How many of you have already written off Christian Parker?

[doomsday9084]

OK, I'll be honest. I have.

While there are certainly stories of players and coaches turning things around, particularly after a rough start early in their career, its the exception not the rule. Its been my experience that most people who start out bad are simply bad.

Getting into details, I don't think that playing any form of a bend but don't break defense works in the NFL anymore. The games are short and everything is in the offense's advantage. You need to get the opponent off the field by creating negative plays and bad down and distance scenarios. An attacking defense is the way to go, even if you make mistakes.

Beyond that, a good coach adjusts to the game in front of you. I like to see in game adjustments in scheme and personnel.

So far, CP has been terrible and nothing like what he was purported to be.

Just as a reminder, the Cowboys are yet again dead last in expected points contribution by defense.

 

[Hawkeye19]

I personally would like to see an aggressive style but the Eagles did win the super bowl with this scheme.

The concept works best when you get consistent pressure with the front 4, have sideline to sideline LBs that can cover and are sound against the run, and a secondary that keeps everything in front of them and doesn’t give up the big play.

We are not getting enough pressure from our front, and while Barham is coming into his own, we lack a Zack Baun type backer that owns the middle of the field.

Our corners will be alright but we just are really thin and beat up at the moment. I think things will settle down as the weeks tick by.

Huge game on Sunday and then a short week vs TB. We win both games, suddenly things are looking up in the division

 

[BobSacamano]

There was a red flag in the offseason.

Normally someone who has no track record - newly promoted, new to the organisation - should come in quietly, get the head down and work hard to establish themselves.

Instead we got this online and media hoopla about how he is the best thing since sliced bread etc etc. I'm not a fan of unproven people generating self publicity.

The whole master class thing really rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[Kwyn]

OK, I'll be honest. I have.

While there are certainly stories of players and coaches turning things around, particularly after a rough start early in their career, its the exception not the rule. Its been my experience that most people who start out bad are simply bad.

Getting into details, I don't think that playing any form of a bend but don't break defense works in the NFL anymore. The games are short and everything is in the offense's advantage. You need to get the opponent off the field by creating negative plays and bad down and distance scenarios. An attacking defense is the way to go, even if you make mistakes.

Beyond that, a good coach adjusts to the game in front of you. I like to see in game adjustments in scheme and personnel.

So far, CP has been terrible and nothing like what he was purported to be.

Just as a reminder, the Cowboys are yet again dead last in expected points contribution by defense.

I’d be interested to know how you define “bend but don’t break” specifically when it comes to schemes. Is it simply “blitz = aggression” or “zone = bend but don’t break?”

You do realize that Christian Parker just won a Super Bowl as the defensive passing game cooridjnator for the Eagles and much of our defense is based on what he learned and what he did under Fangio.

As far as instant success,

Fans called for Spagnuolo’s firing the day after the Giants were blown out in his debut. That team ended up fine.

And there’s another team I can think of that started off horribly and ended up doing pretty well. Their defense was fourth from last the first year.

Three games is just not enough.

 

[Kwyn]

There was a red flag in the offseason.

Normally someone who has no track record - newly promoted, new to the organisation - should come in quietly, get the head down and work hard to establish themselves.

Instead we got this online and media hoopla about how he is the best thing since sliced bread etc etc. I'm not a fan of unproven people generating self publicity.

You think Parker generated that “hoopla?”

Have you forgotten who runs this team and how they operate?

 

[thunderpimp91]

Depends on what expectations are...I think two things can be true at the same time. I think Parker will end up having an excellent coaching career before its all said and done, but I also think hes a bit in over his head right now. My confidence of this being an above average defense in 2026 is pretty low. As he takes some tough lessons and gets another offseason to prepare and reload the roster I could absolutley see this as a stronger unit in 2027.

I continue to go back to Kellen Moore when I think about CP. Slightly different situation as Moore was leading top ranked offenses right away, however he had a lot of quality players on his side of the football and had an offensive minded HC as well. Still he had continuous issues with situational play calling and struggled to get away from his tendencies. I think we are seeing something similar right now with CP, but CP is overseeing a massive overhaul. Off the top of my head I can't remember a DC this young doing this large scale of player swap. Typically guys this young are either promoted from within to an already semi established unit or have a HC that specializes on their side of the football to help them out.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Personally i have not written him off just yet......but i gotta say not having talent should not be an excuse for him this year. He is being given pieces to work with and he better come up with schemes and plans to turn this defense into a top 10 by the end of the season. So definitely next year is his make it or break it season. I know that is just one year but that is enough to know if he is the right fit.

