It doesn't feel real. How is the Dallas Cowboys' defense still this bad? No Matt Eberflus. Several new starters. No more Kenneth Murray, Donovan Wilson, Trevon Diggs, and Kaiir Elam. A new coordinator whom many considered the crown jewel of defensive assistants and a future head coach.
And yet, it feels like zero progress has been made. Bumps in the road can always be expected with a new scheme, let alone a first-time play-caller. But we're not sure there's a soul out there who predicted Dallas would still have the worst defense in football.
It's dire. So much so that the defense called a players-only meeting, as DeMarvion Overshown told reporters on Monday. Here's what was discussed in the meeting, per Overshown (h/t Tommy Yarrish).
"Looking ourselves in the mirror. "Putting what we wanted our standard to be, we put that on the board. We went by bullet point, bullet point. Are we holding up to this? Are we being this? As a unit, how can we get closer? What is it? Just hearing from all of us.
It really wasn't like a fire drill conversation, it was more so, 'What can I do to help you? What do I expect from you on Sundays, or every Monday walk throughs?' We've got to talk to each other like that because the ship is only going to go as far as the weakest person on the boat. As long as we all in this together, I think we're going to be great. I know we're going to be there."
How did we get here?
Cowboys' players-only defensive meeting shows how bleak things are
Choosing to see the upside, at least players want to find a solution. I'm not sure that applies to last year's group. Matt Eberflus never made much of an effort to connect with his players, and their lack of faith in his scheme — coupled with his refusal to adjust — created a brutal partnership that only deteriorated as the season wore on.
You would also much rather hit rock bottom (this feels like rock bottom) in October than in November or December. There are still 12 games left. Other than the 49ers, who look like the clear best team in football, there is still so much to figure out in regard to the NFC hierarchy.
Not to mention, the NFC East is shaping up to be the NFL's worst decision. Nine wins might be enough to push Dallas over the hump. But that won't matter if every quarterback that crosses paths with this defense continues to put up MVP numbers.
The offense can't continue to need 28-plus points every week just to have a chance. That isn't sustainable. Dak Prescott should be allowed the occasional off game without it putting Dallas at risk of getting blown out.
Dak Prescott can't continue to have zero margin for error
That's exactly what unfolded against the 0-4 Buccaneers before the offense finally woke up in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys would have trailed by 21 points in the second half had Tampa Bay converted a 4th-and-goal from the one-yard line.
No quarterback is capable of playing at an A+ level every single week. A competent defense gives its quarterback enough margin for error to survive those afternoons. The Cowboys don't have that luxury right now. Not even close.
Every empty possession feels costly, and every turnover feels catastrophic because there is almost no expectation that the defense will answer with a stop. How demoralizing was the Bucs' 15-play touchdown drive that drained all of the first quarter? Prescott led a TD drive to open the game, and Parker's unit responded by allowing an 11-minute scoring drive.
At some point, the defense has to win Dallas a game. Whether it's a clutch turnover or putting together a complete 60-minute performance. At the very least, they have to stop being the reason the offense has no room for error.
Maybe the players-only meeting is the come-to-Jesus moment that gets the D back on track. Maybe hearing it from each other instead of coaches will get everyone on the same page.
That's the thing about players-only meetings, though. If things don't change, there aren't many buttons left to push. You can only clear the air and demand accountability so many times before the results have to follow.
Things are very, very bleak right now.
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