Cowboys make right call on Garrett
by Frank Luska
DMN
IRVING – The Red Baron struck again.
The quarterback who set a club record never equaled or even approached by Don Meredith, Danny White, Roger Staubach or Troy Aikman claimed another victim Sunday night at Texas Stadium. And it wasn't Tony Romo.
Say hello and welcome back to Jason Garrett.
Garrett left Dallas in 1999 to continue his 12-year NFL odyssey as a seldom-used reserve with the New York Giants, Tampa Bay and Miami. Seldom meant he started only nine games, all with the Cowboys over a span of seven seasons. Seldom almost meant never in Jason's case; the trade-off that none of his body parts was abused so that to this day he walks without a limp, his shoulders can rotate and his brain free from concussions.
Garrett had one moment of permanent glory for a player who spent as much time on the sideline as the midfield stripe. It happened on Thanksgiving Day in 1994 against Green Bay. Garrett was playing for the usual reason. Everyone else at his position was hurt.
Consider the odds on what the guy with the crimson curls was about to do to the Packers. He'd been inactive for the first 10 games. He was making only his second NFL start. He was behind 17-3 in the second quarter. He was No. 3 on the depth chart, one rung above being exiled to civilian life.
Unfazed by circumstance or maybe the beneficiary of an uncluttered mind, The Red Baron ignited a remarkable comeback. He passed for 311 yards, leading the Cowboys to a franchise-best 36 points in the second half and an astonishing 42-31 victory.
Garrett returned to the scene of his gaudy aerial show Sunday night in an altered role. Now he was making his NFL debut as an offensive coordinator. He drew another rookie for his season-opening coaching, first-time New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Rather than provide the hometown version of how their duel panned out, here is how it looked to a Giants insider who wrote:
"It will be impossible to avoid comparison between Spagnuolo and the failed coordinator he replaced, Tim Lewis. And it isn't going to be fair. Spagnuolo needs lots of time, and he deserves it, while Lewis had more than enough time to certify his shortcomings.
Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (left) appears to be a good fit for quarterback Tony Romo.
"But listen, the defense was an embarrassment, and it made heroes of the Cowboys. It also provided their fans with a comfortable excuse not to dwell on the flaws of that defense.
"It might be noted that the play-calling of the Cowboys was close to brilliant, and that credit goes to former Giant [and Dallas] quarterback Jason Garrett. 'We were getting perfect calls for situations,' said Tony Romo."
The result was a near-flawless offensive display in the absence of injured Terry Glenn, last year's 1,000-plus yard receiver. Garrett attacked so vigorously that Romo threw only two safety valve passes to backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber.
Romo passed for a personal-best 345 yards on only 15 completions – four of them for touchdowns to Terrell Owens (22, 47 yards), Sam Hurd (51) and Jason Witten (12). His average of 23 yards per hit rose off the chart. Add 142 rushing yards against a New York defense weakened at both ends by out-of-shape holdout Michael Strayhan and a first-quarter injury to Osi Umenyiora for a bountiful total output of 487 yards.
Garrett has long been touted a hot coaching prospect for all the right reasons. He is a gifted strategist, which was why so many teams coveted his presence rather his playing skills on their roster. He communicates well with players, and seems especially compatible as a youthful (age 39) mentor for Romo. He can teach. He has an upbeat, optimistic persona that will wear well during hard times to come.
Tough times lie ahead unless the Cowboys' defense finds its groove. Eli Manning cut it up for four touchdowns and came within about three toe lengths of making it a five spot. Amani Toomer caught a 35-yard pass from Manning, got one foot down inside the back line but planted the other inches out of bounds late in the first quarter. The Giants were that close to increasing their early lead to 13-3. Manning passed for a healthy 312 yards anyway against a secondary missing cornerback Terence Newman.
So went the debut of The Red Baron as an offensive coordinator. It didn't look much different than that Thanksgiving Day in '94.
DMN
IRVING – The Red Baron struck again.
The quarterback who set a club record never equaled or even approached by Don Meredith, Danny White, Roger Staubach or Troy Aikman claimed another victim Sunday night at Texas Stadium. And it wasn't Tony Romo.
Say hello and welcome back to Jason Garrett.
Garrett left Dallas in 1999 to continue his 12-year NFL odyssey as a seldom-used reserve with the New York Giants, Tampa Bay and Miami. Seldom meant he started only nine games, all with the Cowboys over a span of seven seasons. Seldom almost meant never in Jason's case; the trade-off that none of his body parts was abused so that to this day he walks without a limp, his shoulders can rotate and his brain free from concussions.
Garrett had one moment of permanent glory for a player who spent as much time on the sideline as the midfield stripe. It happened on Thanksgiving Day in 1994 against Green Bay. Garrett was playing for the usual reason. Everyone else at his position was hurt.
Consider the odds on what the guy with the crimson curls was about to do to the Packers. He'd been inactive for the first 10 games. He was making only his second NFL start. He was behind 17-3 in the second quarter. He was No. 3 on the depth chart, one rung above being exiled to civilian life.
Unfazed by circumstance or maybe the beneficiary of an uncluttered mind, The Red Baron ignited a remarkable comeback. He passed for 311 yards, leading the Cowboys to a franchise-best 36 points in the second half and an astonishing 42-31 victory.
Garrett returned to the scene of his gaudy aerial show Sunday night in an altered role. Now he was making his NFL debut as an offensive coordinator. He drew another rookie for his season-opening coaching, first-time New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Rather than provide the hometown version of how their duel panned out, here is how it looked to a Giants insider who wrote:
"It will be impossible to avoid comparison between Spagnuolo and the failed coordinator he replaced, Tim Lewis. And it isn't going to be fair. Spagnuolo needs lots of time, and he deserves it, while Lewis had more than enough time to certify his shortcomings.
Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (left) appears to be a good fit for quarterback Tony Romo.
"But listen, the defense was an embarrassment, and it made heroes of the Cowboys. It also provided their fans with a comfortable excuse not to dwell on the flaws of that defense.
"It might be noted that the play-calling of the Cowboys was close to brilliant, and that credit goes to former Giant [and Dallas] quarterback Jason Garrett. 'We were getting perfect calls for situations,' said Tony Romo."
The result was a near-flawless offensive display in the absence of injured Terry Glenn, last year's 1,000-plus yard receiver. Garrett attacked so vigorously that Romo threw only two safety valve passes to backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber.
Romo passed for a personal-best 345 yards on only 15 completions – four of them for touchdowns to Terrell Owens (22, 47 yards), Sam Hurd (51) and Jason Witten (12). His average of 23 yards per hit rose off the chart. Add 142 rushing yards against a New York defense weakened at both ends by out-of-shape holdout Michael Strayhan and a first-quarter injury to Osi Umenyiora for a bountiful total output of 487 yards.
Garrett has long been touted a hot coaching prospect for all the right reasons. He is a gifted strategist, which was why so many teams coveted his presence rather his playing skills on their roster. He communicates well with players, and seems especially compatible as a youthful (age 39) mentor for Romo. He can teach. He has an upbeat, optimistic persona that will wear well during hard times to come.
Tough times lie ahead unless the Cowboys' defense finds its groove. Eli Manning cut it up for four touchdowns and came within about three toe lengths of making it a five spot. Amani Toomer caught a 35-yard pass from Manning, got one foot down inside the back line but planted the other inches out of bounds late in the first quarter. The Giants were that close to increasing their early lead to 13-3. Manning passed for a healthy 312 yards anyway against a secondary missing cornerback Terence Newman.
So went the debut of The Red Baron as an offensive coordinator. It didn't look much different than that Thanksgiving Day in '94.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:58 PM
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