At this point, HC is my main concern.....BS better get his crap together now or the pitchforks will be coming out.

 

[jazzcat22]

Not yet. I will give it more time and games.
We all knew, or should have known it would take time.

Most already have written off the season as usual.

Then more injured players, but no excuse there. They still should have been better before the injuries.
I said see where they are after 4 to 6 weeks. But that is pushed back. to 6 to 8 weeks. As barring anymore injuries. they all should be back, then still may need a few games.

I may be week 10 before west what to build on.

 

[Kwyn]

He is being given pieces to work with and he better come up with schemes and plans to turn this defense into a top 10 by the end of the season.

 

[John813]

Way too early to really form an opinion. The hype on him in the offseason was always going to lead to this from some fans, expecting too much.
He may or may not be the answer, but the Jones glacier approach to using free agency and actually getting out of their comfort zone to improve the team will hurt most coaches.

 

[Ranching]

How many of you have already written off Christian Parker? Who thinks he is the right man for the job? Who is undecided?

I would love to hear some perspective on what you think we have (or don’t have) in Parker.

I'm more concerned about Schotty right now. He has regressed as a HC. He's become a cheerleader and now, with him coming out and admitting that he cost us the game, he's also a laughing stock. CP will figure it out, pretty soon, he needs to learn how to deal with injury and shift on the fly, but Schotty is shot. I hope the team fights for him and prove me wrong

 

[bdk76]

For the most part, this defense is made up of low football IQ jags. Same as last year. Eberflus didn't suddenly forget how to coach a defense. Even the best coordinators need talent and some dudes with a plus football IQ. This years squad is slightly better talent wise than last year but the injuries are hurting us for sure. Other than Barham the LB's are complete jags and our DE's can't get sacks or set the edge! If Parker can get this defense up into the mid to low 20's he'll have earned his money!

 

[jazzcat22]

For the most part, this defense is made up of low football IQ jags. Same as last year. Eberflus didn't suddenly forget how to coach a defense. Even the best coordinators need talent and some dudes with a plus football IQ. This years squad is slightly better talent wise than last year but the injuries are hurting us for sure. Other than Barham the LB's are complete jags and our DE's can't get sacks or set the edge! If Parker can get this defense up into the mid to low 20's he'll have earned his money!

Such an overused term. And in many cases is used incorrectly.

 

[pitt33]

The whole master class thing really rubbed me the wrong way.

The earrings bug me.

And don’t get me going on Schotty’s upside down backwards visor.

 

[CowboyFanInLexKy]

i am undecided. Unsure. But remain hopeful. Now, the head coach? Very down on him. And it'll take a lot more than wins against Houston and Tampa for me to change my mind.

When you have a first year DC learning on the job how to call plays, I think you hit the nail on the head. I 1000% agree.

 

[charron]

CP seems to be a smart young man but he's inexperienced being a DC, inexperienced calling plays. Infact there is a lot of young coaches on this defensive staff. What we don't have much of is a veteran defensive coach who maybe former head coach or at least former defensive play caller in the defensive meeting rooms. We see this inexperience on the field, bad play calls no adjustments etc. need to see improvement, would help if he had more guidance.

 

[Jipper]

Uh...write of a new DC 3 games in with the sheer volume of injuries and the upward trend in performance?

Come on, cut the bs knee jerk crap, thats not even a sample set

 

[The Natural]

First time playcaller. I'm willing to sit through some growing pains and I'm banking on the defense improving as the season goes on.

 

[Pentagruel]

I think it’s much too early to make any kind of decision. The early impressions are bad enough that I’m worried but I was very optimistic he would be a good coach here so we shall just have to wait and see if things improve over the course of the season or if this will be an Eberflus part II.

 

[Cowboyny]

Fans don't understand it isn't easy bringing in a new complex scheme, but even more changing over 80% of the starters. Growing pains were expected. As I have said multiple times, it took Fangio half a season to really get the Eagle Defense better. He is not only a veteran DC, but they weren't incorporating multiple new starters either.