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Todd Archer, ESPN writer
FRISCO, Texas — The way it’s told now, there was always going to be a transition on the field with the change of defensive coordinator from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer.
As much as the Dallas Cowboys coordinators’ schemes of the recent past and present have similarities, there are some differences in the way each coach operates that would require some adjustments on the part of the players.
No one, however, predicted this type of transition.
As the Cowboys prepare to face Quinn for the first time as head coach of the Washington Commanders on Sunday at Northwest Stadium (1 p.m. ET), the defensive differences are stark.
At no point in the first 10 games of a season in Quinn’s three years as coordinator have the Cowboys ranked worse than they do now in yards per game (365.7), points per game (29.3) and rushing yards per game (151.0). . , takeout (9), third down percentage (35.2%) and red zone percentage (74.3%).
However, when comparing Zimmer’s first season to Quinn’s, there are statistics where Dallas ranks equally or better.
In 2021, Quinn’s first season, the Cowboys allowed an average of 251.9 passing yards in their first 10 games. Under Zimmer this year, they are giving up 214.7 per game. In 2023, the Cowboys had 24 sacks in their first 10 games, the same as this year. In 2021, they allowed 39 pass plays of 20 yards or more in the first 10 games. This year they have allowed 31. In 2022, they have allowed 43 runs of 10 yards or more in the first 10 games. This year they have allowed 41.
Zimmer’s return to the sideline after a two-year hiatus, following eight years as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, has been a challenge.
“Uhh, football,” Zimmer said when asked how difficult this season has been for him personally. “Obviously, it’s not really what we expected, but it is what it is.”
Yes, some of that (probably even a lot) has to do with injuries.
“I think there’s a lot more to it than just the transition,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “We have a lot of moving parts on defense. I think injuries are probably the biggest setback after training camp, early in the season. So we have new guys playing certain positions even in the last game as well. And I’ve had to [use] “Certain more defenses this year than we’ve ever had just because the lineup was so set.”
Micah Parsons, the Cowboys’ top pass rusher, missed four games with a sprained upper left ankle. DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys’ top defensive lineman, hasn’t played since their Sept. 26 win against the New York Giants due to a midfoot sprain and is only now beginning his preparation to return.
A year ago, cornerback DaRon Bland set an NFL record with five interception returns for touchdowns. This year, he has yet to play a game due to surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot that he suffered in August.
Linebacker Eric Kendricks missed one game with a shoulder injury. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis missed one game with a neck injury. Defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has missed the last six games following knee surgery. Another defensive end, Sam Williams, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in training camp.
So far 40 games have been lost due to injuries to defensive players.
During Quinn’s tenure, the defense was largely healthy.
Last year, Trevon Diggs played just two games before tearing the ACL in his left knee. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 5. In 2022, cornerbacks Anthony Brown and Lewis finished the season on injured reserve, while nose tackle Johnathan Hankins missed 12 games with a pectoral injury before returning for the playoffs. In 2021, defensive linemen Brent Urban, Randy Gregory and Neville Gallimore missed 28 games.
Injuries can be seen as excuses, but they are also valid reasons.
“I think when you stick with your fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth defensive lineman, and you stick with your fourth, fifth, whatever corner situation, I think that’s going to make a difference,” Zimmer said. “If we had all those players healthy and playing, then I think it would be different in a lot of ways.”
Zimmer has changed his plans, adjusting his fronts, coming up with different personnel packages and turning to blitzing more as the season has progressed.
“Losing our man, our pass rusher [Parsons] and a couple of our other guys, you have to create other different things,” linebacker DeMarvion Overshown said. “I’m sure this is something he came up with before the injuries, where now it’s, ‘OK, now we’re filling in’ pieces ‘, and you can’t really just throw everything you’ve been doing in training camp at someone who just got here a week or two ago. So he’s definitely been dealing with things, but I can definitely see that he’s getting comfortable with his guys on the field. “He’s able to set the pace and trust that we’re going to get the job done.”
But there have been times when Zimmer has planned a free attack on the opposing quarterback only to see the defender miss a sack. Two weeks ago against the Eagles, Overshown missed a sack on Jalen Hurts, who threw a touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert. Last week, safety Donovan Wilson missed a sack after being unblocked.
“I mean, when you have free runners, you like to take them home,” Zimmer said.
Little by little the pieces begin to return.
Parsons will play in his third game since Sunday’s ankle injury. Bland could return for the first time this season. Kneeland could return for the first time since Week 5. Lewis said he will return against the Commanders if practice goes well.
“All those guys are getting closer,” McCarthy said.
Late last season, Quinn faced criticism despite the team’s ability to take the ball away from him and impact the quarterback. The run defense was not up to par and the offenses took advantage of the Cowboys’ use of nickel and dime packages. When big plays were needed, not enough were made.
It’s a similar refrain this year.
“We are having the same problems we had when [Quinn] was here, so, I mean, who’s to blame? You know?” Lewis said. “It’s always a matter of pointing fingers, but at the same time, we have to point fingers at ourselves when we don’t act like that. I don’t think we’ve ever been a bad enough team to get beat like that. Even when we get hit like this, it’s something that’s missing. Instead of just the Xs and Os and who you have, you have to have the will to win at some point.”
