WIll McClay defines RKG for us

[ejthedj]

One reason I think Garrett has been doing a good job is that the organization is developing an identity. They all talk about the process, about communication among levels, and especially about RKGs, from top to bottom.

If you listen to McClay on the mothership radio interview, he really defines RKG for us.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/multim...he-Draft/a3eb8261-270b-4b4b-a001-4cca40dc9553

He repeatedly says we want guys with three things: good "football character," "competes," and "work ethic." He explains that these three factors make it more likely to develop their potential. If someone is trustworthy, has the desire to become better, and the discipline and persistence to pursue it, they are much more likely to succeed.

He throws in physical measurables, they want people who meet certain benchlines athletically. But he STRESSES these three things -- football character, competitiveness, and work ethic. The team really interviews lots of people about each candidate trying to understand if he has these characteristics.

A few observations:

1) It's no wonder we have a strong tendency under G to draft team captains. He wants leaders. Leaders usually have the 3 qualities, that's why they are respected enough to be leaders.

2) It's football character, not just character. They want players who will show up ready to work. Who the coach can trust to do their jobs. That's why a few past incidents (by 18-20 year olds, no less) do not disqualify them (Dez, DLaw, Boyd etc). When the Cowboys do blacklist a criminal or knucklehead, I bet they lack this kind of football character, too -- missed meetings, showing up late, not giving full effort.

3) It's interesting how McClay uses "competes" like a noun. The player must have "competes." This is probably just a way to label it, but it's clear they value players who are competitive, who have that fire, because it drives the other things, it's the desire -- as McClay articulates. We want "ballers," dudes who step up in the lime light, Prime Times.

4) I'm REALLY impressed with McClay after this interview!

 

[Idgit]

One reason I think Garrett has been doing a good job is that the organization is developing an identity. They all talk about the process, about communication among levels, and especially about RKGs, from top to bottom.

If you listen to McClay on the mothership radio interview, he really defines RKG for us.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/multim...he-Draft/a3eb8261-270b-4b4b-a001-4cca40dc9553

He repeatedly says we want guys with three things: good "football character," "competes," and "work ethic." He explains that these three factors make it more likely to develop their potential. If someone is trustworthy, has the desire to become better, and the discipline and persistence to pursue it, they are much more likely to succeed.

He throws in physical measurables, they want people who meet certain benchlines athletically. But he STRESSES these three things -- football character, competitiveness, and work ethic. The team really interviews lots of people about each candidate trying to understand if he has these characteristics.

A few observations:

1) It's no wonder we have a strong tendency under G to draft team captains. He wants leaders. Leaders usually have the 3 qualities, that's why they are respected enough to be leaders.

2) It's football character, not just character. They want players who will show up ready to work. Who the coach can trust to do their jobs. That's why a few past incidents (by 18-20 year olds, no less) do not disqualify them (Dez, DLaw, Boyd etc). When the Cowboys do blacklist a criminal or knucklehead, I bet they lack this kind of football character, too -- missed meetings, showing up late, not giving full effort.

3) It's interesting how McClay uses "competes" like a noun. The player must have "competes." This is probably just a way to label it, but it's clear they value players who are competitive, who have that fire, because it drives the other things, it's the desire -- as McClay articulates. We want "ballers," dudes who step up in the lime light, Prime Times.

4) I'm REALLY impressed with McClay after this interview!

Nice post. I was struck by the 'competes' thing, too. Especially since 'competitiveness' is an actual word that means the same thing. But that's football guys for you.

For anyone who hasn't listened already, it's a really great interview.

Sully's comments on Jerry and Jason I thought were really interesting, too. As was the observation that we'd have taken Lawrence in any scenario that was available to us by the time we were on the clock at 16, and that the decision to take Martin first and go back up for Lawrence had more to do with the value we placed on Martin than it did the value we placed on Demarcus. Kind of an interesting (and probably more accurate) way to look at that trade up.

And, one more time, for emphasis, yes, this is the definition the team has always used for the right kinds of guys, and it has very little to do with boy scouts or choir boys and never has.

 

[OhSnap]

We all need a reminder but this is pretty much what Garrett laid out when he was names HC before the 011 draft.

 

[ejthedj]

Another thought -- they expect the same of their coaches and scouts etc. Hard work, show up ready to work, and want to work. It's the process at the coaches' level and the RKG at the players.

 

[Crown Royal]

Another thought -- they expect the same of their coaches and scouts etc. Hard work, show up ready to work, and want to work. It's the process at the coaches' level and the RKG at the players.

I will definitely give the credit for one thing - Garrett has a specific philosophy that continues to bread down the organization. I never get the feeling that he changes his mind or that the organization as a whole doesn't understand this direction.

Now, results, that's another thing entirely. But if Garrett were the team CEO, he would definitely get an A for creating a specific culture.

 

[Idgit]

Another thought -- they expect the same of their coaches and scouts etc. Hard work, show up ready to work, and want to work. It's the process at the coaches' level and the RKG at the players.

This interview made another reference to the pod arrangements between position group coaches and scouts leading up to this draft. Whatever the results, the organization seems to think it's sorting things out long-term in how it approaches finding and developing talent, and that Jason--with his own experience as the son of a scout-- is a big part of making this happen.

I really think they're planning long term, with Jason as the coach here. The pick to take another young OL, too, in a way sets the stage for developing a young QB in a few years. Another draft mostly devoted to defense, and then the long process of finding a franchise QB again. It's sort of setting up that way. And, again, I really don't want to see us start over after finally getting some stability in place in all of these areas outside of gameday coaching.

