News: CW: Twitter reacts to Mike Zimmer's return to Cowboys as new DC

[Bobhaze]

I am crossing my fingers with this hire. I think he was a very good DC for Dallas in the past. Even when the Cowboys were a terrible team he put a respectable defense on the field.

My concern is if he still has it. His Vikings teams had some pretty bad defenses. I hope the time off has given him the time to re-learn the game. It will be interesting to see what changes he makes. I think we will get better at LB for sure.

Great points. When we return to someone that’s been around before and he’s touted for his past accomplishments while here, we have to also remember to ask this question: “What did we accomplish in the playoffs when he was here?”

 

[Kwyn]

He's better than the others, except maybe Vrabel

Check post 4 and 8 for a couple of meaningful comparisons to Vrabel.

 

[Kwyn]

Great points. When we return to someone that’s been around before and he’s touted for his past accomplishments while here, we have to also remember to ask this question: “What did we accomplish in the playoffs when he was here?”

Super Bowl XXX baby!

 

[zrinkill]

Is it possible that Zimmer was the best candidate?

Not if Vrabel was really interested.

In my opinion of course.

 

[jazzcat22]

Zimmer isn't one who loves a lot of flex, but he instead prefers his players to excel in the position they've been living in for most of their football career.
Hint: It's likely flexbacker Markquese Bell, as one example, returns to the safeties room.

That is from this article.
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mike-zimmer-expected-to-become-cowboys-dc

So I like it from the point of, we may get some real LB's in here. FA's and the draft.

I was hoping for a young up and comer type DC. But would anyone come here for what may be only a year.
So they settled for Zimmer. I guess I am ok with it. Can't complain, but not over joyed either.

 

[zrinkill]

how much we hate Jerry

 

[Bobhaze]

Super Bowl XXX baby!

As DB coach, not DC. I understand what you’re saying but IMO, using that logic would be similar to hiring Barry Switzer again and saying, “Hey look what he did for us 29 years ago”.

 

[MyFairLady]

We sure do like our guys.

 

[Kwyn]

Not if Vrabel was really interested.

In my opinion of course.

What did you think was better about Vrabel?

From what I’ve seen here at the Zone, it wasn’t really anything on the field but more about perception and image (and the fact that he wasn’t interviewed) that made him a bit of a pet cat choice.

Do you like the “idea” of Vrabel or did he have results that you think make him a great choice?

Zimmer is every bit as no nonsense and tough as Vrabel. He also, like it or not, has a similar rep for being a bit difficult.

Defensive performance it’s not really close. Lots of data earlier in the thread to support that.

 

[MyFairLady]

Dude is 67 years old. I hate this pathetic team. At least I can always google pictures of his girlfriend.

 

[zrinkill]

Dude is 67 years old. I hate this pathetic team. At least I can always google pictures of his girlfriend.

He will be 68 before the season starts

 

[SultanOfSix]

Zimmer is a hard-nosed X&Os coach respected by coaches around the league and HOFs the likes of Parcells, and has coached solid defenses in the past. From that perspective, one cannot be disappointed. To me people who think Jerry doesn’t want “new or young blood” or is just hiring the familiar and comfortable are just looking for reasons to be disappointed. It may not work out, but it’s not like he’s hired someone unreasonable like his red-headed stepson.

 

[CWR]

Dude is 67 years old. I hate this pathetic team. At least I can always google pictures of his girlfriend.

I dont see how being 67 makes him a poor coach.

You're naive if you think we were recruiting fresh young talent to "run it back." You'll have to wait till next year if you are expecting a new coaching regime.

 

[Cowfan75Lives]

Who cares? It didn't matter which retread it was going to be; unless it was Bill B., they are a one-year rental and will be likely be gone with McCarthy. It's a win for Jerry anyway, because if the defense does happen to play well, there is your new HC in 2025. If not, Jerry probably got him on the cheap. It's comfortable, it's mediocre, it's the Cowboys Way.

 

[MyFairLady]

I dont see how being 67 makes him a poor coach.

He is an old man. Do you have any idea how much effort and energy the best coaches put into the season? Why would you choose someone who has to sit down on a bench to tie their shoes.

