Location is everything, except when it’s the Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus

Location. Location. Location. The three most important factors in a successful business operation are widely regarded to be where said business sets up its operations. The Dallas Cowboys sure hoped location was the missing ingredient for their floundering defense.

Ranking at or near the bottom in most major categories, the Cowboys needed to try something to turn things around on that side of the ball. That’s why in Week 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers they moved their maligned defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus from the field to the booth. The results were the same.

For the third time in as many weeks the Cowboys defense allowed over 30 points, and for the third time in as many weeks, they notched a loss. It didn’t help things that the offensive side of the ball was shut out in the second half of Sunday’s 34-17 loss. Then again, much of that was probably the byproduct of trying to overcome their defensive ineptitude. The offense likely felt they needed to score every possession, so they went for it in situations they otherwise wouldn’t have. So, the story of the day remains, it didn’t matter where Dallas put Eberflus, the results were the same.

The Cowboys allowed 300 yards through the air and 152 yards on the ground. They failed to log a single sack and they failed to produce a single turnover. It was missed tackles, blow coverages, and lost opportunities throughout the day. It provided the perfect illustration of what the Cowboys' defense had been all season.

Eberflus’ move to the booth was interesting from the start. He had never coached from the booth as an NFL DC before so the move in Week 16 looked either desperate or forced. Regardless of who called for the move or the motivation behind it, the result didn't change.

After only forcing one punt all day, calls for a leadership change continue around Dallas. The Eberflus era has been unforgettable in all the wrong ways and major changes are expected in the offseason. For as important as continuity is for a team like the Cowboys, the scheme and playcalling have not matched well with personnel on the roster. Major changes are expected across the board and that's something that location can't even fix.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Location is everything, except when it’s the Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus