Locked On Cowboys: "Squad Show" — Lots of Questions Before the Cowboys’ Home Finale vs. the Chargers

Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Jeff Biggs (host), Marcus Mosher, Landon McCool (Locked On Cowboys), Glenn ‘Stretch’ Smith (former Cowboys coach)
Main Theme:
A deep-dive autopsy of the Dallas Cowboys’ late-season collapse, with almost clinical focus on failures in coaching, defense, draft strategy, and the future of key players as the team faces its home finale against the Chargers.

Episode Overview

The Locked On Cowboys crew dissect the Cowboys’ downturn after back-to-back losses erased playoff hopes, focusing on what went wrong defensively, the uncertain fate of DC Matt Eberflus, misalignment between the front office and coaching, and the difficult balance between evaluation and “culture” in meaningless end-of-season games. The show closes with thoughts on player development, possible departures (notably Trayvon Diggs), and a preview of the showdown with the Chargers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Did the Cowboys Collapse?

[03:59–07:05]

• Marcus Mosher: The recent streak was deceptive—the Cowboys beat “brand name” teams in offensive slumps (Raiders, Eagles, Chiefs) and “inflated expectations artificially.” Defensive flaws were always present, especially in the secondary.
• Landon McCool: Defense regressed to its true level. Slight improvements post-trade deadline, but the sheer deficiency in both run and pass defense couldn’t be masked for long.
• Glenn Smith: The defense’s continual problems (poor leverage, head/hand placement, lack of technique) are a coaching failure.

  “It’s a defense that plays with terrible technique ... this far into the season, continuing to talk about the same things ... either the message is wrong, or the messenger is wrong.” — Glenn Smith [07:07]

• Mosher: Statistically, opposing QBs “look like MVPs every week” against Dallas:

  “The Cowboys are allowing a passer rating of 109.1. That basically means you’re playing against the NFL MVP every single week.” — Marcus Mosher [08:57]

2. Expectation vs. Reality: Playing Up or Down to Opponents

[09:41–11:48]

• Jeff Biggs: Disappointed by lack of energy after the Lions’ loss; expected a bounce-back.
• Landon McCool: Offense did plenty, but kicking field goals not touchdowns killed momentum. Defense let a rookie (J.J. McCarthy) look far better than he was.

3. The Defensive Coordinator Problem (Matt Eberflus on the Hot Seat)

[11:48–19:32]

• Jones Comments: Jerry Jones himself acknowledged the trend of “struggling” QBs having their best games against Dallas.
• Glenn Smith: “We’re beating a dead horse.” Change is overdue; coaching is simply insufficient.
• Landon McCool: Has lost faith in retaining Eberflus:

  “I don’t feel like I ever saw enough positive ... even just a crumb or something to hold on to.” — Landon McCool [12:59]

• General Consensus: Staff changes are inevitable; no foundational elements (“nothing to build on”) exist defensively.
• Mosher: Warns not to be fooled by decent showings against depleted teams in final games.

  “I just don’t want them to go out there and have decent days and think that they’re suddenly turning the corner, because you’re just playing three teams that are really beat up right now.” — Marcus Mosher [16:00]

• Landon: Emphasizes that effort/energy drop-offs could trigger an early firing.

4. Front Office vs. Coaching: Roster Building and Draft Disconnects

[22:55–38:23]

• Mosher: Major question is whether the next DC gets to hire his own staff, or whether the Joneses will force preferred position coaches, leading to continued meshing issues.
• Smith: Dallas forced man-cornerbacks into zone roles—no synergy in personnel for the current DC’s scheme.
• Landon: “Eberflus should have said something” in draft meetings if picks didn’t fit his style.
• Mosher: Calls out a longstanding Cowboys pattern of front office imposing draft priorities without enough coordinator input:

  “There’s absolutely no way Dan Quinn would have ever drafted [some of these players]... you spend a first round pick on him because Will McClay in the front office likes him. And now we blame Dan Quinn for not knowing how to use that player.” — Marcus Mosher [32:16]

• Will McClay Discussion: Universally respected, but his “glue guy” role between scouting/coaching is now under scrutiny as communication clearly faltered.

5. Building or Breaking the Culture: Who Plays in the Final Games?

[50:15–59:12]

• Twitter Q: Should Dallas play starters ("culture") or tank/evaluate youth?
• Mosher: Winning culture is valuable but wonders about balancing that vs. evaluating younger players.
• Glenn Smith:

  “Go challenge your guys that you need to see something from and go put them in these situations ... I’m for putting guys in the game that need to have playing time.” — Glenn Smith [52:43]
  (wants the preseason-roster approach—"see what you have")

• Landon: Predicts the usual NFL "wink-wink" approach: claim nicked-up starters are resting for minor ailments, giving reps to backups without “saying the quiet part out loud.”

