ESPN MacMahon: Coaches should start telling it like it is

[WoodysGirl]

Coaches should start telling it like it is
October 20, 2009, 8:17 AM

By: Tim MacMahon


I'm willing to wager that the Dallas Cowboys use a three-receiver set for their first offensive snap Sunday. That way they can say that Patrick Crayton is still a starter.

Silly? Sure. But this coaching staff goes to great lengths to avoid hurting players' feelings by demoting them.

Coaches declined to confirm that Miles Austin has replaced Crayton in the starting lineup, although it's been obvious that would happen since Wade Phillips said Austin would play "fifty-something" snaps per game after his 250-yard, two-TD breakout performance against Kansas City. Those numbers, by the way, exceed Crayton's production through five games this season.

With Roy Williams earning $9 million per year to be a No. 1 receiver, it's been clear that Crayton would be demoted to the No. 3 receiver, which is what happened during Monday's practice.

Just don't count on hearing that from any of the coaches.

This is the same kid-gloves treatment that Phillips' staff gave Greg Ellis last season. Anthony Spencer had clearly established himself as the superior defender against the run, earning the vast majority of reps on first and second downs. But Ellis still started every game, a tribute that certainly didn't keep him from grumbling. Crayton speaks his mind as much as Ellis, but he's keeping his mouth shut at the moment.

They did the same sort of thing at tailback in 2007. Marion Barber made the Pro Bowl as a backup to Julius Jones, who remained a starter to massage his ego. Barber was finally elevated into the starting lineup for the playoffs.

The players aren't fooled by the games that coaches play when a backup bumps a starter down the depth chart. Neither are the fans. It all just furthers the perception that Phillips is too soft to be a head coach who can sustain success.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Awww damn not this again. Now the local media is going the Werder route.

 

[Vertigo_17]

sad, but some truth to this

 

[baj1dallas]

Maybe it's not just not hurting feelings, but keeping Austin humble too. Anyway, what freaking difference does it make? Just shut up about your stupid drama and talk about that dang game McMahon!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

This is such BS. McMahon is on GAC right now boo-hooing for Crayton on this same topic. "Oh, Patrick busts his butt! He deserves an explanation of what's going on! This shows the coaches are weak!"

Remember when Parcells was here? Eb Ekuban got to the field and found out he wasn't even active for the game because his locker was empty. That was it, no explanation of anything. And the media loved stories like that.

But now poor Crayton needs to be coddled when he gets benched.

 

[bootyhunta]

This whole who's starting, who isn't starting is more important to the writers than it is to the players...

Maybe Crayton won't be on the field for the very first play and maybe he will lose some plays to Austin, but it's not like he'll be de-activated on game-day. Crayton will on the field for his fair share of plays and all he has to do is make the most of his opportunities. He didn't make the most of his opportunities vs K.C. and that's why he is where he is this week.

I wouldn't be too hard on the "Unreadable" Tim MacMahon... he now works for ESPN, so he is mandated to tow the company line (aka Werder's story).

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

ironically this article I did not mind...it was filled with facts and to the point. That article by Werder suggesting Crayton should start ahead of Roy Williams is proof of how closely tied his football IQ is to mental retardation.

 

[Trendnet]

So the new Cowboys meme from 'journalists', is that the Cowboys coaches are soft by not declaring who the starter is to the media?

 

[21Savage]

ironically this article I did not mind...it was filled with facts and to the point. That article by Werder suggesting Crayton should start ahead of Roy Williams is proof of how closely tied his football IQ is to mental retardation.

I'm totally with you! Especially the Spencer/Ellis situation last year when Spencer had proved to be the better run/coverage player and played all the 1st and 2nd downs in the game except the 1st series just so Ellis can be announced the starter. Then Ellis turns around and still *****es.

The Werder article on the other hand was just so stupid you'd have to wonder what goes through that idiot's head sometimes.

 

[DallasEast]

As unfair as it may seem to Mr. MacMahon, coaches don't have to tell anyone squat about their plans. Now, that doesn't mean that supposed journalists can't dig for the answers themselves...

Perhaps they could convince a coach to convey something tangible to print, but does a coach have to volunteer information they would rather not say openly on a silver platter? Of course not.

Instead of publicly complaining about what it looks like to you or anyone else, try finding out the facts which will answer your own questions first.

 

[Hypnotoad]

my job is too hard i actually have to do some research

wah wah wah

 

[DallasEast]

my job is too hard i actually have to do some research

wah wah wah

:clap2:

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Wade just said in no uncertain terms, "Miles is starting."

But he says with Roy still banged up (he was very sore after practice early in the week) they don't know for sure that Crayton won't start with him this week. It depends on if Roy is healthy or not.

But MacMahon is still pestering Wade about if Crayton deserved a talk about it.

This local media just goes deeper into the sewer. I can't believe I thought this ESPN Dallas had actually gotten off to a good start.

 

[Idgit]

Virtual cookie for the first person who can find a MacMahon article questioning Spencer's ability to replace Ellis in the starting lineup to offset the *****-footing-around-Ellis-as-starter take in the current article.

 

[craig71]

Some of these articles are just useless,for example,if a member of the coaching staff were to go to the press and call out a player the press(Werder,MacMahon) would crucify the coach for doing it.The press would say that the issue should've stayed behind closed doors and you have alienated the player by calling him out.Point is,whatever decision a coach in Dallas makes will be ridiculed by Werder,MacMahon and the like.I'm not advocating that they sugar coat their stories,but their articles appear to be somewhat subjective at times.

Craig