Why we need a young, new thinking DC, not an old one

[Bobhaze]

IMO, the Dallas Cowboys need a young, talented, innovative, up and coming Defensive Coordinator that brings new and aggressive thinking to one of the least talented defensive rosters in the entire NFL.

There are many reasons why. But I will start with the fact that other than Dan Quinn, all of the last 6 DCs we’ve hired have been older, more “established names” who used concepts that were tried and true and had been used in the NFL a long time. Those men were Monte Kiffin, Rod Marinelli, Mike Nolan, Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus.

The average age of our last 6 DCs when they were in Dallas was…62 years old. And that’s with a 51 year old Dan Quinn (at the time) in the mix. He was a baby compared to the others.

Now we as fans typically love the old “name hire”. Somebody we’ve all heard of who may (or may not) have had some success in the past. Everyone likes hiring someone we’ve heard of because it makes us think they can repeat what they’ve done in the past.

What we rarely hear about are young rising assistant coaches who are much more in tune with today’s players and much more willing to try new ideas.

Look at Houston’s HC DeMeco Ryans. He just turned 41 and has been a HC in Hou three years now. Look at their great defense. He was a young up and coming assistant at SF where he coached LBs a couple of years, then became the niners DC and they were great under his leadership.

I’m not knocking “experienced” DCs, but I believe our future will be best handled by a coach with upside rather than a past.

The Dallas Cowboys need a DC who thinks differently, is more aggressive, can relate well to younger players and brings fresh concepts to our defense. We need that kind of DC a lot more than another DC everyone has heard of, but whose best days are in the past.

Please…no more old retreads we’ve all heard of.

 

[Doomsday]

Well said, was just thinking the other day, enough with the fossils. It is an offensive game, you are going to give up points, I would rather see them hire an aggressive defensive coach who focuses on big plays. Penalties, turnovers and sacks are how you stop teams these days in my opinion.

 

[Bobhaze]

Well said, was just thinking the other day, enough with the fossils. It is an offensive game, you are going to give up points, I would rather see them hire an aggressive defensive coach who focuses on big plays. Penalties, turnovers and sacks are how you stop teams these days in my opinion.

Yes sir. It’s obvious we’ve tried hiring the old school DC for years. And in many cases (like Monte Kiffin, Rod Marinelli and Mike Zimmer) they were old men whose ideas were old too.

 

[Diehardblues]

I’m all for some up and coming youngblood. But unfortunately they prob won’t stay long as will be sought after with any success.

Regardless we must have an insert of talent for any to have success. Coaching alone won’t get it done. NFL is a talent driven league.

 

[Bobhaze]

I’m all for some up and coming youngblood. But unfortunately they prob won’t stay long as will be sought after with any success.

Regardless we must have an insert of talent for any to have success. Coaching alone won’t get it done. NFL is a talent driven league.

I’m ok with hiring a talented young defensive coach who does so well they either move on as a HC or get hired as the HC here.

Great football organizations lose coaches all the time because of their success. That’s a level of success we haven’t seen here in far too long.

 

[Diehardblues]

I’m ok with hiring a talented young defensive coach who does so well they either move on as a HC or get hired as the HC here.

Great football organizations lose coaches all the time because of their success. That’s a level of success we haven’t seen here in far too long.

Yea but most likely if sought after wouldn’t be hired as HC here. They’d prefer going somewhere with more control.

I’m not even sure why a highly sought after up and coming positional coach would be interested in coming here unless no other offers .

The only recent Coordinators we’ve seen promoted to a HC in recent years was Kellen Moore who had to be an OC elsewhere before getting opportunity. And of course Shotty who we promoted within but wasn’t being sought after anywhere else .

Unfortunately our dysfunctional ownership limits our prospects and opportunities for coaching at all levels.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

I approve this message. That’s why I believe Jim Leonhard would be the right choice. Great upside.

 

[Bobhaze]

Some of the greatest defensive minds in Cowboys history started here as young men:

• Tom Landry - was 35 years old when hired as a HC. The man who invented the “Flex defense” - the most dominant defense of the 60s and 70s was a young, innovative asst coach before becoming a legend.
• The great Ernie Stautner, (Landry’s DC) was 41 when hired as DC here and was part of 20 playoff wins.
• Dave Wannstedt - Jimmy Johnson’s DC was brought with Jimmy from U of Miami at aged 36. He was a young, new thinking defensive mind.

The best defensive minds we’ve had started here in the their 30s or early 40s.

 

[RodeoJake]

The problem with this is the risk of another 1 and done DC. Some stability is needed on the D. These guys can't keep trying to learn a new system every year. They don't even seem to grasp a current scheme during year 1.

If they can find someone who can be here a couple years, and impart the same scheme to another younger coach, great. The Jones boys don't seem to grasp that concept unless it's on offense.

 

[Diehardblues]

I approve this message. That’s why I believe Jim Leonhard would be the right choice. Great upside.

