News: Bob Sturm: Why I was so wrong about Cowboys coach Jason Garrett

[Rockport]

Garrett is the best thing that has happened to the Cowboys since Jimmy Johnson. Like any rookie at any job he's made his mistakes but as all greats do he's learned from them and grown because of it. His style is similar to Greg Popovich's pound the rock philosophy. Stacking one good day on the top of the next. He's rebuilding this team from the inside out and has completed the offensive line and now is working on the defensive line. That's where football games are won and in another 1-2 years this team is going to be much better than it already is. We should be rejoicing in his new 5 yr contract. I surely am.

 

[erod]

We had the Division won after we beat Philly at Philly.. All we had to do was not screw it up and we did.

Also, our defense sucked last year. We just managed games 10 times better because Captain suck wasn't coaching the offense anymore.

The defense was notably better last year, although not great. The ability to control games with the run game with the final addition of Zack Martin was the key.

Garrett's playcalling was ENTIRELY dictated by the painfully obvious fact that they couldn't run the ball in critical situations and they couldn't protect Romo. Linehan's playcalling wouldn't have meant a thing from 2010-12. The offense started to come together in 2013, but the defense was an absolute embarrassment.

There is no play to call when it's going to be a jail break the second you snap the ball.

 

[CowboyRoy]

You're in denial. I guess it's hard to admit when you were wrong.

Admitting I was wrong is never difficult. It has been a very trying learning process having Garrett as an OC and a head coach. And when the owner says the same thing, there is no arguing that. Would you like me to pull up the article quoting Jerry two years back about Garrett? Jerry admitted that Garrett has screwed up and that the team has suffered through his growing pains. So if you cant see that, or admit that, then the one in denial is you.

Now if you are going to tell me that one 12-4 season is all of a sudden going to erase all of that, then Im just going to tell you that my opinion completely disagrees with you. So when it comes to Garrett, I have been right on the money. He had no business being hired originally, and there were many other candidates more qualified that should have gotten the job. Now if your going to give anyone 10 years or 15 years to learn no matter what, then there is no question that a good year is going to come up at some point.

Now many of you Garrett apologists have used last year to somehow try and act like its all Garrett and he has finally come of age. Now if Garrett was still running the offense, calling the plays, and doing the game plans, then maybe we could sit here and say that wow, he finally understands how to coach and got over the hump of the running game jitters. But unfortunately for you guys, the ONE great season and the miraculous one year turn around from no running game to dominant run game came the VERY first year Garrett no longer was in control of the offense. And that only underlines my point, and the point of many others that Garrett simply didnt know what he was doing or was in over his head. It definitely in NO WAY underlines anything about Garrett coming of age.

So I have taken the time to lay out my opinion with some facts to back it up. Now if you have nothing to come back with, then by all means, just blow it off by telling me I was wrong again. Give it a shot. Refute my points. If you can.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Roy I don't have it in me to respond to LOL's and the hyperbole that went into your post. I will never change your opinion. He gets credit for turning things around last year and I believe he will continue to do so. After a six consecutive post rampage you don't.

I completely respect that and you might be right and I might look like an idiot. But let's agree stick to our guns and see what happens.

Well lets just look at why the Cowboys had a turnaround. Why did they? For my money, it was the resurgence and the commitment to the running game. If you can agree on that, then I dont see how you sit here and tell me that Garrett is the reason for the running game turnaround.

Now as far as sticking to our guns, Im not sure we have a choice. Garrett is going to be here for a long time. Now I do think he is in the right place as a walkaround coach not heavily involved in the offense or game day. And Jerry seems to understand the importance of GREAT coordinators to run both sides of the ball. So the infrastructure is now in place. I think Garrett is doing what he does best. Walk around, be a politician, and oversee things. Be a players coach.

 

[robjay04]

Well lets just look at why the Cowboys had a turnaround. Why did they? For my money, it was the resurgence and the commitment to the running game. If you can agree on that, then I dont see how you sit here and tell me that Garrett is the reason for the running game turnaround.

Now as far as sticking to our guns, Im not sure we have a choice. Garrett is going to be here for a long time. Now I do think he is in the right place as a walkaround coach not heavily involved in the offense or game day. And Jerry seems to understand the importance of GREAT coordinators to run both sides of the ball. So the infrastructure is now in place. I think Garrett is doing what he does best. Walk around, be a politician, and oversee things. Be a players coach.

Comparable to Jimmy?

