Dark horse candidates for DC?

[Ironicalicon]

Jim Leonhard is 43 played safety in the NFL and along with Vance Joseph they have one tough defense in Denver . Being in charge of the secondary in Denver Surtain is on another level would love to see Dallas transformed .


In particular could Leonhard as DC get Cowboy DB’s to actually challenge completions .

I can't recall the exact nature of their relationship but Schotty has ties with him. He talked a little about it in the PC yesterday.

 

[Gambit]

I like his reputation as a coach that connects with his players. I like that he's been "the man" in some very high profile positions, so the bright lights aren't anything to him.

I am sincerely and genuinely interested in where youve read and learned about this reputation. Id like to review thst material too.

Again, not being sparky at all, just interested in getting to know candidates more.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I can't recall the exact nature of their relationship but Schotty has ties with him. He talked a little about it in the PC yesterday.

Yep, he was a player for the Jets when BS was the OC there.

 

[_sturt_]

I am sincerely and genuinely interested in where youve read and learned about this reputation. Id like to review thst material too.

Again, not being sparky at all, just interested in getting to know candidates more.

All good.

Two prong answer... first, I just have a memory of when Strong was first getting some acclaim in that way as far back as when he was HC at South Florida... and/but second... I've just learned that our gathering place here has found some reason to deny participants the luxury (???) of screenshotting ChatGPT or other purveyors of artificial intelligence, so having been disciplined for the sin, I defaulted to saying "Google it." But maybe maybe I can get away with suggesting folks try the aforementioned resource, searching a question that goes something like, "What are Charlie Strong's best assets as a coach?"

 

[_sturt_]

Because Leonhard was actually cited in the presser... as was Dennis Thurman, btw... for me anyways, those two inherently cross the line from "dark horse" to "horse."

 

[calicowboy54]

No, Charlie Strong, the well-known American football coach, is not considered short; he is 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) tall, which is around average to slightly above average height for a man, not typically described as short, notes IMDb and Google Search results.

• Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m).

ok why is that podium so big then.

 

[Miller]

Corey Hetherman: University of Miami

 

[Gambit]

All good.

Two prong answer... first, I just have a memory of when Strong was first getting some acclaim in that way as far back as when he was HC at South Florida... and/but second... I've just learned that our gathering place here has found some reason to deny participants the luxury (???) of screenshotting ChatGPT or other purveyors of artificial intelligence, so having been disciplined for the sin, I defaulted to saying "Google it." But maybe maybe I can get away with suggesting folks try the aforementioned resource, searching a question that goes something like, "What are Charlie Strong's best assets as a coach?"

Thank you.

Im concern initially about what in the past has been needed pieces for his system to flourish particularly an elite Mike and Safetya that must tackle.

But love some of the other stuff I just read. Doesn't really seem like a primary DC play caller though

 

[_sturt_]

needed pieces

Goes to my contention that who is hired as DC is about #3 or #4 down the list in importance to how the 2026 defense performs. This team was just woefully thin, revolving doors at most positions on defense all season long. The talent wasn't there. To be better, there has to be players on the field capable of "better." Sooooo... there will be needed pieces, from where I sit, no matter who becomes DC.

 

[Praxit]

Playing defense is not rocket science. We just need someone to understand the concepts of modern football. Playing aggressive rather than passive, go goes long way in this league.

 

[tm1119]

Not sure if he’s an actual dark horse, but Aubrey Pleasant should be in consideration. Plucking a young coach from a great coaching tree is something that has worked around the league for a lot of teams. Someone from the Rams well run organization could inject some life into this team.

An actual dark horse candidate- Karl Scott. At 40 he’s the current Pass Game Coordinator/DB coach for Seattle that was hired by Carroll and kept by McDonald. Also had 3 years at Alabama under Saban with other stops along the way.

 

[blueblood70]

ok why is that podium so big then.

