New Headline: Dallas Cowboys Ready to Pave a Dominant Route in 2023 Following Upset Season
The Cowboys seemed to have dramatically improved their run defense for 2026, but it's still one big move away from being complete.
The Dallas Cowboys made no secrets of their intent to address their issues on defense this offseason. Top to bottom, the defense was a disaster in 2025. Their failures prompted a change at coordinator and sparked an overhaul in personnel.
One area of the Cowboys defense that has struggled since the highly-regarded Dan Quinn era, is the run defense. Last season the run defense ranked 29th in EPA/play and 30th in success rate. Teams methodically ran the clock out against the Dallas run defense time and time again.
It was a sound, and frustrating, strategy to keep Dak Prescott and company off the field. Playing in a division with a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys can never have enough run defense. The Eagles, known for popular hits like Tush Push , I Can’t Quit Your Neutral Zone , and the classic, No Flag False Start, are a rushing force to be reckoned with.
New DC Christian Parker knows run defense is something that demands massive attention , or Dallas could be in for another tough year. "The game is definitely won and lost up front," said Parker . "We have significant players in the front seven and so when you start with that defensive line room, and what you're able to do in controlling the pocket, stopping the run, control what an offense is able to do...