Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice and fantasy analyst Matt Harmon discuss why Mike Zimmer’s debut as Cowboys DC was such a success in Week 1 and what to expect from the Cowboys later this season. Hear the full conversation on “Football 301” – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Mike Zimmer is already a serious upgrade over, over Dan Quentin, I think, I mean, just from, yeah, it was awesome.
I think the way they played zone coverage in, uh, in week one was exactly kind of how you want to mug things up in, in the modern NFL.
The zone heavy background there with Dallas, they were fourth most in terms of zone coverage in week one.
I just think that’s exactly how you want to play things you want to force the quarterback to take low percentage throws and this particular quarterback makes the low percentage throws even lower.
So, uh, it was a great, I think game plan, I thought they, they truly held the point of attack in the run, which I thought was impressive and a departure from last year’s Dallas Cowboys.
So, uh I get it.
It’s, it’s the Cowboys, it’s September, talk to me in, you know, January the whole deal, understand that, but I actually feel pretty good about them now at this point, uh, especially after that defensive performance, you know, Dak is a good quarterback, cd Lamb’s a great wide receiver and there’s talent on this defense right away.
See third down, I saw the double mog looks which is when two linebackers are in the center and I was just like, oh, yeah, here we go, buddy.
Yeah, this is great offense brings another guy back into the backfield.
This case for the Browns is Njoku back into the backfield and then the Cowboys go, never mind.
We’re not doing it and they back the linebackers out off.
And what that does is it screws the offense because you’re wasting two guys.
I’m with you.
I’m feeling pretty good about where the Cowboys are.
I mean, just serious linebacker play brother.
That’s not, that’s not, yeah.
Over Sea.
That’s been, that’s not been a thing in Dallas the last couple of seasons.