Grading Mike McCarthy, assistant coach hires for 2020 Cowboys

zekecowboy

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Outside of that retention, there are a handful of names McCarthy has worked with before, and they’ve had mixed results across the league. There is however, a heavy dose of former head coaches. Four of the assistant coaches have been in the big chair before and they are in some of the higher ranking positions.

That’s not by accident. McCarthy has spoken to how much he believes in chain of command, and while that was clearly an issue with the Dallas coaching staff in 2019 (read Ben Bloom’s beef with Jaylon Smith and Kris Richard taking it to Stephen Jones), McCarthy seems to be prepared to have individual position groups run as business units. Nolan, John Fassel (ST), Joe Philbin (OL) and Jim Tomsula (DL) have all had the big whistle at one point or another in their careers.

If McCarthy is indeed all-in on using analytics, there have been no formal announcements about that portion of his staff. Fans will just have to wait to see if there really is a movement underway.

In the meantime, here’s a review of the on-field coaching staff as we see it, with a few additions still to be made.

The link has the grades for the coaches. Defensive coordinator grade is somewhat of a surprise.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/ga...-hires-mike-mccarthy-kellen-moore-mike-nolan/
 

zekecowboy

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DC Mike Nolan, Age: 60, 32 years in league, Mos recent job: Saints LB coach, 2017-2019


usatsi_13931564.jpg


DC Mike Nolan, Grade: C-; Amazing amount of coaching experience and some quality seasons, but a lot of his defenses haven't been very good. Most puzzling hire.
 

Oneiros

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I think the difference with Nolan this time around will be the rest of the defensive staff as well.

Time will tell but either way I see it as an upgrade over the dysfunction of the Rod/Kris fiasco of last season.

Lewis would have been an interesting choice had we gone in that direction instead.
 

xwalker

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Outside of that retention, there are a handful of names McCarthy has worked with before, and they’ve had mixed results across the league. There is however, a heavy dose of former head coaches. Four of the assistant coaches have been in the big chair before and they are in some of the higher ranking positions.

That’s not by accident. McCarthy has spoken to how much he believes in chain of command, and while that was clearly an issue with the Dallas coaching staff in 2019 (read Ben Bloom’s beef with Jaylon Smith and Kris Richard taking it to Stephen Jones), McCarthy seems to be prepared to have individual position groups run as business units. Nolan, John Fassel (ST), Joe Philbin (OL) and Jim Tomsula (DL) have all had the big whistle at one point or another in their careers.

If McCarthy is indeed all-in on using analytics, there have been no formal announcements about that portion of his staff. Fans will just have to wait to see if there really is a movement underway.

In the meantime, here’s a review of the on-field coaching staff as we see it, with a few additions still to be made.

The link has the grades for the coaches. Defensive coordinator grade is somewhat of a surprise.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/ga...-hires-mike-mccarthy-kellen-moore-mike-nolan/

The article says Kellen Moore prefers the Air Coryell vertical passing type scheme.

In reality that was Garrett's scheme. Kellen Moore's offensive ideas go back to his days playing QB in college. As a weak armed QB do you think he was focused on an Aikman type offense (Air Coryell) ?
 

jazzcat22

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Well, we will see how Nolan does this time around. All I know and care about right now, it is not Marinelli or any one else on the defensive side.
Also Jerry will not let Nolan hang around as long as Rod if it does not improve.
 

gimmesix

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The article says Kellen Moore prefers the Air Coryell vertical passing type scheme.

In reality that was Garrett's scheme. Kellen Moore's offensive ideas go back to his days playing QB in college. As a weak armed QB do you think he was focused on an Aikman type offense (Air Coryell) ?

I agree. I think writers are getting the idea of using the same terminology and using the same scheme mixed up ... unless I've missed reading something that says otherwise. It appears from past articles that McCarthy does want to mix things like jet sweeps and RPO into his offense, but he uses a West Coast philosophy.
 

DuncanIso

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DC Mike Nolan, Age: 60, 32 years in league, Mos recent job: Saints LB coach, 2017-2019


usatsi_13931564.jpg


DC Mike Nolan, Grade: C-; Amazing amount of coaching experience and some quality seasons, but a lot of his defenses haven't been very good. Most puzzling hire.

agree.

his defenses are terrible.
 

DuncanIso

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Well, we will see how Nolan does this time around. All I know and care about right now, it is not Marinelli or any one else on the defensive side.
Also Jerry will not let Nolan hang around as long as Rod if it does not improve.

I have no confidence in this.
 

SackMaster

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All incomplete.

I really don't care if Fassell was good anywhere else. All I care is what he does in Dallas.

And the same with McCarthy, Nolan, Moore, Peete ECT...

Just because they were great somewhere else does not mean that will be great here. And just because they were not great else where, does not mean they can't be great here.

The only thing I can grade at this point is the fact the front office FINALLY moved on from the guy who was not going to win a championship in Dallas.

And for that, A+.
 

Hook'em#11

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Season hasn't even begun to start. Don't even know who will be on the team/staff 100%..

Yet, let's start grading. :facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:

Seriously, some of you need to get a hobby.
 

Doomsday101

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I think Nolan is key here how he and his assistance do in getting this defense to where they need to be will go along way in the success of this team.
 

charron

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I think overall it looks like MM has put together a better staff than what Jerry gave Jason this last year. But i'm not gonna say nolan is a better Dc than Marineli both have underwelmed as HC and Dc's.
 
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