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By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
Jason Garrett talks to the media about taking over on an interim basis after the firing of Wade Phillips.
IRVING — If there is a guiding principle for NFL assistant coaches, this is it: Hitch your wagon to a head coach you are convinced will be successful.
So here’s the question: Why did Jimmy Robinson change jobs five days after Green Bay won the Super Bowl? What’s more, why did he join a Cowboys team that lost to the Packers, 45-7, three months earlier?
The answer lies in a New York Giants meeting room more than a decade ago.
Robinson was preparing for a game as an assistant with the Giants in the early 2000s. Around 8 o’clock on a Wednesday or Thursday night, Robinson doesn’t remember which, he walked by the meeting room and found a solitary figure watching tape with the game plan spread out in front of him.
It was backup quarterback Jason Garrett.
“The rest of the team had been gone for several hours, quite honestly,” Robinson said. “The only guys in the building were the coaches and Jason Garrett. I was just enormously impressed with his work ethic, his preparation and his demeanor, how he would carry himself.
“We got to know each other pretty well. We talked about down the line we might have a chance to work together and we’d like to do that.
“The opportunity came and here we are.”
Robinson inherits a talented group. Miles Austin is the first Cowboys receiver to appear in back-to-back Pro Bowls since Michael Irvin.
An injury kept Dez Bryant from completing his rookie season. But he was around long enough to let the rest of the league know he’s special.
Bryant and Robinson met for the first time Wednesday. Robinson’s charge is to help the young receiver reach his potential.
“He’s a guy who has all the tools,” Robinson said. “It’s the coach’s job to help him to grow at the position in the offense we run. I think he’s going to do just fine.
“A lot is expected of him. I think he knows that. Hey, we’ll take it one day at a time, and I’m quite sure he will become what we all expect him to be.”
A key phrase in that comment lets people know what Robinson is all about. It came when he talked about helping Bryant grow in the offense.
Robinson is a perfectionist. He demands that receivers follow the design of the offense. He is not one to tolerate imprecise routes or grant a receiver artistic license.
“I’m a very hands-on guy in terms of how I work with these guys,” Robinson said. “I think every little thing is important. Details are important. The little things add up to the big things.
“I talk a lot about controlling the things they can control, which is their preparation, their work habits, their work ethic. Their study habits and preparation for a game, both game plan and opponent’s study, and not worry much about the things they can’t control, which is how many balls get thrown their way, how many yards they make, how many touchdowns they score.”
Receivers under Robinson must buy into the team concept. He talks about the need to sacrifice in certain games for the greater good. He wants them to strive for success as a group rather than as individuals.
He cites the Packers as an example. Greg Jennings led the way during the regular season with 76 receptions. Donald Driver was next with 51. They were followed by James Jones (50) and Jordy Nelson (45).
“It was spread around pretty good,” Robinson said.
Will Bryant refine his route running and increase his understanding of the offense? Will Austin drop fewer balls? If Roy Williams remains on the roster, can he become a more consistent contributor? Can Kevin Ogletree regain the promise he flashed two years ago?
This is how Robinson will be judged.
Garrett is in his corner.
“This is something that was talked about years and years ago,” Robinson said. “When the opportunity arose, it was always something I hoped would happen.
“We were able to work it out.”
Jason Garrett talks to the media about taking over on an interim basis after the firing of Wade Phillips.
IRVING — If there is a guiding principle for NFL assistant coaches, this is it: Hitch your wagon to a head coach you are convinced will be successful.
So here’s the question: Why did Jimmy Robinson change jobs five days after Green Bay won the Super Bowl? What’s more, why did he join a Cowboys team that lost to the Packers, 45-7, three months earlier?
The answer lies in a New York Giants meeting room more than a decade ago.
Robinson was preparing for a game as an assistant with the Giants in the early 2000s. Around 8 o’clock on a Wednesday or Thursday night, Robinson doesn’t remember which, he walked by the meeting room and found a solitary figure watching tape with the game plan spread out in front of him.
It was backup quarterback Jason Garrett.
“The rest of the team had been gone for several hours, quite honestly,” Robinson said. “The only guys in the building were the coaches and Jason Garrett. I was just enormously impressed with his work ethic, his preparation and his demeanor, how he would carry himself.
“We got to know each other pretty well. We talked about down the line we might have a chance to work together and we’d like to do that.
“The opportunity came and here we are.”
Robinson inherits a talented group. Miles Austin is the first Cowboys receiver to appear in back-to-back Pro Bowls since Michael Irvin.
An injury kept Dez Bryant from completing his rookie season. But he was around long enough to let the rest of the league know he’s special.
Bryant and Robinson met for the first time Wednesday. Robinson’s charge is to help the young receiver reach his potential.
“He’s a guy who has all the tools,” Robinson said. “It’s the coach’s job to help him to grow at the position in the offense we run. I think he’s going to do just fine.
“A lot is expected of him. I think he knows that. Hey, we’ll take it one day at a time, and I’m quite sure he will become what we all expect him to be.”
A key phrase in that comment lets people know what Robinson is all about. It came when he talked about helping Bryant grow in the offense.
Robinson is a perfectionist. He demands that receivers follow the design of the offense. He is not one to tolerate imprecise routes or grant a receiver artistic license.
“I’m a very hands-on guy in terms of how I work with these guys,” Robinson said. “I think every little thing is important. Details are important. The little things add up to the big things.
“I talk a lot about controlling the things they can control, which is their preparation, their work habits, their work ethic. Their study habits and preparation for a game, both game plan and opponent’s study, and not worry much about the things they can’t control, which is how many balls get thrown their way, how many yards they make, how many touchdowns they score.”
Receivers under Robinson must buy into the team concept. He talks about the need to sacrifice in certain games for the greater good. He wants them to strive for success as a group rather than as individuals.
He cites the Packers as an example. Greg Jennings led the way during the regular season with 76 receptions. Donald Driver was next with 51. They were followed by James Jones (50) and Jordy Nelson (45).
“It was spread around pretty good,” Robinson said.
Will Bryant refine his route running and increase his understanding of the offense? Will Austin drop fewer balls? If Roy Williams remains on the roster, can he become a more consistent contributor? Can Kevin Ogletree regain the promise he flashed two years ago?
This is how Robinson will be judged.
Garrett is in his corner.
“This is something that was talked about years and years ago,” Robinson said. “When the opportunity arose, it was always something I hoped would happen.
“We were able to work it out.”
