(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)
What will the new defensive coordinator bring to the Cowboys defense? Can we expect something similar to what the Eagles ran the past two seasons? Or will Christian Parker mold this into his own defense? Your thoughts on this hire? – Bryan Scott/Glen Rock, PA
Nick: I like it - and not because I knew anything about Christian Parker before the last few days. But then again, I knew a lot about Matt Eberflus and I thought that was going to be an awesome hire.
So that's not really the point. What I do like about the move is that it's not something we've seen before. Isn't that always the knock on the Cowboys' front office? Doing the same things over and over and expecting different results? Well in this case, the Cowboys conducted this entire DC search in a different manner than the past, and definitely different from last year. I'm not one that totally absolves Schottenheimer on adding Eberflus. I'm sure he was on board with it, but this search has his fingerprints all over it. From what I hear, this is a Schotty hire all the way.
What I love the most is Parker is just 34 years of age, and still so accomplished, especially with his ability coach the secondary. He's probably the most relatable coach to the players, especially since there will be a few of the guys on the roster actually older than him. But right now, we don't know how it's going to turn out with Parker, or any of the changes that will make. What I do like is the Cowboys are making changes in the approach in which they make these changes.
Patrik: There's no way to know quite yet what this will become, but I can already tell you it's literally nothing like anything the Cowboys have done at defensive coordinator over the course of the franchise's history. It was clear Brian Schottenheimer wanted little to nothing to do with the old guard in the NFL defensive coaching ranks, given the nine candidates that were interviewed, and landing on Parker (34 years old) says not only a lot about Schottenheimer's growing influence within the organization, but also how insanely talented Parker is — a fast-riser who has already helped develop three First-team All-Pro cornerbacks (Patrick Surtain II, Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell).
By all accounts, no one in Philadelphia wanted to lose his high football intellect, photographic memory and ability to connect and teach young NFL players, and that brings me to my other point: the hiring both strengthens the Cowboys and weakens the Eagles; and that's the definition of a win-win to me. So for as much as I expect Parker to continue his upward trajectory, though I also need to see what staff he assembles behind him, bringing in a young, high-ceiling coach who can also give you a wealth of insider information about the inner workings of a team that's won the division twice in as many seasons is a master stroke. Up next? Assemble his staff and defensive personnel, the right way, and let him cook.
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