Cowboys news: New DC Matt Eberflus wants turnovers in Dallas

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What will new DC Matt Eberflus bring to Cowboys’ defense? – Todd Archer, ESPN

The new DC in Dallas wants the defense to get back to creating lots of turnovers in 2025.

“Yeah, pretty simple: We take the ball away,” he said when asked what the hallmark of his defense is. “That’s what we do. We stop the run. And we want to make exciting plays for our football team. That’s really what we do.”

In his first year as the Colts’ coordinator in 2018, Indianapolis went from No. 30 in points and yards allowed to No. 10 and 11, respectively. The run defense went from 26th to eighth, and the Colts did not allow a 100-yard rusher.

Only once in the past seven years has an Eberflus-led defense or team finished outside the top 10 in takeaways. And in 2023, the Bears tied for the NFL lead with 22 interceptions.

It helps Eberflus that he will have Parsons. Since 1982, Parsons and Hall of Famer Reggie White are the only players to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons. League rules prevent them from talking much about football at this time of year. One of Eberflus’ first talks with Parsons came when the pass rusher was enjoying Disney World with his kids while in Orlando, Florida, for the Pro Bowl.

“Micah’s a premier pass rusher. We’re going to use him that way certainly,” Eberflus said. “And he’s a heckuva athlete and can do a lot of different things for us on defense. When you have a guy like that you want to be able to utilize his skill set, and as we’re around him more, we’ll be able to see what that skill set is and really take advantage of that.”

It also helps Eberflus that he has defensive assistants from his time in Chicago, such as pass game coordinator Andre Curtis, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, cornerbacks coach David Overstreet and assistant defensive line coach Bryan Bing.

Ken Dorsey explains how he’ll assist Brian Schottenheimer in building Cowboys’ offense – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com

The Cowboys’ new passing game coordinator, Ken Dorsey, wants to ensure that the running game is utilized in supporting the passing attack.

Dorsey spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and was previously in the same role for two seasons with the Buffalo Bills. In this role, he’ll focus more on constructing the offense as a whole and chip in with help wherever he can.

“I’m helping out with the offense in general, I’ll be able to go where needed in terms of helping out position groups and things like that,” Dorsey explained. “I’m going to be able to help a lot with tying the pass game with the run game and some off the pass concepts and things like that, but it’s I think more of a big picture role more so than a specific one lane type deal.”

When it comes to what the offense will look like schematically, Dorsey echoed the same sentiments that Schottenheimer and the rest of the staff have as well – the Cowboys are focused on using the ground game to set up everything else.

“We’re going to be a team that’s going to run the football and be able to utilize that as a strength for us and then utilize our guys and be able to adjust our system based off of our guys’ strengths.” Dorsey said.

One of the key pieces of the puzzle will be maximizing Dak Prescott when he returns for the 2025 season and beyond. Dorsey has coached high level quarterbacks like 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen in the past, and was complimentary of what Prescott has been able to do in his nine NFL seasons.

“He’s got a tremendous skill set, he can make all the throws that you can ask for…” Dorsey said of Prescott. “He’s got tremendous experience in this league. For a quarterback position, the more reps you get in a game, the more you’re reacting instead of thinking, it’s just a natural reaction, you can play faster and faster and faster.”

Zack Martin appreciation section.

Why should Cowboys’ upgrades start at defensive line? Look at Super Bowl-winning Eagles – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

The Cowboys will need to bolster their defensive line if they want to play with the top contenders in the NFC.

In the Super Bowl, the Eagles played eight different defensive linemen, four were first-round picks. The starters featured a pair of first rounders.

As the Cowboys’ personnel staff descends at the NFL Scouting Combine starting Monday in Indianapolis, upgrading the talent along the defensive line should rank high on the to-do list…

…Knowing which players are on your roster, and which are leaving, brings you to the draft.

The Cowboys pick No. 12 overall in the first round and the options at defensive tackle are there.

