My thoughts on Jason Garrett

[Idgit]

a year ago I figured a 14 point lead in fourth quarter was a sign of impending doom, now he has figured out how to win those games, good on him

A lot easier to do when you don't have an historically bad defense, huh?

 

[jazzcat22]

Gotta love all the different ways people see the path to this point. Hindsight isn't always 20-20 in some cases. Seems it's being used to justify people's opinions either way. Rather of one didn't like JG and are now saying he learned, or finally got it. Or if someone wants to say it was his plan or process.

Well, it's really just the way things went, and how circumstances came about. Walk down the street, take a step to the left, and keep on going, take a step to the right, and slip on a banana peel. That's another hindsight opinion too for some.

It's in the past, and now a new path, because circumstances got him to this point, rather if one agrees it's his plan, or got here in spite of it. Many obstacles not directly involved. Bad contracts, old players, INJURIES can and will, and did detour things.

All I care about right now, is getting that playoff win over Detroit, then will forward from there.

Win Sunday and some will have different opinion, saying he finally really got it right. Some will say, yeah, I knew he could do it. Lose and I can almost guarantee the usual suspects that haven't been around, or some that changed their tune during the season, will be right back to wanting JG gone. Can't win a playoff crowd will be out.

 

[Zman5]

Dont you just love all the people who say this was Garrett's plan all along, as they look back? Why werent they preaching patience and faith in the plan over that 3 yr period if they knew this was THE PLAN?

And you gotta love the "This Was The Plan All Along" crowd spouting this stuff as if they knew it all along. You know like they are privy to some inside info, or have more insight than the ignorant masses.

And you gotta love all this PLAN talk about the OL and how the wise master builder had it planned all along yet from all reports if we could have taken some defensive players we wanted in last years draft we would have no Zack Martin. We have Zack because the defensive players we wanted were already taken when our time to pick came. So what if we had picked a defensive player in Rd 1? What would we be hearing as THE PLAN narrative now?

Exactly. JG wants to take credit for this grand plan, yet if it wasn't for Marinelli refusing to pick Shariff Floyd, FredBeard wouldn't even be here.

Funny how this "grand" plan shows up and is talked about after the fact. Do you think this plan would have been talked about this much had the picks been busts? I doubt it.

Why isn't there any talk about the "grand" plan to rebuild the secondary? After all, we spent as much resources on building the secondary (Carr and Claiborn) as we did on the OL. The reason we don't hear about it is because both Carr and Cliaborn has been busts.

 

[adbutcher]

I guess the fan anger over our success has to go somewhere. Never really understood the assignment of blame or credit in a team sport like football, it's the opposite of team. It has more to do with individual ego than winning as a team.

 

[CoCo]

"The plan" was never about locking into targeting specific players with specific picks in the draft. You set yourself up for draft failure that way. It's about the balance of need and value. But you don't lock into picking "player X no matter what". Hence, Claiborne, Floyd, Aaron Donald, the Steelers LB and others entered the equation the same way that Jadeveon Clowney would have had he fallen to our slot.

It seems indisputable that the Garrett regime was about upgrading the O-line when Columbo, Davis and Gurode were all released in his first offseason and Tyron Smith being made the 1st pick in his first draft.

Further indication was the FA signings of Bernadeau & Livings.

In the same draft we ended up with Frederick we were rumored to be very interested in Cooper & Warmack and even Pugh as I recall. So we clearly didn't end up "reaching" for the best remaining O-lineman on happenstance.

It's ridiculous to claim that the FO/Garrett stumbled into rebuilding the O-line strategy. Stumbled into particular players in particular years? Yes! Because you have limited control over who will be available when you pick. So you stick to balancing need & value because the team has more than one current need anyway.

Yes! Dallas was lucky that Tyron, Fred and Martin all ended up available and have lived up to or exceeded their draft value. Players bust all the time (see Claiborne). But it is crystal clear to anyone willing to see that the "plan" was to strengthen the O-line when 3 starters were purged in Garrett's 1st offseason.

 

[Gaede]

Garrett's done a good job rebuilding the team, however, he's going to have to it again next year now that like half of his players are leaving in FA.

