Dallas Cowboys: Post-Christmas Wish List
The Dallas Cowboys hire a defensive minded coach
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All the talk nowadays is about hiring Lincoln Riley, Matt Rhule, Chris Petersen, Greg Roman and Urban Meyer. Why none of these guys though?
The Cowboys defensive DVOA (Defensive Adjusted Value Over Average) has been extremely inconsistent the last 8 seasons. Below are their rankings. If you’d like to know what offensive and defensive DVOA do, click the hyperlinks.
2019: 20th
2018: 9th
2017: 25th
2016: 18th
2015: 19th
2014: 22nd
2013: 30th
2012: 23rd
Meanwhile, the Cowboys offensive DVOA has been top of the league with the exception of the 2018 season and the 2015 season. (The notorious season Tony Romo broke his collarbone twice) Below are their rankings.
2019: 2nd
2018: 24th
2017: 10th
2016: 3rd
2015: 31st
2014: 4th
2013: 11th
2012: 11th
The Cowboys have either had the offensive talent or production to be a part of a really good team, but them having to rely on a below average defense has resulted in some underwhelming season.
After the Rob Ryan experiment massively failed, the Cowboys hired former Detroit Lions HC Rod Marinelli. His scheme looked great at times but the inability to get turnovers and find a “war-daddy” pass rush specialist for much of Marinelli’s time has resulted in some uninspiring defensive play from season to season. Even the hiring of Kris Richard has lost its luster.
This defense has talent and is in need of a reboot from scheme to player motivation. Having a head coach that specializes on the defensive side of the ball and can bring the intensity Garrett has seemingly lacked could provide this team with the necessary face lift.
It is not a guarantee that defensive head coaches will coach top defenses on a yearly basis but it sure wouldn’t hurt to change things up especially with how much easier it is to find an offensive mind in this age of football.
So who are some candidates?
- San Francisco 49ers DC Robert Saleh
- Former Carolina Panthers HC Ron Rivera
- New Orleans Saints DC Dennis Allen
- Indianapolis Colts DC Matt Eberflus
- Baltimore Ravens DC Don Martindale
Robert Saleh has been a popular name this season after the job he’s done with the 49ers defense. The play of the front seven, specifically the front four, has been extremely important for a defensive secondary who is lacking in talent besides the all too familiar Richard Sherman. The one issue? A lot of this success can be more closely attributed to 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. It’s not hard to believe that as DeForest Bucker, Nick Bosa, and Arik Armstead have all had sensational seasons.
Ron Rivera is another name circulating in the coaching search after being fired by the Panthers organization. The coach helped take the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2015 and has helped take the Panthers to the playoffs in four of his nine seasons as the head coach. Outside of the Super Bowl appearance, not much else excites about Rivera’s resume. However, given the current undisciplined play of the team, it seems Rivera had more of an impact on his players than initially thought.
Dennis Allen has turned a putrid Saints defense into one of the best in the league. His defensive backs play with swagger and edginess, the defensive line is dominant, and the linebackers have been consistent on a yearly basis. This Saints defense is everything the Cowboys defense wants to be. The downside? Allen couldn’t win 10 games in his last head coaching stint in Oakland, however, this Dallas team, for how much we rip them, are more talented than those Oakland teams. He impressed the Dolphins front office in an interview with them last year.
Matt Eberflus is a name that would be popular if the Indianapolis Colts had a better record. In his first season as DC, Eberflus helped Darius Leonard become defensive rookie of the year while also finding impact players in cornerback Kenny Moore and linebacker Anthony Walker. This also includes consistent production out of defensive linemen Denico Autry, Jabaal Sheard, and Kemeko Turay. After a year with the 10th ranked DVOA, the Colts defense only fell to 18th. Sure the decline is concerning, but the lack of production at times from the Colts offense has inhibited that team more. Defensive mind aside, it would also be nice to see a former Dallas coach return home.
Don Martindale in the last two seasons has helped the Ravens defense have the 3rd and 4th ranked defensive DVOA in the league. In the middle of these two season, the team went under a lot of defensive turnover. After losing Za’Darius Smith, CJ Mosley, Terrell Suggs, and Eric Weddle in the same offseason, the work of Martindale has helped the Ravens remain atop the league in defense. The adaptability and analytics that would come with hiring Martindale could take Dallas to the next level.
The Cowboys offense was great this year and should continue to be good with a good offensive scheme. However, it is not imperative the team invest in an offensive-minded head coach when defensive efficiency and consistency have been an issue for a while.