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Cowboys have a coach with a clue at last
Express your opinion in a letter to the editor
By Jennifer Floyd Engel
jenfloyd@ star-telegram.com
IRVING -- It was Saturday night in The Meadowlands, and Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was preaching the gospel of Magic Johnson to his captive audience.
The message was pride.
Magic talked about playing with pride every time he put on a Laker jersey. JG wanted that same feeling about The Star. Cowboys linebacker Bradie James was sitting in between safeties Gerald Sensabaugh and Alan Ball listening intently when he hears Ball.
"Alan Ball leans in and says to me, 'I have never had a team meeting on a Saturday night like that,'" James recounted. "And when you think about it, he's only known Wade and that wasn't Wade's m.o. So when you ask 'What is different?' That is just one of the little things."
Little things never were big with Coach Wade -- little mistakes excused, little details allowed to slide, little problems ignored until a big fat mess had been created.
For anybody still in denial about how much a laissez-faire acceptance of mediocrity had seeped into every facet of life at Valley Ranch under Coach Wade, all we needed was six days of JG and his way.
This is how real football coaches operate: clearly defined expectations, spelled-out rules, a clearly communicated structure of how things would be done, and accountability and consequences for failure to adhere to his edicts. And JG made all of those clear in his first 10 minutes talking to the team.
"I never knew Jason Garrett, to be honest with you," James said. "When he sat down and talked to us Wednesday, I was like, 'Who the hell is this person?' And it was like, 'Yeah, that is what I am talking about.' I felt like I was back in college."
Just FYI, his college coach was Nick Saban.
And just in case any locker room doubters existed, winning on Sunday against a Giants team expected to challenge for a Super Bowl probably shut them down.
JG can now say definitively: My way works.
Two knee-jerk Monday thoughts: Jerry waited too long to fire Coach Wade; a couple of weeks sooner and he may have salvaged a chance at a playoff berth. And I told you so about JG.
More blowback certainly came on the JG part, with my inbox filling daily with "The Redheaded Genius is a joke" rants. The anger was at the play-caller. Talking to those who know and know him, there was never any doubt he'd make a great head coach. He has been planning for this moment for forever.
"I can honestly say that I don't see Jason using this as a job interview. I think that he's had in the back of his mind, these are the things that I'm going to live by if and when my shot ever comes," Cowboys QB Jon Kitna said. "He came into a situation he really doesn't like, but he's going to go with his convictions."
His way is easily identifiable. Tell players what he expects. Put processes in place to allow them to meet expectations. Demand accountability when not. He quickly showed accountability and consequences were not simply buzzwords, with a couple of players finding "fine notices" in their lockers Monday. A few were annoyed.
And yes, Marion Barber got a letter.
A quick word on MBIII: He's a punk. His decision to flout JG's dress code on Day 1 succinctly summarizes his sorry, selfish time in a Cowboy uniform. The guy is a captain, of what was then a 1-7 football team in turmoil, and he decided to challenge the coach on what amounts to a couple of items of clothing.
I have heard some say JG loses cred by not benching him for the Giants game. Talking to players Monday, it was exactly the opposite. They expect their coach to do what is best by the team, not overreact to prove a point.
The punishment has to fit the crime, and a wallet hit works here.
A couple of guys said they would not be surprised if JG took a mental note. And if he lands this Cowboy job long-term, I am willing to bet he brings this up and lobbies hard for letting Marion and his shabby chic approach to clothing take his two yards a carry and overcelebrating self elsewhere.
And guys like Marion are exactly why Coach Wade ultimately failed.
Wade was great for the self motivated, for the Bradies and Wittens and Dez Bryants who were going to show up on time for meetings and bust their butts and never quit anyway. But not every Cowboy is Bradie. They are not all self motivated. Some do not do the right thing unless properly prodded by fear of consequences. A few will do whatever they want if that is allowed. Now they do what JG wants, because they know it works and there will be consequences if they don't.
I told you so. I just wish Jerry had listened sooner.
