Is Garrett the best evaluator of talent we have ever had?

[Diehardblues]

That's kind of false. He's built a team that's really no better than the ones Wade Phillips was involved with. In 4 years, Phillips won the division twice and failed to make it out of the divisional round, just like Garrett.

I think people forget how good Phillips first three years in Dallas were. They only remember the bottoming out season in Year 4 that got him fired.

I’d compare this team to the one Parcells built.

 

[silvrNblue]

I know it’s fun and easy to target Garrett but it’s actually very elementary.

I’d suggest stepping back and taking a broader look at this era under Jerry.

Call it whatever you like Blue, the bottom line in any way, shape or form is, the BUCK stops at Clapper. Either man up and tell JJ to go pound sand, mainly because it's the right damn thing to do and chance him firing you, or keep being a foot stool and water boy for that scotch drunken fool.

 

[Diehardblues]

Not "how" you measure results.

It's "what" you measure.

I use “ you” as in everyone or all. I use we and you referencing Cowboy fans.

 

[Sydla]

I know it’s fun and easy to target Garrett but it’s actually very elementary.

I’d suggest stepping back and taking a broader look at this era under Jerry.

People have.

But you can't just let Garrett off the hook, like you typically always do, just because Jerry is a problem himself. In other words, this idea that it's Jerry Jones that holds Jason Garrett back is pretty much poppycock.............. especially when you then want to praise him for his great roster building skills and the roster he's built.

It's bizarre logic.

 

[Sydla]

I’d compare this team to the one Parcells built.

Compare it to whatever you want, the idea that what Garrett has built is the best of the last 20 years is a bit of a stretch. That Phillips team that won 13 games was damn talented.

 

[Sydla]

I use “ you” as in everyone or all. I use we and you referencing Cowboy fans.

My answer didn't deviate from that.

"you" in my response was applicable to all Cowboys fans.

 

[cowboyec]

Coach Landry.

 

[Diehardblues]

Call it whatever you like Blue, the bottom line in any way, shape or form is, the BUCK stops at Clapper. Either man up and tell JJ to go pound sand, mainly because it's the right damn thing to do and chance him firing you, or keep being a foot stool and water boy for that scotch drunken fool.

We can’t evaluate one without the other. I’d argue the Buck stops with Jerry.

It all goes back to Parcells accurate summation “ have to convince Jerry to go against his instincts” which I’d say Jason has done a pretty good job of.

Would we like better results, of course. But I think it’s much better than I thought anyone could do in this era with Jerry. It’s as much or better than other more qualified and experienced HC accomplished.

I like where we are overall despite the disappointments. I’m not sure with Jerry we wouldn’t take a step back rather than forward. Unless of course Jerry’s ready to get out of the way.

 

[Jumbo075]

It's been obvious for a long time that Jason Garrett has had a net positive impact on Jerry Jones by spearheading the effort to change the philosophy of team building. After Garrett was elevated to Head Coach, he immediately started rebuilding the offense, starting with the Offensive Line by dumping old veterans Adams, Gurode, David and Colombo, and then using his very first draft pick on Tyron Smith. People forget that the Cowboys using a 1st round pick on an offensive line player had not happened in 30 years before Smith was selected in 2011, going all the way back to OT Tackle Howard Richards in 1981. They have followed up with two more first round picks and a 2nd round pick - Frederick, Martin and Williams on the Oline. And they strongly pursued La'el Collins after his draft-day debacle.

In 2012, the Cowboys spent a 3rd round pick on Dline stalwart, utility player and team captain Tyrone Crawford, Then, in 2014, when Garrett had earned Jerry's trust enough to give him control of the defensive philosophy, the Cowboys changed to the 4-3, dumped aging veterans Ware, Hatcher, Ratliff, and Spears, then used their 2nd & 3rd round picks to move up to #34 overall, drafted and DeMarcus Lawrence to start rebuilding the Defensive line. The Cowboys followed that up by spending 2nd, 3rd & first round picks on Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins and Taco Charlton. Despite the lack of success of the some of the players, this still speaks to the overall philosophy of building the team through the Oline and Dline. Garrett's teams have also twice signed free agents or traded for veterans with previous 15-sack seasons - Hardy and Quinn.

This is a far cry from Jerry's previous obsession with skill positions, and trying to recapture the magic of "the Triplets" of the early 90's. Since Garrett was elevated to Head Coach, they've used their Day 1 and Day 2 picks on the following position groups:

6 picks - Defensive Line - Tyrone Crawford (3), DeMarcus Lawrence (2 & 3), Randy Gregory (2), Maliek Collins (3), Taco Charlton (1)
6 picks - Defensive Back - Morris Claiborne (1 & 2), J.J. Wilcox (3), Byron Jones (1), Chidobe Awuzie (2), Jourdan Lewis (3)
5 picks - Offensive Line - 5 picks - Tyron Smith (1), Travis Frederick (1), Zack Martin (1), Chaz Green (3), Connor Williams (2)
3 picks - Linebacker - Bruce Carter (2), Jaylon Smith (2), Leighton Vander Esch (1)
3 picks - Wide Receiver - Terrance Williams (3), Michael Gallup (3), Amari Cooper (1)
2 picks - Running Back - DeMarco Murray (3), Ezekiel Elliott (1)
1 pick - Tight End - Gavin Escobar

In 9 seasons of drafting (inluding 2019 1st round pick used to trade for Amari Cooper), the Cowboys under Garrett's influence have drafted 9 Pro Bowl players, and spent 11 premium picks out of 26 (so far) on offensive and defensive linemen. 10 of those players are still on the team, and 4 of them are multiple time Pro Bowl and All-Pro players. Only Chaz Green has been a bust - although Taco Charlton is trying to follow in his footsteps. They have spent only 6 of those 26 premium picks on offensive skill position players.

