My Head Coach Thoughts

[Chocolate Lab]

Neither Jason Garrett nor Dave Campo obtained meaningfully experienced head coaching before Jerry Jones hired them as such.

Nor Gailey.

Jerry has tried it before, but being young isn't the answer. Being good is.

 

[CCBoy]

Nor Gailey.

Jerry has tried it before, but being young isn't the answer. Being good is.

Jerry still wrongly feels that all solutions are monetary and Stephen enforces the concept. Kind of monopolizing in execution. Old records instead of current skills. Agreed.

 

[DallasEast]

Nor Gailey.

Jerry has tried it before, but being young isn't the answer. Being good is.

I did not include Chan Gailey because he had non-NFL head coaching experience at the college level--Troy State and Samford--and with the Birmingham Fire of the old NFL Europe League.

 

[SuspectCorner]

It's nonsense to act like McCarthy isn't one of the most successful coaches of his era.

But you know what even more nonsensical? Still blaming coaches after 30 years.

Jimmy’s and Joe’s.

 

[bluemagic4ever]

Some of these coaches can get lucky if they inherent a team that's ready to give the coach the kind of team they need to have success

Agreed but alot of those coaches I spoke of didnt. Campbell, Ryans, O Connell, but then you have guys who have the Steve Kerr effect, but even then you have to be able to elevate guys and get the most out of them and MM doesnt have it.

 

[bluemagic4ever]

we don't have a coaching problem.
we have a GMing problem.
until that dynamic changes...about the best we'll get is double digit win totals...winning the east...and an occassional wild-card win.
that is all this GM knows how to build.
mccarthy is the best coach we've had here since parcells.
and in my opinion...except for pete carrol...is the best option right now to figure "around" jerry.
i'd love ben johnson.
or chris shula.
but i'm not the owner.
if he does move off mccarthy,i just pray we don't end up with kellen moore...or ron rivera...or marvin lewis.
and we probably will because our GM is a moron at football stuff.

We have a coach that wins in the regular season and admits he didnt have them prepared in the playoffs. Team take the identity of their HC. So if a team is outcoached when he has talent, is undisciplined and doesnt show up when it counts... I cant agree with you there but I do agree with the having a GM problem as well, as I would love Ben Johnson.

 

[KMY_Amber]

we don't have a coaching problem.
we have a GMing problem.

both can be true, doesn't have to be either/or

just sayin'...

 

[stuckindc]

It's nonsense to act like McCarthy isn't one of the most successful coaches of his era.

But you know what even more nonsensical? Still blaming coaches after 30 years.

And until that changes, nothing changes

 

[ColoradoCowboy]

In the Grand Scheme of Things, a new HC will be hamstrung unless he has the RESPECT of Jerry Jones.

There are only 2 coaches who can, I believe, command the necessary respect from Jerry Jones. And I don't think that either of them are interested.

Bill Belichick
Nick Saban

Now, I personally do not want either of them to be the Head Coach in Dallas. However, in my opinion; the probability that any other coaches could, or WOULD, come to Dallas and be successful is minutely small.

 

[cowboyec]

there is one formula that has produced super bowls under jerry jones.
a college hc who won a national title and has not yet been a hc in the NFL.
•kirby smart,georgia
•dabo sweeny,clemson
•bob stoops,fmr ou hc

personally,i'd love to see what kirby smart would/could do in the nfl.
considering he probably recruited alot of the players thru out the league.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Neither Jason Garrett nor Dave Campo obtained meaningfully experienced head coaching before Jerry Jones hired them as such. Technically, Garrett gathered two years assistant head coaching and a little over a season interim head coaching experience--all under Jones' on-the-job training program but he was never a true head coach. Heck. His entirely brief coaching experience was sparse before Jones hired him as an offensive coordinator.

I immediately thought of Campo and Garrett not meeting the supposed criteria.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Here is a completely different idea for head coach. There is a guy that had decent success with smaller college teams, has a great coaching lineage, and has won the last two Championships in his league. He is considered to be innovative and a good strategist but has never been given a shot at the big leagues. The players that have been on his teams love him. The Coach? Skip Holtz. Son of Lou. Two time defending champion of the USFL/UFL Birmingham Stallions. Probably would jump at the chance to coach in the NFL. Would be someone that fits the bill for the Jones'.

Personally, I like some of the young coordinators much better, but I think Holtz would be a good candidate.

 

[CWR]

Honestly, since they admitted to having “not thought about it,” it’s gotta be either Zimmer, who wants to quit, Moore, who they probably can’t get, or throw more money at Mike than they want to.

Nothing against Mike but we need a Parcells situation to fix this, and Jerry isn’t ready for that, so hopefully it’s only a two year deal for MM because you know he will be here for every single second of that contract, and isn’t the answer.

The way this league is shaping up lately….the teams that can’t win it all seem to be fine being really bad until they can truly turn it, add in another 8-10 that are always clearly better than Dallas, we are absolutely stuck in mediocrity for at least the next few years, as they continue to beat up on the bad teams and get blown out by the good ones.

