sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
Prep Work
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - If there is one thing we've found out about head coach Jason Garrett during the last six months or so, it's that he isn't a fan of comparisons.
When asked to relate one player to another, or one game or situation to something similar, Garrett usually refuses. He often says that comparing things to each other is a dangerous proposition and tries to avoid it when possible.
So it's likely he doesn't put much stock into Pat Summerall's assessment of him this week when he said Garrett's approach and preparation to the game is similar to that of Tom Landry's. While Garrett obviously has the highest respect for both Landry and Summerall, don't expect him to be comfortable getting compared to the only head coach the Cowboys knew for the first 29 years of the franchise.
But clearly, that opinion by Summerall, who honored Garrett in the 11th annual Pat Summerall Humble Beginnings Award luncheon this week, speaks volumes for Garrett's ability to stay prepared.
And there is no better time for him to show that type of preparation than now, with the NFL firmly entrenched in a lockout with no end in sight. Garrett said Tuesday on DallasCowboys.com Radio's The Lunch Break that flexibility is the key to having things ready if and when the status of the league changes.
"Typically we have OTAs (Organized Team Activity practices) now and we have some kind of minicamp and by the middle of June, the football part of things is done," Garrett said. "This is a different year. We just have to be flexible. We have to be able to - if the conditions change - allow our coaches to have access to the players and take advantage of the time we have. We're behind what we typically do in an offseason, but not behind anyone else in the league."
At this point in a regular offseason, the Cowboys would've had at least one rookie minicamp that follows the NFL Draft, and at least one, maybe two sessions of OTA practices, which are usually three workouts per week.
For an entire offseason, the Cowboys would likely have a full-roster minicamp, and possibly four weeks of three-day OTA practices. And with Garrett still considered a first-year head coach, the Cowboys would be awarded an additional minicamp as well.
So far, NFL teams have lost out on at least one rookie minicamp and two weeks of OTA practices, not to mention having to wait to sign undrafted rookie free agents.
To stay busy, Garrett said there have been a few more coaching-staff projects that he's assigned to his assistants. For the most part, it consists of research analysis on several different aspects of the game and situational tendencies in areas such as red-zone offense and defense, goal-line, two-minute drill, four-minute drills and many other categories.
"We've really assigned the same kinds of things. It's really continued analysis of what we've done and what we might want to do," Garrett said. "You evaluate your team in all types of categories. You're doing analysis of those things on both sides of the ball and the kicking game. You look at teams in your division and you look at other teams that are really good in those areas. Typically those things are done much earlier in the offseason because you're (usually) on a practice field right now. We've been doing some of that stuff. It's all good and it helps you as a staff to prepare your team."
Up to this point, the coaching staff has been relatively busy but that will change here over the next two weeks. Garrett said it's a safe assumption that nothing will take place between now and June 3, the scheduled date of the lockout appeal hearing.
"From what I understand, that's the first day they start hearing about this particular case and its appeal process," Garrett said, referring to June 3. "However long it takes, nothing in regards to football will happen probably before then. It's a long way of saying we've given our coaches a couple of weeks off heading up to that June 3 in the hopes that something gets resolved in June. Then hopefully we get the players back for a little stretch at the end of June before we break and go to training camp, toward the end of July."
That's the plan at least. While Garrett is like every other coach in the league, trying to work with his hands tied, he at least remains prepared. At this point, that's about all he can do.
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - If there is one thing we've found out about head coach Jason Garrett during the last six months or so, it's that he isn't a fan of comparisons.
When asked to relate one player to another, or one game or situation to something similar, Garrett usually refuses. He often says that comparing things to each other is a dangerous proposition and tries to avoid it when possible.
So it's likely he doesn't put much stock into Pat Summerall's assessment of him this week when he said Garrett's approach and preparation to the game is similar to that of Tom Landry's. While Garrett obviously has the highest respect for both Landry and Summerall, don't expect him to be comfortable getting compared to the only head coach the Cowboys knew for the first 29 years of the franchise.
But clearly, that opinion by Summerall, who honored Garrett in the 11th annual Pat Summerall Humble Beginnings Award luncheon this week, speaks volumes for Garrett's ability to stay prepared.
And there is no better time for him to show that type of preparation than now, with the NFL firmly entrenched in a lockout with no end in sight. Garrett said Tuesday on DallasCowboys.com Radio's The Lunch Break that flexibility is the key to having things ready if and when the status of the league changes.
"Typically we have OTAs (Organized Team Activity practices) now and we have some kind of minicamp and by the middle of June, the football part of things is done," Garrett said. "This is a different year. We just have to be flexible. We have to be able to - if the conditions change - allow our coaches to have access to the players and take advantage of the time we have. We're behind what we typically do in an offseason, but not behind anyone else in the league."
At this point in a regular offseason, the Cowboys would've had at least one rookie minicamp that follows the NFL Draft, and at least one, maybe two sessions of OTA practices, which are usually three workouts per week.
For an entire offseason, the Cowboys would likely have a full-roster minicamp, and possibly four weeks of three-day OTA practices. And with Garrett still considered a first-year head coach, the Cowboys would be awarded an additional minicamp as well.
So far, NFL teams have lost out on at least one rookie minicamp and two weeks of OTA practices, not to mention having to wait to sign undrafted rookie free agents.
To stay busy, Garrett said there have been a few more coaching-staff projects that he's assigned to his assistants. For the most part, it consists of research analysis on several different aspects of the game and situational tendencies in areas such as red-zone offense and defense, goal-line, two-minute drill, four-minute drills and many other categories.
"We've really assigned the same kinds of things. It's really continued analysis of what we've done and what we might want to do," Garrett said. "You evaluate your team in all types of categories. You're doing analysis of those things on both sides of the ball and the kicking game. You look at teams in your division and you look at other teams that are really good in those areas. Typically those things are done much earlier in the offseason because you're (usually) on a practice field right now. We've been doing some of that stuff. It's all good and it helps you as a staff to prepare your team."
Up to this point, the coaching staff has been relatively busy but that will change here over the next two weeks. Garrett said it's a safe assumption that nothing will take place between now and June 3, the scheduled date of the lockout appeal hearing.
"From what I understand, that's the first day they start hearing about this particular case and its appeal process," Garrett said, referring to June 3. "However long it takes, nothing in regards to football will happen probably before then. It's a long way of saying we've given our coaches a couple of weeks off heading up to that June 3 in the hopes that something gets resolved in June. Then hopefully we get the players back for a little stretch at the end of June before we break and go to training camp, toward the end of July."
That's the plan at least. While Garrett is like every other coach in the league, trying to work with his hands tied, he at least remains prepared. At this point, that's about all he can do.