Cowboys Mailbag: Defense needs help
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
MIAMI – There’s no doubt Norv Turner and Jason Garrett would do wonders for Tony Romo, Julius Jones, Marion Barber and the rest of the Cowboys’ young, dynamic offensive talent.
As offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers last season, Turner brought out the best in quarterback Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore, who earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl after amassing more than 2,100 total yards and scoring nine touchdowns.
Garrett, by all accounts, will someday be just as good as Turner – if not better.
But do the Cowboys really need to focus so much on an offense that sizzled last season, scoring the second-most TDs and averaging the fourth-most points in the league?
Has Jones forgotten it was a late-season collapse by the defense that cost the Cowboys a division title and the No. 2 seed?
If Jones names the 54-year-old Turner the team’s seventh coach and makes the recently hired Garrett offensive coordinator, the Cowboys should have no problems next season putting points on the board. Romo’s development would continue, Jones and Barber would flourish and Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten would be even better than they were last season, when they combined for nearly 3,000 receiving yards.
But what about the defense? Who’s going to nurse that sorry unit back to health?
The answer apparently is 43-year-old secondary coach Todd Bowles, who spent most of his eight-year NFL playing career with the Washington Redskins.
While Jones apparently isn’t ready to trust the 40-year-old Garrett to run the offense by himself, he has no problem turning over the defense to Bowles, who has only seven years of experience as an NFL assistant and none as a coordinator.
Now this is not to say Bowles won’t do a great job if he indeed becomes the defensive coordinator. The Cowboys apparently were going to give him the title if Bill Parcells had stayed.
But I’m just wondering if Jones has forgotten how bad the defense was in December. And even if Bowles is the second coming of Buddy Ryan doesn’t he need more to work with personnel-wise? Perhaps it would be wise to bring back Dave Campo to run the defense and mentor Bowles.
Make no mistake. I’m not against hiring Turner as coach or naming Garrett offensive coordinator. But the problem with this team is on the other side of the ball and the Cowboys won’t become a Super Bowl contender until it’s addressed.
Now on to this week’s letters:
How much did Bill Parcells’ retirement have to do with Terrell Owens? –Gary, Washington, D.C.
There’s no doubt Parcells didn’t enjoy coaching Owens, but I don’t think their relationship – or lack of one – was the reason Parcels left. My guess is he realized there was no way he could get this team over the hump and risked damaging his reputation by staying. Although I thought Parcells did a great job of restoring pride to the Cowboys, he also made several mistakes. His insistence on stocking the team with thirtysomething veterans is a big reason why it slumped every December. He also handcuffed his coordinators because he wanted simple systems he could understand. Still, Parcells deserves credit for improving the talent level and bringing out the best in several young players who will form the nucleus of the club for years to come.
Why didn’t Jones make a run at Bill Cowher? –Pete, San Antonio
Jones and Cowher would be a bad mix. Cowher worked for a sensible, stable owner in Pittsburgh who never interfered with football decisions. Jones needs someone who understands that he will have the final say when it comes to personnel, the hiring of assistants, etc.
I say give Jason Garrett a shot at being head coach. Let him make mistakes and watch him learn from then and then thrive and win. –Tracy Sanchez, Martinsville, Va.
Jerry Jones doesn’t agree, which is why he’s likely to hire Turner to coach the team and serve as a mentor to Garrett. In due time, Garrett will take over this team. Letting him be a coordinator for a few seasons certainly won’t hurt.
Speaking as an 85-year-old Monday morning quarterback, don’t let Garrett get away. We need him. –Roger Dawson, Victoria
Jones reportedly was blown away by what Garrett said during his interview. That’s why he signed him right away rather than risk another team scooping him up.
Express-News Staff Writer
MIAMI – There’s no doubt Norv Turner and Jason Garrett would do wonders for Tony Romo, Julius Jones, Marion Barber and the rest of the Cowboys’ young, dynamic offensive talent.
As offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers last season, Turner brought out the best in quarterback Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore, who earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl after amassing more than 2,100 total yards and scoring nine touchdowns.
Garrett, by all accounts, will someday be just as good as Turner – if not better.
But do the Cowboys really need to focus so much on an offense that sizzled last season, scoring the second-most TDs and averaging the fourth-most points in the league?
Has Jones forgotten it was a late-season collapse by the defense that cost the Cowboys a division title and the No. 2 seed?
If Jones names the 54-year-old Turner the team’s seventh coach and makes the recently hired Garrett offensive coordinator, the Cowboys should have no problems next season putting points on the board. Romo’s development would continue, Jones and Barber would flourish and Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten would be even better than they were last season, when they combined for nearly 3,000 receiving yards.
But what about the defense? Who’s going to nurse that sorry unit back to health?
The answer apparently is 43-year-old secondary coach Todd Bowles, who spent most of his eight-year NFL playing career with the Washington Redskins.
While Jones apparently isn’t ready to trust the 40-year-old Garrett to run the offense by himself, he has no problem turning over the defense to Bowles, who has only seven years of experience as an NFL assistant and none as a coordinator.
Now this is not to say Bowles won’t do a great job if he indeed becomes the defensive coordinator. The Cowboys apparently were going to give him the title if Bill Parcells had stayed.
But I’m just wondering if Jones has forgotten how bad the defense was in December. And even if Bowles is the second coming of Buddy Ryan doesn’t he need more to work with personnel-wise? Perhaps it would be wise to bring back Dave Campo to run the defense and mentor Bowles.
Make no mistake. I’m not against hiring Turner as coach or naming Garrett offensive coordinator. But the problem with this team is on the other side of the ball and the Cowboys won’t become a Super Bowl contender until it’s addressed.
Now on to this week’s letters:
How much did Bill Parcells’ retirement have to do with Terrell Owens? –Gary, Washington, D.C.
There’s no doubt Parcells didn’t enjoy coaching Owens, but I don’t think their relationship – or lack of one – was the reason Parcels left. My guess is he realized there was no way he could get this team over the hump and risked damaging his reputation by staying. Although I thought Parcells did a great job of restoring pride to the Cowboys, he also made several mistakes. His insistence on stocking the team with thirtysomething veterans is a big reason why it slumped every December. He also handcuffed his coordinators because he wanted simple systems he could understand. Still, Parcells deserves credit for improving the talent level and bringing out the best in several young players who will form the nucleus of the club for years to come.
Why didn’t Jones make a run at Bill Cowher? –Pete, San Antonio
Jones and Cowher would be a bad mix. Cowher worked for a sensible, stable owner in Pittsburgh who never interfered with football decisions. Jones needs someone who understands that he will have the final say when it comes to personnel, the hiring of assistants, etc.
I say give Jason Garrett a shot at being head coach. Let him make mistakes and watch him learn from then and then thrive and win. –Tracy Sanchez, Martinsville, Va.
Jerry Jones doesn’t agree, which is why he’s likely to hire Turner to coach the team and serve as a mentor to Garrett. In due time, Garrett will take over this team. Letting him be a coordinator for a few seasons certainly won’t hurt.
Speaking as an 85-year-old Monday morning quarterback, don’t let Garrett get away. We need him. –Roger Dawson, Victoria
Jones reportedly was blown away by what Garrett said during his interview. That’s why he signed him right away rather than risk another team scooping him up.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:08 PM
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