That's not even close to my thinking. Wade inherited some very good players from Parcells but the Cowboys were far from a great team under him when he left. Parcells wouldn't have left if he thought he had a great team that was SB ready. He was discouraged with the defense and wasn't looking forward to putting in the time to developing a young QB who was talented but mistake prone. The Cowboys took a big step towards becoming a great team in 07 under Wade. The Cowboys were the most dominant team in the NFC that season tying a franchise record with 13 wins and had 13 pro bowlers. Wade had a history of not being able to prepare teams for the playoffs and once again it reared it's ugly head at the end of that season.
You kind of contradicted yourself here. That 13 and 3 07 season was the season following Parcells departure, so, no, he didn't leave due to a lack of faith in the team he had built. Parcells left because Jerry pushed him out. Jerry had built his stadium and was tired of putting up with Parcells. Parcells built a great team, but in terms of calling a good game, he was sadly behind the times. He tried to play Marty-ball (e.g. run the ball ad nauseum) with a 3 point lead. In today's NFL, 3 points is nothing to hang your hat on in the 3rd quarter. So while I wasn't crazy about his replacement Wade Phillips, I, too ,was ready to move on from Parcells.
He allowed several players including Romo to go to Cabo a week before the playoff game with the Giants when his team and QB were slumping. That season became one of the most disappointing in franchise history. The disappointment of the 07 season carried over to the following year resulting in the Cowboys missing the playoffs when everyone thought the 08 season would be their year. The players bought into the SB hype and the team suffered a letdown. The disappointment of the 08 season and the low expectations by everyone entering the 09 season got the Cowboys to focus and it led to the teams first playoff win in 13 years.
Agreed. Wade was a players coach to a fault. He was too soft and ultimately let the team walk all over him. I honestly think the players tried to get him fired with their play.
The team got so caught up with the playoff win over Philly they showed up flat in Minn the following week and got steamrolled. The Cowboys were never the same after that. The following season the high expectations with most picking the Cowboys to reach the SB in their own stadium caused the team to become complacent and it resulted in a terrible first half of the season that saw Romo go down and it ended with the players quitting on Wade. Wade had already proven with 2 other organizations that he couldn't lead a team.
About Wade, I agree. But Minnesota was a clear favorite in the playoffs. I'm not sure the Cowboys mindset had that much to do with it.
The guy couldn't win crap with John Elway as his QB. Had Jerry fired him after the debacle in Philly at the end of the 08 season and hired a solid HC the Cowboys may have gone further in 2009 and chances are they would be a much better team today. Jerry stays the course with weak yes men until the bottom falls out. I didn't need to see 3 straight 5-11 seasons under Campo to know he couldn't lead a team. I've seen enough of Garrett the past 3 seasons to know his tenure isn't going to end well. I'm certainly not putting most of the blame on him it's all on Jerry for making the hire. Garrett's been in over his head ever since he took over the team and he's working for an owner who has a history of undermining his head coaches.
So we are on the same page as far as Jerry is concerned. But I'm not so sure Jason is a lost cause. I'm giving him this year to prove that 1. he can effectively manage a game - and now with Marinelli/Linehan handling the reigns of offense and defense there is absolutely no excuse, 2. his players display a never quit attitude, at the very least, and stay focused throughout every game 3. he let's his coordinators run their perspective schemes without interference. If he just simply focuses on the big picture and lets the minds he has surrounded himself with do the rest, he should be just fine. But given his OC background, he may have a big problem with letting Linehan do his job. But if he can't refrain, he may be the only coach that is fired at the end of this year.
Understand, I don't think we have a playoff team this year, either. And I don't think Jason should be graded based on making the playoffs this season; nor do I think Jerry is grading him by that. Jerry, in my opinion, is looking at what I'm looking at. But looking at the offseason moves, I like the direction this team is taking. A good round of Free Agency and Draft following this season very well could put this team where it needs to be to be a serious contender.