The Dallas Cowboys face a comparatively unfamiliar opponent of their season opener this Sunday, the Cleveland Browns of the AFC North. Though these cross-conference groups don't see one another fairly often, the Browns' predominant man has loads of historical past with the Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy. Cleveland's defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, tangled with Dallas and McCarthy throughout his previous stints with the Eagles and Lions.
Schwartz was the Eagles' defensive coordinator from 2016-2020, together with their Tremendous Bowl season in 2017. He's had a really constructive impression on them general, taking one of many league's worst defenses and making them adequate to proceed to compete in each the NFC East. And all through the conference.
Matchups in opposition to Philadelphia have at all times been the most important for Cowboys QB Dak Prescott throughout his run, and people video games in his first 5 seasons included Schwartz's protection. Whereas coordinators change over time, particularly by transferring to a different workforce, Schwartz has been round for a very long time and goes to alter much more. You’ll be able to wager these years in opposition to the Eagles will profit Prescott and longtime backup and recreation prep aide Cooper Rush as Schwartz throws at them this week. There also needs to be confidence in the truth that they went 6-4 in opposition to the Eagles throughout that point.
Earlier than Schwartz got here to Philadelphia, he served as the pinnacle coach of the Detroit Lions for 5 years from 2009-2013. This coincided with Mike McCarthy's longest tenure as Inexperienced Bay Packers coach. As they did with most NFC North groups throughout these years, McCarthy's Packers dominated Detroit with an 8-2 report whereas Schwartz was the pinnacle coach.
Granted, Schwartz wasn't the Lions DC again then, however he had appreciable affect on that facet of the ball. To be honest, Detroit was a really mismanaged workforce, and that's all any coach can do. Additionally, McCarthy had one of many NFL's all-time dishonest codes in QB Aaron Rodgers on the peak of his profession. We're now greater than a decade faraway from these video games, and each coaches have two completely different groups, so historical past applies now. Nevertheless, it's protected to say that McCarthy has loads of follow in opposition to Schwartz and can have a lot to share with Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
This familiarity undoubtedly goes each methods. Schwartz schemed in opposition to QB Dak Prescott a number of occasions and had success in opposition to him. A few of Prescott's lowest-rated performances in these first 4 years got here in opposition to the Eagles, so Schwartz is aware of trick him. Prescott is now an older and wiser passer, and whereas he not runs Scott Linehan's offense, we've additionally famous traits that haven't left him since coming into the NFL.
That is the fifth assembly between Dallas and Cleveland since 2000, so lots modifications between every recreation. The Browns are a totally completely different workforce now than we noticed in 2020, however Jim Schwartz provides the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy at the very least one recognized factor. We'll quickly learn how that data advantages one facet or the opposite.