After the Dallas Cowboys’ first game of the year against the Cleveland Browns, but a foolish flaw in the defense reared its ugly head in week two. The New Orleans Saints destroyed the Cowboys in all facets of the game, and every offensive coordinator on the Cowboys’ remaining schedule witnessed the flaw of the defense.

The offense also struggled to get going and should take some of the blame for the loss. However, one aspect of the defense should be highlighted and fixed.

If the run defense can be fixed, the defense still has plenty of time to turn things around.

Dallas’s run defense has not been great for years, and this season appears to be no different.

The Dallas Cowboys Defensive Tackles

The defense has talent in every position except for the defensive tackle position. The only bright spot at that position is Osa Odighizuwa, who is having a slow start to the season.

Osa Odighizuwa has been credited with five combined tackles, two solo tackles, three assists, one tackle for a loss, and two quarterback hits. Is he being used wrong, or is he unable to get going with no help at the other defensive tackle position?

Who’s at the other defensive tackle positions? The Dallas Cowboys have a first-round bust in Mazi Smith, an over-the-hill run-stuffer in Linval Joseph, and Jordan Phillips, who does not seem to give any effort.

These are not players that strike fear into an opposing offense’s run game.

So far this season, these tackles have combined for three total tackles. Mazi Smith has no statistics, Jordan Phillips has one assisted tackle, and Linval Joseph has two total tackles.

Now Jordan Phillips has been placed on injured reserve for a mystery wrist injury he says doesn’t exist.

Cowboys DT Jordan Phillips on a wrist injury that landed him on the IR and how it came about:

“I don’t know. That’s above my pay grade. You have to ask the people making the decisions.”

Was clearly frustrated in the locker room today and said his wrist was fine.

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 18, 2024

This may be a move forced by Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer because of the complete lack of effort by the big tackle.

Cowboys DT Jordan Phillips is slow off the snap, has terrible pad level, and gets shoved into his own LB. Instead of absorbing blockers, the Cowboys are blocking their own defense. pic.twitter.com/k0AedyQVyi

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) September 18, 2024

The defensive tackles leave a lot to be desired.

A Familiar Face

Jordan Phillips, who was moved to the injured reserve with a wrist injury, opens up a spot on the roster. The spot was quickly filled by signing defensive tackle Carlos Watkins from the Washington Commanders practice squad.

Carlos Watkins spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and will return to the Big D with a new defensive coordinator.

In his two seasons in Dallas, he had 58 combined tackles, seven for a loss, two quarterback hits, and one sack.

If Watkins can quickly get up to speed on the defensive play calling, he should be able to make more of an impact than the other defensive tackles, not named Osa Odighizuwa.

The great thing about Watkins is that he can be used at defensive end and defensive tackle. This could be used to gain more size up front to take on offensive linemen, freeing the linebackers to make plays.

The Front Office Fumbled on the Position

The Dallas Cowboys had the opportunity to sign defensive tackles at the beginning of free agency. A long list of more than capable tackles could have come in and made a massive impact.

Had the front office actually gone after talented players, the team may have had a different outcome in both games. Each team had good games rushing the ball.

The defensive tackle position has been the defense’s Achilles heel for so long that it seems to have been forgotten about. Or, as good as the Dallas Cowboys’ scouting department is, maybe they do not know how to evaluate defensive tackle talent.

Jerry Jones and company need to find a way to fix the flaw that plagues this team year in and year out. The defensive tackles are a problem; without talent, the entire defense could suffer.

The New Orleans Saints game may have just been a fluke, but the amount of rushing yards opposing offenses are getting is alarming. The defense must make tackles and hold up at the point of attack.

The point of attack is on the defensive tackles, who need to step up and do what they are getting paid for: push the offensive line backward. If this does not start happening, it would not hurt to try some of the practice squad’s defensive tackles.

The number one running game is coming to Dallas on Sunday. This will be the ultimate measuring stick for the run-stoppers of the Dallas Cowboys.