3 defensive changes that Mike Zimmer will bring to Dallas.

After a brief interview process, the Dallas Cowboys have hired former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator in 2024. Dallas swiftly interviewed Zimmer and other past head coaches.

The Dallas Cowboys have hired Mike Zimmer, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, as their defensive coordinator in 2024.

Dallas immediately pursued Zimmer, interviewing him with other previous head coaches and in-house candidates, but the former Cowboys assistant won them over.

Dallas’ new head coach, Dan Quinn, has been criticized for lacking experience and intensity, prompting this move.

While adjusting to a new system takes time, the Cowboys do not seek on-the-job training.

Zimmer’s experience includes seven years as a defensive coordinator in Atlanta and Cincinnati, eight seasons as head coach of the Vikings, and 12 years as a defensive assistant in Dallas.

This is a win-now move for the team, as the changes Zimmer is expected to make will maximize the strengths of the Dallas defense.

Here is a look at three changes you can expect the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator to make.

Major Staff Shakeup

Dallas has lost two important assistant coaches this off-season: Joe Whitt Jr. to Washington and Aden Durde, defensive line coach, to Seattle.

Both of these departures were for defensive coordinator positions, so we have yet to see Zimmer’s alterations to the staff.

The familiarity with the present defensive staff will not discourage Zimmer from bringing in his players, even if it means some bittersweet goodbyes.

Zimmer is expected to pursue Andre Patterson, the current Giants defensive line coach and former co-defensive coordinator in Minnesota.

With Durde’s retirement leaving the defensive line coach position open, Patterson, who coached with Zimmer in Dallas from 2000 to 2002 and then in Minnesota for the entirety of his career, seems an obvious choice.

Giants supporters have already expressed concern that Zimmer would take Patterson to Dallas; he has been an excellent coach in his brief stay in New York.

Another name to get familiar with is former Vikings assistant Paul Guenther, who not only coached in 2021 with Minnesota but was also a key part of Zimmer’s staff in Cincinnati.

Needless to say, Guenther’s experience with Zimmer’s defense goes way back.

Guenther could fill the role of linebackers coach or some other senior assistant position.

While these are not the player personnel moves we expect to see, whether or not Zimmer gets a staff he is comfortable with might be more important than additions to the roster.

Scheme Changes

A change in defensive coordinator inevitably results in a change in defensive strategy, as was the case with the transition from Quinn to Zimmer.

In fact, the way Zimmer prefers to operate his defense ties directly into one area where Dallas may aim to improve this offseason.

In Zimmer’s scheme, the center of the defense, whether on the defensive line with the linebackers or deep with the safety, is critical to success.

He is best known for developing the AA gap strategy, which essentially spreads out the defensive line and employs two linebackers, either both hitting the A-gap to generate pressure in the backfield or one dropping back into coverage.

Zimmer likes big defensive tackles to eat up space with the guards, defensive ends out wide taking care of the tackles, and two linebackers lined up right in the A gap on both sides of the center.

Consider this blitz with Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith as tackles and DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Williams, or Sam Williams out wide. This works well.

This strategy has the potential to become great in Dallas, especially with Micah Parsons as one of the two players in the A gap.

Parsons is a versatile weapon that can be utilized both on and off the edge.

He has previously gotten sacks from the A gap. Pairing him with a talented rookie or free agent in this look could be lethal.

New Roster Additions

The most exciting aspect of hiring a new coordinator is that he may wish to see some new faces around town.

With free agency and the draft approaching, Zimmer will likely prioritize constructing his defense with desired players.

Keep an eye on Eric Kendricks, the current Chargers linebacker.

Kendricks was a significant component of Minnesota’s Zimmer era, which began in 2015.

Zimmer drafted him, nurtured him, and transformed him into a manufacturing machine under his supervision.

Kendricks has had under 100 tackles just once in his career; that was in his rookie season when he had 94.

Now, there are a few things to take into account here, like the fact that Kendricks is not heading into free agency.

He is going into the last year of a 2-year, $13.25M deal with the Chargers, but they could save a good amount of money if they release him.

There is also potential for a late-round pick trade here.

This would get him off the books in LA and add him to the Dallas roster for minimal cost.

Kendricks could also be nearing the end of his NFL career; he will turn 32 later this month and has only played the complete season twice in his nine-year career.

While this might deter Dallas from pursuing him as a long-term option, the team is currently focused on winning as quickly as possible.

A one-year contract or a seventh-round trade for Kendricks makes sense.

Zimmer and the team will need to work quickly to get adjusted.

The Cowboys must implement experienced players under Zimmer while also filling weaknesses.

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