Cowboys should hire Phillips, groom Garrett
Adam Schein / FOXSports.com
Jerry Jones hired Jason Garrett as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator before hiring a new head coach. Now it is clear that Bill Parcells' old job has been usurped of its power.
Heck, we knew this was true when Jones signed Terrell Owens against Bill Parcells' wishes.
Now, Parcells is gone, the ultimate distraction that is Owens stays, the team still has a vacancy sign hanging over the post for head coach, but there is a new, yet, old face running the offense.
How bout them Cowboys?
It isn't conventional in terms of the chronological order, but you do have to like the appointment of Garrett as the team's offensive coordinator. Some will say Garrett is young and hasn't really been a coach, but he has basically been coaching for the last 15 years as a savvy backup quarterback, including a sustained run with Troy Aikman in Dallas. Anyone who has ever encountered Garrett believes he will be a highly successful coach.
And Jones says Garrett is still a candidate for the head coaching job.
I think under this bizarre circumstance, the best case scenario is to hire Wade Phillips instead.
The Chargers' defensive coordinator is a wizard on his side of the ball. The San Diego players love him and play hard and brilliantly for him. And Phillips has been a successful head coach, going 48-39 during his stops. Phillips had the Bills headed in the right direction, leading them to a win-loss record that was ten games over .500 in three seasons. If it wasn't for a meddlesome owner in the Rob Johnson/Doug Flutie quarterback controversy or the Music City Miracle, Phillips could've guided the Bills to the Super Bowl.
Phillips would run the same 3-4 defense Parcells ran last year while Garrett would have full autonomy of the offense, mentor Tony Romo, kick Owens in the back side, and learn his craft to ultimately follow Phillips as head coach.
It actually makes some sense.
Then there's the other option.
Norv Turner.
I have never doubted Turner as an offensive genius or a quarterback tutor. He is responsible for Aikman's greatness. I praised the 49ers for hiring him as the team's offensive coordinator last year. And he did a great job with Alex Smith.
But Turner is 58-82-1 as a head coach. Now I know the circumstances were tough in Washington under Dan Snyder and working for Al Davis in Oakland. But his teams were disasters. And the players in Oakland constantly talked about the lack of leadership.
If you hire Turner, what exactly are you going to do with Garrett?
Who is going to run the defense?
So here's my advice to Jones — stay away from Norv, hire Wade, and be thankful that Garrett is coming home to deal with the headache you saddled the franchise with in Terrell Owens.
Coaching nuggets
1. The Giants made a nice hire by plucking Steve Spagnuolo from the division rival Eagles. He is well-respected, knows the division and was likely going to be Ron Rivera's coordinator if he got a head-coaching gig.
2. I love the fit for Jim Mora going to Seattle. He obviously loves that part of the country (as evidenced by his dubious radio interview during the regular season) and can aid a defense that underachieved this year. I think Mora is a good coach who deserves a second chance away from Mike Vick. He could replace Mike Holmgren when he retires.
3. Mike Shula is a good coach and Jacksonville picked a winner to coach its quarterbacks. But with Byron Leftwich a likely candidate to be traded, David Garrard underwhelming down the stretch, Quinn Gray raw, plus inconsistent receivers, and now a new offensive system, it might not be enough to revitalize the Jags offense and save Jack Del Rio.
4. Ken Whisenhunt is putting together a great staff in Arizona.
Jerry Jones hired Jason Garrett as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator before hiring a new head coach. Now it is clear that Bill Parcells' old job has been usurped of its power.
Heck, we knew this was true when Jones signed Terrell Owens against Bill Parcells' wishes.
Now, Parcells is gone, the ultimate distraction that is Owens stays, the team still has a vacancy sign hanging over the post for head coach, but there is a new, yet, old face running the offense.
How bout them Cowboys?
It isn't conventional in terms of the chronological order, but you do have to like the appointment of Garrett as the team's offensive coordinator. Some will say Garrett is young and hasn't really been a coach, but he has basically been coaching for the last 15 years as a savvy backup quarterback, including a sustained run with Troy Aikman in Dallas. Anyone who has ever encountered Garrett believes he will be a highly successful coach.
And Jones says Garrett is still a candidate for the head coaching job.
I think under this bizarre circumstance, the best case scenario is to hire Wade Phillips instead.
The Chargers' defensive coordinator is a wizard on his side of the ball. The San Diego players love him and play hard and brilliantly for him. And Phillips has been a successful head coach, going 48-39 during his stops. Phillips had the Bills headed in the right direction, leading them to a win-loss record that was ten games over .500 in three seasons. If it wasn't for a meddlesome owner in the Rob Johnson/Doug Flutie quarterback controversy or the Music City Miracle, Phillips could've guided the Bills to the Super Bowl.
Phillips would run the same 3-4 defense Parcells ran last year while Garrett would have full autonomy of the offense, mentor Tony Romo, kick Owens in the back side, and learn his craft to ultimately follow Phillips as head coach.
It actually makes some sense.
Then there's the other option.
Norv Turner.
I have never doubted Turner as an offensive genius or a quarterback tutor. He is responsible for Aikman's greatness. I praised the 49ers for hiring him as the team's offensive coordinator last year. And he did a great job with Alex Smith.
But Turner is 58-82-1 as a head coach. Now I know the circumstances were tough in Washington under Dan Snyder and working for Al Davis in Oakland. But his teams were disasters. And the players in Oakland constantly talked about the lack of leadership.
If you hire Turner, what exactly are you going to do with Garrett?
Who is going to run the defense?
So here's my advice to Jones — stay away from Norv, hire Wade, and be thankful that Garrett is coming home to deal with the headache you saddled the franchise with in Terrell Owens.
Coaching nuggets
1. The Giants made a nice hire by plucking Steve Spagnuolo from the division rival Eagles. He is well-respected, knows the division and was likely going to be Ron Rivera's coordinator if he got a head-coaching gig.
2. I love the fit for Jim Mora going to Seattle. He obviously loves that part of the country (as evidenced by his dubious radio interview during the regular season) and can aid a defense that underachieved this year. I think Mora is a good coach who deserves a second chance away from Mike Vick. He could replace Mike Holmgren when he retires.
3. Mike Shula is a good coach and Jacksonville picked a winner to coach its quarterbacks. But with Byron Leftwich a likely candidate to be traded, David Garrard underwhelming down the stretch, Quinn Gray raw, plus inconsistent receivers, and now a new offensive system, it might not be enough to revitalize the Jags offense and save Jack Del Rio.
4. Ken Whisenhunt is putting together a great staff in Arizona.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:02 PM
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