The Dallas Cowboys defense gave up a season-high 40 points in their Week 15 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. One of the main reasons for their struggles was due to injuries suffered by several key defenders like cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn Analyzes Loss to Jaguars and Identifies Areas for Improvement
On Monday, the team’s defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, addressed the media during his weekly press conference. Here’s a quick breakdown from that interview.
- Quinn noted Leighton Vander Esch will not miss rest of season despite missing previous game
- Cowboys defense has struggled with injuries recently, with starters missing games over past three weeks
- While injuries are a concern, Quinn sees it as an opportunity for other players to step up and develop. He cited rookie cornerback Daron Bland as an example.
- Team struggled during Jaguars game, specifically with edge runs and reverses
- The defense needs to tackle better in space and play reverses better (allowed 52 yards on three plays)
- The Cowboys are preparing for their upcoming game against Eagles, focusing on tackling and ball control
- Eagles have strong running game, Cowboys need to be ready for it. Philadelphia has the fourth best rushing offense in the NFL averaging 158.6 yards on the ground per game.
- Disappointing loss for Cowboys, but Quinn confident team will learn from it and move forward
- Despite injuries and struggles, Quinn remains optimistic and excited to see which players will step up and make an impact
- Cowboys are looking to bounce back against Philadelphia and get back on track as they continue push for playoffs
The 10-4 Dallas Cowboys have a critical matchup scheduled for Christmas Eve against their divisional rivals, the 13-1 Philadelphia Eagles. And while both teams have already secured their place in the postseason, this is a contest that will likely be a playoff preview. And Dan Quinn’s defense will need to perform far better than they did against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars if they are going to win.
