Sources are hinting to CowboysRoundtable.com about how Jim Leonhard might be the "favorite'' coordinator candidate for Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer.
FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who I'm told is very much in charge of the team's search for a new defensive coordinator following the firing Matt Eberflus, offered up a blueprint.
And there is one candidate - who just this weekend engaged in his initial job interview with Dallas - who fits that blueprint very well.
The Cowboys on Friday interviewed their first two candidates, Vikings pass game coordinator Daronte Jones and Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda.
The purposes there can be threefold: 1) The Rooney Rule has been met. 2) Jones and Banda truly could be legit candidates. And 3) Jones and Banda, short of getting the top job, could instead land in Dallas as assistants.
How might that work? Jones' boss in Minnesota was coordinator Brian Flores. Banda's boss in Cleveland was coordinator Jim Schwartz. Dallas could (and should) have an attraction to Flores and to Schwartz (and other proven veteran coaches) ...
But if Flores were to come here? Now the Cowboys know Jones, who could come with him.
And if Schwartz were to come here? Now the Cowboys know Banda, who could come with him.
I'm told, however, that the Cowboys are maybe most excited about the idea of hiring Denver pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard. And when we match up what Schottheimer (and the Jones family) said he's looking for with Leonhard's resume?
You can see the idea unfolding right before your eyes.
Owner Jerry Jones said he likes employers who've come up the hard way; Leonard was a walk-on player at Wisconsin and an undrafted rookie in the NFL.
A source told me early this week that the Cowboys will seriously consider somebody who brings a "fresh look'' because he'd coached in college; Leonard, 43, was the Badgers defensive coordinator and later their interim head coach.
Leonhard has connective tissue with Schottenheimer, as Leonhard was a safety for the Jets from 2009-11, when Schottenheimer was the team’s offensive coordinator.
“Jim is a heck of a coach. You talk about a great football player, man,” Schottenheimer said. “Jim is an excellent coach and I think they had a heck of a year.”
Indeed, Leonard as helped the Broncos earn a bye as No. 1 seed in the AFC, at 14-3.
And then there is this: Listen to Schotty describe his ideal candidate ...
A teacher,'' he said. "Someone that's a great teacher, a great communicator… I'm full of energy, and love what I do. I think someone that is passionate about football."
And more ...
"The ability to take what's complicated information, what we ask our players to do in all three phases, is complicated. We want guys that can say complicated information in a simple manner. And if I say something to you that you don't understand, I need the ability to say it in a different way, because how you learn may be different ...''
And as it happens, how has Leonhard described his coaching style?
A video put together by 105.3 The Fan's Bobby Belt is a revelation...
In the clips, we see and hear Leonhard say, "Coaching is all teaching. ...
“The best teachers are efficient with their words. I put a lot of thought into making complex concepts as simple as possible. The more players have to think, the slower they play. Make it simple, efficient, and fun so guys can play fast.”
And more ...
Maybe you have to find a different way to reach all the guys. And I learned a lot about how to individually kind of hit guys and push the right buttons to get them to respond and be able to have success on Saturdays."
And more ...
"Football is a simple game complicated by coaches. We really can make this game a lot bigger than it is now. It is a very intricate game at the highest levels. There is a lot of detail. Do not get me wrong, but I think there is a lot of times where we try to make the game more complicated than it needs to be."
Put 'em side by side and it's almost as if Leonard has over the years filled out the Cowboys questionnaire before Schottenheimer even asked the question.
There is no such thing as a "perfect'' Cowboys defensive coordinator hire; the only thing that works is whatever works.
But the guy making the decision, Schottenheimer, has drawn an outline.
And with sources hinting to me about how Jim Leonhard might be the "favorite'' here? He seems to be stepping in to fill that outline.