DMN: Mike Ditka: Jason Garrett is 'really over-coaching'; Pressure has gotten to him

[WoodysGirl]

Former NFL head coach and analyst Mike Ditka joined Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio to talk about the weekend's slate of NFL games. Here are some highlights:

On whether he can justify Jason Garrett's decision making at the end of the Cardinals game:
The pressure’s gotten to Jason and he’s really over-coaching right now. You’ve got to understand that it’s fine to be the coach. I understand the title and the position and the responsibility, but great coaches are made because of great players and confidence in those players, putting those players in the best position you can for them to succeed and then giving them the ball and going with it. If you fear success, you will not have success. That’s all there is to it. And if you fear and you fail, then you shouldn’t be out there in the first place. It’s kind of disappointing to me. I don’t know why it happened that way, but it’s happened. And here, you’ve hurt a whole football team. You’ve lost a football game that would’ve put them in a good position if they would’ve won.

On whether Garrett will have to address his mistakes with the team:

Read the answer: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20111206-mike-ditka-jason-garrett-is-really-over-coaching-pressure-has-gotten-to-him.ece

Link to audio is in this thread (http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225073)

[fifaguy]

Former NFL head coach and analyst Mike Ditka joined Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio to talk about the weekend's slate of NFL games. Here are some highlights:

On whether he can justify Jason Garrett's decision making at the end of the Cardinals game:
The pressure’s gotten to Jason and he’s really over-coaching right now. You’ve got to understand that it’s fine to be the coach. I understand the title and the position and the responsibility, but great coaches are made because of great players and confidence in those players, putting those players in the best position you can for them to succeed and then giving them the ball and going with it. If you fear success, you will not have success. That’s all there is to it. And if you fear and you fail, then you shouldn’t be out there in the first place. It’s kind of disappointing to me. I don’t know why it happened that way, but it’s happened. And here, you’ve hurt a whole football team. You’ve lost a football game that would’ve put them in a good position if they would’ve won.

On whether Garrett will have to address his mistakes with the team:

Read the answer: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20111206-mike-ditka-jason-garrett-is-really-over-coaching-pressure-has-gotten-to-him.ece

Link to audio is in this thread (http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225073)

Ditka is right. And anyone else find it annoying that he never admits he was wrong or made a mistake? Instead, he comes out and says he would do the same thing again if he were in this position again....

[Mash]

Former NFL head coach and analyst Mike Ditka joined Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio to talk about the weekend's slate of NFL games. Here are some highlights:

On whether he can justify Jason Garrett's decision making at the end of the Cardinals game:
The pressure’s gotten to Jason and he’s really over-coaching right now. You’ve got to understand that it’s fine to be the coach. I understand the title and the position and the responsibility, but great coaches are made because of great players and confidence in those players, putting those players in the best position you can for them to succeed and then giving them the ball and going with it. If you fear success, you will not have success. That’s all there is to it. And if you fear and you fail, then you shouldn’t be out there in the first place. It’s kind of disappointing to me. I don’t know why it happened that way, but it’s happened. And here, you’ve hurt a whole football team. You’ve lost a football game that would’ve put them in a good position if they would’ve won.

On whether Garrett will have to address his mistakes with the team:

Read the answer: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20111206-mike-ditka-jason-garrett-is-really-over-coaching-pressure-has-gotten-to-him.ece

Link to audio is in this thread (http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225073)

:bow: :bow: :bow:

Playing not to lose instead of trying to win....JG needs to grow some imho...

[dreghorn2]

Ditka is right, very disappointing stuff from our coach, man 3 more years i don't know if i can take it.

[Doomsday101]

I like Iron Mike and respect his opinion but come on Mike you have made simular calls and have made dumb moves. Remember Ricky Williams? :laugh2:

Easy to sit behind the Mic and make judgement different when you are making the calls from the sideline.

[Double Trouble]

I don't think it's the pressure. I think Garrett wants to sit back and analyze things and you can't do that when you're trying to both manage the game and call plays.

