The biggest storyline of January for the Dallas Cowboys was their search for a defensive coordinator, which eventually landed on taking Christian Parker from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Reviews over the past six months have been positive, but there obviously are questions to answer when the real football begins in two months. ESPN has one for him: Can this defense improve to mediocrity?
One of the players tasked with helping him answer that is going through a position change, but a welcome one. And fans who want a Caleb Downs jersey don’t have to wait any more.
Here is what Dallas is up to.
Christian Parker Cowboys defensive coordinator
New Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker may be the biggest defensive acquisition of the offseason filled with remaking the Cowboys Achilles heel.
ESPN’s Ben Solak put together a list of questions for new coordinators to answer this coming season and his one for Parker was, “Can this be an average defense by the playoffs?”
Solak begins with, “The quick answer: Yes.
”The talent is good enough. While the Cowboys sorely miss Micah Parsons’ elite presence, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has been a similar disruptor at his best, and the depth behind him − edges Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence, along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark − is solid. A pass rush can do wonders to protect a poor back seven, and Dallas’ talent clears the bar.”
Solak then runs through that talent for a bit, then concludes: “It might not happen right away − but it doesn’t need to. The Cowboys can win 10 games on the back of their offense, which might be enough to win the NFC East. Even with a wild-card berth, Dallas will be live in the NFC playoffs so long as the defense rounds into form across November and December.”
Sam Williams Cowboys
By contrast, one of the quieter moves of the offseason was resigning free agent defensive lineman Sam Williams, who had finished his rookie contract after being a second-round draft pick in 2022.
Dallas signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million.
Now he’s revealed he’s changing positions, as he’s going from a defensive end in last year’s 4-3 scheme to an outside linebacker in the new 3-4 scheme of defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
“I’m going to be an outside linebacker,” Williams told DallasCowboys.com. “I can use my speed and my strength more. I can just be me. This is what I did at Ole Miss. I’m very happy.”
He also had praise for his new boss, Parker.
“He ain’t coming to play around,” Williams said in the interview with DallasCowboys.com. “He’s straightforward with what he wants. He didn’t ask any questions. He just told us how he wants it, and that’s the way it’s going to be.”
Caleb Downs jersey
Dallas Cowboys top draft pick Caleb Downs has evidently settled on No. 13, at least that’s what the Pro Shop is going with. His No. 13 jersey, for $150, now ships within one business day.
There had been quite a bit of speculation of what number he would settle on. He wore 18 in rookie minicamp before switching to No. 13. He wore No. 2 at Ohio State, which is currently taken by Cobie Durant, and any talk of Downs making some kind of deal with Durant to take it has passed.
So fans can now purchase the No. 13 Downs jersey from the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop.
Dallas Cowboys merch
Dallas official pro shop, the home of a large assortment of merchandise, is here.
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl wins
The Cowboys won Super Bowls in 1971 (VI), 1977 (XII), 1992 (XXVII), 1993 (XXVIII) and 1995 (XXX).
Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue
Not to be confused with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue became the NFL’s first and only co-ed hip-hop dance team and drumline when it was introduced in 2009.
They do drum cadences and breakdancing routines after every Cowboys score.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Dallas Cowboys news. What question is being posed to Christian Parker?
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
