Five Reasons Jason Garrett is the Wrong Kind of Guy to be the Dallas Cowboys’ Head Coach
by CowboyinExile on Sep 7, 2011 9:35 PM CDT
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Print(Hello all. Longtime reader, first time fanposter here. Please note that the following post is also posted on my blog which can be found at andrewblog1.wordpress.com .)
Today, I am thankful for football. We are on the cusp of what was one of the most fragile NFL seasons in decades. A mere two months ago, in the midst of the lockout, the very thought of seeing my Dallas Cowboys play seemed like wishful thinking, likely to be lost in an increasingly murky pit of dollars and cents. Yet here we stand today, a mere twenty-four hours before the first kickoff of the 2011 NFL season. With football once again a certainty, I am forced to break from my celebration and face an uncomfortable reality – Jason Garrett is the coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Many of the Cowboys faithful like Garrett. He certainly has a surface-level appeal. He was Troy Aikman’s backup. He played during the Cowboys dynasty years. He talks the talk with his oft-repeated quips espousing the "The Cowboy Way" and the "Right Kind of Guy." He even sprinkles in those little hard-nosed coach trademarks like punishing players for dress code violations.
Still, from the moment Wade Phillips’ firing proved inevitable, I feared that Jerry Jones would overlook the other quality coaches in the open market and promote someone from within, who is without. Here are five reasons that Jason Garrett is the Wrong Kind of Guy to be the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach.
5. The Quickly Closing Window
What has frustrated Cowboys fans over the past three years more than the team’s ineptitude in and of itself, is the feeling that most of the pieces needed to succeed are in place. There are still questions about Tony Romo, but he has at least proven himself a capable, above average quarterback. The Cowboys have had a receiving corps that other teams would kill for. The team has consistently had one of the most stacked backfields in the league. Dallas’ secondary has long been suspect, but the Boys have also been able to boast a talented linebacking corps and some punishing bodies on the defensive line. What’s more, the Cowboys have the best all-around tight end in the NFL in Jason Witten, plus one of the best LBs in the league in DeMarcus Ware. I never bought into the chatter that the Cowboys had the most talented roster in the NFL, but undeniably, there have been enough tools available to make Dallas a consistent contender. And there still are.
That said, the Wade Phillips regime, including Jason Garrett and his underachieving offense, absolutely squandered this talent through a combination of lack of discipline and occasionally baffling playcalls. During last season’s abysmal 6-10 outing, it became abundantly clear that it was time to wipe the slate clean. Dallas needed, and still needs, to welcome a new set of coaches who can bring in a better culture and use this group to their full potential. Before long, it will be too late and the Cowboys will have to rebuild the major pieces of the roster from scratch.
These are the prime years for important players like Tony Romo (left) and Jason Witten (right). It would be a shame to waste them on the growing pains of a first time head coach.
In spite of this ticking clock Jerry Jones put Jason Garrett, a first-time head coach, at the helm this year. Garrett’s never handled the duties of a head coach before. He’s never built a system from the ground up, never had to supervise both sides of the ball, never had to have the entire responsibility for the team fall on his shoulders. Succeeding as a head coach in the NFL is one of the most challenging tasks imaginable, and Garrett is likely to hit a few missteps along the way. His eight games last season were a nice warm up, but there is simply not enough time for a HC who has to learn the ropes, and this group of players does not have the time to wait.
It’s also the wrong time to gamble on an unproven guy. With accomplished coaches like Bill Cowher, among others, riding the coaching carousel, Jason Garrett is a gamble with surer bets available. There is simply too much at stake. These are prime years for guys like Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and DeMarcus Ware, with the downward slope in sight. There is simply too much talent at stake to risk it on a man who has never led a team before.
It’s a particularly risky bet given…
4. His 2010 Resume
Jason Garrett won this job on the supposed strength of his performance as interim head coach during the final eight games of the 2010 NFL season. More than his win-loss record, a passable 5-3, something else persuaded Jerry Jones to promote him. Garrett seemed able to turn a team that had all but given up in the first half of the season into one that played with more passion and focus, down the stretch. Both the record and the turnaround, however, are pretty suspect when placed in the proper context.
The 2010 Dallas Cowboys threw in the towel on last season pretty quickly. It became clear fairly early that the ‘Boys would not be contending for a playoff spot, and that Wade Phillips was a lame duck. In other words, the team had nothing to play for, and it showed. Lackadaisical effort, giving up on plays, and general apathy pervaded the team. I have to admit, it had a similar apathy -inducing effect on me as a fan. I would still watch every game, but week after week seeing of a disinterested team leads to a disinterested viewer. The team had hit rock bottom.
Suddenly, Wade Phillips is gone. Sure, Jason Garret got the nod from Jerry, but more importantly, the players received an official confirmation that they’re all auditioning for next year. All of a sudden, there’s an air of change and transition that’s able to get some spark out of the team. They finally have something to play for. The team responded, with more intensity, if not more skill, remaining competitive over the last eight games of the season.
Wade Phillips was fired halfway through the Cowboys 2010 season.
Now maybe some measure of this up-tempo response came from players who liked Garrett and played for his job. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that you could made damn near any assistant the interim coach and you would have seen the same sort of reaction from the team. It was the atmosphere of change and a clean break as well as the guys realizing they were suddenly being evaluated for the big sweep next year that turned things around, not Garrett in and of himself that prompted the turnaround. The coaching change was the jolt the team needed, not the specific new coach who came in. To boot, they were able to improve so much because they had fallen so far in the first half of the year.
To the point, for all the excitement and bluster about how the Cowboys finished the season, they went 5-3 down the stretch. That’s certainly not bad, and you can point to good showings and close losses against New Orleans and Arizona and Philly. But by that same token, you can also point to near misses against Washington, Indy, and again, Philly. The end result is pretty much the same team we’ve had the last few years – a pretty good, but not great one.
If the team had played this way the entire season, we would have seen the same sort of team that Cowboys fans have seen repeatedly during the Wade Phillips era. It’s a team that is talented but inconsistent, that stands up to big time opponents but has trouble closing the deal. It’s a team that’s right on the edge of playoff contention, but nowhere near reliable enough to warrant great expectations.
That is to say, Jason Garrett did not work any miracles. He did not prompt this team to play up to their potential, merely the slightly above average pace they’ve kept in recent years. I expect he will field a decent team as head coach. Dallas will struggle, but they’ll have a shot until the end of the season. Unfortunately, that’s just the same old same old. Garrett managed to get the Cowboys back to where they were, and maybe that’s worth something, but he’s shown nothing to me that says he can get them any further than the regime he was half responsible for over the last four years.
That "same old, same old" mentality came through in…
3. The 2011 Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was a trying time to be a Cowboys fan. After a year where a porous offensive line led to an untimely injury to Romo and the secondary had been torched time and time again, the areas of need were clear. Despite these pressing concerns, the Cowboys entered the draft short-handed.
The Cowboys had traded their first round pick, as part of a king’s ransom. for the suspect receiver Roy Williams. They did not address the offensive line until the third round, where they picked small-school tackle Robert Brewster with a plan to shift him to guard. Then, when it came to the secondary, Jerry and Wade didn’t even bother until the 5th round, where they took DeAngelo Smith with their sixth pick in the draft. The sixth round is when you’re hunting for special teamers and works-in-progress, not future fixtures on the team.
History does not look fondly on the Cowboys 2009 Draft. Roy Williams is gone after a grossly underachieving spell with the team. Dallas cut Robert Brewster before the start of business this year, with him having made meager, if any, contributions to the Cowboys’ line. DeAngelo Smith didn’t even make it out of camp the year he was drafted. The point of this history lesson is a simple one – the Cowboys have needed help on the offensive line and in the secondary for at least three drafts now, and Dallas’ war room has done little to address them.
Supposedly, the 2011 Draft was Jason Garrett’s show to run. One of the biggest concerns among the diehards is finding a coach who can stand up to Jerry Jones, particularly with respect to personnel moves. Garrett was purportedly in control on draft day. He certainly had Jerry in his ear, but the word is that JG, to the extent possible in a team with this owner, was calling the shots. In Garrett’s inaugural draft we ended up with what is, at best, a mixed bag.
Again, coming into this draft, the O-Line badly needed an overhaul. That’s been clear since the Arizona game in 2008 when the offensive line managed to allow both Tony Romo and Matt McBriar to be injured in the same game. It was just as clear in the 2010 playoffs when Minnesota’s D manhandled the Cowboys front. It was just as clear this year when the line did their best impression of turnstiles and let the Giants defense through to thwomp Romo yet again.
Tyron Smith was the Cowboys first pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.
This is the one area where Garrett proved his worth. His first pick in the draft was his best – USC tackle Tyron Smith. Garrett selected someone who will hopefully be a fixture for the future on the offensive line and who could give the beleaguered position group a shot in the arm. He followed this up by picking guard David Arkin in the fourth round. Arkin was a solid pick. You can find serviceable guard talent in the 4th round, and there’s something the Cowboys just love about four-year starters from small schools, especially on the line. At least Dallas was drafting at a position of need. Garrett even added lineman Bill Nagy in the 7th round for good measure. If there’s one thing to be said for Garrett’s draft, it’s that he paid attention to the line.
Unfortunately, that’s where the compliments end. With their second pick in the draft, the Cowboys selected LB Bruce Carter, who was coming off a torn-ACL. Carter comes from Jerry Jones’ good buddy Butch Davis’ program in North Carolina. At a time when the Cowboys badly needed help in the secondary, and when Brandon Harris of Miami and Rahim Moore of UCLA were still available, Garrett went with another injury-prone linebacker.
How many injury-prone LBs has Dallas drafted in the past few years? And what success they’ve had! As though the fact that Carter is coming off of an injury weren’t enough, he’s on record espousing his preference for McDonalds as his dinner of choice. Nothing shows maturity and conditioning in a linebacker more than statements like, "Almost every day. I usually get three double cheeseburgers, medium fries, large tea and a six-piece McNuggets. I don’t think eating healthy as far as eating salads and that stuff really works for me."
And more unfortunate still, the worst was yet to come. In the third round, Garrett selected Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray. Now don’t get me wrong. Despite my distaste for OU, Murray looks to be a quality back without any of the puzzling question marks that come with Bruce Carter. There’s just one big problem – running back is the position where the Cowboys have the absolute least need.
Despite having essentially no need for a RB, the Cowboys drafted DeMarco Murray in the third round.
At the time Garrett drafted Murray, the Cowboys had no fewer than three solid options at running back. Even if Garrett had already decided that Marion Barber was not long for this team, there is not a single reason to worry about a backfield of Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.
I cannot comprehend why Garrett has it out for Tashard Choice, but even if JG had no in him, Dallas needed help at approximately a million other positions on this team before they needed another running back. This need includes: another guard, another safety, another corner, another d-lineman. Hell, Garrett could have picked up players at all of those positions twice-over before the team reasonably ought to have been on the market for another RB.
Even worse, the word coming out of the second day of the draft was that the team may have been trying to trade up to take Mark Ingram in the first round. I didn’t get it then, and I don’t get it now. Running back is one of the most easily filled, plug-and-play positions in football. You never, never, spend money or waste draft picks on a running back unless you’re just positive that you’re getting Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson. Almost every runner is up and down and loses tire on their treads pretty quickly. The amount of production you get out of a "great" RB versus a "servicable" RB is incredibly small compared to the talent gap between other positions.
Garrett proved this principle himself when undrafted free agent RB Phillip Tanner played his way onto the team with a stellar performance in the preseason. This loaded the Cowboys up with four running backs on the 53-man roster. Of all the picks in the draft, the Murray pick is the most bewildering. It not only goes against the principle of drafting for need, but goes against the principle of how to maximize the value of your draft capital.
What’s more, as in 2009, the Cowboys did not touch the secondary until the fifth round with the selection of CB Josh Thomas out of Buffalo. In a year where the entire defense, not just the secondary, had been suspect, Thomas was one of only two draft picks on the defensive side of the ball. He found himself cut in the move to the 53-man roster, meaning that the 2011 draft made only contribution to an ailing defense that ranked 23rd in the league for total defense last year – one injury-prone rookie linebacker. There were so many needs going into the 2011 Draft, and Jason Garrett barely addressed any of them outside of the offensive line.
And that problem was exacerbated by…
2. The Roster Churn
Despite the fact that the draft did not do much to help the Cowboys in their big areas of need, Garrett & Co. were not especially active in free agency or the trade market to help improve the roster. Part of that stems from the fact that they had a fair number of free agents on the line they needed to sign at home: Doug Free, Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher, and Kyle Kosier, among others. Part of that stems from a hope that new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and his scheming will bolster the defense. Part of that stems from the fact that there is a great deal of dead money of this team.
There was certainly a healthy dose of trimming the fat this year. Since July, the Cowboys have cut notable vets and contributors like Roy Williams, Marion Barber, Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, Andre Gurode, and Montrae Holland. They also restructured the contracts of DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin. While I applauded many of these moves, they beg the question – why didn’t we cut bait with more of these guys in the uncapped 2010 season?
One of the excuses for why the Cowboys have not been more active in free agency – failing to land big guys like Nnamdi Asomugha who signed with the Eagles and losing guys like Stephen Bowen to the Redskins, is that the Cowboys are scraping against the salary cap. The salary cap, mind you, is likely to remain the same for at least the next few years until the next big television contract. Garrett certainly had a say in prior years, and walked into this year with little maneuvering whatsoever to add depth and talent to the team.
This year, the Cowboys finally cut ties with expensive failed experiment Roy Williams.
He’s also showed questionable management of the talent currently on the team. The Cowboys have had as many as five kickers on the roster through training camp. After David Buehler’s terribly inaccurate placekicking last season, the Cowboys desperately needed to find another solution. Unfortunately, despite the crowd of kickers in camp, that solution never materialized. The ‘Boys are carrying both Buehler and rookie Dan Bailey into the regular season. The likely arrangement is that Buehler will cover kickoffs and Bailey will cover placekicking. With five men auditioning, Garrett should have been able to find a reliable leg for the team. Instead, there are a pair of kickers taking up an extra roster spot that could help give more depth at a position like inside linebacker.
The Cowboys, of course, have only three ILBs on their final 53-man roster. There’s reliable stalwart Bradie James, the young Sean Lee, and the aging, fading, fired up veteran Keith Brooking. The phantom fourth member of this group is the aforementioned injured rookie Bruce Carter. If all three of these guys can stay healthy, the Cowboys should be alright, but that’s a very big if. Heaven forbid James or Lee have nagging injuries and Brooking has to play more ball. At the ripe old football age of thirty-five, does he still have what it takes physically to step in for more snaps? What is unproven Bruce Carter has to step in to carry the load? Maybe Garrett is putting his trust in Rob Ryan’s defensive mind to use the line or the secondary creatively in a jam, but he’s riding mighty thin at one of the most important positions on the defense.
