Cowboys Defense Embracing Matt Eberflus' Turnover Mentality at Camp

It's a brave statement for a first-year head coach, but Brian Schottenheimer believes the Dallas Cowboys' defense can be one of the NFL's best at forcing turnovers this season. So far at training camp in Oxnard, they have done exactly that, which merits Schotty's prediction more and more.

New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has instilled a takeaway-first mentality that attacks the football. That type of relentless energy has been felt all over the practice field this week, and the players are enjoying it more than anybody.

Eberflus begins his second stint with "America's Team" after starting last year as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Now assuming a coordinator role, he's able to be more intentional with his group at training camp, especially his linebackers, a position he has a strong history of developing over his long career.

" … You can tell [the linebackers' group] is kind of his baby," third-year linebacker Marist Liufau said, via DallasCowboys.com. "and where he focuses a lot of energy on, even though he's our defensive coordinator."

"It's helped me because [Eberflus] is very hands-on," Liufau said about his overall development. "Being a defensive coordinator, but also a linebacker guy, he's always in the room, always giving his feedback, and then, obviously, on the field, helping us out where he can. So I feel like they do a great job of developing us and especially the linebacker position, [Eberflus] being a linebacker guy."

Whether a returner or a newcomer, members of the Cowboys defense are loving the momentum being created on their side of the ball.

"I love how we emphasize our play style," Liufau added. "Before anything else, we're emphasizing running to the football, being aggressive and really hustling."

That pursuit translates to the secondary as well, as offseason cornerback acquisition Kaiir Elam has seen a ton of action with the starting unit while some players are injured. In his first camp with the Cowboys, Elam has been feasting on Eberflus' instruction to be a ball hawk.

"I really feel like it starts from the top down, coach Eberflus has done a good job of emphasizing us being relentless when it comes to our effort and also being relentless and violent when it comes to our finishes." Elam said.

"Every play's not going to be perfect, but with our effort, with our strength, and with our style of play, we're going to try to get the ball back to the offense."

The defense has forced seven interceptions and at least five forced fumbles through three days, but we have yet to have a padded practice, so contact has been minimal.

Once those pads come on, best believe that the defensive intensity will rise even more ... with Eberflus being the one leading the charge.

"He's great, full of energy," Elam said. "Got us really high on effort, finish, he coaches effort first. So that's why everybody's flying around. Everybody's trying to strain as much as possible … it's something we appreciate because it gets the best out of us."