Dallas Cowboys: 3 defensive coordinators to replace Mike Nolan

Dallas Cowboys DC candidate No. 3

Wade Phillips

Unemployed former DC

Well, we knew Wade Phillips would be on here at some point didn’t we? Wade Phillips (aka Son of Bum) has always been in the hearts and minds of Cowboys Nation. Since the former coach of the Dallas Cowboys was run outta town by Jason Garrett roughly a decade ago, he’s gone on to bigger and better things around the league – coaching defense for the Super Bowl Denver Broncos and Super Bowl LA Rams.

Wade may not have been a good head coach, but he sure was a great defensive mind. As a DC, Wade Phillips is a legend. He’s coached 20 top-10 defenses in his career. He coaches an aggressive 1-gap that typically runs out of a 3-4 front. It’s not a perfect match for the Dallas Cowboys personnel, but it’s not an impossible one either.

Phillips coaches a high-octane, high-effort brand of football which would be a welcomed sight here in Dallas. Oh yeah, and he’s “watching and waiting” on the Cowboys…

More Blame

In all fairness, we can’t pin all the blame on Mike Nolan. This is his first year in Dallas and he hasn’t been given the benefit of a real offseason to educate his team. To make matters worse for him, he basically took over the most singularly-minded defense in the league and tried to make them multiple. So this is far from your ideal situation.

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Additionally, the players need to share blame. The Dallas Cowboys defensive players (particularly their DTs and LBs) have been a disaster this season. Forgetting their run fits, showing questionable effort, and displaying zero gap integrity. Their mistakes are really pretty basic and inexcusable at a college level, let alone a professional one.

While it’s up to the coach to coach, teach, test, and hold players accountable, Nolan doesn’t have a lot of options here since everyone seems to be playing poorly. Even previously decent players have regressed to new lows.

Time has run out for Mike Nolan and many of the defensive personnel. The Dallas Cowboys need to replace both and there should be plenty of options available this offseason.