Speaking of thin, it seems you cannot open the sports page each day without hearing that the Cowboys have jettisoned another offensive lineman. "The Youglies" as they have been dubbed (as in Young and Ugly) are taking over the O-Line. Only Kyle Kosier and Doug Free remain from last year’s line. Replacing the departed are rookies Tyron Smith and Bill Nagy, as well as youngin’ Phil Costa.
The offensive line has certainly needed an overhaul for ages, but this youth movement seems like too much too fast. In the past two months, the Cowboys have released the following lineman: starters Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, and Andre Gurode, as well as backups Montrae Holland and Sam Young. The signing of former Redskins guard Derrick Dockery helps to ease the fears a little, but even he needs to learn the system in time for him to step in where necessary. Maybe Garrett and the Cowboys’ miracle-worker O-line coach Hudson Houck see enough in these Younglies to have them protecting Tony Romo. I cannot help but worry. All the offensive weapons that Garrett’s been stockpiling can only go so far if his quarterback barely has any time to move the ball.
Which leads me to…
1. His Offense
After the Cowboys traded Patrick Crayton to the San Diego Chargers, the capable receiver opened up about his time in Dallas. Crayton said that Jason Garrett was completely in charge of the offensive and that Wade Phillips had little if anything to do with it. Given Garrett’s status as the heir to the throne and Wade’s defensive focus, there’s little reason to doubt this assessment. That means that the Cowboys offensive struggles over the last few years, particularly in terms of playcalling, can be placed squarely on Jason Garrett’s shoulders.
To wit, it was not just the defense that stunk up the joint last season. The offense that putted and sputtered its way through the first half of 2010 can be directly attributed to Garrett. From complaints of an inability to strike a proper balance between the pass and the run, failure to stretch the field vertically, and neglecting to take advantage of the talented players in the Cowboys backfield, Garrett was dodging criticism of his offense all last year.
While JG’s guys rarely failed to put a few points on the board, they simply could not keep pace with the opposition, especially when it counted the most. When it came to punching it in on the goal line, capitalizing on favorable field position, or worst of all, having to play from behind in crunch time, the offense just could not get it done. While the players certainly underachieved, a great deal of that lack of success can be attributed to Garrett and his playbook.
As my friend Todd put it, "If I see another screen or swing pass for a zero-to-three yard gain, I’m going to throw up." The imagination seems to have escaped from Jason Garrett’s play calling. The Cowboys found themselves in so many 3rd and long situations last year not just because of penalties or good defense, but because more times than I can count, the first two plays were "run up the gut" or "screen to the right" with little to show for either. Where is the spark and fire and creativity that made Jerry have to lockdown Garrett from potential suitors after his first year as offensive coordinator?
Jerry Jones had to pay Jason Garrett like a head coach after his first year as offensive coordinator to prevent him from leaving for the top job with another team.
Garrett’s offense has underachieved relative to its talent each year after that first promising 13-3 season. For all the opening bluster and fireworks in that initial promising year, the offense has been inconsistent at best since. With the opposition scoring big points, it’s easy to look at Wade Phillips’ defense as the culprits, but the big blunders during Wade’s regime tell a more even story.
In Dallas’ big divisional playoff loss to Minnesota, the offense could only manage a pitiful three points. In the debacle that was the Cowboys’ 2008 season finale, the Eagles lit up the Dallas D to the tune of 44 points, but Garrett’s offense could only manage six points in response. Even in JG’s big first year, the Cowboys closed out the regular season losing two of their last three. Those two losses came against weakened division rivals, who managed to hold Garrett’s "explosive" offense to six points in each outing.
This isn’t a story of a porous defense that the offense cannot compensate for. It’s a story of big missteps on both sides of the ball. Blame Wade Phillips all you want for his defense giving up and falling down, but Jason Garrett’s offense has been nothing to crow about since 2007.
I sincerely hope that I am wrong about all of this. My fondest wish would be for Jason Garrett to prove me hopelessly misguided and lead the Cowboys to a new golden age of continued contention and success. I just have little reason to believe that someone who was a part of the culture of the last four years is going to bring the significant changes the team is going to need.
You can turn over a few coaches, bring in some new blood, and come up with a few new slogans, but at base, Jason Garrett is, in some measure, a continuation of the mediocrity of the Wade Phillips regime. He’s the same touch-and-go offense, the same puzzling personnel moves, the same failure to play up to potential. Promoting Jason Garrett was a half-measure, and the Dallas Cowboys need, and deserve, a bigger change than a half-measure. At the end of the day, Jason Garrett is just the wrong kind of guy for the Dallas Cowboys.
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Comments
FIRST
Ha had to do it… oh and some of your points are valid, but I disagree.
by stegosaurus! on Sep 7, 2011 9:48 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Good article
Most discussions of JG around here take on a worshipful, tone, so it’s refreshing to see a different opinion. I agree with a lot of what you said. I’ve never been a big fan of his play calling. I thought once Owens ran out of gas and defensive coordinators caught on to his Mike Martz tendencies, the offense got much less productive. The fact is he doesn’t have a lot of experience in building and executing (and adjusting on the fly) offensive game plans, and it shows up with some remarkably unimaginative play calling. We can only hope he’ll learn to mix things up to keep defenses off balance.
On the other hand, he has brought accountability to the players, and that was missing under Philips. You have to give him some credit for having a good offense with Kitna as his quarterback, and since his play selection was usually uninspired, I believe that came through motivating players. That counts for something.
He’s also apparently steered Jerry away from shiny toys by convincing him to draft offensive linemen. What we did in this last draft was unprecedented in the Jerry Jones era, and I think that’s a good sign. I also think he was behind shedding the aging veterans and sticking in new guys along the line. I won’t argue those weren’t obvious moves, but then again, think about how long Jerry has hung on to guys well past their prime. Making the roster merit-based is long overdue, and I think Garrett is behind that.
But I do agree with you that it was a mistake to neglect the defensein the draft. It was very deep in defensive linemen, which we needed, and we drafted zero. I would have drafted just about anyone on defense instead of Murray; you’re right that running backs are a wasted pick in the modern era. Our defense is aging and has already started to break down. We need athleticism and depth there, and if this team is to succeed in the long term, we need to infuse a lot of talent on that side of the line of scrimmage of the next few years. JG needs to think less about “his” offense and more about the team as a whole. He’s going to be evaluated on his won-loss record, and I don’t think he’ll be able to avoid criticism by making the defense the scapegoat. It’s “his” defense now, too.
So, thanks for the different viewpoint. You put a lot of thought and time into it, and it was an enlightening read.
Thank you very much for the kind words and the thoughtful response.
Garrett’s playcalling is my biggest frustrations with him as a coach, mainly because it’s supposed to be what he’s good at. For all my other beefs, you could say that they’re new challenges he’s facing which he could overcome with time and experience. With the offense, however, he’s had four years to get good at it and his squads have stagnated and underachieved. It’s hard to like a guy as your head coach when you’re not even fond of him as a coordinator.
I will certainly give him credit for bringing some accountability back after Wade and lighting some fire under a Kitna-led team, but there’s two complicating issues. 1. It’s not hard to do better than Wade Phillips at instilling discipline. I feel like Wade set the bar so low that any improvement seems more dramatic than it ought to. 2. While JG definitely deserves some of the credit for the success of a Kitna-led offense, the players on offense suddenly had the motivation of playing for their jobs next year. Even that only amounted to 5-3 with a number of close calls. It’s not that I don’t think Garrett improved this team, I just think we’re all so conditioned to the cruddiness of Wade Phillips that the solid but unspectacular improvements Garrett made seem more significant than they really are. I have to keep reminding myself that better than Wade Phillips does not equal good.
I am very pleased with the attention that JG gave to the O-line. It’s been such a weakspot on the Cowboys for so long that it was a godsend to see it actually addressed. I would go as far as to say it’s JG’s greatest achievement as coach thus far. I also agree that he’s had a positive effect on getting Jerry to listen to reason, and the more he can do it, the better. I just wonder if it’s enough. He seems bold enough, but he’s still new and young and doesn’t have the same credibility to shut JJ up like a guy like Parcells. Maybe the fact that he was basically handpicked by Jerry will give him a boost in that regard, but I’m not sold yet.
And again, I share your concern about the defense and the lack of improvement through the draft. I’ve heard a few rumblings that they just didn’t have many defensive guys they liked on the draft board. Maybe with Rob Ryan being there a whole year, the 2012 Draft will be more balanced.
Again, thank you very much for your kind words. I really appreciate them.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 7, 2011 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions
JG knew so much more about the offensive players
I think that and knowing they had to address O-line set the tone for the draft. Red knew who he wanted to cut and who he wanted to get in draft offensively.
Also, I just sort of see Rob ryan coming in and saying his typical " we’ll be great-I’ll take whoever and make ‘em better" stuff. The man was trying to get a job! I’m sure he would have been happy to see a physical corner or DE. This led to an unbalanced draft. Hopefully, next year he will stand up and say “find me a replacement for Jenkins since he can’t/won’t tackle and a safety that brings it.” Unfortunately, seems this was a great defensive draft-hope next yr has some great prospects as well that line up right with position.
I hope Demarco makes us all forget there were good selections for D-line there and B Carter rehabs and puts down the Big Macs and makes us strong up the middle for years.
What I really hope is Jason puts down the play card next year to free him up to concentrate more on the big picture. Possibly this will increase his odds of making him the right kind of coach for the Cowboys.
Together, we WILL make it happen!
by nikeorlipstick on Sep 8, 2011 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Draft
I don’t think Ryan took a big part in this draft simply because he didn’t know of all the pieces he already had. Unlike a majority of the organization who have known the players for years we had Rob come in to be DC and then had a lockout. Thats why I think next year will be so big for the defense, Rob will know what he wants and what exactly he can’t mask or fix.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
by Final Frame on Sep 8, 2011 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Also the Lockout
Had to had some affect on the lack of defensive players drafted. The veterans have said that RR’s playbook is very complicated so you could imagine the difficulty a rookie would have learning it. Jerry was one of the main players in the negotiators in the CBA talk, so he knew how long it was going to take. Throwing rookies into a RR defense with a month to learn it may have been extremely difficult.
Jason Garrett=2011 NFL Coach of the Year
I agree
That’s what I was trying to say. JG knew the offensive side really well. I do think Rob will work with whatever they give him and not make excuses. I just hope he is given some latitude to assist any selecting some players next year that will fit his scheme and player type he wants to effectively run the scheme. It’s unfortunate he wasn’t here year prior as it appears there was an abundance of D talent. We might have had a more balanced draft.
I want Demarco to succeed, and think he will, but a D line/ promising DB there would have been great.
Together, we WILL make it happen!
by nikeorlipstick on Sep 8, 2011 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Thats why I looked at his history
I’ve heard people question his ability due to his past since he’s been with Oakland, and Cleveland as far as a DC capacity. He did some impressive things with both defenses but it normally only lasted a season (of greatness) other times they were just the middle of the pack. Now I question how much say he had in personnel decisions. I think he knows what he wants and has a good grasp of players that would fit it but I don’t believe he was always approached in those decisions (especially with Al Davis). I think he’ll get that chance in Dallas, I just hope he gets another few years with us first before being given a HC job somewhere.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
two years
If he gets say so in 2012 draft and that defense makes great strides and the Boys have success, I think he will get his chance. It would be a good problem to have but that might mean no continuity for 2013 when most thnk we will be really ready to contend.
The world could come to end by then-I’ll just focus on Sun night.
Together, we WILL make it happen!
by nikeorlipstick on Sep 8, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
That's part of the problem
We had a little bit of the reverse with Wade, where he loved LB’s so we had a glut of them. I’m glad JG finally did something on the line, but I just wish he’d skipped over yet another injured LB and a RB that we totally didn’t need to give this team some guys who can really fill in in our biggest areas of need. There were better prospects on the D-Line and in the secondary.
I think you’re right about Rob Ryan though. I just finished reading “Blood, Sweat, and Chalk” and I get the feeling the Ryan Family Defense has a “we can do this with anybody” mentality that comes along with it. At least we pulled Abe Elam in. I’m not sure how much of a stud he’ll be, but at least he knows the system. I really hope that next year is a defensive draft.
That’s the thing about DeMarco. Unless he’s Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson, him being good doesn’t change anything. At best, he’ll be an upgrade at a position we were already set at. I think Carter is just Jerry & Co. being snookered by their good buddies in North Carolina.
I would be at least somewhat mollified if Garrett gave up playcalling duties, if only because I haven’t liked his playcalling over the past three years, but you make a good point. If he can focus entirely on the HC aspects of the job, it would help him to close the gap that all first-time coaches have to close.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree with
Some of what you said. But there is one major point that I think most NFL fans miss, just because a coordinator calls the plays, it’s the Head coach that approves the plays that are being called. The coordinator makes the call, but the Head coach has final say.
Jason Garrett=2011 NFL Coach of the Year
Not always
And given the relationship JG has with Jerry and what Patrick Crayton said, it doesn’t look like that was the case here.
I agree with kindablue. Between what Crayton said, the fact that Wade isn’t an offensive-minded guy, and the fact that Jerry is so high on Garrett that he almost made him the HC out of the gate, I take Crayton at his word that the offense was JG’s to run with minimal, if any, interference from Wade.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 7, 2011 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions
It's not interfering
if all you say is yes or no. That’s what the head coach does. If you play Madden, and you see the playbooks, you never see coordinators names as their playbooks, it’s always the Head Coaches name because the Head Coach, whether it’s Belicheck to Kubiack or whoever you think is it the worst Head Coach is, the Head Coach has final say on all plays. He may not design the plays or script them during the week, but when It comes to gametime, he makes the final approval.
Jason Garrett=2011 NFL Coach of the Year
That's not what JERRY's Head Coaches do
Don’t be so quick to assume that Dallas’ power structure operated in a way you think most other teams do.
Nothing suggests that Wade even knew the names of the second stringers on offense.
I’ve made this point for some time now. The offense was JG’s. Always. Just as the defense was Wade’s.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
hey andrew …
Figure out why you were so wrong about the Falcons …
2. Green Bay at Atlanta, Saturday, 8 P.M. EST on FOX – The Packers have won their last three games in a row, beating a playoff contender in the New York Giants, and a pair of division winners in the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, they’ll try to defeat their third NFC division champ in a month and unseat the Atlanta Falcons. Aaron Rodgers on offense and Clay Matthews on defense have led these Packers into the playoffs and seem to have the momentum going into this game. That said, the Atlanta Falcons have won nine of their last ten games, will be setting up shop in the Georgia Dome, and have had an extra week to rest and prepare for their opponents. Matt Ryan and the Falcons have been far and away the top team in the NFC this year, and they’ll look to continue their great season all the way to the NFC Championship game. Expect a great fight between two great teams.
