Dallas may promote from within to replace Zimmer

by Dave Halprin on Jan 10, 2007 10:39 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Sometimes you need to be careful about what you wish for, because it just may come true. I was hopeful that Mike Zimmer would leave Dallas, not because I think he's a bad coach, but because he's not a good coach for the 3-4 defense. So I got my wish and Zimmer will be coaching Atlanta this year. But it looks like the second part of my wish, an experienced, veteran 3-4 coordinator being brought in might not happen.

If Parcells returns, look for either secondary coach Todd Bowles or linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni to be among the candidates to head the defense.

According to a source, Bowles would have been the choice last year had Zimmer, who interviewed to be the St. Louis Rams head coach, taken another job.

I don't know much about Bowles, so I can't comment intelligently about his work, but that sure isn't the type of name I'm hoping for. I want a veteran coach from outside the organization that would come in with new ideas and really shake this defense up. Our defense seemed to go stale over the last part of the season. I want them to have a new, fresh voice to listen to, with new, fresh ideas. Promoting from within keeps continuity, but that's the one thing on defense that we don't need.

There's still hope that Parcells might choose to go a different direction should he return, and if he doesn't return all bets are off. But if the Cowboys promote from within for defensive coordinator, it will be the first big disappointment for me in this offseason.

I thought this comment by Greg Ellis on Zimmer was interesting.

Said Greg Ellis, "I am glad for Zim. Maybe he can get into a situation where he can be happy about what he's doing. He's a good coach. I believe he is going to have success and I enjoyed my time with him."

"Maybe he can get into a situation where he can be happy about what he's doing." That sounds like Zimmer was never very comfortable about coaching the 3-4 and wasn't thrilled to be doing it

Yesterday, we talked about the story concerning Parcells reaching out for the New York Giants GM position. Today, everyone is denying it happened, including Parcells.

Meanwhile, the Giants and Bill Parcells spent part of yesterday denying a report in The Star-Ledger that stated the Cowboys coach was interested in returning to the organization as general manager.

"Parcells did not contact us and, as a result, he was not rebuffed," Hanlon said in an e-mail message.

The Star-Ledger, citing two high-ranking NFL officials, reported Parcells notified the Giants of his interest through intermediaries. Parcells said there has been neither direct nor indirect contact with the Giants.

"There's absolutely no truth to it," he told The Star-Ledger by phone yesterday morning. "I haven't talked to them and they haven't talked to me, and there haven't been any intermediaries."

Ah, the offseason: where the truth is an enigma wrapped in denials, and rumor becomes fact just because it's written on the printed page. Isn't it fun?

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Comments

And Nick Saban is not a liar.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" - Ric Flair

by kcbrett5 on Jan 10, 2007 10:44 AM CST reply actions

I am willing to give Bowles the benefit of the

doubt. If he is in fact the choice to replace Zimmer lets see what he can do with this defense. You never know who will be a bad coach or a good coach. We were all surprised with what Payton did with the Saints.

Burt-D

by Burt D @ Blogging The Boys on Jan 10, 2007 10:56 AM CST reply actions

saban says what

saban was goin 2 b phired next yr anyway. who wnats 2 b in alabama anyway? joe namath has adrinkin problem just thinkin about alabama. say hi 2 superfly snooka 4 me.

NINERS RULE

by tofan on Jan 10, 2007 11:05 AM CST reply actions

Jimmy Super Fly Snuka is my uncle

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" - Ric Flair

by kcbrett5 on Jan 10, 2007 11:12 AM CST up reply actions

phunny

capatain lou albano is my granpa.

NINERS RULE

by tofan on Jan 10, 2007 11:20 AM CST reply actions

Jerry's bad mood

I think Jerry has a right to be cranky this morning. His zillion dollar head coach, who has posted a .500 record over four years, each punctuated by a December collapse, is holding the entire organization hostage to his unpredictable meditation on whether or not to return. As if Jerry's public commitment to give him another $5 or $6 million dollars isn't sufficient considering his performance thus far. Has anybody ever cashed in on the past like Parcells? I've been a Parcells fan; I'm less so these days. I recognize that the longer we wait the more it makes sense to want him back. But I don't think he's worth begging.

by AmosM on Jan 10, 2007 12:00 PM CST reply actions

I dont think its about money

Jerry has stated time and time again he wants bill back, its bill's decision and at 65 years old he has to balance whether he wants to go throught the grind of the NFL season one more time, I can understand that, and its been reported that he'll have a decision by the weekend on whether he wants one more go round at it, I think he'll be back one more year as I dont think Bill wants his career to end the way our season ended. Its not a brett Favre never ending saga like last year, Bill's not holding the organization up at this time, if he hasn't a decision until after the superbowl, then he's hampering the organization.

by Deke on Jan 10, 2007 12:13 PM CST up reply actions

cool

I didn't know that a decision was expected by the weekend. That's good news.

by AmosM on Jan 10, 2007 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

Parcells really coaches the defense

anyway, so I don't think think it matters. The Tuna likes to have his stamp of approval on all phases of the game, unlike some other HC's, so who becomes our DC or OC for that matter, isn't as big of a deal as most fans think it is.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jan 10, 2007 4:28 PM CST reply actions

I'd hope we'd get Capers then

Since Tuna 's got his hands in everything, I'd rather see a DC with some cred. running the 3-4.

Maybe BP is trying to do too much.

by APerfectStar on Jan 10, 2007 7:02 PM CST up reply actions

Capers turned us down

according to Jean Jacque Taylor this morning:

For now, Parcells is leaning toward naming Todd Bowles and Paul Pasqualoni co-coordinators. In that scenario, Bowles would handle the pass defense and Pasqualoni the run defense. The key, though, is who handles the play-calling on gameday.

Parcells recently spoke to Dom Capers to gauge his interest in running the defense, but was rebuffed. Still, it's an indication Parcells wants an established coordinator. But as hard as it might be to fathom, not every coach yearns to work for Parcells.

That is a bummer because I would have liked Capers too.

http://www.cowboysplus.com/buzzbar/stories/011107cpbuzztaylor.2ab88084.html

by Philosopher on Jan 11, 2007 9:25 AM CST up reply actions

Lost in the shuffle

is that Coach Parcells is taking telephone calls from the media this year after that last game. The history is that he is done talking until the draft is over or at least after his contract extension.

I like bringing up young guys for coordinators. I have big respect for Paul (who is not young) but like Bowles even better as he needs to think outside of the box.

by lee3022 on Jan 10, 2007 9:30 PM CST reply actions