The case for a coaching change
by dunkman on Nov 2, 2008 8:36 PM CST
22 comments
Most of you know that I am among the first to defend Phillips and the coaching in general, but I think I'm officially off that wagon, unless you guys can talk me back on.
Surprisingly my issue is not the loss, which I fully expected, but rather the QB call. Brad is washed up. He is no longer an NFL QB, which pains me to say. So here's my beef:
- How can you not know your backup sucks harder than a Hoover on shag?
- How can you watch Johnson play the Rams and Tampa Bay game and not turn the ball over to Bollinger?
- If you thought you were going to give BJ the hook if he struggled, how do you not get Brooks ready to play?
The ridiculously cautious, conservative approach he took was exactly the opposite of what was called for to (1) give his team a lift going into the bye week (or is that "bye-bye week"?) and (2) your only chance to beat one of the better teams in football. Instead he played it just like he does with 3rd and long - four man rush and DBs playing off.
I finally get it, Wade Phillips lacks the heart to be a HC and his team has taken his lead. Don't ask me who takes over. I don't really care at this point.
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I think Wade lacks the will or ability to motivate this team
I also feel that his ultra conservative play calling on defense is killing us. We should be playing up our strenghts, rushing the passer, in order to hide our deficiencies, the secondary. While I don’t know if JG is the best choice for our next HC, what better way to find out than letting him take over the reins for the next 7 games? I also feel that the players have more respect for JG and that they may be more motivated by him. Either way, I’m afraid the season is lost, so what do we have to lose at this point.
"So you can’t stiff arm at all? What about the throat?"- Marion "Barbarian" Barber
by DC_fan on Nov 2, 2008 8:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Jerry
Being a bad GM is about making bad decisions a the worst decision a GM can make is one that feels good now but leaves you hog tied or in salary cap hell in the future. So it should be no surprise that Jerry made a stupid decision and guarenteed JG the right to be out next head coach.
Now if he fires Wade, he is left with an underperforming OC who may not be the right fit for this team as a HC.
Even if you think Garrett is a smart guy and has his team prepared such that they have a clear schematic / x’s and o’s advatage every week, you may not think he is what the team needs as a head coach now.
- or -
Even if you think JG is a great OC and will be a great HC if a better option appears in the offseason Jerry is still hogtied.
Yes, Jerry can make someone else the HC and void the contract but it hurts him long term by jerking coaches around and not keeping promises.
I think the best plan is to fire Wade now, give Garrett the buy week to take over and the rest of the year to turn things around. If he does, Jerry is in the clear. If not, Jerry can fire him too and hire Cowher. HECK, if JG really screws up he may be convinced to return as OC under Cowher (or some other coach).
Normally I wouldn’t want to be so rash, but we have a Head Coach who is not getting a response out of a talented roster and we have promised to let a young guy who may not have a hand strong enough to lead these guys run the squad next year. This lets us compress the test period. By doing this the worst case scenario would be firing a bunch of guys and getting a clean shot in 2009. If we let Wade fester then we may piss away 2008 and 2009 too….
by 325424 on Nov 2, 2008 9:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Fire Wade and give Garrett the rest of the season to turn things around
if not dump them all and go after a Cowher or another in the offseason. At this point I’m not impressed with Garrett and many around the league probably aren’t either. He looked to be the best thing since sliced bread last season, but now looks to be nothing more than stale bread. I’m not sure if he is the answer, but Wade definately is not..
Look up... get up...Don't ever, ever give up!!
by Boyzfan94 on Nov 2, 2008 9:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
exactly!
truth be told, even though i started another thread on Wade and his passive approach to defense (we are the only team I know playing prevent in the redzone) Garett has been the bigger disappointment. Underutilized Felix from the start, and he is actually causing Romo to regress, his whole offense seems to be “drop back and make something happen” just no ryme or reason to it at all. And Romo’s injury is on Redball IMHO.
by stephen1 on Nov 2, 2008 10:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Jerry won't fire Wade this season
He’ll only fire Wade after the season if we fail to make the playoffs or not win at least one playoff game.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Nov 2, 2008 10:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
agreed
i do not see how firing wade is going to improve this team at this point of the season…i wait till the end of the season as well then go from there…
lets see how this team does when they get romo…felix….newman back after the bye..this season is far from over…
by canty99 on Nov 2, 2008 10:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You Fired Wade Then Who Will Run The Defense?
Stewart or Campo? Yea right…
~Texas Massacre 08~
by TheHeat on Nov 3, 2008 12:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
you're absolutely right
firing Wade would be basically giving up on the season which is absurd at this point with 7 games left.
You think our defense has problems now, if you fired Wade they would become by far and away the worst defense in the league really fast under Stewart.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Nov 3, 2008 7:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I feel ya Dunk
all week I was saying that if Bollinger had any chance to play, you have to start him. Throwing him to the wolves when the team is down by 14 is a no win situation and just not fair. Sure enough, after his shaky start Bollinger showed that he can actually throw the ball in a forward motion to recievers but all hope was lost at that point.
