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17 Dallas Cowboys 2011 Head Coach Candidates: Grades and Odds
Bill Cowher- The Chin
There have been a number of names which have been thrown around as head coach candidates for the Dallas Cowboys in 2011, from inexperienced (in terms of head coaching jobs, that is) coordinators such as Perry Fewell and Leslie Frazier to the old vets like Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden.
Below are 17 of those coaches, with pros and cons listed for each (as determined by both myself and DC Times part-time correspondent Justin Shoemaker). Also listed are grades for each coach and the likelihood he ends up in Dallas. Note that each coach is graded not simply on his skill as a coach, but on how he would fit into Big D. The odds are based on the assumption that one of the 17 candidates listed below will win the job.
Jon Gruden
- Pros
Proven winner
Experience with “hands-on” owner in Al Davis
Has recently familiarized himself with spread offense, Wildcat, and other innovative offensive schemes
- Cons
Inherited Tony Dungy’s Super Bowl-winning team
- Jonathan’s Grade: C-
- Justin’s Grade: B
- Odds: 12/100 — Will Gruden leave the booth for the sideline?
- Pros
Experience dealing with young players/egos
- Cons
Poor bowl game resume
- Jonathan’s Grade: C+
- Justin’s Grade: B+
- Odds: 1/100 –Excellent coach, but will he want to leave the security of Oklahoma?
- Pros
Played big-time football so can relate to players
Brings unmatched intensity
- Cons
Style may be better-suited for college players than millionaires
Too comfortable at Stanford?
- Jonathan’s Grade: C-
- Justin’s Grade: C
- Odds: 1/100 — See Bob Stoops.
- Pros
Would implement aggressive defense which Cowboys lack
- Cons
A “players’ coach” whose style might be a poor fit in Dallas
- Jonathan’s Grade: B+
- Justin’s Grade: B
- Odds: 7/100 — There have been minor rumors of Fewell being on Dallas’ short list of coaching candidates.
- Pros
Alpha-dog style could be perfect for current Cowboys team
- Cons
Stuck in old school ways?
- Jonathan’s Grade: D+
- Justin’s Grade: C
- Odds: 10/100 — Others might see him as the favorite, but I think he’ll want too much control.
- Pros
Proven success at running defenses
- Cons
Runs a 4-3 defense; will Dallas make the switch?
- Jonathan’s Grade: B-
- Justin’s Grade: B+
- Odds: 2/100 — Awesome candidate, but 4-3 defense probably not a good fit with Dallas’ current personnel
- Pros
Seems to be stickler for details
- Cons
Runs a 4-3 defense
- Jonathan’s Grade: B-
- Justin’s Grade: C
- Odds: 1/100 — If experience is what Jerry Jones wants, there are better candidates.
- Pros
Players already know system
Aggressive, somewhat new-school approach
- Cons
Lack of experience/poor clock management skills?
- Jonathan’s Grade: B+
- Justin’s Grade: B+
- Odds: 35/100 — I don’t think Jones will want to make a change unless absolutely necessary, particularly with the current labor situation.
- Pros
Fiery head coach who will run a disciplined team
- Cons
“Marty ball” (i.e. three yards and a cloud of dust) is dead
- Jonathan’s Grade: C-
- Justin’s Grade: D
- Odds: 2/100 — Regular season record was surprising to me, but is he just another Wade Phillips?
- Pros
Tremendous family history coaching defenses
- Cons
Who will run the offense?
- Jonathan’s Grade: B-
- Justin’s Grade: C
- Odds: 2/100 — Ryan possesses the attitude that Jones covets, but what separates him from the other coordinators?
- Pros
Took Jake Delhomme-led team to Super Bowl
Friends with the Jones family
- Cons
Old-school approach doesn’t fit with current state of NFL/Cowboys
- Jonathan’s Grade: D-
- Justin’s Grade: D
- Odds: 9/100 — Justin and I don’t like Fox at all, but he is friends with the Jones family.
- Pros
Should be able to resurrect running game
- Cons
Little upside
Team may still be undisciplined
- Jonathan’s Grade: D+
- Justin’s Grade: C-
- Odds: 4/100 — Norv Turner’s chances of coaching in Dallas seem to have passed a few years ago.
- Pros
Incredible success at college level
- Cons
Health?
- Jonathan’s Grade: A-
- Justin’s Grade: C+
- Odds: 1/100 — This is a complete shot in the dark.
Nick Saban
- Pros
Already runs NFL-style schemes at Alabama
Players would be held accountable
- Cons
- Jonathan’s Grade: B-
- Justin’s Grade: B
- Odds: 8/100 — There have already been rumors that Jones flew to Alabama to meet with Saban.
- Pros
“Down to business” personality
- Cons
No head coaching experience
- Jonathan’s Grade: C-
- Justin’s Grade: C+
- Odds: 1/100 — Rivera possesses neither the star power nor the experience to be considered a serious candidate.
