The Dallas Cowboys have made a strategic move this offseason, bringing on board linebacker Eric Kendricks. This acquisition isn’t just about bolstering their defense—it’s also a reunion that Kendricks is particularly excited about. He’s teaming up again with Mike Zimmer, the newly appointed Cowboys’ defensive coordinator and his former coach at the Minnesota Vikings.
Erick Kendricks and Mike Zimmer Proven Partnership
Eric Kendricks’s relationship with Mike Zimmer goes back to their days with the Vikings. Zimmer, who led the Vikings from 2014 to 2021, was a significant influence on Kendricks during his formative years in the NFL. “Yeah, absolutely, I always appreciated Zim,” Kendricks remarked in a recent interview with Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News.
He added, “Just the amount of defense I learned when I was underneath him. The way I watch the film, the way we break things down, the install, a lot of things I learned from Zim and we had some good years and I can’t wait to continue that.”
Despite a somewhat turbulent end to Zimmer’s tenure with the Vikings, where Kendricks noted the use of a “fear-based” coaching technique, the linebacker looks back at those challenges as learning experiences. Now, all past disagreements seem to be resolved.
Emotions were high,” Kendricks explained about his earlier comments, affirming his excitement about their reunion. “It’s good to be back with him. I love his walkthroughs. I love the little ways he does things, the way he structures things, and the level of detail, so I’m excited. I am.”
Stellar Career with Promising Continuation
Kendricks’s NFL journey has been marked by consistent excellence. Drafted from UCLA in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by Minnesota, he quickly established himself as a defensive powerhouse. The linebacker achieved over 100 tackles in seven consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2022, a testament to his reliability and skill on the field.
His standout year came in 2019 when he made the Pro Bowl and was named a First-Team All-Pro after a season that included 110 tackles, numerous turnovers, and defensive stops.
After an eight-year stint with the Vikings and a season with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he finished with 117 tackles and several sacks, Kendricks is now poised to contribute to a Cowboys defense that is already considered one of the league’s elite units.
Eric Kendricks Impact on Dallas Cowboys’ Defense
The Cowboys are eager to see how Kendricks’s experience and his synergy with Zimmer can elevate their defensive game. Dallas, which finished last season with a strong 12-5 record only to fall short in the Wild Card Round against the Green Bay Packers, is looking to go deeper into the playoffs this year.
With Kendricks’s track record and Zimmer’s strategic acumen, the Cowboys’ defense is likely to become even more formidable. As the new season approaches, the focus will be on how this reunion can translate into on-field success.
Both Kendricks and Zimmer have a history of producing solid defensive performances, and together, they might just have the right chemistry to push the Cowboys to new heights. The anticipation is building, and Cowboys fans have every reason to look forward to what promises to be an exciting defensive showcase in the upcoming NFL season.
Source: nflanalysis
