DMN Blog: Bradie James likes what he's seen and heard from Wade Phillips lately

[WoodysGirl]

10:13 AM Fri, Jul 10, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Bradie James isn't a guy who blows smoke up the coach's caboose just for the sake of doing so.

You might recall that James expressed skepticism after hearing that Wade Phillips declared he would change his ways. And James criticized the canning of Brian Stewart, saying that "the defensive coordinator wasn't the problem."

But James sounds like a believer after an off-season of working with Phillips as the head coach/defensive coordinator (titles not necessarily in that order).

"Wade is different," James said on ESPN 103.3 yesterday. "Wade is really different, man."

It's not that Phillips' personality has done a 180 while he implements the Get Tough Plan. Phillips hasn't been put in a situation that called for butt kicking yet, though James acknowledged that the coach would need to put his foot down (or up, as the case may be) when a player is late or violates a team rule to make his clear that the discipline talk isn't lip service.

James is already sold on Phillips filling the defensive coordinator role.

"This is the most I've ever talked to Wade Phillips," he said. "For whatever reason, he sits in our meeting room and this is his defense. I've learned so much in the last couple of weeks, just dealing with him during minicamps and OTAs.

"I think I've gained a whole new appreciation for him and the scheme, because there's no middleman now. When you had a defensive coordinator, you had Brian Stewart, so you had to go through him and you don't know how Wade is feeling. You've just got to take him for his word. Now you don't have that. You go straight to the horse's mouth, and he makes the change right here on the field and it stays that way. There's no uncertainty."


Comments (6) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[CIWhitefish]

Maybe, just maybe mind you, the ambiguity on who was calling the shots that seemed to surround the team wasn't because of Wade but because of those around him. Still reflects on him but is interesting none the less.

 

[jzcowboy]

Interesting.. but our team won't be better than last year if they question the coaches like they did. The player is the player and the coach is the coach, and when a coach says jump you don't even ask how high, you just jump with all of your ability - immediately. Its nice that the players might respect Wade more this year, but there's no need to "have to hear it from the horse's mouth". If a coach tells you do something, then dog nab it, YOU DO IT!!

 

[DallasEast]

There will be an extremely high expectation on the defense this year. Phillips' key coaching strength has always been centered on defense and now he has taken full control of it. With the additional personnel added to the secondary and linebacker corps, there should be a fairly reliable rotation for the unit to stay fresh all game long. This may be his first season in Dallas where he will be able to implement his entire defensive scheme from game one. That in itself should have more than a positive effect on the overall team identity for '09.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Maybe, just maybe mind you, the ambiguity on who was calling the shots that seemed to surround the team wasn't because of Wade but because of those around him. Still reflects on him but is interesting none the less.

I just think Stewart was in over his head. I always liked him in interviews -- he seemed like a smart, earnest guy -- but whether he was too young or tried to be too much of a bad *** or whatever it was, he just didn't have it when it came to running the D.

IMO Wade tried to give Stewart all the latitude to run things, because that's how he was treated as a young coordinator and it's the way things are generally done in the league. You don't hire a guy that you think can do the job and then basically neuter him by not letting him do anything of substance. But it just turned out that Stewart wasn't a great DC... At least not yet.

BTW, MacMahon didn't quote it here and I'm not sure if it was part of DC's audio capture, but they asked if new wrinkles were added and Bradie said yes. You could tell he didn't want to go into any detail (good job, Bradie) but it sounds like we're going to be even more aggressive this year and throw some new looks at teams.

 

[ddh33]

I really appreciate Bradie James. I hope everyone does.

And I think Wade coaching this defense is a huge improvment. Funny how all the players can feel it too.

 

[Achozen]

I like what Bradie James is smelling...

 

[Temo]

I just think Stewart was in over his head. I always liked him in interviews -- he seemed like a smart, earnest guy -- but whether he was too young or tried to be too much of a bad *** or whatever it was, he just didn't have it when it came to running the D.

IMO Wade tried to give Stewart all the latitude to run things, because that's how he was treated as a young coordinator and it's the way things are generally done in the league. You don't hire a guy that you think can do the job and then basically neuter him by not letting him do anything of substance. But it just turned out that Stewart wasn't a great DC... At least not yet.

BTW, MacMahon didn't quote it here and I'm not sure if it was part of DC's audio capture, but they asked if new wrinkles were added and Bradie said yes. You could tell he didn't want to go into any detail (good job, Bradie) but it sounds like we're going to be even more aggressive this year and throw some new looks at teams.

I don't know if it's "generally" done around the league. I think if you're a defensive guy, you handle your own defense.

Do you think Bill Belichick would let somone else run his defense? I could imagine him giving Charlie Weis or Josh McDaniels handle some offensive stuff, but that defense is all his.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I don't know if it's "generally" done around the league. I think if you're a defensive guy, you handle your own defense.

Do you think Bill Belichick would let somone else run his defense? I could imagine him giving Charlie Weis or Josh McDaniels handle some offensive stuff, but that defense is all his.

He did when Romeo Crennel was the DC under him.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

This might yet save Wade's job: approval from Bradie James.
If Bradie says it's so, I believe him.

 

[Bleu Star]

I really appreciate Bradie James. I hope everyone does.

And I think Wade coaching this defense is a huge improvment. Funny how all the players can feel it too.

I love me some Bradie now. He reinvented himself a couple of years ago after losing that weight. I also like what he has to say about Wade because I remember his skepticism on the tail end of that end of season *** whipping we took. The proof will be in the pudding. The regular season pudding...

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I love me some Bradie now.

Same here. I've bashed him pretty good in the past for his interviews, but he was great yesterday for two full hours when just one wrong answer on a dicey subject could have blown up into another national story. He handled it great and I'm very proud of him.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Bradie James and D-Ware need to take this defense by the horns and get them ready to dominate!

 

[5Stars]

Good...! I hope he learned that this is the Dallas Cowboys!

Or, maybe Jerry Jones should fine him a hundred bones...

I'm still mad over that stuff...



However, when everyone does not have to "walk on eggshells" (or popcorn)...maybe he can focus and understand....DALLAS COWBOYS! Not the Houston Texans!!





Ok...I'm done complaining...show me da money!

 

[NextGenBoys]

A strong defense, and a good, balanced, efficient offense with tons of versitility.

I REALLY like the direction we're headed in.

12-4

 

[5Stars]

A strong defense, and a good, balanced, efficient offense with tons of versitility.

I REALLY like the direction we're headed in.

12-4

The Cowboys go 15 - 1 (they lose to Buffalo)...WHAT?





:

 

[DallasEast]

The Cowboys go 15 - 1 (they lose to Buffalo)...WHAT?





:

...and the Bills will go 1-15.

Coincidence?

I think not.

 

[5Stars]

...and the Bills will go 1-15.

Coincidence?

I think not.

:laugh2:


A conspiracy against my man...


What was his name?

 

[DallasEast]

:laugh2:


A conspiracy against my man...


What was his name?

Something along the lines of oh... oak... oat... O.T.... OVERTIME! That's it! That was his name.

Man, did he ever hate him some him, huh?

 

[5Stars]

Something along the lines of oh... oak... oat... O.T.... OVERTIME! That's it! That was his name.

Man, did he ever hate him some him, huh?

I think Romo hated himself more when he bumbled that hold in Seattle.

:bang2:


What a loser...