 

[CowboyRoy]

keep thinking that. proof is in the pudding. under campo, gaily, switzer, and the putz we had awful drafts. under Johnson, Parcells and now Garrett we have had a plan for building the team and using the draft.

jones ran the draft during those other times and he sucked.

record and history speaks for itself. you can claim what ever you want.


and those drafts were under coach putz. the putz also said he could make LB Williams into an all world LB. how did that work out for you!!!

and when you don't spend high draft picks on OL men, you get stuck with crap in the market.

would you have any other plans to rebuild the OL. we spent 3 first round picks on OL. never been done in history of the cowboys under jones. never.



again, records speak for themselves. Jerry with clown for coaches. crappy drafts.

Jerry with good sound coaches good drafts.

but you can spin spin, spin, spin spin as much as you want.



pete carroll is one of the biggest cheer leaders.
Rex Ryan is one of the biggest cheer leaders
couglin has some of the best coordinators on his staff


but garrett is at fault for hiring and expanding his staff to make it better.

The hiring of Will Clay to run the scouting and the draft has made a world of difference. And Stephen Jones is clealry more in control in the last few years in that process and the FA signings and managing the salary cap. You cant actually be serious in telling me that Garrett is the reason for the turnaround in those two areas. If so, please explain yourself.

And are you going to tell me that when it comes to Jerry passing on highly rated DT's because they dont fit Marianellis 1 technique style, that he is listening to Garrett or Marianelli? Cmon now.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I guess you just described every head coach in the league that has an OC, DC on his staff. only the ones without one get credit (that is if they are successful). so pete carroll is the biggest cheer leader of them all.

thanks for the clarification.

The problem with your theory is that we have seen Garrett as on OC for 7 straight years. And he was woefully underwhelming in his affinity to be pass happy and abandon the run. And now the VERY FIRST year he no longer runs the offense we all of a sudden blossom into one of the best running teams in the league?

How do you explain this?

 

[CowboyRoy]

so all these garrett haters have to cling on is running game. in a game that's more and more passing and rules changed to promote passing. NE lives on passing game. NO the same. most of the top rushing teams in the league stay home and watch playoffs.

but if that's all you got to cling to. then by all means do, because you are falling faster than you can imagine.

LOL.......you cant be serious. Seattle wont he SB two years ago and was runner up and they do it with defense and running the ball. SF the last few years has been strong because they run the ball. NE was one of the better running teams in the league last year. Get your facts straight.

So why did the Cowboys suddenly morph into a 12 win team if it wasnt the resurgence of the running game? Waiting..................

 

[CowboyRoy]

cole beasly, dez Bryant, Orlando scandrick, Crawford, Lawrence, Fredrick, smith, martin...yeah the Kraken

so I guess NO made a mistake by being a passing team and winning a superbowl. same as NE, and Indy and Denver. yeah, what a bunch of idiots.

So how did that pass happy success work our for Garrett? 8-8, 8-8 , 8-8. We are NOT the patriots or Denver. How did it work out when we ran the ball? 12-4.

Facts are stubborn things arent they.

 

[CowboyRoy]

there is this perception that the key to everything is a top rushing attack. yet

2014 - Jets, niners were top 5 and missed the playoffs. eagles chiefs, were top 10 and both watch dallas play on TV
yet 3 of the 4 final teams were top 10 passing.
2013 - bills, jets, Viking, Commanders were all top 10 rushing teams. watching from home again.
broncos were tops in passing and had a superbowl appearance.

so the notion that strong running game equals a great team is far from reality. the fact is that there is nothing else you garret haters can hang on to so you keep harping on a meaningless stat to prove nothing!!!!

Each team is different pal. There is no one way. But when you have a team with a poor defense, and Romo, you better be able to run the football. 8 years with Romo and the pass happy thing and it didnt work. You want to continue to beat a dead horse? Common sense really. Now if you give me Tom Brady, then yah, I would be more pass happy. But there is no denying that running the football helps the team in many ways. For my money, I would always want a strong run game.

And wow, what happened last year when we had one? Gee..............

 

[CowboyRoy]

How goes your world livin in hate

I love the Cowboys. I do NOT like Garrett or anyone else that holds back the Cowboys for any reason.

How goes your world livin in denial?

 

[CowboyRoy]

We had the Division won after we beat Philly at Philly.. All we had to do was not screw it up and we did.

Also, our defense sucked last year. We just managed games 10 times better because Captain suck wasn't coaching the offense anymore.

Yep, you nailed it. One of the big reasons you run the ball is to keep the defense off the field. Garrett never figured that out or couldnt. When you are pass happy and get a lot of 3 and outs, the other team wins time of possession and scores more. Hence the bad ranking. Football 101 stuff.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Comparable to Jimmy?

