Dan Quinn and the Dallas Cowboys defense have highlighted the 2021 season. Dallas has had one of the top offenses in the NFL from the start of the season. Yet, the defense has been a surprise, emerging as one of the better units in football. Dan Quinn has redeemed himself after a poor finish to his tenure for the Atlanta Falcons by turning around a historically bad Cowboys defense.
The Dallas Cowboys Defense has been Great Under Dan Quinn in 2021
Historically Bad Defense for Dallas in 2020
Last season Dallas had one of the worst defenses in NFL history. Dallas finished 31st out of 32 rush defenses and allowed the most point amongst NFL teams last season giving up 473 points. The Cowboys also gave up the second-most rush yards in franchise history at 2,541 yards. This poor defense was a contributing factor in the Cowboys losing season, finishing 6-10 and missing the playoffs.
After this historically bad season, Dallas went out and hired Dan Quinn as the defensive coordinator. Quinn immediately installed great defensive schemes and a mentality that turned the defense around. While the season was still young, Dallas released the struggling Jaylon Smith. Dallas subsequently promoted Micah Parsons to playing the entire field rather than his pigeon-holed role while Smith was on the field.
Parsons has been great in his rookie season. The rookie from Penn State University is the leading candidate for rookie defensive player of the year and a top candidate for the NFL’s defensive player of the year. Parsons has registered 13 sacks on the year and has led this much improved Dallas defense.
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Trevon Diggs is another bright spot for this defense. Diggs has solidified himself as one of the best defensive backs in the NFL under Dan Quinn. The star cornerback has 11 interceptions in 16 games this season, tying a franchise record held by Everson Walls. The second-year ballhawk has helped Dallas to clinch the NFC East behind one the most opportunistic defenses in the NFL ranking among the leaders in turnovers.
The #DallasCowboys defense is one of a kind, literally. #NFL pic.twitter.com/Xo1au0DU47
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 29, 2021
Dan Quinn Declines Interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently fired head coach Urban Meyer after a disappointing season. The entire team in Jacksonville struggled from the start of the season. Trevor Lawrence was a huge disappointment posting pedestrian numbers. Laviska Shenault is another player expected to play great this season. Both young players struggled to find a foothold this year under first-year coach Meyer.
After Jacksonville fired Meyer, the Jaguars have requested to start the interview process to hire their next head coach. Two names from Dallas are offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Jaguars request interviews with five coordinators — Byron Leftwich, Todd Bowles, Kellen Moore, Dan Quinn, Matt Eberflus — for head-coaching positionhttps://t.co/oSef3BAunq pic.twitter.com/3boQOf24Yz
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) December 28, 2021
Kellen Moore is a great, young offensive mind from Boise State University. It is only a matter of time before Moore lands his first head coaching gig. Dan Quinn declined this chance to become a head coach after being let go in Atlanta. Quinn has proved himself by turning this terrible defense into a unit that can win games and clearly wants to finish building what he has started in Dallas.
Dallas is a Complete Team
Dan Quinn and the defense complete Dallas and solidify the Cowboys as a legit Super Bowl contender. Winning in the playoffs without playing good defense is incredibly difficult. Dallas finally has the ability to play on both sides of the ball. With Parsons and Diggs, opposing passing quarterbacks will struggle to push the ball vertically. With Quinn’s defensive schemes, the Cowboys control the run and turn the ball back to the explosive offense. Quinn’s great coaching might land him another head coaching job sooner rather than later. If Dallas wants to make playoff runs for multiple seasons, Jerry Jones will have to find a way to keep Quinn around.
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