The formula for a great coach

[FLCowboyFan]

I have been thinking about what makes a great coach as we battle it out about JG and I watch Bellicheat dominate. I am thinking that any really good head coach has a 3 part foundation. The first 2 are easier to evaluate. The 3rd part is less predictable. So here is my stab at defining a great head coaching candidate

1. A grounding in how to run a football club in an organized and disciplined fashion. You see coaches that are very solid typically come from a coaching tree where they learned this skill through living through years of solid organization where they learn to prepare the team and adjust as the season goes on. Think Bellicheat, Jimmy Johnson, and Saban here. They get the teams respect by running a solid ship. This is why Aikman said he quit because he didn't respect Switzer and there was no discipline.

2. A solid foundation in a major component on the team. It could be an offensive mind, a defensive mind, or even a special teams guy. Typically you see them focus on this area of the team when they become head coach. Some of the best coaches have a deep understanding of both sides of the ball. This also gives the coach huge amount of respect from the players. Think Zimmer, Peyton, etc.

3. The wisdom to make the right calls. Think of Sean Peyton going for an onside kick in the superbowl. Bellicheat running the no huddle yesterday, etc. It's the "it" factor that the coach has where they somehow make the right calls. They are gutsy when needed, pull the right strings when the team is struggling, etc.

To be a hall of fame coach in my opinion they must have all 3 of these to really dominate. I don't see our current coach as having all 3 but I think it's a good way to think about how to evaluate a head coach. I wonder does this hold up for current coaches who seem to be up and coming like Pederson @ Philly,Anthony Lynn at the Chargers, or the old timers like Chuck Knoll, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, etc.

 

[Parcells4Life]

Mark this name as HC next year if Garrett is canned - Lincoln Riley - Oklahoma HC. Offensively he’s the next Sean McVay and with Jerry’s ties to Switzer it wouldn’t shock me if he did it.

Jerry will want to find the next Sean McVay if he has to make a change next year (which I believe he does if the team doesn’t make the playoffs)

 

[Aven8]

Mark this name as HC next year if Garrett is canned - Lincoln Riley - Oklahoma HC. Offensively he’s the next Sean McVay and with Jerry’s ties to Switzer it wouldn’t shock me if he did it.

Jerry will want to find the next Sean McVay if he has to make a change next year (which I believe he does if the team doesn’t make the playoffs)

Riley is a protégée of Mike Leach.

 

[MojaveJT]

Above all those, I would insert - "An owner who hires a qualified GM and lets the GM and HC freely build their staff and personnel without the owner meddling."

A HC with a solid foundation and strong personality to build a winning team and culture would never come here because he'd bump heads with JJ. Everyone knows what kind of person JJ is and they don't want to deal with that headache. Guys like Zimmer, Peyton, BB, etc. would never be able to do what they want to do or get guys they want because JJ wants what he wants.

Sorry, my rant for the day.

 

[FLCowboyFan]

Mark this name as HC next year if Garrett is canned - Lincoln Riley - Oklahoma HC. Offensively he’s the next Sean McVay and with Jerry’s ties to Switzer it wouldn’t shock me if he did it.

Jerry will want to find the next Sean McVay if he has to make a change next year (which I believe he does if the team doesn’t make the playoffs)

That is a name I hadn't heard connected to us. I do feel like he tried to run out the game vs continuing to attack in the game against Georgia.

 

[jazzcat22]

Jerry will not do a dang thing to bring in a coaching staff that will actually help get wins and playoff wins.
By getting wins, I mean at least 10 wins every year for a good 5 or 6 years like other teams.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Clapping...lots of it.

 

[GenoT]

Having a superior team prez and/or GM, who believes in the coach’s O&D philosophy, won’t meddle in his staff hires, will do all he can to get him the talent he needs and has the coach’s back with the owner, will also be a great help to any HC.

 

[xwalker]

I have been thinking about what makes a great coach as we battle it out about JG and I watch Bellicheat dominate. I am thinking that any really good head coach has a 3 part foundation. The first 2 are easier to evaluate. The 3rd part is less predictable. So here is my stab at defining a great head coaching candidate

1. A grounding in how to run a football club in an organized and disciplined fashion. You see coaches that are very solid typically come from a coaching tree where they learned this skill through living through years of solid organization where they learn to prepare the team and adjust as the season goes on. Think Bellicheat, Jimmy Johnson, and Saban here. They get the teams respect by running a solid ship. This is why Aikman said he quit because he didn't respect Switzer and there was no discipline.

2. A solid foundation in a major component on the team. It could be an offensive mind, a defensive mind, or even a special teams guy. Typically you see them focus on this area of the team when they become head coach. Some of the best coaches have a deep understanding of both sides of the ball. This also gives the coach huge amount of respect from the players. Think Zimmer, Peyton, etc.

3. The wisdom to make the right calls. Think of Sean Peyton going for an onside kick in the superbowl. Bellicheat running the no huddle yesterday, etc. It's the "it" factor that the coach has where they somehow make the right calls. They are gutsy when needed, pull the right strings when the team is struggling, etc.

To be a hall of fame coach in my opinion they must have all 3 of these to really dominate. I don't see our current coach as having all 3 but I think it's a good way to think about how to evaluate a head coach. I wonder does this hold up for current coaches who seem to be up and coming like Pederson @ Philly,Anthony Lynn at the Chargers, or the old timers like Chuck Knoll, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, etc.

