Dallas’ offseason moves all about improving pass rush, offensive line
Forget T.O. — Cowboys returning to basics
By William Bendetson
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 3:34 p.m. CT May 24, 2007
According to surveys, the Dallas Cowboys are still America's most popular team, and when Bill Parcells was coach it was almost a poetic match — a legendary brand coupled with one of the best coaches in NFL history. To the surprise of Cowboy ownership, Parcells departed this offseason for the coziness of retirement.
Enter Wade Phillips, Parcells’ total opposite. Stoic and reserved, Phillips is living his dream as someone who went from Texas high school football coach to the coach of the Cowboys. Not bad, considering many of those coaches dream and never come close.
"I was very surprised he (Parcells) stepped down," said Stephen Jones, Chief Operating officer and director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys. "We had a lot of conversations about 2007 and I really thought he was going to stay. We had a terrific relationship. We had a lot of discussions about what needed to be done to improve our defense. I understand, however, the reason for his decision."
Parcells’ late decision to retire forced the Cowboys to quickly scramble for a new coach. "We did have to hurry, since we were the last team except San Diego to hire a coach," Jones said.
Jones interviewed over 10 candidates and decided Phillips, a coach many considered a has been. In three seasons as Buffalo Bills coach, Phillips posted an overall winning record, but most assumed he would not receive another head coaching opportunity. Many remember Phillips as the coach who was on the wrong end of the Music City Miracle (he still insists it was a forward pass.) or the coach that benched Doug Flutie at the end of the 1999 season in favor of Rob Johnson.
So why hire Phillips? In short, a return to the basics.
"We moved the ball well all year long on offense, but our defense struggled, particularly in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback," Jones said. "We ran a 3-4 defense last year, but Wade's version of the 3-4 will allow players to get more movement on the defensive line and better utilize their quickness to pressure the quarterback. We feel that this is a year our young defensive talent can start to really click."
Jones knows that for the Cowboys to win a playoff game for the first time since 1997 they need to improve the offensive and defensive lines. Quite simply, they need to get more pressure on the quarterback and better protect their new golden boy QB, Tony Romo. This marks a stark contrast from prior Cowboys’ offseasons in which they focused on landing flashy players like Terrell Owens. In this offseason, Dallas has made very few headlines.
The Cowboys have tried improving their pass rush for a few years, and this might be the season when it comes to fruition. Marcus Spears and DeMarcus Ware were Dallas’ first two picks in 2004. In 2006 it was inside linebacker Bobby Carpenter and defensive end Anthony Spencer in this year’s draft — a strong pass rush has been Dallas’ priority for some time.
But that emphasis on defense only to result in a mediocre on-field performance must have frustrated Jones. Ranking 13th in team defense and finish 20th in points allowed is not going to cut it in Cowboy land.
On offense, the Cowboys went basic by retaining two of their free-agent offensive lineman and adding two offensive lineman with their second- and third-round picks in this year's draft.
"We are able to sign Leonard Davis and he will be able to play his more natural position — guard instead of tackle. We were also able to sign Andre Gurode to play center," Jones said. "For a while it did not look like we would be able to sign tackle Marc Colombo, but the numbers eventually came down and we did, which is exciting. We also got a veteran quarterback in Brad Johnson to protect us in the event that Tony (Romo) gets hurt."
Still, the Cowboys need to do something else — play smarter football. It sounds obvious, but it should be preached again and again when the Cowboys convene for training camp in San Antonio at the end of July.
After all, the Cowboys missed a chance against Philadelphia when Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown — just as Dallas was two yards away from tying the game. The excuse for the interception? A miscommunication between Bledsoe and tight end Jason Witten.
The Cowboys also missed a chance to beat Washington when the their game-winning field goal attempt was blocked, returned 30 yards — and boosted by a face-mask penalty — and set up Redskins kicker Nick Novak to hit a game-winning 47-yard field goal.
There was also the season-ending playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a story that does not need to be retold.
"That was heartbreaking," Jones said. "We saw how close we were as a team and we knew that we should have won one possibly two playoff games."
Phillips emphasizes that won't be the case this season.
"You have to finish drills, practice, and games. It is simple as that. That is something we are going to focus on this year," said Phillips, who reminds his doubters of both his winning record in Buffalo and experience working under Marv Levy, Dan Reeves, and Marty Schottenheimer.
Phillips and Jones both seem to realize that winning in Dallas this season is about the little things. Phillips is also intent on proving the doubters wrong, mainly those that say he not does not have what it takes to be a head coach in the NFL.
