"When the Cowboys hired Matt Eberflus to run the defense, the pitch was structure, discipline, and a system that could elevate the talent already in the building. Instead, we saw regression, and most of it landed exactly where the Cowboys fans didn't expect it to, at the feet of the secondary."
"From 2020 to 2024, Harris coached the Cowboys defensive backs, and in that window, Dallas didn't just improve in coverage, it led the NFL in ball production from the secondary: When I think back on those defenses, I don't just remember the picks, I remember the identity: Press-man confidence Technique at the line of scrimmage Eyes on the quarterback Constant back-end communication Turnovers are treated like a core principle, not a bonus stat"
Matt Eberflus was hired to provide structure, discipline, and a system that would elevate Dallas defensive talent, but the defense regressed, especially in the secondary. From 2020 to 2024, Al Harris coached the Cowboys defensive backs and transformed the unit into a turnover-generating group that led the NFL in ball production. That secondary identity featured press-man confidence, line-of-scrimmage technique, quarterback-focused eyes, consistent back-end communication, and a core emphasis on turnovers. The 2025 season saw the group flip, with no Dallas corner leading any category and no All-Pro corner, making Harris the logical candidate to reset the defense.
Read at Inside The Star
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