Zimmer will take the blame, but ...
By Randy Galloway
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Cowboys' former long-time defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, says "blame me for December." He's preaching to the choir, of course. Many people, at least fans, do blame Zimmer, and applauded his Valley Ranch exit last week.
But others, with more inside knowledge of the situation, are quick to cite other factors beyond Zimmer's control for a stunning belly-up December display by the defense.
Such as:
Bill Parcells' stubbornness in refusing to allow needed adjustments in the basic concept of Big Bill's beloved 3-4 alignment, particularly in pass coverage.
Safety Roy Williams' declining work ethic, centering, of course, on diminishing pass coverage skills over the last two seasons. "Roy has gone from being acceptable in coverage, to a joke," said one voice. "It's like he thinks he's an entertainer now, looking to make SportsCenter with his hits, while blowing off what he needs to be concentrating on."
Linebacker Bradie James' sudden "confidence plunge" once opposing teams started isolating him in pass coverage. "That No. 56 looked like he didn't know where he was about half the time," said Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna, the week after the Lions lit up the Cowboys' defense in the regular-season finale.
Marcus Spears, a former No. 1 draft pick for the defensive line, failing to display "any fire in his butt," according to one observer. "I don't want to call him a bust just yet, but Spears is now at a crossroads in his career."
The failure to develop defensive lineman Chris Canty. "We limit him too much," said a voice. "Turn this kid loose. He's a player."
Cornerback Anthony Henry, while hampered with injuries, probably played himself out of a job, at least at that position. A move to safety is now being considered.
And Zimmer's reaction to all that was:
"Look, I point the finger my way, and that's it," he answered. "I was the defensive coordinator, therefore it's my responsibility."
But...
The Cowboys are Big Bill's offense, Big Bill's defense, Big Bill's team. No assistant coach, or coordinator, does anything without Parcells' OK.
Of interest is that Zimmer was told by Parcells he would remain the defensive coordinator for '07. Big Bill, to his credit, was not throwing Zimmer under an 18-wheeler for the sudden December collapse.
At the same time, however, Parcells could not assure Zimmer he would be back next season as head coach.
When a job offer came last week for Zimmer to be the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, meaning a return to his 4-3 roots, he made the move.
"My contract was up, there were no guarantees about Bill coming back, and as much as I hated to leave the Cowboys after 13 years, this was too good a situation to turn down," he said.
Zimmer admitted that in December, "I saw both my defense and my career going down the tubes."
Obviously, it felt good to be wanted by another NFL team, particularly a team that wanted to use the 4-3.
Zimmer was entering foreign football territory two years ago when Parcells announced the switch to the 3-4. The adjustment wasn't easy.
"At times, I asked myself what the hell am I doing?" Zimmer said. "But other times it was good. This was something Bill wanted, and really, a defense is a defense, no matter the alignment.
"I will say the 3-4 didn't have anything to do with how badly we played in those final four weeks. Then, in Seattle, we kind of got it going again, and I saw some reason for hope."
But in that playoff ouster, Williams was beaten twice in coverage for touchdowns, and on one of those, James was also burned.
"Well, we couldn't cover anybody for four weeks," Zimmer added. "Teams were spreading it out on us, and we were attempting to stay in base coverage."
Why? After a long pause, Zimmer said, "I don't have an answer for that."
A common local theory is the Cowboys' defense was seriously exposed by the Saints in early December, and the remaining opponents took a read off that.
"That's true, a little bit," Zimmer said. "But, boy, we also had some basic busted assignments in that New Orleans game. Just simple stuff. Their plan was to spread us out. To get [DeMarcus] Ware into coverage, and to expose other areas."
A few weeks later, Zimmer discussed the Saints' game plan with the two people most responsible for it -- former Cowboys assistant coaches Sean Payton (New Orleans' head coach) and Gary Gibbs (the defensive coordinator).
"Gary [linebackers coach for the Cowboys] knew where to hit us, and so did Sean," Zimmer said.
But the defensive bleeding became a gusher after the Saints. "That was the starting point, and our confidence went to hell," Zimmer said. "For some reason, I never could get back that confidence. I never saw a group go from one extreme to the other like that."
Asked what he would have changed, scheme-wise, for next season -- Big Bill permitting, of course -- Zimmer said, "create more problems for the offense and get more DBs in there for coverage."
It got so bad for Zimmer, that after the Christmas Day loss to the Eagles, he went back to Valley Ranch, and stayed up all night in his office. "Not going home Christmas night, my wife thought I had gone nuts, and maybe I had," Zimmer said.
"But the fans were down on me -- some of the stuff they were yelling hit home -- and I was more down on myself than they were. I couldn't get it right. I was failing as the defensive coordinator. That wasn't easy to take."
And now?
"Well, I'm here in Atlanta, having to re-learn the 4-3," he said, laughing. "I'm thankful for my 13 years with the Cowboys, thankful for a lot of friends I made, but now I'm eager to tackle this new challenge."
