ST: Changing Jason Garrett won’t fix what haunts Cowboys

[jobberone]

Changing Jason Garrett won’t fix what haunts Cowboys
Posted Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013

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BY MAC ENGEL tengel@star-telegram.com

Jerry Jones does not need to see the final score of Sunday night’s game to decide whether Jason Garrett should return as his head coach.

By now, after three years, he has a pretty good idea of Garrett’s process, that he’s just trying to get better each and every day, and that it’s an honor to be a coach in the National Football League.

By now we have a pretty good idea that if Garrett stays or leaves, it won’t much matter.

Change stadiums, change coaches, change offensive coordinators, change defensive coordinators, change defensive schemes, change the play-callers and here we sit — continually seduced not by the allure of success but the security of remaining relevant.

In today’s culture, pretending to be good can pay the bills just as effectively as actually being good.

Since Jerry will not be relinquishing control any time soon, firing Garrett would be pointless. He’s not Jimmy, but he’s not Campo or Barry. Let Coach Process stay.

Chances are good, with the starting quarterback having just had back surgery for the second time in eight months, Garrett is coming back.

If the Cowboys lose Sunday night, Coach Garrett’s crowning achievement will be the statistical anomaly of three consecutive 8-8 seasons — not even Vince Lombardi did that. That has happened only two other times in the history of the National Football League. So he has that going for him, which is nice.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/12/28/5447638/changing-jason-garrett-wont-fix.html

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Changing Jason Garrett won’t fix what haunts Cowboys

Posted Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013 comments

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Have more to add? News tip? Tell us​

BY MAC ENGEL
tengel@star-telegram.com

Jerry Jones does not need to see the final score of Sunday night’s game to decide whether Jason Garrett should return as his head coach.
By now, after three years, he has a pretty good idea of Garrett’s process, that he’s just trying to get better each and every day, and that it’s an honor to be a coach in the National Football League.
By now we have a pretty good idea that if Garrett stays or leaves, it won’t much matter.
Change stadiums, change coaches, change offensive coordinators, change defensive coordinators, change defensive schemes, change the play-callers and here we sit — continually seduced not by the allure of success but the security of remaining relevant.
In today’s culture, pretending to be good can pay the bills just as effectively as actually being good.
Since Jerry will not be relinquishing control any time soon, firing Garrett would be pointless. He’s not Jimmy, but he’s not Campo or Barry. Let Coach Process stay.
Chances are good, with the starting quarterback having just had back surgery for the second time in eight months, Garrett is coming back.
If the Cowboys lose Sunday night, Coach Garrett’s crowning achievement will be the statistical anomaly of three consecutive 8-8 seasons — not even Vince Lombardi did that. That has happened only two other times in the history of the National Football League. So he has that going for him, which is nice.
To can Garrett ignores the gray-haired, Arkansas-accented elephant in the room.
Going back to 2009, the Cowboys have drafted 41 players. Depending on your definition of success, 11 of those draftees are worth a bleep.
Bill Parcells used to say player acquisition was a 50-50 proposition. The Cowboys are batting .268 in their last five drafts. If you want to round up and say .275, go ahead.
​

 

[BigStar]

Why doesn't Engel go into any depth as to WHY he considers JG better than Campo/Switzer? Another, "I am smarter than the fire coach crowd because I know JJ is the central problem" as if we don't? That doesn't excuse inferior coaching. This is the same softball media crap that enables JJ in the first place.

 

[CyberB0b]

He's dead on. Nothing changes as long as the Jones family is in charge of football operations.

 

[BigStar]

He's dead on. Nothing changes as long as the Jones family is in charge of football operations.

Jimmy and Parcells seemed to have had a mark on the team

 

[Risen Star]

I emailed Mac a like.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Can't argue with much of that.

 

[Wood]

I think everyone knows by now that trading out Garrett with another HC simply would be deflection by Jerry. In two years everyone will be beating up on next HC so whats the point.

 

[BigStar]

There are as many reasons to fire Garrett as there are to keep him around.
The man is not without flaws — game management and play-calling come to mind.
The man is not without his strengths — he is professional, polite and he has never lost this team or his staff despite a few thousands reasons to do so.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/1...ason-garrett-wont-fix.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

This is all he has as to keep JG outside of JJ? I know the theme was to pile on JJ but we already knew this? Basically, he's a nice guy and should be able to resume as HC because he is a subdued puppet? Saying JJ is the problem and not demanding improved coaching is just as "apathetic" as we have come to describe it.

