DMN:Moore: Jason Garrett lets Cowboys know he's not playing around

[Arch Stanton]

Moore: Jason Garrett lets Cowboys know he's not playing around
12:36 AM CST on Thursday, November 11, 2010

COLUMN By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@***BANNED-URL***

David Moore
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IRVING – The players didn't have to wait for the first practice under Jason Garrett to realize a difference.

"Let's get moving," Garrett barked as the horn sounded and a group of players sauntered over to stretch. "We're not walking. We're not walking."

The first hint that the head coach is serious when he talks about structure and accountability didn't come earlier in the day at the 8:15 team meeting.

The doors to that meeting, by the way, closed at 8:13 a.m.

No, the Cowboys had a pretty good idea on Tuesday's day off that it would not be business as usual at Valley Ranch. That's when several of them received texts to be at the facility on Wednesday by 6:30 a.m. for a 7 o'clock meeting.

What words come to mind to describe Garrett?

"I don't know if I can say it," receiver Roy Williams responded. "Hard-***. Hard-butt.

"And I like it."

Subtle and significant changes were evident Wednesday as the players returned to work for the first time since the dismissal of Wade Phillips. Garrett set the tone for this 1-7 team and let everyone know what is expected over the final eight weeks of the regular season.

Players practiced in full pads for the first time since training camp. They are expected to run from one drill to the next, not walk or jog. Defensive end Stephen Bowen noted none of the players had time to sit on the water cooler during practice as they have in the past.

There were no card games during the team's afternoon break, no domino marathons as there have been all season.

"For me, it was good just the way he came in there and took charge," linebacker Anthony Spencer said. "The things he was saying, the things he wants to get done. He got straight to the point.

"That's definitely what we need now."

Phillips is more conversational and often relied on relationships to make his point. Garrett's approach is more business-like. That came across as he outlined his plan in the team meeting.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins brought a notebook to the meeting for the first time since his rookie season to take down what Garrett had to say.

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[rysko]

It would be really awesome if the Cowboys rallied behind Garrett, and actuallly stared to try out there.would be real straight. I haven't been a fan of JG from the get go, but maybe things will change around here. Hopefully Jerry Jones just decided to hand over the keys to JG for the rest of the season to see what he actually is made of.

 

[Hoofbite]

I don't get it.

It's hard to say that Garrett is really that "good" because we haven't seen the product.

But I mean, everything you read about the lackluster effort in practice, no full pads and no real attention to detail makes you wonder how this team ever did anything with such a pathetic mindset leading the way.

Garrett may turn out to be that good. That remains to be seen but holy hell was Wade ever bad.

 

[fffiasco]

i will be happy with a solid effort against the giants.

 

[Clove]

Once again, I'm a guy who's never really believed in Jason Garrett, but I like how he's handled things up till this point, I like that he's taking charge and putting structure out there.

I just hope that his offensive philosophy changes now that he's the man.

 

[realtick]

I don't get it.

It's hard to say that Garrett is really that "good" because we haven't seen the product.

But I mean, everything you read about the lackluster effort in practice, no full pads and no real attention to detail makes you wonder how this team ever did anything with such a pathetic mindset leading the way.

Garrett may turn out to be that good. That remains to be seen but holy hell was Wade ever bad.

That's exactly how I read it too. It's almost like Garrett had a clear idea of what he would change if he were to have the opportunity, the second he does he goes right into implementing it.

That's very telling of what kind of ship Wade was running.

 

[Ren]

Hearing about the changes he's bringing makes me wonder what the hell this team was doing for 4 years under Wade.

I haven't been the biggest Garrett supporter, but listening to the guy talk and saying what this team needs to do is changing my opinion of him fast, he might be in a no win situation here which is kinda sad cause at least from what he saying he seems to have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done here.

Maybe Hos was right about this guy

 

[jswalker1981]

Cornerback Mike Jenkins brought a notebook to the meeting for the first time since his rookie season to take down what Garrett had to say.

If I was Garrett, and I saw he had a notebook, I would have said: "The first thing I want to stress is TACKLING.....you getting this Mike?"

