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Who Is That Mystery Man? Tune In Next Week

Remember the ‘98 coaching search? Jerry Jones did his best to bogart the news cycles at the Super Bowl, watching the game with Bill Walsh, whom he consulted.

For days, attention focused on Packers’ assistant Sherman Lewis. Then, when it seemed Jones was ready to commit, came word of a “mystery candidate” who turned out to be Chan Gailey.

Get ready for more cloak and dagger. Jones announced today that he will not make a hire until the Super Bowl has finished. ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen speculates that Jones is waiting on Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

Here’s the intriguing component to that story — Rivera’s contract will expire after Sunday’s game and he will be free to interview for both the head coaching job and the defensive coordinator’s spot.

Let’s compare Rivera to his former Bears’ teammate Mike Singletary. Rivera was a backup linebacker on that famed ‘85 Bears team. The Cal graduate was already being discussed as future coaching material during his playing days.

Rivera does not have 3-4 experience like Singletary, but he has been exposed to practically every variant of the 4-3 possible. He knows Buddy Ryan’s 46 from his days in Chicago. He also learned Vince Tobin’s more conventional 4-3, which Tobin ran after Ryan left to coach Philadelphia.

Like Singletary, Rivera began his pro coaching career as a linebackers coach. He worked for Jim Johnson in Philadelphia from ‘99 through ‘03 and knows Johnson’s blitzing packages forwards and backwards. He returned to Chicago to coordinate the Bears D in ‘04 and moved Lovie Smith’s Tampa-2 scheme at the top of the league.

His three seasons as coordinator set him apart from Singletary. And distinguished seasons they have been:

Year — Yds/Gm — Pts/Game
2004 — 21st — 13th
2005 — 2nd — 1st
2006 — 5th — 3rd

As long as Rivera controlled the defense, I’d hire him in either capacity. If you’ve seen his Bears teams the past two seasons you know no team does a better job of forcing turnovers. Nor would Bill Parcells’ players pose an impediment to his schemes. Ryan, like Parcells, believed in big front seven people and drafted big linebackers like Seth Joyner, Byron Evans and even Rivera, who was large for his time.

Patriots assistants like Romeo Crennel had to wait years before getting an offer because teams refused to wait until after the Super Bowl to conduct interviews. Rivera was a short list candidate for the Cardinals and Steelers jobs but never got follow up interviews because his team continued to win.

Jones took a lot of criticism for waiting out Bill Parcells. It appears Jerry could benefit from waiting.

Singletary Not A DC Candidate and Other News

– If Jerry Jones raids the 49ers for a new head coach, he will be limited to one of the top assistants Norv Turner or Mike Singletary. According to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Turner has assured head coach Mike Nolan he would not bring any team assistants with him to Dallas. Furthermore, Singletary claims he is only interested in the head job.

– In Pamplona, Spain, they have their yearly Running of the Bulls.

At Redskins’ Park, it’s time for their yearly Restructuring of the Contracts. The Washington Post reports the team will try to reshape at least six large deals, including those for Mark Brunell, Jon Jansen, Renaldo Wynn, Philip Daniels and Shaun Springs. They’ve already reworked WR James Thrash’s contract.

Every year we hear the Redskins are tempting the salary cap gods and every year they seem to escape a reckoning. This year could be different. There’s no new CBA on the table to give Washington a major bump in cap space and the have one of, if not the worst cap situations in the league. This data is old, but it shows Washington over the cap.

What’s worse, the players being asked to restructure are providing diminishing returns for the team. Thrash is 32. Springs, Daniels, Wynn and Brunell all have ten or more seasons under their belts. When the biggest restructuring targets no longer start, as in Brunell’s case, trouble is coming.

– Sometimes you gotta laugh at yourself, or your QB. Check out the Romo’s theme song halfway down the page. I wonder if its by the same folks who made the funny yet quite bizarre video mash letter “Brady?” I hear similarities.

Yep! Same guy. He’s got WAAAAY too much time on his hands. Check out “Ron Mexico.” “He can’t throw, but they cheer him any-wayyyyaaaaa!” Speaks for itself.

