As part of the changes the Dallas Cowboys are making to improve the defense, including hiring of Mke Pettine as a senior defensive assistant, owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that coordinator Christian Parker would move to the coaching booth on game day.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer put a pause on that statement Wednesday, saying no final decision has been made.
“Yeah, no, none of those decisions have been finalized,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ve had great conversations throughout this whole process. You guys know last weekend was a busy weekend for us and of course spent hours with Christian Parker talking about different things and options and with Jerry and Stephen (Jones) going over the game and things we need to do in all three phases to get better. So as we work through the week, we’ll figure out what’s best and we’re going to do whatever we think is the best chance to win.”
What would be the benefit to having Parker move to the booth to help a defense that 31st in yards allowed, 32nd in rushing yards allowed and 32nd in third down percentage?
Pettine is here to support Parker, not replace him.
“Again, if that’s what we decide to do, I think there’s benefits to both,” Schottenheimer said. “By adding Mike Pettine, we might not have to do that. Again, I think the biggest thing is what gives us the best chance to communicate information and to solve problems. That’s what we do. We solve problems. And so as we work through this process, we don’t have to make that decision today. We’re working through all the different ways of, ‘What if we do this? What if we did that?’ And again, we’re going to use the time to our favor to finalize that decision, but there’s a good chance that Christian Parker is on the field and Pettine is up and we’ll talk through those things as we go. And again, at the end of the day, we’re going to do what we think gives the best chance to play.”
Schottenheimer made it clear that he still believes in Parker. He said they have the right man for the job. And Parker will remain the final authority on defense.
Schottenheimer said the Cowboys have other changes in store for Sunday’s game at Green Bay.
“Christian Parker’s our defensive coordinator and everything, all decisions will run through him,” Schottenheimer said. “We’re supporting him. I support him. I believe so strongly in the guy. I do. I think the guy’s an incredible football coach. We have to coach better. We got to play better. I think our players will be the first ones to say there’s things that they need to do better. There’s things I need to do better. And so no one is sitting here pointing the fingers at Christian Parker.
“But as the head coach, you have to make decisions that you think helps you win games. And that’s in all three phases. And that’s not just adding a Mike Pettine, it’s some of the personnel adjustments that I know you guys are dying to know about that are being worked on behind the scenes and communicated to the players. But again, we’re through the first quarter of the season and we’re two and three, like a lot of other teams and getting ready to go play a very important game against a good opponent on Sunday night in Green Bay.”
