{"id":97562,"date":"2025-09-23T22:29:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T22:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97562"},"modified":"2025-09-23T22:30:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T22:30:09","slug":"brian-schottenheimer-gets-brutally-honest-when-confronted-with-defensive-struggles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97562","title":{"rendered":"Brian Schottenheimer gets brutally honest when confronted with defensive struggles"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Gone, apparently, are the days of the Dallas Cowboys coming up with multiple turnovers a game. The defensive unit that was once so strong in that area under former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is now floundering through three weeks.<\/p>\n

Matt Eberflus’s squad has the worst turnover margin in the league (along with Miami) at -5 after Week 3, and though reinforcements are coming soon (e.g. DaRon Bland, Jadeveon Clowney), the new defensive coordinator’s seat is burning up.<\/p>\n

MORE: <\/strong>Jerry Jones issues strong comment on Matt Eberflus\u2019 job security<\/p>\n

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<\/canvas>\"Brian<\/picture><\/figure>\n

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus watches from the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half at SoFi Stadium. \/ Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Confronted with the troubling stat on Monday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer was burtally honest, telling reporters it “sucks.” However, he thinks more success in that area could be around the corner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sucks,\u201d Schottenheimer said. \u201cBut they come in bunches. I believe that. We got guys punching at the ball. What helps with that is when you do disrupt or affect the passer, errant throws happen. That\u2019s what I\u2019m saying, it all ties together. \u2026 To be minus-5, I promise you this, we will not end the season like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: <\/strong>Stephen Jones deflects from Cowboys\u2019 struggles in coverage with run defense praise<\/p>\n

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<\/canvas>\"Brian<\/picture><\/figure>\n

Nov 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) intercepts a pass against New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (13) in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. \/ Tim Heitman-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Getting Bland back at cornerback could go a long way for Dallas. The former fifth-rounder out of Fresno State led the league in interceptions with nine in 2023. That number dropped to zero last year as he sat out games through late November due to a foot injury.<\/p>\n

Increased pass rushing, like what Clowney can bring when he hits the field, most likely on Sunday night, will also help Dallas improve the turnover margin. Hits on the quarterback lead to fumble recoveries and interceptions, which the Cowboys know well after losing two fumbles and throwing four interceptions so far this year.<\/p>\n

Dallas takes on Green Bay on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Packers are +1 in turnover margin with quarterback Jordan Love recording just one interception so far this season.<\/p>\n

\u2014 <\/strong><\/em>Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI \u2014<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

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3 takeaways from Dallas Cowboys’ deflating loss vs. Bears<\/p>\n

NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Dallas Cowboys free fall begins after dreadful loss<\/p>\n

Cowboys WR George Pickens goes viral for sideline meltdown in loss to Bears<\/p>\n

Dallas Cowboys must find a way to get more touches for electric WR<\/p>\n

PHOTOS: Meet Kleine Powell, star of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Netflix doc<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Cowboys defense used to have a ball-hawking identity, now the unit is floundering through three weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":97563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nBrian Schottenheimer gets brutally honest when confronted with defensive struggles - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97562\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Brian Schottenheimer gets brutally honest when confronted with defensive struggles - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Dallas Cowboys defense used to have a ball-hawking identity, now the unit is floundering through three weeks.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97562\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-23T22:29:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-23T22:30:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/avtvip-43-4.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97562\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97562\",\"name\":\"Brian Schottenheimer gets brutally honest when confronted with defensive struggles - 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