Cowboys set to interview three more candidates for defensive coordinator opening

The Dallas Cowboys had the worst defense in franchise history this season, allowing a league high 30.1 points per game. That doesn’t mean they want a complete coaching overhaul on that side of the ball, however.

The Cowboys were scheduled to interview defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton over Zoom on Monday, a person familiar with the team’s thinking told The Dallas Morning News.

The Cowboys are also slated to interview former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, as well as Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, on Tuesday, two people familiar with the team’s thinking told The News.

The Cowboys have or are slated to speak with six defensive coordinator candidates after firing Matt Eberflus, who lasted one season in his return to Dallas.

Cowboys

The Cowboys have already completed interviews with Ravens defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones, Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, and Broncos passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard.

The Cowboys also requested to interview Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich but were denied by the Falcons. Ulbrich is still under contract in Atlanta despite the team firing head coach Raheem Morris. Teams are allowed to block interview requests for positions that would be considered a lateral move.

If Monday’s interview wasn’t evident, the Cowboys internally think highly of Whitecotton. This past season was his first with the Cowboys. Dallas finished with 34 sacks, which ranked 25th in the NFL. Of course, trading away star pass rusher Micah Parsons a week before the season began didn’t help that production.

The Cowboys’ run defense wasn’t much better this season, finishing 23rd in the league in rushing yards allowed per game.

The Cowboys also has a brief trial run with an expanded role for Whitecotton. The Cowboys moved Eberflus from the sideline to the press box for the final three games of the season. During that time, Whitecotton was used as the main coaching voice on the sideline for players.

Despite this season’s struggles there is optimism for next season when it comes to the Dallas defensive line. Players, as well as Brian Schottenheimer, talked after the season about how productive a full offseason of having Osa Odighizuwa, Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams together could be for next year. Retaining continuity with their position coach, whether it’s in the same role or as the team’s defensive coordinator, could help with that.

Whitecotton could also be a candidate to return to Dallas under the team’s next defensive coordinator if they go in a different direction.

Gannon, history tells us, is also an intriguing option for the Cowboys. The last five defensive coordinators in Dallas were all former head coaches before the Cowboys hired them to run their defense: Rod Marinelli, Mike Nolan, Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer and Eberflus.

Gannon spent three seasons as the head coach of the Cardinals, going 15-36 in that span. Prior to that he was the defensive coordinator for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gannon has experience in the division and he has experience with a prominent member on the Cowboys’ coaching staff. Dallas offensive coordinator Klayton Adams coached under Gannon in Arizona before the Cowboys hired Adams last season. Adams could surely be an advocate for Gannon in the hiring process.

Orr, 33, has local ties. He played at DeSoto and at North Texas before he spent two seasons playing linebacker with the Ravens. Outside of one season in Jacksonville, Orr has spent his entire coaching career with the Ravens, working all the way up to defensive coordinator, where he’s been coaching the last two seasons. The Ravens fired longtime head coach John Harbaugh after this season’s conclusion.

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