Maybe It Was the Safeties

Former Cowboys’ secondary assistant Mike McIntyre has landed a job on Eric Mangini’s Jets staff, according to the Bergen Record. (Scroll down)

With McIntyre and Mike Zimmer finding fast employment, we need to look again at the gaping hole in the deep secondary.

The same paper reported last week that Bill Parcells could return to the Jets in an advisory capacity.

Parcells gave Mangini his first NFL assistant’s job in ‘99 and mentored current Jets’ GM Mike Tannenbaum, who helped manage the Jets’ salary cap back then.

– The consensus among league watchers at the Super Bowl is that Wade Phillips will remain in San Diego and succeed Marty Schottenheimer in 2008. (scroll down) Phillips worked with Chargers GM A.J. Smith in Buffalo, where Phillips was head coach and Smith assisted the late Bills GM and later Chargers’ GM John Butler.

Coaching Search Open Thread

Quiet day on the big board. You think Jerry’s already packing for the long Super Bowl weekend on Wayne Huizenga’s 100-foot yacht?

Now, Singletary

The Cowboys will interview 49ers assistant head coach/defense Mike Singletary for their head coaching position.

While this comes late in the process, don’t discount the former Baylor Bear and Chicago Bears’ ability to make an impression. He was a finalist for the Atlanta Falcons’ head coaching vacancy that Bobby Petrino filled.

There has been speculation that Singletary’s interview will take place to satisfy the Rooney Rule, which requires all NFL teams with head coaching openings to interview at least one minority candidate. The Dallas Morning News claims that Todd Bowles interview satisfied the rule.

I believe the club may have other motives. Singletary has unqualified leadership skills and gets a regular hearing with the entire 49ers team. Singletary also has impressive credentials as a position coach. He was an on-field quarterback for Buddy Ryan’s 46 scheme and for Vince Tobin’s more conventional 4-3 in Chicago. He has worked with 3-4 expert Mike Nolan the past few seasons, first at Baltimore and now in San Francisco. He has a breadth of scheme experience.

I believe Jerry Jones may be measuring Singletary’s skills as a defensive coordinator. While he has the title assistant head coach Singletary has yet to lead a defense from the sidelines.

The Cowboys would need permission to hire Singletary for a coordinator’s position, since league rules do not permit lateral appointments. I don’t know the 49ers thinking but a coordinators post would be considered a promotion and teams generally do not block coaches from promotions, regardless of the titles involved.

It’s my turn for conjecture but I’m handicapping the coaching derby this way:

1. Norv Turner is the odds on favorite to become the next Cowboys head coach;
2. Mike Singletary will interview for that job, but will get serious consideration for the DC job, in the same way that Jason Garrett interviewed for the HC spot and was hired as OC.

Photo Credits
Courtesy 49ers.com

Waiting For the White Smoke

While we anticipate the white smoke above Valley Ranch, heralding a new head coach, I want to address a popular pro-Turner analogy making the rounds.

We’re beginning to see Turner compared to Bill Belichick, who turned his career around after a disastrous stay in Cleveland. There are some similarities between the New England situation Belichick inherited and the Dallas job that awaits any new chief.

The biggest is a roster of talented young players stocked by Bill Parcells. When Belichick returned to Foxboro in 2000 many of the key players from the Patriots ‘96 Super Bowl run were in their primes. Guys like Willie McGinnest, Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, Lawyer Malloy, Chris Slade, Bruce Armstrong yes, even Drew Bledsoe were on hand to help smooth the transition. When New England added vital youngsters like Richard Seymour and Tom Brady, Belichick won a Super Bowl in his second year.

Dallas also has young defensive talent, most notably Terence Newman and Demarcus Ware. They hope they have their Brady in Tony Romo, though Romo has miles to go before he sleeps with that type of reputation.

Next, Belichick had the complete support of his owner. Robert Kraft drew some ridicule and charges that he was getting the Jets back for stealing Parcells away in ‘97 but he maintained that Belichick was the only guy he wanted. History has proven Kraft’s wisdom.

Turner seems to have that same level of support from Jerry Jones, given the mash-letter quality of the reports from Valley Ranch. (Have you ever seen the ripper’s-and-hater’s gallery so happy in your life?)

