“Oh yeah, I can positively relate to that [pressure they’re feeling],” stated Ellis. “However it’s good to be on the opposite finish. It is good to have performed right here and to now coach right here, for me, it is actually a dream come true.”
It hasn’t been a simple journey thus far for Ellis. Fairly the opposite, truly, however earlier than he took a single step towards it, he selected to place his household first; and that meant additionally factoring within the time he spent away in his 12 years as a participant within the league — the ultimate yr being in Oakland with the Raiders.
“My first alternative to educate, I could not reap the benefits of it,” he defined. “I needed my youngsters to get a bit older. They’re older now so it really works out nicely for my household and myself, to be concerned with teaching. … Zim, and even Invoice Parcells, they all the time instructed me I wanted to educate after I first retired.
“I cherished it and needed to do it, however I am a workaholic, to be sincere with you, and I do know that soccer welcomes that nevertheless it would not have been good for my household — being so younger.”
He’d lastly pursue the following chapter of his skilled profession when he took the job as head coach of Texas Faculty in Tyler, Texas, greater than two hours away from his house in Southlake, Texas, and remained there till he accepted the identical function at Southwestern Assemblies of God (SAGU) in Waxahachie, Texas — one hour away from his house.
Ellis has paid his dues, even when that included washing group uniforms … as head coach.
Add that to the character of a person who as soon as returned from a ruptured Achilles to earn his aforementioned Professional Bowl nod together with honors as NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months in 2007, and it isn’t tough to see the worth he brings as a frontrunner and mentor on protection.
“When individuals say, ‘He is solely right here as a result of he performed for the Cowboys,’ I am like nah, nah, I needed to undergo some stuff to get right here; and I am glad I did,” stated Ellis. “I got here in[to coaching] at floor stage, driving two hours on a regular basis to get to soccer follow from Southlake to Tyler — doing the [team’s] laundry, all that kinda stuff I went via.
“I did all these issues. A number of work went into getting right here.”
And now that he is [back] right here in Dallas, Ellis is trying to rekindle the success he had with Zimmer in yesteryear, however in a a lot totally different approach this time round.
“The most important change with him is me being a coach, and me not enjoying for him,” he stated of Zimmer. “I’ve an incredible respect for him from after I performed for him, as a result of he is an incredible trainer of the sport. He taught me lots in regards to the sport. To be on the opposite aspect of it with him is totally different for me.”
It is also totally different in that Zimmer is not yelling at him on a rep-to-rep foundation.
“You stated it, I did not, however I agree with you,” Ellis quipped, semi-jokingly. “He holds coaches to be accountable. I have been round him lengthy sufficient to know that no matter you inform him you are going to do, he will maintain you to it. He isn’t gonna overlook it. And that is the advantage of him and what makes him a very good coach.
“I actually cannot consider a greater coach for me to be below — than him.”
It is also true that these acquainted with Zimmer’s abrupt, direct and justifiably demanding teaching fashion (e.g., Ellis, Eric Kendricks) are being tasked with acclimating the present secure of gamers to what the brand new customary shall be in 2024. This shall be particularly necessary for the first-year defensive gamers, however Ellis has already warned them to deal with the substance of the directives.
And possibly not a lot on the plate it is perhaps delivered on.
“I’ve instructed the rookies already: It is skilled soccer,” stated the Cowboys’ assistant line of defense coach. “It is the best stage you possibly can go, so do not get caught up in how the message is delivered. Perceive we’re all working towards the identical objective. … So far as these first- and second-round picks, feeling that strain, it is part of the NFL.
“I believe we have got some good youngsters. Marshawn [Kneeland] is an effective one. Seeing him on the market, within the quick time I have been with him on the sphere, he is wanting good and strikes very well.”
Ellis joins Jeff Zgonina, the newly-hired line of defense coach who was wooed away from the Washington Commanders this offseason, in being thrown the keys to not solely Kneeland’s future, but in addition the whole thing of a line of defense that additionally contains the necessity to reset former first-round decide Mazi Smith, and main Sam Williams into what the previous second-round decide right into a season he views because the one that can “decide the remainder of my profession”.
So whereas there’s numerous strain on the gamers to get the job executed over the following a number of months, it additionally exists for Ellis and his compatriots.
But when historical past has confirmed something about Ellis, it is that strain is just one other day for him to show he is the precise man for the job, no matter that job is perhaps. If the Cowboys did not have already got others dealing with the laundry duties, Ellis would most likely don’t have any downside taking over that function as nicely in Dallas.
Fortunately, although, the one stains he’ll be requested to assist take away are those on Dallas’ latest postseason file.
These are probably the most cussed ones, anyway.