WFAA: Wade Phillips busier as head coach, coordinator now
By GEORGE RIBA / WFAA-TV
CARROLLTON -- If Wade Phillips looks more involved during the organized team activities this year, it's because he is.
Three months ago, team owner Jerry Jones said Phillips would not just be the head coach this season, but also take over as defensive coordinator.
"I'll just have a little more time," Phillips said. "Hopefully a little less time for media and more time for football."
Taking on the duties of the defensive coordinator takes Phillips back to his roots.
And if there is one thing the players and coaches like about the change, is that they get to see more of their head coach in defensive meetings.
"I don't know if they like it or not," he said. "It's going fine. I'm just more involved than I was even last year."
Said linebackers coach Reggie Herring, "All that has changed is that you've got the boss in your meetings and you better stand at attention a little better."
The Dallas defense had a terrible finish to the season last year.
A good example was Baltimore in week 16 when the Ravens had fourth quarter runs of 77 and 82 yards.
Now the defense is all on Phillips.
"You know there is no middle," said secondary coach Dave Camp, a former Cowboys head coach and defensive coordinator. "When we discuss things, and go through things, Wade is right there and he's listening to us and we're listening to him, it should help us in the long run."
"When you've got the boss in your meetings hanging around," Herring said, "it makes it even that more special, and really makes our job even easier to be honest with you."
Players are beginning to see a different side.
"He's funny, you know his personality is a little different but we're getting a chance to know each other in a different capacity," said linebacker Bradie James.
"I think we'll be better prepared because now you have the guy at the top teaching the guys at the bottom," said linebacker DeMarcus Ware. "With him in there I think the mistakes from last year aren't going to be the same and it's really going to help out."
Only 12 teams gave up more points than Dallas last year so scoring defense might be a good place for Phillips to start.
CARROLLTON -- If Wade Phillips looks more involved during the organized team activities this year, it's because he is.
Three months ago, team owner Jerry Jones said Phillips would not just be the head coach this season, but also take over as defensive coordinator.
"I'll just have a little more time," Phillips said. "Hopefully a little less time for media and more time for football."
Taking on the duties of the defensive coordinator takes Phillips back to his roots.
And if there is one thing the players and coaches like about the change, is that they get to see more of their head coach in defensive meetings.
"I don't know if they like it or not," he said. "It's going fine. I'm just more involved than I was even last year."
Said linebackers coach Reggie Herring, "All that has changed is that you've got the boss in your meetings and you better stand at attention a little better."
The Dallas defense had a terrible finish to the season last year.
A good example was Baltimore in week 16 when the Ravens had fourth quarter runs of 77 and 82 yards.
Now the defense is all on Phillips.
"You know there is no middle," said secondary coach Dave Camp, a former Cowboys head coach and defensive coordinator. "When we discuss things, and go through things, Wade is right there and he's listening to us and we're listening to him, it should help us in the long run."
"When you've got the boss in your meetings hanging around," Herring said, "it makes it even that more special, and really makes our job even easier to be honest with you."
Players are beginning to see a different side.
"He's funny, you know his personality is a little different but we're getting a chance to know each other in a different capacity," said linebacker Bradie James.
"I think we'll be better prepared because now you have the guy at the top teaching the guys at the bottom," said linebacker DeMarcus Ware. "With him in there I think the mistakes from last year aren't going to be the same and it's really going to help out."
Only 12 teams gave up more points than Dallas last year so scoring defense might be a good place for Phillips to start.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:09 PM
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