The way Garrett reacted on the war room cam looked like he was not happy with what happened. Could I have misread it? Certainly, but it looked that way to me. I should have said that it was my observation, but what I wrote was part of a longer piece. Garrett's reaction was raw and real and not part of any planned press conference where they might try damage control.
As far as Garrett 'vision'... there is no doubt whatsoever that the drafting improved drastically when he became head coach. There is a clear line of demarcation there between not very good drafting and good drafting. It has been noticed by many more than just me. If you don't want to think Garrett or anything he has done has effected personnel acquisition, then that is your prerogative. There are many who think the opposite of that though.
Stephen will admit a lot to make Jerry look better as a GM. Look, I'm not a Jerry hater by any stretch, but the talent brought in from when Jimmy Johnson left until Parcells came in and revamped the draft process was, by almost any measure, horrid. there were entire drafts where literally no players were worth a ****.
Under Jerry's watch the team quickly dropped from contender status, through also-ran status, and straight down into the crap category. It was during this period that Jerry Jones came up with such awesome draft ideas as the "picks for depth" draft which brought us such gems as Sherman Williams (three counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and a separate plea for passing counterfeit currency), Kendall Watkins, Shane Hannah (quit the team [second year] during preseason and announce his retirement from pro football), Oscar Sturgis, etc.
Of course, who could forget the "all CB" draft, which saw Dallas get 3 cornerbacks (with its first 3 picks), a LB and a RB? The 3 corners (Dwayne Goodrich [vehicular manslaughter 7 years in prison], Kareem Larrimore, and Mario Edwards) were not really what you look for in a player. When the best player is Mario Edwards, you have issues. Of course several other teams tried Larrimore, but unfortunately they were the Dallas Desperadoes, Chicago Rush, Amarillo Dusters, and the Inglewood Blackhawks. Michael Wiley and Orontes Grant rounded out that masterpiece. At least Wiley and Grant didn't have any legal issues.
Jerry also perpetrated a draft strategy that encompassed several drafts put together. The "we need a DE so lets take one with our first pick every year until we hit on one" draft process. At least that run of drafts brought Dallas some good DE's... er, A good DE: Shante Carver, Kavika Pittman, Greg Ellis, and Eb Ekuban. Almost half a decade's worth of picks thrown at one position and one slightly above average DE (Ellis) to show for it. Dallas literally drafted Mel Kiper's highest rated 43 DE that was left on the board in each of these instances, except when they smartly passed on pro bowler Tony Brackens in order to secure Kavika Pittman. Luckily, Jerry decided to end the run so he could implement his "all CB draft" and his "QB's of the future will be athletic" draft (Quincy Carter).
Another draft strategy that he employed was the "Larry Allen was a second round pick so let's always draft an OL in the second" process. At least that produced some decent players in Flozell Adams and Andre Gurode. Unfortunately it produced second round players like Shane Hannah and Solomon Page. Interestingly, this practice actually carried over into Parcells reign in Dallas with Al Johnson and Jacob Rogers.
Even with Parcells, Jerry was still able to see that Julius Jones would be much better than Steven Jackson, that Bruce Thornton and Jacques Reeves were the defensive backfield of the future, Bobby Carpenter was a chip off the old block, and that Skyler Green could at least return kicks.
All sarcasm aside, it is clear that the drafts have improved greatly since Garrett took over. If you or anyone chooses to think that Garrett had nothing to do with it, that is totally up to the individual. However, just because there isn't a link to show that Garrett has had an immense impact on Dallas' talent acquisition, doesn't mean that he hasn't.
