Sphere of Control/Influence

by tdships on Dec 9, 2010 10:12 AM CST

Much has been written about the 'change' in Dallas Cowboy Offensive philosophy since Jason Garrett's appointment to HC. The running game has been embraced, desired balance has been restored. Statistics cited, Run/Pass ratios quantified - all citing empirical evidence of a trend we can readily see. Call it, this seasons Blinding Flash of Obviousness(BFO for future ref).

This has lead to an outgrowth of a much more speculative conspiracy-theory - that Garrett deliberately sub-optimized playcalling to ensure his bosses demise and his own ascension. This subjectivity stands in stark contrast to the detailed and thoughtful analysis that preceded it in this and many other circumstance. But the issue is legit, even if the speculation is, well fantastical - why the dramatic shift in tactics?

Using a theme of earlier posters, let's apply some lessons learned from business to discern root causes. I've spent a career in Supply Chain/Logistics, so that is my frame of Reference. Not to make this a primer on that industry, but suffice to say strategies and tactics that make one aspect of an operation efficient can make another wildly the opposite. Take for example a Distribution Center that routinely fails to fill orders on time, because it won't authorize overtime for labor as a cost containment measure. Works well for them, but plays havoc for the Transportation group. Expedite now must be used - team drivers, express parcel, airfreight/charter now has to make up the slack to achieve on-time performance. All at great expense - direct and indirect. The optimization of one silo-based unit completely sub-optimized performance of the other.

Jason Garrett's span of control dictated he optimize the performance, productivity and efficiency of the Offense. It's performance impact on the other units was within his influence, but specifically outside his control. The fact that the manager in control, the HC, did not direct him to optimize it further for the good of the whole, cannot be JG's responsibility. Interestingly, we've seen this done to the extreme the other way - Parcell's almost maddening refusal to deploy the full arsenal of Offensive weapons to protect what he felt was a fragile D.

Plenty of Wade's issues are self-imposed - principally his non-confrontational personality, inability to recognize or develop talent in younger payers and his all-or-nothing Defensive philosophy. If something didn't work - either do it to the extreme or abandon it altogether. No nuance, no subtlety to keep the opposition guessing, off-balance. But in this area, Wade's limitation was imposed by above - JJ's insistence he act as his own DC. I believe literally limited his principal duties of oversight, and in combination with his personality - caused him not to rectify flaws in overall approach, specific performance. How else does the imbalance get explained? As has been pointed out, it's not necessarily the effectiveness of the running game, it's the uncertainty of whether will they or won't they? How else do you explain an impossible Hail-Mary pass call at the end of the 1st half in WAS? Can anyone imagine Parcells or Jimmy not grabbing N Turner/S Payton by the lapels and telling him very directly anything but kneel down and live to fight another day?

Now JG has the perspective of oversight. It's not that he understands it any better, but he's directly responsible for it now. Before he was tasked with oversight of his units performance, and lacking feedback to the contrary from his direct superior(s), what other conclusion could he draw than it was acceptable? We've all had to overcome the handicap of ineffective/incompetent bosses, but it is not a sustainable.

I'll conclude with another popular misnomer being touted that can draw on business for perspective as well - the contention that JG should have argued more forcefully for OL talent in the draft and through FA. This sounds too much like a conclusion in search of a theory. Simply stated - a Manager cannot have responsibility without authority. It is literally a self-defeating proposition. Sphere of influence - absolutely. Sphere of control? Absolutely not.

Next up in what the Cowboys can learn from Business series ? A review of Dysfunctional Hierarchy. Read the assigned chapter in your textbooks, there may be a quiz.

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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Nice post tdships

awesome write up very well stated…

Knowledge and Skill overcome Superstition and Luck- Dawn Patrol Motto-Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

by I draft the Cowboys!!!! on Dec 9, 2010 10:46 AM CST reply actions

Terrific!

TD, I always make it a point to read your posts, and now I know why: you understand and explain organizational ecosystems quite well. (Yes…I know that “ecosystems” is a pretentious buzzword, but I couldn’t resist).

I can’t wait to read your future posts…

by TimSchultz36 on Dec 9, 2010 11:28 AM CST reply actions

You've given me something to chew on, tdships

Especially as a constituent element of something broader I’m trying to resolve.

Very well done. Interesting approach in terms of style and what it inherently allows you to express in accordance with your personal expertise.

This is going to provoke thinking beyond what was there reading or that I can anticipate.

Thanks for the article. I’ll be up nights because of you. ;

No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. - A. Lincoln
Illegitimus non carborundum.

by tanstaafl on Dec 9, 2010 11:48 AM CST reply actions

One other thing...

I think you too see that we hadn’t a HC in reality, only in title.

