The Dallas Cowboys had another rumor-filled offseason following their shocking 16-point loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round of this year’s playoffs. Rumors included Bill Belichick, Mike McCarthy’s job status, and even possible whispers about a Dak Prescott trade.
And more recently, the Cowboys have been searching for a new defensive coordinator to lead what was the fifth-ranked defense in 2023 after losing standout coordinator Dan Quinn, who was recently revealed as the head coach of NFC East opponents, the Washington Commanders.
Tom Pelissero reports that the Cowboys have not yet decided on their next defensive coordinator, despite interviewing with prominent candidates like Rex Ryan and the recently dismissed head coach of the Commanders, Ron Rivera.
Mike Zimmer, the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, spent eight somewhat successful years in Minneapolis. With veteran backup and bridge starter Case Keenum, Zimmer guided the Vikings to the 2017 NFC Championship game.
The Vikings had a consistently strong defense under his leadership, led by veterans like Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith, and Anthony Barr. But eventually, Zimmer’s teams reached a plateau due to their erratic offensive performance and antiquated scheme; as a result, offensive mastermind Kevin O’Connell took over for Zimmer.
The good news for Zimmer is that he will be able to work with “America’s Team,” one of the best defensive teams in the NFL.
The Cowboys have playmakers at every level of defense, including Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and DeMarcus Lawrence, who are All Pros. They have a history of shutting down opposition offenses.
One recent critique, though, has been directed towards Dallas’ run defense, which declined toward the conclusion of the season and finished the regular season ranked 26th in the NFL during the final five games.
Moreover, a tendency of the Cowboys organization of the whole is their nature to be a ‘flat track bully’; they beat up on bad teams and struggle against stronger competition.
Let’s see if Zimmer can keep the defense playing at their already high level as it was left by Quinn, and if Zimmer can shore up their inconsistent run D.
