Wade Phillips... " I Can Change"

[Alexander]

Those players who did not buy in or showed a propensity for laziness last year need to be identified and shipped out. A few well-placed shocking cuts would be exactly what this team needs to motivate the previously unmotivated.

That is one element of real change that can make a difference.

Yup. Wade talked about setting up consequences and he's referenced fines a few times, but if players know they won't lose their job or playing time, fines aren't going to get their attention.

Take Pacman Jones. As soon as his suspension was lifted, it was like nothing happened. He went right back to nickelback and punt duties. He faced no punitive action. My question is, who made that decision? Did it come from Phillips and his staff or was it mandated?

I realize that he might have been the "best option" at the time, but sometimes you have to trust your team to step up. I don't think Coughlin wanted to bench Burress when he did, but sometimes you have to do those things to maintain order and establish just what word he used "consequences".

 

[Venger]

Is this a trick question?

I think it refers to a semifamous gaffe by Emmitt Smith...

Anyways, WtEff are we trying to change for if continuity is what we are after? I mean the idiocy from this organization BOGGLES THE MIND. We need continuity, but we need change, which is dichotomous to continuity. What. The. ***.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The only way this "change" without real change will work is if the roster turns over. Perhaps even more than the 30% quoted.

That was one thing that was a bit unnerving this past season is that everything remained the same. It was so placid and peaceful. There was little to no competition. Virtually none that mattered. That is bad on any team. Everyone was too comfortable and virtually no one feared for their jobs. The same cliques that developed last year continued. Despite what we think, I believe the issues around now have been here since before this season and only the losing made it boil up to the surface.

Those who started last year, returned. The only competition we had was for reserve spots, and even those were among returning backups. We even brought the practice squad back nearly intact.

Everyone knew everyone and there was virtually no challenge whatsoever. We spent more time with projects and novelties like Danny Amendola and Todd Lowber than we did on true football players that might have had a shot.

Even our draft, as great as it appears, was tailored to avoid competition. We all knew we needed a couple of running backs with Julius Jones and Tyson Thompson leaving. Come draft day, we had them both. Everyone knew we would lose two CBs in Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves. Come April, there they were in Jenkins and Scandrick. We traded Fasano, and drafted his replacement immediately.

This staff also resisted creating competition even for the veterans as the young players, rookies and newly acquired did not play unless it was absolutely necessary. It was like there was a concerted effort not to make anyone uncomfortable. Like we did not want to get a rise out of what we knew were a bunch of spoiled brats.

What competition did Romo have? Brad Johnson? Richard Bartel?

Ellis was the closest thing, and when Phillips made the mistake of mentioning Spencer, he was the first to run to the media for a hug and a pat on the head.

People like him need to go. So does the sense of entitlement that the veterans have. Virtually every job needs to be an open competition and there has to be a concerted effort to create an environment that makes it seem real even if we know it isn't feasible.

Those players who did not buy in or showed a propensity for laziness last year need to be identified and shipped out. A few well-placed shocking cuts would be exactly what this team needs to motivate the previously unmotivated.

That is one element of real change that can make a difference.

 

[Rack]

I'll tell you what Wade. First thing to change is the policy of giving anyone time off. If they aren't injured or yacking intestines they should be practicing.

Agree and disagree.

I have no problem with him giving some older veterans time off after a couple of weeks of camp.

HOWEVER,

that time off should only come if they've actually been doing SOMETHING in camp to begin with. And no, running a lot doesn't count.


These guys need to hit next camp.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I am sure he can change.

That doesn't mean it will be accepted as genuine or have any appreciable impact.

These players already know what they can and cannot get away with and they know who is really in charge.

A sudden change will be met with the same sort of chuckling response we got from Bradie James the other day. The players know who the ultimate boss is and until the change comes from that individual, it will not matter.

This is true to an extent but its not as if he cannot change the players perception of him. He can and probably will institute changes but one of those changes needs to be consequences for not meeting muster.

One thing he has done which I absolutely loathe is that a player essentially keeps his spot if he wins in in TC no matter what happens.

If say Crayton keeps dropping passes in practice or doesn't give it his all in meetings and practice then start cycling in someone else.

Tank sucking? Time to move Spears in there and jumble things up.

Make sure that the players know that its either his way or no way at all.

That measn guys like TO too. He wants to give up on routes or whine when he cannot get off jams from guys he outweighs by 30 lbs? Lets see what Austin or Amendola or anyone else can do.