You know what Kenny Powers says? Fundamentals are the crutch of the talentless.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Sep 7, 2011 10:51 PM CDT reply actions
Oh man, that’s not even my worst one. I hyped the second regular season meeting between the Pats and the Jets as a preview for the AFC Championship and a fight for the ages. We all saw what a one-sided beatdown that turned out to be. Alas, if only I could wrangle myself a crystal ball.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 7, 2011 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions
there’s a real point about atlanta. the real point is that Atlanta was entirely predictable.
take a look at this preview
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/divisional-round-probabilities-atlanta-overrated/
but you have to be looking at the right things. I thought that GB was much better than ATL because I focus on passing efficiency.
that also leads me to have a high opinion of Garrett.
You know what Kenny Powers says? Fundamentals are the crutch of the talentless.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Sep 8, 2011 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
well
it was a preview for the divisional game, and we know how that turned out…
"it's not easy being green"-kermit the frog
"we the mets are an improved ball club, now we lose in extra innings"-casy stengel
i cant spell a nosebleed
The Official Seinfeld Gif-Man of GGN!!!!!!!!
You're wrong about all 5...really wrong
Garrett will coach this team for a long time and be very successful in the Landry/Johnson lineage.
In Romo we Trust
I really hope that you’re right and I’m wrong.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 7, 2011 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions
No They're Not
Garrett’s success as Cowboys head coach is hardly going to be settled in one game nor even one season. And frankly, if you like having a revolving door at head coach, then by all means, lets set this season up as a one-time, pass/fail audition.
Let’s at least give Jason Garrett, say, three years. Get his players from his drafts onto the field and see how they do.
So far I like what I see.
Comprehension's apparently a challenge
Given one side saying JG’s akin to Landry/Johnson and the other saying he shouldn’t even be HC, my statement that they are about to find out that the truth is between them is about to happen. Nowhere is there mention of a timeframe, be it 1 game, 1 season, 3 years or 20 years. Nowhere is there claim that I prefer a ‘revolving door". In fact, if you search though my comments regarding Cowboys coaching challenges you’ll find precisely the opposite perspective.
Frankly, this comparison of Johnson to Landry’s as ludicrous as annointing Garrett the next great Cowboys HC.
Quit getting bent outta shape and brush up on your reading and comprehension instead.
btw, I like what I see of JG so far too. But Ithere’s a long ways to go before he approaches Johnson, much less Landry. A looooong ways.
Cry 'Havoc!'
amen
Together, we WILL make it happen!
by nikeorlipstick on Sep 8, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
This part is hard to argue with
These are the prime years for important players like Tony Romo (left) and Jason Witten (right). It would be a shame to waste them on the growing pains of a first time head coach.
However, the retreads haven’t fared so well and the guy I was thinking about (Harbaugh) was never in the mix.
So, I think we need to see this play out a bit.
I do appreciate the work (one of the longest posts I’ve seen) and your willingness to take something other than, as kindablue said, a “worshipful tone”.
Keep posting.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
Thank you very much for the support. I really really appreciate it.
It may be a pipe dream, but I’ve had my heart set on Cowher since Wade’s second year. A hardnosed guy with proven success seems like just what the doctor ordered after Wade, but I suppose I’m just pleased we didn’t end up with Shanahan like it looked like we were for a while.
Again, thank you very much.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 7, 2011 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions
After Wade, I’m not sure that a coach that took sixteen years to win a Super Bowl, and did so with some extremely suspect referring helping him out, is what the doctor ordered either.
Cowher is overrated. One SB in his entire tenure in Pitt and he's the greatest coach ever?
Remember at one point in their careers guys like Cowher and Gruden had never been a HC. Garrett knows what he wants and is going to get it done. I see this years D getting better as the year goes on and then in the next draft JG goes and gets RR the players he needs to put his type Defensive unit together.
"This is a simple game, you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the the ball, you got it?!"
I'm not a Cowher fan
He stayed way too long with Crydell Stewart and had one of the league’s top defenses (as is usually the case) and it cost them trips to the Super Bowl.
Isn’t Cowher’s “success” somewhat muted now that Tomlin has rode the Big Ben express to more big victories?
Let’s see if JG is a hard-nosed guy who just lacks the proven success…so far.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
hope so
I vacillate on whether JG will be a great coach. At times I think yes due to intelligence and preparedness but other times I think he’s so predictable with play calling. I used to think he might be like Norv- great OC-ehhh Head coach. Now, I think he has a better shot at being great head coach, ehh OC because of predictability.
Together, we WILL make it happen!
by nikeorlipstick on Sep 8, 2011 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
I read a great article breaking down his tendencies and how he ran the same dive play out of a particular formation too often
That could be just growing pains and it could be fatal flaws.
Oh man, I cannot wait!!!!
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
A lot of plays have been around a long time or are derived from another play
So unless someone invents a play that is entirely new we will always see slight variations in formations and plays. Now saying that its still up to the team itself to execute plays and depending on that they will either pass or fail. I think thats where the Oline came in. JG saw that his offensive playmakers could carry the day and had been doing that. But when his linemen started getting hurt and the line was plugged with other players he noticed a bit more flexibility. A lineman may not be able to stand his ground and protect the pocket but he might be able to move more. Thats how I think he got to his current line of thinking. Now he’s trying to use the line as playmakers as well supporting his usual cast.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
do you remember where you read
Woul like to check it out.
Together, we WILL make it happen!
by nikeorlipstick on Sep 8, 2011 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions
One of the bettors magazines at a Barnes and Noble
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
The issue i see with Cowher or any of the "big name" guys is that
no head coach in the NFL has won SB’s with two diff teams…….so I dont feel all the love for the “winning” coaches that were out there.
He who laughs last, thinks slowest
Well.....my days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle
"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name"
Good Write-Up
You know valid points but i am an eternal optimist when it comes to my sports teams because it keeps things fun. However, your points remain valid. Thanks for the dose of reality.
Thank you! I really hope I’m wrong and that JG succeeds beyond all of our wildest dreams.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 7, 2011 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Impossible
Rather, improbable. Anything’s possible. I have some wild dreams, delusional even.
Cry 'Havoc!'
Can't be any worse then Oakland fans...
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
I could be wrong … but I think factually there are some things that aren’t accurate.
From complaints of an inability to strike a proper balance between the pass and the run, failure to stretch the field vertically, and neglecting to take advantage of the talented players in the Cowboys backfield, Garrett was dodging criticism of his offense all last year.
While JG’s guys rarely failed to put a few points on the board, they simply could not keep pace with the opposition, especially when it counted the most. When it came to punching it in on the goal line, capitalizing on favorable field position, or worst of all, having to play from behind in crunch time, the offense just could not get it done. While the players certainly underachieved, a great deal of that lack of success can be attributed to Garrett and his playbook.
From complaints of an inability to strike a proper balance between the pass and the run,
below is the Run / Pass balance for Garrett’s tenure. It’s pretty much in line with NFL average which can be found here. NFL split was 43% / 57% in 2010
2007 43.0% 57.0%
2007 41.0% 59.0%
2008 42.7% 57.3%
2009 41.4% 58.6%
why was Dallas a little higher than 43 / 57 in 2010? because they were playing from behind. here’s the balance by score.
Dallas ahead by 7 or more: 76 runs / 76 passes (50% / 50% split)
Dallas behind by 7 or more: 107 runs / 233 passes (31% / 69% split)
Dallas between 6 ahead / 6 behind: 237 runs / 314 pass (43% / 57% split)
failure to stretch the field vertically,
Dallas was 7th in passing efficiency with John Kitna at QB. I’m not sure what Dallas would have needed to do to satisfactorily ‘stretch the field’.
and neglecting to take advantage of the talented players in the Cowboys backfield, Garrett was dodging criticism of his offense all last year.
Felix went for 800 yards at 4.3 YPC and 450 yards at 8.7 yards per target. Choice and Barber may not have been featured more because they were producing 3.7 and 3.3 YPC respectively.
While JG’s guys rarely failed to put a few points on the board, they simply could not keep pace with the opposition, especially when it counted the most. When it came to punching it in on the goal line, capitalizing on favorable field position, or worst of all, having to play from behind in crunch time, the offense just could not get it done. While the players certainly underachieved, a great deal of that lack of success can be attributed to Garrett and his playbook.
the offense was 7th in yards and 7th in scoring.
You know what Kenny Powers says? Fundamentals are the crutch of the talentless.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Sep 7, 2011 11:19 PM CDT reply actions
FITAT
You know sometimes…. the only number that matters are Wins and Losses. Last year, with Kitna at the helm our offense was very basic and limited from what I watch on tape all summer long( NFL Game Pass). Kitna would pop a 4 yard pass to Witten on 3 and 9 with a quick tackle followed by a punt. Great some stats Bad for wins.
Indeed
And with Kitna at QB, Garrett proceeded to take a team that started 1-7 and go 5-3 with them.
Thanks for the stats, FITAT. I’ll admit that I go by a fair amount of sentiment among friends, media, and even this very blog, and that it’s a dangerous precedent to set. The prevailing knock on JG, particularly last year, was that he wasn’t using the run as much as effectively as he ought to. I actually remember a BTB front page post quoting him responding to the criticism with the point you mentioned – that Dallas was often having to play from behind in 2010. I may have just been wrapped up in the crowd.
If these points contradict the hard numbers, then consider them cheerfully withdrawn. I’ll only make two addenda: the first is that the beef wasn’t just run/pass balance overall, but situational – that JG didn’t mix it up enough to keep the defense honest and that when he did call runs they weren’t necessarily varied enough or a good fit for the offense’s rhythm at the time. The other is that he stuck with Barber to the bitter end even when he was breaking down and not producing, when a three-pronged rushing attack could help keep some fresher legs on the field. I know Choice’s YPC was low, but how many reps did he get relative to Felix and the ailing and failing Barber? There’s something to be said for letting a back get into a rhythm, but I think more of a mix could have benefited all three’s production.
I will also say this much – I know it’s dangerous to go with anecdotal evidence and impressions over cold hard numbers, but how many times over the past 3-4 years have you seen Dallas put some significant points on the board, but suddenly sputter out when they’re trying to play catch up or the other team is making a furious comeback? How many times have you seen them fail to convert an important 3rd down or capitalize on a turnover or good return when the pressure is on? Part of an offense is character. At the end of the day I will bow to the stats if they say I’m wrong, but it certainly seems like this offense has faded when the heat is on.
Again, thank you very much for shining some light on these points with the hard numbers on the subject. I did some quick research, but I’m not really accustomed to looking these things up and couldn’t find much. I definitely appreciate the statistical help.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions
The run to pass ratio is a red herring.
At times, JG can mix run and pass with an élan that can remind me of a poor man’s Norv Turner. Many other times, like at the beginning of the Chicago game last year, he would essentially go with the run or go with the pass for seven straight plays. If I’m a defensive coordinator, and I know I can neglect either the run or pass for seven plays at a time, I’ve just made my playcalling job much easier. At the end of the game, the run play split was absurdly lopsided, even though the game was manageable almost the entire way. But even if the split was close to the league average in that game, JG’s tendencies to abandon either run or pass for long stretches still meant he wasn’t doing a good job keeping the defense off balance.
It’s the sequence of play calls that matter, not the run-pass ratio at the end of the year.
Did you seriously just imply that we shouldn't have fired Wade Phillips?
Plus, if you think the offense “underachieved” then how can you be mad they had a offensive draft? You can’t have it both ways
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
Not at all, I’ve been clamoring for Wade’s firing since his second season. I just wish they would have gone after a more experienced and accomplished guy for HC than Jason Garrett.
With respect to the offense, I think the O underachieved relative to the talent on that side of the ball. I think most of the pieces are in place on offense, JG has just failed to coach and use them effectively. The only big personnel moves necessary on the offensive side of the ball were on the line. To Garrett’s credit, he addressed those in the draft. The defense, on the other hand, needed a lot more fresh bodies, particularly in the secondary, and we came up pretty short in that regard.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Well the draft was obviously in mind to replace those underachievers
Its not JG’s fault Colombo had no knees, Barber had a terrible YPC, Roy was a alligator on roller-skates… and not to mention that Gurode, Davis, and Holland were slow and in decline. Sure, he could have gone defense in the draft, and those underachieving players would have gotten much worse this year. It would be like playing whack-a-mole, instead of having a plan with the future in mind.
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
I have zero beef with the focus JG had with respect to the offensive line in the draft. It’s been a glaring need for a long time and he did a good job addressing it. But with Barber, you had Choice waiting in the wings and, at worst, RB is one of the easiest position to fill. RW sucked, but with Miles and Dez in place and Witten helping out with receptions, a 3rd WR was hardly a priority.
The defense has more holes than the offense, and JG’s plan with the future in mind ought to have included the future of the defense as well, particularly in the secondary. I know he’s an offensive-minded guy, but the D was atrocious last year and required some attention as well.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions
So.. we're basically looking at the Murray pick
I don’t think its a terrible pick. I think our season would sink if Felix went down and all we had was Choice. But, otherwise.. why complain about the Harris pick? What defensive player would you have drafted that would have stuck?
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
Just looking at how things actually ended up, if Felix went down we’d also have Tanner ready to go. Even if we didn’t, RB is such a plug and play position that we could have found someone in free agency or off of waivers to fill the spot, especially when there was so much need elsewhere. It wasn’t nearly as pressing as the holes on the other side of the ball.
I don’t have a good pet cat in the fifth, but I’ll say that if you’re taking a chance or picking a project, as you do in the late rounds, I would rather it was a defensive guy than an offensive guy, especially an offensive skill position player. There’s just a greater need on D. In the fifth, the prospects are at least a little better than the UDFA’s so it’s worth spending the pick. By the 6th and 7th it’s mostly a wash, so it’s hard to find too much fault there.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 1:22 AM CDT up reply actions
The way I see it is we've already got quite a few projects on defense
Promising ones too. Like Church and Lissy
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
Hindsight is 20/20
Just looking at how things actually ended up, if Felix went down we’d also have Tanner ready to go.
Is there anywhere we can read where you predicted this would happen going into training camp?
"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic
With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.
Tanner?
No one knew Tanner would make this team before training camp. While I agree that a team shouldn’t spend big money on a RB, the third round of the draft is not big money. And considering the wear and tear on RB’s, I think it’s about the right position to draft someone you expect to contribute regularly.
I’m not saying I knew Tanner would be there. I’m saying he’s evidence of the fact that RB is an easy position to fill and not worth spending a high draft pick on. If not Tanner, then someone would have been there in FA or on waivers. It was a waste, especially with much bigger concerns elsewhere on the team.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't think its as easy as you might think. But, at the same time you don't HAVE to get someone like Ingram in the 1st for sure.
But, think about if we didn’t have Tanner? We had both Miller and that Warren guy who didn’t pan out. Choice would have made the team even if he didn’t have a good showing.
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
I’m a Choice-backer, so I wouldn’t mind going out there with just Felix and Choice, but I feel confident that even without Tanner, we could have found a vet or a guy off of waivers to carry the load. RB is not the position that we need to be building for the future on right now. The D, however, needs it all over the place.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Problem with that is
That we have to make an assumption that whatever guy we put on offense/defense that we drafted works out for that position. I think they have a better shot at that dealing with the udfa’s then draft picks themselves.
