Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer - Bruce Kluckhohn/AP Photo
It was only one game this past weekend, but Dallas Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer’s already adding more juice to a defense that last year couldn’t stop the run toward the end of the season.
The Boys got after Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and held running back Jerome Ford to just 3.7 yards per attempt. This was a massive upgrade that Dan Quinn failed to do last year.
Familiar Place, Different Building
After being away from coaching for two years, Zimmer rejoined the Cowboys as defensive coordinator in his second go-around in Big D.
The veteran coach had a respectable eight seasons as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Before that, he was the defensive coordinator with Marvin Lewis and the Cincinnati Bengals from 2008-13.
After being let go by Minnesota, Zimmer remained involved in the game and the industry. He and Lewis reunited and produced a podcast for the 33rd team website.
What Dan Quinn Failed To Do
Previous defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was once a reputable defensive-minded coach who orchestrated the “Legion of Boom” defense when the Seattle Seahawks throttled the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl 48.
After an up-and-down five-year run as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, during which time a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl went to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the Cowboys hired Quinn as their DC, replacing Mike Nolan at the time.
Most of Quinn’s tenure with the Boys was successful. He oversaw top-caliber defenses and the development of superstar pass rushers Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
After a great start to the season last year, the Cowboys suddenly couldn’t do anything against the run.
One of those examples was the Cowboys’ game against the Buffalo Bills in the cold weather on December 17, 2023.
The Bills knew the Cowboys could rush the passer, so their game plan was to play old-school cold-weather football and just run the ball down Dallas’ throats.
And they did just that. James Cook rushed for 179 yards on 25 carries, and quarterback Josh Allen only threw the ball 15 times.
The final nail in the coffin was the NFC Wildcard game at home vs Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.
What should have been an easy win and advance for the Boys turned into an early exit from the playoffs. Dak does not deserve all the blame for this, as, once again, Green Bay must have scouted what Buffalo did to them.
They, too, ran it on Dallas’ D with Aaron Jones, and it kept Prescott and the offense off the field for the majority of the game.
Why Stopping the Run is Still Key in the NFL
If you think running the ball and stopping the run is not that important anymore in a pass-heavy league, remember what Quinn showed you last year?
Indeed, teams no longer pay heavy contracts to running backs, but that doesn’t mean you still have to run the ball when needed.
That’s why, in recent history, some of the top 10 Super Bowl-winning defenses have been known for stopping the run, which is more challenging but sometimes more important than just racking up sacks.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz has been on. His 4-3 wide 9 gap concept may not generate a lot of pressure on the quarterback, but spreading your front 7 out like that allows them to pursue better and tackle against the run.
Changing from Cover 1 and 3 to Cover 2 and Quarters
So, how is Zimmer changing up schemes and coverages to help stop the run? The reputable defensive guru runs two high safeties in Cover 2 and quarters.
Contrast that to Quinn, who mainly ran Cover 1 and Cover 3 and used safeties down underneath for run support.
The problem was that the defense’s backend was consistently getting gashed up the middle for time-consuming drives. Maybe Quinn should have changed to Zimmer’s strategy after that game.
But just like great coaches, their schemes are also complemented by great players who can execute that scheme and do it well.
Two Players Who Shined Week 1
In most light-box defensive looks, you have stud linebackers who can stop the run on the outside and also up the middle.
Eric Kendricks is a lane-clogging middle linebacker whose job is to pursue the ball carrier and tackle him up the middle before he gets to the next level.
DeMarvion Overshown is an outside linebacker whose job on these looks is to pull the guard on the outside and stop the ball carrier from getting to the outside. The end result is stopping him in space, and it looks incredible to watch.
Because of the positive change from Quinn to Zimmer and the two awesome linebackers in their lightbox scheme, this should help the Cowboys be more consistent in stopping the run.
We already know that with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, there will be no worries about sacking the QB.
These are the changes that Quinn failed to make last season.
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