{"id":235753,"date":"2025-06-06T11:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T15:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=235753"},"modified":"2025-06-05T23:21:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T03:21:23","slug":"if-dallas-wants-to-fix-its-run-defense-these-players-must-deliver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/06\/06\/if-dallas-wants-to-fix-its-run-defense-these-players-must-deliver\/","title":{"rendered":"If Dallas Wants to Fix Its Run Defense, These Players Must Deliver"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Cowboys<\/a> players must deliver this year. They didn\u2019t just struggle against the run last season\u2014they collapsed<\/a>. The numbers were ugly, the tape was worse, and the failure was holistic. New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus inherits a unit in need of serious answers. He\u2019s not a mad scientist scheming exotic looks. Rather, his focus is on positioning and simplicity\u2014putting players in the right spots, allowing them to play fast and without hesitation. Here\u2019s your task. Go complete it<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But schemes don\u2019t tackle. Players do.<\/p>\n

If the Cowboys want to change their identity in 2025, it won\u2019t be because of press conference clich\u00e9s. It\u2019ll be because key players step up and get the job done. Here are three players who must deliver if Dallas wants to fix its biggest weakness and reshape its defensive identity in 2025.<\/p>\n

The Key Players Who Can Change the Narrative in 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Osa Odighizuwa Is The Prototypical Eberflus 3-Technique<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If there\u2019s a fulcrum to the Eberflus defense, it\u2019s the 3-technique\u2014the engine that powers the system. For Dallas, that starts with Osa Odighizuwa<\/a>. Now entering Year 5, Odighizuwa is the veteran leader of the defensive line group and a core piece of the front. If the Cowboys are going to stop getting gashed on the ground, it starts with him.<\/p>\n

Odighizuwa\u2019s strength has been as an interior pass-rusher. In 2024, he ranked third among interior defensive linemen in total pressures (60), fourth in quarterback hits (14), and fifth in hurries (39). His 78.5 PFF pass rush grade<\/a> ranked him 11th<\/sup> out of 219 interior defenders. He brings explosiveness and leverage off the snap. He’s a major disruptor. But he is going to have to be more than that if the defense is going to get better. His 50.8 run defense grade ranked 116th<\/sup>\u2014an alarming number for a player who will be as critical to the success of the run defense as he will be.<\/p>\n

Odighizuwa\u2019s athletic profile makes him an ideal fit for Eberflus\u2019 scheme. The challenge now is technical: anchoring the point of attack, disrupting the mesh point, and holding firm in short-yardage and goal-line scenarios\u2014areas where Dallas was consistently bullied last year.<\/p>\n

With a contract extension in hand, it\u2019s time to raise the floor. If Odighizuwa can\u2019t improve his run defense, the Cowboys likely won\u2019t improve theirs. And one of the most important players who must deliver might tank the whole operation before it gets off the ground.<\/p>\n

Can Solomon Thomas Be More Than A Depth Piece?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Solomon Thomas<\/a> is a journeyman at this point in his career, and he\u2019s not here to be anyone\u2019s savior. But in a scheme like Eberflus\u2019, he\u2019ll be filling an important role at the 3-tech behind Odighizuwa. Thomas is a veteran leader and a strong schematic fit\u2014athletic, explosive, and relentless.<\/p>\n

What he brings to Dallas is exactly what Eberflus wants from his defensive tackles: athletic burst and a tireless motor. His role: keep the guards off the linebackers and limit explosive runs. He may no longer be a high-end starter, but that doesn\u2019t mean he won\u2019t be crucial. If he can spell Odighizuwa without the run defense falling apart, he becomes one of the more valuable pieces on the roster.<\/p>\n

Thomas was a rotational player last year with the New York Jets, and his raw numbers left a lot to be desired: his 45.6 PFF overall grade<\/a> was bottom fifth in the league last year. But there\u2019s reason for optimism. His traits align with what Eberflus wants to do, and a fresh start in his hometown could serve him well. And oh yeah, he\u2019s absolutely jacked<\/a>. Pushing almost 300 rock-solid pounds, he looks better than ever. And if he maintains his athleticism, he can be very disruptive for this defense.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a leadership component to Thomas\u2019s role. He\u2019s been through adversity far beyond football<\/a>, grown through it, and emerged with purpose. That presence matters in a room filled with players who must deliver.<\/p>\n

Thomas isn\u2019t here to take over. He\u2019s here to raise the standard\u2014and hold it. That might be exactly what this front needs.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dec 22, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tennessee Titans linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. (56) celebrates an interception during the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Who Will Start At MIKE LB?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The 3-tech may anchor the Matt Eberflus defense, but the MIKE linebacker is a close second in terms of importance. That\u2019s where things get a little dicey. Who\u2019s playing the middle? Who\u2019s wearing the \u201cgreen dot?\u201d This might be the biggest lingering question heading into training camp.<\/p>\n

The leader in the clubhouse at this moment, presumably, is Kenneth Murray<\/a>. Acquired via trade after five up-and-down seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans, he brings plus athleticism and explosiveness, but also real concerns. He\u2019s seen as a liability in coverage, and his 35.0 PFF run defense grade<\/a> in 2024\u2014admittedly not the be-all end-all\u2014was 185th<\/sup> out of 189 qualified linebackers. Yikes. Murray has been slow to diagnose plays, missed too many tackles, and gets washed out by blockers too easily.<\/p>\n

Still, there\u2019s reason to believe a turnaround is possible. Eberflus is a linebackers coach by trade who consistently gets stellar play out of that unit. His system simplifies reads and responsibilities, which should benefit a player like Murray. He’s a great athlete, and that\u2019s what you want him to be. He won\u2019t be tasked with organizing a complex defense or disguising exotic pressures\u2014just reading, reacting, and tackling.<\/p>\n

Murray understands the assignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing you need to start building a great defense is stopping the run,\u201d Murray said via the DLLS Cowboys podcast. \u201cWhen they just running it down your throat, it\u2019s unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unacceptable indeed. Now we\u2019ll see if he can do something about it.<\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mazi Smith<\/a>: Self-explanatory. Former first-round pick who has to start showing it.<\/p>\n

Marshawn Kneeland<\/a>: Flashed in the run game as a rookie before a knee injury cut his season short.<\/p>\n

DeMarvion Overshown<\/a>: Undersized, but has the sideline-to-sideline range Eberflus covets. What will he look like after another knee injury?<\/p>\n

Marist Liafau<\/a>: Came on strong toward the end of his rookie year, and has ideal size and athleticism.<\/p>\n

Players Gotta Play<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Matt Eberflus will bring structure, simplicity, discipline, and a renewed focus on the fundamentals. But he can\u2019t suit up and play. For the Cowboys to fix their biggest weakness, the players must deliver on the field.<\/p>\n

If they don\u2019t step up, the results won\u2019t change. And if the results don\u2019t change, neither will their record.<\/p>\n

Main Image: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cowboys’ run defense collapsed in 2024. If that’s going to change, these are the players who must deliver in 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5534,"featured_media":235853,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[49,2165,9793,6098,32497,7595,1772],"class_list":["post-235753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cowboys","tag-dallas-cowboys","tag-defense","tag-demarvion-overshown","tag-kenneth-murray","tag-marist-liufau","tag-osa-odighizuwa","tag-solomon-thomas"],"modified_by":"Drew Crabtree","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5534"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235753"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":235855,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235753\/revisions\/235855"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/235853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=235753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=235753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}