Dallas Cowboys hire a new special teams coach
by Tuna Helper on Jan 7, 2009 11:19 AM CST
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PrintWe had a lot of problems on special teams this year.
We lost a crucial game to the Cards on the first and last plays of the game. Pittsburgh had a critical punt return that keyed their comeback against us. We started the Philadelphia debacle (I think that's what I'm going to call that game from now on) with a special team mistake. Our kickoffs were too short and our punt return game was stagnant.
Bruce Read lost his job because of these failures.
Now it's Joe DeCamillis' turn to rectify our struggles on this unit. The DMN Blog and DC.com are reporting DeCamillis has been hired.
Wade Phillips' first sign of change is bringing in Joe DeCamillis as his special teams coach to replace Bruce Read.
Phillips and DeCamillis were assistants together in Denver and Atlanta.
DeCamillis spent the last two years as Jacksonville's special teams' coordinator. He has run special teams' units since 1993 with the New York Giants (1993-96) and Atlanta (1997-2006) before moving on to the Jaguars.
Jacksonville led the NFL in opponents' starting position after a kickoff (24.5) in 2008. Opposing teams averaged 19.9 yards per kick return and 8.1 yards per punt return, compared to the 21.3 yards per kick return and 10.5 yards per punt return the Cowboys allowed under Read.
Jacksonville's returners averaged 22.5 yards on kicks and 9.5 yards on punts. The Cowboys' averaged 22.2 yards per kick and 6.4 per punt.
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Speaking of Special Teams,
How awesome was Scifres against the Colts?! That just highlights how important special teams are to field position. Hopefully our new coach will be able to do for us what he did for Jacksonville.
by Baked Potato Soup on Jan 7, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions
Right now on the lunch break show they were talking about the new ST coach.
The reason he left Jac is due to low pay for his position. A media contact was telling nick that he is a good coach and can be a ball-buster. Check it out when they have finished their live broadcast and it comes up within the first 15 minutes of the show.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
DeCamillis is an excellent ST coach
Look at his work with Atlanta. His coverage units have been strong everywhere and when he had Allen Rossum, he had one of the best return games too.
Do you think he can do anything for/with Pacman's return game?
If we don’t get rid of him, I mean. And how bout Miles Austin on KR?
by AikmanNailedMySis on Jan 7, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions
Not unless
he gets him to run north and south. And, stop holding the ball like a loaf of bread. Our returners are so lucky we didn’t have 50 fumbles this year witht the way they carry the ball.
also need better coordination with the blocking
it always seemed like Pac wasn’t on the same page with his the blockers, with lots of blocks in the back, etc. There’s a different blocking tactic needed with Pac vs. PC returning because of their very different run styles. I still have hope that Pac’s return skills can come through with better ST coaching.
I don't
think the special teams even had a page. They have been pathetic ever since coach Joe left. I remember always being able to count on special teams doing something “special” during the games for the Super Bowl runs. I don’t think our kickers got that many touchbacks then either. If they did it was because the returner didn’t want to run back against our Boys. I remember some kicks hitting at the 5 and rolling through the endzone so they wouldn’t have to return it. Opposing players feared our kick off and punt teams.
PC didn't need blockers, he fair caught 90% of the time
I kid, sort of….
by WestTxHornFan on Jan 7, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions
Guess not
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Jan 8, 2009 2:37 AM CST up reply actions
One caller said he was the ST coach when allen rossum had a great year as a returner
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
Now, if Wade could get the latitude to hire an equally efficient OL coach
I would feel even better.
But this is a step in the right direction. DeCamillis is a huge upgrade over Read. Huge.
Do we know if Read was a wade hire or a JG connection hire?
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
http://cbs11tv.com/cowboys/dallas.cowboys.wade.2.499780.html
Looks like Read was Wade’s baggage from SD, like Stewart.