No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. - A. Lincoln
Illegitimus non carborundum.

by tanstaafl on Dec 9, 2010 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

i see it differently

i think it was a division of powers & the structure Jerry created hiring Garrett before Wade, it was a disaster waiting to happen. it was kinda like Wade was the DC, Garrett was the OC & Jerry was the HC, GM & Owner. if Garrett wanted an OL or anything on offense he didn’t go through Wade to get it done & he didn’t have much influence on the offensive gameplan. (Wade voted to draft CJ2K but Jerry & Garrett out voted him for Felix)
i’m not saying Garrett got Wade fired bc thats just ignorant but if they don’t get the real structure in Dallas fixed then we won’t ever know how good any coach is. if Jerry believes in Garrett then he needs give him control over top 25 of the roster & not just the bottom feeders. fining Barber for the dress code was nothing different then what Wade would’ve done & if something don’t change soon the players will run over Garrett too.

the definition of insanity should have a picture of Jerry Jones next to it. he has no idea what he is doing or that its wrong...

by DCNation73 on Dec 9, 2010 1:54 PM CST reply actions

It is fun and interesting to speculate on the dynamics inside Valley Ranch

I always wondered about whether JG was largely going through the motions early this year. Not deliberately sabotaging Wade, but not really putting his whole heart into the job. I have seen and been in situations where the manager of a business had lost the faith of everyone else, and people would do their jobs, but without much initiative or innovation, because they knew it really wouldn’t help in the end.

Now JG has the reins, he sees his leadership and decision making paying dividends, and I think in turn this makes his offensive play calling much better. It was not deliberate in the sense he was trying to run Wade off, but it was just a predictable result of the pervasive air of suckitude that had settled in. And it has spread throughout the organization.

Here is hoping the ownership sees what is going on and realizes it has to adapt and change to continue the trend.

If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.

by Tom Ryle on Dec 9, 2010 6:08 PM CST reply actions

I always wondered about whether JG was largely going through the motions early this year.

After the Giants game I thought that Wade might have asked Garrett to reign in the offense … but now I know that was wrong.

First, Dallas was leading the league in 1st down throws (yeah! … good strategy) before Garrett was promoted.

Second, the opposite has happened with Wade gone. The offense hasn’t been unleashed. Garrett has thrown less.

Third, the offense has been consitently good all season … it’s just the unpredictable stuff is going Dallas’s way now. Garrett going through the motions didn’t cause all those balls of Austin’s hands for picks, passes off Bennett’s hands for picks, EJ Henderson tricking Romo, Free missing the cut block and getting the ball tipped for a pick, etc, etc.

by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 9, 2010 7:30 PM CST reply actions

This is thoughtful analysis. I am currently re-reading it. Please.. no quiz yet.

A couple of questions in the meantime:

Can anyone imagine Parcells or Jimmy not grabbing N Turner/S Payton by the lapels and telling him very directly anything but kneel down and live to fight another day?

1) Will JG be able to do this as HC, to JG the OC? Does he not run the risk of repeating the Wade problems of HC/DC without an independent OC?

2) How large a sphere of control will jj allow JG or any HC to have over the team, draft, coaches?

"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders

by jstaubach on Dec 9, 2010 9:16 PM CST reply actions

Those are precisely THE key questions

And while JG builds his leverage through the remainder of the season, we’ll see how much he’s able to bank.

Normally, I’d say those answers would be obvious, but this is the Dallas Cowboys we’re discussing. I’d be shocked if JG didn’t get an independent OC, but stranger things have happened. We should expect his input to the draft, overall talent acquisition to be considerable.

In the final analysis, this is informed speculation, as are most predictions. But the outcomes will be telling.

We live life forwards and understand it backwards

by tdships on Dec 10, 2010 12:10 AM CST reply actions

I think he'll definitely get an OC.

I think the question is who will call the plays?

When looking at Jason’s past, he had Cam Cameron lined up as his OC when he interviewed for jobs in 08. I can’t imagine he’d ask or get agreement from a play-calling veteran like Cameron to be his OC without Cameron getting the play-calling duties. You wouldn’t hire a vet like him just to help you set up the game plan. With that in mind I thought it was certainly possible that Garrett would look to do something similar for next year and have a veteran OC who calls the plays.

But a few weeks ago, can’t remember which game, Aikman commented that Garrett loved calling plays and wasn’t planning on giving them up next year. So it looks probable that we’ll have a new OC but the offensive play-calling will remain with the Head Coach. That’s fine with me too, as I think Garrett is a very good play-caller.

by Luke. on Dec 10, 2010 3:27 PM CST up reply actions

Nice post tdships, recommended.

Most people on here can clearly see the common sense in your post. There are those few crazies however who just "know" that Garrett was responsible for every single thing that was wrong with this team when Philips was Head Coach (as you noted Garrett was blamed for the Draft and I also saw him blamed for the Defense!!). But the good news is since Garrett’s outstanding work as Head Coach those nutters have slinked into the background.

