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JJT: Bill Callahan offers unique influence
Bill Callahan offers unique influence
Cowboys assistant, who has Jason Garrett's ear, on board to challenge offense
Updated: August 6, 2012, 11:38 PM ET
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
OXNARD, Calif. -- Jason Garrett, the play-caller, has operated without a "no-man" since the day Tony Sparano departed after the 2007 season.
That's about to change.
Garrett, like every good coach, needs a person who's not afraid to confront him, suggest change or inform him behind closed doors that he has lost his mind.
This is among the duties Bill Callahan, among the league's most respected assistants, signed up for the day the Dallas Cowboys hired him as offensive coordinator.
Callahan isn't going to call the plays, but he's in charge of the running game and will have more influence over Garrett than any other assistant.
As a former head coach with the Oakland Raiders and Nebraska Cornhuskers, he can relate to Garrett on a level other assistants on this staff -- no matter how qualified -- simply can't do.
Callahan can and will affect Garrett's philosophical approach to running the ball.
Garrett's teams in Dallas have ranked among the league's leaders in yards gained, but Garrett must subtly tweak his offense, and Callahan can help him do it.
Garrett respects Callahan's opinion and his accomplishments in the league. When Callahan speaks, Garrett will listen.
More important, he will act.
All you have to do is listen to the praise Garrett lavishes on Callahan, whether he's talking about the way the former head coach runs meetings or the detailed way he teaches linemen about the importance of playing with the proper leverage and pad level.
"I try to lean on our staff as much as I can," Garrett said. "I try to hear their ideas and implement them when we think they're appropriate, and Bill is no different. I lean on him every day."
At one level, Callahan's relationship with Garrett is no different than Garrett's relationship with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Garrett has wielded more control than any other coach under Jerry not named Jimmy Johnson or Bill Parcells because the owner respects Garrett's intelligence and his vision for the Cowboys.
Plus, Garrett has the courage to tell Jerry what he doesn't want to hear. Johnson and Parcells are the only head coaches Jerry has hired who have consistently done that.
Bill Callahan offers unique influence
Cowboys assistant, who has Jason Garrett's ear, on board to challenge offense
Updated: August 6, 2012, 11:38 PM ET
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
OXNARD, Calif. -- Jason Garrett, the play-caller, has operated without a "no-man" since the day Tony Sparano departed after the 2007 season.
That's about to change.
Garrett, like every good coach, needs a person who's not afraid to confront him, suggest change or inform him behind closed doors that he has lost his mind.
This is among the duties Bill Callahan, among the league's most respected assistants, signed up for the day the Dallas Cowboys hired him as offensive coordinator.
Callahan isn't going to call the plays, but he's in charge of the running game and will have more influence over Garrett than any other assistant.
As a former head coach with the Oakland Raiders and Nebraska Cornhuskers, he can relate to Garrett on a level other assistants on this staff -- no matter how qualified -- simply can't do.
Callahan can and will affect Garrett's philosophical approach to running the ball.
Garrett's teams in Dallas have ranked among the league's leaders in yards gained, but Garrett must subtly tweak his offense, and Callahan can help him do it.
Garrett respects Callahan's opinion and his accomplishments in the league. When Callahan speaks, Garrett will listen.
More important, he will act.
All you have to do is listen to the praise Garrett lavishes on Callahan, whether he's talking about the way the former head coach runs meetings or the detailed way he teaches linemen about the importance of playing with the proper leverage and pad level.
"I try to lean on our staff as much as I can," Garrett said. "I try to hear their ideas and implement them when we think they're appropriate, and Bill is no different. I lean on him every day."
At one level, Callahan's relationship with Garrett is no different than Garrett's relationship with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Garrett has wielded more control than any other coach under Jerry not named Jimmy Johnson or Bill Parcells because the owner respects Garrett's intelligence and his vision for the Cowboys.
Plus, Garrett has the courage to tell Jerry what he doesn't want to hear. Johnson and Parcells are the only head coaches Jerry has hired who have consistently done that.