State Of The Dallas Cowboys: The Head Coach

[KJJ]

Worst coach ever, fire him yesterday, training wheels, can't manage the game, etc. etc. etc.

Did I hit them all?

You forgot puppet.

 

[KJJ]

Each 8-8 season under Garrett has been a little shakier than the previous 8-8 season. In 2011 the Cowboys started off 2-1 and should have been 3-0 had they not blown the opener to the Jets. In week 4 they ended up blowing a franchise record 24 point lead to Detroit in what should have been an easy win. The following week after a bye they had NE beat on the road but Garrett who was still feeling the sting of Romo's meltdown vs Detroit a couple of weeks earlier took the ball out of his hands in the final minutes and decided to gamble on his defense that had just been shredded by Matt Stafford in the closing minutes in hopes they could stop Tom Brady in the closing minutes. That decision backfired leaving the Cowboys at 2-3 when they could have started the season 5-0.

They went on to win 4 straight games that season before collapsing in Dec/Jan going 1-4 that was helped by a huge gaff by Garrett vs AZ that resulted in him icing his own kicker who had just made what would have been the game winning kick. The Cowboys ended up blowing that game in OT and lost the first of what would be 3 straight season finale elimination games. The Cowboys could have gone 12-4 in 2011. In 2012 the Cowboys blew a week 6 game to Baltimore in the final minutes due to another coaching mistake by Garrett. He played scared again fearing a mistake when the Cowboys had time to run possibly 2 more plays but confusion and the lack of urgency by his players allowed the clock to run down leaving his kicker with a 51 yard FG attempt in which he missed….game over!

A win would have left the Cowboys 4-2. Starting in week 13 the Cowboys went on a 3 game winning streak leaving them at 8-6 and in good position for at least a wildcard birth. They went on to lose to NO in week 16 and Washington in the season finale which was the Cowboys second straight elimination game loss. In 2013 the Cowboys got off to a promising start on opening day with a win over the Giants then proceeded to play up and down football the rest of the season. The Cowboys put together back to back wins only twice and could never get on track.

They were able to win 4 straight in 2011, 3 straight in 2012 and only 2 straight in 2013. Not once did the Cowboys ever look like they were about to go on a run in 2013. They were up and down all season having to scramble in week 16 vs a 3 win Commander team to get their 8th win. If this pattern continues in 2014 8-8 is going to be a real challenge. When you look at what the Cowboys have lost on defense this offseason and with Romo coming off back surgery the Cowboys may break this 8-8 pattern but not in a positive way.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Each 8-8 season under Garrett has been a little shakier than the previous 8-8 season. In 2011 the Cowboys started off 2-1 and should have been 3-0 had they not blown the opener to the Jets. In week 4 they ended up blowing a franchise record 24 point lead to Detroit in what should have been an easy win. The following week after a bye they had NE beat on the road but Garrett who was still feeling the sting of Romo's meltdown vs Detroit a couple of weeks earlier took the ball out of his hands in the final minutes and decided to gamble on his defense that had just been shredded by Matt Stafford in the closing minutes in hopes they could stop Tom Brady in the closing minutes. That decision backfired leaving the Cowboys at 2-3 when they could have started the season 5-0.

They went on to win 4 straight games that season before collapsing in Dec/Jan going 1-4 that was helped by a huge gaff by Garrett vs AZ that resulted in him icing his own kicker who had just made what would have been the game winning kick. The Cowboys ended up blowing that game in OT and lost the first of what would be 3 straight season finale elimination games. The Cowboys could have gone 12-4 in 2011. In 2012 the Cowboys blew a week 6 game to Baltimore in the final minutes due to another coaching mistake by Garrett. He played scared again fearing a mistake when the Cowboys had time to run possibly 2 more plays but confusion and the lack of urgency by his players allowed the clock to run down leaving his kicker with a 51 yard FG attempt in which he missed….game over!