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
What about a QB coach
I don’t see Romo progressing under the other Wade. Seems like a shakeup might help
by I_miss_Switzer on Jan 7, 2009 11:46 AM CST up reply actions
+1 (I think)
I see all the original BloggingtheBoys guys do this, and I assume it means that I agree vs a -1. Feel free to clue me in.
Back to the QB coach, yes, I think Romo may need to have another mentor. Not that WW is a bad coach but maybe he’s imparted all that he can in the manner that he can. I wonder if Mariucci would consider coming back in as a consultant to Romo.
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
seems exactly like the BSr guys typing first!
Don't believe everything you think.
Your causes are cute!!!
+.5 Not exactly
This is at least acknowledging and agreeing with a stated point. Saying ‘First!!’ didn’t really have a football point…it was just fun to be first.
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
Mariucci's gig at NFL Network is too sweet
for him to come back to anything other than as a HC.
In Romo we Trust
off topic...
Someone with the Cowboys found a 2-for-1 coupon to the ankle surgery store. Cornerback Terence Newman and wide receiver Patrick Crayton each had surgery on their ankles. According to the Dallas Morning News, each player should be ready to participate in the offseason program when it starts in March.
Newman had surgery on his left ankle. He missed six games this season, due to a groin injury that required surgery in October. Despite his time on the sideline, Newman led the team with four interceptions.
Great!
I hope Coach Joe D makes an impact on our field position. Is Hudson Houck a legacy hire of Jerry’s and therefore untouchable?
Also, the difference in the numbers seems small in regards to what the Cowboys did vs opposing teams. But we often seemed to be in the hole. What am I missing?
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
JJ was talking positively about Hudson, but that does not mean that WP may want to change him out as a coach.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
Hudson Houk needs
to go! This O-Line is too big and too good to play as poorly as they did. Joe D is a great hire and hopefully the beginning of more qaulity changes to come.
bags030404
www.acowboynation.com
by Phillip Baggett on Jan 7, 2009 11:58 AM CST reply actions
we can't understate the loss of Kyle Kossier
Dallas talent eval is just awful for players that haven’t already played in the NFL. Losing Kosier then finding out how mediocre our interior back ups are wiped Dallas out.
Remember how much Dallas tanked in 2005 when Flozel went down? We actually tanked less this year because after all Kosier is a guard, but still it was a mighty blow
by AustonianAggie on Jan 7, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions
i agree
when kosier was on the field and the whole line was healthy, they play totally different… maybe the only the part of our team that actually played as a unit together
by CowboysFan4Life on Jan 7, 2009 12:54 PM CST up reply actions
Holland played until he was injured, Berger played some too
Holland did way better then both Proctor and Berger. Now that I think about it, McQ played some too, if I’m not mistaken.
by WestTxHornFan on Jan 7, 2009 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
Garrett did interview with the Lions......well. well...
It’s been widely believed that Jason Garrett declined an interview invitation from the Lions, but the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports that Garrett did meet Monday with the 0-16 team’s brass.
Does anyone know
who a top candidate to replace Houk would be?
bags030404
www.acowboynation.com
by Phillip Baggett on Jan 7, 2009 11:59 AM CST reply actions
I think the problem with our o-line is that they are too big
I’m not sure what an o-line coach can do about that
Too big?
They may be too big for this offense we continue to run ( all recievers running triple move 40 yard routes) I think they are perfect for pounding the opposition into submision with our 3 headed monster though.
bags030404
www.acowboynation.com
by Phillip Baggett on Jan 7, 2009 12:15 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think we are the biggest line in football.
I remeber them saying Philly was, they do a pretty good job protecting McNabb.
"Protect the Romo, Save the Cowboys!!"
