Football: Cowboys have a coach, but lack assistants
Tom Orsborn
Express-News
IRVING — The daunting task of finding at least six assistants to round out his staff doesn't seem to bother new Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips.
"There's a benefit to being in the league 30 years. You know a lot of people," said the 59-year-old Phillips, who was hired Thursday. "I can recognize good coaches.
"Sometimes there are more coaches out there than jobs."
Aiding Phillips in his search will be the man who hired him. After four years of operating in the shadows during the Bill Parcells era, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is ready to work hand in hand with Phillips.
"Jerry and I will put a staff together that will help us to win," Phillips said at the Thursday news conference to introduce him as the franchise's seventh coach and sixth hired by Jones.
"He's Mr. Jones when he's the owner, but he's Jerry when he's pahdna-ring with me on getting this team ready," Phillips added. "We're in Texas. I didn't say partner. I said pahdna-ring to try to get this team to where it has been."
Only five assistants remain from the 2006 season's 13-man staff. Jones said secondary coach Todd Bowles is the "likely candidate" to become defensive coordinator.
Jones suggested Tony Sparano, Parcells' assistant head coach/running-game coordinator/offensive line coach, will help Jason Garrett call plays next season.
The Cowboys hired Garrett last month. The former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach has never called plays before.
In addition to being the offensive coordinator, Garrett also could coach the quarterbacks.
"We've got to figure out the division of labor still," Jones said. "But (Sparano) will remain a very important part. He's not going anywhere. He's going to be here for us."
The other holdovers from Parcells' staff are Vincent Brown (inside linebackers), Paul Pasqualoni (linebackers) and Kacy Rodgers (defensive line).
The Cowboys need coaches to guide special teams, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, safeties and possibly quarterbacks. Another vacancy is at offensive quality control.
Phillips' son Wes, the Baylor quarterbacks coach, could become the quality control coach. Another Baylor assistant, secondary coach Bill Bradley, could be in the running to coach the Cowboys' secondary. Bradley held a similar job on Phillips' staff in Buffalo.
Phillips' departure also leaves a hole on Marty Schottenheimer's staff in San Diego.
"Wade has a terrific knowledge of football, the game and the way it's played," Schottenheimer said. "He has an ability to present a defense to his team in a manner that's readily understood. He interacts with the players and has credibility with his players. The one thing (the Cowboys) got for certain is a guy who know how to teach football."
Phillips is expected to revamp the Cowboys' 3-4 defense.
"Those guys are going to love his system," Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo said. "They've been in a straight-forward 3-4 defense. Now, they're going to do a lot more moving, a lot more blitzing. They're going to have a lot more opportunities to make plays."
Castillo said the Cowboys also will like Phillips' low-key style.
"Wade is a guy who is always calm and collected," Castillo said. "He knows football and has been around a ton of great players. He knows how it's supposed to be done. He's going to get those guys playing hard and playing right."
Express-News
IRVING — The daunting task of finding at least six assistants to round out his staff doesn't seem to bother new Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips.
"There's a benefit to being in the league 30 years. You know a lot of people," said the 59-year-old Phillips, who was hired Thursday. "I can recognize good coaches.
"Sometimes there are more coaches out there than jobs."
Aiding Phillips in his search will be the man who hired him. After four years of operating in the shadows during the Bill Parcells era, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is ready to work hand in hand with Phillips.
"Jerry and I will put a staff together that will help us to win," Phillips said at the Thursday news conference to introduce him as the franchise's seventh coach and sixth hired by Jones.
"He's Mr. Jones when he's the owner, but he's Jerry when he's pahdna-ring with me on getting this team ready," Phillips added. "We're in Texas. I didn't say partner. I said pahdna-ring to try to get this team to where it has been."
Only five assistants remain from the 2006 season's 13-man staff. Jones said secondary coach Todd Bowles is the "likely candidate" to become defensive coordinator.
Jones suggested Tony Sparano, Parcells' assistant head coach/running-game coordinator/offensive line coach, will help Jason Garrett call plays next season.
The Cowboys hired Garrett last month. The former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach has never called plays before.
In addition to being the offensive coordinator, Garrett also could coach the quarterbacks.
"We've got to figure out the division of labor still," Jones said. "But (Sparano) will remain a very important part. He's not going anywhere. He's going to be here for us."
The other holdovers from Parcells' staff are Vincent Brown (inside linebackers), Paul Pasqualoni (linebackers) and Kacy Rodgers (defensive line).
The Cowboys need coaches to guide special teams, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, safeties and possibly quarterbacks. Another vacancy is at offensive quality control.
Phillips' son Wes, the Baylor quarterbacks coach, could become the quality control coach. Another Baylor assistant, secondary coach Bill Bradley, could be in the running to coach the Cowboys' secondary. Bradley held a similar job on Phillips' staff in Buffalo.
Phillips' departure also leaves a hole on Marty Schottenheimer's staff in San Diego.
"Wade has a terrific knowledge of football, the game and the way it's played," Schottenheimer said. "He has an ability to present a defense to his team in a manner that's readily understood. He interacts with the players and has credibility with his players. The one thing (the Cowboys) got for certain is a guy who know how to teach football."
Phillips is expected to revamp the Cowboys' 3-4 defense.
"Those guys are going to love his system," Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo said. "They've been in a straight-forward 3-4 defense. Now, they're going to do a lot more moving, a lot more blitzing. They're going to have a lot more opportunities to make plays."
Castillo said the Cowboys also will like Phillips' low-key style.
"Wade is a guy who is always calm and collected," Castillo said. "He knows football and has been around a ton of great players. He knows how it's supposed to be done. He's going to get those guys playing hard and playing right."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:46 AM
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