FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday that the team has not finalized where defensive coordinator Christian Parker will call games from, but that there is a good chance Parker stays on the field Sunday night at the Green Bay Packers with new senior defensive assistant Mike Pettine in the coaches’ booth.
Dallas hired Pettine on Monday after a 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped the Cowboys to 2-3. Schottenheimer said all defensive decisions will still run through Parker.
“Again, if that’s what we decide to do, I think there’s benefits to both. By adding Mike Pettine, we might not have to do that. Again, I think the biggest thing is, what gives us the best chance to communicate information and to solve problems? That’s what we do. We solve problems. And so as we work through this process, we don’t have to make that decision today. We’re working through all the different ways of, okay, what if we do this? What if we do that?” Schottenheimer said. “And again, we’re going to use the time to our favor to finalize that decision, but there’s a good chance that Christian Parker is on the field, and Pettine is up, and we’ll talk through those things as we go. And again, at the end of the day, we’re going to do what we think gives us the best chance to play well and win.”
Why No One Is Pointing Fingers At Christian Parker
Schottenheimer spent hours with Parker during last weekend’s review, along with Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones, going over all three phases. He said Parker remains in charge of the defense.
“Christian Parker is our defensive coordinator, and everything, all decisions will run through him. We’re supporting him. I support him. I believe so strongly in the guy. I do. I think the guy’s an incredible football coach. We have to coach better. We’ve got to play better,” Schottenheimer explained. “I think our players will be the first ones to say there’s things that they need to do better. There’s things I need to do better. And so no one is sitting here pointing the fingers at Christian Parker.”
“But as the head coach, you have to make decisions that you think helps you win games. And that’s in all three phases. And that’s not just adding a Mike Pettine. It’s some of the personnel adjustments that I know you guys are dying to know about that are being worked on behind the scenes and communicated to the players,” Schottenheimer continued.
The Same Coordinator Who Stood Up On Day One Of The Offseason
Parker has not changed since the first day of the offseason program, Schottenheimer said.
“He hasn’t changed one bit. He’s been the same guy that stood up in front of the defense the first day of the offseason program, first day of training camp. He hasn’t changed one bit, and this doesn’t change anything,” Schottenheimer said.
Coaching brings far more bad days than good ones, Schottenheimer said, and he sees fight and fortitude in the 34-year-old first-time coordinator.
“But what I love about Christian is you see the fight. You see the fortitude. You see the desire to get it fixed. You see the support of the players, the support of the organization, the coaches, everyone. I mean, we have no question we have the right guy,” Schottenheimer said. “And so just really respect and appreciate him even more for blocking out the noise and not getting caught up into it and just putting your head down and working. And why do I love that? Because that’s the way I am.”
A Sounding Board, Not A Replacement
Pettine is not there to take anything off Parker’s plate, Schottenheimer said. The two coached together in Green Bay, where Pettine gave Parker his first NFL job, and have kept talking football since.
“It’s not taking anything off of Christian Parker. It’s giving him another sounding board, someone else to bounce ideas off of. Again, this has never been about, hey, we’ve got to take this off of Christian Parker,” Schottenheimer said. “We had an opportunity to add a guy that not only is a very good football coach, but he’s also a trusted friend, advisor to Christian Parker in life and in football, and so why would you not take that advantage to do that?”
Pettine is grinding on film, sitting in coaching meetings, and getting caught up on the first five games, Schottenheimer said. His role will touch all three phases, and Schottenheimer wants him looking at drills, personnel usage, and communication.
“I want him to be himself, and I want him to be that sounding board that he’s going to be for Christian and the entire defensive staff under CP’s leadership. And I have no question in my mind that Pet will do a great job with all those tasks,” Schottenheimer said.
Brian Schottenheimer Welcomes A Meeting He Wasn’t Invited To
The defense’s players held a meeting on their own after Thursday’s loss. Schottenheimer said he loves it, and that the best teams he has been around are led by the locker room.
“My information that I’ve received from some of those guys that called that meeting, it was very productive. It was very open and honest, and the pride of that unit is strong. There’s some really, really prideful men in that room, and we’re going to get it fixed. I have no question about that,” Schottenheimer said. “But it doesn’t bother me at all. Means everyone’s rowing in the same direction trying to get this thing fixed.”
Kickoff at Lambeau Field is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 18, on NBC.
