hours ago
- Overall Defensive Evaluation vs Arizona
- A Poorly Coached Defense
- The Run Defense Still Stinks
- Film Study
- Splash Plays
OVERALL DEFENSIVE EVALUATION
This one – our last and final piece on the Arizona debacle – may have a tone of someone who has had it a small bit. We believe in patience and understanding about building a large project, but at some point, gentlemen, we have to get our act together.Apparently, Week 8 wasn’t that time.
Our historical checkmarks this week are pretty wild and not in a good way.
- 33 points against.
- 202 yards rushing against.
- 467 total yards against.
- 7.5 yards per carry.
Sunday vs Arizona, Mike Nolan’s ridiculous defense in 2020, and the expansion team of 1960.
The defense collapsed in such an epically brutal way against the Arizona Cardinals that I fear we might be very close to “back at square one.”
Just look at the carnage:
What is crazy about this performance is that we are back to the huge plays again. On a “per play” basis, it really wasn’t that bad. But, so many explosives that included so many breakdowns and blown assignments that it ended up still ripping apart the season as it currently stands.
As I am sure you are quite aware, the first three quarters were just fine. Everything was in order and the Cowboys were in a great position to dispose of a hapless opponent. Then, probably with those back-to-back runs from Tyler Allgeier, everything that was wrong was badly exposed and the Cowboys defense was a sieve.
Just look at the drive chart. The first 43 minutes were absolutely fine.
Then the fire started.
Six drives that totaled 34 plays in which they rolled up an obscene 333 yards at 9.8 yards per play! In less than 30 minutes of football, they scored 30 points!
If you put that into a 60-minute game, the Cardinals – who are not a very good football team if we consider the facts here – had a 60-point pace and would have gained over 800 yards! It is all too insane to believe. With players that are not even starters on their own bad football team, the Cardinals walked up and down the field like they were playing a high school defense.
A Poorly Coached Defense
We have our thoughts and hopes and predictions here, there is no doubt. I believed that Christian Parker was an excellent hire and I believed it because so many people inside the NFL loved it for Dallas. He was the next big thing. Surely, he is ready for the next step as he rises to one of the top minds in the sport.Well, there is always the famous quote: "No plan survives contact with the enemy."
You see, at training camp, we are completely guessing how things are going to go. But, the one factor that is required – but not ever present – is the idea that opponents are going to test you from every direction. The enemy is going to find a weakness and then continue to attack it until you fix it. This is how we find out who is well-coached and who might have to consider even more changes.
So, let’s go back to Week 1. Right before halftime, the Giants had the Cowboys secondary in a blender on this play that you might recall from our first Parker Report of 2026.
2Q - 0:25 - 2-5-DAL 15 - J.Dart pass short right to I.Likely for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Now, you also might recall that Schotty claimed it was on a LB, but again, I am suspicious of his claim because there is no variation of Quarters that I know of that asks the TE to cover the vertical corner route. Either way, it is an incredible bust that should never happen again because the Cowboys defense learned from the mistake, right? By the way, the safety over there is No. 1 PJ Locke. That is rather notable.
Well, it was a critical moment in this game against the Cardinals and the Cowboys were still up 10 points with just over 2 minutes to play.
You know Arizona did their homework when you saw this play because they come right back to the Smash.
4Q - 2:16 - 1-10-DAL 14 - G.Minshew pass short right to T.McBride for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
So, here we go. Smash concept and we think it is Cover 4, but this time, it might actually be Cover 6 (quarter, quarter, half with the corner over here (Bland again) might actually be in man). But, just so we are all together on this, it is 3 over 2. Very basic secondary play as long as everyone is talking and playing together.
Overshown seems to carry him and then release him to the deep cover which is either Bland or Locke. The film tells me again it is PJ Locke, but that would require me being sure it is Cover 6 and not Cover 4. If it is Cover 4, it is Bland again, but honestly, this one looks a little less like the corner busted.
The point is that Arizona doesn’t care about that. They care that you don’t have your ducks in a row and have this sorted in Week 8 after the Giants already showed them how to beat you in the red zone. And with another game on the line, you busted the exact same way.
Nobody was close to Isaiah Likely in Week 1. Nobody was close to Trey McBride in Week 8.
How else do we describe this than a poorly coached defense? There are more examples, of course, in our film study. But, holy heck, boys. How are we still struggling with these basic zone concepts? I don’t know how else to say it. They are a fairly clueless unit right now who also has enough self-inflicted errors to drive you crazy, too.
The Run Defense Still Stinks
We will get into more specifics in the film study, but again, run defense is fairly universal. Everyone has an assignment, everyone has to battle to the ball without running under blocks or around them, and play with gap discipline. And then, when you get a chance to make a tackle, you have to tackle like there is nobody behind you because often, there is nobody behind you.Well, here we are again. Despite trying to replace nearly every member of the defense, we wake up this morning and see Dallas as the 32nd ranked rushing defense and 31st in rushing per play.
Here are Sunday’s rushing defense numbers by Arizona personnel grouping.
