With the hiring of Doug Nussmeier as their tight ends coach, the Dallas Cowboys’ new look coaching staff is technically filled out for the 2018 season. Head Coach Jason Garrett, with coordinators Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli underneath him once again, will lead this team into battle with new coaches at LB, OL, QB, WR, TE, ST, and in the secondary.
Despite most of their changes coming on the offensive side of the ball – where the Cowboys certainly under performed in 2017 – the Cowboys did lose one of their most highest regarded defensive coaches in Matt Eberflus this offseason.
Given their personnel on Rod Marinelli’s side of the ball, the Cowboys may have actually upgraded in replacing Eberflus with Kris Richard. The Cowboys’ young secondary is sure to remain a hot topic all the way until training camp, now being led by the architect of the Seahawks’ vaunted “Legion of Boom”.
With Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli potentially entering his final season in the NFL though, the Cowboys’ search for talented coaches on the defensive side of the ball is reportedly not yet over.
Already promoting a former quality control coach in Ben Bloom to fill Eberflus’ role as linebackers coach, the Cowboys’ commitment to finally building a top defense is exciting for Cowboys Nation. Another solid draft haul on this side of the ball could turn any spot on the defensive coaching staff here into a highly coveted one.
Not only having the talent in place to return to the playoffs in 2018, the Cowboys are looking to take full advantage of their current staff to secure a bright future for this young team in years to come.
Exactly who the Cowboys are targeting to hire remains unknown, but they did interview former DB Ray Horton prior to hiring Kris Richard. Horton carries six years of experience as a defensive coordinator, most recently holding the position in 2016 with the Cleveland Browns.
It is also important to note that Marinelli, known as a defensive line specialist, still holds this positional coaching job – a unit the Cowboys should also look to add an experienced coach to. The next Cowboys DC may still be added to the staff this offseason, if not done so already with Richard the heir apparent at the moment for Marinelli.
