Cowboys hire OL Coach Paul Alexander

[Fletch]

Hobbit approved....

Risen. Have to admit that admitting him is admitting positive change. Admit it! Dare I say dilly dilly?

 

[Fletch]

Again, you are assuming 2018 is Garrett's last season. The Cowboys have had two back-to-back winning seasons and if the Cowboys have a winning season in 2018, even just 9-7, Jerry will use that as an excuse to keep him.

As a fan, I'm not happy with the team right now. But as a coach, I would rather work for the Cowboys even for one year than go work for several other teams. I don't say that as a Cowboys fan, but just a objective view. Jerry has come out publicly and said he never even considered firing Garrett. The odds of one of those teams you mentioned still having the same coach they are about to hire in 4 years is slim.

Coaches don't think like that. They are looking for position upgrades that help them get to where they ultimately want to be .. head coach and making a lot more money.

For example, let's say you are an assistant quarterback coach for an NFL team serving under a quarterback coach who will likely be there and in that position another 2+ years. You have the option to go to Dallas or any of those teams you mentioned.

In Dallas, you have Prescott who played well in 2016 but regressed some in 2017, so there's room for improvement.

In Detroit you have Stafford who is already a really good quarterback. If you go there and he does well, it's not because of you. If you go there and he does worse, it's all because of you.

In New York, they have an aging Eli Manning who has already won two Super Bowls. If you coach him and he does well, it's definitely not because of you. If he does worse, you get half the blame along with his age. If they draft a quarterback, then your coaching performance will depend heavily on a player other people pick for you that likely won't play well enough to get you noticed and if he does, he'll probably get most of the credit.

In Indianapolis, you have Luck who's returning from injuries and surgeries. If he does well, he was already great. If he does poorly, it's either because of you or he hasn't recovered.

In Arizona, who knows what you'll have to work with there.

In Chicago, you better hope Trubisky plays as well as they expect him to because if he doesn't, it will probably be your fault before his.

In Tennessee, Mariota is already a good quarterback. Only one way to go there and it doesn't end well.

My point is that coaches look at a lot more things than fans do. Fans hate Garrett so fans say, "I wouldn't work for him" but coaches in lower positions don't think like that. They mainly focus on one question .. "Will that job give me the best chance to show my skills as a coach so I can get another offer for a higher up position either with that team or another team in a few years or sooner?"

Geesh! Just say what you mean.

 

[waving monkey]

This is pretty much exactly the sort of hire people wanted a week ago when they decided we were idiots for elevating Marc Colombo. Tons of experience. Some very OLs under his belt. ZBS guy. Why do we hate him again? Because the Bengals weren’t a good team last season, is that it?

cause hollowing and complaining is required

 

[MojaveJT]

So we swapped OL coaches. Hopefully we got the better end of the deal.

I don’t know much about Alexander nor have I watched many CIN games. I’ll reserve praise or criticism for now. I wish him the best with our solid OL.

 

[condoin125]

Hmm, OK. They were so good that they fired Frank Pollack and hired his replacement from Cinncy. Now, if he left on his own and was hired away like Callahan was, OK. But no, that was not the case. Maybe the line needs some tweaking as they are not as good as perhaps you thought them to be?

2014 Dallas sacked 30 times ranking them 10th best
2015 Dallas sacked 33 times ranking them 13th best
2016 Dallas sacked 28 times ranking them 9th best
2017 Dallas sacked 32 times ranking them 10th best.

So it seems Dallas has been a consistent top 10 OL never achieving higher than 9th since 2014. Maybe our OL is a little over rated? It is hard not to imagine our line being the best when it is what we hear all the time from the media. They are good but just not as dominant as the perception is. So maybe Callahan had nothing to do with it and perhaps Pollack didn't either? Maybe talent is the key and the coach isn't that important? Or it is a combo of both?

Judging an Oline from sacks is like judging a CB on the number of interceptions he had....just a bad idea. The 2017 NY Giants allowed 34 sacks on the season....are you saying that the Cowboys Oline is only marginally better than that of the Giants? I hope not, cuz their line was bottom three this past season....the difference is that they use a scheme that forces the ball out very fast after the snap because they know their line is awful. Sacks should not be used because many sacks are not the fault of the OL...could be due to the QB holding onto the ball too long, could be due to a RB missing a blitzer. The better way is to look at overall pressure when measuring the pass blocking success of an Oline. Following the 2016 season (2017 not available yet) only four QBs (who also played a similar number of games) had less pressure than Dak: Eli, Brady, Alex Smith (15 games) and Brees; 3 of those 4 play in quick passing attacks which helps a lot in the pressure dept.

