Garrett, Sparano huddling to talk offense
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
Tony Sparano (left) is the only coach remaining from the 2006 offensive staff, when Dallas averaged 26.6 points per game.
INDIANAPOLIS – In the mid-1990s, when Jason Garrett was a backup quarterback with the Cowboys and Tony Sparano was head coach at the University of New Haven, both men, now the new brain trust of the Cowboys' offense, spent several summers together.
Jason's father, Jim, a former Cowboys scout, ran a football camp at Shippensburg (Pa.) State, and Garrett and Sparano served as coaches. The two share mutual friends throughout the coaching fraternity and needed no introduction when Garrett came on board.
"I think it's important he and I speak the same language," Sparano said. "We've been together before, and our paths have crossed."
For the last month, Garrett and Sparano have been locked in their offices at Valley Ranch, mapping out their vision for the offense.
So far, so good.
"One of the things my son [offensive quality control coach] Wesley said was, 'It looks like those guys have been working together for a long time, listening to them and talking to them about what they want to do and how they want to do it,'" coach Wade Phillips said. "That's the way you want it."
Sparano remains the assistant head coach after getting a three-year contract extension. He called the plays last season when he was the running game coordinator and offensive line coach.
His role on game day may change with Garrett as the offensive coordinator, but the Cowboys' running game is expected to remain the same. The passing game will be tweaked by Garrett, who is more familiar with the schemes used by coordinators he played under, like Norv Turner, Sean Payton and Jon Gruden.
"I think like a lot of teams, you spend this time evaluating what the team had done the year before and invigorate the offense or defense with new ideas," said Garrett, who spent the previous two seasons as the Miami Dolphins' quarterbacks coach.
"Obviously, with a new staff coming together, there's different thoughts about ways to do things. Tony's been great. He's been fun to work with and talk offensive football with."
Right now, the two are in the rudimentary stage of putting an offense together, which includes deciding what to call the formations and packages and studying the offensive players on the roster.
"Part of the goal is to keep the stuff consistent as we can for the players," Sparano said. "Sometimes it's good the coaches learn and don't have to put all the learning on the players. There's going to be change anytime there's staff movement like that, and it's got to be comfortable for Jay and comfortable for myself."
Last year's offense was among the best in Cowboys' history, but Sparano is the only leftover from the offensive staff. The Cowboys averaged 26.6 points per game (fourth best in the league) and averaged 360.8 yards (fifth best).
"There's been some great Cowboys teams, and our numbers compare to those teams or were better," Sparano said. "That says an awful lot, in my opinion. It's a credit to the coaches, but more importantly, it's a credit to the players. We have good players."
For the second time in team history, the Cowboys had a 1,000-yard rusher (Julius Jones) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Owens, Terry Glenn). Tony Romo threw 16 touchdown passes in 10 starts and was named to the Pro Bowl. Owens led the NFL with 13 touchdown catches, and Marion Barber ran for 14 touchdowns.
"I'm excited about it," Garrett said. "I'm excited about the team they have on offense and defense and everything they've been putting together in Dallas.
"We're going to evaluate the things they did last year and try to keep those constants and then add some other things and continue and try and grow."
tarcher@dallasnews.com
Tony Sparano (left) is the only coach remaining from the 2006 offensive staff, when Dallas averaged 26.6 points per game.
INDIANAPOLIS – In the mid-1990s, when Jason Garrett was a backup quarterback with the Cowboys and Tony Sparano was head coach at the University of New Haven, both men, now the new brain trust of the Cowboys' offense, spent several summers together.
Jason's father, Jim, a former Cowboys scout, ran a football camp at Shippensburg (Pa.) State, and Garrett and Sparano served as coaches. The two share mutual friends throughout the coaching fraternity and needed no introduction when Garrett came on board.
"I think it's important he and I speak the same language," Sparano said. "We've been together before, and our paths have crossed."
For the last month, Garrett and Sparano have been locked in their offices at Valley Ranch, mapping out their vision for the offense.
So far, so good.
"One of the things my son [offensive quality control coach] Wesley said was, 'It looks like those guys have been working together for a long time, listening to them and talking to them about what they want to do and how they want to do it,'" coach Wade Phillips said. "That's the way you want it."
Sparano remains the assistant head coach after getting a three-year contract extension. He called the plays last season when he was the running game coordinator and offensive line coach.
His role on game day may change with Garrett as the offensive coordinator, but the Cowboys' running game is expected to remain the same. The passing game will be tweaked by Garrett, who is more familiar with the schemes used by coordinators he played under, like Norv Turner, Sean Payton and Jon Gruden.
"I think like a lot of teams, you spend this time evaluating what the team had done the year before and invigorate the offense or defense with new ideas," said Garrett, who spent the previous two seasons as the Miami Dolphins' quarterbacks coach.
"Obviously, with a new staff coming together, there's different thoughts about ways to do things. Tony's been great. He's been fun to work with and talk offensive football with."
Right now, the two are in the rudimentary stage of putting an offense together, which includes deciding what to call the formations and packages and studying the offensive players on the roster.
"Part of the goal is to keep the stuff consistent as we can for the players," Sparano said. "Sometimes it's good the coaches learn and don't have to put all the learning on the players. There's going to be change anytime there's staff movement like that, and it's got to be comfortable for Jay and comfortable for myself."
Last year's offense was among the best in Cowboys' history, but Sparano is the only leftover from the offensive staff. The Cowboys averaged 26.6 points per game (fourth best in the league) and averaged 360.8 yards (fifth best).
"There's been some great Cowboys teams, and our numbers compare to those teams or were better," Sparano said. "That says an awful lot, in my opinion. It's a credit to the coaches, but more importantly, it's a credit to the players. We have good players."
For the second time in team history, the Cowboys had a 1,000-yard rusher (Julius Jones) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Owens, Terry Glenn). Tony Romo threw 16 touchdown passes in 10 starts and was named to the Pro Bowl. Owens led the NFL with 13 touchdown catches, and Marion Barber ran for 14 touchdowns.
"I'm excited about it," Garrett said. "I'm excited about the team they have on offense and defense and everything they've been putting together in Dallas.
"We're going to evaluate the things they did last year and try to keep those constants and then add some other things and continue and try and grow."
posted by The Gryphon at 10:39 AM
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