PFW: Insider: Phillips still a good fit in Dallas

[WoodysGirl]

Posted Dec. 12, 2009 @ 3:29 p.m.
By PFW staff

The following quotes are from NFL scouts, coaches and front-office personnel, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

• "I think Jerry Jones likes Wade (Phillips). I've seen (Mike) Shanahan's name tied to the (head-coaching) position (in Dallas), but Jerry is not going to give him full control. And I don't think Jerry wants to pay a coach $7 million or $8 million. I think Wade is safe. He's got a good situation there. He coaches the defense, and Jason Garrett coaches the offense. Wade has a great personality — he's easy to work for, but guys play hard for him. That's the part you have to watch. That is what is key for a coach. Wade does not care about the limelight. (Bill) Parcells wanted the limelight, too — that's why it never could work. Jimmy Johnson told the owner to go run the team himself, and the owner fired him. I think Wade and Jerry complement each other well. They like each other. And when you are working your butt off, you want to have a little fun."

• "The Giants have had problems in their secondary. The Vikings' Pro Bowl corner (Antoine Winfield) went down. A lot of teams have problems in the secondary. Why didn't anyone else sign Chris McAlister or Mike McKenzie? In three days, McKenzie was a star of Monday night. How can the Saints pick those guys up off the street late in the year? I'll tell you why — no one wants to pay. You are going to have to pay somebody. Why wouldn't you pay a little more, especially if your job is on the line? All these coaches on the hot seat can't afford to let good players sit on the street."

• "The truth is, losing (OG) Steve ­Hutchinson was the dagger that doomed (former Seattle president of football operations/GM Tim) Ruskell's career. If you remember, he tried to make up for it the next year and sign Kris Dielman, but he screwed that up, too, and could not get it done. The (offensive) line is shot now, and he has never been able to recover from it. Losing a Pro Bowl lineman in the middle of your line is a huge loss."

• "It's difficult to find guys like Jared Allen. You don't trade guys like him or Tony Gonzalez when they are highly productive. You don't cut Larry Johnson. Look at the way Bill Cowher handled Plaxico Burress. He was sitting in the corner of the endzone pouting and was a problem. But why should 50 people adjust to one? Cowher did not make immediate changes when (Burress) started acting up. He waited for his replacement to come. You can't just run off good players. They are too hard to come by. It's just like Ricky Williams in New Orleans. They ran him off, and the next year he's rushing for 1,800 yards in Miami. He's still productive even now, and his replacement, Deuce ­McAllister, is out of the league."

• "(Bengals OLT Andrew) Whitworth is big, tough and he loves football. He's passionate. Even though he is stiff, he is still athletic enough to recover inside. He will always get run around at left tackle, but he's at least functional in pass protection. Everyone gets caught up shooting for ­Walter Jones or Jonathan Ogden, but those guys are rare, rare, rare."

• "When you find a coach like (Colts O-line coach) Howard Mudd, who can turn water into wine, you have to keep those guys around as long as you can. That's what the Colts have done so well. They have locked up those coaches. It makes such a big difference when you are trying to develop talent."

• "(Alabama head coach) Nick Saban does not offer any scholarships to players he does not see play live. He is extremely smart about his approach to recruiting. How many GMs do you think can say the same about their first-round picks? A lot of decision makers do not hit the road. They base their decisions on all-star games or interviews — and then we wonder why there are so many misses in the first round."

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http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/12/12/insider-phillips-still-a-good-fit-in-dallas

 

[UVAwahoos]

That's a pretty interesting assessment, but it's completely wrong. That stadium is not gonna sell out unless fans are happy with the product. There's no way that Wade stays unless we're successful this month and next.

There would be absolute rebellion if it occurred. The fans wanted him out last year and pretty much chalked this season up to a wash. I don't think they'll stay patient again for another offseason, particularly with the big name coaches up for grabs. The good teams are getting better, and we seem to be getting worse.

If this month unfolds the way it's looking right now, somebody is gonna need to come in and right this ship.

...and Ginger is not the answer.

 

[Monster Heel]

I'm all in on Coach Jerry.

 

[67CowboysFan]

Posted Dec. 12, 2009 @ 3:29 p.m.
By PFW staff

The following quotes are from NFL scouts, coaches and front-office personnel, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

• "I thinkJerry Jones likes Wade (Phillips). I've seen (Mike) Shanahan's name tied to the (head-coaching) position (in Dallas), but Jerry is not going to give him full control. And I don't think Jerry wants to pay a coach $7 million or $8 million. I think Wade is safe. He's got a good situation there. He coaches the defense, and Jason Garrett coaches the offense. Wade has a great personality — he's easy to work for, but guys play hard for him. That's the part you have to watch. That is what is key for a coach. Wade does not care about the limelight. (Bill) Parcells wanted the limelight, too — that's why it never could work. Jimmy Johnson told the owner to go run the team himself, and the owner fired him. I think Wade and Jerry complement each other well. They like each other. And when you are working your butt off, you want to have a little fun."

Isn't this pretty much the opposite of what Troy Aikman had to say earlier this week?

 

[Eddie]

So what's the magical formula for locking up a good coach? I guess you can tell him he can't interview for other vacancies. That may help.

