And just like, that the Cowboys season has come to an end. After being upset 48-32 to the No. 7 seeded Packers on Sunday, Dallas now must assess the future of their coaching staff. While head coach Mike McCarthy draws the bulk of the attention in this matter, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is every bit on the block as McCarthy. And that’s regardless of whether or not he is hired away as a head coach elswhere.
After starting the season red hot, Quinn’s defense cooled as the season progressed. The Cowboys defense ranked 20th in EPA/play over the last four weeks of the season. Over that same period, they ranked 28th in success rate against, with 47.7% of plays against them being successful.
Dan Quinn has coached 55 games as the Cowboys' DC.
6 of his worst 7 games by EPA per drive came this season.
5 of his worst 7 games by EPA per drive have come in the last 2.5 months.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 16, 2024
In the postseason things only got worse, with the Cowboys yielding a historic performance to a first-year starting QB. For as poorly as the Dallas offense played, Love’s 1.13 EPA/play against the Cowboys defense is the most by a playoff QB in the last 24 years.
Highest EPA per play in the playoffs since 2000 (min 20 dropbacks)
1) 2023 Jordan Love vs DAL: +1.13
2) 2003 Peyton Manning vs DEN: +1.09
3) 2005 Ben Roethlisberger vs CIN: +1.00
4) 2007 Philip Rivers vs IND: +0.96
5) 2003 Peyton Manning vs KC: +0.90— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) January 15, 2024
Mental mistakes and discipline were season-long issues on defense. When good times came, good times rolled. But all too often bad plays happened in bunches and disaster befell the Cowboys in avalanche form. A change is likely needed and with Quinn reportedly interviewing for positions elsewhere, change is likely.
But what if the Cowboys stay the course with McCarthy? What if they want to buy time for one more year and resist big moves which require long-term commitments?
Then promoting from within may be Dallas’ preferred course of action in 2024