 

[DiResta]

The Cowboys need a general manager and let him rebuild
They need to get rid of bad co9ntracts and eat t he dead money for a couple of years
They need to keep only a young foundation starting with Tyron and draft to fill holes on both offense and defense lines.
A team built around young talent like Fredrick and Lee.
but Jerry Jones will not give up that position even though I think he said that he did a bad job.

 

[Eddie]

The article is pretty straight up. 41 players drafted. 11 keepers.

That's pathetic.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Why doesn't Engel go into any depth as to WHY he considers JG better than Campo/Switzer? Another, "I am smarter than the fire coach crowd because I know JJ is the central problem" as if we don't? That doesn't excuse inferior coaching. This is the same softball media crap that enables JJ in the first place.

Because as usual, he doesn't have any substance to back up his claim. He has to resort to the non-football crap like this:

The man is not without flaws — game management and play-calling come to mind.

The man is not without his strengths — he is professional, polite and he has never lost this team or his staff despite a few thousands reasons to do so.

He's professional and polite... So freaking what. So are millions of people around the world -- doesn't mean you want them coaching your billion dollar football team. (And why do the players have 1000 reasons to quit anyway?)

Engel is just like practically every other media person in town I can think of with the possible exception of Newy Scruggs: They like Garrett for whatever reason, whether it be because he was good to them during the Glory Days or they like whatever personal charm they think he has. They all backed his hire and now they don't want to admit they could be wrong -- just like a lot of posters here -- so they refuse to admit he's simple not a good coach.

Because funny, when the last coach was here, practically no one said it's all Jerry and no coach can win here. They all said Phillips was clueless and Garrett would fix everything. Only now that they have a coach they like are they saying Jerry's the whole problem.

 

[Sarge]

When I think of Jerry Jones as owner/GM and think of our current HC, essentially learning (or not) on the job, I don't get a warm tingly feeling. Plenty of blame to go around IMHO.

 

[visionary]

I think everyone knows by now that trading out Garrett with another HC simply would be deflection by Jerry. In two years everyone will be beating up on next HC so whats the point.

i dont agree
jerry is obviously the biggest problem but that is not changing
why not try to fix what we can?

why keep a HC that we know will be mediocre in the current environment? maybe another coach can do better
why keep doing what you know is failing, at least try something different

 

[visionary]

The article is pretty straight up. 41 players drafted. 11 keepers.

That's pathetic.

but wait....
the mantra of the garrett faithful is that "the drafting has been better becasue Garrett is now involved"

which is it?

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Jerry says he is doing a great job. I suppose he thinks Jason is as well. It's maddening.

 

[Zordon]

Why doesn't Engel go into any depth as to WHY he considers JG better than Campo/Switzer? Another, "I am smarter than the fire coach crowd because I know JJ is the central problem" as if we don't? That doesn't excuse inferior coaching. This is the same softball media crap that enables JJ in the first place.

i wish i could give you a 100 likes. it's softball **** like this why garrett will stay. these dallas media guys were acting like some tough guys with wade phillips but they've been nothing but pansies with garrett.

 

[NJ22]

Why doesn't Engel go into any depth as to WHY he considers JG better than Campo/Switzer? Another, "I am smarter than the fire coach crowd because I know JJ is the central problem" as if we don't? That doesn't excuse inferior coaching. This is the same softball media crap that enables JJ in the first place.

It is a joke how the Dallas Mediots are in love with this clown. They forget about the guy they walked all over named Wade Phillips who took this team to the playoffs twice in his 4 years. Garrett is the worst game manager in the NFL, period, it's not close. But he is everyone's buddy so who cares. Joke.

 

[NJ22]

i wish i could give you a 100 likes. it's softball **** like this why garrett will stay. these dallas media guys were acting like some tough guys with wade phillips but they've been nothing but pansies with garrett.

Amen

 

[KingintheNorth]

but wait....
the mantra of the garrett faithful is that "the drafting has been better becasue Garrett is now involved"

which is it?

Garrett was involved in that first round trade down this past draft as you or I were.

We've had two straight puppet coaches now, we're due for a strong head coach presence to come in and put Jerry in the corner.

 

[CyberB0b]

Jimmy and Parcells seemed to have had a mark on the team

Jimmy was in charge of football operations when he was there. Parcells didn't even win a playofff game.