When the owner and general manager of the team you coach for is openly questioning your snap count decisions, it can’t be a good sign.
That’s what’s going on for Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus following the latest Jerry Jones radio interview. Following the team’s 30-23 win over the Washington Commanders—in which the defense struggled to stop an offense being led by its third quarterback—Jones openly questioned Eberflus’ decision on a key defender’s playing time.
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Logan Wilson was surprisingly benched
How do you get benched when you’re not even the starter? Well, Wilson, who was acquired via a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals in November, went from rotating in games (he was averaging 28.3 snaps per game) to playing zero snaps on Thursday. A very telling statement from DC Matt Eberflus, who has kept prioritizing Kenneth Murray over Wilson since the trade.
And if you ask Jones why, he is as astounded as you are at Wilson’s snap count.
“I don’t have an explanation for you for why Wilson wasn’t in there,” Jones said in an interview on 105.3 The Fan. “We planned to have him in there. He needs to be in there. He has good instincts. The reason we got him was because he reads the play quick and can basically be in his lane of responsibility and react quick. It’s critical that a linebacker have quick reacting (ability). He’s able to do that. That’s why we got him.”
There’s a lot to unpack here but here’s the clearest takeaway: Jones is publicly questioning Eberflus’ decision-making shortly after admitting he’s evaluating the defensive coordinator. Combined with the coach’s move from the sideline to the booth (which was probably not Eberflus’ idea) and other comments criticizing the defense, it’s clear the tension between organization and coach is building.
On the other hand, this is typical Jerry Jones work. No owner, and frankly not even general managers, are as quick to questioning a coach’s decision on playing time that publicly. But you see, Wilson is the guy Jones went and got at the trade deadline. Of course he wants him on the field. But the truth is Wilson hasn’t played like the linebacker Jones described Friday. He’s a step or two slower, be it because of injuries or age.
Jones not satisfied with scheme
On the interview, Jones was asked if he was pleased with the defensive scheme and the defensive staff. His answer was on the same tone.
“No,” Jones said on the radio. “No, not at all. We have a lot of work to do over there. But we can do it.”
For the Cowboys owner, decision time will come in a little over a week when the regular season ends. Why? According to Jones, mostly because the defense cost the team a ticket to the playoffs.
