Just imagine if we had a real OL Coach...

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Just immagine if we had a real OL Coach who could actually develop young players like Tucker and Peterman, and even Gurode who was switched back to Center.

Instead, what we have is a long-time TE's coach turned first-year OL coach and two things have happened: (1) None of our OL backups have developed worth a lick and (2) the solution to improving OL blocking is to use the TEs. Sounds like a solution only a TE coach would brilliantly dream up.

**

 

[InDakWeTrust]

No one and I mean no one responded to my rant about this same issue after the MNF Eagle game. Teams have figured us out. If we win in KC or Carolina it will be our defense shining not the passing or running game.

 

[Eddie]

Hudson Houck is doing wonders for LT in SD.

If I remember correctly, we won our first of three Super Bowls with a 12th round Landry holdover at LT, an overweight FA no one wanted at OG, a 2nd year Center, and two other players no one else wanted.

BP's had three years to build this OL. It's worse than it was in 2002.

 

[junk]

Hudson Houck is doing wonders for LT in SD.

If I remember correctly, we won our first of three Super Bowls with a 12th round Landry holdover at LT, an overweight FA no one wanted at OG, a 2nd year Center, and two other players no one else wanted.

BP's had three years to build this OL. It's worse than it was in 2002.

Houck isn't in SD anymore, he is in Miami.

But I agree, Sparano doesn't impress me a bit.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

No one and I mean no one responded to my rant about this same issue after the MNF Eagle game. Teams have figured us out. If we win in KC or Carolina it will be our defense shining not the passing or running game.

I had actrually started a thread about this very issue before the season, right after Parcells named our former TE's coach as the OL coach. I voiced concerns then about his ability - and potentially lack there of - to develop our OL, especially the backups. I voiced concern gven our lack of depth behing the starters and those are becoming reality right now.

In today's press conference Parcells said that the OL is simply not executing. Well, that falls directly on coaching. What's worse is that younger, less experienced, players like Tucker and Pettiti are getting worse with each passing game. This is also indicative of poor coaching.

**

 

[InDakWeTrust]

I had actrually started a thread about this very issue before the season, right after Parcells named our former TE's coach as the OL coach. I voiced concerns then about his ability - and potentially lack there of - to develop our OL, especially the backups. I voiced concern gven our lack of depth behing the starters and those are becoming reality right now.

In today's press conference Parcells said that the OL is simply not executing. Well, that falls directly on coaching. hat's worse is that younger, less experienced, players like Tucker and Pettiti are getting worse with each passing game. This is also indicative of poor coaching.

**

What is the biggest difference since last year on the Oline? Coaching and talent. I can't even remember who our Oline coach was last year but obviously he did much better with much less. Although we still dont have Flo, why weren't we dominating during the games when we had him? Rivera is playing worse than Gurode from last year, and Pettiti is playing worse than Vollers. Hopefully Johnson is simply having a "sophmore" slump.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

What is the biggest difference since last year on the Oline? Coaching and talent. I can't even remember who our Oline coach was last year but obviously he did much better with much less. Although we still dont have Flo, why weren't we dominating during the games when we had him? Rivera is playing worse than Gurode from last year, and Pettiti is playing worse than Vollers. Hopefully Johnson is simply having a "sophmore" slump.

I agree. I see our OL getting worse and worse as a unit with every passing game lately. Part of me fells like it's time for the OL to take the gloves off and play some nasty football. The other part of me feels they have no fighting chance if they do. And that's because they look so unprepared and poorly coached. After all, when Parcells says they can do much better (because the talent is there) and the real problem is bad execution, then isn't he saying beteen the lines that the OL coach - who's job it is to make sure the execution lives up to the talent level - is simply not getting it done?

**

 

[Mattsdad]

I dont believe Parcells thinks he needs a real 'name' for an OL coach; IMO, he believes himself to be a very good talent evaluator and coach of linemen.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Hudson Houck is doing wonders for LT in SD.

If I remember correctly, we won our first of three Super Bowls with a 12th round Landry holdover at LT, an overweight FA no one wanted at OG, a 2nd year Center, and two other players no one else wanted.

BP's had three years to build this OL. It's worse than it was in 2002.

Wasn't Tui an undrafted DT turned OT?

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I dont believe Parcells thinks he needs a real 'name' for an OL coach; IMO, he believes himself to be a very good talent evaluator and coach of linemen.

I'm not advocating bringing in a "name" coach. I'm advocating bringing in a coach who knows how to coach the OL. Our current OL coach is a first-year OL coach who formerly coached TEs and has no previous OL coaching experience.

We knew going into this season that we had questions on the OL. We also knew we had a lot of young players who needed further development (players such as Tucker, Gurode, Peterman, Johnson, and yes, even Rodgers who was still here when the TE coach was named OL coach).

How can you (Parcells) leave such a glaring need to develop young players to a frst-time OL coach? Yes, Parcells is a good talenmt evaluator and can coach linemen, but we CAN'T say the same for our OL coach. In Sunday's game, on the first play of the second half, the line left defenders unblocked to coase a fumble and score a TD. This happened because Gurode missed an easy OL blocking call. He missed it because he was unprepared. It's his OL coach's job to make sure he's prepared and not miss such a fundamental blocking call.

**

 

[Yeagermeister]

Parcells needs to blow pretty much the entire staff. I can't think of one coach off the top of my head that deserves to return.