Here is where we encounter the vital difference. Belichick didn’t return to New England alone. He brought ace personnel man Scott Pioli, whom the Jets were grooming as their future GM. Parcells may have taken this defection harder than Belichick’s because Pioli was, and remains, nothing less than his son in law.

Pioli has earned the reputation as one of the shrewdest player evaluators in the NFL. He doesn’t make the picks on draft day but he gathers the information that makes the Pats selection team look good year after year.

Who plays Pioli in Dallas? For now, the task falls to Jeff Ireland, Dallas’ vice president of pro and college scouting. Ireland now succeeds Parcells as the guy who builds the Cowboys’ draft board. He will now sit at Jones’ arm during drafts and suggest the best course. Will Jerry heed him? Nobody will know until April. Can Ireland be the second Scott Pioli?

We better hope so.

Either that, or hope that one of Norv’s alleged demands is hiring another young Pioli, whom he’s met along the way.

A Turner Candidacy Would Turn on His DC

Update Promoted from the threads: Espn’s Ed Werder tells the Mike and Mike Show that Turner looks like the leader but wants to leverage some changes, given San Francisco’s strong desire to retain him. I have learned this is true but that a Turner hiring is not imminent. As for what changes Turner might want, I cannot say. I’ve learned nothing about any possible assistants he might favor.

Going back over his brief Raiders’ tenure I can say this in Norv’s favor — he’s the guy who hired Rob Ryan to be DC. If he’s got another young hotshot DC in mind, he should speak his mind, loud and clear.

They’re feeling spurned in San Francisco.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The local press seems excited about a Norv Turner candicacy. Turner will interview a second time today. Are they trying to surreptitiously tell us something then can’t say out loud?

What could a Turner candidacy bring? For one, a return to the Don Coryell/Ernie Zampese influenced offense Turner learned with the Rams in the late ’80s while an assistant under John Robinson. The one he incorporated so well in Dallas. The one Mike Martz ran so effectively with the same Rams in the late ’90s and early oughts.

It would change the running game the Cowboys use to a more zone based system and perhaps change the type of linemen Dallas will need to draft in the next couple of years to replace the aging ones currently in place. That said, it’s hard to see how Turner could improve on this year’s output. The 425 points Tony Sparano helped notch were never topped by a Turner-led Cowboys offense. Only Ernie Zampese’s ‘95 squad, with 435 points, bettered it. Still, matching it would again put Dallas among the league’s offensive leaders.

But again, who would lead the defense? Star-Telegram scribe Randy Galloway nominates Dave Campo.

While I’m hesitant to jump on a radio guy’s bandwagon, and while his idea appears to be nothing but conjecture at this point, Randy’s idea might work. Campo’s coaching apex came during his five years as Cowboys’ DC, from ‘95 through ‘99. While he worked with less talented units every progressive year, as the organization tried in vain to replace Kevin Smith, Russell Maryland, Darrin Smith and especially Charles Haley, Campo kept the defense near the top. Look at his defenses’ scoring ranks:

Year, Points, Rank

‘95 — 291 — 3rd
‘96 — 250 — 3rd
‘97 — 314 — 14th
‘98 — 275 — 3rd
‘99 — 276 — 5th

His fairly consistent top five production earned him the head job in 2000, after Chan Gailey’s departure. His defense missed his touch as it failed to finish in the top ten during his three years at the helm. (It’s best finish during the Campo/Zimmer years was 13th in 2002.)

Campo had two DC offers waiting for him when he stepped down from the HC job in ‘03. He turned down Mike Holmgren’s offer to run Seattle’s defense and joined Butch Davis’ Cleveland staff. His Browns were 12th in ‘03 and sank to 24th in ‘04, when Davis was fired midway through the season. Interestingly, Campo oversaw a young secondary coach by the name of Todd Bowles there.

