The Dallas Cowboys have fired offensive coordinator Scott Linehan after his five year stint with the team.
His offense ranked 22nd in scoring and yards, averaging just 21.2 points per game, while having the leading rusher in the NFL, Ezekiel Elliott, going for over 1400 yards rushing, and over 2000 yards total for the season. At times, the offense stalled during important drives, struggling to move the ball consistently and to convert 1st downs. They were trailing teams such as Chicago, the New York Giants, and even San Francisco… who lost Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerrick McKinnon early in the season to ACL injuries.
Earlier in the week, reports came out that the Cowboys had talked to a “prominent offensive assistant,” but was never identified by name in those reports. The team is definitely in the hunt for a new offensive mind at the position, but who will they be chasing?
Maybe they don’t have to chase very far because last season they hired Doug Nussmeier as their tight end coach. A former NFL quarterback, he previously worked at the University of Florida and Michigan as an offensive coordinator at both schools. He has experienced young quarterbacks learning new systems, as well as developing them in reading defenses, which would benefit Dak Prescott the most at this stage at his career.
Although Nussmeier would be a logical name to replace Linehan as the OC, the Cowboys have yet to commit themselves to any one coach yet. Perhaps the coach they are chasing is still in the playoffs on one of the final four teams’ staff.
Featured photo: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