 

[CWR]

He is an old man. Do you have any idea how much effort and energy the best coaches put into the season? Why would you choose someone who has to sit down on a bench to tie their shoes.

It's your fault I had to Google his girlfriend.

I'd say he has plenty of energy.

 

[Reality]

Zim is not a bad hire. He’s obviously been a very effective defensive coach. He’s been very good wherever he’s been.

What makes this “meh” for me, is the last three decades of history of Jerry hiring coaches and how many times we as fans are expected to “trust” what this FO does. I really do want Mike Zimmer to have success because I love the Cowboys. But asking me to get excited is too much for me these days. Just keepin it real.

In a way Zim is the perfect hire for the way this team likes to roll. He’s safe for the owner, he’s definitely done some good things for sure in the past, but he’s more about the past than the future. He’s good but not great, safe and available, and willing to work in the circus.

No disrespect intended for Zim when I say this…but this feels like a 9-8 kind of hire. Not a 13-4 hire. It’s an “around the rim” hire, not an above the rim hire.

But hey…I sincerely hope I’m wrong.

I was about to post something similar.

If Zimmer had never coached with the Cowboys, his stats would likely generate a better response from more Cowboys fans.

However, there is also the "Jerry chose him" aspect so given the last 28 years of failed seasons, I think that adds a shadow to any hire.

When you add in the fact that Zimmer coached here for years in the past, it also lowers the excitement level a little.

I think the biggest problem some Cowboys fans will have with this decision is that it lacks the excitement and surprise that a new-to-the-Cowboys coach would have brought.

I will admit that I was never excited about Dan Quinn as I viewed him just like McCarthy when he was hired .. not a bad choice, but not a great one either.

I think Zimmer falls into the same category for me. I don't expect his defense to be as dominating as Quinn's was (at times, not always), but I do expect them to be a lot more consistent overall than Quinn's defenses have been.

The way I look at the 2024 season though is that it's a make-or-break season for the coaching staff, so we either have a great season or we get a complete set of new coaches for 2025.

 

[Aven8]

I was about to post something similar.

If Zimmer had never coached with the Cowboys, his stats would likely generate a better response from more Cowboys fans.

However, there is also the "Jerry chose him" aspect so given the last 28 years of failed seasons, I think that adds a shadow to any hire.

When you add in the fact that Zimmer coached here for years in the past, it also lowers the excitement level a little.

I think the biggest problem some Cowboys fans will have with this decision is that it lacks the excitement and surprise that a new-to-the-Cowboys coach would have brought.

I will admit that I was never excited about Dan Quinn as I viewed him just like McCarthy when he was hired .. not a bad choice, but not a great one either.

I think Zimmer falls into the same category for me. I don't expect his defense to be as dominating as Quinn's were (at times, not always), but I do expect them to be a lot more consistent overall than Quinn's defenses have been.

The way I look at the 2024 season though is that it's a make-or-break season for the coaching staff, so we either have a great season or we get a complete set of new coaches for 2025.

I think Zimm will surprise a lot of people similarly to the way DQ did. Zimm is different now than when he was in 06’, and DQ reinvented his D that was stale from the Legion of Boom days. I might add that Zimm won’t have to worry about the other fodder that comes with being a HC as well.

 

[Reality]

I think Zimm will surprise a lot of people similarly to the way DQ did. Zimm is different now than when he was in 06’, and DQ reinvented his D that was stale from the Legion of Boom days. I might add that Zimm won’t have to worry about the other fodder that comes with being a HC as well.

Definitely possible. There are some coaches who are average head coaches, but are really good coordinators.

Since Zimmer was the Vikings head coach for the last several years that he coached in the NFL, it will be interesting to see how his defensive coaching has changed over the years now that he is returning to being a defensive coordinator.

 

[Aven8]

Definitely possible. There are some coaches who are average head coaches, but are really good coordinators.

Since Zimmer was the Vikings head coach for the last several years that he coached in the NFL, it will be interesting to see how his defensive coaching has changed over the years now that he is returning to being a defensive coordinator.

DQ is in for a rude awakening with Washington in that capacity. I never remember Atlanta having some great D while he was there. Only Ryan and Julio Jones and company.