 

[Idgit]

I will definitely give the credit for one thing - Garrett has a specific philosophy that continues to bread down the organization. I never get the feeling that he changes his mind or that the organization as a whole doesn't understand this direction.

Now, results, that's another thing entirely. But if Garrett were the team CEO, he would definitely get an A for creating a specific culture.

Yeah. This is what I was referring to, too. Maybe we've got the coordinators now to make the game day stuff less of an issue, too.

 

[Crown Royal]

Yeah. This is what I was referring to, too. Maybe we've got the coordinators now to make the game day stuff less of an issue, too.

Strategy and Tactics. Garrett is a fantastic Strategist and a subpar Tactician. Enter Marinelli, Linehan.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

If you listen to McClay on the mothership radio interview, he really defines RKG for us.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/multim...he-Draft/a3eb8261-270b-4b4b-a001-4cca40dc9553

He repeatedly says we want guys with three things: good "football character," "competes," and "work ethic.

What coach doesn't want these things?

And you guys are just seeing this identity. What about changing coordinators and playcallers every single year screams consistent identity? Even McClay himself has only been on this job for a few months.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Now if we can only find the RKC (Right Kind of Coach).

Y'know, the ones that don't try to pass the blame onto somebody else for their failures. The ones that know that you should run the ball when you're gouging a Green Bay defense with the run all day and have a huge lead. The ones that train their players to be mentally tough to play thru injuries. The ones that don't play so extremely conservative on 4th down. The ones that actually motivate players instead of spewing the same old, tired rhetoric.

Give me one of those coaches, first. Then we can look at the players.





YR

 

[Fletch]

This is a good thread. Good reads all around.

 

[ejthedj]

It's an organizational identity, not a personal identity. We change the people if they are not living up to the standard.

And it's important to spell it out, for everyone to understand it. This is good organizational practice, developing a culture.

Some teams don't make it explicit even if they want the same things. Some clearly don't stress character and competes as much, or don't tell scouts to explicitly monitor it. It makes a real difference.

 

[Denim Chicken]

This interview made another reference to the pod arrangements between position group coaches and scouts leading up to this draft. Whatever the results, the organization seems to think it's sorting things out long-term in how it approaches finding and developing talent, and that Jason--with his own experience as the son of a scout-- is a big part of making this happen.

I really think they're planning long term, with Jason as the coach here. The pick to take another young OL, too, in a way sets the stage for developing a young QB in a few years. Another draft mostly devoted to defense, and then the long process of finding a franchise QB again. It's sort of setting up that way. And, again, I really don't want to see us start over after finally getting some stability in place in all of these areas outside of gameday coaching.

Hmm. That makes me think. Maybe JG is destined to be the first GM after his coaching tenure us over.

 

[jterrell]

Nice post. I was struck by the 'competes' thing, too. Especially since 'competitiveness' is an actual word that means the same thing. But that's football guys for you.

For anyone who hasn't listened already, it's a really great interview.

Sully's comments on Jerry and Jason I thought were really interesting, too. As was the observation that we'd have taken Lawrence in any scenario that was available to us by the time we were on the clock at 16, and that the decision to take Martin first and go back up for Lawrence had more to do with the value we placed on Martin than it did the value we placed on Demarcus. Kind of an interesting (and probably more accurate) way to look at that trade up.

And, one more time, for emphasis, yes, this is the definition the team has always used for the right kinds of guys, and it has very little to do with boy scouts or choir boys and never has.

competes reads like a scouting report from a game where they score a "compete" on a play.
wouldn't shock me if this is something they seek.

as an aau coach i look for that type of competitiveness too.
truly important piece.

 

[Idgit]

competes reads like a scouting report from a game where they score a "compete" on a play.
wouldn't shock me if this is something they seek.

as an aau coach i look for that type of competitiveness too.
truly important piece.

I bet you're right. That makes sense. Like we count 'trolls' or 'likes' here at CZ.

 

[jterrell]

Hmm. That makes me think. Maybe JG is destined to be the first GM after his coaching tenure us over.

I believe it is set up to McClay and Garrett run the team long-term.
Stephen will become the overall decision maker and tie-breaker but day to day will run through garrett and mcclay.
Jerry will remain in charge of saying crazy things to the media and hocking wares.

 

[Idgit]

Hmm. That makes me think. Maybe JG is destined to be the first GM after his coaching tenure us over.

The Sully comments re: Jerry and Jason suggest that Jerry's looking for signs of game day improvement for the team this year, and that he's otherwise expecting to step up with a long-term extension for Jason if he sees it. We're talking 5 years, and not just two or three. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Crown Royal]

Now if we can only find the RKC (Right Kind of Coach).

Y'know, the ones that don't try to pass the blame onto somebody else for their failures. The ones that know that you should run the ball when you're gouging a Green Bay defense with the run all day and have a huge lead. The ones that train their players to be mentally tough to play thru injuries. The ones that don't play so extremely conservative on 4th down. The ones that actually motivate players instead of spewing the same old, tired rhetoric.

Give me one of those coaches, first. Then we can look at the players.

YR

I've long been of the opinion that Garrett may be a better GM than a HC.

 

[Crown Royal]

I bet you're right. That makes sense. Like we count 'trolls' or 'likes' here at CZ.

Wait

Mods have a troll button?

 

[OhSnap]

What coach doesn't want these things?

And you guys are just seeing this identity. What about changing coordinators and playcallers every single year screams consistent identity? Even McClay himself has only been on this job for a few months.

Theres nothing there that says you have to be content with what your doing just for the sake of consistency.