Jimmy Johnson vs. Brian Schottenheimer's Staff? 'Let Him Breathe,' Urges Darren Woodson

It hasn't been the dream start to his Dallas Cowboys career that many were hoping for with young coordinator Christian Parker.

His defense hasn't been good through seven weeks, allowing 25.7 points per game (ranks 23rd), has allowed 145 rushing yards per game (ranks 31st), and opposing quarterbacks are looking like Pro Bowlers.

Yes, there have been little snippets of improvement, but for some, that isn't enough.

After Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee dog-walked the defense early on Monday night and then went on a 19-play, 84-yard touchdown drive to begin the third quarter, the defense then tightened up as Parker adjusted.

Still, despite the little improvements, some are completely out on Parker and want the Cowboys, after seven games, to make a change given how bad the defense has been.

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But for Cowboys legend Darren Woodson, speaking with our own Mike Fisher, when asked how much leeway Parker, in his first year as a coordinator, should get, "Woody" offered a detailed answer that included a Jimmy Johnson note.

"I still think it's still early," Woodson said. "I know people want changes, and here's the thing, we sell the Cowboys every offseason. 'Oh my God, they brought in a new defensive coordinator, different players; they're going to look totally different.' We sell it every year.

"If you really want to make change, it takes time, just ask Jimmy [Johnson]. Their first year, they went 1-15. It took Jimmy, he came in in '89, '92 I came in, and it was nearly the finished product. It took him that many years to build the identity of who they wanted to be.

"We need to give this team, that time.

"This team has always been focused on offense, offense, offense, this is who we've [the Cowboys] been forever. Finally, in this offseason, there's a little bit of a focus on the defensive side of the ball, and everybody wants results right now. It doesn't work that way.

"Give him [Parker] a moment, let him breathe, let him get through this, and I think they just don't have the personnel right now to do what they want to do."

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The same, of course, can be said for head coach Brian Schottenheimer and his entire staff.

The big question is, though, with an aging Dak Prescott and this offense, do the Cowboys have that sort of time to go through the growing pains as they did with Jimmy?

George Pickens might not be there next season; maybe Joey Porter Jr. won't either. There is so much that can happen in an offseason that Dallas might not have the time to wait for Parker to get this thing right.

But I defer to Woodson. He's been through it. He's lived it, and when it comes to football, especially when it comes to talking about defense, he's one of the best.

And if he thinks Parker (and maybe Schottenheimer, too) needs time, then that's good enough for me.

But whether his thoughtful answer is enough to pacify the rest of Cowboys Nation is another thing entirely.