Troy Aikman: Not sure coaching changes make Cowboys better

[ninja]

I guess Troy Aikman thinks "coaching is overrated" like Dan Marino. Some do. Not a knock on that school of thought.

However, I'll say it again. Let this sink in: Dave Campo and Chan Gailey and dozens of other coaches could have coached the 2012 Cowboys to a better record than Garrett did.

"Upgrade the talent?" Yeah, as if teams can just wave a magic wand in a salary cap era.

Bottom line: Rob Ryan underperformed with the talent he had on the defensive side of the roster even BEFORE injuries. And he is history and still looking for employment. Garrett underperformed with the talent he had on the roster.

A good coach takes what he is given and finds a way to maximize production. Garrett-lovers (Aikman is a card-carrying member) can make excuses for their boy all day. Doesn't matter; Garrett will be fired soon. And, no, he will not find employment as a head coach ever again in the NFL.

[Reality]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

Coaching wasn't an issue last year. That's a fan and fake GM cop out. These new coaches will fail too unless we upgrade the roster.

I don't know if I agree with that. It's not that I'm overly optimistic about these changes, but I do know that we fans see and judge coaching based on game day performance. If we see a player miss a tackle, we blame the player or issue the infamous "he sucks, cut him now" rants.

Good coaches can teach better techniques and sometimes, different coaches will use different coaching styles and angles to reach some players that the previous coaches couldn't. Coughlin came in and taught Tiki Barber how to hold the ball differently which greatly helped reduce his penchant for fumbling quite often. Coaches like Jim Fassel, Sean Payton, etc. were Tiki's coaches before Coughlin arrived yet they did nothing that helped with that.

More than anything, coaching changes of any kind bring excitement and optimism to players. When Wade Phillips was fired mid-season, Pasqualoni came in and did a decent (not awesome, just decent) job which was still an improvement over the previous games.

That said, I agree and most everyone does that it all starts in the trenches. We can have the best skill players and the best coaching staff, but if we do not control the trenches, none of that will matter. We definitely need some player changes especially in the trench and cog positions.

/reality

[Boys122]

The 3-4 defense isn't a gimmick, you need to draft the right players for it to work. Rob never had the players to do it. Sure he had some but he played the cards he was dealt. I still believe if he is given a good defensive 3-4 team they would have success.

[TheCount]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

Coaching wasn't an issue last year. That's a fan and fake GM cop out. These new coaches will fail too unless we upgrade the roster.

[Boys122]

Some of the coaching was bad at times but the players need to get most of the blame for not executing the gameplan.

And of course injuries did play a part in it, especially on defense.

[Zimmy Lives]

Originally Posted by Boys122

Some of the coaching was bad at times but the players need to get most of the blame for not executing the gameplan.

And of course injuries did play a part in it, especially on defense.

Agree.

Game management and poor play calling at inopportune times contributed to a mediocre season but, ultimately, its talent that gets you championships.

[CATCH17]

I don't think these changes do much of anything.

Kiffin is just going to run a basic defense and Callahan is going to run Garrett's scheme.

I don't see much of anything changing as far as what we do.

[Boys122]

Originally Posted by CATCH17

I don't think these changes do much of anything.

Kiffin is just going to run a basic defense and Callahan is going to run Garrett's scheme.

I don't see much of anything changing as far as what we do.

But our brilliant GM wanted to bring more experienced coaches around Jason so he can concentrate on overseeing everything.

Why won't he come to the conclusion that we need better players? It's like we're in a race in quick sand and no one is expected to win.

[CATCH17]

Originally Posted by Boys122

But our brilliant GM wanted to bring more experienced coaches around Jason so he can concentrate on overseeing everything.

Why won't he come to the conclusion that we need better players? It's like we're in a race in quick sand and no one is expected to win.

Next year doesn't look good unless we have a few guys that go from Zero to Hero like Miles Austin did.

[Boys122]

Originally Posted by CATCH17

Next year doesn't look good unless we have a few guys that go from Zero to Hero like Miles Austin did.

Right. I actually feel sorry for Jason Garrett. He'll get the full blame if we don't improve. No playoffs, he's fired.

If that is in fact Jerry's way of helping Jason he should of done him a favor and fired him already.

[Zimmy Lives]

Originally Posted by Boys122

Right. I actually feel sorry for Jason Garrett. He'll get the full blame if we don't improve. No playoffs, he's fired.

If that is in fact Jerry's way of helping Jason he should of done him a favor and fired him already.

That's the scary part. Garrett gets fired and Tony is left to ponder what might have been for the remainder of his days.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by Reality

I don't know if I agree with that. It's not that I'm overly optimistic about these changes, but I do know that we fans see and judge coaching based on game day performance. If we see a player miss a tackle, we blame the player or issue the infamous "he sucks, cut him now" rants.

Good coaches can teach better techniques and sometimes, different coaches will use different coaching styles and angles to reach some players that the previous coaches couldn't. Coughlin came in and taught Tiki Barber how to hold the ball differently which greatly helped reduce his penchant for fumbling quite often. Coaches like Jim Fassel, Sean Payton, etc. were Tiki's coaches before Coughlin arrived yet they did nothing that helped with that.

[View Full Quote]More than anything, coaching changes of any kind bring excitement and optimism to players. When Wade Phillips was fired mid-season, Pasqualoni came in and did a decent (not awesome, just decent) job which was still an improvement over the previous games.

That said, I agree and most everyone does that it all starts in the trenches. We can have the best skill players and the best coaching staff, but if we do not control the trenches, none of that will matter. We definitely need some player changes especially in the trench and cog positions.

/reality

Was Hudson Houck a good OL coach? Is Bill Callahan? Why can't either of these men make our line look even average? Because that's all that's wrong with this offense.

Why didn't adding Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, as well as getting back Mike Jenkins have any impact whatsoever on our defense?

Too many holes up front. We just do not control the line of scrimmage on offense and opposing QB's are too comfortable in the pocket against our defense.

It's not that I think coaching is overrated. I just think we had good coaches. So replacing them with more good coaches doesn't fix anything.

[InmanRoshi]

Originally Posted by ninja

I guess Troy Aikman thinks "coaching is overrated" like Dan Marino. Some do. Not a knock on that school of thought.

Yet he's said numerous times (and continues to say) that hiring Norv Turner to replace David Shula was the biggest key to the Cowboys becoming Champions in the 90s.

[Boys122]

Originally Posted by Zimmy Lives

That's the scary part. Garrett gets fired and Tony is left to ponder what might have been for the remainder of his days.

The way this staff is shaping out the only name who makes sense is Jon Gruden.

I know Gruden and Kiffin have had their quarrells but it makes the most sense.

If not, who knows what happens and this team could be completely blown up. Will Jerry admit this? Of course not but we're not stupid either.

[Hostile]

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

That was Aikman's feelings about the coaching changes in Big D. He just said this on the radio (The Ticket). He basically felt its still the same players running the same plays

I got the sense he felt that talent upgrade would make them better, but as far as coaching it won't matter because Callahan will be calling the same plays he had influence on last season.

This is in line with a lot of what I've been saying, that more than anything this team needs to upgrade the trenches, namely the OL, with DL a close second, and finally upgrades at one WR and FS spot.

Troy, did I miss Free Agency and the Draft? I hate it when Nyquil knocks me out like that.


No, I love it. Wait...That's a long time to go without tacos.