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Inside The Star » Cowboys News » Former NFL head coach says Cowboys defense has no identity

Former NFL head coach says Cowboys defense has no identity

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Micah Parsons Bowling and Recruiting for 1 Night

Don’t you love just going through Twitter and other places where you can listen to podcasts and hear former players and head coaches talk about current teams?

Well, there is probably a reason former head coach Jon Gruden is now employed by Barstool and talking on other podcasts such as Peighton Tubre where he was asked about the current Cowboys team and what he would do if he was the GM.

“I don’t think their defense other than Parsons has an identity,” Gruden said. “You know, and [DeMarcus] Lawrence is gone. … [DeMarvion] Overshown is a great linebacker but he’s hurt, I just don’t know what their defensive mentality is.”

I am not sure why he said that or why he thinks that is even close to the truth.

The Cowboys, outside the playoffs, have had a pretty strong identity, and that was forcing turnovers.

Now, that might be a struggle early this year with Trevon Diggs working his way back, but Micah Parsons will be there, DaRon Bland will be there.

Sure, the defensive tackles are a big weak, but I think the Cowboys’ identity on that side of the ball is going to be rushing the passer. Not the same as they have been under Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer.

Micah, Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams, who is on track to be back to 100% this season. I don’t think many folks understand how huge of a return he is going to be in that aspect.

Marcus Mosher avatar
Marcus Mosher

@Marcus_Mosher

Odds to lead the NFL in sacks in 2025 via @BetOnline_ag:nnAidan Hutchinson: +500nMicah Parsons: +600nMyles Garrett: +600nT.J. Watt: +750nDanielle Hunter: +1000nNick Bosa: +1000nTrey Hendrickson: +1000nMaxx Crosby: +1400
3:44 PM · Jul 7, 2025
5 RepliesView on X →

Dallas gave up 2,331 rushing yards (28th in the NFL), allowed 25 rushing touchdowns (worst in the league), and surrendered 4.8 yards per carry (tied for 29th).

The only thing I will agree on is the injury. He did mention that Overshown is out for the year, and, of course, that will hurt them, but to not have an identity when you have one of the best defenders in the game, I wouldn’t go that far.

Matt Eberflus is going to have his work cut out for him in the first month or so, but if they can stay away from the big plays and just give the offense a chance with CeeDee Lamb and Goerge Pickens, I think you have a chance to win any game.

Someone is always talking about the Cowboys, whether it be good or bad, and this is just another example of that. Let’s hope they can give something good to finally talk about later this year.

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Shane Taylor is a sports journalist with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and seven years of professional media experience. He has written 766 articles for InsideTheStar.com, reaching over 928,000 readers. Prior to Inside The Star, Shane worked as a Sports Reporter for Journal Star and a Regional News Reporter for Shaw Media. He currently works in the TRIO Upward Bound department at a junior college.

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8 Comments

  1. Edward Carmichael
    a Dallas Cowboys fan, since the 70's the Cowboys defense lacks talent and Micah Parsons the only and best players on the Cowboys defense for now
  2. El Guapo
    Shut the hell up Chucky!!
  3. Siempre
    Gruden is being honest. The Boys' defense is set up for pass rush and only pass rush . Opponents will just run. Unlike some years, there are top coaches and teams on the schedule and Phiili will set the game plan running over Dallas week 1. There is no one on the defense except 7th round rookie Toia who even considers run defense their job. Parsons is vastly overrated as a pass rusher and will get less than 10 sacks this year and miss games injured because there are more running teams and they will punish a 240# Parsons trying to play the run. So, Gruden is not wrong unless he missed the Dallas defense identity of: roadkill.
    1. Cowboys fan
      Gruden don't know what he's talking about.... And it's obvious you don't either!! I'm with Shane.... How much would you like to wager that Parsons don't get less than 10 sacks?? He's never had less than 10 a season!! And like I said in the other comment, Parsons is only the 2nd player in NFL history to have 12 sacks or more in the first 4 years in the NFL!! And the only other player to do it other than Parsons was Reggie White!! So with Parsons being put in the same category as Reggie White, I would say that you are very very wrong when you say Parsons is vastly overrated!! And to end this comment, I will say that Jon Gruden is wrong and so are you!!
    2. Shane Taylor Post Author
      Shane Taylor
      Hi man, thanks for the comment. What would you like to wager that Parsons does not have less than 10 sacks? Lol.
      1. Siempre
        I don't gamble but look at the schedule. Parsons has never gotten over 14 sacks in a season even when the team was much better than now.and opponents not as good. Sacks come from either having a big lead or stopping the run. Neither are likely this season to happen often. You do not blow out the teams on this year's schedule so games will be close at best and ...be honest...there is little chance of this defense stopping the run. So, where do the sack opportunities come from?
        1. Shane Taylor Post Author
          Shane Taylor
          There is a 0% chance that Micah ends up with less than 10 sacks. Like it is not even a bias thing, it is not going to happen lol.
      2. Cowboys fan
        That was honestly one of the dumbest comments I've ever seen!! If I'm not mistaken isn't pass rush part of having an identity!? And then the dumbest part of his comment is when he said that Micah is vastly overrated!! And that he will get less than 10 sacks this year and miss games injured because there are more running teams!! First off, Micah has never had less than 10 sacks in his NFL career, and he is only the 2nd player in NFL history to have 12 sacks or more in the first 4 years in the NFL!! So why does that guy seem to think Parsons is overrated and won't even get 10 sacks this year!? And him saying Parsons will be injured because we'll be facing more running teams this year doesn't make any sense either!! No team is gonna run the ball more than they have in the past!! And there's no team that's gonna run the ball the whole game either, every team will have to pass the ball in a game, that's just how it works, there's no coach out there dumb enough to try to run the ball on every play of the game cause they know that no matter how bad a team is at stopping the run, that the team will find a way to stop the run if that's all the offense is gonna do!! So there's gonna be plenty of chances for Parsons to get his sacks!! And Parsons really ain't that bad at stopping the run either despite what this guy says!! Parsons has elite speed, so he can catch the RB if he's not being double teamed!! Plus, that's why we have players like Kneeland.... Edge defenders that are better at stopping the run than they are rushing the passer!! So that guys comment is completely ridiculous!! I'm pretty sure he's not even a Cowboys fan, that's why he's saying all that ridiculous stuff!! And btw, I don't think he would be stupid enough to wager you when it comes to Parsons getting more than 10 sacks, I know I wouldn't, cause the odds of Parsons getting less than 10 sacks are slim to none!! But then again, he was dumb enough to make that comment!! Lol!! And one more thing is.... There's a reason Jon Gruden don't coach anymore!! And it's not cause of his racial issues!! It's because he don't know what he's doing anymore!! And him saying the Cowboys don't have an identity is proof of that!!

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