My question is why would he come here instead of more normally ran franchises?

Unless of course he’s had no other offers.

 

[visionary]

I dont care old or new
I care: disciplined, sound scheme, aggressive and smart

The Eagles won the last SB because of an old geezer but he has the above characteristics

 

[Bobhaze]

I dont care old or new
I care: disciplined, sound scheme, aggressive and smart

The Eagles won the last SB because of an old geezer but he has the above characteristics

True. But the eagles have a lot of innovation from their coaching staff in general. The eagles are more likely to use bold and innovative ideas overall.

The Cowboys (IMO because we have an 83 year old GM) tend to chase new ideas. Under Landry and Jimmy, the Cowboys were the most proactive, innovative team in the league.

Since then we are the most reactive team in the NFL - always chasing someone else’s ideas.

 

[Coogiguy03]

IMO, the Dallas Cowboys need a young, talented, innovative, up and coming Defensive Coordinator that brings new and aggressive thinking to one of the least talented defensive rosters in the entire NFL.

There are many reasons why. But I will start with the fact that other than Dan Quinn, all of the last 6 DCs we’ve hired have been older, more “established names” who used concepts that were tried and true and had been used in the NFL a long time. Those men were Monte Kiffin, Rod Marinelli, Mike Nolan, Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus.

The average age of our last 6 DCs when they were in Dallas was…62 years old. And that’s with a 51 year old Dan Quinn (at the time) in the mix. He was a baby compared to the others.

Now we as fans typically love the old “name hire”. Somebody we’ve all heard of who may (or may not) have had some success in the past. Everyone likes hiring someone we’ve heard of because it makes us think they can repeat what they’ve done in the past.

What we rarely hear about are young rising assistant coaches who are much more in tune with today’s players and much more willing to try new ideas.

Look at Houston’s HC DeMeco Ryans. He just turned 41 and has been a HC in Hou three years now. Look at their great defense. He was a young up and coming assistant at SF where he coached LBs a couple of years, then became the niners DC and they were great under his leadership.

I’m not knocking “experienced” DCs, but I believe our future will be best handled by a coach with upside rather than a past.

The Dallas Cowboys need a DC who thinks differently, is more aggressive, can relate well to younger players and brings fresh concepts to our defense. We need that kind of DC a lot more than another DC everyone has heard of, but whose best days are in the past.

Please…no more old retreads we’ve all heard of.

Someone whom many may disagree a young guy that would mesh well with Shotty, I think shotty has that young guy mentality, EVEN THOUGH he's been around for years. He still has that juice and a way to connect with players that I feel a young coach could. I'm all for it as well haze totally!!!!!!!

 

[Coogiguy03]

So leslie frazier/ ron rivera and all those kind of names, rex ryan, HELL NO!!!

 

[shabazz]

I’m ok with hiring a talented young defensive coach who does so well they either move on as a HC or get hired as the HC here.

Great football organizations lose coaches all the time because of their success. That’s a level of success we haven’t seen here in far too long.

Will Jerry possibly consider one from the college ranks?

Id rather have an ultra succesfull DC from college ball with experience than a DB coach who's never run the entire defense.

 

[_sturt_]

@Bobhaze I keep seeing you repeat yourself, but repeating yourself is just repeating yourself, my friend... it doesn't make your line of reason any stronger, and indeed, it makes you seem impervious to reason... debunk what's been given as countering the alleged wisdom put on the table, or fine, don't. In fact, it might be a signal of your better angels and that you so know better that you haven't resorted to making stuff up in defense of your assertion.

To the uninitiated, here's what had been previously offered up, but left without any actual counter...

... and...

... and...

 

[Diehardblues]

Some of the greatest defensive minds in Cowboys history started here as young men:

• Tom Landry - was 35 years old when hired as a HC. The man who invented the “Flex defense” - the most dominant defense of the 60s and 70s was a young, innovative asst coach before becoming a legend.
• The great Ernie Stautner, (Landry’s DC) was 41 when hired as DC here and was part of 20 playoff wins.
• Dave Wannstedt - Jimmy Johnson’s DC was brought with Jimmy from U of Miami at aged 36. He was a young, new thinking defensive mind.

The best defensive minds we’ve had started here in the their 30s or early 40s.

That was truly a remarkable time in Cowboys history. Unfortunately not much of this happening this era.

And why we must adjust our expectations and mindset overall.

 

[Havic]

The last thing we need is an old tired voice from someone who has been out of the league for years.

Get me a dc with a reputation and track record for turning around struggling defenses.

 

[Diehardblues]

I think the fact all 3 of these interviews we have set up with Zoom instead of in person illustrates we are simply going thru the motions to meet the NFL protocols.

 

[Johannes44]

So leslie frazier/ ron rivera and all those kind of names, rex ryan, HELL NO!!!

What exactly is Rex Ryan’s appeal? I never thought he was a particularly good DC let alone a good HC.