Mason Graham is the best defensive tackle in this draft, according to experts. He’s from Michigan and we know Cowboys fans have sleepless nights about linemen from Michigan. Graham is different. So is Mississippi’s Walter Nolen. What about another Michigan man, Kenneth Grant? There’s also Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams.

We could see four defensive tackles go in the first round in 2025. Maybe five if you count Derrick Harmon from Oregon.

If you’re wondering what the Cowboys seek along the front, here’s Whitecotton: “We attack. We’re an attack front. What you seen from us in San Francisco and with the Jets, we’re an attack front and I want those guys to play on that side of the line of scrimmage to get after people and play hard.”

Whitecotton also used the words “great violence” when discussing his needs from his front. He had those in his previous places of employment with the 49ers and Jets.

Parsons does that. It’s why he’s going to become a rich man this summer.

3 reasons why Deuce Vaughn could have breakout season – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

What will 2025 bring for RB Deuce Vaughn in his third season in the NFL?

Here’s three reasons why Deuce Vaughn could have a breakout year:

Head start on the rest? While it’ll be a long offseason and the Cowboys will likely add free agents and drafted running backs to the mix, Deuce Vaughn is at least one of the few guys already in the building. Rico Dowdle is a free agent and the Cowboys no longer have Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook. So if there are any early meetings with the coaches and players, Deuce Vaughn should get the bulk of face time. Now there is Hunter Luepke and Malik Davis still on the roster, but for now, Vaughn has a head-start on the rest in terms of picking up the scheme.

Foster’s history: Whatever has held Deuce Vaughn back in the past, his new position coach is familiar with it. Derrick Foster, who isn’t the tallest of running backs himself, was a standout in college at Southwest Baptist. He has moved up the coaching ranks in college and the NFL and along the way, has a history of working with backs that don’t exactly look like Derrick Henry. In fact, Foster coached Austin Eckler with the Chargers and this past year, helped Alvin Kamara have one of his best statistical seasons as the RB coach of the Saints.

“For a running back, it’s about up here (pointing to his head) and right here (pointing to his heart),” Foster said. “That’s how you measure a good running back. It doesn’t matter how tall he is or how big he is. Running backs have to be smart. They have to be tough. They have to understand how the blocks are set up and they have to have really good vision and quickness. Any runner that wants to be good in the NFL carries those types of traits.”

KSU Reunion: When Vaughn was running through defenses at Kansas State, one of the guys leading the way was Conor Riley, the KSU offensive coordinator who is now the offensive line coach in Dallas. If there’s anyone that knows how to put him in positions to succeed, it should be Riley. While he will be now directing the O-line, he should be working hand-in-hand with Klayton Adams, who is the OC. So Riley should be able to help get the ball to Vaughn in ways we haven’t seen yet in the regular season.

Cowboys have no-brainer free agent to sign after Zack Martin retirement – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat

Mekhi Becton is one free agent to consider when looking to replace one of the best guards to ever play for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys will have to balance plugging those holes between free agency and the draft. If the defer to the former to replace Martin, there is one player who is crying out to be signed.

Fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, Mekhi Becton springs to mind as an ideal Martin replacement.

The Jets drafted Becton No. 11 overall in 2020 to be their franchise left tackle. That plan went up in smoke as Becton struggled to stay on the field and was inconsistent when healthy.

Becton was adamant about sticking at LT with New York. With his career on life support, he commendably made the switch to guard with the Eagles last season and enjoyed a resurgent campaign, one that has him set up to be rewarded in free agency.

Becton logged over 900 snaps across 15 starts for Philly, posting a 74.7 run-blocking grade while allowing just three sacks and 25 pressures. He committed just four penalties all season.

While Becton’s job was undoubtedly made easier by playing on arguably the best offensive line in football, he looked the part of an above-average starter with more potential to tap into as he gains more experience at the position.