Dallas Cowboys hire Scott Linehan

[casmith07]

This is purely speculation, but if we had interest in bringing Ken Norton, Jr over as DC (and he is overdue), I do not think Pete Carroll would deny him that opportunity. They are very close (not speculation) and Pete would not stand in the way of Ken getting his first DC gig.

My concern was that Cleveland or someone would hire Seattle's DC and then they would promote Ken themselves.

It's speculation, but I think you're on to something.

 

[Nova]

I think we are building a foundation. Ware is getting older. The "old guard" 3-4 players were shifting out...the defense is rebuilding, whether people want to admit it or not.

Rebuilding and building a foundation are two different things.

You can rebuild aimlessly, which seems to be what we're doing, and hope it comes together eventually. Or you can invest in a defensive coordinator whose approach you like and work out the kinks.

I mean, if we were really building a foundation, would we start with a guy who turns 74 next year? One of the biggest reasons he was brought on was because it was easier to plug anyone into his defense. Why is that important? Because of our injury riddled season combined with our depth issues. Meaning...? We were looking for someone who could come in right away an succeed where Rob "failed" (in Jerry's mind). Someone who could cover up the problems we already had.

But that forgot the idea and blatant fact that we weren't well equipped even on the starter level. I mean, that's why Wade's simpler defense faltered. Our guys could not just go head up and beat their counterparts. So we brought in Ryan to help mask our deficiencies and then claimed his schemes were "fundamentally unsound". Well, of course they were. He was handicapped from the get-go and and then suffered a rash of injuries. So naturally we let him go to bring in someone who had a simpler scheme, I guess completely forgetting why Wade's defense failed.

Kiffin's scheme only exacerbated the problem.

In short, we always knew what the problem was: The personnel.

It is and always has been the problem. And two years simply isn't enough time to overcome that. For Rob or for Kiffin.

So why, oh why, would we start building a foundation with a guy who is turning 74 next month?

Because we're not.

If we were. We would've let Rob continue to build the defense in the way that he wanted it (because we knew he didn't have the personnel), but we didn't. We tried to bring someone in who would do a better job immediately.

 

[jazzcat22]

Just surprising that such an offensive genius like Garrett needs so much help with the actual Offense.

If I was Linehan I would rent (not buy) a house in the Dallas area.

It's called being a HC.....

 

[Nova]

Back on topic a bit, anyone know if Linehan will be using Garrett's playbook?

 

[Idgit]

I get that our schemes started from a similar place, but do you really think that 1), we want Seattle's linebacker coach or whoever to be our DC, and 2) even if we did, they'd let him go? It doesn't add up.

I think it's highly unlikely. I think we're probably rolling with what we've got next season. But I do think that, if we make a change at all to the defensive staff, it'd probably be somebody from the SEA staff.

I don't see why they necessarily would not let a guy go for a career advancement. They might well choose not to, but teams often do it, and if Kiffin had good relationships with the staff there stemming from this time as a consultant, I can see them working something out. It may not even be a coordinator-level move.

 

[casmith07]

Rebuilding and building a foundation are two different things.

You can rebuild aimlessly, which seems to be what we're doing, and hope it comes together eventually. Or you can invest in a defensive coordinator whose approach you like and work out the kinks.

I mean, if we were really building a foundation, would we start with a guy who turns 74 next year? One of the biggest reasons he was brought on was because it was easier to plug anyone into his defense. Why is that important? Because of our injury riddled season combined with our depth issues. Meaning...? We were looking for someone who could come in right away an succeed where Rob "failed" (in Jerry's mind). Someone who could cover up the problems we already had.

But that forgot the idea and blatant fact that we weren't well equipped even on the starter level. I mean, that's why Wade's simpler defense faltered. Our guys could not just go head up and beat their counterparts. So we brought in Ryan to help mask our deficiencies and then claimed his schemes were "fundamentally unsound". Well, of course they were. He was handicapped from the get-go and and then suffered a rash of injuries. So naturally we let him go to bring in someone who had a simpler scheme, I guess completely forgetting why Wade's defense failed.

Kiffin's scheme only exacerbated the problem.

In short, we always knew what the problem was: The personnel.

It is and always has been the problem. And two years simply isn't enough time to overcome that. For Rob or for Kiffin.

So why, oh why, would we start building a foundation with a guy who is turning 74 next month?

Because we're not.

If we were. We would've let Rob continue to build the defense in the way that he wanted it (because we knew he didn't have the personnel), but we didn't. We tried to bring someone in who would do a better job immediately.

I don't agree.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Chris, Norton is the one person who might make sense with the Glory Days ties... But then you have the complication of Marinelli's loyalty to Kiffin.

Marinelli and Carroll are bot admitted Kiffin disciples..Ken has always been under Carroll's defense so I don't think it would be that big of an issue. Also, have a feeling that if they were to bring in a DC, Kiffin will spend his last year as a Defensive Consultant.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Well, if I'm Jerry, I might well get a message to Ken to wait one more year until I clean house. That would be better than coming in 10 months before the whole staff gets fired.

