The Dallas Cowboys defense has had it with themselves. Coach Brian Schottenheimer has brought in reinforcements for rookie defensive coordinator Christian Parker with the hiring of senior defensive assistant Mike Petting while promising roster changes.
It was not the typical Monday at the team’s headquarters at the Star in Frisco but these are some of the solutions the Cowboys (2-3) have come up with to help bolster the team after a disappointing start to the season, heading into Sunday’s game at the Green Bay Packers (3=2).
The defense ranks at the bottom of the league in almost every category one year after fielding arguably the worst unit in franchise history, ushering in a host of roster and lineup changes to go along with a 34-year old coordinator in Parker.
None of it has worked so far as the Cowboys as the defensive futility continued.
They rank:
- Scoring Defense: 30.1 points allowed per game (32nd / last)
- Total Defense: 395.4 yards allowed per game (31st)
- Total Touchdowns Allowed: 16 touchdowns (31st)
- Opponent 3rd-Down Conversion: 47.26% (32nd / last)
- Takeaways per Game: 0.6 takeaways (30th)
Coach Brian Schottenheimer promised the team would look at everything make some changes, following last Thursday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Topping the list was the hiring of Pettine as the senior defensive assistant to support Parker.
Pettine, 60, is a former defensive coordinator of the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packer. He worked the Minnesota Viking last season as a senior assistant before retiring.
Pettine actually gave Parker his first NFL job as a defensive assistant in Green Bay. Now he will work under Parker.
Schottenheimer called it a good fit for Parker and the Cowboys.
“Had a chance to work with Pettine for a number of years, along with the Jets, and he’s gonna be here in a role to support everything that [Christian Parker] is leading and guiding, and we are really, really excited,” Schottenheimer said on Monday. “They worked together in Green Bay, and this is actually something the C.P. and I talked about when we first hired him.”
Schottenheimer said they talked bring Pettine in when they hired Parker last January. But he wanted to stay retired.
“We actually had two names, but I’m not gonna tell you anything about [who else] we talked to in the beginning,” Schottenheimer said. “But, you know, those did not work out for different reasons. So we weren’t gonna just add someone that didn’t make sense. I think Pet’s experience, not only in football, but as experience in this system, of what we do, is understanding of the 3-4 family.
“He has the awareness of some of our players — Kenny Clark, Rashawn Gary — he was a coordinator when C.P. was there, so I think it’s just a great fit. And he’s a guy that certainly brings a bunch of experience to the entire staff, myself included.”
Pettine has been vacationing in Italy recently and will join the Cowboys on Tuesday to serve as a confidant and sounding board for Parker.
“He’s excited about it,” Schottenheimer said. “I think he got his vacation out of the way, if you will. He just got back from Italy, and they’re having grandbabies and things like that, but he should be in first thing tomorrow. He’s an excellent football coach that is going to help us under the leadership of Christian Parker, and also has value for the entire staff.
“It is important it to have that sounding board of a veteran guy that has coached for a long time, been a coordinator, and understands all the machinations that they have to go through.”
In addition to the staff addition, Schottenheimer said there be changes to the roster and lineup.
Schottenheimer said te staff came away from the weekend with “good ideas and solutions”.
“There will be roster adjustments. Some will be noticeable, others will be subtle,” Schottenheimer said.
It wasn’t just about the staff.
The players took upon themselves to take some responsibility and accountability with a players only defensive meeting Monday morning.
“Look at ourselves in a mirror,” linebacker DeMarvion Overshown said when asked about the meeting. “We put what we wanted our standard to be … on the board. We went bullet point by bullet point: Are we holding up to this? Are we being this? As a unit, how can we get closer? What is it?
“Just hearing from all of us. It really wasn’t like a fire drill conversation. It was more so what can I do to help you? What do I expect from you on Sundays or even Monday walkthroughs?
“We got to talk to each other like that because the ship is only going to go as far as the weakest person on the boat. So as long as we all in this together, I think we’re going to be great. I know we’re gonna be great.”