As someone said up topic what defensive players did the organization feel they needed that were still on the board with those picks and if they did pick them would it simply be a reach.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
At worst, I would have taken another guard prospect there. That line needed and needs lots of help and should be prioritized over RB.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
See thats where I don't see it
If I’ve used my #1 already I’ll probably go to another position. Now at this time they didn’t think about getting rid of as many of the line as they did once preseason started. Just some pieces here and there, things just happened to fall into place when things got moving again.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Not a fan of
or did you just feel better options for us that would have contributed more in short term or overall long term?
Together, we WILL make it happen!
by nikeorlipstick on Sep 8, 2011 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions
disagree
I believe it was less bad play calling and a whole lot of bad personal! Frankly I believe we had one of the worst Offensive lines in the nfl!
RWilsonII
I certainly don't disagree with you about the O-line!
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions
But you don't think that weakness has a major bearing on execution that involves our "stars"?
"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic
With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.
It certainly does, but I don't know that Garrett adjusted his playcalling to try to compensate for the beleaguered line.
At base, my fear is that he’s just not that creative a playcaller. I’m worried he’s just a one trick pony and that he can’t meld his offensive gameplan to the personnel he has or the D he’s facing.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Since 2007 when Garrett came into the organization
The absolute worst our offense has ranked is 13th in the league (2008). Now total yards wise our defense has been solid in each year leading up to 2010 but in each of those years we did a horrible job keeping teams out of the endzones.
I don’t see any evidence of Garrett being a one trick pony, just a defense that doesn’t do its job at keeping a team from scoring.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
wasn't 2008 the year that Brad "look my arms a noodle" Johnson too over for Romo?
that would explain the drop in offensive output….
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
by TruBluToTheCore on Sep 9, 2011 8:01 AM CDT up reply actions
Yards as offense meme
Has really taken root here. What matters is points scored. And by that measure we’ve been up and down, ranking 2, 18, 14, and 7 since JG has been here. It’s actually worse than that, because last year we had a major windfall in points scored by the special teams and defense. And the first year was inflated because Owens was still in his prime and defensive coordinators hadn’t caught on to Garrett’s tendencies.
The fact that we could have “been solid in each year leading up to 2010 but in each of those years we did a horrible job keeping teams out of the endzones” and something similar could have been said for the offense as well just demonstrates the importance of the difference between yards and points.
Reasonable position
First and foremost, welcome. Interesting article. You know full well the consequences of questioning “sacred cows”, so enjoy the debate, even the turmoil and knashing-of-teeth, your opinion’s going to provoke. If you don’t, you’re about to find out, I’m pretty sure.
5. So it would be your preferred solution to entirely supplant the existing coaching and, possibly, offensive/defensive philosophies? That would prevent the waste of Romo, Witten, et al’s talent? Plus, sounds like you’re suggesting ot promoting the idea of a previously NFL-tenured HC taking the reins? A retread, so to speak. Who? Who is that “surer bet”? And why, please?
4. Miracles? You want miracles? Look to faith, not football. Not religous faith, simply faith. Belief based circularly on itself due to its being unprovable on concretely objective terms. This point, as an argument, is simply a no-go. This mystery “solution” alternative coach entails risk. More, less or the same, it’s risk. Your basis for suggesting or implying it’d be less is extremely suspect. So, at best for you, the point’s a wash.
3. Please list your pre-draft 7 picks in order. Yep, time-stamp verifiable, please.
2. Valid concern on the shallow ILB depth. Prior to post-draft 2011, had you ever thought or commented, written or orally, the Cowboys OL was problematic and/or required changes? Can I possibly have a copy of your plan for addressing all these positions of need in one year, this year, please?
1. Yep. Damn straight. HC/OC, the man’s got his shot to prove himself. Time to walk, not talk. Personally, I see indications he’s prepared himself, as he had for each opportunity as they presented themselves in his past. Now it’s proof-in-the-pudding time. You never know if a person’s capable of fulfilling a responsibility till you give them that responsibility and the authority to fulfill it. Hopefully, and indications are favourable, he’s got both. I’ll wish him Landry’s Luck, the kind that’s the result of Preparation and Opportunity coinciding.
Some valid points, some not so, and a pile of hindsight there. Sure easier when you look from this vantage point, ain’t it.
Nonetheless, considering hindsight, reflection, and all the rest are almost built into the way we look at things, especially sports-related, not a bad read at all. Reasonably well thought through and posed some necessary questions. It’s obvious some of the choices this franchise has made differed from whatever your personal views were or are now. Attributing some of them to an individual in an OC capacity, rather than the HC through GM responsibility domains neglects organizational structure somewhat, but the advisory impact should have been in existence, I agree. This being an disfunctionally structured Cowboys organization operationally prior to this year (and I’m simply giving them the benefit of the doubt for now), I think you’re attributing too much power and influence to Garrett, Wade and all the rest.
So just who was it you wanted as 8th Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys prior to Jan 6, 2011?
Cry 'Havoc!'
First and foremost, thank you for the thoughtful, indepth, response
Thank you for the welcome. I’ve been reading the blog for a couple of years, but I haven’t really joined the conversation until recently. If there’s one thing I enjoy it’s talking Cowboys, so I’m really glad to see all the debate, positive and negative.
As to your specific points:
5. I liked bringing in Rob Ryan since the Wade defense clearly wasn’t working. I’d like a new philosophy on offense and at the top of the coaching ladder as well. I know that would involve a transition as well, and that it would take up at least part of those Romo/Witten/Ware prime years. Still, if it’s a choice between that time being taken up by the growing pains of a first-time head coach with an offensive scheme that’s been inconsistent at best and those of a proven coach supervising the transition into a system that’s worked, I’ll take the latter every time. As for a specific coach, my dream guy is Bill Cowher. I know that’s a pipe dream, but I really think he’d be perfect. A hard-nose coach with a proven system of success who has the experience and credibility to stand up to Jerry.
4. I’m not asking for miracles, I’m just saying that JG didn’t work any last year, and a lot of people acted as though he had. The second half boost had as much to do with changing circumstances as it did any particular coach. I think he gets too much credit for the second half of 2010.
3. I’m afraid I’d have to scour the logs of my inbox to find exactly what I was thinking at the time, but unfortunately most of my draft thoughts are lost to the ages thanks to the draft party with my friends, unless the NSA was secretly taping us. I can guarantee you it didn’t include Bruce Carter, DeMarco Murray, or any RB. I was actually hoping for a guard in the 4th, so at least he got me on that one. You can call hindsight, but all I can give you is my word that I’ve been clamoring for help on the line and help in the secondary since the 2009 draft. If you’d like, I can wrangle some signed affadavits from the people I was studying for finals with at the time who witnessed me yelling at the television.
2. I can’t believe I’m doing this, but here’s an e-mail from this time last year where I complain about the O-Line: http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/1227/olineemail.jpg . I’m actually happy with how Garrett addressed the line through the draft, and I think building from within is good, but I’m just not on board with jettisoning the entirety of the bodies we have. My plan is basically the same, but with a slower transition rather than just throwing all these Youglies to the fire.
1. I’m not as bolstered by his offensive performance as you are. As you point out, it’s easy to talk and harder to walk, and I’m just not convinced he has what it takes. Obviously, different people draw different conclusions from someone’s resume, but I just haven’t been impressed since 2007 with what he’s brought to the table.
Again, thanks for the fully fleshed out comments. I really appreciate the depth of your analysis and thanks for the kind words as well.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
I’m not asking for miracles, I’m just saying that JG didn’t work any last year, and a lot of people acted as though he had. The second half boost had as much to do with changing circumstances as it did any particular coach. I think he gets too much credit for the second half of 2010.
I happen to agree with this, just for totally different reasons.
the 2nd half of the year looked better because turnovers started going in Dallas’ favor. I discount turnovers as a measure of true ability.
Garrett didn’t work any miracles with the D. in fact, if you ignore turnovers the D was the same in both halves of the year.
You know what Kenny Powers says? Fundamentals are the crutch of the talentless.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Sep 8, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
The only thing out of last year I would hold against him are the final two games
How do you go out and be really competitive with the Saints and the Colts and the 1st team Eagles, and then go decidedly uncompetitive against the Cardinals and 2nd string Eagles?
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
Course Kitna being a turnover machine helped in the former case. Why do people think he's better than Romo again?
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
take away the two interceptions returned for TD's against the Cards, and the fact that it was our 3rd string QB starting his first game right?
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
by TruBluToTheCore on Sep 9, 2011 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Do you think there’s anything to the idea that the D couldn’t manage many turnovers under Wade’s D and that they suddenly started racking up more once Len Pasquarelli stepped up and started changing a few things? Honestly, I think the best thing to happen to this team last season was just Wade being gone.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions
not really.
again, the Falcon’s are instructive.
the Falcons, who will earn home-field advantage throughout the N.F.C. playoffs with a win over the hapless Panthers at home on Sunday. The Falcons are below average in all four core efficiency statistics: offensive passing, offensive running, defensive passing and defensive running. Their 12-3 record has been made possible by an exceptionally favorable turnover margin. Historically, turnovers are not the most reliable predictors of team success, but it’s possible some teams could be the exception to the rule.
you know how that turned out.
you wrote
I hyped the second regular season meeting between the Pats and the Jets as a preview for the AFC Championship and a fight for the ages. We all saw what a one-sided beatdown that turned out to be.
want to guess who led the league in TO margin?
You know what Kenny Powers says? Fundamentals are the crutch of the talentless.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Sep 8, 2011 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
5. “A hard-nose coach with a proven system of success who has the experience and credibility to stand up to Jerry.”
Been tried. Didn’t work. Improbable it would now. Wrong man, wrong time, wrong place. Just like Bill, Chan, Dave, Wade and Barry. We’ll see where Garret ends up.
4. Nope, he didn’t. They’re wrong. Save miracles for things like birth.
3. Not calling you out on drafting, hindsight or anything of the sort. Simply making the point that seeing how your draft choices fit into your plan and agenda, timing, everything, is a vital component in ascertaining viability. Especially in comparison, whether it be to JG or a fool like me. No proving or listing need be.
2. Takes a big person to own up, moreso to prove it. Good for you. Curious how this “slower transition” you advocate fits with the “wasting Romo, Witten, etc” point? Fire tempers. Also causes explosions, bad and good.
1. Offensive performance isn’t as big a bolstering with me as you seem to be surmising. I was speaking to the evidentary body of work of the man’s life experience as known by the public, not focusing on yardage, points, W/L, etc. His overall experience and demostrated philosophy, shall we call it.
btw, not trying to be a knob or noob to you. You’ve good points. But the Cowher one, from my perspective… – Just. Plain. Wrong.
Cry 'Havoc!'
I had us Drafting
Carter in the 2nd rd
and next year I would not be afraid to draft another ISLB
in the first round
Vontaze Burfict * LB Arizona St.
hes a Ray Lewis type of guy
"Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?"
If i get a chance to watch him play I might ask Chia to lick his belly button for me....
have been keyed on that guy since I read about him in a Sporting News Mag…..VICIOUS!!!
guy pushed an official into the line to delay the game so his Dline would set itself correctly….
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
by TruBluToTheCore on Sep 9, 2011 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Nuff said
hes a Ray Lewis type of guy
let’s check him out
"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic
With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.
I think you brought up reasonable and realistic issues with JG as HC
I just hope you’re wrong!
Great post.
good post
I think the last 8 games + offseason outright disprove your last statement though:
You can turn over a few coaches, bring in some new blood, and come up with a few new slogans, but at base, Jason Garrett is, in some measure, a continuation of the mediocrity of the Wade Phillips regime. He’s the same touch-and-go offense, the same puzzling personnel moves, the same failure to play up to potential.
Nothing about the Jason Garrett regime has said continuation of the Wade Phillips era. If anything, its far more comparable to the Parcells or Jimmy Johnson era. Practices have been different. Underperforming players aren’t handed starting spots or even roster spots anymore. He made offseason moves that people have been clamoring for for a long time. Picking Bruce Carter shouldn’t take away everything else hes done.
The most relevant criticism of Garrett is his playcalling, but even that argument has holes in it given how effective the offense was with him as HC. I may be wrong, but I think halfway through this season, it will be widely recognized that Garrett willingly played second fiddle to Wade because that is how he believes organizational hierarchy should work. The run game will be better because he will bring that attitude and practice style, even if we still remain mostly a passing team. A more effective run game will mean a more effficient offense, as it did towards the end of last season.
We were a top 5 offense under Garrett and Kitna last year with a qb who couldn’t throw 25 yards downfield effectively. That alone should warrant at least some optimism imo.
I agree with this
Nothing about the Jason Garrett regime has said continuation of the Wade Phillips era.
…but not this
If anything, its far more comparable to the Parcells or Jimmy Johnson era.
foyes, I think people need to stop throwing the names of HOF coaches out there in the same breath as a guy who has a career record of 5-3. It’s unfair to JG and demeaning to Landry and Jimmy.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
We should just consider it the Garrett ERA and move from there.
Lets all be thankful JG is not having to rebuild like Parcells did when he first got here.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
I'm not saying he'll be successful,
but his methods clearly are more in line with those guys than any others Jerry has brought in. I don’t see how thats debatable.
Because Jimmy berated his players on an airplane and called them out with profanity
Because being organized in terms of practice and team accountability isn’t a uniquely Landry-esque trait. You could say those things about a ton of good coaches. In fact, fewer teams have the accountability issues Dallas has had than those that don’t. I think that kind of put-up-or-shut-up style is table stakes for ANY good coach.
I have no idea why you compared him to Tuna? Say more about that?
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
BTW, I realize you were distancing JG from Jimmy...I was simply making a larger point about comparisons
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
All I can say is that I hope you’re right. I look at what JG has done and see a fancy new coat of paint, but basically the same engine we’ve been riding with for the past four years. He’s certainly earned some style points, but I’m just not convinced that will turn into points on the board.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Last four years
Miles is now a starter which he hasn’t been for 4 years.
most of the old O line is gone
We have Dez Bryant
Kitna and McGee hasn’t been with us 4 years
Barbers gone
Williams gone
TO gone
What same engine?
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
same engine block
Recently overhauled…..
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Hopefully, the block has been bored a bit as well
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
Lets hope the timing chain works out.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
well any good overhaul will go that
in fact that is step one…
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
and what exactly would change your opinion of that?
A new coach who totally gutted the team? Gruden, who slobbered all over our offensive talent ? I don’t see another option clearly better than what we have now.
Good article
I’m not sure I agree with most of it, however you did make some valid points and showcased your opinion in a way that made me look hard at my own, and the facts and or bias that support my opinions. I’ve noticed you’ve stated multiple times that you hope you are wrong, as do I, and as do all true Cowboy fans; I bring this up because alot of bloggers here often throw pessimism around far to often, with seemingly no hope a the ‘Boys ever being good again, that is just disheartening. You stated your opinion, and showed your love for the boys. One can’t ask for more. I look forward to reading more from you.
