Locked On Cowboys Podcast Summary

Episode: “Cowboys Defense in CRISIS | Will Jerry Jones Make a DESPERATE Trade Before Deadline?”

Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Date: October 15, 2025

Theme & Purpose

This episode tackles the lingering crisis with the Dallas Cowboys defense, exploring whether team owner Jerry Jones might attempt a desperate trade before the deadline. The hosts field questions from listeners on how the team should address defensive struggles — either by holding tight and preparing for the offseason or making short-term trades. The conversation blends immediate tactical considerations with longer-term team-building strategy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should the Cowboys Make a Major Trade for Defensive Help?

Starts: 01:15

• Listener Question:
  Would you rather keep the current roster and overhaul defense in the 2026 draft (and hire a new coordinator), or trade for help now and keep Eberflus?

• Landon:

  • Prefers to stick with the current personnel and build for the future.
  • Emphasizes not wanting to “throw off the timeline” ([02:34]).
  • Argues that major defensive turnaround can happen in a single offseason with smart drafting and a new coordinator.
  • “Turning around a defense is really not that difficult...It's a lot easier for me to be sold that the window is in 2026...” ([03:50]).

• Marcus:

  • Agrees large trades don’t make sense unless the team is genuinely “one piece away.”
  • Small, low-cost trades for role players (e.g., “a fifth or sixth-round pick for a linebacker”) are different, but “giving up a first or second-round pick for defensive help” is not wise ([04:44]).
  • Cowboys are set for a window “in 2026 and 2027 and even 2028” — don’t “microwave this and be competitive” prematurely.

• Both:

  • Say “don’t risk the future for short-term gains.” Realistically, the team’s contention window is 2026–28 ([05:38]).

2. Examples of Defensive Turnarounds

Starts: 06:52

• Marcus:

  • Atlanta Falcons went from “24th in yards per game” to “number one” with simply two rookie pass rushers and an influx of youth ([06:52]).

• Landon:

  • Reminds listeners that defense is “a very volatile side of the football,” making fast improvements (or collapses) possible ([07:41]).
  • “Turning a defense around is a lot easier than turning an offense around...” and you don’t need to overhaul every player.

• Marcus:

  • Highlights the Ravens as an example of the opposite—defensive collapse after injuries, showing the volatility of NFL defenses ([08:38]).
  • Advocates building long-term around a paid, stable offense and maintaining “youth and cheapness” on defense.

3. The Post-Micah Parsons Era & the Cowboys’ Timeline

Starts: 09:14

• Landon:
  • Accepts that the team is in an unavoidable period of transition after losing Micah Parsons.
  • “Don't further screw with this. Whether we like it or not, [this] presents a very clear timeline for this team. Lean into it.” ([09:14])

4. Immediate Defensive Fixes (Without Major Trades)

Starts: 12:51

• Listener Question:
  What short-term fixes can the Cowboys try on defense this year?

• Landon:

  • Suggests maximizing comfort and performance by “playing a defense that [the players] are more comfortable with” ([12:51]).
    • Slightly more man coverage; less rotation at linebacker and edge rusher.
  • “It feels like the Cowboys have kind of shuffled in all the linebackers that they’ve got...but it’s not like the guys behind [Murray] have been that much better” ([13:31]).
  • Calls the linebacker group the biggest underperformer, letting even “serviceable” camp veterans look bad.
  • Wants youth to play more: “no excuse not to play those guys at this point...if they make mistakes as long as they’re learning and you’re going to get better, then at least something good will come out of it” ([16:59]).

• Marcus:

  • Frustrated by “rotating so many different [linebackers],” which ruins rhythm and comfort ([15:00]).
  • Advocates narrowing down to “your two best guys and just go from there” ([15:36]).
  • Points out similar confusion at edge rusher, where over-rotation is reducing effectiveness ([17:39]).

5. Defensive Line Rotation & Identity Crisis

Starts: 17:39

• Marcus:

  • Notes over-rotation at edge: “too many guys out there and I just think that they have no identity at all on defense” ([19:30]).
  • Calls for shortening the rotation to four key names, prioritizing consistent snaps for top rushers.

