Another Cowboys coach leaves: staff is full of holes

by Dave Halprin on Jan 28, 2007 1:13 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

The Cowboys are looking for a new head coach, but once that's completed they've got to hire a bunch of new assistants. QB coach Chris Palmer is leaving for the New York Giants.

The New York Giants have hired Chris Palmer as their quarterbacks coach, giving Eli Manning a new mentor for 2007.

The highly-respected Palmer served last year as the Dallas Cowboys' quarterbacks coach. He was granted permission last week to meet with Giants' officials, and his addition to Tom Coughlin's staff will be officially announced early in the week.

Let's check out where we stand in terms of assistants.

Offensive coordinator: Jason Garrett, unless he becomes the head coach, which seems more unlikely as time passes.
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Zimmer has left making this the #1 priority on the shopping list.
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line/Running Game: Tony Sparano is still supposedly in the head coach mix. The Cowboys need him on staff this year.
Special Teams: Bruce DeHaven is in Seattle, do I hear Steve Hoffman's name in our future, at least for the kickers?
Wide Receivers/Passing Game: Todd Haley left for Arizona, open position.
Secondary: Todd Bowles is supposedly in the head coach mix, but not really. He's more in line for a possible promotion to defensive coordinator.
Quarterbacks Coach: Chris Palmer is leaving, see above.
Linebackers: Paul Pasqualoni is still here.
Strength and Conditioning: Joe Juraszek is still here.
Safeties: Mike MacIntyre is not signed for 2007.
Defensive Line: Kacy Rodgers is still here I guess, I haven't heard any different.
Running Backs: Anthony Lynn left for Cleveland, open position.
Tight Ends: Freddie Kitchens is still here, I guess.
Middle Linebackers: Vincent Brown was a Parcells Guy, I don't know what his future is under the new regime.
Offensive Quality Control (Tutor to Romo): David Lee bolted for Arknasas.

Hat tip to jsdoty for the link to the Chris Palmer story.

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Comments

Why would let you him go within the division?

If he's such an asset, even if you've hired someone better, why let him go help Eli out of his funk? I guess lateral moves are allowed for assistant jobs?

Someone clue me in on how this was a good idea.

by Doomsday on Jan 28, 2007 3:15 PM CST reply actions

Steve Hoffman

Why not bring him in to run the special teams. He got some experience running it in Atlanta and his track record with kickers should speak for itself.

by osa1011 on Jan 28, 2007 3:38 PM CST reply actions

Palmer????

Losing Palmer is like losing a wart. Lee was nothing either. Norv and Jason are 10% better than those fools.

by Big Dakota on Jan 28, 2007 3:45 PM CST reply actions

Only 10% better

doesn't seem like that big of an improvement.

by jsdoty on Jan 28, 2007 3:55 PM CST up reply actions

I think he meant...

10x better.

by kk218 on Jan 28, 2007 3:57 PM CST up reply actions

LOL Maybe that's his point?

Norv is a better looking wart, more of a mole really.

by Doomsday on Jan 28, 2007 4:00 PM CST up reply actions

YARD SALE

Drive past the ranch and you might find these signs leading you inside, cheap deals on the coaching staff - EVERYTHING MUST GO.

I'm a little scepticle to the Method here so I'm left wondering if it's all Madness.

In car terms (again) this team needed a tune-up, some new brakes and improved handling for when things get bumpy again. JJ very nearly has this team up on blocks, a full body-off restoration on the horizon.

Now sometimes that's by design and after a lenghty process you get a quality job. Other times it's a total hack job by someone that couldn't figure out when to stop. Next thing you know you're standing in piles of wiring harnesses, brackets and bolts you don't even remember taking out.

I just hope JJ isn't selling parts off this team that he may need down the road.

by Doomsday on Jan 28, 2007 3:54 PM CST reply actions

Palmer and Lee didn't figure in...

...to the plan Garrett laid out (okay, Lee was already out when JG came in, but in my mind Jery knew he would sign Garrett at some point during the regular seasonO).

Let 'em go. I only want Sparano to remain on the O-side. I'd like all the D-side guys to stay (maybe not McIntyre). I think our success next season rides on the D-side. I have uptmost confidence in a Turner/Garrett combo (this looks to be the plan) on the O-side.

Say we promote Bowles to DC (he seems to be THE candidate if either Turner or Garrett is HC). He gets glowing reviews from people in the NFL (like JG). Maybe he can open things up for the D.

Or maybe we go after an assistant with the Chargers of Steelers. Some new blood to bring new ideas.

Either way, the key to our success is the DC hire, not the HC hire. IMO, anyway.

Poke

by Poke @ Blogging The Boys on Jan 28, 2007 4:04 PM CST reply actions