The Dallas Cowboys faced significant challenges in their 2023 season, especially with stopping the run, suffering a 7-10 record. Entering 2024, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa believes the changes under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus are bringing vital advancements to the team‘s defense.
Last year, the Cowboys struggled defensively under Mike Zimmer, who had come out of retirement to work alongside then-head coach Mike McCarthy. The team allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL, surrendered the fourth-highest rushing yards, and ranked third in yards allowed per attempt. Contributing heavily to these issues were injuries to key defensive positions and insufficient depth, particularly around Odighizuwa at the 3-technique defensive tackle spot.
After parting ways with McCarthy, Dallas promoted Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Schottenheimer then rehired Matt Eberflus, a former Cowboys coach, as defensive coordinator for the 2024 season. This marks Odighizuwa’s fifth year with Dallas, during which he has now worked under three different defensive coordinators.
Odighizuwa has already noticed clear differences between the schemes run by Zimmer and those implemented by Eberflus. He views the current system as a significant improvement to the defensive approach.
Based on some of the things that we’re being asked to do right now, I was going back and just watching some of the tape from last year, I’m like ‘If I was doing the stuff that we’re being coached to do now, I’m making this play, I’m making that play.’
—Osa Odighizuwa, Defensive Tackle
So just seeing that there’s going to be a lot more opportunities based on the stuff that he’s having us do.
—Osa Odighizuwa, Defensive Tackle
While Odighizuwa sees opportunities for improvement with Eberflus’ defensive guidance, he does not dismiss the lessons from last season’s struggles.
I wouldn’t say [last season’s] anything to erase,
Odighizuwa explained.
You address it, you look at it, obviously it wasn’t the year that we wanted, but like I say all the time when you ask me about past things in this game of football, you don’t have time to go in the past.
—Osa Odighizuwa, Defensive Tackle
In 2023, Odighizuwa made noticeable progress, recording a career-best 4.5 sacks and 47 tackles. Now, with Eberflus directing the defense and after signing a new four-year, $80 million contract, Odighizuwa is optimistic about building on that momentum to strengthen the Cowboys’ interior defense moving forward.