Jumbo, I can see the Showalter comparisons to Garrett...to a point. Garrett can be credited with bringing some stability and for establishing a culture that moved away from building around a roster loaded with older, high paid vets eating up almost all the cap space, to a younger, more talented roster overall.
No doubt in my mind Garrett helped improve the culture here. But like Showalter often did, I think Garrett’s effectiveness has reached its expiration date.
I also think unlike Showalter, who was known as a baseball tactician who stressed fundamentals, Garrett has never shown himself to be as strong a tactician in football as Showalter was in baseball.
Bottom line- What Jason Garrett had to offer the Cowboys is now at its natural end. Time for a new leader.
I didn't mean to imply it is a perfect example. No comparison is ever perfect. But prior to Garrett, the Jones family went along with Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells, but never actually bought into the philosophy of 1) building from the lines out, and 2) primarily building through the draft. Even with Johnson and Parcells, Jones made splash trades or signings, such as trading away Herschell Walker, or signing Terrell Owens. And other trades and signings like Deion Sanders, Joey Galloway, and Roy Williams showed that the Jones mindset was always going for the big splashy move in personnel decisions.
Garrett's first 1st round pick was an Olineman - something Jones had NEVER done prior to Garrett being Head Coach. And then 3 of his 1st four 1st round picks went for Olinemen. Garrett set about revamping aging Olines and Dlines as his first priority. Ater jettisoning Ware, Spears, Ratliff and Hatcher in 2013, he has spent 1st, 2nd or 3rd round picks on Dlinemen in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019. That has been a sea change in how the Jones' operate. Also, the big splashy free agent signings stopped after Garrett became the Head Coach. The players mimic Garrett's boring language, as do Jerry and Stephen, showing the influence Garrett has had on the culture.
When it comes to pure coaching, perhaps Showalter is a better game tactician; but I'd like to remind people that for the 6 years that Garrett was the OC, the Cowboys had top 10 offenses 4 times, and never once ranked below 13th in the league. So I think some people are too quick to dismiss Garrett's offensive prowess. The fact that he's moved into being a walk-around coach, and not a combo Coordinator/Head Coach doesn't mean he's lost any authority - although some who don't understand the value or importance of leadership think he does nothing, and is just a figurehead. That's simply ridiculous to me.
Garrett comes from a family of coaches, and does have good coaching ability. He just can't get over the hump to the championship level. I'm ready to give up on him if he doesn't somehow break-through this year. And by break-through, it's Super Bowl or bust for me as far as Garrett goes. In my mind, not even a NFCCG appearance should save his job. If he doesn't at least make the Super Bowl, I'm ready for new blood. But at the same time, I acknowledge the good things he has done for the organization. I don't understand the demand to utterly reject the good he's done. You can STILL fire him and move on, even while acknowledging he's done some good things along the way. It's not necessary to HATE the guy. Garrett's ONLY losing season in 9 years as a HC was in 2015.
Showalter may not be a perfect example. He's just the guy I think of when I think, "good coach, but not a champion."