With training camp less than a week away, a lot of focus has been on CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, but the Dallas Cowboys also have another side of the ball and may have the right guy now calling plays for them–Mike Zimmer.
As we look back on a Cowboys defense that has been very good for the last few years, they have struggled not only against above-average offenses but also at being able to stop teams from running the ball all over them.
Main Focus in 2024
We know Zimmer runs a 4-3 base scheme and uses a 4-2-5 nickel package in passing situations. The coverage is primarily press-man, which should line up well with the Cowboys secondary.
Zimmer uses extensive blitz variations, such as the double-A gap blitz formation, but his priority is stopping the run.
One thing about Zimmer’s defenses over the years is that he constantly evolved defenses to fit his personnel. The Cowboys were No. 5 in yards and points allowed last season. In three years with Dan Quinn, the Cowboys led the NFL in takeaways with 93 (59 interceptions, 34 fumble recoveries).
Yet, that is not the problem.
The talent they have in the secondary, along with Micah Parsons, will help them have another solid year in team defense.
Stop the run. We should all agree on this. That should be the main focus and goal in 2024.
Between 2017 and 2021, the Vikings had the second-best defense in the league per EPA/play on third down. If Mike Zimmer stops the run on early downs, and you need to drop back, good luck handling all that he throws at you.
Mike Zimmer should ask himself: how can I make what I’ve got on the defense right now become a team that forces the offense to test Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland?
He needs other teams to play into the strength of the defense. Make offenses throw the football. Mike Zimmer has proven over the years that his defense works and Dallas has more talent than any of his teams he had when he was the Vikings head coach.
The Vikings’ defense was top-12 in points allowed in each of Zimmer’s first six seasons with the team, including a top-five finish in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Biggest Problem
Here is the biggest problem, though. Does he have those right guys to be able to do it consistently?
They may look good for a game or two against below-average backs, but when they play the Eagles and Saquon Barkley, they are going to need to be up to the test. Mazi Smith has to show up. If he has another year like his rookie season, they are in trouble.
Osa Odighizuwa is the Cowboys’ most underrated player. He will show up on the defensive line, but outside of him and Smith, who do they have?
I like rookie Justin Rogers, but as normal, he will see his growing pains and might not even see the field right away.
Mike Zimmer will have to prove that he can change the narrative around the weakness of this defense over the years before I buy in completely.
Do I expect this defense to be perfect? Of course not.
They lost depth on the defensive line, and now guys like Sam Williams have a chance to make a name for themselves. I think the first order of business is to figure out a rotation that will work the best and, once you do, see what each player can bring to help stop the run.
The rest of the talent will do what they do, yet something has to change in 2024 for this defense to become the BEST in football. We shall see.