Brian Schottenheimer turns to a familiar face in an attempt to improve his struggling defense. On Monday, Schottenheimer announced the hiring of Mike Pettine as the Cowboys’ new senior defensive assistant. It was one of the upcoming changes Schottenheimer was hinting at amid the Cowboys’ 2-3 start to the season.
Pettine, 60, worked alongside Schottenheimer when they were both coordinators under Rex Ryan with the New York Jets. In 2009 and 2010, Pettine’s defense helped the Jets get closer to a Super Bowl appearance. During these playoffs, Pettine’s defense defeated attacks led by quarterbacks such as Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
Pettine also has experience working with Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Pettine actually gave Parker his first NFL job in 2019, as Pettine entered his second season as the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. (On a related note, the Cowboys will face the Packers this weekend at Lambeau Field.)
“He will be here in a role to support everything that CP leads and guides,” Schottenheimer said of the hire.
Pettine’s NFL experience also includes two years as head coach of the Cleveland Browns during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He most recently served as the Minnesota Vikings’ assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach.
Schottenheimer said the idea of a lead defensive assistant was initially brought up when Parker was named defensive coordinator. They had two potential coaches in mind to fill that role, but decided not to immediately fill the position when those situations dissolved.
That position will now be filled by Pettine, a former high school head coach who broke into the NFL in 2002 with the Baltimore Ravens. Pettine has coached and worked alongside many notable NFL defensive players, including Hall of Famers Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Darrelle Revis.
“I think about Pett’s experience, not only in football, but in this system and what we do,” Schottheimer said. “His understanding of the 3-4 family. He has the knowledge of some of our players: Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary. He was the coordinator when CP was there. So, I think he’s just a good fit and just a guy that definitely brings a lot of experience to the staff, including myself.”
How will this decision impact the Cowboys defense?
The addition of Pettine obviously can’t hurt what has been statistically one of the worst defensive units in the NFL through the first five weeks of the season. The unit is 26th in the NFL in points allowed, 25th in passing touchdowns allowed, 29th in yards per carry average allowed, 32nd in third down efficiency and 25th in red zone efficiency. Dallas’ defense has allowed at least 20 points in each of its first five games and has allowed at least 30 points twice.
It’s safe to say that Dallas’ 24-16 loss to Tampa Bay last Thursday night forced Schottenheimer to fill his senior defensive assistant position. The Cowboys defense struggled against an undrafted rookie (Jalon Daniels) who was making his second career start and first road start. They also allowed running back Bucky Irving to run for a career-high 165 yards.
Cowboys fans should view this move favorably, as it shows Schottenheimer’s desire to improve his defense. In Pettine, Parker will now have a confident face moving forward. Parker can bounce ideas off him and Pettine can offer suggestions and ideas whenever he sees fit.
Coaching staff aside, there’s another reason why Cowboys fans should feel a little better about the defense’s future: Joey Porter Jr., who likely would have been the difference maker against Tampa Bay. Porter, however, was unable to play after experiencing symptoms of illness before kickoff.
Porter practiced Monday ahead of Sunday night’s big game against the Packers, who are coming off their most impressive win of the season, a 31-7 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Another potential bright spot was the players-only meeting held earlier in the day. Afterward, players said the unit’s problems so far were on them, not Parker and the rest of the coaching staff.
“It really wasn’t like a fire drill conversation,” DeMarvion Overshown said of the meeting. “It was more like what can I do to help you? What do I expect from you during the Sunday or even Monday walkthroughs?
“We have to talk to each other like that because the ship will only go as far as the weakest person on the boat. So as long as we’re all in this together, I think we’re going to be great. I know we’re going to be great.”
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