In '08,"I want Dez! I want Dez!" In '10,"WE DRAFTD DEZ!!! WE DRAFTED DEZ!!! HOLY S#!* WE GOT DEZ!"
Thank you very much!
I really really appreciate the kind words. I love watching the Cowboys and nothing would be more gratifying to me than for JG to completely prove me wrong and thwomp the rest of the league. It can certainly be frustrating to feel like your team is making the same mistakes over and over again, but hey, the Rangers’ current success is living proof that things can change for the better.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions
good article
I don’t agree with a lot of it but it was well written and it kept me reading it all the way to the end
excellent post
just because I don’t agree with it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great post
best post in weeks, not even close I saw some posts get high marks and really wasn’t impressed, now this on the other hand was really good
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
your welcome
excellent post dude, easily FPOTW in my opinion
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions
garbage
the fact Garrett went 5-3 against mostly quality teams, with a very bad defense, indicates he did a good job and deserved to be hired as fulltime head coach.
Every single reason you listed is dead wrong. Just complete fail. For whatever reason Blogging the Boys is looking for some intelligent sounding naysayer to throw everybody off the scent.
Just garbage.
Yeah...I think a lot of people were saying similar things after the 2009 defense carried the team to a playoff-winning season for the first time in over a decade
I think you would do well to allow people the chance to develop a construct that disagrees with your opinion and stop trying to turn BloggingTheBoys into BlindaboutTheBoys.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
hahahaha
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions
same here
because ya know I like Kool-aid
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Not sure why all the praise
For the article other than that it is long and obviously took some time to pen. If you don’t see the change in trajectory of this franchise, then we’re watching different teams. Sometimes, its about the big picture.
Just because the majority disagree with the conclusions, does not mean it wasn't a very good post
Face it we as fans tend to have an emotional response when others don’t share our, very subjective, opinions. The post was well thought out and expressed opinions that were evidence-based. Now, it is very easy to come to very different conclusions to the same evidence, but it is important that we encourage respectful and well reasoned dissent.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
I get that this is all emotional
I just don’t have the time to disect the entire post, so I will just mention this blurb – “From complaints of an inability to strike a proper balance between the pass and the run, failure to stretch the field vertically, and neglecting to take advantage of the talented players in the Cowboys backfield, Garrett was dodging criticism of his offense all last year.” This is not evidence based. Its purely conjecture. Are the sources the fans who post on dallascowboys.com.
Just a weak post. Long, but weak. Sorry.
+100
This is not evidence based.
You know what Kenny Powers says? Fundamentals are the crutch of the talentless.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Sep 8, 2011 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions
Really?
You didn’t hear names like Aikman and Collinsworth and others talk about Dallas’ imbalance relative to playcalling? You completely disjoint the OC from the staff that led the team to a 1-7 start?
If you’re going to disagree with an entire line of thinking and then say that things lack evidence but that you don’t have the time to say why, it’s difficult for a writer to respond.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
The OC you speek of has changed a culture in a measly 5 to 6 weeks
I’m sorry ALL the blame goes to the head coach and all the glory,,, B;lame Red for what happens this year not last year, your just going to have to wait to be your old grumpy self.
by Musiccitynorm on Sep 8, 2011 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
That is commentary
That is not evidence. Andy Reid’s a genius with the same (or even more pass heavy) playcalling. Give me a break. Citing someone’s opinion is not offering eveidence. List some facts. Geesh.
Just because the evidence is observational and qualitative doesn't mean it is not evidence
Personally, I only give a great deal of credence to quantitative date that passes the “smell test” and little credit to data without any quantitative backing. And this post was missing the stat data to back up his argument (added most competently in a reply by FiTaT above), but I think we may be a little spoiled by the quality on this site. This post would be considered a high quality analysis on any of the national sports site.
For BTB, it is a nice, discussion provoking first post by someone that has been lurking for a while, probably wanting to join the discussion for some time. THAT is worth encouraging.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
by LRogue on Sep 8, 2011 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
here here...
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
by TruBluToTheCore on Sep 9, 2011 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions
its written very well
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Your opinions remind me of my knee-jerk reactions.
I wrote a post called Garrett Is Not Our Coach but never published it because I thought it got deleted. I had a lot of your same positions. However, as King Man just said, the trajectory of this franchise is clearly changing. That is as important as anything. We have a very talented roster, the key is to get them to play to their potential or GASP overacheive.
Then with the draft, same – knee-jerk reactions. After looking at film and overall value, I quickly came to love our draft. If you don’t love the ‘11 draft at this point, man I don’t know what else you want. I can see the Carter issue, but Moore and Harris have nothing close to the talent of Carter. This was a value pick that shows thought for the future. Our coaches like our ILB corps, or they would not have PUP’d Carter. They are not rushing him, though.
Give Garrett a chance, he really was the best coach available at the time. He has roots in the Cowboys ’90’s dynasty and genuinely loves our team.
I smell something... It smells like... hope. And BBQ.
by BlueNSilverBlood on Sep 8, 2011 7:09 AM CDT reply actions
Sorry,
I did like the post a lot. Was good work, fo sho!
I smell something... It smells like... hope. And BBQ.
by BlueNSilverBlood on Sep 8, 2011 7:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Thanks man
I guess we’ll just have to see about the trajectory. I’m not convinced, but the proof will be on the field. I don’t think JG has shown that he can get these guys to overachieve or play to their potential, especially with the offense that he’s essentially been the captain of for the past four years.
As to the draft, with Carter, he could be good, but he’s injury-prone and McDonalds’ biggest fan. That’s a little much to gamble on, especially with how shaky our LB scouting has been over the past few years, and the fact that Jerry drinks Butch Davis’ koolaid. Again, picking any RB is a gigantic waste given how easily the position could be filled other ways and how much we needed more help elsewhere.
Unfortunately, I have no choice but to give Garrett a chance, but I really hope he demonstrates that I was completely incorrect about him. For whatever it’s worth, I think his heart is in the right place and he means well, he just doesn’t have what it takes.
Again, thanks for the kind words!
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you might be making a mountain out of a mole hill in regards to Carter's words about
McDonalds. Ive never in my near 40 years on this earth never known a someone in their early 20’s NOT like McDonalds. That is about all a kid playing football in the NCAA can possibly afford to eat off campus. Not like they are allowed to get a job or anything while playing. Im sure he’s already changed his eating habits and is rehabbing for his return.
"This is a simple game, you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the the ball, you got it?!"
I worked in retail out of HS
And even I didn’t like McDonalds. They are barely better then eating Roman noodles.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
to some people though its their favorite fast food.
"This is a simple game, you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the the ball, you got it?!"
So
If I see a player say I don’t like Pizza Hut, I’m not gonna hold it against them.
As far as the running bag problem goes Exile if Choice is in his last year and they don’t think they’ll be retaining him, then taking up another is an idea. Its not a gigantic waste, its not like every guy picked in the first three rounds will become football players on a roster after a few years.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
It's a minor point at best, I admit
But it’s not an encouraging sign. If that was all there was against the guy, then I’d keep my mouth shut, but it’s the injury bug and the fact that Jerry buys whatever Butch is selling and the fact that we haven’t had much luck with high draft picks spent on LBs in recent years.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, now that
Butch is no long a coach we won’t have to worry about that.
Jason Garrett=2011 NFL Coach of the Year
It's true
Though I suspect they’ll be at least a bit of a tail on this depending on how much of Butch’s old staff is still in place.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions
think you need to look into the fact this was a workout demon LB
not the second cousin to Lumpy that said these words….
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
by TruBluToTheCore on Sep 9, 2011 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions
In an of itself, it's not a reason to pass up a guy in the draft
But coupled with the other issues, it’s certainly not encouraging.
andrewblog1.wordpress.com
by CowboyinExile on Sep 9, 2011 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I questioned some things above, but it was a well written post
Not particularly well argued at points, but a well written summation of the anti-Garrett position.
Perception is funny. Everyone can agree that the mountain is there, but depending from which direction one views it, the mountain looks different.
Parcells was a mixed bag as well. Some admired him, others detested him. Either way, he had a funny little saying about conjecture and speculation: “We’ll see.”
We’ll see whether Jerry’s decision to promote the HC in training with the vision to restore the “Cowboy Way” works in the long run better than bringing in a, shall we say, “well seasoned” veteran coach to completely install new staff and systems to begin building the “Steeler Way”.
"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic
With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.
LOL
From a high enough perspective, it’s a bump.
"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic
With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.
From a high enough perspective, DalaiLuke-stash high, it’s a pale blue dot. Cowboys blue.
Or is that Starship high?
Cry 'Havoc!'
I feel like I just read a post form a national sports radio talk show host.
The objective of most radio talk show hosts is to find a few points that can stir up controversy and watch the ratings climb as emotional fans relentlessly call in. Most of the time, the points are not accurate, or the facts are slanted to make the the talk show hosts’ argument appear stronger.
You did the same thing: just with the written word.
Point five: The Quickly Closing Window
The head coach of the Packers won a Super Bowl in his third season as head coach. The head coach of the Steelers won a Super Bowl within his first three seasons as head coach (his second I believe). The head coach of the Saints won a Super Bowl within his first three seasons as head coach.
In three seasons, Romo, Witten, Ware, and so forth will still be at the apex of their careers barring a catastrophic injury. The afore mentioned coaches all won Super Bowls as first time head coaches.
On the other hand, no coach in NFL history has a won a Super Bowl with two different teams. You really preferred Cowher (who took over a decade to win his first and only Super Bowl) over a first time head coach? History works against your argument.
Point four: His 2010 Resume
Really? How about his 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 resume? Over that time, only the New Orleans Saints have accumulated more offensive yards.
Your evaluation regarding 2010: “The end result is pretty much the same team we’ve had the last few years – a pretty good, but not great one.”
You failed to mention that either the second string or the third string quarterback started in all eight games in which Jason Garrett was head coach in 2010. When New England lost Brady in 2008, the Patriots failed to make the playoffs.
Therefore, Belichick must have been pretty good, but not great as a head coach in 2008.
Of course, Belichick has three Supr Bowl trophies from earlier years, which renders the above statement absurd. By eliminating data from the sample it is much easier to make a point.
Point three: The 2011 NFL Draft
I think that it is important for everyone to voice an opinion, but the expertise behind different opinions is rarely equal. Unless you are have a team of NFL scouts helping you, I find it difficult to value your opinion regarding the 2011 NFL draft over the opinion of paid NFL scouts, a professional personnel department, and an experienced NFL coaching staff.
In addition, you downplay the significance of finding a starting caliber right tackle and left guard in the draft. You offer feint praise in the drafting of David Arkin, but criticize the selections of DeMarco Murray and Bruce Carter: the latter without ever having seen him play.
While discussing the failures of the 2011 draft, it is important to note that Garrett oversaw the drafting of a linebacker that was injured upon the recommendation of the head trainer Britt Brown. Brown is recognized as one of the best trainers in the NFL and has been with the Cowboys for over a decade.
Scouts such as Bryan Broaddus (of ESPN) have stated that Bruce Carter could end up being a steal, and that Murray is showing some of the same desireable characteristics in the preseason that made him desireable coming out of the draft.
Why is your opinion of Carter and Murray more reliable and valid than that of a former NFL scout? I do not believe that it is.
Point two: The Roster Churn
If I understood your distaste for the roster correctly, you are dissatisfied with the kicking situation, you feel that there is not enough depth at certain positions, and you are afraid that the relative inexperience of the offensive line will lead to injury to Tony Romo. Somehow, all of these problems are the dirct result of Garrett not being the right man for the head coaching position of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl last season with a rookie starting at right tackle (Bulaga). Having relatively inexperienced offensive linemen did not lead to the demise of the 2010 season for the Packers.
In addition, Gurode was signed by the Ravens to be a back-up. Leonard Davis is still looking for a job, and only Colombo looks to be able to contribute significantly to a NFL team in 2011 (Dolphins). Dallas drafted Tyron Smith to take Colombo’s spot, and before he tweaked his knee, he seemed to be an upgrade at the position. Nagy and Costa are now starters in the NFL, while the departed offensive linemen form the 2010 season are not.
This is more an indication of progress and an improving team, than a negative. Again, I value the opinion of NFL coaches and scouts that have stated as much.
The kicking position and the lack of depth at certain positions on this team is a result of missing in several drafts. I fail to see how Garrett, as offensive coordinator, is held responsible for not successfully signing a kicker, safeties, or linebackers in 2008 or 2009.
While criticizing depth in the Cowboys roster, it is important to remember that the Cowboys only had 7 draft picks to address needs in 2011. As far as signing Nnamdi or other high-priced free agents, that has not proven to be a successful strategy in the past with this organization. I side again with the experienced coaching staff and the professional NFL scouts with the decision to re-sign known players.
Point one: His Offense
Again, I point to the fact that there is a preponderance of statistics disproving this point. Since arriving in 2007, the offense has operated as a top five unit in the NFL. During the preseason game against San Diego, NBC showed that Dallas scored more points during the last eight games of the 2010 season than any other team in the NFL (corresponding to the only games Garrett served as head coach).
Thank you for the opportunity to counter your points. My opinion does not make yours any less viable, and I do not hope to change your mind: as you will not change mine. Just a different viewpoint.
Hope you enjoy the season as much as me…as much as any fan here.
Go Cowboys!
by ScarletO on Sep 8, 2011 9:32 AM CDT reply actions 13 recs
Rec'd
Good points…
Don’t agree on your evaluation of Carter though. You could have just as easily said,
“He was considered ‘first round talent’ before he blew out his knee right? So why did EVERY other team pass on him in the first? The cowboys have the only Doc that gave him the clean bill”
MacGruber!
A 1st round talent with a injury instantly makes them not taken in the 1st round, how is that hard to understand?
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
In today's game teams want that 1st pick to be an instant starter hence Carter slipping
to the second round.
"This is a simple game, you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the the ball, you got it?!"
For me the pick made a whole lot of sense
Brooking will definitely be gone next year, and there is a pretty good chance James will too. This pick was completely with the future in mind. Which I can appreciate.
"Our guys are gonna be good, and we know it. So that ain't talkin'. That's just the (bleepin') way it is." - Rob Ryan
"There is a wide range of activities between a drunken rape festival and playing hide & seek in the woods." - Seanrude
for me
while I understand the pick…Brooking and James are old, the only viable backup is Sean Lee, etc….but If you wanted to go 1st round talent at a discount at a position of need….
There was Bowers right there @ #40…..Not only has he gotten a clean bill of health, but from what I understand will be starting the season for the Bucs…..
and Bowers was considered a top 5 (or higher) pick….
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Im sure there was a reason for them not selecting him.
"This is a simple game, you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the the ball, you got it?!"
they probably didn't like how the rehab his knee was progressing
but still he is now playing for the Bucs, and Carter is on the PUP…
I know Hindsight is 20/20…..but still
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
The coverage by LBs in the middle of the field last year was horrendous
Worse that Ball, and that’s saying something. That is an area where Carter excelled in college while Bowers is more of a pass rusher. I think comparing the two is apples and oranges.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
and like I said LRouge
I understand why they took him….
