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By Todd Archer
ESPNDallas.com
http://espn.go.com/dallas/hot/?id=9321260
Jason Garrett has been around the NFL for most of his life. He understands the business.
Win and everything will be fine. Lose and Garrett will hear about Jon Gruden, Lovie Smith or name-that-coordinator as the next possible head coach of the Cowboys.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened the door for in-season changes when he promoted Garrett to take over for Wade Phillips midway through the 2010 season.
But if Garrett makes the playoffs this year, there should be no question about his job status in 2014.
When Garrett took over as Cowboys coach on a full-time basis in 2011, the Cowboys admitted they were in some sort of rebuilding or transition mode by changing out Andre Gurode, Marc Colombo and Leonard Davis along the offensive line.
The last two years have been about building the right way while still attempting to get in the playoffs. In each of his first two seasons, Garrett has put the Cowboys in position to win the NFC East title with wins in Week 17 only to lose them both to the New York Giants and Washington.
There is no question Garrett made mistakes in 2012 and '13 that cost victories. He has gone through some on-the-job training. And he knows 8-8 is not good enough.
It is important that the Cowboys understand what they are and what they are not, and by that I mean Jones has to understand he has not put together the best of rosters for Garrett to coach. And, yes, I realize Jones will never take the general manager to task.
But the Cowboys should not be viewed as some sort of Super Bowl-or-bust team in 2013.
Despite the pronouncements of national media types that do not look at the full roster, this is not "one of the most talented teams in the NFL." The Cowboys have stars -- Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant and DeMarcus Ware -- and some on the way, like Sean Lee. But they need more. They did not add substantial free agent help this offseason. They need young players to come through immediately to make up for the sins of past drafts. They need Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli to build a defense that makes plays when it matters most.
It's Garrett's job to put it all together and make that next step.
Making the playoffs shows progress from what Garrett did in 2011 and '12.
If they do make the postseason with a team that has come through this rebuilding/transition time, what sense does it make to start over with a new coach, no matter what name you want to throw out there?
ESPNDallas.com
http://espn.go.com/dallas/hot/?id=9321260
Jason Garrett has been around the NFL for most of his life. He understands the business.
Win and everything will be fine. Lose and Garrett will hear about Jon Gruden, Lovie Smith or name-that-coordinator as the next possible head coach of the Cowboys.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened the door for in-season changes when he promoted Garrett to take over for Wade Phillips midway through the 2010 season.
But if Garrett makes the playoffs this year, there should be no question about his job status in 2014.
When Garrett took over as Cowboys coach on a full-time basis in 2011, the Cowboys admitted they were in some sort of rebuilding or transition mode by changing out Andre Gurode, Marc Colombo and Leonard Davis along the offensive line.
The last two years have been about building the right way while still attempting to get in the playoffs. In each of his first two seasons, Garrett has put the Cowboys in position to win the NFC East title with wins in Week 17 only to lose them both to the New York Giants and Washington.
There is no question Garrett made mistakes in 2012 and '13 that cost victories. He has gone through some on-the-job training. And he knows 8-8 is not good enough.
It is important that the Cowboys understand what they are and what they are not, and by that I mean Jones has to understand he has not put together the best of rosters for Garrett to coach. And, yes, I realize Jones will never take the general manager to task.
But the Cowboys should not be viewed as some sort of Super Bowl-or-bust team in 2013.
Despite the pronouncements of national media types that do not look at the full roster, this is not "one of the most talented teams in the NFL." The Cowboys have stars -- Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant and DeMarcus Ware -- and some on the way, like Sean Lee. But they need more. They did not add substantial free agent help this offseason. They need young players to come through immediately to make up for the sins of past drafts. They need Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli to build a defense that makes plays when it matters most.
It's Garrett's job to put it all together and make that next step.
Making the playoffs shows progress from what Garrett did in 2011 and '12.
If they do make the postseason with a team that has come through this rebuilding/transition time, what sense does it make to start over with a new coach, no matter what name you want to throw out there?