• Landon:

  • Admits it's a catch-22 — “if you solve one problem, like taking Sam Williams’ snaps out...you cause another problem with this group” ([20:12]).
  • Agrees with playing more man coverage, less zone (“these guys are getting lost in zone coverage so much”) ([20:39]).

• Quick Fixes Summary:

  • Play the promising youth and let them learn on the job.
  • Streamline rotations at linebacker and edge.
  • Shift to more man coverage.

6. Playoff Chances — Realistic or Delusional?

Starts: 21:16

• Listener Question:
  Do the Cowboys still have a realistic postseason shot after all these issues?

• Landon:

  • “Absolutely, they’re still in it at this point. Anything can happen, especially with injuries.” ([24:34])
  • The challenge is not math but performance and consistency, especially on defense.
  • “If the Cowboys take care of their side...they can make the playoffs. But [it’s] how they’re playing that has me concerned.” ([25:20])
  • Differentiates between making the playoffs and “doing something in the playoffs.”
  • “Making the playoffs...feels possible; being a real threat, less so unless the defense improves dramatically.” ([27:45])

• Marcus:

  • Asserts the offense is “absolutely playoff caliber” ([26:40]).
  • “It’s going to be really hard to be excited about this team unless we see big improvement on defense.”
  • If the defense can get to even 23rd in points allowed, they have a chance ([27:08]).
  • “I want to see this team just play better. I want to see the coaching staff coach better...even if that doesn’t result in a playoff appearance...” ([28:22])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Landon McCool ([02:34]):

  “I don't want to throw off the timeline of this team anymore than it's been thrown off...If you can get a new, good new defensive coordinator next year, draft heavily on defense...Turning around a defense is really not that difficult.”

• Marcus Mosher ([04:44]):

  “Don’t try to microwave this and be competitive and try to go out and, you know, be better than what you maybe think you really are this year. Because I just, I don’t see that happening.”

• Landon McCool ([07:41]):

  “Defense is a very volatile side of the football...turning a defense around is a lot easier than turning an offense around...you don’t have to go that far and you have talent on this defense.”

• Marcus Mosher ([15:36]):

  “At some point you need to just stick with two or three guys and just roll with them and let them kind of figure things out...when you’re rotating all these guys in, there’s no rhythm, there’s no pace in the game.”

• Landon McCool ([16:59]):

  “There’s no excuse not to play those [young] guys at this point...if they make mistakes as long as they’re learning and you’re going to get better, then at least something good will come out of it.”

• Marcus Mosher ([19:30]):

  “It’s just too many guys out there and I just think that they have no identity at all on defense.”

• Landon McCool ([24:34]):

  “Absolutely, they’re still in it at this point. Anything can happen, especially with injuries...The problem is how they’re playing, right?”

• Marcus Mosher ([26:40]):

  “It’s really how they’re playing on one side of the ball because, yeah, to be clear, the offense is absolutely playoff caliber.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:15 – Should Dallas trade for defensive help or focus on off-season rebuild?
• 06:52 – Examples of fast defensive turnarounds (Atlanta, Baltimore)
• 09:14 – Post-Micah Parsons, team building philosophy, and window for contention
• 12:51 – Short-term fixes: coaching tweaks, linebacker & edge rusher rotations, calls to play youth
• 17:39 – Over-rotation at edge, need for a firmer defensive identity
• 21:16 – Playoff hopes: realistic assessment and what needs to change

Summary Verdict

The consensus:
Don’t sabotage the long-term rebuild for a desperate, shortsighted trade. Embrace youth, streamline defensive rotations, and aim for steady improvement — even if it means short-term pain. While the offense is playoff-ready, the defense is holding the team back, but young improvement and minor tweaks could keep hope alive for the postseason.

Listener takeaway:
If you missed the episode: The Cowboys defense is a mess, but it’s not worth mortgaging the future for a quick fix. Next year is the real window; for now, play the kids, simplify the defense, and hope for improvement. And yes, there’s still a chance for the playoffs — but it’ll require luck and considerable defensive growth.