Bolen | Tuesday's BILL-Board (8/3)

[Bluefin]

Tuesday's BILL-Board (8/3)



Erin Bolen
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 3, 2004, 3:32 p.m. (PDT)


OXNARD, Calif. -- After Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced here at training camp the Dallas Cowboys and Papa John's Pizza entered into a partnership Tuesday morning, head coach Bill Parcells answered as wide-variety of questions from the media.

You told Quincy Carter to work on throwing less interceptions in the off-season. What type of things are you looking for him to improve on?

PARCELLS: Usually quarterbacks are doing things with interceptions, they get into a pattern of doing things that result in the interceptions. Impulsive throws, misreads, panic throws, not being certain about what you're doing in terms of decision making, those are the things that sometimes happen that lead to interceptions.

You got on some guys today for not knowing the plays. Is that the No. 1 cardinal sin that a player can commit?

PARCELLS: It was mostly a rookie, but we really only have one or two scheme plays on our offense, and that was one of them. There are a few moving parts on these scheme plays, and if the defense changes, we have to make a call or two to adjust out blocking assignments. Some of these young guys just don't know what they're doing. I mean, they're just running around chasing cars.

What are the similarities between you and the defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer?

PARCELLS: We're both a little impatient. He coaches aggressively like I used to when I was his age. I've mellowed quite a bit. He's on top of the players; he pays a lot of attention to detail. He's a perfectionist, this guy. He wants it perfect. He's very realistic. He accomplished a tremendous amount with that defense last year, but he's not accepting kudos for that. He's ready to get them back, and we're looking for ways to improve it. We've got a few problems there on defense right this minute, and so we've got some things to worry about. He knows that, and I'm worried about them. Jerry's worried about them. So we're looking around seeing where we might be able to do something to help ourselves.

Is there any difference in coaching Keyshawn Johnson the second time around?

PARCELLS: It's about the same. I always liked the player. I don't know why he wants to be good, but he wants to be good. And he's not afraid to get up on that stage. He'll try a lot. He's going to get up there and if it doesn't go good, he'll take his medicine. I respect that. He's always been good with me. Listen, you just take these kids and you try to teach them what you know. Sometimes, with kids like this, they start having a little success, and then they start believing in you. Then you get to be their guy, and that's really about what happened. So hey, I'm on him. I was on him yesterday. I said, "I have to protect you from yourself? I've got to tell you what to do after practice, cold pools?" And I said I'm protecting you from yourself?

I'm going to tell you something about the kid, and I say this respectfully. You probably would never guess this, but he's a very good listener. He really is. He's a very good listener. He gets it. When you're talking seriously, he gets it. Now when you're kidding around, you might not get a word in edgewise, but when you're talking business, he gets it.

How did you get Flozell Adams to become a Pro Bowl player?

PARCELLS: I don't know that I did it. I would give Flozell most of the credit for that. I just told him that I'm not settling for less than what you've got, so we're either going to get a good communication going and you're going to understand that, or I'm going to be a pain in your you know what. One of the two.

I want Flo to be the best guy in football. That's what I'm talking to Flo about. I'm on talking to Flo about being a one year wonder; I'm talking to him about being the best guy in football. He can be the best guy, or certainly in the top two or three. I want him to be that. He gets it. He knows. That's what I talk to Flozell Adams about. Being the best guy in football.

[NOVA 22]

wow - that is some high praise for Flo. i think everyone has been impressed with him this last 14-16 months, but best player in football?! Even top 10 or 20 would certainly be great in my book