FRISCO, Texas — The hunt begins. The Cowboys announced on Friday that both defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would be let go after one year with the team. Dallas will now begin the grueling interview/search process.
A few things to keep in mind:
After an underwhelming franchise-worst season for the Cowboys’ defense, allowing 473 points and a run defense ranked 31st in the league, can Mike McCarthy sell Dallas and the roster as inviting to a potential candidate. There are many openings across the league with vacant defensive coordinator positions and many of the names below are on other lists across the league as well.
Whoever is selected to be the next defensive coordinator, will he bring in his own defensive line coach? Most candidates will want to bring in their own preference for the open role or someone they have a prior experience and familiarity with to join their staff.
Last but not least, what will the defense’s new identity be? Will Dallas stick with Mike Nolan’s hybrid, 3-4, 4-3 multiple look front, or will the team transition back to its traditional Marinelli base 4-3. The current roster is tailored to fit a 4-3, get up and attack style of defense (one-gap), but if the new DC wants to maintain a hybrid system, then acquiring players in the draft and free agency that fit more of a 3-4 (two-gap) system, will be a priority.
Here are some potential candidates on the Cowboys ’radar:
Joe Whitt Jr.
The Cowboys will interview Joe Whitt Jr. for the defensive coordinator position on Sunday, per Tom Pelissero. He was Atlanta’s defensive backs coach in 2020 and has a prior working relationship with Mike McCarthy. Whitt Jr. served as the cornerback coach from 2008-2017 and the defensive passing game coordinator (2018) in Green Bay under Mike McCarthy. The Packers cleaned house after the 2008 season, and he was one of two coaches to survive the exodus. Not only that, but he received a promotion. Whitt Jr. has produced the most out of his cornerbacks at every step of his career and led to the development of Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, and Sam Shields. A name to keep in mind and if he were to be offered the job, he could potentially hire Dan Quinn to be his defensive line coach given their relationship working together with the Falcons in 2020.
Dan Quinn
Quinn was the Falcons’ head coach from 2015 to 2020, leading his team to the Super Bowl. He was fired following a 0-5 start to the 2020 season. Prior to his tenure with Atlanta, Quinn was the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator from 2013-2014 and brought the squad back to its former glory Legion of Boom status. He was the coordinator the year the Seahawks won the Super Bowl and has achieved the ultimate goal as a coach. He will be in high demand given his resume, but Quinn would bring a familiar system to Dallas to that of Marinelli/Richard. He utilizes a lot of penetration from the front four in a one-gap scheme and cover three in the backfield. It would be a return to the old ways but, the current players on the roster are tailored to fit that approach.
George Edwards
If the Cowboys hire an in-house candidate, Edwards is the likely option. He is already a part of the Cowboys’ staff, serving as the team’s senior defensive assistant in 2020. Before arriving in Dallas, Edwards spent six seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Vikings. Mike Zimmer called the plays, but he played a pivotal role in creating installments as a part of the weekly game plans. He has an advantage in the sense that he is already familiar with each player’s individual strengths and tendencies but being associated with Nolan’s defense in 2020 is not a plus. If he were to get the job, the defense would look similar to Zimmer’s in Minnesota- loyal to a 4-3 with creative rush schemes on third-and-long and not a lot of blitzing.
Matt Patricia
His failed stint as head coach with the Detroit Lions should not take away from his time as a defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots (2012-2017). The Patriots won three Super Bowls with Patricia: Super Bowl XXXIX, Super Bowl XLIX, and Super Bowl LI. The intriguing thing about Patricia if he were to get the position, is his use of a hybrid one-gap and two-gap scheme. He uses both to keep offenses off balance and unlike what the Cowboys’ tried to do incorporating multiple looks in 2020, Patricia has won at the highest level incorporating the multiple system. If Dallas is looking to keep with the hybrid defense, Patricia would be the likely choice.
Gus Bradley
Bradley spent the previous four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers (2017-2020). Prior to his time with the Chargers, Bradley was the head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-2016), and the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks (2009-2012). Like Quinn, Bradley helped rebuild the Legion of Boom in Seattle. He helped mold the defense into one of the league’s best- in his final year with the Seahawks in 2012, Seattle set franchise records for fewest points (15.3), and yards-per-game allowed (306.2). In 2019 with the Chargers, Bradley coordinated a defense that finished inside the top 10, ranking sixth in total defense and fifth in passing. Bradley is rooted in a 4-3, one-gap and hold style of defense and he would likely opt to go back to a 4-3 if he were hired by Dallas.
James Bettcher
Bettcher spent the 2020 season away from football after not being retained by Joe Judge. He served as the Giants’ defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. His units with New York never found their rhythm but as the Cardinals’ coordinator (2015-2017), his defenses ranked in the top three in DVOA every year. His style is contrary to many of the names listed above. Bettcher loves to blitz and his defenses typically rate at the top of the league’s blitz rate each year, to confuse opposing quarterbacks with unique stunts and blitzes that collapse the pocket. Like McCarthy who spent a year away from the game, Bettcher is looking to return and redeem his reputation. He runs a 3-4 front, bringing pressure from a variety of places, and is known for running a press-man cover one scheme in the backfield.
Winston Moss
Moss was the head coach and general manager of the Los Angeles Wildcats in 2020 and has a long history with Mike McCarthy. He served as the Packers’ linebackers’ coach in 2006 and was promoted to assistant head coach and linebackers’ coach (2007-2018) in Green Bay. Two days after McCarthy was let go by the Packers in 2018, Moss was relieved of his coaching duties. McCarthy may look to bring in an old friend and trusted coach.
