The Denver Broncos are expected to interview Jason Garrett today for their head coaching position. While I have some criticism of Garrett's play-calling and in-season adjustments this year, I still believe that retaining him as offensive coordinator would be important to the Cowboys. He's a young coach still gaining experience and the offensive numbers he put up in 2007 were amazing. Granted, there was a drop-off in 2008 but it wasn't like we were terrible. In the games that Tony Romo played we still averaged 24 points a game. But the overall production on offense was less than what it should have been given the amount of talent and playmakers we have on that side of the ball. The offense also joined the rest of the team in their annual December collapse.

A lot of that drop-off can be attributed to an offensive line that clearly regressed. Since Garrett is the offensive coordinator that position falls under his jurisdiction but Hudson Houck is the guy I'm looking at specifically. He was the coach who was supposed to take our maulers and mold them into the prefect unit for Garrett's vertical offense that uses the power running game. This was supposed to be a return to the 90's for the offense but something went askew along the way.

Garrett has to accept some of that responsibility. Why do we line up in the shotgun so much? Any play-action passes are basically ruined from that formation. The only running play we used regularly from that formation was the draw and teams began to recognize that and stuff it regularly. In general, teams seemed to recognize our formations and the plays that were coming all too often. Garrett needs to use a little more deception in the formations and play-calling. On the other hand, when it's third and one, forget deception and just run the ball between the tackles. If our mammoth offensive line can't pick that up we don't deserve to win ball games.

The thing that would benefit the Cowboys offense the most in 2009 is using the three-headed monster at the running back position. Whenever Garrett gets nervous in a game he resorts to the pass. With the protection the line was providing and Romo's cavalier attitude towards ball security, it wasn't the best idea. I'm a fan of Garrett's and a fan of the vertical passing scheme he runs, but he needs to remember the running game and not be so quick to give up on it.

I want at least one more year for the Redhead to find out if he can make the proper adjustments and return to the explosive offense that caught our fancy in 2007. And yes, I do believe that one day he will be a successful head coach and that just might be in Dallas unless another team takes the plunge with him this year.

Montrae Holland, who played at Denver last year, gives high-marks to Garrett in a Denver newspaper. He also offers his take on the whole Romo/Witten/WR's controversy from the end of the season.

"Jason let them be men and talk it out," Holland said. "He went up to them and said, 'What's going on? What can we do to get past this so we can get back to football?' He's a communicator. He listens to the players when the players come off the field."

Wide receivers coach Ray Sherman is expected to interview for the St. Louis head coach position sometime this week.

Sherman, reached by phone Monday in Dallas, said it was a career goal of his to be a head coach in the NFL and that he was looking forward to the Rams interview.

"I just think it'll be an excellent opportunity," Sherman said. "It's a team that has some exciting players and has a chance to turn it around."

The Cowboys are almost assuredly heading back to San Antonio for training camp in 2009.  There are even some tentative dates planned, July 31st through August 22^nd.

Today the Ravens tangle with the Dolphins then the Eagles travel to visit the Vikings.

This is an open thread for both playoff games.

The Falcons visit the Cardinals and the Colts visit the Chargers. Since I live in Atlanta, I guess I'll adopt the Falcons as my playoff team.

This is an open thread for both playoff games.

An update on the coaching searches around the NFL involving Cowboys assistants. The Rams are interested in receivers coach Ray Sherman.

According to a source, Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Ray Sherman will be asked to interview for the St. Louis Rams head coaching vacancy.

Meanwhile, Jason Garrett, despite any misgivings Cowboys fans might have about his 2008 performance, is still a hot commodity, at least for interviews. The Rams might be considering him in addition to Sherman. 

In addition, the Rams are considering former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel and have talked to the agents of Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Dallas assistant head coach-offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Also, the Broncos have him on their list of candidates.

The Broncos have also sought - but not yet been given - permission to interview offensive coordinator Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys.

So by my count that's the Rams, Broncos and Lions who want to talk to Garrett.

After the firing of special teams coach Bruce Read, the name that keeps popping up as a successor is Joe DeCamillis.

Sources said the team is interested in Jacksonville special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who coached with Phillips when Phillips was defensive coordinator at Denver and Atlanta.