 

[jobberone]

"The plan" was never about locking into targeting specific players with specific picks in the draft. You set yourself up for draft failure that way. It's about the balance of need and value. But you don't lock into picking "player X no matter what". Hence, Claiborne, Floyd, Aaron Donald, the Steelers LB and others entered the equation the same way that Jadeveon Clowney would have had he fallen to our slot.

It seems indisputable that the Garrett regime was about upgrading the O-line when Columbo, Davis and Gurode were all released in his first offseason and Tyron Smith being made the 1st pick in his first draft.

Further indication was the FA signings of Bernadeau & Livings.

In the same draft we ended up with Frederick we were rumored to be very interested in Cooper & Warmack and even Pugh as I recall. So we clearly didn't end up "reaching" for the best remaining O-lineman on happenstance.

It's ridiculous to claim that the FO/Garrett stumbled into rebuilding the O-line strategy. Stumbled into particular players in particular years? Yes! Because you have limited control over who will be available when you pick. So you stick to balancing need & value because the team has more than one current need anyway.

Yes! Dallas was lucky that Tyron, Fred and Martin all ended up available and have lived up to or exceeded their draft value. Players bust all the time (see Claiborne). But it is crystal clear to anyone willing to see that the "plan" was to strengthen the O-line when 3 starters were purged in Garrett's 1st offseason.

Nice post. People see what they wish at times. Clarity is difficult for some.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Still dont like Garrett and still would replace him.

 

[SultanOfSix]

This is a "what have you done for me lately?" league. Sure, people who've done it in the past will get the benefit of the doubt if current events don't meet past success, but those who've never done it won't get any until they do it. It may be an unfair Catch 22 - it's the same type of viewpoint that applies to Romo even if it hasn't been really his fault - but "it is what it is."

Garrett has done an admirable job leading the team to 12-4, but that means nothing to me at least, if it's one and done. Though you can't win a SB every year, you play the regular season to make noise in the playoffs.

Both the Steelers and the Cardinals had better records than the Ravens and Panthers, respectively, but they're still going home, even if they had legitimate excuses - the Cardinals more so than the Steelers.

 

[waving monkey]

Exactly how much influence Garrett would have had in the war room in terms of the drafting and drafting of OL in particular is something I cannot comment upon. I would only point out that the willingness to invest high picks on the OL is something that Jerry had been unwilling to do previously. Heck it was even pretty rare for Jerry to spend a 2nd rounder on an OL before Garrett became the HC.



Garrett was the passing coordinator in 2007 which is the same title that Linehan has this year and that was the year where we were on a different level from everyone but the Patriots. In 2008 the issue wasn't that the offense got stagnant. The problem was the OL play got way worse (partly due to Kosier's injury and lack of depth), TO was no longer elite, Barber already showed he was running out of steam from his running style and the draft was weakened by the horrific RW11 deal.

As for the later years from 2010-2012 we arguably had the worst OL in the league. The 2013 season is when we got back to being a bit above average with Leary and Fred going through their rookie season and Free playing better again.



You could make that argument but who is the boss of the coordinator? Who is the guy who assembled the group of position coaches who were in place before Linehan came here? All the offensive coaches were newly hired since Garrett became HC. You can try as hard as you want to discredit the HC but it just doesn't make sense. The offense has evolved a bit from last year but it has not been a radical departure in style. It is just that we can do a lot more things effectively because the players are better and more mature. This will expose weaknesses in defenses who tried to play us the same way they did in the past and the OC can take advantage of that.

Let me put it to you this way - this team's young core has actually really been improving each year Garrett has been the HC. It just wasn't fully reflected in the record due to the fact that the previous core was getting old and declining and we got snake bitten by injuries when we didn't have much quality depth. Now that old core is almost gone and we are one of the youngest teams in the league, we had enough depth to finish the year strong and we just put up a 12 win season including a rare December sweep. Why people go through mental gymnastics to explain how that is in spite of the HC is perplexing to me.

Garrett has done a good job helping to turn this franchise around. He took over an old, expensive team that had just gone 1-7. The only players now who were major cogs on that team are Romo and Witten. I think the only assistant coach who is still around from that team is Wade Wilson. The team was re-built with no extra draft picks, no Herschel Walker type bonanza and little money for premier FAs (Carr is the only one). The credit for such an undertaking will not fall soley to one man as it takes a whole organization but the vision to make this team what it is today was almost certainly Jason Garrett.

