Offensive job a test for Garrett

By MAC ENGEL

Part of Jason Garrett's offensive learning curve is the years he spent backing up Troy Aikman as a Cowboys quarterback.

IRVING -- When Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered Wade Phillips the head coaching job, he took away Jason Garrett's net.

With the hiring of the defensive-minded Phillips rather than the offensive-oriented Norv Turner, Garrett's learning curve as an assistant coach changed drastically.

Although neither Phillips nor Jones committed to any single member of the coaching staff, Garrett appears to be the front-runner to be the Cowboys' next offensive coordinator and will work with Tony Romo.

Is Garrett, who has been an NFL quarterbacks coach for two years and never been a coordinator, ready for the promotion?

"That's the big question," Jones said. "When you're a young guy and you don't have a lot of experience, then how-ready-you-are is the question mark."

Without specifically saying Garrett will be the next coordinator, Jones referred to him and offensive line coach Tony Sparano as a likely duo for 2007 season.

"With him and Tony, I think you've got a really good foundation and that influenced me," Jones said. "I'm comfortable. I think I used the term, 'Those guys will be operating without a net.' I like that. That brings out the best in people."

For the record, Phillips said he had no problem with Jones hiring Garrett away from the Dolphins two weeks before he was named the Cowboys' coach. Phillips said he understands that in today's NFL, teams often have to hire assistant coaches just to ensure they can have them on staff, and worry about the rest later.

Had Jones hired Turner, none of this would have been an issue. Garrett would have been groomed under the former Cowboys offensive coordinator. It's doubtful he would have called many plays, if any.

With Phillips as the coach, expect Garrett to call plays. Sparano, who was promoted before the 2006 season to assistant head coach/offensive line and contributed as a play caller, will be an aide. Expect Sparano to serve as a running backs and offensive line coach.

And just because Garrett played under Turner does not mean Romo will run a timing-based passing offense, the same offense Turner prefers, and the one Troy Aikman had great success running in the 1990s. Garrett played under different offensive coordinators, including New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton when they were with the New York Giants.

"Jason is not married to any offense," Jones said. "One of his plusses is he's been with so many different types of offenses."