..you do have to be careful here with the players and who they perceive as actually being their defensive leader.
Bringing in a coach like Capers and then giving him some sort of obscure title that in effect makes him the co-DC in the eyes of the players could be an issue.
I think you also have to be concerned with Campo coming back. Again, a Jones guy that some might perceive as having a fluid role within the staff beyond his secondary coach duties. Having been our position coach before AND our HC before to Jones, players again might be confused with who is actually in charge, whether they represent Phillips and what he wants or Jones and what he wants.
They are going to possibly look at all this as a slap at Stewart and at them as to they didn't play well enough and need all these new former headcoaches now on staff to crack the whip more.
They may not respond to this well in the long run. And they may not be comfortable with all the blurred lines being created.
It's the same thing being bounced around on the offensive side of the ball with Garrett and his new contract..with him being perceived as the HC in waiting and with Garrett apparently wanting to have had Capers as his DC if he had taken the Ravens job as it was rumored.
The players are going to get mixed signals about who and what is really in charge.
I think it's all in how it gets handled and what the actual agendas are that are being created.
To me, if the Cowboys feel that Capers is the better choice and they can agree to a deal to bring him in for more than just a one year tryout on the staff in some trumped up position as a godfather cousulare', I think you do it and move Stewart to Assistant DC along with Capers and then make Stewart also be the LBer coach and give Stewart a raise.
This then let's the players know who is doing what and how it's going to work every day and everybody gets paid for their true jobs.
Look, Sparano did it last year when Garrett came in. Sparano got a new title, got a raise to stay and then was allowed to leave this season.
We looked good, we had continuity and Sparano was not held back from advancing his career.
We can do that with Stewart, too. But I'm not sure Stewart has the credentials that a Sparano had when he left, but if we are successful again this year and the defense improves, Stewart will get some of that credit and if he wants to leave, good luck to him.
And if that isn't satisfactory to everybody, then you let Stewart out of his deal and go find another LBer coach.
The other thing that does nag at me about all these pursuings of former HC's and former assistants that formally had big titles with other teams, is the impression that Jones is doing exactly what Danny Snyder and the Commanders were so sharply critisized for when they went out a couple of years ago and hired a top-heavy staff of former head coaches and coordinators and tried to win with that and it become a complete disaster.
I see the signs here of a similar perception that could be made if we are not careful with how this Capers hire might be seen.
But I think at this point, Phillips has to take control here and do what is best for himself and his team. It's going to make for some tough decisions. I respect Phillips in what he's trying to do given the heavy toll on his coaching staff with the Miami raids.
And I think Jones is doing the best he can to fix the damage. He's bringing people he trusts and who have the experience to deal with the pressure that is coming to get the team to the next level.
Remember, Jones has been very patient with allowing BP to hire his staff and let it come and go and now he's had to be more patient in letting Parcells take the remainder of his 'possessions' and leave the building with his other coaches.
So far, Jones has made all the right moves.
He may have to make a couple more shortly that are in the best interests of the team that won't meet with unanimous agreement. But I really think Jones is a different person and a different GM now than before BP came here and he's learned alot and is applying it.
We have gotten to 13-3 and we have 13 Pro Bowl players and we have 2 #1's in the upcoming draft to improve more.
Jones has played a huge role in getting us back to where we are. He's worked hard, paid his dues and spent lavishly and now he's gotten results.
Let's keep the faith. Actually, he needs to be voted as GM or owner of the year. If he was the owner of any other team in the NFL except the Cowboys..he would have been easily.
But Jones is held to a higher standard and he lives in an enormously pressurized world none of us could handle.
Thanks, Jerry.
Heck, why don't you be the LBer coach..?
:laugh2:
ReDbaLL ExPreSS