A win would have left the Cowboys 4-2. Starting in week 13 the Cowboys went on a 3 game winning streak leaving them at 8-6 and in good position for at least a wildcard birth. They went on to lose to NO in week 16 and Washington in the season finale which was the Cowboys second straight elimination game loss. In 2013 the Cowboys got off to a promising start on opening day with a win over the Giants then proceeded to play up and down football the rest of the season. The Cowboys put together back to back wins only twice and could never get on track.

They were able to win 4 straight in 2011, 3 straight in 2012 and only 2 straight in 2013. Not once did the Cowboys ever look like they were about to go on a run in 2013. They were up and down all season having to scramble in week 16 vs a 3 win Commander team to get their 8th win. If this pattern continues in 2014 8-8 is going to be a real challenge. When you look at what the Cowboys have lost on defense this offseason and with Romo coming off back surgery the Cowboys may break this 8-8 pattern but not in a positive way.

And that's why I don't see all this improving business. At least not with the head coach. When Jimmy was here I could see continued improvement from 1-15 to 7-9 to 11-5. I could tell we were getting better. I can't say this on this team. It's more like the same thing every year with Garrett and he should be getting better as a coach but he doesn't seem to be.

 

[KJJ]

And that's why I don't see all this improving business. At least not with the head coach. When Jimmy was here I could see continued improvement from 1-15 to 7-9 to 11-5. I could tell we were getting better. I can't say this on this team. It's more like the same thing every year with Garrett and he should be getting better as a coach but he doesn't seem to be.

It's been like groundhog day under Garrett. There's FANS on this board who insist the Cowboys have made progress each of the last 3 seasons under Garrett. The Cowboys fan base is routinely ranked in the top 10 most delusional.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

And that's why I don't see all this improving business. At least not with the head coach. When Jimmy was here I could see continued improvement from 1-15 to 7-9 to 11-5. I could tell we were getting better. I can't say this on this team. It's more like the same thing every year with Garrett and he should be getting better as a coach but he doesn't seem to be.

Yep. Again, 12-7 his first 19 games... 17-20 his last 37.

Right direction!

 

[KJJ]

Yep. Again, 12-7 his first 19 games... 17-20 his last 37.

Right direction!

Some try and spin the Cowboys are heading in the right direction but anytime you ask some of these hopeful optimists to point out the progress they refuse to answer. I believe Jerry had a 5 year plan with Garrett. I remember in an interview on NFLN after Garrett's first season Jerry said we're just getting this thing started with Jason. He said the wins have to eventually come but we're just getting started. Another 8-8 playoff less season may give Jerry just enough of an excuse to bring Garrett back for one more season unless the Cowboys are out of playoff contention entering week 17.

He's had some leverage the past 3 seasons to stay with Garrett due to some of the close losses and the team having a shot at the division title entering week 17. Once the Cowboys are down to just playing out the schedule in week 17 he's going to have to make a coaching change or he's going to eventually feel the sting financially. It's not going to be easy packing 90,000 enthusiastic fans into the stadium just to watch the Cowboys play out a disappointing season the final home game or two. Jerry's a great salesmen but even he knows it's going to be hard marketing a mediocre team that keeps missing the playoffs.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Jerry's a great salesmen but even he knows it's going to be hard marketing a mediocre team that keeps missing the playoffs.

Why would Jerry know this? Hasnt he been successful at it for 17 years in a row? You act as if this mediocrity under Red is something new.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

The Cowboys fan base is routinely ranked in the top 10 most delusional.

By whom?

Or is this just another one of your Pronouncements that you claim to have come up with based on unparalleled research?

 

[justbob]

State your opinions on the thread without the personal jabs. I am tired of reading the same little cat fight going on between some of you. Stay on thread and leave the personal stuff out. Or use the ignore button before I use the ban one.

 

[5Stars]

By whom?

Or is this just another one of your Pronouncements that you claim to have come up with based on unparalleled research?

Amazing, huh? lol

 

[5Stars]

Amazing, huh? lol

But....8 million people can't be wrong, can they? lmao

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

But....8 million people can't be wrong, can they? lmao

 

[5Stars]

lmao....