6. George Pickens “Discourse” and Offensive Focus

[43:07–47:31]

• Fan Narrative: Cowboys fans/observers worried about George Pickens’ “quiet” games.
• Mosher: Dismisses as non-issue; offense is productive, Pickens draws attention/openings for others, all top receivers can't eat every single week.

  “If the offense is operating and he’s creating attention away from the other players and they’re able to produce ... I don’t think George Pickens producing a ton of numbers is high on my list of things to complain about.” — Landon McCool [45:29]

7. Trayvon Diggs’ Future

[60:02–61:48]

• Jeff/Landon: “Do you think [Trayvon] Diggs will play again?”
• Landon: “He’s not playing for the Cowboys ever again.”
• Mosher: Agrees—he’d be “shocked” if Diggs ever appeared in a Dallas uniform, citing health and trust as factors.
• Smith: Lack of faith due to recurring injury—"I don't think he ever puts on the Cowboys helmet again."

8. Chargers Game Preview

[61:48–63:20]

• Landon: Warns that “beating up on the Chiefs” is no longer a brag-worthy feat—Chargers will be tough and physical.
• Mosher: Expects a “27–24 type of game,” Chargers have no tackles but play hard.
• Smith: “If you don’t come ready ... your ass is taped up ... you’re going to get crap knocked out of you.”
• Landon: Wouldn’t be shocked if Herbert gets hit a ton but posts big numbers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Glenn Smith [07:07]:
  “I could take 11 damn tin soldiers, line them up, and they’d at least play with correct leverage. Are they going to get beat? Absolutely. But what I don’t like is ... talking about the same things that should have been corrected in week one of OTAs.”
• Marcus Mosher [08:57]:
  “You are playing against the NFL MVP every single week. That’s the kind of performance you’re giving up ... it’s unbelievable how bad they’ve been on that side of the ball.”
• Landon McCool [12:59]:
  “I don’t feel like I ever saw enough positive ... even just a crumb or something to hold on to.”
• Marcus Mosher [32:16]:
  “It’s why it’s hard to build a consistent defense—because you’ve got a front office that likes to draft guys they like, not necessarily who fit the scheme.”
• Glenn Smith [52:43]:
  “Go challenge your guys that you need to see something from and go put them in these situations ... put guys in the game that need to have playing time.”
• Landon McCool [60:33]:
  “Trayvon Diggs is not playing for the Cowboys ever again. I’m just going to go ahead and say that.”
• Glenn Smith [63:03]:
  “If you don’t come ready and you don’t get your mouthpiece molded and your ass taped up ... you’re going to get crap knocked out of you.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:59 — Why the Cowboys collapsed: Defensive regression, false sense of progress
• 07:07 — Defensive technique and coaching failures (Smith’s “tin soldiers” analogy)
• 12:59 — Landon: “Indefensible” to keep Eberflus as DC
• 16:00 — Mosher: “Don’t be fooled by easy games in final weeks”
• 22:55–24:10 — Staffing, forced assistants, and Cowboys’ patterns
• 32:16 — Draft disconnect: Will McClay, front office, and DCs
• 43:24–47:31 — George Pickens critique: Overblown non-issue
• 52:43–59:12 — Playing backups, evaluating youth vs. maintaining culture
• 60:02–61:48 — Trayvon Diggs’ likely departure
• 61:48–63:20 — Chargers game preview: "Get your mouthpiece molded"
• 63:25 — Cowboys podcast preview: Looking at long-term players

Episode Tone & Style

• Direct, unvarnished, and often darkly humorous: The panel doesn’t sugarcoat—frustration and fatigue with the Cowboys’ all-too-familiar dysfunction is evident in both complaints and gallows humor.
• Analytical but accessible: Explains technical flaws (like leverage, technique), but always circles back to practical consequences and what lay fans will care about.
• Candid and at times critical of Cowboys’ leadership: No punches pulled about ownership, the front office, or the failures at DC.

Essential Takeaways

• Collapse was never a surprise: Defensive improvement was an illusion created by facing weak or slumping offenses. Major coaching and technique failures were never solved.
• Eberflus likely finished as DC: Hosts see “nothing to build on.” Even minimal end-of-season improvement vs. weak offenses shouldn’t change minds.
• Communications and personnel process are broken: Major disconnects between front office, draft team, and coaching staff.
• Rest of season is for auditioning young players: Starters should “develop ailments,” youth should be auditioned, but never say “tanking” out loud.
• Trayvon Diggs era is likely over: All hosts agree the team is moving on and trust is broken.
• Chargers matchup is a physical test with little on the line for Dallas.