Can We Now Say It Was Jimmy Johnson?

[DallasEast]

Aikman was in his lap when he got to Dallas...

...but only because Troy Aikman was in Jimmy Johnson's first draft class. Admittedly, it is nitpicking on my part but I would say an example like Michael Irvin [fell] in his lap since Irvin was drafted prior to Johnson's first season.

 

[Flamma]

You certainly can say that, but not without giving Jerry credit for 1) hiring Jimmy and doing something no owner I know of has ever done….give a college coach with no NFL experience that level of control; 2) make billionaires and millionaires of so many owners, coaches, and players because of the brilliant marketing changes he brought to the league. Jerry is not in the HOF because of those SBs.

I think the NFL was gaining in popularity fast. Jerry just rode the wave with a very popular team.

 

[John813]

“Failed miserably” is a bit harsh considering the roster he left to Wannstedt.

Drafted Madison, Surtain, Taylor, Thomas, etc, and not with premium picks.

The problem was iconic Marino was cooked but didn’t want to quit yet, and he was going out on his own terms. Jay Fiedler was the best they could do thereafter. You see what happens in the NFL without a QB.

Aikman was in his lap when he got to Dallas, but there’s no reason to trash the job Johnson did in order to defend a piece of crap adulterer and dictator like Jerry Jones who thinks he is better than everyone despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary

I watched Miami since the 90's.

Yes, Jimmy failed to bring them to the superbowl.
Yes, he couldn't replicate finding another Emmitt Smith in the draft.

When Shula was there, they let Marino run the offense. Johnson wanted a stronger run game and he clashed with Marino often. Yatil Green and John Avery as 1-2 misses at RB and WR hurt.
However, he did a great job building up the defense. Like you said, Dave had a great cast to work with on that side, but a mix of QB purgatory and still bad drafts doomed the Dolphins.

IIRC Johnson wanted to trade Marino, but he was a big name down here. And Marino was still a good QB but injuries were piling up and while he still had an arm he was a statue. And his last year coaching in Miami he was checked out after his mom died in December of 1998. He resigned in Spring of 1999, but was talked back into the 1999-2000 season.

 

[zrinkill]

Jimmy deserves a lot of the credit but he was no magician, he failed miserably in Miami, Dallas was a case of lightning in a bottle. A lot of what Jimmy did was contrary to how teams normally did stuff I would say the odds were higher that what he did would have set the team back decades if even a handful of things did not pan out.

Bull .........

 

[RodeoJake]

Give them 4 or 5 more years, and then you might be on to something.

 

[Diehardblues]

Jimmy has provided a path for Jethro . If not for that early success this fool would have been run out of town decades ago.

 

[RS12]

Been saying it since the millenium. Now?

 

[JW82]

Is there anyone left who isn't saying it was all Jimmy?

 

[zrinkill]

Is there anyone left who isn't saying it was all Jimmy?

A few lapdogs here and there

 

[Whirlwin]

Been saying it since the day the senile old man fired him.

I don’t know why people keep bringing up this fired baloney. It was mutual. It was more Jimmy than Jerry leaving.

 

[Whirlwin]

Is there anyone left who isn't saying it was all Jimmy?

Barry Switzer

 

[fivetwos]

Barry Switzer

That’s comedy, yes?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The Jones's have had three decades to make it far into the playoffs and win a 6th SB. They have failed at every turn. Cowboys fans had to wait 15 years between Coach Landry and HC Johnson to return to SB glory. I thought that was absurd, but now?

It's time to face the facts, the Jones's don't know how to win a SB. It was always Jimmy Johnson and until the Jones's admit that and change their ways, the Cowboys will always be "what was."

Who hired Jimmy?

 

[Creeper]

Yes, it was Jimmy Johnson. That was clear when Barry Switzer was the head coach.

 

[foofighters]

The Jones's have had three decades to make it far into the playoffs and win a 6th SB. They have failed at every turn. Cowboys fans had to wait 15 years between Coach Landry and HC Johnson to return to SB glory. I thought that was absurd, but now?

It's time to face the facts, the Jones's don't know how to win a SB. It was always Jimmy Johnson and until the Jones's admit that and change their ways, the Cowboys will always be "what was."

