Beware "Wade Fixes the Defense" Mentality

[CoCo]

I know a large % of the board is excited about Wade running our defense. Ware will garner Merriman stats, Spears will finally deliver his potential, Roy will become a force once more and other such oversimplifications.

Remember 2003 when Parcells arrived? Remember how he was going to bring the potential out of these players heretofore underachieving? Very mixed results as to whether that happened at all.

On the plus side, the team went from 5-11 in 2002 (Campo/Zimmer) to 10-6 in 2003 (Parcells/Zimmer). Proof positive that Campo and Co were not able to develop the potential in these players. Remember as well that we slumped back to 6-10 in 2004.

On the minus side, name me a list of players who underachieved under Campo only to be set free as a real force under Parcells. There was a flash in the pan or two maybe. QC comes to mind. But nothing long lasting. A mental inventory leads me to believe there isn't a single player from the Campo era that achieved lasting significant improvement under Parcells coaching. Frankly, Bill turned a lot of the roster over whittling the candidates for improvement way down. That in itself is condemning.

But I do indeed recall the rejoicing on this board about how Bill would certainly develop the underachievers, coach em up, mine their potential. And he certainly had the reputation to support those beliefs. 4 years later I can't think of a single player that Bill clearly helped make a lasting productivity jump.

Yet I'm hearing that same refrain once more only this time Wade Phillips is gonna do what Parcells couldn't. To borrow from Parcells, "You are what you are." Bear that thought in mind the next time you think that Wade is gonna fix what ails this defense without the addition/subtraction of personnel.

 

[burmafrd]

Well, show me any of those that BP let go that have done well elsewhere?
They were scrubs- nothing you can do with them except get better players.

 

[CoCo]

Well, show me any of those that BP let go that have done well elsewhere?
They were scrubs- nothing you can do with them except get better players.

That's my point. Many thought the coaching would make the difference. But in the end, if our 2006 Parcells coached defense was bad, maybe it wasn't all scheme/coaching as has become very popular to decry. Maybe, like in 2002, that's as good as these particular players are gonna be without replacing some/many.

 

[LatinMind]

nice post. i really dont see anything different from this yr to last. people seem to think dallas will have the same kind of stats Sd had on defense but they're forgetting one thing. Sd has better overall talent. i hope the cowboys win the superbowl. but it wont suprise me if the team has the same success/failure they did this yr.

 

[Cbz40]

I understand your point and you could very well be correct. The cause for concern is a legitimate one.

Whether or not some of our players simply underachieved, were poorly coached, or the scheme was inadequate for our talent level should be answered in the coming season.

As for talent, Remember many of these players will be playing in their 2nd & 3rd year in the NFL. If you are a believer in the Landry Rule, as was Parcells, many of our concerns will be answered soon.

As for me I sincerely hope it was the coaching, scheme, and not the talent level. If the talent becomes the issue we will be adding a few more players than we wanted too.

I'm w/you CoCo as far as having a few doubts.....at times I catch myself having a way too many moments of anxiety.

 

[Cowboys&Caps]

4 years later I can't think of a single player that Bill clearly helped make a lasting productivity jump.

Can i hear a Tony Romo chant??? How about Jason Witten??? Marc Columbo??? Andre Gurode???? Greg Ellis???

 

[Dday22t]

You're right..... we are doomed! Game over.

 

[CATCH17]

When players from other teams are going up to our guys in the pro bowl and asking them what the heck we were doing on defense im pretty sure that scheme had a lot to do with it.

Our own players were critical and other teams players basically just said they knew what was going on before the ball was ever snapped.

I think we got the talent and I dont think there is a lot of people out there who would disagree with me. Cowboy fan or not...

 

[speedkilz88]

By 2003, the team was getting old and on a bad decline. I see a lot more talent now since the scouting change. This is a very talented team now.

 

[philo beddoe]

You're right..... we are doomed! Game over.

Al Gore says the entire planet is doomed. LOL

 

[LatinMind]

When players from other teams are going up to our guys in the pro bowl and asking them what the heck we were doing on defense im pretty sure that scheme had a lot to do with it.

Our own players were critical and other teams players basically just said they knew what was going on before the ball was ever snapped.

I think we got the talent and I dont think there is a lot of people out there who would disagree with me. Cowboy fan or not...

when u have a coach(zimmer) say on national radio that he was glad to be in atlanta and to have cb's who do what they're told. plays a big part in this too. he didnt name names when he said it on the radio show(LBOH). but he was talking specifically about the secondary. and just by looking at the team on the field. when making adjustments on the field before the play(during audibles) you could clearly see they didnt know what they were doing. so before we just put blame on coaching u have to think maybe these guys just arent as good of players as we the fans think they are.

 

[tomson75]

when u have a coach(zimmer) say on national radio that he was glad to be in atlanta and to have cb's who do what they're told. plays a big part in this too. he didnt name names when he said it on the radio show(LBOH). but he was talking specifically about the secondary. and just by looking at the team on the field. when making adjustments on the field before the play(during audibles) you could clearly see they didnt know what they were doing. so before we just put blame on coaching u have to think maybe these guys just arent as good of players as we the fans think they are.

 

[BLT]

Remember 2003 when Parcells arrived? Remember how he was going to bring the potential out of these players heretofore underachieving? Very mixed results as to whether that happened at all.

bring the potential out of who?? the team was awful before then... who did u want him to get potential out of? tony dixon? duane goodrich? ebenezar ekuban? jamar martin?

