The Cowboys have already cast a wide net in their defensive coordinator search, and they might not be done.
One pleasant surprise in the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator search is that head coach Brian Schottenheimer is doing exactly what he said he would.
Casting a wide net.
We have seen the Cowboys in previous years, talk to three or four coaches for interviews, then hire based on that.
No wide net.
But that's changed under Schottenheimer, with nine candidates being interviewed or will be interviewed by Dallas.
And as it turns out, that might not be it.
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, in a chat with Tommy Yarrish of dallascowboys.com, hinted that the franchise could add to that list. ... and he added something else important.
"I think we're in the initial run," Jones said. "We're going to cast a wide net, whether it's half a dozen, ten, 12 coaches when it's all said and done. I don't know what that number will be, but then we'll narrow it down.
"We're already starting to narrow it down and we'll start to bring guys in for in-person interviews, some of the guys that we felt were the guys that would fit."
Who is the right candidate for the Cowboys is a question that could spark a furious social media debate.
But the one thing we do know is that Dallas, who has candidates it likes, isn't hellbent on making that person coordinator.
Others are being talked to. Just like our own Mike Fisher has been preaching for years.
Having as many candidates as you can walk through the doors. Get as much information as you can from them.
More is certainly better in this instance.
Schottenheimer does, in fact, have "two hands on the wheel" in this coordinator search as a source told Fish, and that is refreshing to see.
Of course, Jerry will get the final say, as he always does.
Moving toward second interviews is news.
But ...
Brian Flores and Jim Schwartz are two candidates we personally would like Dallas to interview, even if there are limited odds at landing them.
Both want head coaching roles, but Flores has interviewed for Washington's defensive coordinator role, so he should interview for the Cowboys job, too.
Cowboys Nation has been pleased with how the franchise has conducted this initial search for its next coordinator. Why? Because Schotty is casting that net wide.
Granted, it is only a small change, and the fact we are lauding the franchise for doing something every other team has done for years is a bit embarrassing, but change has come.
And the hope is that due to this change, the right candidate is chosen to fix this awful defense.