WIll McClay defines RKG for us

[Idgit]

Wait

Mods have a troll button?

I keep track of them all in my head.

 

[dmq]

I want to see how well our players play/develop before I give this guy any accolades.

 

[speedkilz88]

I keep track of them all in my head.

Big head.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

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

He's been good at developing players at different positions. His problem is that the entire irony is that he's done a mediocre job with Romo's development. He had Stephen McGee and he was never suited for the league.

You can do a good job of developing players, but if you can't develop the QB position, you're likely screwed.

To me, Garrett is more suited for political office. He's great at shrugging the blame off and putting it on somebody else and getting owners to believe he's the next great thing. And before people go into the 'only Jerry bought into him', Garrett could have had HC jobs at Baltimore, Atlanta or St. Louis and would easily be the O-Coordinator at Alabama under Saban.






YR

 

[Aurican]

He's been good at developing players at different positions. His problem is that the entire irony is that he's done a mediocre job with Romo's development. He had Stephen McGee and he was never suited for the league.

You can do a good job of developing players, but if you can't develop the QB position, you're likely screwed.

To me, Garrett is more suited for political office. He's great at shrugging the blame off and putting it on somebody else and getting owners to believe he's the next great thing. And before people go into the 'only Jerry bought into him', Garrett could have had HC jobs at Baltimore, Atlanta or St. Louis and would easily be the O-Coordinator at Alabama under Saban.






YR

I have never seen a coach receive as much support as he has despite all the blunders and lack of success. I could understand it if he had a proven record like Parcells or another SB winning coach but Garrett has accomplished nothing and is given a free pass by some.

 

[xwalker]

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!

Thanks for posting.

RKG = Michael Irvin

NOT RKG = Bobbie Carpenter

 

[ejthedj]

I have never seen a coach receive as much support as he has despite all the blunders and lack of success. I could understand it if he had a proven record like Parcells or another SB winning coach but Garrett has accomplished nothing and is given a free pass by some.

Not a free pass at all. I am paying attention and being critical, but what he has done to establish an organizational vision and culture is undeniable. Yes, it needs to pay off still. But it's much better than any years post-Jimmy except Parcells. And this time, it seems like even Jerry and Stephen are buying in.

I have seen some results -- we have been competitive while rebuilding. The team plays hard. The roster has been completely revamped with RKGs. We have some young pro bowlers. We need more results, soon, yes. But this is a long-term vision and I suggest we have the patience to see long-term as well

 

[Picksix]

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.

Good point. It's nice to hear, but until it produces good results, it's just talk. As far as the coaches and what they want, yeah, most coaches want these things, but having spent a number of years working in sports, I've found myself surprised on a number of occasions where talent superceded everything, and they get seduced by it, and sacrifice those other characteristics for it.

 

[Idgit]

Big head.

"Hair-lip, hair-lip!"

I just make the numbers up when the other mods ask me for troll counts, based on my mood. Shh. Don't say anything about it, though, because I don't think anybody realizes it.

 

[Coy]

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

You ean next year?

 

[DBOY3141]

Not a free pass at all. I am paying attention and being critical, but what he has done to establish an organizational vision and culture is undeniable. Yes, it needs to pay off still. But it's much better than any years post-Jimmy except Parcells. And this time, it seems like even Jerry and Stephen are buying in.

I have seen some results -- we have been competitive while rebuilding. The team plays hard. The roster has been completely revamped with RKGs. We have some young pro bowlers. We need more results, soon, yes. But this is a long-term vision and I suggest we have the patience to see long-term as well

I agree that he has a plan and we've added some good players, but as we all know, you don't get forever in the NFL. JG just completed his 4th draft as HC of the Cowboys. He's not going to get much more chances if any after this year. Results have to start showing.....this year.

 

[Coy]

Not a free pass at all. I am paying attention and being critical, but what he has done to establish an organizational vision and culture is undeniable. Yes, it needs to pay off still. But it's much better than any years post-Jimmy except Parcells. And this time, it seems like even Jerry and Stephen are buying in.

I have seen some results -- we have been competitive while rebuilding. The team plays hard. The roster has been completely revamped with RKGs. We have some young pro bowlers. We need more results, soon, yes. But this is a long-term vision and I suggest we have the patience to see long-term as well

Please explain how could Garrett's tenure be better than Wade's? (Post-Parcells) he won two division titles and a playoff game in 4 years, what about Garrett?? Wins and losses, that's all that matters, IMO this is has last chance as a HC in Dallas and maybe anywhere, he either gets this team to the playoffs or his outta here.
I just don't think Jerry can sell this fanbase another .500 season with no playoffs, just don't think that happens.
At some point he'll have to say, no playoffs in 4 years, that's it, we need to go in a different direction.