All hail Jason Garrett, not only has he saved the Cowboys, he’s saved the blog!

by Luke. on Dec 10, 2010 3:12 PM CST reply actions

There are several HC's that call plays

Payton-NO, Haley-KC, Norv-SD just off the top of my head. Am sure there are several more.

We live life forwards and understand it backwards

by tdships on Dec 10, 2010 3:39 PM CST reply actions

Interesting...

Plenty of Wade’s issues are self-imposed – principally his non-confrontational personality, inability to recognize or develop talent in younger payers and his all-or-nothing Defensive philosophy. If something didn’t work – either do it to the extreme or abandon it altogether. No nuance, no subtlety to keep the opposition guessing, off-balance.

How many people would agree with that statement at this time last year when Dallas was #1 or #2 in yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, sacks, points allowed, etc. etc.?

All I can say is, ‘what a difference a year makes’ eh?

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

- John Wooden (God rest his soul)

by 5Blings on Dec 10, 2010 11:56 PM CST reply actions

Out with the old, in with the new

Perhaps it’s a measure of one’s homerism: the ability of us fans to buy into whatever the new regime is selling with 100%, even if its the diametrical opposite of what the old regime was selling – and which we also bought into with 100%.

I distinctly remember vehemently arguing against tackling in camp and in training (such was the Cowboys doctrine at the time). Today I am a great proponent full contact training, and I wonder how I could have ever thought differently.

What a difference a couple of weeks make.

by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 11, 2010 5:28 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, I distinctly remember arguing that Winnie was the perfect name for Wade because he was too soft

Today, I…oh…never mind.

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

- John Wooden (God rest his soul)

by 5Blings on Dec 11, 2010 7:13 PM CST up reply actions

last year when Dallas was #1 or #2 in yards allowed

The defense was #9 in yards allowed.

The offense was #2 in yards gained.

by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 11, 2010 7:52 AM CST up reply actions

You can't let this go, can you bud?

Would anyone on this blog say the offense outperformed the defense last year?

And if they did, what would they use as a foundation for that argument?

I know you won’t like it when I say this, but anyone that watched every game last year (I watched them twice) would know (again, you have to know a little bit about the game beyond a box score or an ESPN stat recap) that the defense was keeping Dallas in games it should not have been in.

The offense, however, couldn’t seem to score points, despite all those gaudy yardage numbers you continually ride the back of. This year, the defense fell down and the Garrett-coordinated offense couldn’t generate the points again, so the team started losing badly.

I don’t know how to put it any more plainly. You blame the defense (I guess expecting the return of Doomsday) which held opponents to ridiculously low points scored #’s and overlook the fact that the offense was impotent much of last year.

Where do we go from here?

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

- John Wooden (God rest his soul)

by 5Blings on Dec 11, 2010 7:11 PM CST up reply actions

wow. you feel the need to write quite a lengthy response to a correction of a factual error.

by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 11, 2010 7:46 PM CST up reply actions

dang it Fan!!!

I was typing that, just had to make sure my facts were straight….

Knowledge and Skill overcome Superstition and Luck- Dawn Patrol Motto-Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

by I draft the Cowboys!!!! on Dec 11, 2010 7:47 PM CST up reply actions

umm Blings...

while I agree with you in theory, I don’t think that is what Fan was intending when he posted that… I think he was just stating that Dallas was NOT 1or 2 in yards allowed…However i do believe that they were 2nd in pionts allowed, which is what i think is what you may have been thinking of when you posted your statement…

Knowledge and Skill overcome Superstition and Luck- Dawn Patrol Motto-Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

by I draft the Cowboys!!!! on Dec 11, 2010 7:46 PM CST up reply actions

I just thought you might be confused.

You know, you remember that one of the units was #2 in yards and you got them mixed up.

by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 11, 2010 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

Dang it, I thought we had ourselves a spat brewing again...

I guess I’ll go to BGN and suggest they merge with Cincinnati to see if I can get their dander up.

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

- John Wooden (God rest his soul)

by 5Blings on Dec 11, 2010 11:45 PM CST up reply actions

anyone that watched every game last year (I watched them twice) would know (again, you have to know a little bit about the game beyond a box score or an ESPN stat recap) that the defense was keeping Dallas in games it should not have been in.

Ok. I tried. I can’t resist. This is like the 3rd or 4th time you written this. You seem to believe it ‘proves’ you right.

don’t you realize all this proves is that you should do us all a favor stay away from game tape because you obviously can’t evauate it. You went back and re-watched every game and your conclusion is: there is absolutely nothing wrong with the defense. And now you’re shouting from the rooftops.

It’s like someone saying: I watched every game and there is nothing wrong with Leonard Davis’s ability to block fast DL. That doesn’t prove that Leonard Davis can block quick DL … that just proves that person is clueless.

by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 12, 2010 9:13 AM CST up reply actions