On the Cowboys defense being simplistic and easy for opponents to read:
It's the same scheme as they ran last year when they finished second in points allowed in the NFL. It's not an overly complicated scheme, but there are a lot of teams that run simple stuff and execute it. That's the problem: there's no execution and now Phillips doesn't know what he's going to get from the players and I'm sure players are lacking trust in what's called. It's natural when things go like this.
On who would be a good coach to take over during this season:
I'd say Jason Garrett. I've said it for the last few years. At one point Jerry thought Garrett would be a successful coach. Why not give him the chance for the last nine games? What would it hurt? If he does well, then you've got your coach. If he doesn't, then you're making wholesale changes anyway.
On his thoughts about individual Cowboys that are underachieving:
Guys like Spencer, Jenkins and Jones have not built upon their 2009 successes. They have all regressed. Spencer's fall is stunning because of how well he was playing to end the season.
On Felix Jones being a standout running back in the NFL:
He doesn't have much room to do much of anything, however, I just don't see the instincts to make him special. He's a one cut guy. He doesn't have the wiggle necessary to make somebody miss. Maybe he lost some of that by adding some weight but he just doesn't look like the same guy.
On starting Stephen McGee:
Can't do that yet. It will happen but not yet. They can't just go in give up mode yet. At least that's how I feel. I'm not sure McGee is ready for the spot and I don't think you can scale it back so much with nine games to go. I'll give him the last three or four games unless an injury to Kitna puts him out there earlier.
On who are the leaders in the locker room:
Witten, Bradie James. I said this a few weeks ago - you loved the leadership these same players showed last December and now you say there's no leadership. I think the players care, but I do think there is a high sensitivity to criticism not only from the media but from themselves too.
It's the same scheme as they ran last year when they finished second in points allowed in the NFL. It's not an overly complicated scheme, but there are a lot of teams that run simple stuff and execute it. That's the problem: there's no execution and now Phillips doesn't know what he's going to get from the players and I'm sure players are lacking trust in what's called. It's natural when things go like this.
On who would be a good coach to take over during this season:
I'd say Jason Garrett. I've said it for the last few years. At one point Jerry thought Garrett would be a successful coach. Why not give him the chance for the last nine games? What would it hurt? If he does well, then you've got your coach. If he doesn't, then you're making wholesale changes anyway.
On his thoughts about individual Cowboys that are underachieving:
Guys like Spencer, Jenkins and Jones have not built upon their 2009 successes. They have all regressed. Spencer's fall is stunning because of how well he was playing to end the season.
On Felix Jones being a standout running back in the NFL:
He doesn't have much room to do much of anything, however, I just don't see the instincts to make him special. He's a one cut guy. He doesn't have the wiggle necessary to make somebody miss. Maybe he lost some of that by adding some weight but he just doesn't look like the same guy.
On starting Stephen McGee:
Can't do that yet. It will happen but not yet. They can't just go in give up mode yet. At least that's how I feel. I'm not sure McGee is ready for the spot and I don't think you can scale it back so much with nine games to go. I'll give him the last three or four games unless an injury to Kitna puts him out there earlier.
On who are the leaders in the locker room:
Witten, Bradie James. I said this a few weeks ago - you loved the leadership these same players showed last December and now you say there's no leadership. I think the players care, but I do think there is a high sensitivity to criticism not only from the media but from themselves too.