 

[Vertigo_17]

Parcells needs to blow pretty much the entire staff. I can't think of one coach off the top of my head that deserves to return.

including anyone on the D? I'm not a Zimmer fan, but I have to admit that the Defensive coaches seem to be doing pretty well this year with a bunch of rookies.

on the O - fire them all

 

[Yeagermeister]

including anyone on the D? I'm not a Zimmer fan, but I have to admit that the Defensive coaches seem to be doing pretty well this year with a bunch of rookies.

on the O - fire them all

I agree on the offensive side but on the defense I'd start with Zimmer. We need a real 3-4 DC or someone who can teach them how to blitz.

 

[wileedog]

Parcells needs to blow pretty much the entire staff. I can't think of one coach off the top of my head that deserves to return.

I think Bowles has done a pretty good job with the secondary.

Kickers aside, special teams hasn't sucked.

I wouln't give Zimmer a raise, but I wouldn't fire him just yet either. He's done a good job considering he's never coached a 3-4 before.

That being said we are probably the most unimaginative and unproductive blitzing team in the league - but I don't know how much of that is Zimmer directly and how much is trying not to cross up the young guys.

 

[WoodysGirl]

According to his bio on dc.com he does have previous OL coaching experience as well as HC experience.

Under Sparano's guidance, second-year tight end Jason Witten flourished into a Pro Bowl talent while enjoying a record breaking season in 2004. Witten established Cowboys records for receptions (87) and receiving yards (980) by a tight end while finishing the year second in the NFL in receptions among tight ends and second in the NFL in receiving yardage for tight ends. The season ending injury to Dan Campbell in Week Three forced Witten's acceleration into the spotlight, and also forced Sparano to develop depth with youngsters Brett Pierce and Sean Ryan.

In 2003, Sparano's first season in Dallas, the Cowboys tight end corps became a dependable weapon in the team's running and passing games - helping the club improve from the 30th ranked offense in 2002 to 15th in 2003. Witten finished fifth among rookie receivers, first among rookie tight ends, with 35 receptions for 438 yards. Campbell continued his rise as one of the NFL's premier blocking tight ends while also catching 20 passes for 195 yards.

As the tight ends coach for Jacksonville in 2002, Sparano mentored Kyle Brady, who hauled in 43 passes for 461 yards and four touchdowns, the second-best numbers in each category for his career. In addition, Pete Mitchell grabbed 25 passes for 246 yards and two scores. Sparano's troops were also responsible for a Jags running game that averaged 4.6 yards-per-carry - fifth in the NFL - led by Fred Taylor's 1,314 yards.

Sparano spent the 2001 season as tight ends coach for the Washington Commanders. In 1999 and 2000, he was an assistant with Cleveland, his first season as offensive quality control coach before taking over the offensive line in 2000. From 1994 to 1998, Sparano was the head coach at the University of New Haven, where his teams made two trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs, finishing second in 1997. He was named the New York Metropolitan Football Writers Division II Coach of the Year and was the New England Football Writers Division II/III Coach of the Year in both 1995 and 1997.

Sparano began his coaching career at New Haven in 1984, spending four seasons as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He was the offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and academic liaison at Boston University in 1988. From 1989 to 1993, he was BU's offensive coordinator, helping the Terriers to an 11-0 mark in 1993.

 

[AbeBeta]

Yes, I agree totally.

A top flight OL coach would have made Jacob Rogers tougher. Would have kept Rivera from hurting his back. Would have found a way to keep Flozell on the field. Would have made Al Johnson bigger and stronger.

We aren't poorly coached. Guys aren't making mistakes. They know what to do and how to do it. They just get either overmatched physically or are too slow to get to their blocks. We are a physical mess on the line now.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I think Bowles has done a pretty good job with the secondary.

I couldn't think of his name but I agree with you.

 

[kartr]

Just immagine if we had a real OL Coach who could actually develop young players like Tucker and Peterman, and even Gurode who was switched back to Center.

Instead, what we have is a long-time TE's coach turned first-year OL coach and two things have happened: (1) None of our OL backups have developed worth a lick and (2) the solution to improving OL blocking is to use the TEs. Sounds like a solution only a TE coach would brilliantly dream up.

**

For those who don't remember, I criticized not drafting Kelly Butler in 2004, whose now starting at right tackle in Detroit and not drafting Ray Willis who's not starting in Seattle,but probably will in another year. I thought the Pettitti pick was a huge reach because of his talent level and health. I believe that talent can trump coaching on occasion, but the other side of that is ' you can't blood out of a turnip', which means that better players makes the coaching look better.

 

[WoodysGirl]

For those who don't remember, I criticized not drafting Kelly Butler in 2004, whose now starting at right tackle in Detroit and not drafting Ray Willis who's not starting in Seattle,but probably will in another year. I thought the Pettitti pick was a huge reach because of his talent level and health. I believe that talent can trump coaching on occasion, but the other side of that is ' you can't blood out of a turnip', which means that better players makes the coaching look better.

How is being drafted in the 6th round a reach? Serious. Most 6th rounders are considered projects which is exactly what Petitti is.

I'm not disputing your man-love for Butler, but have u seen Det's o-line? Not exactly a glowing endorsement.

 

[CowboyManDan]

Houck isn't in SD anymore, he is in Miami.

But I agree, Sparano doesn't impress me a bit.

I never understood why Jerry let Houck go way back in 2001 I think it was. He was and has continued to be one of the better offensive line coaches in the league for a long time. I'd love to have him back anytime...too bad Miami & Saban signed him to a 3 year contract.