I personally would have gone with Bowers….because next years draft looks very LB heavy….
JMO though…
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think I would have argued with Bowers
You can never have enough pass rushers and OLB play is critical in the 3-4.
You may well be right, but I like having Carter but would be looking to draft OLB and another ILB next year. After DB of course.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
Bowers, the average 3-4 defensive end or really good 4-3 guy?
I must admit the only scout report I read about him said average 3-4 DE
by Musiccitynorm on Sep 8, 2011 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I would say that he is a
less agile but more explosive Jay Ratliff….
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Bowers was not projected to be a superstar 3-4 player
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by KD Drummond on Sep 10, 2011 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
thats what I mean
it was so well written and it was different, out of the box type thinking, I like being different be a leader not a follower and this post exemplified that
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions
FanPost Scarlet
Seriously…this needs to be one…And I personally will start the “BAN Bigham” war if he fanshots you for it!!!
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
LOL
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't know Scarlet, I find it hard to discount anyones' opinions about draft selections
with the arguement that they aren’t NFL scouts. No one here is that I know of, yet there are plenty of draft opinions tossed around in here.
I started out with nothing and still have most of it left
well played
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
by TruBluToTheCore on Sep 9, 2011 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Extremley riveting piece
Im a JG fan and hope/ believe in what he his doing. The way he has dealt with our O-Line problem convinced me. Until he proves me wrong I want him leading our Cowboys. I think an article like this is great – furthers excellent discussions. Its possible here at BTB but on other sites impossible (I think it would get nasty and personal really quick) .
Let us not forget
that we went 6-10 last year
and were still a top 10 offense
You aint been around in awhile, maybe you haven't heard........I don't shine shoes no more
First off
While I do not agree with your points it was a great post you get a rec from me…
However…I just want to say for this:
they simply could not keep pace with the opposition, especially when it counted the most. When it came to punching it in on the goal line, capitalizing on favorable field position, or worst of all, having to play from behind in crunch time, the offense just could not get it done.
the next line tells you why that happened:
While the players certainly underachieved
NO play book will work if the players don’t……just saying….
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 8, 2011 10:15 AM CDT reply actions
I disagree
One thing I would like to point out that turned the season around last year, was the fact that when JG became the head man, he changed a lot of things, the way they practiced, the way they dress, and brought most of all accountablity.
And even this preseason you can see the difference in the effort of the team, they seem more sharp, more focus, this is the same team that dismissed the preseason last year.
And the point about Bill Cowher is baffling to me, I know he won a super bowl, but how many seasons did that take before it happen. I remember seasons where the people of Pittsburg were asking for his head. Every head coach in the league at one point was a first time head coach so that point doesn’t really make sense.
But all and all it was a good post, but like you I 100% hope your wrong about this, and I believe you are
Billion dollar dream and hundred dollar nightmares
Cowher
He took 3 years to get to a Super Bowl (industry standard) but we all know how that turned out!!!
It was another 11 years before he won, so he was basically Andy Reid up til that point, regularly in the playoffs but couldn’t win the big one.
I liked the article
Refreshing to read a dissenting viewpoint. I think even the highly educated fans here get caught up in the hype from time to time and need some shaking up. (Including myself)
I disagree on the general principle. I think picking a up smart, motivated up and coming coach is the way to go. How many superbowl winning coaches have gone on to other teams and had the same degree of success? (I ask only because I remember not many have… Maybe Parcells?) I was envious of the Saints having success with Sean Payton. I think Red will be a similarly successful head coach.
I do agree about the draft. I am not quite as harsh in my evaluation though. Even if all we do is revamp the offensive line that, to me, is a rather successful first draft. Everything else is just gravy.
MacGruber!
The play calling...
There is a lot of discussion about Garrett’s play calling. Which I find ironic. As a few people have pointed out, the offense has put up great stats since Garrett has been in charge. However, many (most?) of us do get annoyed at the play calling on a regular basis (including me).
This is just my opinion, but I believe the sometimes generic play calling has had a lot to do with the OLine. Garrett has had to plan around them as much as he could. While the players keep ending up in the Pro Bowl, we all know they really haven’t been good in probably 3-4 years. JG’s scheme requires quick moving lineman, something we haven’t had.
The roster churn has now allowed the OLine to resemble the group JG wants it to be. We’ve seen the increased effectiveness in the screen game in the preseason. We’ve seen the increased effectiveness of the running game in the preseason. We’re going to have some ups and downs with the young guys, but I think we’re going to see more of the offense that JG has always wanted to run.
On another note, I’ll take an up-and-coming head coach with fire, over a retread any day. Innevitably, retreads tend to be short term solutions. They last a few years, but rarely last past 3-4 years. JG has the possibility to be a long-term solution.
Just some quick points
5. The Quickly Closing Window. I think Garrett has a long-term plan for the team. That includes getting younger and developing more depth by creating an environment of competition. Such a plan helps negate the “closing window”. Teams like Pittsburgh, New England, and Philly have shown you can be title-competitive year after year without having to blow up the team.
4. You’re not convinced the 5-3 record was really anything special. I think it was amazing. No Romo. We lost Dez. We lost Spears. And did I mention No Romo? I think OCC has penned a post or two about the production of Kitna, and how we managed to put up huge point totals with a QB whose arm is in serious decline.
3. Let’s not judge the draft before the guys have played. Drafting is not just about players, but also getting players at the right time. If the Offensive players available were higher graded than the Defensive players available when our pick came up, then taking the Offensive player is the right move. Drafting for need leads to reaches which leads to failure. Let’s give this one a little time.
2. The time to churn the roster is always NOW. Doing it over time leads to keeping guys too long. It comes down to whether you’d rather keep a player one year too long, or get rid of him one year too early. With Gurode, Davis, and Columbo, I think we were more than one year too late on all of them.
1. As I posted above. The offense under Garrett has put up moster yards and moster points over the last few years with a crappy OLine. Let’s see how it does with the kind of lineman JG has always wanted.
I won't repeat what others have said, but I do think it's fair to withhold
judgment until we see how JG handles a whole season. I’m thrilled that he has instilled a new culture and is wiping out the rot that WP left, but I, too, want to see what his play calling looks like with a revamped O line. I hope he can be less constrained by the need to limit the plays and hurry things up that bad line play last forced on the offense (let’s hope the new line really is better than the old one).
Either way, it is what it is. He’s our coach, and let’s hope he’s so good that there’s no need to make a change for a very long time.
I disagree with a lot of this article
but I just think it was so well written, such a great idea, original and it keeps you reading it even though its really long
best article I have read on here in a long time, no offense to anyone, I just really liked how this article was written
I dont agree with nearly any of it, lol, but man this was a great read
seriously, keep writing fanposts, keep me entertained, which is not easy to do but you did it
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:25 PM CDT reply actions
Thank you very much the high praise!
Hope I’m not a one-trick pony!
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I hope not either
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
damn dude
just checked your blog out, you go DEEP on a lot of different topics
you seem like a really intelligent person
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:32 PM CDT reply actions
Nah, I’m just long-winded, heh. But thanks!
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Sep 8, 2011 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Eh
I don’t agree with a lot of this but I don’t see it as being biased against cowboyinexile. I can take someone elses opinions and I don’t always agree. Thats a fact of life and we learn that as people and move on. Now it could be just perspective and that can be understood as well but some things don’t match up.
We don’t have the same players on the team as we did 4 years running, that in itself might be an issue, Jason Garrett has had an offense ranked in the top 10 every season he’s been here but 1. So he’s got to be doing something right even if he’s “predictable”. The defense on the other hand has excelled some years in yards allowed but then given up a lot of scores in the red zone.
I think you see what you want to see and thats gonna go along with any fan out there. I think its a cop out to pick apart their draft and say they picked the wrong players without giving reason as to who they should have picked.
Roster churn is a lot about what is the bottom of your roster and those players are more play now guys. Where as if you draft they might take more time. Whether the bottom of your roster is rookies or not depends on the persons ability.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Don't get me wrong
Your point is very well articulated A+ for that. But your views tend to be on the level of the rabid fans that comment on DallasCowboys.com
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Ah come on. That's a pretty bad burn.
I know we don’t have all the same players, but what I mean more is that I’m not convinced there’s really this “new attitude” or “new culture” at Valley Ranch or whether it’s just window dressing. I’ll admit that I’m not deep into stats, but what are the offensive stats when the O is trying to make a comeback or hold a lead against one? I haven’t dug deep into the numbers, but I’ve watched every game, and there’s just not been the consistency from the offense. It rears its ugly head at frustrating times. Just from this very site, we’ve had comments like
Dave Halprin in 2010:
Yes, I have problems with some of the way Garrett has handled the offense. I’ve always thought he gets spooked to easily and jumps into a sling-the-ball mentality. I know, I’ve seen the stats (thanks OCC) and heard the arguments as to why, but this is not just a this-year thing, I’ve felt that way about it for the last few years. And his play-calling can be very random at times. The redzone woes are also noted.
Dave again in 2008:
In the games that Tony Romo played we still averaged 24 points a game. But the overall production on offense was less than what it should have been given the amount of talent and playmakers we have on that side of the ball.
KD in June 2011:
Since Garrett has taken over the offensive playcalling, the Cowboys have consistently been one of the most exciting offensive units in the league. Unfortunately, the unit has also continued to make their fair share of mistakes and errors that have prevented capitalizing on the talent they’ve collected. If it wasn’t injuries, than it was untimely drops. If it wasn’t stupid drive killing penalties, it was brain freezes or costly turnovers.
Sporting News last season:
Garrett has come under fire in recent seasons for his offensive play-calling.
So I don’t think I’m pulling this questionable playcalling and crumbling when it counts out of thin air. I at least think I’m a cut above the DC.com guy.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
As somebody said
up earlier in this post, his playcalling could have been spotty because the players he worked with. Roy Williams was a disaster, Marion Barber started going downhill and the O-Line was inconsistent at best, so he wasn’t working with the best talent every game. Not saying that he is now, but now he seems to be the main decision maker about players, will have to see how his playcalling is now.
Jason Garrett=2011 NFL Coach of the Year
Ok fair enough but check this out
Since Garrett has taken over the offensive playcalling, the Cowboys have consistently been one of the most exciting offensive units in the league. Unfortunately, the unit has also continued to make their fair share of mistakes and errors that have prevented capitalizing on the talent they’ve collected. If it wasn’t injuries, than it was untimely drops. If it wasn’t stupid drive killing penalties, it was brain freezes or costly turnovers.
Drops are on the players, mistakes and errors are on the players, injuries (nothing we can do about that), drive killing penalties (players), brain freezes or costly turnovers (players). Now as Head Coach he can bench players that he knows aren’t performing. As OC he wasn’t always allowed to do that (Roy Williams).
In the games that Tony Romo played we still averaged 24 points a game. But the overall production on offense was less than what it should have been given the amount of talent and playmakers we have on that side of the ball.
2008 is when they were 13th in the league but his opinion is only that an opinion. They turned around and came right back the next season.
Yes, I have problems with some of the way Garrett has handled the offense. I’ve always thought he gets spooked to easily and jumps into a sling-the-ball mentality. I know, I’ve seen the stats (thanks OCC) and heard the arguments as to why, but this is not just a this-year thing, I’ve felt that way about it for the last few years. And his play-calling can be very random at times. The redzone woes are also noted.
So typically what this says to me is this person regardless of how the Cowboys offense turns out never pays attention anyways. Please go read the comments from DallasCowboys.com, I think you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
Got to give JG credit this is the first year he can throw around his weight and really start handling guys he thinks are under performing.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
PS
Since Garrett has taken over the offensive playcalling, the Cowboys have consistently been one of the most exciting offensive units in the league. Unfortunately, the unit has also continued to make their fair share of mistakes and errors that have prevented capitalizing on the talent they’ve collected. If it wasn’t injuries, than it was untimely drops. If it wasn’t stupid drive killing penalties, it was brain freezes or costly turnovers.
About the only thing here talking about playcalling is bolded.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
You think Dave Halprin never pays attention anyways?
Penalties, brain freezes, stupid turnovers, and to a lesser extent drops are on the coaching staff because they go to repetition and preparation. The other comments also go to playcalling, particularly Dave’s from 2010. And yes these are all somebody else’s assessments, but my point is simply that I’m not going out on a limb here. These are common beefs with JG’s side of the ball that have been espoused by this very site’s writers since as far back as ’08.
Whether I like it or not, JG will have his shot to prove me wrong, and I genuinely hope he does, but I just don’t have much confidence in him given his track record so far.
andrewblog1.wordpress.com
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions
BS
Now your just trying to apply blame where it doesn’t belong. Are you trying to tell me if JG calls a play and Miles Austin drops the ball then its JG’s fault for not “preparing” him? This is the NFL, if I contract a WR I expect him to be able to catch the ball.
And yes these are all somebody else’s assessments, but my point is simply that I’m not going out on a limb here. These are common beefs with JG’s side of the ball that have been espoused by this very site’s writers since as far back as ’08.
Maybe you should stick to a subject your willing to study and understand. Because what you have quoted does not work for your argument and as you yourself had admitted you really haven’t looked at any stats.
Its pure opinion which I welcome but what you’ve shown is based solely on your opinion.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
I really don't think we know
The coach has to make a good call and the players have to execute. It is fair to question Garrett’s play calling, but I think he does it better than most (I amazed some times that Eagles fans don’t lynch Andy Reid for some of his calls). I am by no means an expert, so I could be completely wrong.
What I do know is that the players underperformed last year, especially at the beginning of the year. Wade had build a culture of zero accountability. Most players were operating at about 95% until the coaching change. That is a recipe for losing in the NFL if the plays call are always ideal for the situation (which is never the case). Garrett’s plays don’t have much of a chance when the players are not executing at their best.
How much was underperformance and how much was lack of talent? Someone smarting than I will have to answer that.
I think there is little doubt that we are having a glass have full vs glass half empty argument. The best I can say with any sureness is this feel right, but there is, IMO, not enough substantive evidence to clearly delineate one way or the other. Which, quite frankly is a huge improvement. Garrett is the first coach since Jimmy Johnson that demonstrates the ability to be the long term answer (potential unrealized is a rabid ferret in your shorts sometimes).
The players will have to overcome Garrett’s shortcomings as a coordinator. Thus Garrett the HC will have to build the culture that teaches them to fight for every inch and give the OC a larger margin for error.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
by LRogue on Sep 9, 2011 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec for mental image for (potential unrealized is a rabid ferret in your shorts sometimes)
I like the fact that even though JG is more of the offensive minded coach he sits in on the defensive meetings unlike his predecessor. I’m kinda curious since Garret is HC I’m wondering if he’d let someone else have a more active role in day to day stuff with the offense. I’m also curious about how Wes Philips feels about Wade being dumped and the new changes.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Musiccitynorm on Reds master plan:
So you’re saying you once read about Red and his master plan When playing larger more physical defensive lines the game plan is to wear them down by making them move a lot, lots of pass plays on 1st and 2nd down,stretch runs and screens,,, then run right at them,,, those numbers seem to bear that out
with the now line it should be even more effective
Maybe more like
In spite of his predictability.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
On that I will agree
Especially because if a foe can overcome that most-sought-after-weakness he must be doing something right. And I wrong.
