The Dallas Cowboys' defense will look different in 2024 after Mike Zimmer replaced Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator. Now the head coach of the Washington Commanders, Quinn overhauled and transformed a Cowboys defense that was among the worst in the NFL when he was hired in 2020.
Quinn's defenses perennially ranked near the top of the league in sacks, pressures and takeaways. He also brought value back to the safety position, which was overlooked in Dallas for years prior to his arrival.
Under Quinn, veteran safety Malik Hooker revived his career. A first-round pick of the Colts in 2017, Hooker struggled to stay healthy before the Cowboys signed him as a free agent in 2020. Since then, he has missed two games in three seasons and has been the team's most consistent safety.
Hooker is undoubtedly grateful for Quinn, but he's noticed a stark difference between the two defensive gurus since Zimmer has arrived.
Appearing on the All Fact No Brakes podcast with former Cowboys wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, Hooker preached that Dallas will have more discipline under Zimmer.
Cowboys' Malik Hooker explains major difference between Mike Zimmer and Dan Quinn
"He and DQ, they're different," Hooker said. "He will give you a couple chances to mess up, but if you keep messing up and can't get it right, (he's) going to get somebody else in there. To where as DQ was more player-oriented. If something couldn't get done right or we keep messing up on something, he will try to level it down to make it easier for everybody to still go out there and do what they have to do, but it just wouldn't be what he was asking for in that moment."
While Quinn worked wonders with the Cowboys' defense over his three seasons as DC, there's a reason they always came up small against elite competition: A lack of discipline. Fans can blame players (rightly so), but if coaches aren't going to bench struggling players or instill a form of discipline, then the blame falls squarely on the coaches.
While Zimmer won't bench players for one mistake, he clearly has a low tolerance level and isn't scared to send players to the bench. That will be a refreshing change of page to how Quinn did things. As Hooker noted, the now-Commanders head coach would alter a scheme or package to get everyone on the same page because a few players kept messing up. The phrase "level it down" is perhaps the most alarming soundbite of Hooker's interview.
There's something to be said about Quinn acquiescing to his players' strengths, but glossing over weaknesses is equivalent to pushing the can down the road. It's really no wonder the defense struggled so much against physical teams late in the calendar. Meanwhile, Hooker said that Zimmer is "nothing less than demanding of what he wants on the field."
Cowboys fans are excited for Zimmer's week-to-week chess matches with opposing offensive coordinators and what he will do for the run defense. His biggest impact, however, may be the discipline he brings to the locker room.
There clearly wasn't enough of that during Quinn's time as DC.