About the same as our line does protecting Romo.
by Baked Potato Soup on Jan 7, 2009 3:45 PM CST up reply actions
not really
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Jan 8, 2009 2:43 AM CST up reply actions
Quickness has nothing to do
with the ability to diagnose a blitz and react to it. They ran the same blitz with Ray Lewis 7 or 8 times and he came untouched every time. For as physically dominating as he was at times, Bigg Davis looked lost a ton this year. All of the interior pressure wasn’t coming from Procter and Holland.
Austin...
I know some were talking, including myself on what tender should be placed on Austin. Here are the numbers… I think a second round tender should be placed on him at the least..
Low tender – $1.010 million
Second round – $1.545 million
First round – $2.198 million
First- and third-round – $2.792 million
That is what the guys from talking cowboys felt should be put on Austin.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
I got a story coming up on this
Dallas should tender this guy as a 1st or 2nd at the worst.
He emerged this year. He was hurt a lot, but he emerged. His drops disappeared and 21 YPC speaks for itself. He’s the new Terry Glenn.
If they lose him because they were 500K or $1M cheap and he keeps playing at a high level, this is Jimmy Smith II.
And GM Jerry doesn’t need that headache.
yeah I agree I'm digging Miles and I see a star player in the making
With all RW2 and TO and their big salaries… I suspect Miles could move one of them to the bench if given a shot in training camp.
by AustonianAggie on Jan 7, 2009 12:54 PM CST up reply actions
i wouldn't go that far...
but i would love to see more sets with RW and MA outside with TO in the slot
by CowboysFan4Life on Jan 7, 2009 12:57 PM CST up reply actions
I didn't see anything out of RW2 to make me think he
absolutely belongs on the field. He’s got to prove it too.
by AustonianAggie on Jan 7, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
true...
he was injured tho… and had to learn the offense on the run… timing is important for a qb and wr
by CowboysFan4Life on Jan 7, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions
If our system urged the passing game to spread the ball to TO, RW2, Austin, and Witten...
…and our O-Line consistently gave Romo adequate protection, our Beloved Boyz would have a high-potent, well-oiled machine.
da King has gotta sign #19. He’s about to bust out.
Now, if he could just stay healthy…
"I got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell." -- Bruce Dickinson
www.brainfriednetwork.com [NEWS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL]
TG with a lot more size and strength
And he’s getting good at using those attributes to block out defenders, like his second catch at GB as well as underneath. I had high hopes for Austin since last year and he really did look impressive this year, and just didn’t break out as much as you could have because of the injuries. He has a big future.
Yeah, I'd be inclined to go higher
Jeff Ireland and Bill brought him in. If Dallas tenders him too cheaply, they’ll pounce.
And T.O., even if he stays and plays at the highest level imaginable, is 35.
If Austin leaves, who’s dependable on your roster? You’ve got an old T.O. and an unproven Roy Willie, and Crayton.
You pay now, or you pay bigger later.
Parcells would be all over Austin......your right....
A high render has to placed on him. IMO, he is the future #2 on this team with RW being the #1 in 2010.
+1
He is a guy in the league with 3+ years experience and very little wear and tear on the body. Plus, he shows great speed, well worth a second rounder.. He could be our Steve Breston next year 70+ Receptions 1k+ yards.
"Protect the Romo, Save the Cowboys!!"
I dont think hell get those numbers
not with what should be a strong focus on the running game, and he is still only the fourth guy in passing situations
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Jan 8, 2009 3:02 AM CST up reply actions
he'll
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Jan 8, 2009 3:07 AM CST up reply actions
Must Keep Austin
He was the most clutch WR they had down the stretch when he was healthy. He was able to seperate from DB’s and showed much better hands than he had in the past.
he might be the only wr
on the team that is actually good at getting seperation
by CowboysFan4Life on Jan 7, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions
co-sign
"I got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell." -- Bruce Dickinson
www.brainfriednetwork.com [NEWS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL]
I know they have to tender him at this point,
but do you think after that, it’s too early to think about a long term deal with him or do you ride out the tender?
I posted this after reading the original first post but after reading all the comments maybe a 1st round tender.
