Interviews expected starting tomorrow

by Dave Halprin on Feb 5, 2007 9:48 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Nothing much new to report on the coaching search. Nick Eatman says tomorrow and Wednesday we should be interviewing Rivera and Caldwell.

The Cowboys are expected to interview Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell this week, possibly as early as Tuesday and Wednesday.

Both coaches reportedly flew back to their respective cities Monday following the Colts' 29-17 win over Chicago Sunday night in Miami.

Frank Luksa over at the DMN talks about the candidates. Since I'm still hoping for Wade Phillips, I'll post that section.

If Jones hired on the basis of NFL experience, prior success as a head coach and a defensive philosophy matching that already in place, he'd choose Wade Phillips. Phillips has 30 years in the pros, five as top banana at Buffalo (29-19) and Denver (16-16) that included three playoff (0-3) seasons. Add interim stints at New Orleans (1-3) and Atlanta (2-1) and Phillips emerges with a 48-39 record.

Phillips is a 3-4 devotee and as San Diego defensive coordinator fielded a more aggressive version than the Cowboys did last season. Wade's problem ... he'll be 60 in June. Age and longevity are negative factors to an owner who should be looking for youth and long-term staying power.

Actually, his age works for me, because it gives us time to groom Jason Garrett, to see if he's head coach material. After a few years if Phillips is so successful that you have to choose between keeping him or losing Garrett to another team, that's a dilemma I would take. If Phillips can't get the job done after a couple of years, maybe you have the answer already on staff.

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Comments

I really don't get this

'grooming Jason Garrett' scenario.

Who's to say that some team won't come and offer him a HC job next year? So, grooming Garrett so he will be the next HC of the Cowboys in a few years seems rather disingenuous to us fans. The last time i heard about a coach being groomed to take over was Bill Belichick with the Jets. Guess he didn't want to stick around...

JJ should go ahead and name Garrett HC now.

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on Feb 5, 2007 10:31 PM CST reply actions

But Garrett

only leaves if he wants to. So assuming he is willing to be groomed and patient enough to wait for his turn, it won't necessarily be a bad thing.

The Jets situation was complicated by interpersonal issues between ownership and the two Bills. I doubt that'll be an issue in Dallas.

by dunkman on Feb 6, 2007 7:16 AM CST up reply actions

This

is the one time I will agree with Longhorn, if he is that good why are we hoping he sticks around? It will be like Sean heading to New Orleans.

Redskin fans are like slinkies........not much good for anything but they still put a smile on your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

by jbratch on Feb 6, 2007 8:41 AM CST up reply actions

Guys, don't lose perspective

Jason Garrett only has two years experience coaching, and that's as a QB coach. Even though everybody around the league thinks he has a great future, no one was thinking about turning their team over to him yet - except possibly Jerry, and I'm even skeptical about that. Garrett isn't Sean Payton yet, who had a lot of years of coaching experience before he went to the Saints, including calling plays and coordinating offenses. Garrett needs to do some things first before a team is ready to hire him as head coach. Just because Jerry said he's considering as head coach, don't think that everybody around the league is going to say the same thing.

Now, after a couple of years coordinating an offense, evaluating players for the draft and showing an eye for that, coaching up all the offensive players - not just QB's - and learning in-game adjustments to the game plan, then he may be the hot commodity.

That's what I mean by groom. Sean Payton was light-years ahead of where Garrett is in coaching experience and desirability as a head coach.

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by Dave Halprin on Feb 6, 2007 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

Zackly!

It may not take Garrett as long as some others, but he needs time and experience.

Well said.

by dunkman on Feb 6, 2007 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

If Jason has a shot

at coaching the Dallas Cowboys in a few years, why would he go anywhere else?

Seriously.

Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.

by OskieOskie on Feb 6, 2007 8:40 AM CST reply actions

Hmm

Ask Sean Payton, we were supposedly grooming him to take over for BP.

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on Feb 6, 2007 9:34 AM CST up reply actions

I don't think so

Parcells considered him a talented young coach from his contacts, but there was never the understanding that he was Bill's heir apparent, nor were other teams pursuing him. In fact, after being relieved of playing calling duties in NY, he was a bit of a pariah. Or is that paranha? Anyway, not a good candidate...

by dunkman on Feb 6, 2007 9:42 AM CST up reply actions