I'm not a big fan of apologizing to fans for a game decision. It does nothing for the team for him to do that, because everyone is already blaming Garrett. But I do wish he'd said something like "I screwed up. The players put us in a position to win the game and I made some bad decisions to lose it at the end." Falling on the sword in a reasonable (but not over the top) manner does wonders for him and the team, IMO. A lot more than saying "I was afraid of negative plays (i.e. I was afraid my players would screw it up)."

[burmafrd]

I like Iron Mike and respect his opinion but come on Mike you have made simular calls and have made dumb moves. Remember Ricky Williams? :laugh2:

Easy to sit behind the Mic and make judgement different when you are making the calls from the sideline.

I guess you cannot tell the difference between coaching a game and choosing players in a draft. Now Ditka was a HC for over ten years total with the Bears and Saints- so it is very possible he made some serious mistakes coaching during a game. But I never heard of one this bad from him.

[Doomsday101]

I guess you cannot tell the difference between coaching a game and choosing players in a draft. Now Ditka was a HC for over ten years total with the Bears and Saints- so it is very possible he made some serious mistakes coaching during a game. But I never heard of one this bad from him.

Mike has made bad calls on the field as well he was fired in NO for the poor job he did. Mike had a great run with the Bears along with Buddy Ryan who had as much to do with the Bears success as anyone.

If you want to go off on Garrett fine your a fan you have the right to be upset with the outcome of the game but I have watch this game long enough to have seen many top HC make very questionable calls. They make their call they live with the call they move on.

[burmafrd]

Mike has made bad calls on the field as well he was fired in NO for the poor job he did. Mike had a great run with the Bears along with Buddy Ryan who had as much to do with the Bears success as anyone.

If you want to go off on Garrett fine your a fan you have the right to be upset with the outcome of the game but I have watch this game long enough to have seen many top HC make very questionable calls. They make their call they live with the call they move on.

except he refuses to admit it was even questionable. Now I do remember Mike a couple of times saying he should have done this or that while a coach; I have yet to hear that from Red Ball at all. Does HE think he is infallible?

[Doomsday101]

except he refuses to admit it was even questionable. Now I do remember Mike a couple of times saying he should have done this or that while a coach; I have yet to hear that from Red Ball at all. Does HE think he is infallible?

Belichech did not say he was wrong when he went for it on 4th and 1 from his own 30 vs the Colts in a tied game. NE fails to make the 1st down the Colts kick the FG game over. Belicheck did not sit there second guessing himself he made a tough call (one I did not agree with) fearing his defense would not be able to stop Indy.

I'm sure most coaches go back after the game and review what took place and look at other possiabilities after the fact but they are not going to get up in front of the camera and say it gosh that was a bad call.

You make the call you live with it.

[McLovin]

Ditka is right. And anyone else find it annoying that he never admits he was wrong or made a mistake? Instead, he comes out and says he would do the same thing again if he were in this position again....


This is an Ivy league mantra that is all too rampant. Deflect, spin and re-assign. Speak in generalities.

You will NEVER hear him utter the words "I screwed up." It will always be "process, evaluate, blah, blah".

Try to find an Ivy league quant or banker who will take the blame for sub-prime Asset-backed securities. The math, the stats and and the structure worked. It was a "tail-event" that caused the housing market to stop appreciating in 2006, not the shear scale of a $30K/yr worker in a $1M home.

A bad idea, is a bad idea. Admitting you blew a game is much more admirable than doublespeak.

[McLovin]

I don't think it's the pressure. I think Garrett wants to sit back and analyze things and you can't do that when you're trying to both manage the game and call plays.

I'm not a big fan of apologizing to fans for a game decision. It does nothing for the team for him to do that, because everyone is already blaming Garrett. But I do wish he'd said something like "I screwed up. The players put us in a position to win the game and I made some bad decisions to lose it at the end." Falling on the sword in a reasonable (but not over the top) manner does wonders for him and the team, IMO. A lot more than saying "I was afraid of negative plays (i.e. I was afraid my players would screw it up)."


The thing missing here is that be "saying" your afraid of negative plays is passively saying you don't trust your players on the side of the ball you coach. I keep reading about how "Garrett has brought positiveness, leadership, etc." but if you listen to him, he is skilled at passively assigning blame away from him.

This causes it to fester and eventually will come back to bite him.

If he would have said, "I blew it. Period" This story would be over. But the fact a 10 year old knows he blew it and he won't say it will keep this going much longer than it needed to.