Which brings us back to the fundamental question. Can Dallas switch to a 4-3, the only scheme Campo has run in the pros? The answer is a guarded yes. The Cowboys have already acquired the most difficult piece to any scheme in OLB Demarcus Ware, who played as a 4-3 end at Troy and has the size to play RE in a four man line. Look at Chris Canty’s ‘06 and you’ll see that his best game, far and away was the finale against Detroit, where Dallas played a four man line most of the time. Canty rushed far better lined up inside than he did in a three man line. Marcus Spears has the size to rotate with Jason Ferguson. Jay Ratliff was a 4-3 tackle at Auburn and also has the bulk for a four man scheme.

The success of any reversion to a 4-3 will fall to end Jason Hatcher and the linebackers, especially the middle linebackers Bradie James and Akin Ayodele. Bill Parcells lauded Hatcher’s versatility late in the season, saying he had the size and mobility to play end in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. Dallas rushed him into the nickel package because of his rushing promise and Parcells complained midseason about how much a Hatcher injury messed with his nickel options. If Hatcher can build on that promise, Dallas has the bookend to Ware. Still, it’s premature to declare that a certainty.

Linebacker also looks muddled. There’s no issue with speed on the edges. Bobby Carpenter posted a 4.61 last spring, the same time Ware posted coming out the season before. Carpenter played SOLB in Ohio State’s 4-3 and could probably move back there without too much trouble.

Shifting to 4-3 might give Kevin Burnett a chance to crack the starting lineup. He played WOLB in Tennessee’s 4-3 and has 4.6 speed. Moving out in space and getting the freedom to chase the ball might suit him better than the 3-4. He seems best suited of all the current Cowboys linebackers to play this position.

A change means Dallas has a surplus inside with Ayodele and James. What’s more, both got large, long-term contracts this year. Ayodele played on the strong side in Jacksonville, (where Campo was secondary coach) but the Jaguars showed little desire to keep him when he became a free agent. He played well inside and was second only to Ware in week-in, week-out performance among Cowboys’ ‘backers.

James, on the other hand, regressed after a breakout ‘05. If Dallas does hire a familiar face like Campo, I would not be surprised if the team shopped one of these two. It would make no sense to have a big ticket player as a backup.

I would point out again that this is only conjecture, though the second Turner interview could make a change like this more of a possibility.

In addition, Dallas would still need to fix the free safety position, no matter who the coordinator is or what scheme he plays.

Turner’s Turn

Norv Turner interviewed for the Cowboys head coaching vacancy today. According to ESPN, no contract was offered, though the two parties will continue talking.

Norv or Wade? That appears the choice at the moment.

Niners on Manusky’s Trail

I’ve suggested the Cowboys look at Chargers’ LB coach Greg Manusky for the DC job. If they do they’ll have to get in line behind the 49ers, who will interview him in the near future.

Manusky also appears to be a top candidate to succeed Wade Phillips as the Chargers’ DC if Phillips gets the Dallas job.

Step Two Complete — Gibbs Interviews

Details here.

Which Way Do They Go?

Gary Gibbs may stun us all, but it’s looking like Wade Phillips or Norv Turner at this point.

While both men appear to be gentlemen and unquestionably good football coaches, I still question the wisdom of a Turner appointment.

Defense was this year’s biggest problem. The team has already lost Bill Parcells, a defensive head coach and coordinator Mike Zimmer. Who fixes the mess if Turner gets the job? He’s an offensive guy. Todd Bowles may be a star in waiting but do you want to put that massive job entirely upon his shoulders? Unless the Cowboys have some amazing defensive position coaches on speed dial ready to jump on staff a Turner hiring makes no sense to me.

It makes even less sense with Jason Garrett’s hiring. The consensus is that Dallas wants to groom Garrett for a future head coaching job. But a Turner hiring would actually slow his game day development. Hire a defensive-minded head coach and Garrett can handle the game planning and play calling duties. If he falters, you’ve always got Tony Sparano to lean on. He held the play sheets this year and Dallas scored 425 points, a nice round 100 more than his buddy Sean Payton managed in 2005.

If Turner comes he will call the plays. You would want him to call the plays. Of his many strengths, this is his strongest. But if Turner does call the shots, when does Garrett get that increased responsibility?

Garrett’s hiring shows long term thinking but as Parcells was fond of saying, they pay you to win now. Hiring Norv Turner, in my opinion, lessens the Cowboys chances of winning in 2007.

