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Eric Williams
NFC West Writer
OXNARD, Calif. — After a two-year absence from the NFL, Mike Zimmer has resurfaced as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. He had been head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for eight seasons before being fired after the 2021 season.
Zimmer, who previously served as the Dallas DC from 2000 to 2006, seems pleased to be back in his element. Taking over for Dan Quinn, who left to be head coach of the Commanders, Zimmer is putting his stamp on a Dallas defense that played well during the regular season in 2023, allowing 18.5 points a contest. But in the postseason, the Dallas defense was shredded in an embarrassing, 48-32 loss to Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.
“We’ve kept some wrinkles in what they’ve had in the past,” Zimmer said. “Obviously, we’re asking them to do different things than what they’ve done before. I’ve tried to be demanding on what they’re doing. I’ve tried to be demanding of myself with doing that.
“But so far, I’ve been very impressed with the way they’ve gone about their business, the way they’re trying to do what we’re asking them to do in really all three areas of the defense.”
One of the things Zimmer is focused on is getting the most out of uber-talented edge rusher Micah Parsons. No, that doesn’t mean playing him at running back. It could mean going back to how Quinn used Parsons in his rookie season three years ago, with the Penn State product playing more off-ball linebacker and moving around the formation.
During his rookie season, when he earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Parsons lined up as an off-ball linebacker 50.3% of the time according to Next Gen Stats. Since then, Parsons lined up along the defensive line 82.6% of the time in 2022 and 92.7% last season.
Is Micah Parsons really one of the best defenders in the NFL?
Quinn wanted Parsons to go after the quarterback, and his 40.5 sacks over the past three seasons rank No. 4…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/how-cowboys-micah-parsons-could-get-even-better-under-new-dc-mike-zimmer
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Publish date : 2024-08-12 19:25:07
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