Cry 'Havoc!'
What's interesting
Is whenever the offense does well, it’s because of JG’s brilliant coaching. If things don’t go so well, the players didin’t execute.
Maybe that viewpoint is backwards. Maybe when things go well, the players overcame a poor game plan, and when things went south, JG deserves the blame.
We’ll never know for sure, but the fact that the tendency is to award credit to the coach and blame to the players is a double standard.
You're right
but as you pointed out the failure to score on offense several posts up I’d like to point out that maybe it was down because the player dropped the ball, or ran the wrong route (as we’ve seen players do). So as a guy like Spencer has said about not playing as hard as he could have a few of the other players are probably the same. That is the players decision. Now the lack of a practice can be laid on the HC’s position since he did decide it was better not to have players hurt (which didn’t help Newman). That can be blamed, but you are right on one matter that is not the fault of the players and thats with the one sided attack of the OC. If he calls a series of plays and doesn’t mix them up, then its easier for the opposing DC’s to plan against him.
Since we’ve seen the rankings go up and down and seen the players play well in the system I’m gonna have to side with the players having issues more times then not. Hopefully with Wade gone it relieves some of those issues.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Musiccitynorm on Reds master plan:
So you’re saying you once read about Red and his master plan When playing larger more physical defensive lines the game plan is to wear them down by making them move a lot, lots of pass plays on 1st and 2nd down,stretch runs and screens,,, then run right at them,,, those numbers seem to bear that out
with the now line it should be even more effective
No disagreement here
I wasn’t suggesting the players hadn’t made critical mistakes along way, only that that credit and blame didn’t appear to be fairly distributed.
On another note
With our past HC with a gewy center we never really knew what he asked from players or what the standards were (they seemed pretty low). But we know right now what the standards are for the new HC (plus a DC that is willing to take the blame for the defensive failures). So now we know he’s watching and if a player makes it onto the field then they should be able to do what is asked of them.
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Musiccitynorm on Reds master plan:
So you’re saying you once read about Red and his master plan When playing larger more physical defensive lines the game plan is to wear them down by making them move a lot, lots of pass plays on 1st and 2nd down,stretch runs and screens,,, then run right at them,,, those numbers seem to bear that out
with the now line it should be even more effective
I think it was strawberry custard
With our past HC with a gewy center
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
Never could sing on key
Always considered coaching as much a part of team as players, starters through pine-warmers, stars through supporting cast, assistants, HC, the works.
Win as a team, lose as a team.
Cry 'Havoc!'
dont know if anyone has seen this but there is still some hope for Sun. when we play the Jet at 7PM in the Meadowlands
"This is a simple game, you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the the ball, you got it?!"
Not sure I agree with all your statements
But the post is well written and well though out. Rec for the good work for sure!
Romo ire domum?
Oh thank you sir, thank you sir, hail Caesar and everything, sir!
I’d use a strikethough but for the flak.
Cry 'Havoc!'
Nice read,
but i have to disagree on alot of the points……loved this years draft, but as most will tell you, judging a draft before the players even see the field during the reg season is a bit premature. But since you went there, i will respond to it……..As for the Murray pick in the 3rd, MB3 was leaving, Choice is in the dog house, and FJ is in a contract year…..Murray is insurance….he duplicates much of what FJ can do (again in theory) and should be leverage for the tea, if FJ wants outrageous money…..the OLine picks seem to be pretty good, in fact I would suggest that besides Tyron, we will have at least 1 probably two more starters out of this draft (again in theory, but it is useless to argue about the validity of a draft this early).
He who laughs last, thinks slowest
Well.....my days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle
"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name"
Thank you very much
Here’s the thing with Murray – it’s not like I don’t expect him to be good, I just think he’s not what we needed, and that if we were looking for an insurance policy despite the fact that we had both Felix and Choice on the roster, there were better ways to get one than spending a relatively high draft pick that could have either given us a fresh body on the defense or at worst helped to fortify the offensive line. With Murray, I’m not arguing about the individual player. In fact, I think he will succeed on the team and in the NFL, I’m just arguing against the philosophy of drafting a RB when 1. We have two quality ones on the roster and 2. Even if we’re not happy with them, it’s one of the most easily-filled, plug & play positions in the NFL.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
you are speaking in opinion there....
to defend your opinion you espouse it again……don’t draft a rb becuz we have two quality ones. The gentleman before you explained clearly the reasons why to draft a very capable running back and you just shrugged it off and refused to acknowledge it becuz you think Choice is a quality running back.
Choice has been in the doghouse and is a one trick pony..he runs the ball. He is not conducive to the success of the offense if he is unable to do anything else that is required of him for the position. Therefore he is not a quality running back or one that this team wants for the long term.
Your other opinion about easy to find is great. Lets bring in 10 of em at a time and see which one fits the offense. Some teams get lucky with UDFA, some don’t. If it was so easy to get a quality RB without having to draft one then why would any team in its right mind ever feel the need to draft one. Makes it easy to prepare for the draft. Just cross that position off the list.
I’ve been otherwise impressed with your ability to voice your opinion and feel as many on here do that its refreshing to have a counterpoint to all the emotion that we feel as fans. I myself have been guilty of having tantrums or moments of feeling slighted by the powers that be when a player that I think we should take, or a coach doesn’t end up here that I feel could help the team.
Just remember that the only thing that matters in the end is that we are all fans of the boys for better or for worse…a voluntary marriage that encompasses all of those vows.
Keep an open mind and be strong with your stance, just don’t try to defend from a ledge thats easy to be pushed off of.
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
by TruBluToTheCore on Sep 9, 2011 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions
You criticize him for having an opinion
Yet all you can do is bring your own opinion? CowboyinExline was much more articulate (and polite) in explaining his position than you. How is it that your opinion is better than his?
It’s just your opinion that Choice is a one-trick pony and is deficient in the areas you ascribe to him. So you disagree with CowboyinExline on this. That doesn’t mean he’s wrong, or his opinion deserves to be mischaracterized as you’ve done it. He did not shrug it off, he explained very well that running back talent is marginal in this league. And finding a Tanner or Starks is not that hard. Just ask Dallas or the Packers.
Just remember that the only thing that matters in the end is that we are all fans of the boys for better or for worse…a voluntary marriage that encompasses all of those vows. are allowed to post whatever opinion we hold on this board, as long as we uphold the BTB guidelines, and do so in an adult and respectful manner.
BigBadJoe and I have different takes on this, and that’s fine. I like the backfield we have and I think that the number of unheralded RB’s who have managed to succeed and succeeded quickly in this league are an indication that even if the Front Office decides they want another RB, it’s not worth a third round draft pick. BBJ sees otherwise, and that’s cool. I’m not sure why I’m so out of line for having a difference of opinion.
andrewblog1.wordpress.com
by CowboyinExile on Sep 9, 2011 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Its all good
the differances in opinion on here is what makes it interesting….if we all agreed on everything, the board would be a pretty boring place.
I see your point, as far as the plug&play RB, but I still (at this very early stage) like our draft…..(i like Murray so much i took him in my fantasy keeper league, on the PS for now, but time will tell)
GO COWBOYS (we all agree on that at least)
He who laughs last, thinks slowest
Well.....my days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle
"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name"
Another thing Exile...
I don’t consider Murray a “RB” per say…Yes he lines up in the backfield, is called a RB, and all that…BUT (and this is JMO) I think that he is the “primary Slot guy”…I wouldn’t be surprised to see several formation where He and Felix line up together then one of them motion out…..
So while true RB are a “Plug and Play position” ,a RB that can function as a 3rd WR, and runs a 4.3 40 yard dash, isn’t a player you can “pick up off the streets”…that is why he was drafted in the third…..
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 9, 2011 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Thank you very much
Here’s the thing with Murray – it’s not like I don’t expect him to be good, I just think he’s not what we needed, and that if we were looking for an insurance policy despite the fact that we had both Felix and Choice on the roster, there were better ways to get one than spending a relatively high draft pick that could have either given us a fresh body on the defense or at worst helped to fortify the offensive line. With Murray, I’m not arguing about the individual player. In fact, I think he will succeed on the team and in the NFL, I’m just arguing against the philosophy of drafting a RB when 1. We have two quality ones on the roster and 2. Even if we’re not happy with them, it’s one of the most easily-filled, plug & play positions in the NFL.
Sorry, still getting the hand of the commenting system.
by CowboyinExile on Sep 8, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't particularly agree
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
*with the post
but with football so close at hand I can’t say much more other than I guess we will see.
The only thing I will say, and I think it has already been covered by commenters, is that I think a lot of the criticism of our offense falls short of being persuasive to me.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
But as I understand your comments, you feel differently about the defense, right?
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
All of these points are valid! I apologize for some of the flak you're taking here. Many don't want to believe they're rooting for a very mediocre team, or that JG and RRyan are not saviors!
Playcalling, for example. If some don’t se his weakness in this area, they’re blind. This new idea (the last year or2) on this blog that it’s al about "stats stats stats!
(I’m picturing Jan Brady: “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!”) will not even be able to see the weaknesses on offense the last few years. The total stats look good, after all.
And your point about this year’s draft is spot-on. That Murray pick will hurt us, what a waste.
It’s not to say Garrett will be a failure. Actually, he was my #1 choice to hire-he deserves a shot, say 4 years. But while some here feel there’s been a ‘change in culture’ and things are getting better, that’s not necessarily the case.
And if he does go some day, keep trying the young guys, Jerry. This franchise needs to find a good young coach who can then stay for 10 years and stabilize things.
I’m hoping he surprises you and me and does well. I’m doubtful because I just don’t see the talent to win much, and no coach is good enough to win without talent. But a good draft and a couple of smart FA signings, and who knows next year?
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, the real question is, is it a good beer? Realist Larry, 2011
I'm hoping Garrett surprised us too.
At the end of the day, the proof will be on the field one way or another. I do think for all the offensive stats that have been thrown around, all you have to do is watch the game to see the inconsistency and lack of poise under pressure from the offense. The numbers are helpful, but they don’t tell the whole story, and I’ve watched the O crumble when it counts too many times.
andrewblog1.wordpress.com
by CowboyinExile on Sep 9, 2011 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
should be
This new idea (the last year or 2) on this blog that it’s all about "stats stats stats! "
will make it so that some people are not even be able to see the weaknesses on offense the last few years. The total stats look good, after all.
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, the real question is, is it a good beer? Realist Larry, 2011
Not loving your analysis, but very impressed that you reply to your readers ... !
If I may chime in …
5. We don’t know how much opportunity squandering (re personnel) can be blamed on JG. I don’t think he had much of a say so. I think the general failure of this team (actually all teams) is that we haven’t had the discipline to retool earlier. We are seeing it now, albeit it’s a “limping in” vs. “all in” strategy.
As far as Bill Cowher type prospects taking over the team, it would diminish the credit JJ craves. At least he can now say JG was his protegee. Resistance is f …
4. I totally agree there is reason to be suspicious. But I think JG has a belief (probably rightly so) on how games will be won (see the Saints and Packers). Last year’s OL was not going to succeed with anyone’s play calling. At least he experimented and hopefully learned something for this year (e.g., 3 straight bubble screens to Dez … never again).
3. I would have traded down. I would have chosen Harris. However, you have to look beyond this year in the draft. #2 LB is a great need and value pick and I will say inspired. Just wait 1/2 a year. #3 just goes to show how badly we overestimated the existing RB corps. Felix did nothing to prove he’s reliable at RB and neither did the journeyman Choice. Next year, if Felix remains mediocre or finally blossoms and requires too much $$$, Murray may be an option, with Tomlinson-type potential. He’s worth the gamble. Arkin, Nagy and Costa let us do that. As for other RB options? There are none you can bank on. Even the successes of GB and NE were surprises to those teams. You notice they took 3rd round RB also.
2. I think they churned the roster pretty well considering, without throwing away the season (or the next). Again, I liked Harris at CB, but what if the bidding war for Nnamdi had been won (goodbye newman and scandrick)? Anyway there were too many needs to fix. Focusing on OL makes great sense this year, because Romo, Dez, Austin, Felix, Whitten cant do much without them.
1. There has been no OL, no OL, no OL. Let JG build a new one and judge the offense based on that. This is a rebuilding year, with a slim hope enough of the pieces will come together for a playoff run. As a coach, I would do almost the same things. BTW, the 13-3 year would have been a SB year, if the “capable” Crayton hadn’t dropped a money throw from Romo, or stopped running on another money throw, both in the late 4th quarter.
In short, the decline has been long in the making and finally is being admitted. If the Cowboys can fix it this year (or next), JJ will be redeemed. Thanks for your article.
Thank you very much for the kind words
It’s funny to think of you guys as “readers.” I’m just another guy amongst the chatter. The whole reason to write the article was to discuss and debate with people about it. This is the fun part!
As to your points:
5. JG had to at least have some say. It was clear from the day he was hired that he was the hand-picked heir apparent, so it’s not like he was an outsider trying to catch Jerry’s eye. It’s not fair to put it all on his shoulders, but the bigger point I was trying to make is that I don’t have enough faith in him as a first time coach to entrust him with the prime years of guys like Romo, Witten, and Ware.
As for Cowher – I know he’s a pipe dream, and that Jerry likes to have his guys so he can seem like the mastermind, but I think he would have been just what the doctor ordered after Wade.
4. I was saying above, at the end of the day the proof is on the field and now we just have to hope that he can put it all together.
3. With Carter, I don’t like the injury, I don’t like the McDonalds, and I especially don’t like how it seems that Jerry & Co. is apt to just trust his buddy Butch Davis. With RB, I’m a Choice-backer so I still think he deserves a shot, but even if they don’t trust the top two, I think they’re as apt to find a good 3rd back on waivers, in free agency, or at least lower in the draft. Again, the defense needed help much more than our backfield.
2. I do like focusing on the OL, but it feels like we might be doing too much too fast. It’s a pretty big gamble to rest the offense on all those youngins. It’s a fair argument that they won’t be any worse than last year, but still, makes me nervous. Dockery helps, but I would have liked to have seen another roleplayer vet brought in, at least for insurance.
1. The big question is, how much has JG’s offense playcalling compensated for the fact that the O-line has been suspect? Every coach is limited (or bolstered) by their personnel, but the great ones meld the gameplan to what they have to work with. That said, I hope he makes me look like a fool and this new O-Line and offense kick the shit out of the rest of the league.
Thank you very much for your in depth response. If there’s one big thing to say in favor of Garrett and this offseason, it’s that those mistakes like RW and MB3’s decline are finally being admitted. That’s the first step, we’ll have to see if the attempts at correcting those mistakes work out.
andrewblog1.wordpress.com
by CowboyinExile on Sep 9, 2011 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions
You've replied beyond the call of duty!
