Once upon a time in a land not so far away, there were running backs and linebackers and defensive linemen and even kickers who won the NFL MVP Award. It does not happen often in this day and age. For 13 straight years, a quarterback has won the award. Only three times in this century have non-QB’s won it. Marshall Faulk in 2000, LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006, and Adrian Peterson in 2012. The league has become a quarterback league. Success or failure often depends on the health and effectiveness of one man.
That is true of the Dallas Cowboys this year. Through training camp, it became more and more obvious that if this team was going to get back to the playoffs, one man would be responsible. That man is not Dak Prescott. His name is Christian Parker. The Cowboys first year defensive coordinator is in that position for the first time in his career. At 34 years old, he is one of the youngest coordinators in the league and only one year older than Dak Prescott. Heck, he is three years younger than recently acquired Von Miller. Still, all reports indicate he is a calm, cool, convicted communicator.
Last year the Cowboys had the worst scoring defense in the NFL and, despite an elite-level offense, could manage no better than a 7-9-1 record. They did not make the playoffs because of the defense. So Jerry Jones and the rest of the Cowboys brain trust decided it was time to remake the defense. They started that process just before the season began by trading their best defensive player to Green Bay. To most of us, that did not make sense. And while it is still too early to decide if the Cowboys “won” that trade, it is clear that the defense is now a different animal.
When it comes to coaching searches, I have always been an advocate of finding the next great coach, not recycling the last great one. In Brian Schottenheimer, Christian Parker, and Clayton Adams, the Cowboys are following that path. Adams became a first-time offensive coordinator last year. All he did was help lead the Cowboys to #2 in the league in total offense. Granted, Schotty called the plays last year, but it was Adams who “coached ’em up” to borrow from coaching lingo.
Of course it is different for Parker. Schotty won’t be calling the defensive plays, so that responsibility falls to the new, first-time coordinator. Throughout the offseason and training camp, Parker was quick to remind that all great defensive coordinators were first-time defensive play callers at some point. Note that he said all “great” defensive coordinators. That is what he believes he will be, and so do many of his players.
With the season beginning this month, Parker is basking in praise from the players about how well he communicated directly with them during the game. Veteran linebacker Curtis Robinson, who spent five years on the vaunted 49ers defense, was the player with the green dot in one preseason game. He said afterward that Parker was very thoughtful during each play call. Providing context and offering reminders before each snap of the ball.
Caleb Downs, who was the Cowboys first round draft pick, has had high praise for Parker’s work ethic. According to Downs, Parker is relentless in his study and preparation. Downs said Christian is often at the Star late into the evening studying film to gain any advantage and noting every tendency an opponent may have. This allows the players to be in the proper position and to be prepared for what is coming. Add to that his aforementioned communicative abilities, confidence, and calm demeanor, and you have the makings of a guy who may be able to shoulder the load of Cowboys expectations.
No matter how well the season goes, Parker won’t be awarded the MVP, but could a Cowboys defender win it? Maybe Downs or Quinnen Williams. Okay, probably not; after all, no defensive player has won the award since Lawrence Taylor in 1986. Besides Downs, Williams, and Prescott, all of them would take a trip to the Super Bowl over MVP any day.