 

[Clove]

The days of the big team (without serious speed) is a bad idea, IMO. It was Parcells philosophy to bring in huge guys, and that's fine. But we were getting whipped by slow Full Backs, and tight ends.

I hope Wade brings in a couple of guys with a little bit of speed, especially in the ILB position.

 

[Jimz31]

The only ones that were right when BP came here, were the ones that told the Cowboys' fans to be ready for a conservative, ball-control type of offense. Wins and losses would be close, etc.

Say what you want about Sean Salisbury, but he was dead on when he stated what we should expect from BP. We got EXACTLY what he said we would from BP.


Not only that, but I DO believe that BP held our team back offensively....I don't think he put enough trust in the players to perform. There are pros and cons to this type of thinking, but these ARE professional football players and the coaches SHOULD be able to expect them to do things when told....but again, it depends on what is going on in practice, etc.

 

[eduncan22]

BP is a better coach that Wade.


The jury is way out on Wade.

I for one do not like many of the coaching hires [the guy hired his kid???]

I think we are a poorer team when it comes to the coaching staff.

 

[Jimz31]

BP is a better coach that Wade.


The jury is way out on Wade.

I for one do not like many of the coaching hires [the guy hired his kid???]

I think we are a poorer team when it comes to the coaching staff.

Only one way to find out....play the games.

I haven't been thrilled with Wade....as far as I am concerned, Phillips, as far as a HC is just a step above Campo.

But let's face it, WP han't exactly had teams full of talent either and he HAS come away with a winning record.

 

[THUMPER]

I know a large % of the board is excited about Wade running our defense. Ware will garner Merriman stats, Spears will finally deliver his potential, Roy will become a force once more and other such oversimplifications.

Remember 2003 when Parcells arrived? Remember how he was going to bring the potential out of these players heretofore underachieving? Very mixed results as to whether that happened at all.

On the plus side, the team went from 5-11 in 2002 (Campo/Zimmer) to 10-6 in 2003 (Parcells/Zimmer). Proof positive that Campo and Co were not able to develop the potential in these players. Remember as well that we slumped back to 6-10 in 2004.

On the minus side, name me a list of players who underachieved under Campo only to be set free as a real force under Parcells. There was a flash in the pan or two maybe. QC comes to mind. But nothing long lasting. A mental inventory leads me to believe there isn't a single player from the Campo era that achieved lasting significant improvement under Parcells coaching. Frankly, Bill turned a lot of the roster over whittling the candidates for improvement way down. That in itself is condemning.

But I do indeed recall the rejoicing on this board about how Bill would certainly develop the underachievers, coach em up, mine their potential. And he certainly had the reputation to support those beliefs. 4 years later I can't think of a single player that Bill clearly helped make a lasting productivity jump.

Yet I'm hearing that same refrain once more only this time Wade Phillips is gonna do what Parcells couldn't. To borrow from Parcells, "You are what you are." Bear that thought in mind the next time you think that Wade is gonna fix what ails this defense without the addition/subtraction of personnel.

The key is that Zimrod is gone. He was the one who held the defense back from the time his mentor, Campo, took over as DC in 1995 until the end of this season.

With him gone we WILL see a dramatic change in the defense, mark my words!

 

[CF74]

I know a large % of the board is excited about Wade running our defense. Ware will garner Merriman stats, Spears will finally deliver his potential, Roy will become a force once more and other such oversimplifications.

Remember 2003 when Parcells arrived? Remember how he was going to bring the potential out of these players heretofore underachieving? Very mixed results as to whether that happened at all.

On the plus side, the team went from 5-11 in 2002 (Campo/Zimmer) to 10-6 in 2003 (Parcells/Zimmer). Proof positive that Campo and Co were not able to develop the potential in these players. Remember as well that we slumped back to 6-10 in 2004.

On the minus side, name me a list of players who underachieved under Campo only to be set free as a real force under Parcells. There was a flash in the pan or two maybe. QC comes to mind. But nothing long lasting. A mental inventory leads me to believe there isn't a single player from the Campo era that achieved lasting significant improvement under Parcells coaching. Frankly, Bill turned a lot of the roster over whittling the candidates for improvement way down. That in itself is condemning.

But I do indeed recall the rejoicing on this board about how Bill would certainly develop the underachievers, coach em up, mine their potential. And he certainly had the reputation to support those beliefs. 4 years later I can't think of a single player that Bill clearly helped make a lasting productivity jump.

Yet I'm hearing that same refrain once more only this time Wade Phillips is gonna do what Parcells couldn't. To borrow from Parcells, "You are what you are." Bear that thought in mind the next time you think that Wade is gonna fix what ails this defense without the addition/subtraction of personnel.

We only have 3 holes in our D:


Ellis went down, MLB is suspect, and secondary; either CB or Safety which one was a rook and has improved sum...

I am of the persuasion that getting a solid FA CB like Samuels would have been the fix in conjunction with moving Henry to FS. I'm also expecting Wade to either improve or bench Bradie James. Course now that time has passed I'm just realizing I'm very optimistic and yet a firm believer that time=maturity for most, but not all...

 

[CF74]

Not only that, but I DO believe that BP held our team back offensively.. etc.

I don't undestand how many zoner's and homers hold this illusion. We were passing the ball to much when we should have been running. Be that as it may, we averaged 26 points a game.