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What We Learned About The 2016 Cowboys: The Role Of Coaching
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2017...ng-dak-prescott-ezekiel-elliott-jason-garrett
*(Over the years, when Jerry Jones has circled the wagons at transitional points...well, he wasn't hiding from the Indians.)
The surprising 2016 season for the Dallas Cowboys is being largely credited to the emergence of the two super-rookies, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. There is also the highly regarded offensive line and some surprisingly good numbers posted by the defense. We’ve taken a look at how the Cowboys built their roster for success, and the one stroke of incredible luck they had in the draft. But it should not be overlooked that this was one incredible job by the coaching staff. Jason Garrett is getting deserved mention as a candidate for head coach of the year, and Rod Marinelli and Scott Linehan should both at least be considered for assistant coaching honors. And all the rest of the staff seems to have done a superb job, as the team got contributions all over the roster.
This goes deeper than X and O stuff on the field. Here is a list of some of the challenges the staff faced, in sort of chronological order, and how they addressed them.
Coming out of the debacle that was 2015, the clear stance taken was that the core of the team was strong and could be built on for a successful 2016. In hindsight, that was obviously a good call, but when the Cowboys were having to take consolation in having the fourth overall pick in the draft as they watched the playoffs start a year ago, that was not a universally accepted idea. Everything was set up when the Jones family decided to keep the coaching staff almost entirely intact from the previous season, valuing continuity and trusting in them to have a much better year. Job one for the coaches was to communicate their faith to the returning players that they were capable of much more than they were able to show in 2015. A failure of that magnitude has the potential of shaking the confidence of all involved, but the coaches told them that was not who they were. That became part of the message for the year. And consistent messages are a hallmark of a Garrett-coached team. That message never wavered, no matter what came along - and there was a lot that would show up down the road...
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2017...ng-dak-prescott-ezekiel-elliott-jason-garrett
*(Over the years, when Jerry Jones has circled the wagons at transitional points...well, he wasn't hiding from the Indians.)
The surprising 2016 season for the Dallas Cowboys is being largely credited to the emergence of the two super-rookies, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. There is also the highly regarded offensive line and some surprisingly good numbers posted by the defense. We’ve taken a look at how the Cowboys built their roster for success, and the one stroke of incredible luck they had in the draft. But it should not be overlooked that this was one incredible job by the coaching staff. Jason Garrett is getting deserved mention as a candidate for head coach of the year, and Rod Marinelli and Scott Linehan should both at least be considered for assistant coaching honors. And all the rest of the staff seems to have done a superb job, as the team got contributions all over the roster.
This goes deeper than X and O stuff on the field. Here is a list of some of the challenges the staff faced, in sort of chronological order, and how they addressed them.
Coming out of the debacle that was 2015, the clear stance taken was that the core of the team was strong and could be built on for a successful 2016. In hindsight, that was obviously a good call, but when the Cowboys were having to take consolation in having the fourth overall pick in the draft as they watched the playoffs start a year ago, that was not a universally accepted idea. Everything was set up when the Jones family decided to keep the coaching staff almost entirely intact from the previous season, valuing continuity and trusting in them to have a much better year. Job one for the coaches was to communicate their faith to the returning players that they were capable of much more than they were able to show in 2015. A failure of that magnitude has the potential of shaking the confidence of all involved, but the coaches told them that was not who they were. That became part of the message for the year. And consistent messages are a hallmark of a Garrett-coached team. That message never wavered, no matter what came along - and there was a lot that would show up down the road...
