A View from the Garrett Support Realm

[rcaldw]

As insane as some of you think I am, I am happy to supply some perspective from at least one (and maybe lonely) Garrett supporter. Contrary to popular insults, I am not a Garrett supporter due to his connection to the 90's Cowboys (gracious he was just the backup QB and not one I ever particularly cared for). Nor do I support him because he is from Princeton (I don't give a rip about that, though it seems his detractors sure do).

I support him because I truly believe he is a good young coach with good upside.

So what goes through the mind of this person who believes that Garrett should be our head coach, during and after a game like yesterday?

Let me give you a few thoughts.

1. As much as I wish I was wrong about this (and I do wish I was), I think Romo is a problem. I know, I know, without Romo we wouldn't even be competitive, etc, etc etc. At moments I would agree, but looking at the total picture, I'm sorry, I don't agree. Do I think Romo has the talent for us to be outstanding? Without question. Am I rooting him on? Without question. Am I impressed with how he always gives his team a chance to win (as noted by Aikman yesterday), absolutely.

But in my view he does the one thing that he just can't do. For this season, at least, he has consistently made plays that put us into a position where we HAVE to come back. Once again yesterday, two huge interceptions. In addition to the interceptions there were other plays that hurt us a great, great deal. Missed opportunities, and some COMPLETIONS that hurt more than helped because he quickly decided to throw it to a guy that ended up losing yardage, and at a time and place on the field where we really couldn't afford it.

The only way I can describe what I see sometimes is that Tony panics. He just isn't calm. Not at the line of scrimmage, not in the pocket, not at any time. EXCEPT. When he gets into a hot streak and it is kind of a fire drill for everyone. He thrives in those situations. But I contend you can't make a living in the NFL with a fire drill. We have all heard the "reasons" why it is the way it is, but I just think its the way he plays the game.

2. We have been decimated by injuries. No one wants to hear that, I get it, but nonetheless it is a reality. Our offensive line situation is terrible (though they didn't play that poorly yesterday), our running back situation is terrible, our wide receiver situation is now below average (when Beasley and Harris are your wideouts besides Dez...), and our defense is a shell of how we started the season.

3. Jerry and some of our fan base is delusional about our talent level. Everyone keeps saying, "with a roster like this we should be .....". And of course, we have all been hopeful at one time or another. I would be chief on that list. But I look at it and ask, are we really that much more talented (if at all) as compared with most of the NFL? I think what happens sometimes is that because they wear the Star they are thought to be a star. On another team, wearing other colors, some of these guys would be nobodies, or thought to be slightly above average. But, because they play in Dallas they are big names. I think Miles Austin is a great example of that.

4. I think we would gain short term with a change to someone like Mike Holmgren... maybe, MAYBE. But what is the long term gain? I don't think Holmgren is going to be any better than Parcells. I think Garrett represents long term upside.

Garrett was asked yesterday what progress he has seen. I was surprised he even answered the question, but he did. He said (and I'm relating this generally), that if you keep doing things the right way, and you get the right people, you get the results that you want.

I completely agree with that. For me, and I know in advance that I will be the vast minority as of today, I want to stay the course. I think it will pay better dividends down the road.

If Jerry makes a change I will still be here. I'm a Cowboys fan. Period. But I honestly think a change would be a mistake.

I doubt the message will resonate with many. I'm quite sure that most think that a coaching change is the answer. But I do think I'm right about this, and I think Gary Kubiak in Houston is a great example. You can't win until you get the roster the way you want it to be.

 

[tecolote]

We have a 2-3 record at home this year and have been trailing by double digits in FOUR of those games.

While leading, the offense has scored a TD only twice all season, and both were on the first game.

We lead the league in penalties. We are near the top in turnovers and near the bottom in takeaways.

We have scored 1 offensive TD in the first half in the last 4 games.

We ran a QB sneak on first and ten for crying out loud.

I think we have talent in a lot of skill positions, QB being the most important, but this team is a mess right now. I'm sorry but a lot of that is on the head coach. He deserves all the flack he is getting.

He is awful in my opinion.

 

[burmafrd]

anyone thinking that Romo is the first problem to be talked about really is out to lunch

 

[cml750]

Garrett may be a coach with "upside" but we have aging players who we need to win with NOW. We have a franchise QB who is not getting any younger. Good QB's don't grow on trees. He is also an absolutely terrible OC. If we do keep him he has to give up any OC and play calling duties IMHO.

 

[cml750]

anyone thinking that Romo is the first problem to be talked about really is out to lunch

No kidding, it should be very easy to see that the offense works when Romo takes over and Garrett is out of the equation.

 

[rcaldw]

anyone thinking that Romo is the first problem to be talked about really is out to lunch

I didn't list him first because I think he is the biggest problem. I list him first because it is the first question on my mind. Is he really the right guy for long term success here? I'm not convinced he is, for the reasons I state. I think he turns the ball over too much. I've seen him play in stretches where he is not only good enough, he is top 5 status. But, man, some of the mistakes are back breaking.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

Garrett's plays are for a pocket passer, not a streetball player like Romo.

I think both will be more successful without the other.

But, who goes first?

 

[rcaldw]

Garrett's plays are for a pocket passer, not a streetball player like Romo.

I think both will be more successful without the other.

But, who goes first?

Man, Gemini, you nailed it. I think you are exactly right in that assessment.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Six years of running this offense and he still cannot stop pre-snap penalties.

That is not Romo.

That is Opie.

 

[fortdick]

I remember when the "experts" had the the get rid of Payton club. They said the same things about Sean Payton when he was calling plays here. Now they are hoping to get him back.