Eskimo,your my designated hitter here out

 

[waving monkey]

Still dont like Garrett and still would replace him.

this most be a rhubarb

 

[cml750]

Well it is now time for Garrett to put up or shut up. He has never won a win or go home game. Hopefully that changes today. I still blame him most for us missing the playoffs the last three years and think we would have been much better off if we didn't have a coach having OJT but if we win today I will be able to put some of that to rest and at least consider getting on the Garrett bandwagon. A win next week would definitely get me on the bandwagon and if we go all the way and win the SB, I will be singing his praises. All he has to do is win and winning his first win or go home game will be a great start. If we lose today I say he needs to go.

 

[jobberone]

Well it is now time for Garrett to put up or shut up. He has never won a win or go home game. Hopefully that changes today. I still blame him most for us missing the playoffs the last three years and think we would have been much better off if we didn't have a coach having OJT but if we win today I will be able to put some of that to rest and at least consider getting on the Garrett bandwagon. A win next week would definitely get me on the bandwagon and if we go all the way and win the SB, I will be singing his praises. All he has to do is win and winning his first win or go home game will be a great start. If we lose today I say he needs to go.

Garrett is suiting up??! Coaches and QBs get too much credit and blame. It's the players team. They got to want it bad.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Dont you just love all the people who say this was Garrett's plan all along, as they look back? Why werent they preaching patience and faith in the plan over that 3 yr period if they knew this was THE PLAN?

And you gotta love the "This Was The Plan All Along" crowd spouting this stuff as if they knew it all along. You know like they are privy to some inside info, or have more insight than the ignorant masses.

And you gotta love all this PLAN talk about the OL and how the wise master builder had it planned all along yet from all reports if we could have taken some defensive players we wanted in last years draft we would have no Zack Martin. We have Zack because the defensive players we wanted were already taken when our time to pick came. So what if we had picked a defensive player in Rd 1? What would we be hearing as THE PLAN narrative now?

Lots of swings there, and lots of misses. Whooosh!

 

[Eric_Boyer]

I saw great things in Garrett from day one. I never doubted his ability, but I did, and do doubt the ability of the gm.

 

[CoCo]

Still dont like Garrett and still would replace him.

You know, this statement I can respect far more than those who try to trump up false allegations (he blames others unfairly and takes credit for himself when it belongs to others) or deny reality (rebuilding the O-line was far from unintentional).

 

[PoundTheRock]

I think Jason Garrett is a poor gameday coach and have believed this for years. I like his message, but until this year we really didn't see the fruits of that on the field. He's going to be here regardless of my opinion, but I'm board if he can win today. Otherwise, I'd still like to see the Cowboys move on. He's had long enough to make this team a winner.

 

[cml750]

Garrett is suiting up??! Coaches and QBs get too much credit and blame. It's the players team. They got to want it bad.

If you do not think coaching matters then I do not know how to respond!!! I guess Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, or even Dave Campo(on the opposite end of the spectrum of course) meant absolutely nothing? I blame Garrett for us missing the playoffs three years running due to idiotic clock/game management decisions that were directly in his control, so I just can't cut him any slack until he earns it. A win today will be a big start in earning my respect.

 

[jobberone]

If you do not think coaching matters then I do not know how to respond!!! I guess Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, or even Dave Campo(on the opposite end of the spectrum of course) meant absolutely nothing? I blame Garrett for us missing the playoffs three years running die to idiotic clock/game management decisions that were directly in his control, so I just can't cut him any slack until he earns it. A win today will be a big start in earning my respect.

I didn't say that at all. And if you've read my posts thru the years you'd know better instead of trying to win a nonexistent argument.

 

[Eddie]

Tom Landry went through 6 losing seasons before appearing in 5 Super Bowls. He finished his career at 3-13. Jimmy Johnson started his tenure with a 1-15 season before finishing with two straight Super Bowl wins.

It's about the players.

Jim Harbaugh didn't suddenly forget how to coach. He lost talent on the roster.