FRISCO — Christian Parker is, at 34, not only the youngest defensive coordinator in Cowboys history, he’s roughly the same age as our oldest son. Doesn’t mean he can’t get the job done, but it could indicate I’ve been doing this too long. And the lovely wife and I started late.
Parker gets it, if you were wondering, even if he can’t do anything about it now.
“I’ve always been young,” he said.
Unfortunately, there’s a cure for that.
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Before anyone gets too worked up about his youth, his credentials in Green Bay, Denver and Philadelphia are impeccable. Considers Vic Fangio, who once claimed he had the answer to stopping the Cowboys, his mentor.
Certainly seems bright enough, judging by his answers Wednesday at The Star. This one, in particular.
“Great players,” he said, “make great coaches.”
Boom.
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Parker said a lot of other smart things, too, among them a promise not to get stuck in any one defense. His predecessor, Matt Eberflus, got fired for trying to stuff a zone down his players’ throats. They revolted, and then it got revolting. The organization that once gave you the Doomsday Defense was simply doomed. Things picked up briefly only when a few key defenders got healthy and Quinnen Williams showed up on their doorstep.
The moral is, top-shelf talent covers a multitude of sins, not to mention defenses. Last year’s defense was woefully short on top–level talent pretty much everywhere except at defensive tackle.
There are two ways to fix this problem and make Parker look even smarter than he did Wednesday: through the draft and free agency.
Christian, did Jerry Jones promise you the first two picks would be on defense?
“No, he didn’t.”
Are you going to campaign for that?
“Absolutely.”
Here’s what he should say: Give me either of the Ohio State guys with the 12th pick, and I’ll be happy.
Caleb Downs, the safety.
Or Sonny Styles, the linebacker.
First, though, a disclaimer: Every draft has its peculiarities, but what’s always true is that no first round carries a true first-round grade through all 32 picks. Most years the number of blue-chippers is around 15. This year, the consensus is the Cowboys might be on the bubble at 12.
Complicating matters is the fact that there aren’t two or three quarterbacks good enough to drive top defensive talent to them.
Chances are Arvell Reese, another Buckeye, will be the first defender to go. Texas Tech’s David Bailey, the best Red Raider on the field in the Orange Bowl, won’t be far behind. Same with Miami’s Rueben Bain, who might have been the best player in college football, Fernando Mendoza notwithstanding. Good chance all three will be gone in the first half-dozen picks, depending on how many teams prefer offense.
Downs and Styles are also considered top-10 talents, but they might fall because of positional value. Nobody likes safeties or linebackers anymore. Certainly the Cowboys don’t. They’ve been light at linebacker for years. They thought they had something going with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch, and it was fun while it lasted, but you can’t call either a success story. As such, I really can’t blame the Cowboys for drafting so few true linebackers in the first or second round this century.
Micah Parsons was officially a linebacker, but he was primarily an edge rusher. Same with DeMarcus Ware and Randy Gregory.
The roll call of honest-to-goodness LBs they’ve taken in the first or second round this century consists of Kevin Burnett, Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Jaylon and LVE.
Not good.
But, let’s face it, they haven’t done a good job filling in at the position from other rounds and in free agency, either. DeMarvion Overshown, a third-round pick, has shown flashes, but the Cowboys need a walk-in starter. Styles – big, athletic and instinctive – has drawn comparisons to Fred Warner. If he’s anywhere close to that good, he’d solve the Cowboys’ problems at the position for the next 10 years.
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Unless, of course, they take Downs instead. He’s a little small for a safety, but he’s a big hitter and, like, Styles, has a nose for the football. He’d be the best Cowboys safety since Roy Williams in his prime. Maybe even since Darren Woodson.
BTW: Remember all the fuss about Bill Belichick getting denied his rightful Hall of Fame nod? The committee has two more years to fix this oversight before Woody gets lumped in and lost with the rest of the seniors.
Give me Styles or Downs, top talent that would be ready to go from Day 1. Unlike, say, Jermod McCoy, who might be a fine cornerback some day, but, for now, he’s coming off a significant injury. The Cowboys have been there, done that too often.
Before the Cowboys get to the draft, though, they need to shore up some of the vacancies on defense through free agency. Parker’s former team has some interesting candidates. Maybe Reed Blankenship, a pretty good safety.
Are you bringing any Eagles with you?
“We’ll see,” Parker said, smiling.
Looks like there might be a lot to like about this kid. I won’t hold his age against him if he won’t hold mine against me.
Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN
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