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Cowlishaw: Jason Garrett can turn it around but Jerry Jones ‘craziness’ clock is ticking
By Tim Cowlishaw / Columnist
12:03 am on November 10, 2012
Highlights of Tim Cowlishaw’s Sunday column in The Dallas Morning News
It is surprising on two fronts that Jason Garrett has a better chance to secure his position as an NFL head coach than Andy Reid does in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
The first is that, hard as it may seem to believe, the 3-5 Cowboys appear to be superior to the 3-5 Eagles, if it’s even practical to rate such mundane half-season performances. At the very least, the Cowboys have one unit (the defense) that is performing up to or beyond expectations.
The Eagles have none.
In Garrett’s case, Season Three begins Sunday afternoon which means that, yes, the Jerry Jones clock is very much ticking. With a Cowboys franchise that defined coaching stability for almost three decades, only Jimmy Johnson has lasted five seasons in the Jones era. And even he was politely dismissed on the heels of consecutive Super Bowl victories.
(It still surprises me when Cowboys fans express any degree of dismay about Jones’ handling of the team, including his reluctance to look outside for a general manager. An owner-GM who will go out of his way to make things not work with a two-time Super Bowl champ is clearly capable of any level of craziness).
Johnson has been followed by Barry Switzer (four years), Chan “We Hardly Knew Ya” Gailey (two), Dave Campo (three), Bill Parcells (four) and Wade Phillips (3 1/2). Garrett’s .500 record and the declining performance of the unit he coordinates puts him squarely on the hot seat despite disclaimers issued by almost all members of the Jones family this week (not sure Charlotte weighed in).
And yet I think Garrett stands a better chance of reversing course and keeping his team’s wild-card chances alive because he’s less likely to be undermined by his quarterback at Lincoln Financial Field.
Yes, this has been an awful and regrettable season for Tony Romo, the NFL leader in interceptions. But let’s not forget for a moment he is Mr. November (19-3 record, hey, it must mean something). And the Eagles defense has been only average at best this season and downright awful in pressuring the passer.
Only Jacksonville has fewer sacks than the Eagles’ 11. Romo should be far less harried than has been the custom in 2012. If he can develop only the most rudimentary skills with his wide receivers, a productive day should be in store.
And while the Cowboys’ sack total of 16 is nothing special, the Eagles are now missing four of five projected offensive line starters. Vick looked like he was fighting off the 49ers defense, not the Saints, on Monday night as he suffered seven sacks and a considerable number of hits.
It is no surprise that the job security of both coaches is attached to quarterbacks who, while not far short of elite status, have yet to establish themselves consistently at that level. At the same time, Vick and Romo have had stretches of success that elevated them to Pro Bowl performers.
A half-season is enough time for either to rebound, and one surely gets started at least in the winning direction Sunday afternoon. Logic says it’s more likely to be Romo … if his head coach can help make it happen.
By Tim Cowlishaw / Columnist
12:03 am on November 10, 2012
Highlights of Tim Cowlishaw’s Sunday column in The Dallas Morning News
It is surprising on two fronts that Jason Garrett has a better chance to secure his position as an NFL head coach than Andy Reid does in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
The first is that, hard as it may seem to believe, the 3-5 Cowboys appear to be superior to the 3-5 Eagles, if it’s even practical to rate such mundane half-season performances. At the very least, the Cowboys have one unit (the defense) that is performing up to or beyond expectations.
The Eagles have none.
In Garrett’s case, Season Three begins Sunday afternoon which means that, yes, the Jerry Jones clock is very much ticking. With a Cowboys franchise that defined coaching stability for almost three decades, only Jimmy Johnson has lasted five seasons in the Jones era. And even he was politely dismissed on the heels of consecutive Super Bowl victories.
(It still surprises me when Cowboys fans express any degree of dismay about Jones’ handling of the team, including his reluctance to look outside for a general manager. An owner-GM who will go out of his way to make things not work with a two-time Super Bowl champ is clearly capable of any level of craziness).
Johnson has been followed by Barry Switzer (four years), Chan “We Hardly Knew Ya” Gailey (two), Dave Campo (three), Bill Parcells (four) and Wade Phillips (3 1/2). Garrett’s .500 record and the declining performance of the unit he coordinates puts him squarely on the hot seat despite disclaimers issued by almost all members of the Jones family this week (not sure Charlotte weighed in).
And yet I think Garrett stands a better chance of reversing course and keeping his team’s wild-card chances alive because he’s less likely to be undermined by his quarterback at Lincoln Financial Field.
Yes, this has been an awful and regrettable season for Tony Romo, the NFL leader in interceptions. But let’s not forget for a moment he is Mr. November (19-3 record, hey, it must mean something). And the Eagles defense has been only average at best this season and downright awful in pressuring the passer.
Only Jacksonville has fewer sacks than the Eagles’ 11. Romo should be far less harried than has been the custom in 2012. If he can develop only the most rudimentary skills with his wide receivers, a productive day should be in store.
And while the Cowboys’ sack total of 16 is nothing special, the Eagles are now missing four of five projected offensive line starters. Vick looked like he was fighting off the 49ers defense, not the Saints, on Monday night as he suffered seven sacks and a considerable number of hits.
It is no surprise that the job security of both coaches is attached to quarterbacks who, while not far short of elite status, have yet to establish themselves consistently at that level. At the same time, Vick and Romo have had stretches of success that elevated them to Pro Bowl performers.
A half-season is enough time for either to rebound, and one surely gets started at least in the winning direction Sunday afternoon. Logic says it’s more likely to be Romo … if his head coach can help make it happen.