Bruce Matthews Not Joining Cowboys, Team Signs Wide Receiver

by One.Cool.Customer on Jan 25, 2011 10:30 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

The Texans' Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews has decided to stay in Houston rather than join the Cowboys' coaching staff and signed a new contract with the Texans on Monday.

Matthews, who played his first 14 years in the NFL with the Oilers, interviewed last Monday for a position with the Cowboys under offensive line coach Hudson Houck. Houck and Matthews have a relationship that dates back to Matthews' collegiate days at USC.

The speculation is that Houck will be getting an assistant because he will be named offensive run game coordinator in addition to his offensive line position. Though not announced officially, it's expected John Garrett will become passing game coordinator, to complement Houck as running game coordinator.

The Cowboys' other candidate for the position, Dan Campbell, decided to stay in Miami, leaving the Cowboys on the lookout for other candidates, which they are more than likely to find at the coaching fair called the Senior Bowl.

However, Jerry Jones said there is no timetable for finalizing the staff, which still has a minimum of four open positions: assistant OL coach, DL coach, LB coach and WR coach.

"We’ve got plenty of time this offseason," Jones said. "There is no timetable, but it’s certainly not imminent. That will seek its own time. We’ve got a lot of coaches that are here that want to be talked to about jobs. As you know, this is kind of a coaching job fair."

--- In other roster news, the Cowboys signed wide receiver Titus Ryan to a two-year futures contract. Ryan already spent part of training camp 2010 with the Cowboys, but was released after breaking his thumb.

Titus Ryan was initially brought in primarily as a return guy to bring a dynamic presence in the kick return game, and his speed apparently impressed the Cowboys enough to keep him on their radar. Ryan once held the Alabama high school record for 100 meters with 10.44 seconds and ran a 4.28 40 during Alabama's pro day in 2007.

He played with Calgary and Winnipeg in the Canadian Football League in 2009 before joining the Cowboys for training camp, but elected not to play football in 2010 while he recovered from his broken thumb, despite an offer to return to the CFL.

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First hiccup

I would have LOVED Bruce Matthews in Valley Ranch, shame that didn’t happen. However, I am happy Houck will be more involved in the running game coordinating. Sure, we can claim he shouldn’t stay, but sicne he is glad to see he can help insure the blocking schemes and o-line are on the same page with the running backs and techniques coached (vision, cutbacks, where to expect lanes to open, etc.)

Kind of happy to see Titus Ryan back with the Cowboys. He could end up becoming that fast/shifty slot WR we need to find.

"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry

by Kegbearer on Jan 25, 2011 10:43 AM CST reply actions

I'm not sure...

Titus Ryan has the hands to be a slot receiver. He dropped a lot of passes in practice and preseason last year.

I see him more as a Special Teams player to replace Jesse Holley or Sam Hurd (Gunner on kickoffs and punt coverage). The difference being, he can actually return kickoffs where Hurd and Holley don’t.

He might also make a decent change up WR to come in and stretch the field on occasion on the side opposite Austin or Dez to possibly draw some coverage from Safeties. Especially if he keeps blowing by CB’s.

Rabid and luvin' it

by lonewolfz28 on Jan 25, 2011 11:02 AM CST up reply actions

Titus

Not saying he’ll be our slot WR tomorrow, but he did show some promise in training camp, and while his first impact will be ST, his speed and agility fit for the slot WR route tree and he could become a good WR for us.

by Kegbearer on Jan 25, 2011 2:33 PM CST up reply actions

first Cambell

now Matthews. Would have liked to ink either one of them. Wonder what the hold up is with finishing out our staff?

