Apres Tuna le Deluge?
By Rafael Vela
I’m sticking with my prediction that Bill Parcells stays, but you’ve got to cover all your bases. Last night I took a long look at news that Dom Capers was delaying signing his big contract with Miami. When you’ve got the biggest assistant’s deal in your hand why sit on it?
To pressure Miami to consider you as H.C., naturally. If they’re serious about keeping you, and they clearly are, why not see if you can get the boss’ corner office?
But what if? Open you mind up real wide, now, E. What if, Capers were waiting to see if another job were opening? Another team that plays a 3-4 defense? Whose H.C. has allegedly sounded you out for their DC job?
I’ve seen some names kicked around as quick fixes were the Tuna to swim away. Norv Turner. Bob Stoops. All of them underwhelming.
If Bill Parcells walks off into retirement, Dallas needs to find a 3-4 guru to replace him. The offense has more talent now. It needs some upgrades on the right side of its line, but has skill position players in bulk. There are any number of good assistants who can keep it humming.
The defense, on the other hand, has yet to be completed. Bringing in a new HC who thinks offense first and leaves the defense to an underling, or worse, doesn’t care what system is played will set the team back. Dallas played 4-3 from 1960 through 2004. Now that the switch has been made to 3-4, it makes no sense to flop backwards. It’s much easier to change a coach or two than an entire defensive unit.
Continuity leads to winning. Look at Pittsburgh. They were 4-3 innovators during their ’70s glory years. They pioneered the slant tackle front, when they set Joe Greene at an angle over the center. They were the first team to call defensive audibles. DC Bud Carson installed them, he claimed, to counter Tom Landry’s ever-shifting offensive sets. They also advanced two deep, rotation coverages; many early aspects of what is now called the “Tampa - 2″ came from Pittsburgh. Tony Dungy has always maintained that he learned the Tampa - 2 fundamentals while playing for Chuck Noll.
Yet, Noll switched to the 3-4 in 1983 and successor Bill Cowher stayed with it, letting creative DCs like Capers, **** LeBeau and Tim Lewis add their twists over the years. The result has been strong, consistent defensive play the past two decades. The Cowboys need to stick with their blueprint if they want to continue improving.
Capers offers one option for improvement. Chris Palmer Caper’s OC at Houston, , is already on the Dallas staff.
Another option is Chargers’ DC Wade Phillips, whom ESPN’s Chris Mortensen mentioned as Parcells’ likely successor last night, should the Tuna in fact retire.
On a related note, we could see Marty Schottenheimer win his contract battle and lose the war. He refused a one year extention to his 2007 Chargers contract yesterday, raising the likelihood that he’s entering his last campaign with the team. He may do so without both coordinators. OC Cam Cameron has emerged as a leading contender for the Dolphins job, after interviewing for over ten hours Tuesday and Wednesday. Now comes word that Schottenheimer’s DC might also be on the move.
Even if Parcells stays, keep Phillips and Capers in mind. They would be leading contenders, along with Bill Cowher, for any 2008 Cowboys vacancy.
I’m sticking with my prediction that Bill Parcells stays, but you’ve got to cover all your bases. Last night I took a long look at news that Dom Capers was delaying signing his big contract with Miami. When you’ve got the biggest assistant’s deal in your hand why sit on it?
To pressure Miami to consider you as H.C., naturally. If they’re serious about keeping you, and they clearly are, why not see if you can get the boss’ corner office?
But what if? Open you mind up real wide, now, E. What if, Capers were waiting to see if another job were opening? Another team that plays a 3-4 defense? Whose H.C. has allegedly sounded you out for their DC job?
I’ve seen some names kicked around as quick fixes were the Tuna to swim away. Norv Turner. Bob Stoops. All of them underwhelming.
If Bill Parcells walks off into retirement, Dallas needs to find a 3-4 guru to replace him. The offense has more talent now. It needs some upgrades on the right side of its line, but has skill position players in bulk. There are any number of good assistants who can keep it humming.
The defense, on the other hand, has yet to be completed. Bringing in a new HC who thinks offense first and leaves the defense to an underling, or worse, doesn’t care what system is played will set the team back. Dallas played 4-3 from 1960 through 2004. Now that the switch has been made to 3-4, it makes no sense to flop backwards. It’s much easier to change a coach or two than an entire defensive unit.
Continuity leads to winning. Look at Pittsburgh. They were 4-3 innovators during their ’70s glory years. They pioneered the slant tackle front, when they set Joe Greene at an angle over the center. They were the first team to call defensive audibles. DC Bud Carson installed them, he claimed, to counter Tom Landry’s ever-shifting offensive sets. They also advanced two deep, rotation coverages; many early aspects of what is now called the “Tampa - 2″ came from Pittsburgh. Tony Dungy has always maintained that he learned the Tampa - 2 fundamentals while playing for Chuck Noll.
Yet, Noll switched to the 3-4 in 1983 and successor Bill Cowher stayed with it, letting creative DCs like Capers, **** LeBeau and Tim Lewis add their twists over the years. The result has been strong, consistent defensive play the past two decades. The Cowboys need to stick with their blueprint if they want to continue improving.
Capers offers one option for improvement. Chris Palmer Caper’s OC at Houston, , is already on the Dallas staff.
Another option is Chargers’ DC Wade Phillips, whom ESPN’s Chris Mortensen mentioned as Parcells’ likely successor last night, should the Tuna in fact retire.
On a related note, we could see Marty Schottenheimer win his contract battle and lose the war. He refused a one year extention to his 2007 Chargers contract yesterday, raising the likelihood that he’s entering his last campaign with the team. He may do so without both coordinators. OC Cam Cameron has emerged as a leading contender for the Dolphins job, after interviewing for over ten hours Tuesday and Wednesday. Now comes word that Schottenheimer’s DC might also be on the move.
Even if Parcells stays, keep Phillips and Capers in mind. They would be leading contenders, along with Bill Cowher, for any 2008 Cowboys vacancy.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:23 PM
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