For Better or Worse, here are some write up and reviews of Nolan's ups and downs, and what his defense is likely to look like here with the Cowboys.
What Mike Nolan Brings to the Cowboys | Film Room | Per Blogging the Boys
___________________________________________
https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...mike-mccarthy-defensive-coordinator-openings/
During his 21-year stint as head coach or defensive coordinator, his defenses have finished in the top 10 in points allowed on eight different occasions, including a No. 1 ranking his first year as a DC in 1993 with the New York Giants. In addition to New York — with both the Giants and Jets — and the 49ers, he’s also spent time in Miami, Baltimore, Atlanta, Washington and Denver.
Over half of his seasons (11) have resulted in his unit ranking in the top 11 in takeaways, something the Cowboys have struggled with on their defensive units for the last several seasons.
Nolan has also spent seven seasons in the league’s bottom 10 in points allowed, including two when he was head coach in San Francisco.
______________________________________________________________
https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/cowboys-defense-has-limited-window-to-be-great-under-mike-nolan/287-321dece4-4485-4def-a603-8afbcb50f38d#:~:text=In%20his%2017%20years%20as,part%20in%20a%20playoff%20win.
The hire wasn't a great one, great meaning "unusual or considerable in degree, power, intensity, etc," if you’re going by the dictionary’s take on the matter.
Nolan is going to turn 61 years old on March 7. In his 17 years as a defensive coordinator, he has been a part of a playoff team four times. He is the only Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator of the Ray Lewis-Ed Reed era (1996-2012) to not take part in a playoff win
Among Nolan's six defenses to finish in the top-10 in yards, four of those years occurred in his first season as defensive coordinator ('93 Giants, '10 Dolphins, '09 Broncos, '00 Jets). The '12 Falcons are worth mentioning, even though they finished 24th overall, the worst of his first seasons with a team, because Atlanta finished No. 5 in points allowed.
Aside from Nolan's first ever season as a defensive coordinator with New York in 1993, that points allowed mark with the Falcons is his best ever — regardless of what year it was to coordinate the defense
The real stats that are going to determine the success of Nolan's defense in Dallas aren't yards; they're turnovers and points allowed. If, like the '12 Falcons, Nolan can get the defense to produce takeaways, it will give the offense more opportunities. If Nolan can get the defense to render opponents' drives inefficient with few points produced, it will put less pressure on the offense to take control of games, but rather focus on managing games.
_____________________________________
https://bleacherreport.com/articles...er-departure-leaves-many-questions-unanswered
Is Miami who finished 7-9 with the 25th ranked defense a better fit than Denver?
The Broncos defense improved remarkably under Nolan from 27th in ’08 to seventh overall in ’09 and his system was in place already if he stayed for the 2010 season.
____________________________________
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...isnt-important-get-your-best-11-on-the-field/
That shouldn't be difficult, architecturally, because Nolan isn't beating the drum to draft for scheme like former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli did for years on end. While he'll keep the incumbent 4-3 in place, he'll run a hybrid system that keeps opponents guessing and, as such, he and McCarthy need/want the best players with the highest ceiling -- as opposed to prototype pegs that fit comfortably in a certain hole.
Players will determine what we can do and what we cannot do -- not the scheme," he said. "The scheme is basically what you have to utilize the players, it goes the other way. I tell you what, 3-4 and 4-3 is really just a personnel decision to get your best 11 on the field. Outside of that, it's just spacing between the 11 players you have.
"All the 3-4 teams and the 4-3 teams play a lot of the same fronts, but I have always believed it's about getting your best 11 on the field, and from there -- whether that entails calling yourself a 3-4 or a 4-3 -- you want to get the best 11 out there."
_________________________________________________