There is a lot to like about the Dallas Cowboys' search for a new defensive coordinator. Thanks to Brian Schottenheimer, the team has cast a wide net that has zeroed in on fast-rising assistants who hail from elite coaching trees.
Having said that, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if Dallas hired someone with previous experience as a DC and a head coaching background.
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, for example, would be an excellent hire. Under Schwartz, the Browns have finished top five in yards allowed in two of the last three seasons, and he brings 22 years of NFL coaching experience to the table.
Unfortunately, it's looking unlikely that Schwartz will leave Cleveland, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com has reported that he has received a second interview with the Browns for their head coaching vacancy.
Cowboys can all but rule out Jim Schwartz in their DC search
This all but deems Schwartz a finalist for the job, but hope isn't lost just yet.
The Cowboys have an exciting list of candidates. The search isn't Schwartz or bust. And Schwartz is far from the Browns' only candidate. They, too, are casting a wide net after firing Kevin Stefanski.
Cleveland has announced that it will interview Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. The team has already interviewed Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and Bengals OC Dan Pitcher.
As of this writing, Monken is the only candidate other than Schwartz who will receive a second interview. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has reported that Monken is expected to join the Giants as John Harbaugh's offensive coordinator.
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The coaching carousel should start moving quickly now that the Harbaugh domino has fallen. It's already been reported that Stefanski, a candidate for the Giants gig, is the favorite to replace Raheem Morris in Atlanta.
Harbaugh was officially announced as the Giants’ new head coach on Saturday. He’s expected to move quickly to finalize his staff, so the Browns should soon know whether Monken will join him in East Rutherford.
Likewise, the Cowboys shouldn’t have to wait long to learn if Schwartz lands the job in Cleveland.
While missing out on Schwartz wouldn't be the end of the world, he's one of the more qualified candidates available. The pressure would ramp up considerably on Dallas' decision-makers if he's taken off the market.