Mike Zimmer’s biggest task? Making the DL the NFC East’s best

In Mike Zimmer’s second turn as the Dallas Cowboys’ Defensive Coordinator, he has three rooms in various need of improvement. In the case of the defensive line, he has a lot of work to do.

The interior of that line was the Cowboys’ Achilles Heel in 2023 and Dallas did very little to improve on it in the offseason.

The Cowboys are clearly betting on last year’s first-round pick, Mazi Smith, to take a quantum leap in 2024.

Getting Smith back to his Michigan playing weight should help. Getting him to get off the ball quicker and fight off blocks is a must.

Last year, departed DC Dan Quinn had Smith drop 30 pounds. Smith, for most of the season, unsurprisingly given the weight loss, got run over whenever he was on the field.

He’ll be a starter this year, alongside Osa Odighizuwa. He needs to plug up the middle and stop the opponent’s running attack.

A bulked-up player in the middle should be able to do just that.

The good news for Smith, and the rest of the defensive line, is that Mike Zimmer defenses historically do just that.

The bigger challenge for Zimmer might be what to do on the edge.

Parsons At LB In 2024?

Right now the two starting defensive ends on the depth chart are Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

In dire need of a running back in the second round of April’s draft, the Cowboys instead drafted a defensive end.

Dallas appears to be so completely sold on Marshawn Kneeland that they gave him the coveted #94 jersey — the number worn by DeMarcus Ware and Charles Haley.

Conventional wisdom leans toward Kneeland being the eventual replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence.

Maybe.

But what if the plan is to start Kneeland and Lawrence on the ends and move Parsons back to more of a rover/linebacker role?

The move helps shore up the run defense and also allows Parsons to attack the quarterback. Moving him around has proven to pressure the offense to account for him.

If Kneeland struggles, Sam Williams could move into a starting role opposite Lawrence as well without moving Parsons back. And Parsons could take a few snaps at defensive end too.

Just another wrinkle to give opposing offenses larger headaches.

Zimmer’s challenge with Williams is to get him to stop committing dumb penalties.

Mike Zimmer is the kind of coach who can get that done, especially since he’ll be prowling the sidelines, ready to pounce on a player who needs correction.

Is this Zimmer’s plan?

Don’t know. But if I were in his shoes, it sure would be mine.

Ranking The Division

Right now the Cowboys and Eagles are pretty even at defensive line.

The Philadelphia Eagles are playing more of a 3-4 defense and let one of their top pass rushers go in free agency — Haason Reddick.

Frankly, the trio of Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter don’t scare me. Unless I’m out for a drive, look to my left, and see Carter at the wheel of the car next to me, that is.

But on the football field? Nah.

Sorry, Eagles Nation, not sorry.

So Dallas has a clear edge over Philadelphia as of today. If Smith steps up and Kneeland pays off, that edge becomes a canyon-sized gap.

The New York Giants also have a new defensive coordinator for 2024. Shane Bowen has some interesting pieces to play with, especially on the defensive line.

That’s their strongest unit on that side of the ball. Dexter Lawrence II and Kayvon Thibodeaux are the leaders of that unit.

The Giants’ biggest issue is that their linebackers and defensive backs couldn’t shut down a dead turtle.

Familiar Faces In D.C.

The biggest challenge in the division for the best defensive line will come from the Washington Commanders.

Dallas will see plenty of familiar faces when the teams meet in November and again in December.

Three former Cowboys defensive linemen are currently on Washington’s depth chart. Quinn poached Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr., and John Ridgeway III when he took the head coach job in D.C.

Armstrong will start on one end with Clelin Ferrell. The Commanders’ interior will be anchored by Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen.

It’s a formidable unit that will push Dallas’ unit for the best in the NFC East.

But for now, at least, the Cowboys will go in as the top unit on the defensive line. But uneasy lies the crown in 2024.