DeCamillis, whose two-year contract with the Jaguars ended after the season, was not available for comment.

DeCamillis has had a successful career as a special teams coach and would be a welcomed addition if the Cowboys go in that direction.

In the "yeah, I remember that" department, Mike Holmgren at his final press conference for the Seahawks was asked about his greatest achievements as GM of Seattle. His answer:

(On what his proudest achievements were as general manager) I felt pretty good after we got two No. 1s for Joey Galloway (from the Dallas Cowboys in 2000). I was dealing with Jerry Jones, and Jerry's a pretty shrewd guy but a dealmaker. That worked out well for us, that particular trade.

Ugh.

Todd Archer posted the list of UFA's, RFA's and ERFA's in an article on Tuesday. I'll take my shot at their future then you do the same in the comments.

Unrestricted free agents

OG Joe Berger: Not worth it. We could use upgrades for backups in the middle of the line, someone better can surely be found.
QB Brooks Bollinger: Depends on how much he wants. He could be a stop-gap backup but the Cowboys need to look at developing a future QB who could push Romo and come in during injury. One thing is for sure, Brad Johnson has got to go.
LB Kevin Burnett: Tough call only because I think he'll get some good offers from other teams. Can definitely play on third downs but could he play consistently against the run? With Zach saying he's leaving ILB is a position of need so that might push the franchise to keep him.
DE Chris Canty: Another tough one because he should also get other offers. Physically, he's just want you want in a 3-4 DE but he's never produced the way we hoped.
S Keith Davis: Love his effort but he's not the solution as a starting safety. We can only keep him if he comes very cheap.
DT Tank Johnson: Hasn't produced and screamed "I'm a free agent" immediately upon entering the locker room after the Eagles game. Buh-bye.
LB Carlos Polk: Actually made plays on special teams, I would like to see them keep him.
LB Zach Thomas: He sounds like he doesn't want to be here and the one-year experiment wasn't exactly successful. I don't see it.

Restricted free agents

WR Miles Austin: They should keep this kid. I thought they should have used him more at the end of the year at receiver. He finally learned to catch the ball and has size and speed.
DE Stephen Bowen: Occasionally made plays when given a chance. Good guy to have as a backup.
TE Tony Curtis: Time to go.
WR Sam Hurd: Don't know if he really will have a chance, he's buried on the depth chart. Might be time for new blood.
OG Cory Procter: No way!

Exclusive rights free agents

TE Rodney Hannah: Could at least replace Curtis as the third TE.
P Sam Paulescu: Welcome back Mat McBriar, goodbye Sam.
RB Alonzo Coleman: Just don't see room for him on the active roster.

According the team website, the Cowboys opponents in 2009 line up this way.

We'll play the NFC South and AFC West. Also, because we came in third in our division, we'll match-up with the third-place teams in the NFC North and NFC West. Those teams are Green Bay and Seattle.

So our opponents for 2009 shake out like this:

Home  - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Oakland and San Diego.

Away - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Denver, Kansas City and Green Bay.

So after last night's debacle Wade Phillips stepped to the mic today. I've already stated that I'm unhappy with the job Wade Phillips is doing as coach, but that's hardly the point because Big Jerry has stated that Big Wade is here to stay. It is what it is. So while I was so busy today I didn't have time to tune into Wade's presser live, I did go back and watch the archive. Here's my take on Wade's PC mixed in with some news of the day.

Wade is putting together a plan but he's not ready to share it yet. I wonder if he had a plan for the Philly game and didn't share that with anyone either? I kid! Why so serious? Anyway, Wade says things will need to change and that starts with himself. Uh, I don't know but somehow I'm not reassured. He'll analyze everything including the way they run practices, training camp, etc. and Wade might just have to get tougher and more demanding. He will transform himself from the cuddly Pillsbury Dough Boy into the much-feared Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. I'm not bitter, really. I expressed skepticism that he could make the transformation at this stage in his career today on the DCFanatic Show and wondered if he did how some of the players might take to the new approach. Enter Bradie James.

