Safety Envy
January 4, 2009
What makes for a deep playoff run?
Quality QB — yep.
Solid pass rush — sure.
Play making safety or two? Now you’re talking.
Watching the first round I’m impressed by the safety talent on the winners. Baltimore’s Ed Reed made the previously flawless Chad Pennington look like a chump today.
Brian Dawkins has been a blue chipper for a decade. And his partner Quentin Mikel had a batter year, according to K.C. Joyner. They kept the Vikings from getting any big passing plays. Late in the broadcast, Troy Aikman quoted Philly DC Jim Johnson, who said his safeties give him the confidence to play so aggressively with his front seven.
Pittsburgh has Troy Polamalu. The Titans have Michael Griffin, he with seven INTs this year. The Cardinals have the unsung Adrian Wilson anchoring their secondary.
Playmaking free safeties have become as important as big pass rushers or solid left tackles.
It’s hardly news, but the Cowboys cupboard was almost bare at this position this year. The Ravens loss showed the contrast: Reed with two picks. Dallas, with both safeties whiffing on the Ravens two long TD runs that sealed the game. More on this subject this week.
A safety with range, tackling ability and good instincts is a must, if the defense wants to build on its league-leading rush.
Back to your playoff viewing.
Dallas Needs a New Coach Now, or Not at All
January 4, 2009
Count me as highly skeptical on the “new coach in ‘10″ stories.
They defy simple logic and are dishonest, to the coaches, players and fans.
To show you why, let’s review Tom Coughlin’s career. At this time in January 2007, Coughlin was in a position similar to the one Wade Phillips occupies now. He had just finished his eleventh season as a head coach. His ‘06 Giants had entered the year as Super Bowl contenders but dropped to 8-8 after an 11-5 record the year before. They staggered into the playoffs and were knocked out in the first round by the Eagles. Coughlin was 0-2 as a playoff coach for the Big Blue. Tiki Barber had just retired. Michael Strahan was threatening retirement. New York was the biggest soap opera in the game.
The Giants decided to give Coughlin another year, but he started the ‘07 campaign on the hottest of hot seats. That heat intensified when the club started 0-2. His guys were 4-4 in the second half of that season but caught fire in the playoffs and won Coughlin his first Super Bowl at the age of 61.
The Giants rewarded him with an extension and his current team has a very good chance to repeat. Coughlin is as secure as any head coach in the business right now.
Yet, I seriously doubt Coughlin’s guys would have turned on the gas in January 2008 if they knew he was going to be replaced, regardless of what happened in the postseason.
Which brings us to Wade Phillips. If Jerry Jones sticks to his word, and gives Wade the chance to right the Cowboys ship this year, he needs to offer the chance for an extension, for Wade to become the Tom Coughlin of 2009. Otherwise, Jerry is writing off the season before it begins. If a possible extension is off the table, Phillips will have no authority. His players, who tuned out Bill Parcells, will surely fall back — again — on their mercenary tendencies.
If Jerry intends to bring in either Mike Shanahan or Mike Holmgren in 2010, no matter what the ‘09 Cowboys do, he should make the change right now. Otherwise, 6-10 or 7-9 are almost certain.
You can’t fly with a lame duck.
Playoff games open thread
January 4, 2009
Today the Ravens tangle with the Dolphins then the Eagles travel to visit the Vikings.
This is an open thread for both playoff games.
Dallas Cowboys need a new coaching staff…in 2010
January 4, 2009
A couple of weeks ago there was a general consensus here at BTB that no matter what happens, Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett deserve the chance to serve out their contracts. Well, a few minds have undoubtedly changed after the debacle in Philly.
However, unless a miracle happens don’t expect any major coaching changes until after next season.
As soon as it was reported that Mike Shanahan had been fired from the Denver Broncos, the collective Dallas Cowboys fan’s eyebrows shot up with interest. While many would love to see Captain Cupcake take his show elsewhere, no one had a good idea on who should replace him. Was anyone impressed with Jason Garrett’s unimaginative offense in his second season as OC? This Cowboys team isn’t a rebuilding project and a rookie college head coach most likely wouldn’t be the right answer. Bill Cowher hasn’t shown any interest in returning to coaching.
Yet when Mike Shanahan suddenly became available it was automatically decided that he and Jerry Jones would be a perfect fit; Jerry has been good at defensive drafts and Shanahan has always had a way with an offense. He is a coach that is a mix between Bill Parcells and Wade Phillips; which is what this team supposedly needs. Parcells was too overbearing yet Phillips is way to easy going. The Cowboys need a player’s coach that is also one that demands accountability and there’s no doubt he would be an intriguing decision to be named as Cowboys head coach.
Just don’t expect that to happen anytime soon.
As stated plenty of times before Jerry Jones has never been one to fire a coach on a whim, whether that is the right idea or not. He believes that continuity is a major key to success and he also knows that there is no guarantee that if Wade is canned there is a better coach waiting to be hired. Sure, we can all dream about Shanahan or Mike Holmgren or Bill Cowher but is anyone certain that either of those coaches is willing to sign on Cowboys coach in 2009?
It’s tough to decide exactly where one stands on this subject. One part of me is disgusted by the effort and lack of heart this team exhibited this past season yet another part of me wants to at least maintain some sort of continuity for next year. You almost have to believe that starting over with a new coaching staff is playing with fire, and more regression is likely possible. Do we take the chance that a new coach will be unable to do with these players that Bill Parcells and Wade Phillips could not?
This upcoming season will be a defining moment in the Dallas Cowboys history. Either this group of talented but selfish individuals can actually band together as a team and become successful when it counts or it all continues to fall apart. If the latter happens then a new coaching staff and an overhaul of the team is exactly what is needed. The Dallas Cowboys franchise is not one to just live with being average.
This team and this group of players have one more season to prove they are capable of becoming a great team. In 2008 the Cowboys were wracked with distractions and injuries, a disastrous combination. Wade Phillips’ lone focus should be on how to cut down on all of the outside distractions that marred the Cowboys this last season. If Jerry Jones has any desire to win then he will allow Wade Phillips to dictate how this team is run. The question is if Jerry Jones will let that happen.
All signs are pointing to Shanahan and Holmgren taking a season off from coaching and evaluating their options after that, and Bill Cowher looks like he has no desire to return anytime soon. The Cowboys have one more chance to make it all work, and if that doesn’t happen expect a complete overhaul in 2010 starting with the head coach.
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