I liked even when he was still dropping ball because of the seperation he got.
Special Teams...
I believe it was George Allen who first started calling the Kicking and Punting teams ‘special’. I think he was also one of the first to recognize that this group could play a key part in winning and losing a game. The players here were not just the flotsam and jetsam left over from starting O and D, they were ‘special’.
This past season, especially in the early part of the year, I was always on the edge of my seat when our D was on the field because they always seemed to bend, bend, then break. It was just a matter of time. They got better, and as we know in the Ravens game, the D reverted to their former selves.
Special teams was like that all year. I dreaded seeing our ST go out there because all too often, it meant something good was going to happen for the other guys.
I hope Joe D changes our Karma.
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
Special Teams Will Improve . . . .
with the new coach but also with a focus on the nine draft picks plus compensatory going to players that have demonstrated the skill and mind set in college to bust balls and play tough; for example, take Quan Cosby of UT; he is a receiver but he could easily play special teams. We need about a dozen of his type to help us restore this football team.
From the DMN Blog, yesterday
Garrett gets the in-house blame for the Cowboys’ backup QB catastrophe this season. He lobbied for Brad Johnson while there were internal discussions about exploring other options (Chris Simms, etc.).
And the team’s two highest-profile offensive players publicly pointed the finger at Garrett at the end of the season. (T.O. did it in the middle of the season, too.)
If Garrett returns to Valley Ranch, his relationship with the receiving corps would be rocky at best. It might be better for everybody involved if he got Mike Shanahan’s old job in the Rocky Mountains."
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
From Todd Archer today
“In the 13 games Romo started, the Cowboys averaged 25.1 points and gained 370.5 yards. In 2007 when he started every game the Cowboys averaged 28.4 points and 365.7 yards per game. Those numbers are similar. And people don’t want to hear this either, but the Cowboys’ final four opponents last season had some of the best defenses in the league. Pittsburgh, the Giants, Baltimore and Philadelphia had the Nos. 1, 5, 2 and 3 ranked defenses.”
Follow the string
Archer was using the stats to make the point that running Garrett out of town is insane, not to support the proposition that Romo is an elite QB. Romo is a good QB, and can be considered elite when he doesn’t turn the ball over 23 times in 13 games.
For terry
Any mention of Romo alongside a positive offensive stat indicates that Romo is an elite qb.
In-YOUR-endo
by accidental innuendo on Jan 7, 2009 1:50 PM CST up reply actions
For Terry
any mention of Romo at all means Romo is an elite qb
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Jan 8, 2009 3:09 AM CST up reply actions
Garrett has already interviewed with the lions, and now the broncos
he is also mentioned in the rams HC search. I do not know if he is willing to wait until the end of next year for another opportunity. I think if he is offered the Den HC position he will take the job.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
I hope Garrett stays because I do think there is a value to continuity
especially in the running schemes. Fakes are cool but nothing works as well as good execution, and that does take time.
by AustonianAggie on Jan 7, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
I think he has to...
Garrett’s dilemma is that if the offense has another perceived bad year, it’s squarely on his shoulders and he doesn’t look like HC material to anyone. If, on the other hand, he has a good offensive year, Wade gets part of the credit. Jerry won’t fire a coach who takes the team to the playoffs. Garrett has to take a HC opportunity now, if it comes.
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
well, yes to a place like Denver
with a tradition of winning and support.
NO to Detroit, you will fail there and maybe get cancer.
He’s got to pick wisely, if he gets the opportunity.
by AustonianAggie on Jan 7, 2009 1:03 PM CST up reply actions
I'd say Detroit is a no lose proposition...
You can’t get any worse than 0-16. Any improvement looks huge and if he weren’t able to get it turned completely around, no matter, this patient was dead and any signs of life would be acknowledged by other owners.
He would probably get a longer term deal to try to make things happen AND he may get more authority than at any other team. It would be a challenge, but progress here is relative.
