Jason Garrett.
by Luke. on Nov 10, 2010 4:20 PM CST
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Jason Garrett is a Dallas Cowboy through and through. How many young OC's would turn down Head Coaching jobs at quality NFL teams like Baltimore and Atlanta to stay OC for their current team. Very, very few.
Why would Garrett do something like that? Because Jason Garrett is a Dallas Cowboy and to him being the OC here was better than being the HC somewhere else.
A chance at being the Head Coach for the Dallas Cowboys in a few years was better than definitely being the Head Coach somewhere else right then. Garrett's patience for and loyalty to the Star has finally paid off and he's got his chance. People have speculated that Garrett wouldn't take the job or would need to be convinced, Jason's response was clear; "He didn't have to persuade me at all", "Being the head football coach of the Dallas Cowboys is a great job, it’s a great opportunity". I don't think there's a Coach in the NFL today who wants to be the Dallas Cowboys Head Coach as much as Jason Garrett does.
Bringing guys like Bill Cowher or John Gruden in may sound appealing but to me they're mercenaries. They've had their run and done well, now they looking for the highest paid gig they can get for a handful of years. Plus, Bill Cowher is a Pittsburgh Steeler through and through, do we really want a Steelers legend as our Head Coach? Every time I'd look on the sideline I'd just see a Steeler wearing a Dallas outfit. It just wouldn't be right.
My initial reaction after the Green Bay game was that Wade Philips is gone and that JG will get the job. As I posted on Rafael's site at the time my first thought was here is what you're inheriting Jason;
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with the exception of a handful of guys, everyone else on the team has completely given up
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you have the worst Offensive Line in football with zero depth
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your Secondary is currently the worst in the NFL
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your ILB's can not cover
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and your Front Seven can generate no pressure whatsoever
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your QB is a 38 year old backup
Since then more good news has rolled in;
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Marcus Spears looks like he's out for the rest of the year
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his replacements, Jason Hatcher and rookie Sean Lissemore, are also out
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new guys filling in are Jeremy Clark and Jimmy McQueen, both just signed off the street
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the woeful Safety spot just got thinner as AOA is out for the year
Let it not be said that Garrett hasn't got a mountainous job ahead of him.
But Garrett press conference has shown already that he's not taking this lightly. It showed a man who has been waiting patiently with the belief that he's ready for this. He immediately stated that he will put his stamp on this team and it will be noticeable around the Ranch right away. The concerns he expressed at the podium makes obvious that he was not a fan of the 'players coach' laid back style. This has already manifested a result; Dallas donned full pads in his first practice as Head Coach, something not done under Wade Philips.
I think it also shows some character and restraint that he stayed so low-profile. Garrett was apparently constantly unhappy with the lackadaisical practices and despite being obviously frustrated by how things were being run kept it predominantly to himself so as not to be seen as directly challenging Philips and causing a rift in the organization.
Garrett's direct and confident press conference reveals a man putting it all on the line. He's taken over a team that is currently the worst in the NFL in regards to effort and execution and the first thing he stated was that over the next few weeks the team will start to reflect his image. He basically said loud and clear that he'll get these half effort guys giving full effort ASAP and it's his fault if he can't. Certainly there was no excuses or woe is my situation talk here. He's got 8 games to prove he's the future at the Head Coaching position of the Dallas Cowboys and he knows it.
I for one am rooting for him because I don't think there's another young Head Coach candidate who is more of a Dallas Cowboy and who more desperately wants to be the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys than Jason Garrett. So let's hope Jason becomes what Jason so obviously wants to become; the next great Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Some Videos;
Jason Garrett on Hard Knocks;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMoGmZQHGT8
Jason Garrett in 1998. Troy Aikman had just gone down with broken clavicle the week before and Jason Garrett gets only the third start of his career in a Monday Night match-up with the Giants. QB broken clavicle creates opportunity, going to New York to play the Giants as first test – anyone else see the similarity here? That night Garrett did his part, 224 yards, 1 TD and no turnovers; Dallas wins 31-7.
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agree on cowher i don't want him here
and as much as i have been hating garrett you rememebered me something i tought when he was brought and when he declined offers on other teams, you’re right, he’s a cowboy, and to me that matters but still if we don’t see any improvement i think the best will be going out to find someone worthy
I don't think any coach could plug his fingers in all the holes in this team.