"If you know a person to be a certain way and then all of a sudden you have an extreme change, I don't know how well that's going to be taken," James said. "I don't know what he means by that. Like I said, he didn't address us, so I don't know."

Granted James did say that Wade already can be tough and that he would be a team-player no matter what Wade's new approach is, but it underlines the point that a sudden change in personality could cause some static in the locker room.

Whatever, we'll see what happens when the time comes.

There's much more after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

44-6? Seriously, that's how it ends? As fans, we dedicate a certain portion of our life to the Dallas Cowboys, some more than others, and when we get an ending like this the emotions run the gamut. Anger, sadness, numbness; you name it and some Cowboys fan is feeling it. All the way back to last year's loss in the playoffs to the Giants we've been waiting for this season, full of hope and promise, only to see it all come crashing down around us. There's nothing left for us now except to sort through the mess and try to re-build. This is the essence of sports. We love it so much but we know that most of the time we'll end up disappointed. We live for those magical seasons when it all comes together and the payoff is supreme. Still, in the grand scheme of sports those seasons are few and far between. When you get on a run like the Cowboys had in the early 90's or the Patriots had earlier this decade, you have to savor it for all it's worth because it will end. Then you're left with only the belief that one day they will return.

They didn't return for us in the 2008 season.

Now we enter the offseason. Land of purgatory where shattered souls wait for redemption even though they know they could be right back in the same spot next year. That doesn't deter the true fan and in some ways maybe we should enjoy the journey as much as the destination. That's hard to do when you're in the midst of the games. Now we are without the games. Now, we commiserate with each other in our dejected state and pray that the organization will make the correct moves this time. We won't know if they have until just about this time next year.

I know that my confidence in the organization has been shaken. A roster with this much talent should have produced better results. They didn't. There needs to be a serious case of soul-searching going on at Valley Ranch over the next couple of weeks and that's starts at the top with owner/GM Jerry Jones. Could his instincts have been wrong? Did he assemble a cast of all-stars instead of a team? Were his choices of coaches flawed? On some of these counts the answer is yes. I will be dishing out my opinions in the coming days and eagerly wait to read yours. All the while we'll be watching for clues in the press reports about what direction this franchise will be moving.

At the moment I'm inclined to believe that a change at head coach would be the best way to serve the organization. Wade Phillips has proven to be a great defensive coordinator and a good regular-season coach but his ability to get the win in the big games has never manifested itself. With a younger coach I could believe that with experience this could change, with a coach who has been around as long as Wade I find it a leap of faith that I can't make. I'm not on a campaign to get him fired but I would be happier if he was replaced. Right now, I don't have the answer as to who that may be, I would need time to scan the landscape. In the end though, it doesn't really matter what I think and to this point Jerry has given every indication that he will stick with Wade for another season.

As for the rest of the staff, I guess anything is possible. If special teams coach Bruce Read isn't fired soon, then my faith in Jerry will truly be tested. I also expect other changes to be made among the assistants if this team is really serious about changing its fortunes in 2009. If I had my dream scenario Jerry would fire himself as GM and bring in someone with a long history of success. We all know that won't happen. Just like we can't really affect what happens in the games we can't really affect what Jerry does in the offseason. As Cowboys fans we just have to deal with it. You can say if he doesn't do this or that then you won't support the team but if you're like me that's a hollow threat. I could no more give up the Cowboys than I could breathing. In fact, those two things will occur at the same time one day in the future, but never before.

I'm a Cowboys fan for life, even when I'm as mad at the team as I am right now. That's the life we've chosen as sports fanatics and as supporters of the Star.

Hold tight, the past can't be changed but the future is always open to possibility. There's always next year and this blog will be covering the Cowboys future every step of the way.

Maybe by this time in 2009, 44-6 will be thought of as the score that launched us on our way. Maybe it will be just the right amount of humiliation to cure whatever it is that is ailing this franchise.

I know I'll be here to find out. I hope all of you will be, too.

New open thread for the Cowboys/Eagles game.

If you're a glutton for punishment, feel free to keep commenting.

New open thread for the Cowboys/Eagles game.

BTW, anybody who can't control the urge to use profanity should just quit posting. I will be banning repeat offenders.