Phillips' timing finally right
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram staff writer
IRVING -- Wade Phillips has been fired twice as a head coach, yet neither time has he viewed his tenure as failures. Just extenuating circumstances.
In Denver, he was fired after two seasons and one playoff appearance. He had quarterback John Elway, but he didn't have running back Terrell Davis.
In Buffalo, the Bills were on the slide from their Super Bowl days when he took over. They haven't been to the playoffs since he took them there in 1999.
For the first time as a head coach, he's taking over without extenuating circumstances.
"We have some talent. What I have to do is to make sure they continue to do what they do now," Phillips said. "I think we'll have a team we'll be proud of."
Although his arrival did not generate the shock and awe of Bill Parcells' hiring, Wade is here to do what Bill could not: Win a Super Bowl.
Here are 10 reasons why he can:
The offensive line is set, finally.
This was something Parcells never could nail down. Jacob Rogers, Al Johnson and Stephen Peterman were either second- or third-round picks in his regime, and they were all busts. As a result, the Cowboys have spent millions in free-agent money on the offensive line. The line of Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo is one of the team's biggest -- and appears to be one of the the best --since Jimmy Johnson was the coach.
He trusts his assistant coaches.
Parcells was a bit paranoid, and was renowned for micro-managing the offense, defense and special teams. The Cowboys are thrilled with the addition of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, and will give him the freedom to run the offense.
Players believe in him.
It wasn't that the players didn't believe in Parcells, but they tired of him. Parcells trusted few players to act and prepare professionally. Phillips trusts his players to act, prepare and play like adults. As a result, there is a desire to win for him.
He has a special player on defense entering his prime.
Parcells often hinted that linebacker DeMarcus Ware could be a special player. In Ware's first two years, he has shown enough raw ability and athleticism to make 19.5 sacks, including 11.5 sacks last season. Entering his third year in the NFL and playing in the scheme where he will be unleashed on quarterbacks, Ware has the potential to lead the league in sacks.
The Player won't be The Problem.
No, Terrell Owens wasn't the type of headache with the Cowboys that he was with the Philadelphia Eagles, or in his final days with the San Francisco 49ers. But his relationship with Parcells wasn't easy, and he generated a few headlines of the wrong variety. At 33, and facing the possibility of being released at season's end, Owens seems determined not to be a distraction and prove that age will not catch him from behind.
The defense will be fixed.
From the University of Kansas in 1975 to the Eagles in 1986, Broncos in 1989, Atlanta Falcons in 2002, and San Diego Chargers in 2004, a defense under Wade Phillips is always better off. It's arguably the biggest reason why he is the Cowboys coach. For a team that has seven first-round picks on its defense, and the big paychecks that go along with it, the Cowboys expect this unit to be one of the league's best.
The NFC is down.
The NFC hasn't had a Super Bowl winner since the 2002 season, and is 2-8 in the past 10 Big Games. None of the preseason conference favorites -- New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks -- strike fear into Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, LaDainian Tomlinson or the rest of the AFC.
He doesn't have to rebuild.
Parcells once said the Cowboys job was the hardest he ever had. His drafts, which recently have earned some criticism, laid the foundation for Phillips. Eighteen of the team's "major" players were draft picks or rookie free-agent signees under Parcells.
He has his quarterback.
Parcells had Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe before he finally gave the ball to Tony Romo with two months remaining in the final year of his coaching career. Unlike all of those others, Romo's best games appear to be ahead of him.
This is a contract year for two key players.
Phillips has tried to deny there is any correlation between a player's performance and his contract status. But it can't hurt that his starting running back and left tackle could be free agents at season's end. Both Julius Jones and Flozell Adams are looking for big contracts, and the easiest way to grab the big money is to have a big year.
Star-Telegram staff writer
IRVING -- Wade Phillips has been fired twice as a head coach, yet neither time has he viewed his tenure as failures. Just extenuating circumstances.
In Denver, he was fired after two seasons and one playoff appearance. He had quarterback John Elway, but he didn't have running back Terrell Davis.
In Buffalo, the Bills were on the slide from their Super Bowl days when he took over. They haven't been to the playoffs since he took them there in 1999.
For the first time as a head coach, he's taking over without extenuating circumstances.
"We have some talent. What I have to do is to make sure they continue to do what they do now," Phillips said. "I think we'll have a team we'll be proud of."
Although his arrival did not generate the shock and awe of Bill Parcells' hiring, Wade is here to do what Bill could not: Win a Super Bowl.
Here are 10 reasons why he can:
The offensive line is set, finally.
This was something Parcells never could nail down. Jacob Rogers, Al Johnson and Stephen Peterman were either second- or third-round picks in his regime, and they were all busts. As a result, the Cowboys have spent millions in free-agent money on the offensive line. The line of Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo is one of the team's biggest -- and appears to be one of the the best --since Jimmy Johnson was the coach.
He trusts his assistant coaches.
Parcells was a bit paranoid, and was renowned for micro-managing the offense, defense and special teams. The Cowboys are thrilled with the addition of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, and will give him the freedom to run the offense.
Players believe in him.
It wasn't that the players didn't believe in Parcells, but they tired of him. Parcells trusted few players to act and prepare professionally. Phillips trusts his players to act, prepare and play like adults. As a result, there is a desire to win for him.
He has a special player on defense entering his prime.
Parcells often hinted that linebacker DeMarcus Ware could be a special player. In Ware's first two years, he has shown enough raw ability and athleticism to make 19.5 sacks, including 11.5 sacks last season. Entering his third year in the NFL and playing in the scheme where he will be unleashed on quarterbacks, Ware has the potential to lead the league in sacks.
The Player won't be The Problem.
No, Terrell Owens wasn't the type of headache with the Cowboys that he was with the Philadelphia Eagles, or in his final days with the San Francisco 49ers. But his relationship with Parcells wasn't easy, and he generated a few headlines of the wrong variety. At 33, and facing the possibility of being released at season's end, Owens seems determined not to be a distraction and prove that age will not catch him from behind.
The defense will be fixed.
From the University of Kansas in 1975 to the Eagles in 1986, Broncos in 1989, Atlanta Falcons in 2002, and San Diego Chargers in 2004, a defense under Wade Phillips is always better off. It's arguably the biggest reason why he is the Cowboys coach. For a team that has seven first-round picks on its defense, and the big paychecks that go along with it, the Cowboys expect this unit to be one of the league's best.
The NFC is down.
The NFC hasn't had a Super Bowl winner since the 2002 season, and is 2-8 in the past 10 Big Games. None of the preseason conference favorites -- New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks -- strike fear into Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, LaDainian Tomlinson or the rest of the AFC.
He doesn't have to rebuild.
Parcells once said the Cowboys job was the hardest he ever had. His drafts, which recently have earned some criticism, laid the foundation for Phillips. Eighteen of the team's "major" players were draft picks or rookie free-agent signees under Parcells.
He has his quarterback.
Parcells had Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe before he finally gave the ball to Tony Romo with two months remaining in the final year of his coaching career. Unlike all of those others, Romo's best games appear to be ahead of him.
This is a contract year for two key players.
Phillips has tried to deny there is any correlation between a player's performance and his contract status. But it can't hurt that his starting running back and left tackle could be free agents at season's end. Both Julius Jones and Flozell Adams are looking for big contracts, and the easiest way to grab the big money is to have a big year.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:45 AM
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