William Bendetson is an MSNBC.com contributor based in Boston.
By William Bendetson
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 3:34 p.m. CT May 24, 2007
According to surveys, the Dallas Cowboys are still America's most popular team, and when Bill Parcells was coach it was almost a poetic match — a legendary brand coupled with one of the best coaches in NFL history. To the surprise of Cowboy ownership, Parcells departed this offseason for the coziness of retirement.
Enter Wade Phillips, Parcells’ total opposite. Stoic and reserved, Phillips is living his dream as someone who went from Texas high school football coach to the coach of the Cowboys. Not bad, considering many of those coaches dream and never come close.
"I was very surprised he (Parcells) stepped down," said Stephen Jones, Chief Operating officer and director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys. "We had a lot of conversations about 2007 and I really thought he was going to stay. We had a terrific relationship. We had a lot of discussions about what needed to be done to improve our defense. I understand, however, the reason for his decision."
Parcells’ late decision to retire forced the Cowboys to quickly scramble for a new coach. "We did have to hurry, since we were the last team except San Diego to hire a coach," Jones said.
Jones interviewed over 10 candidates and decided Phillips, a coach many considered a has been. In three seasons as Buffalo Bills coach, Phillips posted an overall winning record, but most assumed he would not receive another head coaching opportunity. Many remember Phillips as the coach who was on the wrong end of the Music City Miracle (he still insists it was a forward pass.) or the coach that benched Doug Flutie at the end of the 1999 season in favor of Rob Johnson.
So why hire Phillips? In short, a return to the basics.
"We moved the ball well all year long on offense, but our defense struggled, particularly in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback," Jones said. "We ran a 3-4 defense last year, but Wade's version of the 3-4 will allow players to get more movement on the defensive line and better utilize their quickness to pressure the quarterback. We feel that this is a year our young defensive talent can start to really click."
Jones knows that for the Cowboys to win a playoff game for the first time since 1997 they need to improve the offensive and defensive lines. Quite simply, they need to get more pressure on the quarterback and better protect their new golden boy QB, Tony Romo. This marks a stark contrast from prior Cowboys’ offseasons in which they focused on landing flashy players like Terrell Owens. In this offseason, Dallas has made very few headlines.
The Cowboys have tried improving their pass rush for a few years, and this might be the season when it comes to fruition. Marcus Spears and DeMarcus Ware were Dallas’ first two picks in 2004. In 2006 it was inside linebacker Bobby Carpenter and defensive end Anthony Spencer in this year’s draft — a strong pass rush has been Dallas’ priority for some time.
But that emphasis on defense only to result in a mediocre on-field performance must have frustrated Jones. Ranking 13th in team defense and finish 20th in points allowed is not going to cut it in Cowboy land.
On offense, the Cowboys went basic by retaining two of their free-agent offensive lineman and adding two offensive lineman with their second- and third-round picks in this year's draft.
"We are able to sign Leonard Davis and he will be able to play his more natural position — guard instead of tackle. We were also able to sign Andre Gurode to play center," Jones said. "For a while it did not look like we would be able to sign tackle Marc Colombo, but the numbers eventually came down and we did, which is exciting. We also got a veteran quarterback in Brad Johnson to protect us in the event that Tony (Romo) gets hurt."
Still, the Cowboys need to do something else — play smarter football. It sounds obvious, but it should be preached again and again when the Cowboys convene for training camp in San Antonio at the end of July.
After all, the Cowboys missed a chance against Philadelphia when Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown — just as Dallas was two yards away from tying the game. The excuse for the interception? A miscommunication between Bledsoe and tight end Jason Witten.
The Cowboys also missed a chance to beat Washington when the their game-winning field goal attempt was blocked, returned 30 yards — and boosted by a face-mask penalty — and set up Redskins kicker Nick Novak to hit a game-winning 47-yard field goal.
There was also the season-ending playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a story that does not need to be retold.
"That was heartbreaking," Jones said. "We saw how close we were as a team and we knew that we should have won one possibly two playoff games."
Phillips emphasizes that won't be the case this season.
"You have to finish drills, practice, and games. It is simple as that. That is something we are going to focus on this year," said Phillips, who reminds his doubters of both his winning record in Buffalo and experience working under Marv Levy, Dan Reeves, and Marty Schottenheimer.
Phillips and Jones both seem to realize that winning in Dallas this season is about the little things. Phillips is also intent on proving the doubters wrong, mainly those that say he not does not have what it takes to be a head coach in the NFL.
William Bendetson is an MSNBC.com contributor based in Boston.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:14 PM
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