 

[masomenos]

That's a pretty interesting assessment, but it's completely wrong. That stadium is not gonna sell out unless fans are happy with the product. There's no way that Wade stays unless we're successful this month and next.

There would be absolute rebellion if it occurred. The fans wanted him out last year and pretty much chalked this season up to a wash. I don't think they'll stay patient again for another offseason, particularly with the big name coaches up for grabs. The good teams are getting better, and we seem to be getting worse.

If this month unfolds the way it's looking right now, somebody is gonna need to come in and right this ship.

...and Ginger is not the answer.

We've sold out something like 160 straight games. We sold out games when we sent Ryan Leaf and Tony Banks out as the starting QB.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

this is silly basically it's saying wade is a good fit because he is a puppet and won't upset Jerry's ego. Brilliant.

 

[UVAwahoos]

We've sold out something like 160 straight games. We sold out games when we sent Ryan Leaf and Tony Banks out as the starting QB.

I would hope that 30,000 more seats at a higher price start to effect his bottom line if the product is poor. You should too, otherwise he'd have no reason to change anything.

 

[rynochop]

...and Ginger is not the answer.

OK, i've seen that, uh, "joke" twice, and its already tired.

 

[RS12]

• "I think Jerry Jones likes Wade (Phillips).

Translation----- puppet:laugh2:

 

[Beast_from_East]

Lets face it, the bottom line expectation this year is to finally end the 13 yr drought of no playoff wins.

If Wade can get into the playoffs somehow (doesnt matter if we are division winners or wildcard) and just win 1 freaking game.........I think he is safe.

This is the only way I think the fans will accept Wade staying on as HC, if he can say he ended the playoff drought. Without this ace in his pocket, he is done. If we dont win 1 playoff game, the fans will have their torch and pitchforks outside Valley Ranch demanding blood.

 

[craig71]

I think Jerry does like Wade the person,but that doesn't mean that Jerry has faith in Wade the coach.

Craig

 

[RS12]

• "(Alabama head coach) Nick Saban does not offer any scholarships to players he does not see play live. He is extremely smart about his approach to recruiting. How many GMs do you think can say the same about their first-round picks? A lot of decision makers do not hit the road. They base their decisions on all-star games or interviews — and then we wonder why there are so many misses in the first round."

Guess Jerry never bothered to take a trip up to Columbus to watch Barbie lay the wood to people all over the field.

 

[UVAwahoos]

OK, i've seen that, uh, "joke" twice, and its already tired.

It's not a joke, sweetie. This guy is clearly clueless as how best the talent on offense should be used. He's taking advice and making adjustments according to how many people call into morning radio shows after inept offensive performances. There has been no balance in our offense. Choice and Bennett or strongly underutilized and he has made it a habit of calling questionable passing plays deep in our territory or at a time when we should be chewing up clock.

I'd say he's middle of the pack at best. Certainly has not stood out enough to take over a more powerful position. Seems like another cupcake to me.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

We've sold out something like 160 straight games. We sold out games when we sent Ryan Leaf and Tony Banks out as the starting QB.

True, but in the down years, especially during the Campo Era the Cowboys would just buy unsold tickets to prevent a blackout.

I was in College during the Gailey and Campo Years, so I went to quite a few games and Texas Stadium was not packed quite a few times.

With this stadium and some the ticket prices, if the Cowboys go a long period of time without fielding a competitive team, there will be some problems.

 

[Bungarian]

I would hope that 30,000 more seats at a higher price start to effect his bottom line if the product is poor. You should too, otherwise he'd have no reason to change anything.

It will sell out no matter what. Money will not play a part.

 

[Bungarian]

True, but in the down years, especially during the Campo Era the Cowboys would just buy unsold tickets to prevent a blackout.

I was in College during the Gailey and Campo Years, so I went to quite a few games and Texas Stadium was not packed quite a few times.

With this stadium and some the ticket prices, if the Cowboys go a long period of time without fielding a competitive team, there will be some problems.

Money will not motivate Jerry. When he signs a corporate sponsor tickets sells will mean nothing.

 

[CowboyMike]

Guess Jerry never bothered to take a trip up to Columbus to watch Barbie lay the wood to people all over the field.

That was a Parcells pick. You can lay that all on him. He didn't really feel up to scouting as much as he did in the past that year, remember?

Jerry picked Newman and Ware for our first rounders when Parcells was here, but Carpenter was all Bill.

 

[CF74]

OK, i've seen that, uh, "joke" twice, and its already tired.

It's not a joke, it's a fact...

 

[Beast_from_East]

Guess Jerry never bothered to take a trip up to Columbus to watch Barbie lay the wood to people all over the field.

That was all on Parcells. He picked Barbie because his dad played for Parcells with the Giants.

Parcells also wanted to draft Spears over Ware and was overruled by Jerry in the war room. The thinking was that both were going to be gone by the time Dallas was on the board again so the scenario became "if you can only get 1 of them, who do you take"???

Like I said, Parcells wanted Spears (even if it meant Ware was gone when Dallas was on the clock again) and Jerry said no and overruled Parcells and made the decision to draft Ware.