 

[PullMyFinger]

George Karl did it, I dont see why Phillips cant.

 

[EthanThorn]

It's always easier for a coach to change from hard-*** to lenient (and get better results from his players) than from lenient to hard-***. Once you have established yourself as a soft coach, players will simply resent you when you take a tougher approach. Conversely, when a tough coach loosens up the work-ethic instilled in his players is still there, but they now appreciate their coach more and are willing to go through a wall for him. I'm not saying that Wade changing is impossible, i just doubt that it will have the intended effect, certainly not in the short-term.

 

[Bleu Star]

There was a lot of talk about CHANGE today, almost sounds like the election! The changes I hear JJ talking about and Wade talking about are the processes not major personnel at this point... besides the draft. Wade also says he's tougher then people think, he just does not berate or demean people, he holds them accountable with "consequences". What the hell are the consequences? $500 Fines? We would probably be better off making them run! I know that's what coaches did in HS and in College ball when I played. I'm not sure if they do it in the NFL but why not? Wanna be late to practice or meetings? Run 'em until they friggin drop and then run 'em some more.

Anyway after listening to Wade and JJ today, I believe it's safe to say Wade will be back and TO will be back. I'm not sure about Pac,Tank and JG.

Wade won't change who is is or his personality but Wade can change his approach, can this be successful?

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/multimedia_center.cfm?id=8EA4AF51-A669-D17A-8B34B8BA2199F8B8

COUGH BULL**** COUGH

 

[brickman]

What is Wade trying to change to?

Wade has trouble changing his clothes without help.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Unfortunately, after Wade Phillips stated that he could change, his defensive captain, Bradie James scoffed at such a notion and even intimated that he had doubts it would go over well in the Lockerroom.

Suposedly, Wade Phillips has been around football for 33 years. Like other people in his profession, he has devolped his own style and that style has helped him get Coordinator and Head Coaching jobs.

It would be extremely foolish for him to try to change his approach. The players wouldn't respect him and more importantly he would probably have a hard time respecting himself.

Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips have both stated that they need to get tough. What I don't understand is that if Jerry Jones understands that you need somone to kick the players in the butt, why not just go get a Coach who truely has that demeanor instead of watching Wade Phillips change his style.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

It's always easier for a coach to change from hard-*** to lenient (and get better results from his players) than from lenient to hard-***. Once you have established yourself as a soft coach, players will simply resent you when you take a tougher approach. Conversely, when a tough coach loosens up the work-ethic instilled in his players is still there, but they now appreciate their coach more and are willing to go through a wall for him. I'm not saying that Wade changing is impossible, i just doubt that it will have the intended effect, certainly not in the short-term.

I agree with this.

Now, in Wade Phillips' defense, if he does start getting tough, he may be able to keep the respect players have for him by not looking like a phony if he does a fairly good job of convincing them that he took a hands off approach and tried to treat them like men and several players took advantage of it and totally blew it.

If the players agree that Wade Phillips was too hands off because he felt they could police themselves, and the players understand that they failed miserable to do so, they may not lose respect for him by trying to tighten the ship a little bit.

 

[TNCowboy]

I hope Wade can pull it off. I want Dallas to win, and Wade seems like a really good guy trying to survive in a cutthroat business.

But I can't help but think of Jeff Perlman's book where he wrote how players didn't take seriously Switzer trying to get tougher with the team when things started to crumble.

 

[cowboyed]

Didn't Wade state earlier this year that he wasn't going to change?

 

[Bach]

Why would Wade need to change? I heard all our problems this year were due to injuries.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Michael was gonna change too... we know how that worked out.

[youtube]Paa2jCqD1k0[/youtube]

 

[Venger]

You know what the whole "I can change" thing sounds like? It sounds like what the desperate boyfriend or girlfriend says during a breakup. I can change, really I can, PUUUUHHHLLEEEEEEEZZZZZZ don't leave me!

 

[Zimmy Lives]

What is Wade trying to change to?

Boxers to briefs.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

Boxers to briefs.

He'll compromise and wear boxer briefs.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Wade doesn't have to change his demeanor, but he can change how lenient and tolerant he is of mistakes. In other words, he can be more demanding on the players.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Wade doesn't have to change his demeanor, but he can change how lenient and tolerant he is of mistakes. In other words, he can be more demanding on the players.

Accountability?

I dont care who is HC - THAT is all I want.