Instead, "Tony can call....I don't have an answer, etc." is showing him to be a laughing stock. This is ego run amuck. "The smartest guy in the room syndrome" works for a while, but then you have to prove it.

5 years and the proof is piling up.

[Chocolate Lab]

Dead on, McLovin.

Somehow no one has mentioned what an indictment it is of his own offense that he can't trust them to not screw up. It's his offense!

Anyway, I agree with what Gosselin said this morning, that Garrett has in his head an idea of what a head coach "should" look and act like, and it's someone who is always right and always in control of everything. It seems like he thinks admitting fault would be a weakness.

But instead it would be an admirable move that would endear him to his players.

[Doomsday101]

Dead on, McLovin.

Somehow no one has mentioned what an indictment it is of his own offense that he can't trust them to not screw up. It's his offense!

Anyway, I agree with what Gosselin said this morning, that Garrett has in his head an idea of what a head coach "should" look and act like, and it's someone who is always right and always in control of everything. It seems like he thinks admitting fault would be a weakness.

But instead it would be an admirable move that would endear him to his players.

1st off what Garrett says to his players is normally done behind closed doors so we really do not have any clue as to what Jason said to the team or not.

I have seen other coaches Belicheck included make questionable calls and he is not out there apologizing or saying he was wrong. Garrett said it was his call and he has to live with it.

[diehard2294]

The thing missing here is that be "saying" your afraid of negative plays is passively saying you don't trust your players on the side of the ball you coach. I keep reading about how "Garrett has brought positiveness, leadership, etc." but if you listen to him, he is skilled at passively assigning blame away from him.

This causes it to fester and eventually will come back to bite him.

If he would have said, "I blew it. Period" This story would be over. But the fact a 10 year old knows he blew it and he won't say it will keep this going much longer than it needed to.

Instead, "Tony can call....I don't have an answer, etc." is showing him to be a laughing stock. This is ego run amuck. "The smartest guy in the room syndrome" works for a while, but then you have to prove it.

5 years and the proof is piling up.doesn't he preach accountability??

[Doomsday101]

doesn't he preach accountability??

Accountable to Jerry and the players yes. Accountability to the media or fans? No.

[diehard2294]

Accountable to Jerry and the players yes. Accountability to the media or fans? No.or so we are led to believe

[dreghorn2]

It's incredible really, if Wade Phillips was coaching this season, or heck any coach but Garrett, no one would be defending this decision, decisions from earlier games, his media handling, or 5 years of mediocre at best offense.

How this guy escapes criticism so easily on this website is absolutely amazing.

[HoosierCowboy]

Come on people, if he does not call TO and the kid misses the kick, we're all over Garret for not calling a TO so the rookie is not so rushed. :bang2:

[Doomsday101]

or so we are led to believe

People are going to spin it how they see fit. For me I'm not a player and I don't pay him. He owes me nothing.

He gave his explanation regardless if I agree with it or not however in the end I will judge him on the same principals all coaches are judged on winning and losing. Right now after 12 games we are in 1st place at 7-5 with some big games coming up. How will it play out in the end, we will find out.

I don't over react after wins or loses. I leave that up to others around here.

[diehard2294]

People are going to spin it how they see fit. For me I'm not a player and I don't pay him. He owes me nothing.

He gave his explanation regardless if I agree with it or not however in the end I will judge him on the same principals all coaches are judged on winning and losing. Right now after 12 games we are in 1st place at 7-5 with some big games coming up. How will it play out in the end, we will find out.

I don't over react after wins or loses. I leave that up to others around here.fair enough

[jaybird]

Come on people, if he does not call TO and the kid misses the kick, we're all over Garret for not calling a TO so the rookie is not so rushed. :bang2:

The not calling the time out after Romo's completion is whats irks me! Just inexcusable. what was he thinking?

[djmajestik]

I like Iron Mike and respect his opinion but come on Mike you have made simular calls and have made dumb moves. Remember Ricky Williams? :laugh2:

Easy to sit behind the Mic and make judgement different when you are making the calls from the sideline.

isn't that his job to sit behind a mic and make judgments? I mean, whether you agree or disagree doesn't matter to me, but as a person in the media that is supposed to be what he is doing.