 

[Nova]

I don't agree.

That's fine.

I may be just be a jaded fan, who knows at this point?

But what makes you think differently? What makes you think we're going to stick with Kiffin until this thing is fixed or it's overwhelmingly apparent he's not the man for the job?

 

[Nova]

Well, if I'm Jerry, I might well get a message to Ken to wait one more year until I clean house. That would be better than coming in 10 months before the whole staff gets fired.

I'd like to have him, but I dislike the idea of Jerry hiring a DC rather than letting his new HC pick who he really wants.


But who am I kidding? That's likely what will happen.

 

[CyberB0b]

Back on topic a bit, anyone know if Linehan will be using Garrett's playbook?

No one even knows who hired him, much less what playbook he is going to use.

 

[Nova]

No one even knows who hired him, much less what playbook he is going to use.

True.

I think either way though, it's interesting. The article comments on how Callahan struggled a bit with Garrett's concepts in the playbook... maybe Linehan would do better in that regard because of their history in Miami?

Or maybe Linehan will get to design some of his own plays and we'll see a higher percentage of innovative play-calls.

 

[casmith07]

That's fine.

I may be just be a jaded fan, who knows at this point?

But what makes you think differently? What makes you think we're going to stick with Kiffin until this thing is fixed or it's overwhelmingly apparent he's not the man for the job?

Both of the criteria you listed are extremes and I don't subscribe to extremes.

I think that, given what actually happened -- a rash of injuries, installation of a new system, a lack of proper personnel -- he's going to be given an opportunity through this year's off-season to right the defensive ship and set it on a path that trends upward. If he does, he'll stay. If he doesn't I think they'll look elsewhere.

I also am not one that thinks just because he has a job today doesn't mean he will still have a job tomorrow. The hiring of Scott Linehan is proof positive of that concept.

 

[CyberB0b]

True.

I think either way though, it's interesting. The article comments on how Callahan struggled a bit with Garrett's concepts in the playbook... maybe Linehan would do better in that regard because of their history in Miami?

Or maybe Linehan will get to design some of his own plays and we'll see a higher percentage of innovative play-calls.

Callahan didn't struggle. He was very efficient and had us in the top 5 in most categories that count. The only real struggle was playing without a defense.

 

[50cent]

Yards per attempt is on the QB. I think this has to do with his notable lack of arm strength, probably due to the injury. Who cares about yards? I care about scoring efficiency, and were good at scoring, with no defense. Granted, it wasn't perfect. 3rd down conversions were terrible, but they guy only had 1 year and he produced.

I think the OCs route tree had something to do with the yards per att too. too many stalled drives at crucial points in games with no reason for certain play calls. Lack of a commitment to the run. there were several other things that were ugly with Callahan calling plays. I'm glad that experiment is over

 

[Nova]

Callahan didn't struggle. He was very efficient and had us in the top 5 in most categories that count. The only real struggle was playing without a defense.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Callahan did a terrible job, just repeating what the article states.

Callahan, who has run the West Coast offense in the past, was making adjustments to calling plays in a timing-based offense, which is something the Cowboys have employed since 2007.

Callahan had his struggles gaining the concepts with the offense, even delaying his vacation last year so he could make sure he had a command of things. Callahan had to not only deal with an offense he wasn't familiar with, but the increased involvement of Romo, who became more active in game planning in 2013.

 

[Nova]

Both of the criteria you listed are extremes and I don't subscribe to extremes.

I think that, given what actually happened -- a rash of injuries, installation of a new system, a lack of proper personnel -- he's going to be given an opportunity through this year's off-season to right the defensive ship and set it on a path that trends upward. If he does, he'll stay. If he doesn't I think they'll look elsewhere.

I also am not one that thinks just because he has a job today doesn't mean he will still have a job tomorrow. The hiring of Scott Linehan is proof positive of that concept.

How so?

If a team is building a foundation, there are no other options.

You either know he's the man that you want to help build a foundation or you know that he is not.

 

[Idgit]

Marinelli and Carroll are bot admitted Kiffin disciples..Ken has always been under Carroll's defense so I don't think it would be that big of an issue. Also, have a feeling that if they were to bring in a DC, Kiffin will spend his last year as a Defensive Consultant.

This is the kind of move that actually makes sense. Letting Kiffin be the training wheels to a young disciple who grew up in his system and who's got ties to Carroll. Have Marinelli stay around one more year before Kiffin retires and Marinelli joins Lovie, or elects to stay in Dallas if he likes the gig enough. I could see it.

 

[DCBoysfan]

They need to fire Callahan… There are too many cooks in the kitchen.

I Callahan is going back to the Oline.

 

[DenCWBY]

another nail in the gingers coffin.

Nope just another "professor" hired by Dean JJ to teach JG throughout his training tenure here at valley ranch coaching college.