I heard Aikman claim that he quit. That is false. The Cowboys owed him a 10M bonus if he was on the team past March. They were doubtful he could play another season after the big concussion and back issues. He was mad when they cut him.

FYI - Switzer was long gone before Aikman's final season. Campo was the HC and Gailey had been the HC between Switzer and Campo.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

I have been thinking about what makes a great coach as we battle it out about JG and I watch Bellicheat dominate. I am thinking that any really good head coach has a 3 part foundation. The first 2 are easier to evaluate. The 3rd part is less predictable. So here is my stab at defining a great head coaching candidate

1. A grounding in how to run a football club in an organized and disciplined fashion. You see coaches that are very solid typically come from a coaching tree where they learned this skill through living through years of solid organization where they learn to prepare the team and adjust as the season goes on. Think Bellicheat, Jimmy Johnson, and Saban here. They get the teams respect by running a solid ship. This is why Aikman said he quit because he didn't respect Switzer and there was no discipline.

2. A solid foundation in a major component on the team. It could be an offensive mind, a defensive mind, or even a special teams guy. Typically you see them focus on this area of the team when they become head coach. Some of the best coaches have a deep understanding of both sides of the ball. This also gives the coach huge amount of respect from the players. Think Zimmer, Peyton, etc.

3. The wisdom to make the right calls. Think of Sean Peyton going for an onside kick in the superbowl. Bellicheat running the no huddle yesterday, etc. It's the "it" factor that the coach has where they somehow make the right calls. They are gutsy when needed, pull the right strings when the team is struggling, etc.

To be a hall of fame coach in my opinion they must have all 3 of these to really dominate. I don't see our current coach as having all 3 but I think it's a good way to think about how to evaluate a head coach. I wonder does this hold up for current coaches who seem to be up and coming like Pederson @ Philly,Anthony Lynn at the Chargers, or the old timers like Chuck Knoll, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, etc.

You forgot one - a guy that knows how to build complete football players - aka Parcells.

He wouldn't let Ware just be a pass rusher - he had to also be good at defending the run.

He wouldn't let Wit just be a pass catching TE - he had to block ect.

You also need a guy who motivates, push the player to go beyond or what makes a player tick - think Parcells again and Jimmy.

 

[Sarge]

I think the number one formula, at this level, is to not hire someone and give them a decade to actually learn on the job. I mean, who else thinks like that???

 

[fansince68]

A coach should hold all staff and players accountable. Poor play should never be rewarded. A coach should instill toughness .

 

[CF74]

1A) Have a spine.

 

[Common Sense]

You forgot one - a guy that knows how to build complete football players - aka Parcells.

He wouldn't let Ware just be a pass rusher - he had to also be good at defending the run.

He wouldn't let Wit just be a pass catching TE - he had to block ect.

You also need a guy who motivates, push the player to go beyond or what makes a player tick - think Parcells again and Jimmy.

Don't forget about Parcells' Jedi-like ability to assemble a coaching staff. Jason Garrett probably would have done something stupid like hire his brother over Payton.

 

[DenCWBY]

1A) Have a spine.

And a defense.

 

[yimyammer]

The #1 prerequisite in Dallas is:

 

[ghst187]

Not consistently lose to lesser talented teams and generally not have their teams underachieve year in and year out. A great coach will have his team play together beyond the sum of their parts and beat superior talent.
All this is why JG is judged a failure thus far.

 

[TheDuke]

THERE IS NOT A COACH ALIVE WHO WILL COME IN AND MAKE A SUSTAINED DIFFERENCE AS LONG AS JERRY JONES IS STILL BREATHING. WHY CAN'T YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THAT?

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE?

 

[Whyjerry]

Mark this name as HC next year if Garrett is canned - Lincoln Riley - Oklahoma HC. Offensively he’s the next Sean McVay and with Jerry’s ties to Switzer it wouldn’t shock me if he did it.

Jerry will want to find the next Sean McVay if he has to make a change next year (which I believe he does if the team doesn’t make the playoffs)

Oklahoma’s defense was scary bad. Too early to tell with Riley.

 

[Blackthorn]

I have been thinking about what makes a great coach as we battle it out about JG and I watch Bellicheat dominate. I am thinking that any really good head coach has a 3 part foundation. The first 2 are easier to evaluate. The 3rd part is less predictable. So here is my stab at defining a great head coaching candidate

1. A grounding in how to run a football club in an organized and disciplined fashion. Jimmy Johnson. They get the teams respect by running a solid ship. This is why Aikman said he quit because he didn't respect Switzer and there was no discipline.
.

I am not a Jimmy hater but he lacked discipline with the star players. Jerry had the most money and no cap and Jimmy loved that bankroll. He signed who he wanted at all cost.
Irvin stabbed another player with scissors.
Eric Williams eye gouged during games.
The teams elite had a house of ill repute that included cocaine binging and hookers.
Nate Newton beat his wife unconscious on several occasions.
Many players on the roster ran awry with the police.
Weed, Cocaine and pills were abundant in the locker room and parties.
Hey as long as they won who cares, the NFL has changed. The roster under Jimmy would be banned from football under the current CBA.

Jimmy left Dallas and was terrible without Jerry. Aikman left because he thought he was physically washed up, a move I think he regretted, I think if memory serves me, Dallas did not want to pay him the salary he thought he was due and waived him. He decided to retire instead of play for another franchise.

I loved the Cowboys since the early 70s but the 80s team were not poster boys, well, maybe wanted posters;I still loved the team.

The Fallen Stars