[djmajestik]

Belichech did not say he was wrong when he went for it on 4th and 1 from his own 30 vs the Colts in a tied game. NE fails to make the 1st down the Colts kick the FG game over. Belicheck did not sit there second guessing himself he made a tough call (one I did not agree with) fearing his defense would not be able to stop Indy.

I'm sure most coaches go back after the game and review what took place and look at other possiabilities after the fact but they are not going to get up in front of the camera and say it gosh that was a bad call.

You make the call you live with it.

Agree 100%! Hindsight is 20/20.

[windward]

It's incredible really, if Wade Phillips was coaching this season, or heck any coach but Garrett, no one would be defending this decision, decisions from earlier games, his media handling, or 5 years of mediocre at best offense.

How this guy escapes criticism so easily on this website is absolutely amazing.

Garrett escapes criticism easily on this forum?

Are you kidding me?

[djmajestik]

Dead on, McLovin.

Somehow no one has mentioned what an indictment it is of his own offense that he can't trust them to not screw up. It's his offense!

Anyway, I agree with what Gosselin said this morning, that Garrett has in his head an idea of what a head coach "should" look and act like, and it's someone who is always right and always in control of everything. It seems like he thinks admitting fault would be a weakness.

But instead it would be an admirable move that would endear him to his players.

Not to say he may have already addressed the players privately about this, but decided to not own up to anything publicly. Not saying it was right or wrong, but we don't know what he said to the players. So we won't know if he has really lost any of the players come Sun night.

Personally it doesn't bother me that he didn't take accountability, as long as he handled it with the players and they are all on the same page.

[Doomsday101]

Garrett escapes criticism easily on this forum?

Are you kidding me?

Really? Seems to me that is what most of the threads are about putting it on him.

For me it is on him he is the HC win or lose it is on him always.

[Chocolate Lab]

Not to say he may have already addressed the players privately about this, but decided to not own up to anything publicly. Not saying it was right or wrong, but we don't know what he said to the players. So we won't know if he has really lost any of the players come Sun night.

Personally it doesn't bother me that he didn't take accountability, as long as he handled it with the players and they are all on the same page.

Well, Ben and Skin asked McBriar this morning if anyone admitted they'd made a mistake after the game, and he said no. I'd think if Garrett had, he'd have mentioned it.

Also heard Witten's radio show today, and he didn't say anything to that effect.

Plus, if he did say it to the team, I don't see why he wouldn't admit it to the public.

[Doomsday101]

isn't that his job to sit behind a mic and make judgments? I mean, whether you agree or disagree doesn't matter to me, but as a person in the media that is supposed to be what he is doing.

Of course it is, All these guys including people like Marshal Faulk are paid to give their views. I respect that however even these former coaches will tell you it is easier behind the desk looking outwards than on the sideline making it in real time and real situation.

Everyone on them have made calls that others have question and criticized. One thing for sure if you are a HC who can’t take the scrutiny then coaching at that level is not for you

[Doomsday101]

Well, Ben and Skin asked McBriar this morning if anyone admitted they'd made a mistake after the game, and he said no. I'd think if Garrett had, he'd have mentioned it.

Also heard Witten's radio show today, and he didn't say anything to that effect.

Plus, if he did say it to the team, I don't see why he wouldn't admit it to the public.

and I don't see why he would. What would be the reason? to make you feel better? He says I was wrong on this what does it change? Nothing

[McLovin]

doesn't he preach accountability??


Of course,

Of course I also experience being preached to that I would go to hell for listening to KISS and liking gene simmons when I was 6 years old. He preached many things



Then 2 years later, said preacher ran off with a 15 yr old in the congregation, got her pregnant, said the devil made him do it and KEPT his job. Then did it again to a 14 year old.

However, he preached and persuaded with the best of them.



(Are all preachers like this - NO, is Garrett infallible -NO, does he thjink so - Apparently. Individual merit)

[links18]

Accountable to Jerry and the players yes. Accountability to the media or fans? No.

Then why even trot him out for a press conference? Oh, right, its mandatory.

[Doomsday101]

Then why even trot him out for a press conference? Oh, right, its mandatory.