You tell me? Are you saying that Garrett compares to Jimmy?

 

[robjay04]

You tell me? Are you saying that Garrett compares to Jimmy?

You mentioned Garrett is back as a walk around coach that motivates people and oversees things...with great coordinators. Sounds like a Jimmy Johnson type of coach.

 

[Dodger12]

You mentioned Garrett is back as a walk around coach that motivates people and oversees things...with great coordinators. Sounds like a Jimmy Johnson type of coach.

You wish..........

 

[AsthmaField]

Jerry admitted that Garrett has screwed up and that the team has suffered through his growing pains. So if you cant see that, or admit that, then the one in denial is you.

It must have been a bad moment for you when that same owner re-signed Garrett for another 5 years because he was thrilled with the progression of the team under Garrett.

And of course he suffered growing pains. All first time head coaches do.

 

[BigStar]

I think there are many truths here, but I think Parcells likes to build things up. He doesn't like to just stick around and ride it out. The challenge for him is taking something that's dreadful and then walking away to the next project, for better or for worse.

He left the Cowboys with a pretty good foundation of building blocks when he left (albeit a questionable transition to the 3-4 defense). He had no control over the next staff to be hired. Unfortunately, Jerry & Co. whiffed on Wade Phillips, but were fortunate enough to find someone with the stomach to build and hopefully stick around and ride it out in Jason Garrett.

I know people hate to hear it, but Jason Garrett's 8-8 seasons are not indicative of what he's been trying to accomplish. The social media, millenial, "instagram" society we live in now is all about instant gratification. I prefer the Garrett model of building a culture and organization that can endure and compete perennially rather than be a flash in the pan and gone from existence like the Arizona Cardinals of a few years ago or any other one-and-done hot team in the past.

All of the Super Bowl champions recently have built up their organizations on certain principles or beliefs and then got the right guy in charge to get the employees to buy in. Seattle, New England, New York, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis. All teams with one voice from the front office to the coach to the players. We've finally got the right combination of that, and ALL of those teams took a while to get where they are. Don't pretend that Sean Payton got to New Orleans or Pete Carroll got to Seattle and it was all 12-4 and deep playoff runs from day one.

We've won 1 playoff game (with some breaks)...against a team that couldn't win on the road.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So how did that pass happy success work our for Garrett? 8-8, 8-8 , 8-8.

That just isn't being fair to Garrett. We had many issues that were completely out of his control that contributed to those records. In fact, considering what we went thru on defense, going 8-8 could be considered a miracle. Add in completely rebuilding the roster to what it is today and some would say Garrett doesn't get enough credit.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

garrett built the OL and does all the drafting and hires all the coaches, is all in your mind.
It is a group effort not any one guy.
The jones also hired garret, unless garrett hired himself lol .,
They made him HC, and the stuck with him.
Giving JG all the credit for things you like is not realistic.
Then of course anything you dont like is jerry did that .

jerry used to do it all, now it is a group effort and that is why it is better.

I don't disagree that its a group effort. is there any large organization of any type that its not a group effort. but the leaders set the tone, the vision and bring on the right people to execute that vision. that's what sets them apart.

Jones has a long history of hiring coaches and we have seen the teams ebbs and flows depending on the coaching influence in him. strong coaches with strong visions who have been able to keep Jones on track have led to good teams. Johnson, Parcells, Garrett. on the other hand, weaker coaches who got rail roaded and had no vision have led to disasters, Switzer, gaily, campo, the putz.

what I give JG credit for is having the vision on the type of team he wants, the type of players he wants, the type of culture he wants, setting the tone and being able to convince jerry to stay the course and let the plan work it out.

and we all know when jerry does it all, and the result we get from that.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The hiring of Will Clay to run the scouting and the draft has made a world of difference. And Stephen Jones is clealry more in control in the last few years in that process and the FA signings and managing the salary cap. You cant actually be serious in telling me that Garrett is the reason for the turnaround in those two areas. If so, please explain yourself.

And are you going to tell me that when it comes to Jerry passing on highly rated DT's because they dont fit Marianellis 1 technique style, that he is listening to Garrett or Marianelli? Cmon now.

garrett has certainly had influence. and garrett has been working with Stephen in getting jerry to stay the course. lets not forget it was jerry who said he was ready to pick Manziel and if not for the system of checks and balances, he would have. why? my argument has been for years that jerry is a great business man and a master marketer and could you imagine manziel in dallas? but he was convinced otherwise and it probably did take a three headed monster to stop him, one of garrett, Stephen and mcclay.