But I do think we’ll see the effort and energy levels raised noticeably. There’s some really tough games in the rest of our schedule and winning them with this squad is going to be hard but I don’t think we’ll see the absolute effortless play that we’ve seen to much of the last two and half games.
yeah, i meant a noticeable improvement, i think he has the attitude
i would go with the mentality if i see they are not giving up and start to show mental toughness to overcome bad situations i’ll be ok if he stays
i hope JG is that upbeat after the season
as a head coach starting out 0 and 8 and I won’t pin all of the blame on him. But his future as an NFL head coach is at stake and if he doesn’t produce he may never get another opportunity to do so from any GM in the league. The deck is so stacked against him right now he really doesn’t have a chance… so i hope he is up to the challenge of riding out the storm waiting for better players to come along and help out.
I think if he fails here he'll still get a job somewhere else in the league.
It won’t be a head coaching job, maybe not even a coordinator job right away (though I think he would) but he’ll get something (QB Coach). Then he’ll work his way back up the ladder, he’s only 44.
Your post offers hope
and if Garrett can do anything to eke a few wins out of this team this year, maybe he should be given a real shot.
Wade inherited a team with the OC in place so he never got a full shot (though he was clearly not the man for this job). Maybe finishing this year and allowing him to run the team how he wants, treat the players like he wants and bring in assistants he wants will be the tonic this organization needs.
God knows he would be my freaking hero if he turns this mess around.
I heard ESPN saying that John Fox would be the perfect fit as next HC and instantly threw up in my mouth. Retread coaches who are currently failing as HC are the absolute last kind of person we need here.
If JJ hires him, the serfs may storm the castle and burn him at the stake.
I'm not a fan of the retreads either.
Be bold go with a passionate younger Coach who’s hungry and has everything to prove.
Like Garrett?
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 12, 2010 3:03 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah Fox scares me. Maybe it was management in Carolina who screwed him, but
when your offseason consists of losing your best pass rusher and deciding to go with very little at the QB position. Either he let Management screw him, or he had a hand in letting those guys go, neither sound good to me.
As of 3 years ago..
I loved Jon Fox, but not so much anymore. I like him better than some other retreads (including Gruden), but I’d rather we go with a younger coach
Again, like Garrett?
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 12, 2010 3:03 PM CST up reply actions
And Garrett doesn't have anything to prove?
I think Garrett is a competitor. I would like to get quotes from former Cowboys that played with him on how they regarded him as a player. Those are the guys that saw him day in and day out as a player and know his competitive skills. He competed to get in the NFL and I don’t think his father gave him anything.
BTW....
I have not been a Garrett fan of late, but I think Luke’s post brings out some good points.
by Leithalweapon on Nov 10, 2010 5:43 PM CST up reply actions
Also....
Garrett played under Jimmy…..and will probably run his team very much like Jimmy did. Not saying identically, but very similar to how Jimmy prepared the team.
by Leithalweapon on Nov 10, 2010 5:50 PM CST up reply actions
I'm not quite sure what you're saying here?
We’re 1-7 right now. So you think Garrett will go 7-1 to finish the year? I’m very optimistic about what Garrett can do here but that seems impossible to me.
Or do you mean he’ll go 4-4 the rest of this year?
Or do you mean he’ll go 8-8 next year?
Hahaha… I’m lost.
I am pulling for Jason, I really like his potential. as others have said he has a head coaches temperment. he has conviction on his way of doing things. but can he tell columbo or barber to sit because its time or will he allow his feelings for them to hold him back. Its being able to make the tough decision and make it at the right time that will get him a long term job or a seven game tryout. Wade was unable to make those kind of decisions. instead of benching players he would seem to bow up at the questioning of their play, when the whole world could see what was happening. I’m pulling for you Jason
I'm pulling for Garrett, and I'm cautiously optimistic he can get the job done.
I think we finish the season 7-9.
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
Wow, 6-2 the rest of the way.
You’re pretty confident.
When I look at this schedule and this Romo-less team I think if Garrett gets them to 5-11 (4-4 for him) he must have done a lot of things right.
