http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=09AE059A-BEA0-5DD4-8D325E1BB8359616
IRVING, Texas - While the Cowboys await Bill Parcells' decision on his head-coaching future, it appears they also will be looking for a new defensive coordinator.
Citing an Atlanta Falcons team official, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported the Falcons are finalizing details with Mike Zimmer to become their new defensive coordinator, and it appears Zimmer will accept a reported two-year deal after holding the same title in Dallas for the last seven seasons.
Zimmer joined the Cowboys' defensive coaching staff in 1994 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2000. In seven of his 13 years with the club, the Cowboys ranked in the top 10 in total defense and pass defense.
"He's been a mainstay here with the Dallas Cowboys," inside linebacker Bradie James said. "He will be missed. He's a coach that has experience in the 3-4 and the 4-3, so that's pretty valuable for any coach to have."
Zimmer's contract with the Cowboys is set to expire in a couple of weeks, and new Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino had asked the Cowboys for permission to interview Zimmer about Atlanta's vacant defensive coordinator position. Zimmer was seen here at Valley Ranch on Tuesday speaking at length with Parcells.
Atlanta finished 22nd in total defense this season and allowed a fourth-worst 229.3 passing yards per game under Ed Donatell.
With Zimmer apparently headed out of Dallas, the Cowboys might try to fill his position from within. Secondary coach Todd Bowles, who joined the staff in 2005, is a possibility. Their other defensive assistants are linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni, defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, safeties coach Mike MacIntyre and inside linebackers coach Vincent Brown. Pasqualoni has extensive experience coaching on defense.
Zimmer, 50, and Petrino coached together at Weber State from 1987-88. Petrino was the offensive coordinator and Zimmer served as defensive coordinator and oversaw the secondary.
Petrino ran a 4-3 defense at Louisville and is expected to use the same scheme in Atlanta. Zimmer coached the 4-3 in Dallas for 11 seasons before Parcells switched to his preferred 3-4 alignment in 2005.
Parcells often praised Zimmer for his diligence in learning the 3-4, which requires larger players and different responsibilities among the front seven.
"We both developed into this defense together," said James, who emerged as a starter at inside linebacker two years ago. "He was way more advanced than I was. And so I learned a lot of this defense from him."
The Cowboys made a successful transition to the 3-4 in 2005 and ranked fourth in total defense 11 games into this past season. But the defense allowed 132 points and 16 touchdown passes in the final five games, plummeting to 13th.
The Cowboys used more four-man fronts in their New Year's Eve regular-season finale against Detroit in an attempt to generate more pass rush from their standard defense. They reverted to their base 3-4 in last Saturday's playoff loss to Seattle, save just a couple of plays.
Zimmer has been a candidate for head-coaching positions the last two off-seasons. He turned down the University of Nebraska in 2003, and last year he interviewed with the St. Louis Rams, who eventually hired Scott Linehan.
hopefully dallas can pick up a better coordinator cause at the end of the year teams were tearin dallas a new asshole. Henry has got to go so does glenn and we need to pick up a safety
IRVING, Texas - While the Cowboys await Bill Parcells' decision on his head-coaching future, it appears they also will be looking for a new defensive coordinator.
Citing an Atlanta Falcons team official, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported the Falcons are finalizing details with Mike Zimmer to become their new defensive coordinator, and it appears Zimmer will accept a reported two-year deal after holding the same title in Dallas for the last seven seasons.
Zimmer joined the Cowboys' defensive coaching staff in 1994 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2000. In seven of his 13 years with the club, the Cowboys ranked in the top 10 in total defense and pass defense.
"He's been a mainstay here with the Dallas Cowboys," inside linebacker Bradie James said. "He will be missed. He's a coach that has experience in the 3-4 and the 4-3, so that's pretty valuable for any coach to have."
Zimmer's contract with the Cowboys is set to expire in a couple of weeks, and new Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino had asked the Cowboys for permission to interview Zimmer about Atlanta's vacant defensive coordinator position. Zimmer was seen here at Valley Ranch on Tuesday speaking at length with Parcells.
Atlanta finished 22nd in total defense this season and allowed a fourth-worst 229.3 passing yards per game under Ed Donatell.
With Zimmer apparently headed out of Dallas, the Cowboys might try to fill his position from within. Secondary coach Todd Bowles, who joined the staff in 2005, is a possibility. Their other defensive assistants are linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni, defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, safeties coach Mike MacIntyre and inside linebackers coach Vincent Brown. Pasqualoni has extensive experience coaching on defense.
Zimmer, 50, and Petrino coached together at Weber State from 1987-88. Petrino was the offensive coordinator and Zimmer served as defensive coordinator and oversaw the secondary.
Petrino ran a 4-3 defense at Louisville and is expected to use the same scheme in Atlanta. Zimmer coached the 4-3 in Dallas for 11 seasons before Parcells switched to his preferred 3-4 alignment in 2005.
Parcells often praised Zimmer for his diligence in learning the 3-4, which requires larger players and different responsibilities among the front seven.
"We both developed into this defense together," said James, who emerged as a starter at inside linebacker two years ago. "He was way more advanced than I was. And so I learned a lot of this defense from him."
The Cowboys made a successful transition to the 3-4 in 2005 and ranked fourth in total defense 11 games into this past season. But the defense allowed 132 points and 16 touchdown passes in the final five games, plummeting to 13th.
The Cowboys used more four-man fronts in their New Year's Eve regular-season finale against Detroit in an attempt to generate more pass rush from their standard defense. They reverted to their base 3-4 in last Saturday's playoff loss to Seattle, save just a couple of plays.
Zimmer has been a candidate for head-coaching positions the last two off-seasons. He turned down the University of Nebraska in 2003, and last year he interviewed with the St. Louis Rams, who eventually hired Scott Linehan.
hopefully dallas can pick up a better coordinator cause at the end of the year teams were tearin dallas a new asshole. Henry has got to go so does glenn and we need to pick up a safety