 

[CCBoy]

Hearing about the changes he's bringing makes me wonder what the hell this team was doing for 4 years under Wade.

I haven't been the biggest Garrett supporter, but listening to the guy talk and saying what this team needs to do is changing my opinion of him fast, he might be in a no win situation here which is kinda sad cause at least from what he saying he seems to have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done here.

Maybe Hos was right about this guy

Jason Garrett's interviews over the past three seasons have organized and focused his view of organizational requirements. His experiences helps a lot in applications of those principals as well. He came up himself, in a Dallas and then New York location that stressed intensity, commitment, and above all, execution. It was all held together will good old fashioned practice and sweat. He has a very good base, and is a smart man as well. Does that equate a future Vince Lombardi, or Tom Landry? Today, probably not, but that expectations doesn't diminish hopes that he at least will be a good coach now.

 

[kevinhickey]

Garrett is going to need a lot of help to get some wins in the next few weeks. We don't have a starting QB. Marcus Spears is out. The Offensive Line is really bad. For me, all I want to see is Effort; I don't care if we lose at this point.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I wish Garrett was our head coach going into training camp. I really doubt we would be 1-7 right now.

 

[TheCount]

Like I said, he's talked the talk, time to walk. Let's see if the results are different going forward.

 

[zrinkill]

Like I said, he's talked the talk, time to walk.

Actually he has 3 more days till he can walk ..... I wanna listen to more of his talk till that time.

 

[dbair1967]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I wish Garrett was our head coach going into training camp. I really doubt we would be 1-7 right now.

Thats my hope, that we all wake up and see after these next 8 weeks that this is absolutely true.

I'm really pulling for him. I hope he's the long term answer.

 

[TonyS]

Players practiced in full pads for the first time since training camp. They are expected to run from one drill to the next, not walk or jog. Defensive end Stephen Bowen noted none of the players had time to sit on the water cooler during practice as they have in the past.

Is this normal for players to not practice in full pads during the regular season or is this a coach (Wade) losing all semblance of what it means to be a player in the NFL?

Goodbye coach Puff-n-stuff!

 

[Oh_Canada]

I don't get it.

It's hard to say that Garrett is really that "good" because we haven't seen the product.

But I mean, everything you read about the lackluster effort in practice, no full pads and no real attention to detail makes you wonder how this team ever did anything with such a pathetic mindset leading the way.

Garrett may turn out to be that good. That remains to be seen but holy hell was Wade ever bad.

Bingo....I just can't believe it took this long for the team to implode.

 

[dmq]

I can't believe how quickly the locker room culture changed after BP left. What a joke and I blame the owner.

 

[Kangaroo]

I don't get it.

It's hard to say that Garrett is really that "good" because we haven't seen the product.

But I mean, everything you read about the lackluster effort in practice, no full pads and no real attention to detail makes you wonder how this team ever did anything with such a pathetic mindset leading the way.

Garrett may turn out to be that good. That remains to be seen but holy hell was Wade ever bad.

Which is what he did at his last two spots Buffalo and Denver and interim in Atlanta. Which is why everything slips and most likely why the offense started to struggle and make mistakes and could not score.

That is why I did not want him hired in the first place; I was dead set against him or norv!

Which is why 44-6 happened and what we saw was the slow trickle and then the full on meltdown that never happened in Denver or Buffalo because they ran him out of town before season 4

 

[Concord]

I don't get it.

It's hard to say that Garrett is really that "good" because we haven't seen the product.

But I mean, everything you read about the lackluster effort in practice, no full pads and no real attention to detail makes you wonder how this team ever did anything with such a pathetic mindset leading the way.

Garrett may turn out to be that good. That remains to be seen but holy hell was Wade ever bad.

That's what I was thinking when I read that.

Camp Cupcake was obviously the truth.

Ridiculous.

Pathetic.

I'm sooo happy he's gone.

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

Damn...and I used to think the whole "cupcake" thing was overblown... It's amazing the team was able to perform at a high level the past couple of years if practices were run as casually as it seems.