I think Detroit, Washington and Arizona are about our level but the Giants, Saints, Colts and Philly twice look like a real tough match-up for this current squad.
Id rather be optimistic
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
If Romo doesn't come back
I think even 5-11 is impossible with the state of this team. Too many injuries and poor line play
JG might be replaced with another JG (Jon Gruden) if he doesn’t have a stellar 8 games as your interim coach. Gotta remember Garrett was part of the problem, too. The other thing to remember is that the underlying problem that’s REALLY holding the Cowboys back isn’t going away anytime soon, and that’s JJ.
I keep hearing that Garrett was part of the problem
I am not saying your wrong, but what “problem”? I think what you mean is that he struggled with playcalling. Granted, that is a problem. But THE problem that got wade fired was his lack of leadership, discipline, etc. Not sure Garrett was a part of that problem. As an assistant coach, he really was not in a position to set the tone for the entire team.
I also think its quite telling that of all our young players, it was Jenkins who quite. On the other side of the ball, you saw great, notable effort from Martellus Bennett and Dez Bryant. I think there is something to that.
But don’t get me wrong, everyone should be held accountable, i just think we need to define the “problem” before we say someone was a part of it.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Inspiring read.
Really liked the JG video, too.. rec’d, for hope!
FEAR the STAR...it's all or nothing.... time to COWBOY UP.
Thanks Frost!
I too have hope. Here’s a good article about Garrett’s first day of practice as HC;
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/31327/exclusive-look-at-garretts-opening-message
Here's a change he needs to bring in if this team will have success:
I think the Cowboys have a problem being a football “team” , where every guy is ready and expected to be ready to play and contribute.
I look around the league and see former Cowboys who were seen as complete failures here playing decently for other teams.
Mostly I’m thinking of how I was watching Proctor and McQuistan (!) playing together on Miami’s line a few weeks ago and looking fine. Cory Proctor was not a “turnstile” and their offense did not completely collapse because 2 backups were playing w/significant time! Not only that, those guys were barely with that team!
Yet when they were here we all thought they were incapable of performing.
So, hmmm. How could that be explained? They obviously did have enough talent to go out there and at least be respectable. I think there’s a mindset in Dallas, fostered by JJones, that there are “starters” and “stars” , and then there are the other 25 players.
Every guy needs to be ready to step in and perform at a decent level at any time-like Garrett himself did.
I’m not sure why this has been a problem for the Dallas Cowboys the last few years, but every year there are teams that deal w/imposing injuries and still are competitive. It was a constant theme in the GB loss about their D this year.
Somehow, when the Cowboys lose a guy, it’s like the whole unit falls apart.
I honestly don’t think our backups are any worse than other teams’, I just think it’s a mindset that has to start at the top and seep down.
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
That is a very good point.
Our backups never at least seem to step up like other backups do for other teams. I don’t know why this is, but it does seem to be a habitual problem.
Formerly Cowboyfan729
If I had a nickel for every time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I would have zero nickels
Although, Holland is the exception.
I actually think he has played better than Bigg this year.
Formerly Cowboyfan729
If I had a nickel for every time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I would have zero nickels
He certainly has. The dude seems to have trouble staying healthy, though
He replaced Cory Proctor for a couple of games in 08 and looked a lot better, but then he got injured and we were right back to having to start Proctor.
What’s really sad is when you think back to 08, we honestly didn’t think it could get any worse than having to start Proctor for an entire season. I want those days back, damn it…
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Nov 11, 2010 4:02 AM CST up reply actions
I like JG but who uses an overhead projector! Seriously.
That shoulda gone out with Tom Landry.
I hope his other coaching tools are better….
"Where's Woody? - We need another Darren Woodson
That was from hard knocks. Like 2 years ago.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 13, 2010 6:34 AM CST up reply actions
Great post...my feelings exactly
When Wade was hired and Garrett was named OC, I remember thinking to myself it’s really too bad Garrett doesn’t have the experience right now for Jerry to name him HC and Wade DC.
The time has come and hopefully Garrett takes full advantage of this golden opportunity.
In Romo we Trust
Nice post Luke.
I would hate to see another Cowboys-Steelers Super Bowl with Cower at the helm for us, I’d be constantly worried he would try to sabotage it! lol
+1
Your gonna have to school us man, you being from Western PA and all.