13 personnel was 11.3 yards per carry? 11 personnel was 6 yards per carry, too.
So, on a game by game basis, they stopped the run against Houston and Green Bay – two teams that don’t really even try to run the ball at all – and otherwise, they have been the same old run defense that is without a clue.
For once, from a Jones’ family standpoint, I do sort of feel for them on this one. They have been one of the worst rushing defenses for years and no matter how many changes they make, they can’t stop the bleeding any better than their defense could stop Allgeier on Sunday.
But, yeah, this is now pretty much “2020 Mike Nolan” bad. They are back over the 150 yards per-game barrier and 5 yards per-carry, too.
I wish I had some answers, but more than anything, I can’t believe we appear to be right back at square one.
OK, in the interest of time and everyone’s fading attention span, let’s go through these clips and I will try not to make it take all day for you.
FILM STUDY
1Q - 14:02 - 3-3-ARZ 38 - J.Brissett pass incomplete short right to Mi.Wilson.
This is a 3rd down stop for the Cowboys, but I just want to show that right off the bat, the Cardinals are being stopped, sure. But, they are not being stopped because Dallas is getting pass pressure or that there aren’t open players downfield. I see at least two if not more open guys on this Cover-1 3rd down vs mesh. How do you like that wheel route from Jeremiyah Love vs Rashan Gary? That looks like a touchdown to me.
1Q - 6:17 - 4-1-DAL 1 - J.Love up the middle to DAL 1 for no gain (C.Downs; K.Clark).
Things you love to see here would be Love on 4th down having a hole for a second, only to see Caleb Downs stand him up at the goal-line and drive him back. Huge moment for the Cowboys that felt that way in the 1st Quarter.
1Q - 3:18 - 3-11-ARZ 34 - J.Brissett pass short middle intended for E.Higgins INT by S.James [R.Gary] at ARZ 38.
4 man pressure here and Rashan Gary is right in Brissett’s lap as he throws on 3rd and 11. A panicked pass to the TE Higgins is poorly placed and ends up a turnover as Shemar James makes a nice play and sets Dallas up with great field position as he can’t quite cut his return back for a full pick-6. Takeaway and a goal-line stand in the 1st Quarter. What could go wrong?
2Q - 13:03 - 3-8-DAL 40 - (Shotgun) J.Brissett sacked at DAL 47 for -7 yards (Q.Williams).
What a great rush rep this was as the Cowboys bring 45-Justin Barron on a LB blitz and he is right on top of Brissett almost before the snap gets there. Wow, was that nice work. Even though he didn’t get all the way home, he definitely puts the 3rd down and long into full chaos mode and Quinnen Williams is there to swallow up the sack. Watching Quinnen just control his man until he wishes to throw the former Eagles guard 73-Seumalo to the ground is incredible. He is playing some nice ball.
2Q.- 0:21 - 2-10-ARZ 36 - J.Brissett pass short middle to Z.Knight to ARZ 46 for 10 yards (C.Durant, D.Overshown). FUMBLES (D.Overshown), RECOVERED by DAL-L.Overton at ARZ 47.
Once again, the Cowboys pass rush seems to be coming along. This time 7-Gary, 40-Miller, and 57-Lawrence seem to be really doing a nice job and Brissett checks it down to his RB. From there, we see DeMarvion Overshown fly in and try to get the ball out and he forces a fumble that 99-LT Overton recovers. Plays like this give you hope about the effort levels of this defense. Watching this rep tells you guys are flying to the ball and trying to cause chaos.
3Q - 5:03 - 1-10-DAL 45 - J.Brissett sacked at ARZ 45 for -10 yards (D.Ezeiruaku).
This is Donovan Ezeiruaku causing chaos on a pass rush rep for a sack. We need to see so much more of this, but it is sacks in back to back games for the 2nd year edge and maybe we are seeing signs of life from him after the first six weeks were pretty uneventful. They need him to be good and let’s keep it going. We know he has it in him because he was a force at Boston College.
3Q - 4:21 - 2-20-ARZ 45 - J.Brissett sacked at ARZ 29 for -16 yards (V.Miller).
The very next play, Von Miller gets his first official sack as a Dallas Cowboy. And, let me tell you, it is just a clinical beauty that demonstrates that there may not be a player in NFL history who had the spin move as perfectly down as Von Miller. He has done it many, many times and tackles always look like toddlers trying to stop him. 65-Elijah Wilkinson will not soon forget that rep.
So, yeah, everything is great until here. Only go past this line if you want to see the wreckage.
3Q - 1:10 - 2-3-ARZ 37 - T.Allgeier up the middle for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
So, this is right after the QB change, but I am not sure Gardner Minshew has much to do with this. In fact, this might be a little bad luck, because the Cowboys are caught in a blitz from Downs off the edge and a stunt up front which leaves them in the hands of fate. Shemar James is in a real bad spot here having to beat a guard and make a tackle and really doesn’t come close. So, you are now down to your two safeties saving the day. 24-Hooker really doesn’t have a good angle on this so he tries to politely offer one hand, but the real bust here is PJ Locke again. Dude, I don’t mean to pick on you, but what kind of tackle is this at 0:20? There is no universe where your shoulder is going to bring down a freight train like that. Either extend your arms to try to trip him up or tackle him or please don’t be on the field. This is just awful technique and because your last line of defense offered a hopeful shoulder, a 10-yard run became a 63-yard run. Just brutally bad safety play.