Meanwhile, the confusion and the uncertainly continues at Valley Ranch.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Cowboys' former long-time defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, says "blame me for December." He's preaching to the choir, of course. Many people, at least fans, do blame Zimmer, and applauded his Valley Ranch exit last week.
But others, with more inside knowledge of the situation, are quick to cite other factors beyond Zimmer's control for a stunning belly-up December display by the defense.
Such as:
Bill Parcells' stubbornness in refusing to allow needed adjustments in the basic concept of Big Bill's beloved 3-4 alignment, particularly in pass coverage.
Safety Roy Williams' declining work ethic, centering, of course, on diminishing pass coverage skills over the last two seasons. "Roy has gone from being acceptable in coverage, to a joke," said one voice. "It's like he thinks he's an entertainer now, looking to make SportsCenter with his hits, while blowing off what he needs to be concentrating on."
Linebacker Bradie James' sudden "confidence plunge" once opposing teams started isolating him in pass coverage. "That No. 56 looked like he didn't know where he was about half the time," said Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna, the week after the Lions lit up the Cowboys' defense in the regular-season finale.
Marcus Spears, a former No. 1 draft pick for the defensive line, failing to display "any fire in his butt," according to one observer. "I don't want to call him a bust just yet, but Spears is now at a crossroads in his career."
The failure to develop defensive lineman Chris Canty. "We limit him too much," said a voice. "Turn this kid loose. He's a player."
Cornerback Anthony Henry, while hampered with injuries, probably played himself out of a job, at least at that position. A move to safety is now being considered.
And Zimmer's reaction to all that was:
"Look, I point the finger my way, and that's it," he answered. "I was the defensive coordinator, therefore it's my responsibility."
But...
The Cowboys are Big Bill's offense, Big Bill's defense, Big Bill's team. No assistant coach, or coordinator, does anything without Parcells' OK.
Of interest is that Zimmer was told by Parcells he would remain the defensive coordinator for '07. Big Bill, to his credit, was not throwing Zimmer under an 18-wheeler for the sudden December collapse.
At the same time, however, Parcells could not assure Zimmer he would be back next season as head coach.
When a job offer came last week for Zimmer to be the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, meaning a return to his 4-3 roots, he made the move.
"My contract was up, there were no guarantees about Bill coming back, and as much as I hated to leave the Cowboys after 13 years, this was too good a situation to turn down," he said.
Zimmer admitted that in December, "I saw both my defense and my career going down the tubes."
Obviously, it felt good to be wanted by another NFL team, particularly a team that wanted to use the 4-3.
Zimmer was entering foreign football territory two years ago when Parcells announced the switch to the 3-4. The adjustment wasn't easy.
"At times, I asked myself what the hell am I doing?" Zimmer said. "But other times it was good. This was something Bill wanted, and really, a defense is a defense, no matter the alignment.
"I will say the 3-4 didn't have anything to do with how badly we played in those final four weeks. Then, in Seattle, we kind of got it going again, and I saw some reason for hope."
But in that playoff ouster, Williams was beaten twice in coverage for touchdowns, and on one of those, James was also burned.
"Well, we couldn't cover anybody for four weeks," Zimmer added. "Teams were spreading it out on us, and we were attempting to stay in base coverage."
Why? After a long pause, Zimmer said, "I don't have an answer for that."
A common local theory is the Cowboys' defense was seriously exposed by the Saints in early December, and the remaining opponents took a read off that.
"That's true, a little bit," Zimmer said. "But, boy, we also had some basic busted assignments in that New Orleans game. Just simple stuff. Their plan was to spread us out. To get [DeMarcus] Ware into coverage, and to expose other areas."
A few weeks later, Zimmer discussed the Saints' game plan with the two people most responsible for it -- former Cowboys assistant coaches Sean Payton (New Orleans' head coach) and Gary Gibbs (the defensive coordinator).
"Gary [linebackers coach for the Cowboys] knew where to hit us, and so did Sean," Zimmer said.
But the defensive bleeding became a gusher after the Saints. "That was the starting point, and our confidence went to hell," Zimmer said. "For some reason, I never could get back that confidence. I never saw a group go from one extreme to the other like that."
Asked what he would have changed, scheme-wise, for next season -- Big Bill permitting, of course -- Zimmer said, "create more problems for the offense and get more DBs in there for coverage."
It got so bad for Zimmer, that after the Christmas Day loss to the Eagles, he went back to Valley Ranch, and stayed up all night in his office. "Not going home Christmas night, my wife thought I had gone nuts, and maybe I had," Zimmer said.
"But the fans were down on me -- some of the stuff they were yelling hit home -- and I was more down on myself than they were. I couldn't get it right. I was failing as the defensive coordinator. That wasn't easy to take."
And now?
"Well, I'm here in Atlanta, having to re-learn the 4-3," he said, laughing. "I'm thankful for my 13 years with the Cowboys, thankful for a lot of friends I made, but now I'm eager to tackle this new challenge."
Meanwhile, the confusion and the uncertainly continues at Valley Ranch.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:25 AM
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