I also heard that what coaches we currently employ, will remain with the club through the season. I don’t like the idea of keeping Campo!

by textaz03 on Jan 25, 2011 10:49 AM CST reply actions

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/01/mathews-declines-leaving-cowbo.html

Owner-general manager Jerry Jones said it is safe to expect any coach with the club at this point will return.

by textaz03 on Jan 25, 2011 10:54 AM CST up reply actions

I'd of liked Cambell

but I’m not a believer in HOF players becoming coaches. Sorry bruce good luck to you! I think if Jason thought either of these guys were indispensable, he’d of got them

by AustonianAggie on Jan 25, 2011 11:12 AM CST up reply actions

Major warning signs to me...

that the Boys’ change in coaching culture may be to an extent more on the surface. I sure hope that neither Campbell nor Matthews saw or heard of some things they didn’t like that maybe a major indication of some possible dysfunctionality within roles and responsibilities. And on the D, sounds like these guys are just too loyal to Camps. They had better stay on him like Jimmy Johnson use to. But I think he’s just lost it with regard to what’s needed by today’s DBs.

also concerned about this Titus Ryan thing. Sure he has tremendous speed, but he didn’t appear to be anything special when I closely observed his practice sessions and preseason

by ChuckCowboy on Jan 25, 2011 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

Houck's not a bad coach

I think the most glaring evidence of this is the change in the O-Line after Garrett took over. I believe you can’t coach biggun’s to do their biggun-thing without being physical in practice and as everyone knows we weren’t being physical in practice. Houck was regarded as one of the best Oline coaches for years. While I think a head coach or the two primary coordinators can become “old” in their thinking and ineffective, I have a hard time believing someone could become “old” in proper stance for pummelling the guy in front of you. Maybe that’s naive.

by NavyBoyBill on Jan 25, 2011 11:10 AM CST reply actions

Playing offensive line is not rocket science.

If someone is in front of you, knock the crap out of them. If no one is in front of you, look for some one to knock the crap out of. At least that is what my offensive line coach taught us. I think the big thing is that offensive line schemes have become complicated and convoluted. Now it seems no one knows who is blocking who.

If I should die before I wake,
feed Jake.

by GunsUp on Jan 25, 2011 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

No offense but

That may be what your coach taught you, but are you an NFL lineman? Schemes have become complicated but only because blitzes have become complicated. Yeah you can just block the guy in front of you, but if they are bringing 6 what do you do? If they are changing formations and feinting the blitz, you gotta know what to do. It’s not an easy position to play by any mean.

You aint been around in awhile, maybe you haven't heard........I don't shine shoes no more

by markdamack on Jan 25, 2011 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

So right.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jan 25, 2011 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

Not to mention...

stunts and twists. Those were giving our OL fits this season.

Also, they can’t knock the crap out of what they can’t catch. Our guys are slow and getting slower. They could probably knock the crap out of someone…if they were able to move quick enough to get to them.

Rabid and luvin' it

by lonewolfz28 on Jan 26, 2011 12:42 AM CST up reply actions

Was Bruce Matthews, Manusky, Fangio, or Campbell offered a job? I don't think so...

It’s laughable how the press will note that we are on our 3rd or 4th choice for open positions, when we are just interviewing.candidates.

Ryan came in for an interview and it turned into an all day session, because we liked what he was saying. The others lasted a couple of hours and we said goodbye. (Campbell came in for a second interview to meet with Houck whom he didn’t see the first time, but no job offer was extended.)

by CaliFanInTx on Jan 25, 2011 2:37 PM CST reply actions

Wow

What have Garret and Houck done to warrant a promotion?

Has Houck brought any young O-Linemen along? Would anybody describe our O-Line as a “well-coached group”?

And Garrett… why (aside from nepotism) does he deserve a promotion? His main project was supposed to be Marty B… Have we seen any improvement from the Jupiterian?

Promoting unsuccessful coaches like Houck and Garrett is the same type of complacency that has plagued the Cowboys for a long time.

by JimmyJohnson on Jan 25, 2011 2:42 PM CST reply actions

Can you say Free?

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass....... and I am all out of bubblegum" - George Nada

by fan since '65 on Jan 25, 2011 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

I'm like Parcells in saying...

hold off the anointing oil just yet. I actually thought Free would raise his game a lot sooner becuase of his tremendous potential. And sure, technique wise and getting to the 2nd level in his blocks are good signs. But we also saw he received a lot of help early and when he received less help, he struggled mightily against better competition with ugly holding penalties and other errors. Several times he got away with blatant stuff that was missed. Hope he comes in a lot stronger in his core and will take it to the next level. We need him to be dominant.

by ChuckCowboy on Jan 25, 2011 4:41 PM CST up reply actions