Cowboys defensive players had a strong affinity for Dan Quinn, who recently departed from his role as the team’s defensive coordinator to become the head coach for Washington. While they may not have the same affection for Mike Zimmer, there’s a possibility that the defense could improve under his guidance.

Safety Malik Hooker seems to believe this is feasible.

“The biggest difference will be the discipline we are going to have this year,” Hooker stated on Keyshawn Johnson’s All Facts, No Brakes podcast, via Ivan Lambert of USA Today.

Quinn served as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for three seasons, during which the team ranked fourth, ninth, and sixth in yards allowed and 19th, 12th, and fifth in points allowed. He was named assistant coach of the year in 2021 after revitalizing a defense that had been the worst in team history in 2020.

“I love DQ,” Hooker expressed. “We still talk to this day. He’s a big reason why I am still in Dallas. There’s a certain way you have to coach certain guys. Because of how player-oriented DQ was, guys related to him, and he didn’t have to coach the way Zim does now.

“Mike Zimmer will give you a few chances to mess up. If you keep messing up and can’t get it right, he’s going to get someone else in there. Dan Quinn, on the other hand, was more player-oriented. If something wasn’t going right or we kept messing up, he’d simplify things to make it easier for everyone to perform.”

As the Cowboys’ coaching staff enters the 2024 season on one-year contracts, they will face significant pressure. With limited activity in free agency, owner Jerry Jones is expecting the team to achieve more with less.