DeCamillis heading to Dallas
By Vito Stellino
The timing couldn't have been better for Joe DeCamillis.
The Jaguars' special-teams coach turned down the offer of a contract extension by the Jaguars at the end of last season, because he thought he could get a more lucrative offer on the open market this year.
So when the Dallas Cowboys recently fired their special-teams coach, Bruce Read, DeCamillis was a natural fit, and the Cowboys announced his hiring as special-team coach on their Web site Wednesday.
Although terms were not announced, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is never shy about spending money to get the player or coach he wants.
And Dallas was a good fit for DeCamillis, because he worked with coach Wade Phillips in both Denver and Atlanta.
It's also something of a homecoming for DeCamillis' wife, Dana, the daughter of former Cowboys player and assistant coach Dan Reeves.
DeCamillis, 43, has no college or NFL playing experience, but he's coached in the NFL for 20 years with five teams.
In going to Dallas, DeCamillis will be coaching a team that had a season that was similar to the Jaguars last year. Both had disappointing seasons, and chemistry problems in the locker room were a problem.
DeCamillis, who spent the past two years with the Jaguars, is hoping that John Harbaugh's success as a coach in Baltimore will open the doors for more special-teams coaches to get head-coaching jobs. Harbaugh was special-teams coach in Philadelphia for nine seasons before Baltimore.
DeCamillis noted last year that the special-teams coach deals with the majority of the players on the team.
"It's just like offense and defense. You do the same thing as far as installing plays and stuff like that," he said.
He said he to drill the players in all the obscure special-teams rules. The Jaguars ranked third in kickoff coverage, and the Cowboys ranked sixth. The Jaguars were 18th in kickoff returns, and the Cowboys were 21st. In net punting average, the Jaguars were 18th, and the Cowboys were 22nd.
Montell Owens ran 41 yards for a touchdown with a fake punt against the Houston Texans, but the Jaguars didn't return a punt or kickoff for a touchdown.
DeCamillis' departure leaves the Jaguars with four openings on coach Jack Del Rio's staff. Yale announced Wednesday that it hired Jaguars defensive assistant Tom Williams as its head coach. Del Rio fired strength and conditioning coach Mark Asanovich and his assistant, Les Ebert. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who's not under contract for next season, also is looking at other opportunities.
Del Rio, whose staff will coach the South team in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 24, is likely to interview coaches that week.
The timing couldn't have been better for Joe DeCamillis.
The Jaguars' special-teams coach turned down the offer of a contract extension by the Jaguars at the end of last season, because he thought he could get a more lucrative offer on the open market this year.
So when the Dallas Cowboys recently fired their special-teams coach, Bruce Read, DeCamillis was a natural fit, and the Cowboys announced his hiring as special-team coach on their Web site Wednesday.
Although terms were not announced, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is never shy about spending money to get the player or coach he wants.
And Dallas was a good fit for DeCamillis, because he worked with coach Wade Phillips in both Denver and Atlanta.
It's also something of a homecoming for DeCamillis' wife, Dana, the daughter of former Cowboys player and assistant coach Dan Reeves.
DeCamillis, 43, has no college or NFL playing experience, but he's coached in the NFL for 20 years with five teams.
In going to Dallas, DeCamillis will be coaching a team that had a season that was similar to the Jaguars last year. Both had disappointing seasons, and chemistry problems in the locker room were a problem.
DeCamillis, who spent the past two years with the Jaguars, is hoping that John Harbaugh's success as a coach in Baltimore will open the doors for more special-teams coaches to get head-coaching jobs. Harbaugh was special-teams coach in Philadelphia for nine seasons before Baltimore.
DeCamillis noted last year that the special-teams coach deals with the majority of the players on the team.
"It's just like offense and defense. You do the same thing as far as installing plays and stuff like that," he said.
He said he to drill the players in all the obscure special-teams rules. The Jaguars ranked third in kickoff coverage, and the Cowboys ranked sixth. The Jaguars were 18th in kickoff returns, and the Cowboys were 21st. In net punting average, the Jaguars were 18th, and the Cowboys were 22nd.
Montell Owens ran 41 yards for a touchdown with a fake punt against the Houston Texans, but the Jaguars didn't return a punt or kickoff for a touchdown.
DeCamillis' departure leaves the Jaguars with four openings on coach Jack Del Rio's staff. Yale announced Wednesday that it hired Jaguars defensive assistant Tom Williams as its head coach. Del Rio fired strength and conditioning coach Mark Asanovich and his assistant, Les Ebert. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who's not under contract for next season, also is looking at other opportunities.
Del Rio, whose staff will coach the South team in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 24, is likely to interview coaches that week.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:48 AM
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