First of all it might be fake second of all who cares third of all see the second response who cares... Apparently you've never seen Photoshop or AI..hmmm

 

[calicowboy54]

First of all it might be fake second of all who cares third of all see the second response who cares... Apparently you've never seen Photoshop or AI..hmmm

who cares

 

[pancakeman]

Here you go. I think this guy played for the Broncos and coached for the Colts. I heard he will surprise many people. I heard it straight from the horse's mouth.

Dunno, I think I heard Philly is interested in him.

 

[blueblood70]

who cares

Apparently you or whoever posted it or whoever is carrying it on

I just posted his real height just in case we're mired in reality here

anybody might have wanted to know his real height


next,,,

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

I would like to interview Panthers passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. They shut down both that Rams and Packers this year. I see his units playing hard hard, willing tacklers, and fundamentally sound.

 

[plasticman]

They should have given it to Aden Durde instead of Zimmer back in 2024. He was our D-line coach and the Seahawks scooped him up.

In two seasons the Seahawks defense went from the bottom of the league to the #1 defense this season. They were also #6 in takeaways and #1 in yards per running play at 3.7 yards.

 

[blueblood70]

They should have given it to Aden Durde instead of Zimmer back in 2024. He was our D-line coach and the Seahawks scooped him up.

In two seasons the Seahawks defense went from the bottom of the league to the #1 defense this season. They were also #6 in takeaways and #1 in yards per running play at 3.7 yards.

nope start again... Mike Mcdonald brought that defense to the Seahawks from the Ravens, ravens are faltering, seahawks are on the way up it's because Mike Mcdonald is the one who designing and calling the plays in Seattle,

this is a Eric bienemy all over again, you can't trust that he knows enough yet and is ready when he is just the DC in title only, He's a yes man to Mike Mcdonald.

So somehow you think you correlate he would have already had this defense this style had he just stayed with the Cowboys and never have worked under Mike Mcdonald are you serious?

No if we were going to do that you should have just interviewed Al Harris and maybe kept Al Harris after Zimmer left not instead of Zimmer the only reason Zimmer left is he got sour grapes because I think he thought he'd be up for the head coaching position...

So right now if you wanna make him a candidate to interview I'm OK with that But let's not have our blinders on here this is not his defense he did not have this defense two years ago...

 

[Desperado]

Super duper triple black dark horse painted black and standing in the shadows (no, I don’t think it will happen): Pete Carroll. (Pause for the laughter to subside) Schottenheimer was Carroll’s OC for a couple of years in Seattle. They have a mutual respect, with Carroll recommending Schotty for HC openings and Schotty siting Carroll as one of his biggest influences. Pete worked as DC for years before becoming HC. Jerry brings in Carroll as DC/asst head coach to help his former OC develop while rebuilding the defense. Pete at age 74 may not have a HC option, but likely doesn’t want to quit coaching. 0.000001% chance of it happening, but… dark(est) horse.

 

[_sturt_]

Super duper triple black dark horse painted black and standing in the shadows (no, I don’t think it will happen): Pete Carroll. (Pause for the laughter to subside) Schottenheimer was Carroll’s OC for a couple of years in Seattle. They have a mutual respect, with Carroll recommending Schotty for HC openings and Schotty siting Carroll as one of his biggest influences. Pete worked as DC for years before becoming HC. Jerry brings in Carroll as DC/asst head coach to help his former OC develop while rebuilding the defense. Pete at age 74 may not have a HC option, but likely doesn’t want to quit coaching. 0.000001% chance of it happening, but… dark(est) horse.

If Pete had interest, it would be malpractice to fail to include him as a candidate. As just said in the Rex Ryan thread, I'd prefer Carroll and by a lot.

Not sure about the optics, and in Big D, optics tend to matter. Then again, there's a good argument they didn't give a rats-patoot this time last year about optics as they hired Schotty instead of marquee names.

That cheer you just heard from above... that was none other than Dick LeBeau giving his support to the idea.