Jennifer Floyd Engel,
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/15/2634024/cowboys-have-a-coach-with-a-clue.html#ixzz15RXgperl
Express your opinion in a letter to the editor
By Jennifer Floyd Engel
jenfloyd@ star-telegram.com
IRVING -- It was Saturday night in The Meadowlands, and Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was preaching the gospel of Magic Johnson to his captive audience.
The message was pride.
Magic talked about playing with pride every time he put on a Laker jersey. JG wanted that same feeling about The Star. Cowboys linebacker Bradie James was sitting in between safeties Gerald Sensabaugh and Alan Ball listening intently when he hears Ball.
"Alan Ball leans in and says to me, 'I have never had a team meeting on a Saturday night like that,'" James recounted. "And when you think about it, he's only known Wade and that wasn't Wade's m.o. So when you ask 'What is different?' That is just one of the little things."
Little things never were big with Coach Wade -- little mistakes excused, little details allowed to slide, little problems ignored until a big fat mess had been created.
For anybody still in denial about how much a laissez-faire acceptance of mediocrity had seeped into every facet of life at Valley Ranch under Coach Wade, all we needed was six days of JG and his way.
This is how real football coaches operate: clearly defined expectations, spelled-out rules, a clearly communicated structure of how things would be done, and accountability and consequences for failure to adhere to his edicts. And JG made all of those clear in his first 10 minutes talking to the team.
"I never knew Jason Garrett, to be honest with you," James said. "When he sat down and talked to us Wednesday, I was like, 'Who the hell is this person?' And it was like, 'Yeah, that is what I am talking about.' I felt like I was back in college."
Just FYI, his college coach was Nick Saban.
And just in case any locker room doubters existed, winning on Sunday against a Giants team expected to challenge for a Super Bowl probably shut them down.
JG can now say definitively: My way works.
Two knee-jerk Monday thoughts: Jerry waited too long to fire Coach Wade; a couple of weeks sooner and he may have salvaged a chance at a playoff berth. And I told you so about JG.
More blowback certainly came on the JG part, with my inbox filling daily with "The Redheaded Genius is a joke" rants. The anger was at the play-caller. Talking to those who know and know him, there was never any doubt he'd make a great head coach. He has been planning for this moment for forever.
"I can honestly say that I don't see Jason using this as a job interview. I think that he's had in the back of his mind, these are the things that I'm going to live by if and when my shot ever comes," Cowboys QB Jon Kitna said. "He came into a situation he really doesn't like, but he's going to go with his convictions."
His way is easily identifiable. Tell players what he expects. Put processes in place to allow them to meet expectations. Demand accountability when not. He quickly showed accountability and consequences were not simply buzzwords, with a couple of players finding "fine notices" in their lockers Monday. A few were annoyed.
And yes, Marion Barber got a letter.
A quick word on MBIII: He's a punk. His decision to flout JG's dress code on Day 1 succinctly summarizes his sorry, selfish time in a Cowboy uniform. The guy is a captain, of what was then a 1-7 football team in turmoil, and he decided to challenge the coach on what amounts to a couple of items of clothing.
I have heard some say JG loses cred by not benching him for the Giants game. Talking to players Monday, it was exactly the opposite. They expect their coach to do what is best by the team, not overreact to prove a point.
The punishment has to fit the crime, and a wallet hit works here.
A couple of guys said they would not be surprised if JG took a mental note. And if he lands this Cowboy job long-term, I am willing to bet he brings this up and lobbies hard for letting Marion and his shabby chic approach to clothing take his two yards a carry and overcelebrating self elsewhere.
And guys like Marion are exactly why Coach Wade ultimately failed.
Wade was great for the self motivated, for the Bradies and Wittens and Dez Bryants who were going to show up on time for meetings and bust their butts and never quit anyway. But not every Cowboy is Bradie. They are not all self motivated. Some do not do the right thing unless properly prodded by fear of consequences. A few will do whatever they want if that is allowed. Now they do what JG wants, because they know it works and there will be consequences if they don't.
I told you so. I just wish Jerry had listened sooner.
Jennifer Floyd Engel,
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/15/2634024/cowboys-have-a-coach-with-a-clue.html#ixzz15RXgperl
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, No doubt!! SHit, here's to hoping Barber pulls that shit again!!!