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
Detroit is Terminal
1. The GM/personnel tandem worked for Millen and have convinced the owner that they’re clean, that all the faults are Millen’s.
2. They’re holding on to some coaches, so any coach who takes that 0-16 team will not get to fill out a full staff.
If you can’t get authority on a winless team, why bother?
Do you feel that if JG is offered the Den job he will take the offer?
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
That is how I feel too, I just think that if he really wants to take his shot it has to be
now, because if they have another year like this, he may not get another opportuntity for a team that is a fairly well run team like the broncos. The only reason I would be in favor of him leaving is it would give WP a chance to bring in his own OC and OL coach to run the offense he would like ot run. I just felt that last year WP did not have a grasp of how the offense was running and that is something that may have to be different going into next year.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
Lets hope it doesn't happen
But if it does, it is really hard for me to conceive Jerry Jones turning the offense over to Ray Sherman with Wade Phillips still the head coach. Nothing against Ray Sherman, he may be a fine coordinator—-I just can’t conceive Mr. Excitement making that call. I think the more characteristic course of action is Jerry will throw Garrett and Wade’s salary at Shanahan.
He can't keep teasing
I’m sure teams didn’t like getting turned down last year. He has to get in to bed with someone, or teams will stop asking hm to dance.
by I_miss_Switzer on Jan 7, 2009 4:06 PM CST up reply actions
If Garrett Goes Who's The New OC?
If Garrett’s offered the Denver job he’s gone, he needs to strike before his name isn’t even mentioned among head coaching candidates. Mike Zimmer probably regrets not jumping at head coaching opportunities when he was a hot commodity.
Zimmer was offered Nebraska, and he may regret not taking it
but he didn’t get offered NFL jobs
by AustonianAggie on Jan 7, 2009 1:11 PM CST up reply actions
this 3-4 is new
most 3-4 D’s have been that for a few years and have had a chance to weave out poor players. Dallas pretty much went with every player they drafted in 2005.
What do we see as positional weaknesses? I’m just focusing on D.
Safety position is a weakness. However, we are not going to be able to draft an elite one so we’re just going to have to draft smart. I’d also like to see 2 or 3 2nd and 3rd year Unresitricted FA safties in camp fighting for roster spots.
Watkins is done, Roy Williams is done, Keith Hamlin is simply a decent safety. Dallas’ struggles at this position, along with the value we see in Brian Dawkins, Palamalu, and Reed only further strengthen my sense that Darren Woodson is a hall of fame player who played a significant roll in the development of the contemporary safety position.
DE’s … i don’t get it. Marcus Spears dissappointed me when he lined up as a DT. What is the productivity we should get from the DE? 8 sacks a year? What bums me out is that neither of our starting DEs seem able to win one on one pass blocking match ups. They should win those at least some of the time. If Ratlif or the OLBs didn’t win, there wasn’t going to be any pressure.
We need someone to slide in to Zach’s position if he leaves. Burnett? Time to show it.
Our safety play is certainly a weakness
I think the defenses that are elite year in year out have great safety play. We have one average safety and a hole on the other side.
I think ilb is a weakness…maybe bradie james will keep it going, but i just don’t think we have playmakers at that position. And I think james’ improvement last year has SOMETHING to do with the fact that zach johnson was the first reliable player whose played next to him. Burnett is not reliable – hes proven to be too injury prone.
OLB – we could use some depth, cause i wouldn’t be shocked if ellis isn’t a cowboy next year. You can never have enough pass rushers. This isn’t a weakness, but we’re a ware injury away from giving up 24+ppg and
Dline – you’re wrong about the DE position, they’re not supposed to get 8 sacks or anything like that.It would be nice to get more production though. We could use a big time NT and move ratliff over.
I think the only real absolute needs on defense are ilb depth and improved safety play.
Zach Thomas**
I’m new here, is there a way to edit posts?
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