4Q - 14:20 - 1-10-ARZ 20 - T.Allgeier left end to DAL 28 for 52 yards (D.Bland).
This next play – THE VERY NEXT PLAY – is another one where we aren’t sure the coaching of this defense is up to snuff. If you pause it at 0:20, you will see that the strong side vs 13 personnel is now out-numbered with defenders and gaps to the left of the center. Five gaps and four defenders and then the Cardinals make it even worse by calling a pin-and-pull to that strong side and the Cowboys are so badly out-flanked that this thing is danger when the ball is snapped. Your only real hope is that Rashan Gary can get in the way of the guard or center who are pulling because if he doesn’t, we might have a convoy down the field. Both linebackers have to save the play and both linebackers run under their blocks which essentially take them out of it all. Malik Hooker knows he is dead so he sort of just complies. If you pause it at 0:24, you see the problems and no solutions. Caleb Downs does everything he can do against the center and probably drew a block in the back, but instead got a concussion on a ridiculous collision and then another one. Luckily Allgeier ran a 4.6 40 or he is gone.
4Q - 12:09 - 3-2-DAL 20 - G.Minshew pass short left to T.Allgeier to DAL 3 for 17 yards (M.Hooker).
A few plays later, the Cowboys are caught in a 3rd down blitz again. 6-man blitz means that against 5 targets you would either be in Cover 0 or if you have a deep safety (they do) then one of your blitzers has to go with Allgeier if he heads downfield. 6-Ezeiruaku clearly has this responsibility but it takes him a moment and that is all they need for another chunk play on a blown assignment. Malik Hooker saves the touchdown, but 17 easy yards on 3rd down.
How many assignment busts?
4Q - 10:52 - 3-5-DAL 5 - G.Minshew pass short left to T.Allgeier for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
A few plays later, they are at the 5 on 3rd and goal, so this is a potential 4-point play. Quick zone where Allgeier is now in full Superman mode and Caleb Downs and Cobie Durant cannot stop him from greatness. He will not be denied. Obviously, two guys have to be able to make that stop short of pay-dirt.
4Q - 2:23 - 3-10-DAL 29 - G.Minshew pass incomplete deep middle to R.Virgil. PENALTY on DAL-R.Gary, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at DAL 29 - No Play.
The pivotal moment where Rashan Gary takes a really dumb penalty that might have helped lose the game as much as anything. I like my chances if this becomes 4th and 10, but Gary head butts Minshew after the ball is gone and gives them a free 1st down. I have no idea why.
This is where the Trey McBride smash concept happens that we showed above.
4Q - 0:27 - 3-5-DAL 40 - G.Minshew pass deep right to Mi.Wilson to DAL 13 for 27 yards (D.Bland).
6-man blitz vs a 6-man protection and nobody can trouble Minshew as he throws. By this point, Dallas felt like dead men walking and Minshew had plenty of confidence and rhythm. He steps up in the pocket and makes a crazy good throw to Michael Wilson who is behind Daron Bland in man coverage. Bland is just a constant target these days and Joey Porter is still not a full-time player, but boy, it would have been nice to have his help to close out the game here. Bland is bottom-5 in the NFL in all sorts of coverage stats right now including allowing a QB rating of 124.6 against him and 13.9 yards a reception. He is not very good at coverage, which is a problem if you paid him $92 million to cover people.
4Q - 0:10 - 2-10-DAL 13 - G.Minshew pass short middle to Mi.Wilson for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
This one is just so crazy to me. This is Cover 4 again and I just don’t know what Alijah Clark is seeing here as the safety to the strong side. But, for whatever reason, he is worried about the outside man who is already covered and let’s Wilson head right down the seam and catch the winning TD completely uncovered. Again, these are such basic “Day 1 of install” reads that I have no choice but to say they are poorly coached. Luckily, they missed the extra point.
OT - 5:43 - 3-1-ARZ 41 - Mi.Wilson left end pushed ob at DAL 42 for 17 yards (S.James).
And, finally, the dagger is a 3rd and 1 and the jet sweep. This time, Locke sees it and tries to warn Shemar James and Malik Hooker to shift, but it is all too late. The play-call outflanks the Cowboys yet again and the damage is done. They will lose again as a heavy favorite because they simply cannot get lined up and play their gaps.
SPLASH PLAYS vs ARIZONA
SEASON LEADERBOARD
CONCLUSIONS:
They are so bad that I don’t know how to conclude this piece.We head to Week 9 as a beaten bunch. I appreciate you reading these and sticking with us. Because the news is very, very bleak right now.