Stick with Garrett and this franchise will be back on top.

 

[dragon_mikal]

Right now Garrett's offense should be nicknamed "The Quarterback's Nightmare". Seriously. I don't see a quarterback in the league that would be successful in this offensive system.

Now, maybe Garrett fixes this and starts trying to design a gameplan that will help disguise the weaknesses of his side of the ball but I won't hold my breath. Takes the dude 30 seconds to decide whether to challenge a play and that's with another human being beating him over the head to do so.

Just a poorly designed offense with the current talent and makeup of the team.

 

[burmafrd]

I didn't list him first because I think he is the biggest problem. I list him first because it is the first question on my mind. Is he really the right guy for long term success here? I'm not convinced he is, for the reasons I state. I think he turns the ball over too much. I've seen him play in stretches where he is not only good enough, he is top 5 status. But, man, some of the mistakes are back breaking.

you listed him first because in your mind he is a bigger problem then the head coach

frankly not a position that can be logically argued

 

[links18]

I think Garrett supporters' problem is they want to see some kind of break between his time as an offensive coordinator and the period after he was appointed head coach. They think, "He has only been a head coach for a little over two years; he needs time to implement his plan, get the guys he wants, etc."

They fail to recognize that Garrett has struggled both as an offensive coordinator and a head coach. There is a continuity between the two periods: An offense that is on absolute fire one week--scores six point the next, constant penalties, sloppy play, unmotivated performances, the offense taking the first half off, etc. Garrett has been a part of this organization for five years now and outside of 2007 with Tony Sparano at his side and some moderate success in 2009, his offenses have generally struggled. Add to this fact his performance as head coach: repeated errors of basic clock and game management, failure to prepare his team, seeming inability to adjust and it just becomes very difficult to make a case for this guy.

Still, there are those that think that freed from his play calling duties, he would make a great head coach. This meme is perhaps the most frustrating at all. He is no Mike Tomlin. He is absolutely robotic on the sideline, in press conferences, etc. He shows almost no personality. He is a classic technocrat--but not a very good one it seems.

Regardless, even if he does figure it out one day--as many have said on here as of late, this core group of players is on the wrong side of 30 to have a head coach learning on the job.

 

[burmafrd]

I remember when the "experts" had the the get rid of Payton club. They said the same things about Sean Payton when he was calling plays here. Now they are hoping to get him back.

Stick with Garrett and this franchise will be back on top.

show me evidence that Red Ball is learning as a coach

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Garrett's plays are for a pocket passer, not a streetball player like Romo.

I think both will be more successful without the other.

But, who goes first?

Where are the QB rollouts? Where are the quick passes out of shotgun like GB does with Rodgers? A bad offensive line is not an excuse. A good coach can work around it. Garrett can't.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Ummm...I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you would be "panicked" too if you stood behind that line looking for receivers that aren't where they are supposed to be, ie, Dunbar yesterday, Ogletree against Cleveland and Dez, all have been well documented. Romo wasn't like this in 2007 or even his first year.

He hasn't been the same this year but I believe even the high balls and easy misses are the result of bad mechanics from constantly being harassed. Look no further than David Carr if you don't think that has an effect on you.

He threw 12 INT's last year, less than one a game with three in one half. You don't suddenly lose that in 12 months. Coaches are supposed to put you in a position to succeed and he has since regressed.

Jason and Jerry have put the entire organization on Romo's shoulders and asked him to bail them out and he simply can't do it.

 

[jobberone]

Before you solve a problem u must define it then plan a solution or perhaps state a goal.

Is Romo a problem (not does he have warts)?

Is depth a problem?

R starters a problem and where?

To properly evaluate a system or model u must make it work as well as that system can. Then u can address levels above that system.

 

[BAT]

We have a 2-3 record at home this year and have been trailing by double digits in FOUR of those games.

While leading, the offense has scored a TD only twice all season, and both were on the first game.

We lead the league in penalties. We are near the top in turnovers and near the bottom in takeaways.

We have scored 1 offensive TD in the first half in the last 4 games.

We ran a QB sneak on first and ten for crying out loud.

I think we have talent in a lot of skill positions, QB being the most important, but this team is a mess right now. I'm sorry but a lot of that is on the head coach. He deserves all the flack he is getting.

He is awful in my opinion.

In addition, Garrett has also been challenged with managing the time clock, conservative/inconsistent (going from one extreme to the next) playcalling and taking advantage of replay challenges (to the extent that I think he must forget his red flag at home most games).

Anyone who believes that Romo is the issue is delusional. Without Romo, this predictable and conservative offense amounts to nothing. In fact, the offense only works when the Cowboys go to the no huddle/2 minute drill when Romo has almost carte blanche. And this is coming from a former Garrett supporter.

 

[rcaldw]

you listed him first because in your mind he is a bigger problem then the head coach

frankly not a position that can be logically argued

If you noted my premise, it is that Garrett should be the head coach. Given the fact I think this is true, then the number one question I have is whether or not Romo is the answer at QB for a longer term.

I will say this, however. No matter what my view is, I'm quite convinced that Jerry and Steven Jones' answer to the question is an absolute yes. I don't think Romo is going anywhere.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

I remember when the "experts" had the the get rid of Payton club. They said the same things about Sean Payton when he was calling plays here. Now they are hoping to get him back.

Stick with Garrett and this franchise will be back on top.

Stupid comparison. Quit comparing Opie to coaches that had to work their way through the ranks. Coaches that actually come from a coaching tree and had people mentor them and teach them the ropes of pro football.

This guy isnt Payton, Bellichick or Landry. All the praying in the world wont change it.