(stupid cowboy fans)

 

[Beast_from_East]

This is baseless and inflammatory. It's worthy of deletion but I'll leave as an example of a post with absolutely zero contribution to the site.

There are very few who truly believe winning is not important to Jerry. It's his raison d'etre and because of it he has made some very short sided and harmful blunders trying to win now when a more reasonable approach is to steadily and efficiently build the club. It's the reasons for the Galloway and Williams trades.

Does Jerry want to make money? You betcha and every businessman who is successful does it well.

Does Jerry want a spineless jellyfish so he can be owner, GM and coach? Not a chance although Jerry meddles far too much. His biggest problem is his mouth driven by his ego. If someone asks a question he NEVER says you should ask the coach. Parcells banned him from the press AMAP. It killed Jerry. He wants to be a man for all seasons and he should stick with being an owner which he does very well at. He's finally learned how to be a GM but its way overdue and he's good (not great) at it because he's delegating most of it to others. Another is the de facto GM.

I think the point the poster was trying to make, restated in a more tactful way, is that Jerry wants to win "his way". In other words, having to walk on egg shells around Valley Ranch with a strong personality head coach like Parcells was no fun for Jerry. Jerry wants to be front and center and be seen as the guy making all the decisions and that is why head coaches that are willing to take a back seat are more to Jerry's liking.

So Jerry wants to win, but he wants to win his way and Garrett allows Jerry to do this. So the logic is that Jerry will not get rid of a head coach that allows him to have as much freedom and decision making as Garrett gives him as compared to somebody like Cowher, who would want full control and Jerry less involved.

That is why some are saying that overall wins and losses don't really meant that much as far as Garrett is concerned, it is the atmosphere that Jerry likes with Garrett here and barring a major collapse, Garrett will continue to be the head coach regardless of if he deserves to be or not. Like another poster asked back on page 2, name a head coach in modern times that has missed the playoffs 4 consecutive seasons and kept his job. As far as I can tell, nobody has yet to name a single coach but yet many are saying Garrett will be the first. If that happens, it will just reinforce the idea that Garrett is head coach due to his relationship with Jerry and not that he actually deserves to be head coach.

 

[burmafrd]

we have improved the O line. After that what has really improved in the last 3 years?

 

[5Stars]

I think the point the poster was trying to make, restated in a more tactful way, is that Jerry wants to win "his way". In other words, having to walk on egg shells around Valley Ranch with a strong personality head coach like Parcells was no fun for Jerry. Jerry wants to be front and center and be seen as the guy making all the decisions and that is why head coaches that are willing to take a back seat are more to Jerry's liking.

So Jerry wants to win, but he wants to win his way and Garrett allows Jerry to do this. So the logic is that Jerry will not get rid of a head coach that allows him to have as much freedom and decision making as Garrett gives him as compared to somebody like Cowher, who would want full control and Jerry less involved.

That is why some are saying that overall wins and losses don't really meant that much as far as Garrett is concerned, it is the atmosphere that Jerry likes with Garrett here and barring a major collapse, Garrett will continue to be the head coach regardless of if he deserves to be or not. Like another poster asked back on page 2, name a head coach in modern times that has missed the playoffs 4 consecutive seasons and kept his job. As far as I can tell, nobody has yet to name a single coach but yet many are saying Garrett will be the first. If that happens, it will just reinforce the idea that Garrett is head coach due to his relationship with Jerry and not that he actually deserves to be head coach.

Yeah, Jerry be da devil! lol

 

[Beast_from_East]

No, but there's no denying the results being mediocre.

8-8, 8-8, and 8-8 speak louder and clearer than any form of interpretation.

As HOF head coach Bill Parcells says, "you are what your record says you are".

 

[Beast_from_East]

Yeah, Jerry be da devil! lol

Might want to work on that reading comp bro, never said that about Jerry. I was simply restating an argument from another poster in a more tactful way that Jerry wants to win "his way", never gave my personal opinion on the matter.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

we have improved the O line. After that what has really improved in the last 3 years?

Good question

 

[KJJ]