I'm ready to move on from Garrett because of his seeming inability to make game-day adjustments, and prepare his team properly for the playoffs. But his acumen at building a team the correct way should be beyond dispute. I think that is a big reason that Jerry is so reluctant to part ways with Garrett. Even if you get a better game-day coach, there is a great chance that you lose a lot from the standpoint of talent acquisition. I don't know why anyone should be surprised that Garrett, who comes from a family of coaches and scouts, would excel at some portion of his job. The frustration with Garrett's playoff ineptitude shouldn't cloud your overall evaluation of his ability. He excels at talent evaluation, leadership, and motivation. He's got a very sound team philosophy, which is easy to buy into by both the Jones family and the players. He's also a pretty good offensive playcaller, as evidenced by 6 consecutive years in the TOP 13 in the NFL from 2007 to 2012, including 4 TOP 10 finishes during his time as the playcaller.

It is becoming a little obvious that he doesn't have the IT factor to get the team over the hump in the playoffs, and that could doom his career in Dallas. But the assumption that any other coach will be better than Garrett is a big risk. An average of 7 Head Coaches get fired and replaced every year, which means a lot more fail than succeed. Garrett has been more successful than many, if not most NFL Head Coaches, even if the big prize has eluded him.

TBD - Position groups for the Cowboys 2019 2nd & 3rd round picks.

 

[Diehardblues]

People have.

But you can't just let Garrett off the hook, like you typically always do, just because Jerry is a problem himself. In other words, this idea that it's Jerry Jones that holds Jason Garrett back is pretty much poppycock.............. especially when you then want to praise him for his great roster building skills and the roster he's built.

It's bizarre logic.

I wouldn’t say he holds him back but anyone that doesn’t think Jerry is a deterrent or at least handicap and obstacle isn’t making a fair analysis either.

 

[Diehardblues]

We have a very unique situation here. It calls for a measurement outside the normal.

 

[Sydla]

I wouldn’t say he holds him back but anyone that doesn’t think Jerry is a deterrent or at least handicap and obstacle isn’t making a fair analysis either.

There are few people on this board that think Jones isn't an issue himself.

 

[MaaS]

According to this board, whether our talent decisions are made by Jerry/Stephen, McClay, or Garrett is directly dependent on how well a move works out.

 

[Diehardblues]

I’m not denying Garrett has some weaknesses in Game Day coaching but are his strength in talent evaluation and influencing Jerry’s decision along with holding the team together thru all of the distractions outweigh those.

We’ve had better X and O HC’s in here but they couldn’t deal with or overcome the rest of the crap a HC has to deal with under Jerry.

 

[Sydla]

We have a very unique situation here. It calls for a measurement outside the normal.

No it doesn't.

It's simply about wins and losses, playoff success and championships. That's it.

No sane person goes around trying to say their team is successful because they built a good culture or their HC is a great talent evaluator. The only people that do that are ones that can't defend the lack of on the field results.............

 

[BourbonBalz]

Jimmy Johnson says hi! Garrett and Jimmy Johnson should never be mentioned in the same sentence (though I just did). Comparing Garrett to Johnson is like comparing a high school basketball player to Michael Jordan in his prime.

 

[Ekspozed]

We got romo because of sean payton not parcels. Parcels also wanted spears with not our first 1st rounder over ware. He moreso brought stability, tough coaching more than talent.
I think the sparq system has helped our draft a lot.
Its hard to give credit for our current team building when it seems by committee.

 

[Diehardblues]

No it doesn't.

It's simply about wins and losses, playoff success and championships. That's it.

No sane person goes around trying to say their team is successful because they built a good culture or their HC is a great talent evaluator. The only people that do that are ones that can't defend the lack of on the field results.............

Again, this isn’t a sane situation.

If you don’t accept that then you’re never going to be able evaluate it accurately.

Jerry has obviously created a situation that isn’t just about wins and losses, playoff success and championships.

 

[Sydla]

Again, this isn’t a sane situation.

If you don’t accept that then you’re never going to be able evaluate it accurately.

Jerry has obviously created a situation that isn’t just about wins and losses, playoff success and championships.

You tend to overstate the dysfunction that Jones brings to Dallas. And like I said a page back, then come the nebulous things like "Jerry has created a situation that isn't about wins and losses............"

That really doesn't even make sense. No, Jerry Jones did not create a situation where we need to judge success based on things like player evaluations and team culture. This is just another example of a Garrett supporter trying to muddy the waters and not deal with the real issues that face our average HC.

 

[Diehardblues]

If Jerry truly places a priority on winning he’d bring in a legit HC , GM, VP and get out of the way.

Until he does I’ll continue arguing this is the best scenario I’ve seen since Jimmy left.