I know I am going to get flamed here because of how much everyone loves Jimmy here...and hold him close as well. BUT...that team had a great coach but also caught lightning in a bottle too. There is no doubt that Jimmy was a great coach for that team at that time. When he left and went to Miami, how did he do with free agency in place? He was not the sole reason. and no, I am not saying Jerry deserves more credit. I actually can't stand the guy and will not give him props. He's always meddled. That team just overcame it when the rest of his teams have not been able to.

 

[fivetwos]

...but only because Troy Aikman was in Jimmy Johnson's first draft class. Admittedly, it is nitpicking on my part but I would say an example like Michael Irvin [fell] in his lap since Irvin was drafted prior to Johnson's first season.

Not diminishing the job Jimmy did here, but the cupboard wasn’t quite as bare as 1-15 would suggest…..

Aikman
Irvin
Martin
Walker
Tuinei
Newton
Gogan
Jeffcoat
Hennings
Norton

Jimmy also made some draft mistakes, such as taking Steve Walsh in the sup draft because he wanted to hedge his bet on Aikman. Alex Wright, and some others…..BUT he also found some real gems that provided incredible depth, and most importantly….he made DAMN sure they didn’t choke in home playoff games with much at stake.

Jerry’s kids plan victory parties and/or Mexico vacations in advance of those. Neither is the reason for those losses, but it’s the difference in the overall mindset of the team.

Jimmy: “you have a lot of work to do and haven’t accomplished a thing yet…”

Jerry: “you already won the minute you got here…”

 

[Jarntt]

"Now"?

This ^

 

[Whirlwin]

...but only because Troy Aikman was in Jimmy Johnson's first draft class. Admittedly, it is nitpicking on my part but I would say an example like Michael Irvin [fell] in his lap since Irvin was drafted prior to Johnson's first season.

Did Jimmy want Walsh or somebody over Aman. That’s the past who cares , I’m glad somebody gave Landry some credit

 

[Whirlwin]

Not diminishing the job Jimmy did here, but the cupboard wasn’t quite as bare as 1-15 would suggest…..

Aikman
Irvin
Martin
Walker
Tuinei
Newton
Gogan
Jeffcoat
Hennings
Norton

Jimmy also made some draft mistakes, such as taking Steve Walsh in the sup draft because he wanted to hedge his bet on Aikman. Alex Wright, and some others…..BUT he also found some real gems that provided incredible depth, and most importantly….he made DAMN sure they didn’t choke in home playoff games with much at stake.

Jerry’s kids plan victory parties and/or Mexico vacations in advance of those. Neither is the reason for those losses, but it’s the difference in the overall mindset of the team.

Jimmy: “you have a lot of work to do and haven’t accomplished a thing yet…”

Jerry: “you already won the minute you got here…”

Gotta give Landry some credit here

 

[atlantacowboy]

I watched Miami since the 90's.

Yes, Jimmy failed to bring them to the superbowl.
Yes, he couldn't replicate finding another Emmitt Smith in the draft.

When Shula was there, they let Marino run the offense. Johnson wanted a stronger run game and he clashed with Marino often. Yatil Green and John Avery as 1-2 misses at RB and WR hurt.
However, he did a great job building up the defense. Like you said, Dave had a great cast to work with on that side, but a mix of QB purgatory and still bad drafts doomed the Dolphins.

IIRC Johnson wanted to trade Marino, but he was a big name down here. And Marino was still a good QB but injuries were piling up and while he still had an arm he was a statue. And his last year coaching in Miami he was checked out after his mom died in December of 1998. He resigned in Spring of 1999, but was talked back into the 1999-2000 season.

jimmy did not have the same deal in Miami. He had a GM in Miami whose loyalty was to Marino. Jimmy basically couldn't make the offensive changes he wanted to make b/c Marino ran that side of the ball and Jimmy couldn't get rid of him even as his play deteriorated with age. What Jimmy did do was build the top defensive unit in the league bc he had full control of the defense.

None of this has anything to do with Dallas. Jimmy's work in Dallas was recognized with a HOF jacket. It requires no defense. Had Jerry just been a normal owner who let the football people run the team, the Cowboy dynasty would have lasted at least 4-5 more years.