Appreciate it.
Now what did it mean for the Cowboys to give Scandrick and Ratliff extensions now and seemingly double what is necessary? Any insight?
I wish I could tell you.
Obviously they must see something in these guys. I’m a big fan of Rat, but it’s hard to feel like we didn’t spend too much on him here. I’m definitely not sold on Scandrick. It takes more than one season of starting-quality corner play to sell me. (See also Jenkins, Mike.) I think they imagine they’re locking in key components of their D for the foreseeable future. That’s somewhat admirable, but I think we might be closer to locking in Alan Ball than locking in DeMarcus Ware. I envision Rat hitting the inevitable decline and Scandrick regressing to the mean until they both become either overpaid or just plain dead money. With Rat I think the price tag has something to do with the market, but with the cap set to remain stable for the next few years, I would have thought we’d see a cooling of the FA market generally, much like this year outside of a few special guys like Chris Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Nnamdi Asomughai. I guess we’ll see. The new CBA throws big question marks into all of this.
andrewblog1.wordpress.com
by CowboyinExile on Sep 11, 2011 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions
Sorry for the harsh comments
I was rather curt with the OP last night and I apologize. His opinion could be valid, I just doubt it. I don’t think the overall talent of the Cowboys is Garrett’s fault at this point. In 3 years it will certainly be.
I think the bottom line is to compare what Garrett did the last 8 games of last season with what Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey and Dave Campo did. Switzer offered nothing more than a rah-rah atmosphere which any coach could have pulled off with that talent. Gailey offered nothing to the defense and Campo offered nothing to the offense. As well as obviously nothing to the draft for all 3.
The big thing is what Jerry Jones does and thinks. I feel Jerry respects Jason’s opinion and coaching ability. This will keep Jerry out of the way. Jason will stand up to Jerry and convince Jerry that Jason is right, so Jerry will not feel the need to step in and make his own decisions.
Sorry
but I didn’t really see any valid arguments here or any convincing evidence. I still have yet to see what kind of coach Garrett will become but nothing tells me he is the wrong kind of guy. I could go on about disproving any of these but I don’t want to go on a rant. One thing though, how does a player know how involved a coach gets in playcalling on one side of the ball or the other unless he is the one making the calls? Exactly, he doesn’t, it isn’t possible unless the coach tells the player himself. I’ll tell you why, because those little headsets they wear switch channels and allow each person to talk to each other and listen to each other at the flick of a switch…
"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious." –Vince Lombardi
Crayton would know
It’s not like he lives in a vacuum. Players know that stuff. An easy tip off is Wade taking off his headphone when the offense is on the field, and that’s been noticed before. There’s also comments made by position coaches or other employees of the team. I would take his informed opinion over anyone outside the organization.
Yes
but to know that he NEVER did? No, not buying it. Especially when wade after that famous tashard choice fumble in the opener last year said “I should have stopped the play and just knelt it, that is on me”. That says that he has stepped in before and it is his responsibility…
"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious." –Vince Lombardi
by ProBowlFactory on Sep 9, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Don't agree
When Wade took the blame for Garrett’s idiotic play call, Romo’s brain-dead pass Choice’s fumble, he was just the fall guy. That was Wade’s job—in press conferences he wouldn’t blame anyone but himself. So him stepping forward doesn’t mean he actually approved the play, just that he was the person taking the blame.
And hopefully we’re not getting too tangled up with language here. “Never” can be a colloquialism for “almost never” or even “the great majority of the time”. Whether he meant “never” in the the most literal, strict sense of the word, or if it means something akin to the informal sense doesn’t really repudiate Crayton’s basic point.
How is it the responsiblity of anyone else then the guy who didn't execute
and fumbled the ball?
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Musiccitynorm on Reds master plan:
So you’re saying you once read about Red and his master plan When playing larger more physical defensive lines the game plan is to wear them down by making them move a lot, lots of pass plays on 1st and 2nd down,stretch runs and screens,,, then run right at them,,, those numbers seem to bear that out
with the now line it should be even more effective
If a bad, high risk play isn't called
No fumble occurs. Which why no one else I can think of calling them.
Crayton wouldn't be a little upset about how things happened would he?
oh..sorry that you feel that you no longer have to keep proving yourself on this team. Sound like an attitude thats you want on your team? If he wasn’t gone last year he would have been gone this year. If JG was coach in 2007 he would have been cut in the offseason after how he performed against New York.
Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home
Did you read his comments?
It doesn’t appear like it. His comments were not those of a disenfranchised employee, and were shown to be correct in retrospect, particularly that Wade was too soft.
I can understand why he'd be pissed off
They drafted Dez and was trying to force Williams into the lineup. Probably would have worked better not working Roy into anything and having Crayton play.
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=5528702
The Garrett Guillotine demands more blood!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 5, 2011 3:30 PM PDT
Musiccitynorm on Reds master plan:
So you’re saying you once read about Red and his master plan When playing larger more physical defensive lines the game plan is to wear them down by making them move a lot, lots of pass plays on 1st and 2nd down,stretch runs and screens,,, then run right at them,,, those numbers seem to bear that out
with the now line it should be even more effective
Forgive me if this has already been mentioned in the 200 something comments....but....
Jason Garrett did take a 1-7 team and lead us to 5-3 with a backup QB, and a lot of injuries. If that were to stand alone, it would be an accomplishment, but lets look at the 3 losses:
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, we lose by 3 points because Roy Williams doesn’t know how to get down on the ground. I was screaming at my TV for him to just fall down after he got the first down, and because Newman got juked out of his jock strap.
PHILLY EAGLES, we only lost by 3 points to a team that frankly should have killed us. That game was very winnable
ARIZONA CARDINALS, we lose by 1 point because we have a kicker who is dicey on extra points. I mean I think Chad Ochocinco, Wes Welker, and Ndamakon Suh have kicked extra points before. I can kick an extra point, (I am officially 1 of 1 at my rec center and do no wish to try again for fear of ruining my percentage.)
This guy has his flaws, he might not ever live up to all the hype, but he has pushed this team in the right direction.
- Oh Yeah did I mention that after JG took over as Head Coach, only the Patriots scored more points than the Cowboys………with John Kitna………throwing to Roy(Brick Hook Em’ Hands) Williams…….behind the oldest offensive line in the league…….. yeah
The "offense"
Included a huge windfall of defense and special teams points that inflated points scored. How many times will a team be able to score five touchdowns that way in half a season, and how much of that is due to the offensive coordinator?
What’s also worth mentioning is the offense gave up two touchdowns to the defense in that stretch. If the offense is giving up points, they are hurting the team just as bad as DeSean Jackson strolling through our secondary for long touchdowns.
We also had some remarkable luck in playing almost exclusively below average defenses in the league in the second half of the season. The only one that was above average was the Saints, who, ironically, have a reputation for a soft defense.
Adjusting for the above realities, the offense wasa little below league average last season. That’s about what I would expect from an offense that has excellent skill players and a backup quarterback.
And you think Campo contributed to the defensice success....get real
Dallas was 7th in total yards, did the defense and special teams contribute to that…………..
How is that average? 7/32 is in the top 21%, that is 29% more than average. But I am sure all of the defenses we played sucked, and inflated our numbers. That is a ridiculous argument. In that case, our defense was really good, we just played good offenses.
As head coach did Garrett not influence more turnovers and better special teams play to get more points? My argument was for Garrett as a head coach not coordinator.
by 2tightendpkg on Sep 9, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Apparently
You’re so confused you think I defend Campo. Irrational, and wrong. But that’s not far removed from your other positions, so at least you have the advantage of being consistent…
So if Garrett or Dave Campo were not responsible for more turnovers, then who was?
I am sorry you got butthurt that JJ didn’t hire your guy to coach the cowboys…It will be okay, there is a cream for that. I understand everyone’s beef with him as an O Coordinator, but he was great interim head coach. The toughness and accountability he has brought to the team is exactly what the Cowboys needed.
If you can tone down your language and act like an adult
We can have a discussion. Otherwise, I’ll just assume you’re a troll.
Dave Halprin
I sent you an email. Your so-called moderators are doing an incompetent job of bringing abusive behavior of kool aid drinkers in line.
i got modded for calling the afc beast guy "tough guy" and posting a pick of hotdog eating sanchez...
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
I resigned the moderation team effective after tomorrow night's game so
I could answer this. First, the charge of incompetence. Do you understand that there are only a very few moderators and hundreds of posts to read through? Speaking for myself, I did not see a whole lot of abusive behavior or rule breaking here. The most egregious I did see was the “dumb” comment above, and the OP did such a fine job of handling it with calm and humor, that I felt it appropriate to leave the posts as is. The OP, by staying cool, made the offender look like an idiot, and I thought that was punishment enough. Outside of that, as I look again, I only see a couple of out-of-line comments, and I have to ask this. Did you do anything to help? If you see something that we might not have, you are able to flag it. That makes it possible for us to scan a post quickly and remove offending posts. Next time you feel like saying things like this, you might want to stop and think about how hard those “incompetent” moderators are working to make this board the quality site it is. Kudos to Dave and the team; it’s been fun.
And these "soft" or "weak" defenses we played..................
Giants, 7th in total yards
Lions, 21st
Indy, 20th
Saints, 4th
Philly, 12th (twice)
Redskins, 31st
Cardinals, 29th
That equals out to an average of 15th out of 32 teams, that is above averages slightly, but is certainly not below average
by 2tightendpkg on Sep 9, 2011 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Yards don't measure the performance of an offense
Points do.
League average points allowed last year: 352.6
Points allowed, by team:
Giants: 347 (about league average)
Lions: 369 (worse than average)
Colts: 388 (worse than average)
Saints: 307 (much better than average)
Eagles: 377 (worse than average) played twice
Redskins: 377 (worse than average)
Cardinals: 434 (third worst in the league)
Since you seem to prefer ordinal numbers, those ranks were 17, 19, 23, 7, 22, 22, 30, 22. Average rank: 20.25
Really because your main point was that points dont tell the whole story
So I get it, Jason Garretts points came from defense and special teams, but the defenses we played didn’t have any defensive or special teams points against them………….Oh I see now. It ’s like a double standard. Points can only be used to validate your arguments…..Thank you……glad to clear that up!!
Like I said in the article, you can credit Garrett with coming close in those losses, but then you also have to look at the near-misses in the victories over Washington, Indianapolis, and the second go against Philly. I think it’s fair to say that JG had pretty even luck when it came to close games. Maybe you want to say that he was at least able to keep it close in those games, and that’s a fair point. On the other hand, my beef with the Cowboys over the past few years hasn’t been that they can’t compete, it’s that they can’t consistently finish.
Maybe I should clarify a point about my argument on JG’s 2010 record. I don’t think he did anything negative or particularly scold-worthy during those 8 games, I just don’t think he did anything so spectacular as to recommend him as head coach. I think that if a few balls had bounced our way in the first half of the year and the team had better luck in those close games early in the season, you would have seen the team look much the same there, and that he gets too much credit for the turnaround when it stemmed more from the Front Office motivating the players by letting them know that a clean sweep was coming and they were suddenly auditioning to be on the team in 2011. JG didn’t do anything bad down the stretch in 2010; he just didn’t do anything so wonderful either.
andrewblog1.wordpress.com
by CowboyinExile on Sep 9, 2011 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I understand you point, but who out there would have been better?
Cower? A retread who has been out of coaching for 7 years? I ‘m sure nothing has changed in the last 7 years in the NFL. How about John Fox? He quit on Carolina. Shannahan two years ago? This is the guy who likes Rex Grossman. Gruden? The guy who keeps 10 quarterbacks on his active roster. Or how about an unproven college coach? They seem to have great track records in the NFL. In my opinion Garrett is the best current option out there. Did we forget that he did get offers from the Ravens and Falcons two years ago? Even Rex Ryan said that he was impressed with Garrett.
The team played night and day different under Garrett, isn’t that one of the main jobs of a Head Coach, motivation? I don’t understand why you think that the Front Office motivated them and not the head coach. Based on past experience the players probably thought that mediocre playing earns you a 5-7 year contract from Jerry.
by 2tightendpkg on Sep 9, 2011 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
I have to disagree here
I think that if a few balls had bounced our way in the first half of the year and the team had better luck in those close games early in the season, you would have seen the team look much the same there,
and that he gets too much credit for the turnaround when it stemmed more from the Front Office motivating the players by letting them know that a clean sweep was coming and they were suddenly auditioning to be on the team in 2011.
Both statements are conjecture based on opinion, so I’ll respond likewise:
in the first instance, you assume something that there is no way to demonstrate. You think with a few lucky bounces we could have been, what, 3-5? And that the team would have played as well down the stretch as it did with Garrett with Wade at the helm and the same attitude that fostered underachieving, taking plays off, quitting under duress. That’s certainly an opinion not shared by very many.
in the second instance, you give no credit to Garrett in improving the team’s performance by taking direct actions of having contact practices on Wednesdays, demanding accountability in meetings, approaching preparation with a sound “one day at a time” attitude and lay all the turnaround in players’ improvement to the economic concerns of the next year and job stability. Well, actually that was a valid concern for some of the players and it’s pretty clear that Garrett is the one to cut them loose. So how does that take away from his establishing new standards of preparation, accountability and the like?
"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic
With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.
as for this:
I think that if a few balls had bounced our way in the first half of the year and the team had better luck in those close games early in the season
As a wise man once said:
Preparation + Opportunity = LUCK
Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
Am I the most optimistic Cowboys fan in the World? Yes, due to an "unfortunate accident" to the previous holder of the title.
by I am Ironman!!! on Sep 9, 2011 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Great post
That’s very well written and seems thorough and to the point.I have most of the same concerns.JG does seem like a better HC than OC but guess what?He’s still the OC!!!They should get another separate OC next year.I didn’t like it when Wade was the HC and DC.The biggest problem with this team is the fact we don’t have a good front office.I think JJ is a great owner but about the 19th or so best GM in the league.His recent moves suggest he’s even lower than that.I see a good 9 GM’s better in each conference.So if the talent is close ,which most of our current talent came from Parcells tenure,and the coaching is similar then the GM should be close to the other teams as well.It’s not close and so we will always be looking up at the top teams and have a tough time if we do reach the playoffs.We have decent starters but the depth in certain areas is not up to par.I think that OL overhaul was way overdue but the way they have done it forces young guys who aren’t ready to play.It could work out well but it probably will be very rough going early on.The defense needs upgrading all over the place with youth.
Wow
. . . just stumbled onto this post and the comments. Very nice write-up with a different perspective and great comments. I will be reading on this as the seaon unfolds.
One thing I will say in defense of Jason Garrett – he has the ‘pedigree.’ Meaning that he is acutely smart; he played football in the NFL. He was a quarterback so offense is in his DNA. I like his no nonsense but calm approach. The gum chewing in your face mo fo spitting nail biter crappola don’t play so well in the 21st century.
Thanks for posting this stimulating alternative view.
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