Yes it is mandatory, reporters ask their question the coach gives his answer.
If you don't agree with the answer well that is your right to disagree.

[ChldsPlay]

It's a lot easier to be accountable in private than in public. Being accountable in public shows a lot more sincerity. If he did take responsibility in private, but then follows that up by avoiding blame and in a way throwing his offense under the bus in public, then what he said in private is worth less than the word of this guy:

http://www.goud.ws/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/irak_minister_informatie.jpg

[SaltwaterServr]

Belichech did not say he was wrong when he went for it on 4th and 1 from his own 30 vs the Colts in a tied game. NE fails to make the 1st down the Colts kick the FG game over. Belicheck did not sit there second guessing himself he made a tough call (one I did not agree with) fearing his defense would not be able to stop Indy.

I'm sure most coaches go back after the game and review what took place and look at other possiabilities after the fact but they are not going to get up in front of the camera and say it gosh that was a bad call.

You make the call you live with it.

Are we justifying a stupendous series of blunders by our head coach by falling back to another who openly cheated, got warned, continued to cheat, got caught and cost his team both monetarily and draft picks?

You're trying to justify arrogance with possibly the most arrogant coach to ever step foot on the field and think that's a good position????

Come on.

[UVAwahoos]

Are we justifying a stupendous series of blunders by our head coach by falling back to another who openly cheated, got warned, continued to cheat, got caught and cost his team both monetarily and draft picks?

You're trying to justify arrogance with possibly the most arrogant coach to ever step foot on the field and think that's a good position????

Come on.

Hahaha I was thinking the exact same thing. That mod is actually contradicting his own argument and has no clue.

Plus, Belichick got slammed for trusting his offense and going for it. This ginger is getting slammed for (amongst other things) coiling up and saying that he was worried we'd get negative yards. What kind of coach lacks that much confidence? OHH right...a clueless one. Awesome.

[dreghorn2]

Garrett escapes criticism easily on this forum?

Are you kidding me?

He hasn't received nearly enough through the years IMHO.

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

He hasn't received nearly enough through the years IMHO.

You've got to be joking. Cowboy fans have been killing him for years especially now. Even though he's taken a team that wasn't even close to being a playoff team last year at 6-10 to leading the division at 7-5. One bad decision and many are calling for him to be fired. It's ridiculous.

[dreghorn2]

You've got to be joking. Cowboy fans have been killing him for years especially now. Even though he's taken a team that wasn't even close to being a playoff team last year at 6-10 to leading the division at 7-5. One bad decision and many are calling for him to be fired. It's ridiculous.

Have to disagree, prior to say 6 or 7 weeks ago if you uttered a negative re:Jason on here, you were in trouble. It was chuck and duck.

[tunahelper]

Jimmy Johnson, Cowher and Ditka have all questioned Garrett in some form. And Garrett fails to admit his mistakes that are obvious. I feel like an OC with experience must be hired if Garrett opposes he should be fired.

[RoyTheHammer]

except he refuses to admit it was even questionable. Now I do remember Mike a couple of times saying he should have done this or that while a coach; I have yet to hear that from Red Ball at all. Does HE think he is infallible?

You've never heard JG question any calls he's made? You should listen to more PC's.

[Doomsday101]

Are we justifying a stupendous series of blunders by our head coach by falling back to another who openly cheated, got warned, continued to cheat, got caught and cost his team both monetarily and draft picks?

You're trying to justify arrogance with possibly the most arrogant coach to ever step foot on the field and think that's a good position????

Come on.

I'm pointing out and over reaction. Thus far I have seen 4 different views of what should have been done so evidently there was no clear cut one way to do it. Fact is Dallas was in FG position to win the game we missed the kick move on.

[Chocolate Lab]

On Belichick, I don't know about individual play calls, but I've absolutely heard him say, "We have to coach better." In fact, he said it after they beat the Colts just the other day. Ever heard RJ say that?

[Doomsday101]

On Belichick, I don't know about individual play calls, but I've absolutely heard him say, "We have to coach better." In fact, he said it after they beat the Colts just the other day. Ever heard RJ say that?

Yes he did in his PC mentioned that they had to do a better job executing and coaching