The Dallas Cowboys' cursed 2024 season never seemed quite right from the start. Mike McCarthy was floundering in what could be his final season before getting the axe, so much so he entrusted control of the defense to Mike Zimmer after Dan Quinn left.
Zimmer, reflecting on what is likely going to be his sole season in his second sojourn to Dallas, seems to have regrets about how things were handled. If he had his way, per Jon Machota, Zimmer would not have let McCarthy keep everything as it was last year and try to make his presence felt more.
“I wish that when I came in that I would have done everything the way I wanted it done and not kind of tried to blend things. I think that was part of the struggles at the beginning,” Zimmer said. If we are to believe Zimmer, he could have Dallas performing better from the jump if he didn't spend too much time leaving McCarthy's system intact.
I've said it to some of the coaches, you come in and here was the situation: They were good last year, right?" Zimmer added. "So, I come in and I don’t want to really rock the boat. I probably wasn’t as tough as I typically am. Probably wasn’t as hard-headed about how I want to do things."
Mike Zimmer says he should have more control over Cowboys defense
Zimmer has had a very odd first season with the Cowboys. While he has been a downgrade to Dan Quinn, part of the reason for this sharp drop-off was the fact the two defenses are based in entirely different formations and principles. Players who could be great for Quinn may struggle under Zimmer, and vice versa.
Throw into that injuries at many key positions, a lack of development from former first-round pick Mazi Smith, and Dak Prescott going out for the year putting even more pressure on this defense to be perfect every single week, and you get a recipe for disaster, Zimmer's famously gruff demeanor and willingness to blame his players may have also played a role in Dallas' play this year.
If the Cowboys end up parting with McCarthy, it seems very likely that they will part with Zimmer also. It stinks to see someone who played an influential role in Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1990s and had a very solid career as both a coordinator and coach end his tenure in the NFL like this, but the Cowboys may be headed for such a situation.
Through all of this, Zimmer has not changed one iota. He is as stubborn as a mule when it comes to his defense and lording over any team he is on, and it seems like he is subtely hinting that a more hands-on approach earlier in the season could have had the Cowboys in a much better spot.