Cowboys Secondary Unrecognizable: Massive Overhaul Complete
Cowboys Defense Shows Surprising Improvement in Preseason Opener
What Happened in the First Preseason Game?
The Dallas Cowboys played their first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Now, before we get too excited, let’s remember a few important things:
Important Reality Check
- This was just one preseason game
- Most players on the field won’t make the final 53-man roster
- Preseason stats usually don’t predict regular season performance
But here’s the thing: You also can’t completely ignore what happens in these games. Sometimes they give us little clues about what might be changing.
The Big Numbers That Caught Everyone’s Attention
1. Zero Missed Tackles!
Last year in their first preseason game, the Cowboys missed 19 tackles. That’s a lot of whiffs!
This year? Next Gen Stats charted them with ZERO missed tackles.
What This Might Mean: While we can’t guarantee this will continue in the regular season, going from 19 missed tackles to 0 is a massive improvement in fundamental tackling.
2. Defensive Passer Rating Dropped Big Time
Defensive Passer Rating (DPR) is like a report card for how well a defense stops the passing game. Lower is better (like golf scores).
| Scenario | Defensive Passer Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Last Year’s Preseason Opener | ~100+ | Struggled against the pass |
| This Year’s Preseason Opener | 88.8 | Much better pass defense |
| Last Year’s Regular Season Average | 109.6 | Worst in the entire NFL |
| Where 88.8 Would Rank Last Year | 13th in the league | Middle of the pack – huge jump! |
The improvement: Almost 21 points better than last year’s average!
It Wasn’t Just One or Two Players
The coolest part? Every single position group improved.
Cornerbacks (The guys covering receivers)
Every Cowboys cornerback who played had a lower (better) DPR than last year’s team average of 114.8.
| Player | Targets | Completions | Yards | DPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trikweze Bridges | 4 | 2 | 15 | 99.0 |
| Derion Kendrick | 3 | 2 | 10 | 71.5 |
| Shavon Revel | 1 | 1 | 3 | 79.2 |
| Josh Butler | 1 | 1 | 4 | 83.3 |
| Ameer Speed | 1 | 1 | 3 | 79.2 |
| Caelen Carson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Reddy Steward | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 Team Average | 114.8 |
Key Takeaway: Even the highest individual DPR (99.0) was way below last year’s average (114.8).
Safeties (The last line of defense)
- Last year’s average DPR: 134.6 (really bad)
- This game: Targeted only ONCE — and it was incomplete
- Combined DPR: 39.6
Linebackers (The middle defenders)
- Last year’s average DPR: 118.5
- This game: All well below that mark
| Player | Targets | Completions | Yards | DPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Robinson | 4 | 4 | 13 | 80.2 |
| Langston Patterson | 2 | 1 | 10 | 64.6 |
| Shemar James | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Justin Barron | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 Team Average | 118.5 |
What the Seahawks Actually Did (And Didn’t Do)
The Seahawks quarterbacks (Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe) didn’t test the Cowboys deep downfield very often. When they did try deep throws, they weren’t successful.
This means:
- Cowboys didn’t give up big explosive plays
- Receivers were covered well underneath
- But we didn’t see the defense tested vertically much
The "Yes, But…" Section
Before we plan the parade, remember:
Major Caveats
- Tiny sample size — One game, limited snaps
- Backup vs. Backup — Neither team played most starters
- Different scheme — Seahawks weren’t attacking aggressively
- Preseason ≠ Regular Season — Speed and complexity increase massively
What’s Next?
This week: Cowboys face the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals’ first preseason game: They allowed a 130.6 passer rating (that’s bad for a defense).
This next game will tell us more:
- Will the Cowboys defense look this good again?
- Will the Cardinals challenge them differently (more deep shots, faster pace)?
- Is this a real trend or just a one-game fluke?
Summary: What We Learned (And What We Didn’t)
| Encouraging Signs | Still Unknown |
|---|---|
| 0 missed tackles (vs 19 last year) | Will starters perform this well? |
| Team DPR of 88.8 (vs 109.6 last year) | Does it work against top offenses? |
| Every position group improved | Is the scheme change real? |
| No explosive plays allowed | Can they sustain it for 17 games? |
| Young players stepped up | Who actually makes the roster? |
Bottom line: For one preseason game, the Cowboys’ second and third-string defense looked completely different from last year’s unit. That’s worth noticing — even if it’s too early to call it a trend.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. What is Defensive Passer Rating (DPR)?
Think of it like a quarterback rating, but for the defense. It measures how well the defense stops the passing game. Lower is better. Perfect score is 0. Average is around 90-95. Last year the Cowboys were 109.6 (worst in NFL).
2. Why do preseason games matter if the players won’t make the team?
They matter for evaluating coaching schemes, fundamentals, and player development. If backups are executing tackles and coverage well, it suggests the coaching is working and the system is being taught correctly.
3. Who are these players? I don’t recognize any names.
Exactly! These are mostly rookies, undrafted free agents, and practice squad guys fighting for roster spots. The fact that unknown players performed this well suggests depth — which is crucial over a long season.
4. Could the Seahawks just have been bad?
Partly. They didn’t throw deep often. But you can only play who’s in front of you, and the Cowboys executed their assignments. The Cardinals game will test them differently.
5. Should I be optimistic about the Cowboys defense this year?
Cautiously optimistic. One game doesn’t fix a historically bad defense. But zero missed tackles and across-the-board DPR improvement are tangible, measurable positives that haven’t been seen in a long time. Let’s see Week 2!
Stay tuned for next week’s game against the Cardinals — that’s when we’ll really start to know if this is real!