The Oline was definitely the NFL's best from 2014 thru 2016; some might argue that the Titans Oline had a better year than the Boys' in 2016 but they were very close nevertheless. The unit definitely took a step back this season (more so in pass blocking) but they're still top 10-12. The problem is we lost two key guys and replaced them with a LG who is garbage and a RT who allows pressure on a regular basis AND of course the disaster with Chaz Green. So I have to agree that it's false that this line took steps back after Callahan left; it has more so to do with the talent we lost (as it usually does).

 

[OmerV]

Was there not anyone from New England or Philly or Jacksonville or the Vikings we could have pulled?

Why would the O-Line coaches make a lateral move to a team that missed the playoffs. You have to be realistic.

 

[OmerV]

he signed with raiders. its unreal how we go about coaching.

You can't assume the Cowboys have the choice of every coach they might want to consider (or that fans might want). As for Alexander, it's very likely there is a reason he has had a long career as an NFL coach.

 

[Sydla]

I can live with the hire.

 

[AbeBeta]

Dude, chill. It was a joke. Jason Garrett's been a coach for several years in the NFL too. We are seeing how that's going.

Also, your taste in music is awful

 

[waving monkey]

How long does it take for the Oline to execute Alexander's system?

 

[Sydla]

How long does it take for the Oline to execute Alexander's system?

Hopefully less than 7 years.

 

[OmerV]

How long does it take for the Oline to execute Alexander's system?

He isn't reinventing the wheel in Dallas, and he will be bound by the blocking required for the offensive playbook, which will mostly be the same as the O-Linemen blocked for last year. He will merely be teaching technique and trying to get the most out of the blocking within the offensive system in place.

 

[theebs]

Do they run a zone blocking scheme or are our guys going to have to learn a new process?

Everybody gets carried away with this. I am pretty sure every offensive line coach can teach and install the zone blocking scheme.

This has become the new cover 2. People getting carried away like there is only one guy who does it.

I have no idea if this will work out or change anything but I have zero doubt if Dallas wants to run a few zone based running plays Paul Alexander can handle it. I am also sure the offensive line knows how to do it regardless of the coach.

Feels like a mike pope/jimmy robinson type of hire. Good coach with a long history in the league maybe coming to Dallas for one last job.

 

[Risen Star]

Hmm, OK. They were so good that they fired Frank Pollack and hired his replacement from Cinncy. Now, if he left on his own and was hired away like Callahan was, OK. But no, that was not the case. Maybe the line needs some tweaking as they are not as good as perhaps you thought them to be?

2014 Dallas sacked 30 times ranking them 10th best
2015 Dallas sacked 33 times ranking them 13th best
2016 Dallas sacked 28 times ranking them 9th best
2017 Dallas sacked 32 times ranking them 10th best.

So it seems Dallas has been a consistent top 10 OL never achieving higher than 9th since 2014. Maybe our OL is a little over rated? It is hard not to imagine our line being the best when it is what we hear all the time from the media. They are good but just not as dominant as the perception is. So maybe Callahan had nothing to do with it and perhaps Pollack didn't either? Maybe talent is the key and the coach isn't that important? Or it is a combo of both?

What are you talking about? Even your own numbers don't support your laughable theory that the offensive line has been in a state of decline since Callahan left.

You said something stupid. Admit it and move on.

 

[waving monkey]

He will be bound by the blocking required for the offensive playbook, which will mostly be the same as the O-Linemen blocked for last year. He isn't reinventing the wheel in Dallas, he will merely be trying to get the most out of the blocking within the system in place.

You may be right I may be crazy but coaches who have their own system usually want to coach what they believe in.
The Cincinnati blocking system was way different from ours.

 

[waving monkey]

Everybody gets carried away with this. I am pretty sure every offensive line coach can teach and install the zone blocking scheme.

This has become the new cover 2. People getting carried away like there is only one guy who does it.

I have no idea if this will work out or change anything but I have zero doubt if Dallas wants to run a few zone based running plays Paul Alexander can handle it. I am also sure the offensive line knows how to do it regardless of the coach.

Feels like a mike pope/jimmy robinson type of hire. Good coach with a long history in the league maybe coming to Dallas for one last job.

Garrett cant be held responsible for a bad oline coach

 

[theebs]

Garrett cant be held responsible for a bad oline coach

I am not sure what you are saying here.

 

[waving monkey]

I am not sure what you are saying here.

I am just setting up Garrett's defense next off season

 

[DoomsDayD]

Was there not anyone from New England or Philly or Jacksonville or the Vikings we could have pulled?

Slow down!!!!! We dont want to be winning games all at once by hiring competent coordinators. We like to spread out wins 2-3 seasons at a time.

 

[Ranched]

So let me get this straight. The fired Pollack gets hired by the team that fired Alexander that was hired by....us.