Blogging The Boys
What is the biggest question on the Cowboys roster as they prepare to head to Oxnard?
How will Christian Parker perform in first season as defensive coordinator?
The early reviews for Parker have been very promising and show that he no doubt has the dedication necessary to turn things around in Dallas.
Based on what we have heard from players and coaches and what we’ve seen at spring practices, Parker is clearly a hard worker and is hands on with his players, something the Cowboys’ defenders appreciate.
“I feel like that’s when you learn fully what the coach means,” Caleb Downs said. “To be able to get hands on and be able to do the drill with you, I feel like that’s a real positive.”
“I can’t get the guy to leave the building,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said of Parker. “I kind of see myself as a grinder… I’m always out before he is and I’m like, ‘Dude.’ He just loves it, man.
Parker is also very popular with his players, as Schottenheimer noted when he told reporters that Parker “literally has a line of guys” waiting outside his office to talk to him on a daily basis. That’s important to note because it means guys are willing to go the extra mile for their coach and that will only help Dallas’ defense improve.
While these are all great signs that the Cowboys have the right man for the job, none of them guarantee Parker will be a successful defensive coordinator, especially in Year 1.
After all, we’ve seen promising coaches fail at a bigger role time and time again over the years. At the very least, first-time play-callers like Parker can struggle as they adjust to the new job.
The good news is, Parker has learned from some of the best in the business during his coaching career and few first-year coaches are better prepared than he will be.
Jaishawn Barham will play a much bigger role than expected in year one.
The Cowboys picked Barham in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the pick they acquired in the Osa Odighizuwa trade via the San Francisco 49ers. His role going into the preseason is expected to be linebacker, but the line is a little blurry.
Throughout the draft process, many listed Barham as an edge rusher. Reasonably so, as that’s where he played his last year in Michigan. However, the Cowboys immediately made it clear they view him as an inside linebacker first, which is where he started his collegiate career. His versatility should earn him a role on Christian Parker’s defense right...
