Christian Parker told us he would build the Dallas Cowboys’ defense around his players. After five games, opponents look more comfortable attacking it than the Cowboys look playing it.
Let’s go back to his introductory press conference, Parker said, “You build it around players.” He also said, “If we got good man-to-man corners, we’re going to play man.” He talked about finding favorable matchups, protecting weaknesses, and adjusting to what his personnel did well.
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I’m going to go out on a limb and say we all loved hearing that message after the defensive debacle last season. This suggested to us that we wouldn’t spend another season watching a coordinator continue a defensive scheme his players couldn’t execute.
When do we see him recognize his defensive limitations and actually change something?
The Tampa Bay game made my frustration worse, but the thing is, the problems were there before Thursday night.
Parker’s Priorities Aren’t Showing Up On the Field
If you remember, Parker said stopping the run and affecting the quarterback were his two biggest priorities. He also emphasized fundamentals and situational awareness as qualities a successful defense needed.
Well here we are, five games into the season and Dallas has given up 842 rushing yards on 165 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. While the opposing quarterbacks have completed 101 of 140 passes for a 72.1% completion rate, without throwing an interception.
On top of that, offenses have converted 30 of 57 third downs for a 52.6% success rate.
This is the part that gets me fired up. Those numbers cover the very things Parker said matter most. Teams are running efficiently, completing passes, and extending drives against a defense that was going to make those aspects hard.
Growing pains are one thing, but five games in, I’m having a hard time grasping how long basic competence is going to be part of the learning process.
Tampa’s Third-and-21 Is Infuriating
Dallas went into halftime leading Tampa 10-7. Then the Buccaneers came out, and Bucky Irving broke off a 72-yard run and a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Emeka Egbuka. On their next possession, Jalon Daniels hit Tez Johnson for a 64-yard catch that set up another touchdown.
Two possessions, three plays for 150 yards. Make it make sense.
DaRon Bland fell in coverage on Johnson’s catch, which wasn’t surprising, but the series after KaVontae Turpin’s fumbled kickoff gave the defense a chance to keep the game manageable, but that was wasted too.
We watched as Dallas forced a third-and -21, then let Daniels complete a pass to Egbuka for, you guessed it, 21 yards. Tampa ended the drive with a field goal to put them up 24-10.
Cowboys columnist Nick Eatman criticized Parker for backing off after pressure created that long third down. That brings me to my next point: Why give a young quarterback breathing room after disrupting him put the defense in control?
Parker talked about situational awareness when he got here. Getting off the field when the team needs 21 yards should be one of the easier ways to prove situational awareness.
I’m Holding Parker to What He Told Us
Baltimore gave us an admission that Parker’s situational judgment needed work. He agreed that he was overthinking the late coverage call that helped set up the Ravens’ winning field goal, and said he would make a different choice.
This criticism goes beyond being mad about a box score. We have an admitted mistake in a critical situation, an acknowledgment to change the pass-rush rotation, and five games worth of results that fall short of Parker’s stated priorities.
We all know there are good players on this defense and individual plays that work. I would expect an NFL coordinator to turn those pieces into something his players can execute consistently.
Christian Parker asked us to believe he would adjust the defense to the talent. I believed him. Now I’m watching offenses run through it, complete passes, and convert third downs at a rate Dallas can’t let happen.
Parker needs to make changes, because I’m done giving him credit for describing a defense I hoped we were getting. Instead, we just have last year’s defense with better players.
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