When the entire fanbase of the team is making better decisions than the head coach, this is a very bad sign. Phillips plays not to lose and that is exactly what happens. He comes across as a marshmellow and media eats that up. Don’t tell me the players aren’t affected by that or by the complete inability of the coaching staff to adapt.
I would say wait until Romo comes back and make the skins game the litmus test. If the boys play inspired football and win, let Wade finish the season. If they lose and play crappy, put Redball in charge to see if he is worth a damn. All you guys calling for a coaching change must realize that the entire team will be set back a couple of years as they learn new systems and everything gets put into place.
by Billito on Nov 3, 2008 7:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
the Skins game will be the defining moment for the team
They either come out and play inspired football and go on a nice playoff run, or go in the tank and miss the playoffs and probably finish last in the division.
However, even if the latter happens, I just can’t see Jerry firing Wade until the season is completely over.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Nov 3, 2008 7:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Fire the GM thats the Root of the problem!
Wait we can’t he owns the team! Smell kind of like it did after HE got rid of Johnson doesn’t it! Yes, We have injuries and we get a lot of penillties against us, but Jerry needs to go play golf and wath from his box and hire a quaified person to run this team!
by bad knees on Nov 3, 2008 8:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I only half agree with this post.
Wade couldn’t have predicted Brad would throw those ducks. And to suggest that Jason Garrett be HC blows my mind. He’s calling the offensive shots that put the defense on their heels the entire game. JG is the stubborn one who abandons the outside runs and those tosses that worked in favor of trying to run up the middle and calling plays that ask Brad to throw those 7-15 yard outs that he doesn’t have the arm for.
Wade and Stewart made the necessary defensive adjustments after the Giants’ first drive. I don’t know what Garrett was thinking by throwing so much on 1st down—or by throwing period. This game would’ve been closer if the offense just played to punt.
Where's Felix?
by Aaron Novinger on Nov 3, 2008 8:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I agree
The team didn’t play great, but this loss rests soley on the shoulders of Johnson. He put the defense in too many tough spots and didn’t produce any points.
All the Romo haters want to criticize his fumbles and INTs, but the kid produces points and the team has won over 70% of the games he’s started. If he played against the Giants, they might not have won, but the game would have been very competitive and I think there was a very good chance they would have won because he would have scored points and thats what this team needs more than anything.
You can’t win in this league averaging only 14 points a game.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Nov 3, 2008 8:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The way this defense was playing
with Romo, the Cowboys would have won. Sustaining drives and getting points on the board would’ve changed the complexity of this game. At least if Romo, err, um, the offensive line would’ve turned the ball over, our starting QB could make plays to overcome that.
The defense was getting to Eli. The defense was getting turnovers. The Giants run game didn’t get started until after the defense was on the field FOREVER. It’s hard to keep your heart in the game when your partners on offense are not only not helping you out, but actually harming you.
Where's Felix?
by Aaron Novinger on Nov 3, 2008 9:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
THANK YOU
Jesus, I was beginning to think I was the only one on this blog who actually watched the game. Everyone is a hater today and our new fanposts are telling us how horrible this team is and that the season is lost. This is a game of inches and with Zero offensive production, our defense was completely worn out by halftime. By the time Bollinger came in and made some nice plays, the game was over and the D was done.
If we had any sort of offensive movement yesterday in the first half, we would have gone into halftime tied at 14 and the whole complexion of the game changes.
by Billito on Nov 3, 2008 9:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
well said Bigrigga
Johnson has made this team look awful and its a shame. All I know this team will be at the very least competitive when Romo returns, playoffs or not.
It will at least be fun again to watch the team play instead of wanting to puke everytime Johnson went back to pass.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Nov 3, 2008 9:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i was disgusted watching Brad play....
Bollinger was warming up, ready to go in…..then was yanked back from going in after that turnover in NYG 16 yard line……….I WANT TO KNOW who’s decision it was to keep with Brad at that point in time…..Wade’s or Garrett’s……was there anything said during post game press conference ?
A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.
"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones
by BoyzRback on Nov 4, 2008 1:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You're correct Bigrigga
I’m sick of people dogging the defense. They might not be the Titans, but they can play well enough to win when they get SOME help from the offense. The Midgets TOP was ridiculous, not to mention the starting field position. That’s all on piss poor QB play.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Nov 3, 2008 3:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Good Defense - Not so much.
Pretty sure I saw the Giants roll over them easy as pie on that opening drive. I have had problems w/ Wade and Stewart’s D for 2 years now though. It isn’t just because of this last game. I am SO TIRED of seeing the DB’s line up 15 yards off the line scrimmage, giving the opponents receivers a clean release down after down. Trying not to get burned deep isn’t working.
by gee-roj on Nov 3, 2008 12:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
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