IRVING, Texas -- Wednesday afternoon, Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett talked to reporters for nearly an hour. He addressed the new members of the coaching staff while praising the departed staff members.
Garrett gave off the impression that he was in control of his coaching staff and the direction of his football team.
But the reality is Garrett failed to address if he was going to be the playcaller in 2013. If he's going to do it again, fine no problem. If someone else, such as Bill Callahan, is going to take over, good.
No matter what happens, Garrett has to make this team better.
He can talk all he wants about Monte Kiffin taking over the defense and how Callahan will have more of a hand in the overall structure of the offense, Garrett can't have moments like he did in Baltimore last season.
Garrett can't have his team continue to get behind early in games.
Garrett can't let veteran players remain as starters or get significant playing time as they struggle with younger players waiting in the wings.
Garrett must take control of his football team.
You can debate whether or not he's lost the power struggle with Jerry Jones over the moves within the coaching staff, including the exile of his brother, John, to Tampa Bay, Jason Garrett has to save face here.
When Garrett meets the troops in late July, he must continue to have their respect. Garrett talks about getting better each and every day and while it's a good premise, he must display in on a daily basis with his decision making.
If a veteran player fails the training camp conditioning test again, such was the case with Felix Jones last year, that player needs to go. If another player gets popped for anything, DWIs, fighting, doesn't matter, that man needs to go or at least get a team-issues suspension. Forget about letting the process play out.
Garrett has to challenge his players to do better. If he loses the playcalling duties, fine, but he has to let everyone know at Valley Ranch he's the head coach and still running things.
Garrett's style has been even-tempered which has resulted in consecutive 8-8 seasons for the Cowboys. His handling of the death of Jerry Brown was masterful. But his handling of playing Kevin Ogletree, Felix Jones and Doug Free was a failure. He waited too long for Ogletree and Jones to produce for him.
Free shared the starting job in the last month of the season. What took so long?
When Tony Romo was leading the NFL in turnovers in the middle of the season, Garrett said turnovers, specifically interceptions was a team-thing. Really?
Garrett needed to hold his quarterback more accountable in public. He needed to push Romo to become better by challenging him. In the middle of the five interception game against Chicago, Garrett should have benched Romo for Kyle Orton.
Now with his job on the line, and his power appearing to be diminished, Garrett has no choice but to become more aggressive. This is his time to make this Cowboys team better.
"I think the relationship I have with the coaches and players just speaks for itself," Garrett said. "The time I spend with our guys and how we run things and how things are directed on a daily basis, I think they understand the position that I’m in and I think they have respect for that. I
certainly have respect for them and I’m excited about our football team."
Garrett gave off the impression that he was in control of his coaching staff and the direction of his football team.
But the reality is Garrett failed to address if he was going to be the playcaller in 2013. If he's going to do it again, fine no problem. If someone else, such as Bill Callahan, is going to take over, good.
No matter what happens, Garrett has to make this team better.
He can talk all he wants about Monte Kiffin taking over the defense and how Callahan will have more of a hand in the overall structure of the offense, Garrett can't have moments like he did in Baltimore last season.
Garrett can't have his team continue to get behind early in games.
Garrett can't let veteran players remain as starters or get significant playing time as they struggle with younger players waiting in the wings.
Garrett must take control of his football team.
You can debate whether or not he's lost the power struggle with Jerry Jones over the moves within the coaching staff, including the exile of his brother, John, to Tampa Bay, Jason Garrett has to save face here.
When Garrett meets the troops in late July, he must continue to have their respect. Garrett talks about getting better each and every day and while it's a good premise, he must display in on a daily basis with his decision making.
If a veteran player fails the training camp conditioning test again, such was the case with Felix Jones last year, that player needs to go. If another player gets popped for anything, DWIs, fighting, doesn't matter, that man needs to go or at least get a team-issues suspension. Forget about letting the process play out.
Garrett has to challenge his players to do better. If he loses the playcalling duties, fine, but he has to let everyone know at Valley Ranch he's the head coach and still running things.
Garrett's style has been even-tempered which has resulted in consecutive 8-8 seasons for the Cowboys. His handling of the death of Jerry Brown was masterful. But his handling of playing Kevin Ogletree, Felix Jones and Doug Free was a failure. He waited too long for Ogletree and Jones to produce for him.
Free shared the starting job in the last month of the season. What took so long?
When Tony Romo was leading the NFL in turnovers in the middle of the season, Garrett said turnovers, specifically interceptions was a team-thing. Really?
Garrett needed to hold his quarterback more accountable in public. He needed to push Romo to become better by challenging him. In the middle of the five interception game against Chicago, Garrett should have benched Romo for Kyle Orton.
Now with his job on the line, and his power appearing to be diminished, Garrett has no choice but to become more aggressive. This is his time to make this Cowboys team better.
"I think the relationship I have with the coaches and players just speaks for itself," Garrett said. "The time I spend with our guys and how we run things and how things are directed on a daily basis, I think they understand the position that I’m in and I think they have respect for that. I
certainly have respect for them and I’m excited about our football team."