Mike and Dak ensure that, and Jerry will continue to truly believe they are oh so “close” and continue to sell sell sell that way, and defend the job they are doing.

How long before the typical casual fans that don’t hang around places like this stop buying his crap? I’d say about midway through 2026…if we are lucky.

If nothing else it should be fun when the team is getting worse and he is becoming more defensive and grumpy.

Damn, this post sounds terribly realistic. You're probably right. Smh

 

[Ranching]

Its not that there isnt a better option. Someone off the McVay or Shanahan tree for example. It is that why would a yoing up and coming coach want work for a senile ego maniac where you are set up to fail?

Anyone with a sack would...I can see why some of you wouldn't want to.

 

[garyo1954]

It's nonsense to act like McCarthy isn't one of the most successful coaches of his era.

But you know what even more nonsensical? Still blaming coaches after 30 years.

I agree. The problem is the small minded micro managing egotist wearing the owner/GM hat playing doctor, media relation, draft expert, offense and defense genius who lands his choppa on the field during practice like some high school juvenile delinquent.

 

[Bobhaze]

It is nonsense that there aren't better options and it is the GM's job to find those options.

We don’t have a GM that works like an NFL GM. While the GMs winning SBs are studying film, analyzing talent, studying coaching trends and performance, our GM is negotiating the next prize fight, big concert or monster truck rally at his “stayjum”.

You are absolutely right that a good NFL GM would be working hard to find the best possible coaching talent that could transform this team into a championship contender again. We have a GM that not only is NOT driven to do whatever it takes to win a championship, he’s not even driven to find the best coach.

 

[the playmaker]

Job of Head Coach: Motivate, Discipline, Monitor - let players and coaches know what they are doing good and bad. Be where the Buck Stops -- stand in front of the media on the good and bad days. In the unique case of head coach of the Dallas Cowboys -- the most important job is to not take any of the credit or limelight from Jerry Jones when the Cowboys do good. Also to be the "end" to coaches differences.

Job of Coordinators: Watch film and setup game plans to match your teams strengths to their teams weaknesses. Make sure the position coaches are teaching correct form and technique. Making sure that you have the correct groups working in synch....ie you don't want DL shooting the same gaps that LBs are blitzing. Build terminology, playbooks, and make sure everyone is on same page. These guys should be able to know strengths and weaknesses of both their own team, and be able to watch film and "write the book" on how to attach the other teams weaknesses. Guys who are great strategist, are not always great motivators and disciplinarians.

Job of Position Coaches: Teach correct form and technique. Great teachers aren't necessarily great strategist nor great motivators/leaders. Al Harris is a very good teacher, but I have no clue if he is a strategist or motivator/disciplinarian.

IMO, Head Coach is pretty simple to find. Find a leader of men who is a great motivator and disciplinarian. Honestly that seems like Vrabel to me. I think Mike Irvin would make a great HC as well.
Excellent coordinators would be harder to find, IMO. There are some very good coordinators out there, but most are wanting to be paid, so they want to be the next failing HC (always about the Benjamins).
Give me: (and YES I know the Jerry Jones would never be comfortable with this or do it)
Mike Vrabel as HC.. disciplinarian and has been there done that.
Robert Saleh as DC.... reminds me of young Wade Phillips.......excellent coordinator and motivator, but will probably never be a great HC.
Kurt Warner as OC...... he understands the game and what it takes. This one would be fun.
..... pay these men a good base pay and X amount per WIN. Then let them get the position coaches they need. Hold all accountable, but let them be the highest paid IF they win the Superbowl. There is no salary cap on coaching presently. Stop the being the best marketed team and become the best FOOTBALL team. No clue if Vrabel, Saleh, and Warner could work together, but if they could.......WOW

great post!!
but who's GM?Owner?
WE are DC fans
HE/THEY(JONESES) are NOT!!!the Dallas Cowboys are a BUSINESS

 

[DuncanIso]

There are better options. But the FO refuses to make the necessary changes.

I never minded MM as HC. But it is time for a change. 5 years and nothing. Yes some competitive teams but fail in the playoffs or in big games.

should have kept Jason?

 

[Arkyvarminter]

McCarthy is the biggest puppet i have ever seen! watching him around Jerry you would think Jerry is the coach..lol I think he's a terrible coach that won one ring in GB because of AR.............

 

[KMY_Amber]

I think they should lure Deion Sanders, as he would simply add to the circus. And then he could hire some really good coordinators,

And no, he wouldn't be able to get his son in Dallas at the draft, but he could easily lure him to Dallas before his rookie contract runs out. They could have a side pact. (I'm serious!)

Then the Cowboys don't have to worry about finding Dak's replacement, and they could draft in the trenches and maybe a WR. And then find some secondary help in free agency.

Still a rebuild, but things could turn around quickly with a good draft and a good off season.