Saying that, I'd love to make the playoffs and Garrett to keep his job if that happens, although I really think Garrett is a bad HC I am a Cowboys fan first and foremost so I'd love to be wrong about the guy.

 

[5Stars]

I saw on NFLN on the bottom scroll that said "The Cowboys drafted players this draft that won't pee their pants".

Just posting what I saw...

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Thanks for posting.

RKG = Michael Irvin

NOT RKG = Bobbie Carpenter

I think what applies to all sports...not just football...is this:

Do you really love the game or do you love being successful at the game?

If you're the latter, I have a large amount of skepticism of how you will react when things don't go your way and your fail...continually. Somebody like Irvin, he loved the game and loved being successful at the game. He injured his knee and played on some horrid teams early in his career, but loved the game so badly and wanted to be successful so badly that he had a work ethic second-to-none. But just as importantly, he had a tremendous amount of stick-to-it-iveness to him and faith in himself.

Carpenter OTOH loved being successful and in that cocoon he had at Ohio State and when he was struggling early on and not getting playing time, he showed that he really didn't love the game and competing.





YR

 

[AbeBeta]

What coach doesn't want these things?

all coaches want it, some though think they can get guys and turn them around. We are taking the view that if someone doesn't have those traits coming in we aren't going to waste our time trying to teach them

 

[AbeBeta]

I saw on NFLN on the bottom scroll that said "The Cowboys drafted players this draft that won't pee their pants".

Just posting what I saw...

I appreciate that. I've always thought we spent too much time on small college guys -- a team that routinely drafts those guys strikes me as one that thinks they smarter than everyone else. After seeing players from Eastern Washington, Indiana (PA), Western Illinois, Cal Polly SLO, and Missouri State flop, I'm happy to see the focus turning to bigger programs.

 

[XxTDxX]

I don't think he was defining "RKG" I think he was defining his idea of what good "Football Character" is. His definition of RKG and Garrett's are different. I don't think McClay would ever advocate drafting guys like Danny Coale in the 5th. Guys like Ahmad Dixon have good football character but are not "RKG". People who claim that "RKG" is simply a code word for someone passionate about football are sadly mistaken. Jason Garrett is one of the only people I have heard make reference to someones GPA, Major, and random personal tid bits when evaluating someones talent. I am a JG supporter I guess you could say as I believe he has what it takes to get the job done but "RKG" is my least favorite part of his philosophy.

 

[Gaede]

I don't care about Garrett's 'grand scheme'. In my opinion, he has mismanaged a)the coaching staff )b the roster and c)game day decisions all of which have resulted in mediocre records.

Its great that they have this criteria, but in practice, 'competes' should do a lot more for you than losing three straight win and you're in games.

Or are those losses Wade's fault?

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Anyone who reads this board and says that JG has gotten a free pass.... Wow.

 

[Idgit]

I don't care about Garrett's 'grand scheme'. In my opinion, he has mismanaged a)the coaching staff )b the roster and c)game day decisions all of which have resulted in mediocre records.

Its great that they have this criteria, but in practice, 'competes' should do a lot more for you than losing three straight win and you're in games.

Or are those losses Wade's fault?

See, I can buy your argument about the staff and game day decisions--though I think those criticisms are a bit overrated (and in the case of the staff decisions, I suspect there's some Jerry-meddling that went into them), but they are valid criticism of Jason's tenure. The roster, though, I think he's done a nice job with under tough circumstances.

But, now that he's got a staff more or less settled--and I think people think I'm crazy for saying this--I don't think the game day stuff matters as much. You can hire experienced guys and delegate a lot of that stuff, and come up with rules for handling the clock management. That's challenging stuff, but it's not rocket science. But give me a guy who can assemble a player acquisition process, and get the team prepared in the offseason, and focused during the week in-season. I honestly think that stuff's hard to do right in Dallas (between the owner and the media perceptions), and it's where I think Jason is really, really strong.

Injuries and an upside down cap coming out of 2010 have hampered the quality of the athletes we've been able to put on the field, but we're coming out of that situation finally. If the Linehan/Marinelli equation improves things on game day, I'd very much prefer to sit tight for a bit and let the quality of the roster get better and see what happens. I know I'm in the minority in that regard, and I know replacing Romo is going to be a huge, huge challenge for these scouts and coaches, and that's a shame. But I still think staying the course makes so much more sense than starting all over and hoping an egomaniac manages to stumble on the right solution after 6 successive miscues dating back to the firing Jimmy Johnson.