Many remember Cowher as a SB coach. I remember him as a coach who lost an awful lot of big games and squandered many, many windows of opportunity.
For example, Cowher lost FOUR HOME AFC championship games:
• In 1994, after going 12-4, Steelers lost AFC Championship game to the Chargers
• In 1997, the Steelers Lost to the Broncos in AFC Championship Game.
• In 2001, after going 13-3, the Steelers lost to the Patriots in AFC Championship Game.
• And again in 2004, after going 15-1, the Steelers lost to the Patriots in AFC Championship Game.
Not to mention that he is the only Steeler coach in history to lose a Super Bowl.
Given that track record, I really don’t see why people would want him here or why people think he is such a great coaching candidate. Indeed, if you take away the SB win where they got serious help from the officials, then he would probably not be regarded so highly. I know I don’t want to wait around for another 15 years like Steeler fans did before we win another SB.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Great Post!
I agree with everything. I’ve felt for a long time that Garrett was trying very hard not to step on Wade’s toes and jump in and fix everything.
I’m hoping for a lot here, but I see Pittsburgh with Tomlin and TB with Raheem Morris, and I think this is our chance to have the next good, young coach that can stay for a long time.
I agree about Cowher and Gruden. Both would be good, but both would be short-timers from the moment they started. I also think there is a lot of revisionist history on these two guys. Cowher had a lot of down years in Pittsburgh. The fans there were calling for his head for a long time. He didn’t win it all until Big Ben showed up. He’s not a play caller. He had good coordinators, but there is no guarantee he could set up a good staff after being out of the league for so long. Gruden didn’t do so hot in TB after Dungy’s players started leaving. And he had Kiffin running that defense.
Let’s hope that Garrett can get these guys to buy in, because I love what I’ve read and seen so far.
I completely agree:
I’m hoping for a lot here, but I see Pittsburgh with Tomlin and TB with Raheem Morris, and I think this is our chance to have the next good, young coach that can stay for a long time.
I am afraid that Jerry will bow to pressure and hire a name just so he can get fans excited again. Garrett will leave, eventually become HC somewhere and do well.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
A quote for Hope
A quote from Albert Breer on NFL.com:
The truth is that there are plenty of veteran NFL folks, both inside the Cowboys organization and elsewhere in the league, who think Jason Garrett will be a better head coach than he was a coordinator in his three-plus years running the offense in Dallas.
Like I said in another post
Being OC and HC require different skill sets. From what I’ve seen this week, Garrett seems to have the skill set to be a leader of men and a great HC in this league.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Exactly.
There’s been endless debate about Garrett and his play-calling abilities on this blog but if Garrett stays on in 2011 it will be irrelevant I think. In 2008 when Garrett was interviewing for Head Coaching jobs he had commitments from Cam Cameron (OC) and Dom Capers (DC) to join his staff. That’s two highly regarded play-calling veteran’s right there.
I doubt Garrett was bringing Cameron in just to hold his hand while Garrett called his own plays. Cameron would have been the OC and play-caller. And honestly a staff of Garrett (HC), Cameron (OC) and Capers (DC) could have been terrific. I hope there’s enough options for him to make similar hires this off-season.
A lot of people want a Super Bowl winning coach
But name a coach who has won a Super Bowl with more than one team.
There isn't one
"The biggest thing we talked about is Going Forward. Like I said, the Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands at 4:15 on Sunday afternoon. We’ve got to get ready for them. So what we need to do is learn from what happened in the past and Go Forward, starting this morning with our meetings, our walk-throughs and our practice."
-Jason Garrett, November 10th, 2010.
"I'm not going to tell you that everything is okay and allow you to be mediocre."
“I played for a long time. The coaches that drive me crazy to this day are the ones that told me I was good all the time. ‘oh hey. hey, boy you’re doing a good job.’ And I knew I was mediocre as hell. And the guy that was on my ass, and made me be good everyday, is the guy that I appreciate right now. That’s our job.” – Jason Garrett
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
Yeah,
I don’t think Jason was having a dig at Philips there but it’s hard not to put Philips in that category of ‘laid back player friendly’ Coach.
Garrett obviously does not approve of this style which might explain the reports that he was very frustrated with the practice habits of the team
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