Jerry Jones‘ Cowboys are giving up much more passing yardage than most teams. Their 301 yards/game allowed from opposing QBs is alarmingly high. They rank 30th in pass defense, allowing 283 yards per game and 422 in the home opener.

While speaking on the 105.3 The Fan podcast, Stephen Jones was asked about his defense. “I kind of look at your team right now, your offense is going to put your opponents in a lot of bad situations. Where they’re gonna have to chase points. Is the pass defense now more of a concern than run defense if opponents are having to throw against you?”

Jones said, “Well, I think all of the above.” Comparatively, through the first eight weeks of the 2024 season, the Dallas defense was dead with 218.1 yards. The Dallas Cowboys have 301 opponent passing yards per game played this season. The Giants exposed Dallas with long completions, coverage breakdowns, and inconsistent pressure. The Cowboys face rising pass defense concerns after surrendering 450+ yards in a 40-37 win over the Giants.

Stephen Jones added, “I also have a big belief that we’ve got really good football players that are gonna be coming back to help us. Whether that’s DaRon Bland, Revel, or Diggs continuing to come off that injury and get better each week, and understand what’s expected of him. I think the pass rush can continue to get better. We are not gonna solve it overnight with one player. But getting Clowney in, I think, helps us.”  

DaRon Bland missed the game due to a foot injury. Bland is considered an above-average starting defensive back. And his return would definitely help Trevon Diggs with his snaps. Adding rookie third-round corner Shavon Revel to the unit makes a fixture of talent for the Cowboys. In Week 1, the only defense that used zone coverage on every snap was the Cowboys. They spent all but two of their snaps in zone against the Giants, bringing their season total to 96.2 percent. 

Dallas can win any game thanks to the combination of Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Brandon Aubrey. The run defense remains a priority. Pass defense is the bigger issue as opponents throw more often.

“I look at it as one opportunity for us to go out there and really execute. It’s Game 3,” Matt Eberflus said about the upcoming game against the Bears, the club that fired him almost 10 months ago.

After Jerry Jones traded Micah Parsons, Dallas has tried to shore up pressure on the edge. They signed veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million. Dallas will use Clowney situationally, not as a full-time replacement for Parsons. The Cowboys view him as depth and experience to help generate a more consistent pass rush.

The Cowboys gamble with a new trade 

A recent Netflix documentary dubbed Jerry Jones “the gambler,” highlighting his reputation as a risk-taking businessman. He is counting on this most recent bet to pay off for his club. In an interview with 105.3 The Fan, Jerry Jones said, “Absolutely, I’m open to making moves in the market now that we have additional picks. We should be. This wasn’t a trade to give up, it was a conscious decision to get three, four, five, or six players for one.”

They made the move in Week 2, which is indicative of Dallas’s changing culture and the fact that they aren’t just hoarding the $37.5 million in salary cap space that is currently available. The defensive problems of the Cowboys are not new. Since Micah Parsons was traded, the team has been without a dominant player, which has made them vulnerable, particularly when it comes to applying pressure to the opposing quarterback.

During his 14 starts with the Carolina Panthers, Clowney increased his career totals in 611 defensive plays by 11 quarterback hits, 9 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and four pass breakups. The former No. 1 overall pick has 58 career sacks in 140 games played over 11 years. “He has been an outstanding player, and he’ll add some real depth,” Jerry Jones added.

The Cowboys had only one sack of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the season opener by Marshawn Kneeland. They sacked Giants quarterback Russell Wilson three times. To provide the Cowboys a strong advantage against the run, Clowney should blend in perfectly with their size and gap duties up front.