Niners Show Norv the Money

The 49ers are putting their organizational money where their mouths are, putting a “lucrative incentive package” before offensive coordinator Norv Turner. The team does not want to lose Turner to Dallas just as he and second year QB Alex Smith are building a rappoire.

Will this keep Turner in California? Stay tuned. He’s due to interview with Dallas after Saturday’s Senior Bowl, where he and the other ‘Niners coaches are running the South squad.

Wanted — A Few Good Writers

I’m changing work schedules in the next few weeks and won’t have as much time to man the blog during business hours. The ‘Boys Blog wants any of you with a writing jones to make yourself known. Raul and I will show you the secret handshake, reveal the magic passwords, and give you control of the front page. (Candidates with well placed friends in sports media preferred.)

Here’s your chance to see your name on the front page. Positions are limited so act now!

A Ryan In the Mix?

Troy Aikman has Jerry Jones’ ear. Does Deion Sanders as well?

Espn’s Michael Smith told NFL Live in the last hour that Sanders has urged Jones to interview Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan for the vacant head coaching position and that Jones should do so soon.

It’s unclear whether this last statement is Sanders’ or Smith’s opinion of what Jones should do or whether Jerry is in fact scheduling a meeting with one of the well-regarded Ryan twins. (Brother Rob squeezed the maximum out of his Raiders defense this year.)

Stay tuned.

In Baltimore, they think it’s criminal — and stupid — that every team with a head coaching vacancy this year ignored Ryan. They’re also happy, since they want to keep him.

(Thanks to blogger Gunner for the tip.)

The Ticket on Cable? Possibly

Check this out.

On a related note, someone on a mailing list I subscribe too gave a great review of Tivo machines.

I’d like to know what types of big screen, DVR technology you use and what you find to be the best? I’m not buying now but probably will before next season.

Friday Grab Bag

While we wait for reactions from Wade Phillips’ interview.

– The Cowboys may have lots of competition for free safeties in the draft. Pro Football Weekly claims the Falcons, who pick 10th, are targeting FSs. With Carolina (14th) and perhaps Jacksonville (17th) also needing deep safety help, the Cowboys will be fortunate if one of the top shelf duo of Laron Landry and Reggie Nelson slips to their 22nd pick.

– Bill Parcells’ departure means the end of some informal “Parcells rules.” One is the hands-off policy members of the Parcells-Belichick coaching fraternity are supposed to have with each other’s players. A CBS analyst mentioned in a December broadcast that Dallas avoided Adam Vinatieri, even though they valued him, because Parcells knew Bill Belichick wanted him back.

The code was also the cause for Belichick’s frosty treatment of former assistant Eric Mangini, now head coach of the Jets. Belichick felt Mangini was trying to poach veteran players off the Pats roster. Parcells took swipes at Sean Payton for trying the same, telling the press he told the Saints HC to “drink some milk and take a nap” when Payton, who was allowed to take Gary Gibbs as his DC, tried swiping Tony Sprano and FS Keith Davis.

Any new coach who wants to can now poach the Patriots roster for free agents. And the Browns and the Jets for that matter. The frugal Pats have a decision this offseason as several top tier free agents — CB Asante Samuel and TE Daniel Graham — and lower tier free agents like OLB Tully Banta-Cain are hitting the market. They won’t be out of touch this time.

– Parcells departure also brings the two-RB system into question. The coach was insistent on rotating running backs. A new head coach might not feel obligated to the platoon. With Julius Jones likely entering his final contract year (he signed a six year, $4.37 million deal in ‘04, but it could be voided after four years if Jones met certain makeable incentives) I wonder if a new coach might consider him as a bargaining chip, given Marion Barber’s emergence?

The Browns, Jets and Giants are looking for running backs and a story out of San Diego this week claimed that the New York teams are very interested in Chargers backup Michael Turner, and would consider signing him to an offer sheet if his ‘07 tender were reasonable. I wonder if Jones could bring similar value if he were shopped?

I like Julius Jones but running back is a position of depth, especially with Tyson Thompson returning this year. Moving somebody like him could help fill holes elsewhere.

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