Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Candidates: Ranking All 9 DC Targets The Cowboys Have Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys rumors continue to center on the Cowboys defensive coordinator candidates. Cowboys Report host Tom Downey’s ranking of the Cowboys DC targets is made possible by PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS and use code CLNS and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Who will the Cowboys and Brian Schottenheimer hire as their next defensive coordinator? Let’s discuss Tom’s top DC candidates.

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Cowboys defensive coordinator candidate rankings:
#9: Aaron Whitecotton (Cowboys DL coach)
#8: Ephraim Banda (Browns safeties coach)
#7: DeMarcus Covington (Packers DL coach)
#6: Zach Orr (Ravens DC)
#5: Jonathan Gannon (former Cardinals HC)
#4: Charlie Bullen (Giants DC)
#3: Daronte Jones (Vikings DEF pass game coord.)
#2: Christian Parker (Eagles pass game coord.)
#1: Jim Leonhard (Broncos pass game coord.)

Cowboys news on why host Tom Downey ranked each candidate:
– Aaron Whitecotton: Promoting a first-time DC off the worst defense is franchise history would be an insane move
– Ephraim Banda: I like the Jim Schwartz connection, but I’d be more interested in Banda as an assistant
– DeMarcus Covington: His defense in New England wasn’t that great & you’d need a great DBs coach still
– Zach Orr: The Ravens’ passing defense has been bottom 3 in both years under Orr. He’s been viewed as an up-and-comer but the Ravens defense struggled this year.
– Jonathan Gannon: With visions of Matt Eberfus dancing in my head, I’d be extremely whelmed by hiring Gannon.
– Charlie Bullen: Bullen could be in play as an assistant, since his DC sample size is extremely limited. But it was impressive!
– Daronte Jones: I like the idea of poaching from the Brian Flores tree if I can’t get Brian Flores. But I do worry that Jones’ lone season as the LSU DC didn’t go well (10th in SEC).
– Christian Parker: would be one of the youngest DCs and has no experience as one. But he’s viewed as a coach on the rise and has an impressive track record with DBs.
– Jim Leonhard: I know you’d have to wait for Leonhard and that carries plenty of risk. But if he’s a top candidate & we’re going to actually do the process right, then it’s worth it. He’s someone that’s been on my list since the Mike Nolan error.

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Cowboys news and NFL news that impacts the Matt Eberflus replacement search:
– No in-person for Jim Leonhard (yet) thanks to the Broncos win over the Bills
– 3 in-person interviews are set up
– 2 head coaches hired (John Harbaugh to the Giants and Kevin Stefanski to the Falcons)
– Jeff Ulbrich is off the board (probably)
– Will Dallas wait for a shot at Brian Flores?

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35 comments

  7. Dallas will have to play the waiting game
    Not only for Leonhard but for several of the other coaches they've interviewed also

    I see Whitecotton, Orr, Bullen and Banda as possibilities for assistant coaches
    Don't see Covington as a DC and he wouldn't make a lateral move to be D-Line Coach either
    Ulbrich is staying in ATL and though I don't think Banda is following Stefanski to the Falcons, we still have to see what happens w/ Schwartz
    Pass on Gannon
    Parker and maybe Jones could be good backup plans but
    Everything points to Leonhard being their guy and I believe and out of these 9 coaches, he's the best choice

    Just Hypothetical
    Defensive Coordinator-Jim Leonhard
    D-Line Coach- Aaron Whitecotton
    Linebackers Coach-Charlie Bullen
    Pass Game Coordinator and Safeties Coach-Ephraim Banda

    Of course a lot more positions to fill be this could a good starting point for a potential staff

  13. The problem with Gannon for me is his record as HC 15 wins in 3 yrs and I don't think he can command a room and get these guys to run through a wall for him! I really like Daronte Jones, he worked with Zim and Flores and I think can take this D to the next level!! Parker…I'm not sure if Schotty should have to handle a DC that has never been a DC and is so young he needs a few more years of exp, even though I do like him! Schotty had to give up too much time to babysit the elder DC this last year! Unforunately, Nix got hurt, so the Broncos could lose next week (I wanted them to go the SB) so Leonhard could be available, but you better make it a good interview and put on a good show because Harbaugh and the Giants will def try and snag him!!

  17. On Jim I'm confident that they will be able to interview him after next week with Bo being out as the QB I don't see them going to the Super bowl.

  18. Detroit didn’t make it, Green Bay is out, the Iggles are out, and the 49’ers got destroyed. Now I just need DLaw to lose. Yeah, I’m a hater. Go Cowboys!

  21. I think we need a new GM. If Jerry don’t give it up, Will Mcclay need to go. We can’t get to a NFC championship with our current culture. Hell I’d doing anything to make a trade for Josh Allen and get him out of Buffalo

  24. TOM!!!!…why do you never call out JERRY JONES,…for all the B.S. that he has done over the last 30 years,…and mark my words our WR2 will not sign with us because JERRY JONES is ALWAYS late to the party costing us more than we need to pay and believes that EVERYBODY wants to be a cowboy, (DELUSIONAL). So while the JONES family owns the cowboys we will NEVER win a championship.

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