Trevon Diggs' postgame message is indicative of a major problem for Cowboys, and it speaks volumes about DC Matt Eberflus

Two years ago, CeeDee Lamb said it about the offense when the Dallas Cowboys lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 of the 2023 regular season. Now, after a Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, it's Trevon Diggs claiming he plays for a defensive unit that has no identity.

That's a bad spot to be in this deep into the season.

"It's very frustrating," said Diggs via Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins. "It's all these points (given up), the receivers are running wide open down the field, too many busted coverages. It's a lot. I feel like we’re all over the place and we really don’t have no identity."

In 2023, Lamb's comments were followed by an MVP-caliber run from Dak Prescott and production that put him in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year, too. This year's defense, however, will have a much tougher time solving its defensive woes. And though personnel is clearly an issue, Diggs saying the defense doesn't have an identity is a not-so-indirect jab at defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the person in charge of setting that identity.

It's not the first comment a Cowboys player offers the media this year that takes aim at Eberflus. Diggs, in particular, has told reporters he's even asked the coach to play more man coverage. That, combined with the worst-performing defense in the NFL, has raised questions about Eberflus' job security.

And the thing is, there isn't an identity for the defense because they don't do anything consistently well. Tackling is mediocre. So are angles and discipline, as evidenced by the busted coverages Diggs mentioned. It can't be aggressiveness when blitzing is scarce and defensive backs are mostly playing soft coverage, no matter the situation. It isn't rushing the passer, as the Cowboys haven't pressured quarterbacks other than in Week 5, and that had a lot to do with a 20-point halftime lead.

Brian Schottenheimer refuses to throw Eberflus under the bus

Despite all of that, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has Eberflus' back. At least, when talking to reporters. Following the 30-27 loss, Schottenheimer explained why he believed Eberflus could get the unit on the right track.

"That's a great coach, he's been around, everywhere he's ever been, he's had good defenses," Schottenheimer said. "It's not just Matt by himself, Matt's trying, the players are trying. This is not a lack of effort. This is not that. We have to be able to play more complementary defense."

Though Schottenheimer seemingly trusts Eberflus to fix the defense, he admitted the Cowboys considered letting the Panthers score at the end of the game to regain possession before the end of the game.

Who knows what will happen with Eberflus when it's all said and done, but one thing is clear: His future is getting blurrier as the Cowboys' urgency for improvement begins to rise.

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