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Jason Garrett is a definite change
Differences between interim head coach and departed Wade Phillips are loud, clear
IRVING, Texas -- One of the differences between Wade Phillips, the deposed coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and Jason Garrett is the way they talk.
Phillips talks in low tones with a slight Texas twang.
Garrett, who became the first interim coach in franchise history Monday, speaks loudly. He commands the room in a way the Cowboys haven't seen the past four years.
Whether this will help the team fix its 1-7 record and end a five-game losing streak, Dallas' longest since 1997, is uncertain.
When Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said it was time for a culture change at Valley Ranch, he moved out Phillips and his folksy way of doing things, and pushed in Garrett, the kid born in Abington, Pa., who played high school football in Chagrin, Ohio, and later attended Princeton.
"We're all disappointed with how this season has started," Garrett said. "I think players understand that at the end of the day, it's a bottom-line business. You have to win. You have to win in this league."
Garrett, 44, will remain the offensive coordinator, a job he's held since 2007.
The Cowboys had no choice but to make this call.
Phillips, while a good man who is an excellent football coach, failed in trying to push the Cowboys to an elite level.
It's unknown whether Garrett can do what Phillips couldn't. Jones is giving him eight weeks to turn things around, and then he'll evaluate the process.
"There'll be some changes that I think will be tangible that people in our organization will notice right from the start," Garrett said. "I think over time those changes will be implemented into our football team. They won't be drastic changes. I just think the personality of the leader will come through a little bit. That's in any organization."
Garrett didn't act like he was an interim coach Monday night, as he called himself the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
When asked whether this is an interim job, he said, "I look at it as embracing an opportunity."
Jones said he'd see how the team performs under Garrett over the last eight games before making a decision whether to remove "interim" from his job title.
"He does have the opportunity to get the job long term," Jones said.
There is a perceived rift between Garrett and some offensive and defensive players. It probably stems from the Terrell Owens era.
Watching Garrett at Monday's news conference, you got the feeling he doesn't care whether the players like him, as long as they practice and play hard, because that's all that matters.
While Phillips might be noted for trying to be a father figure to some players, Garrett is more like the older brother who has the good credit, marries the pretty girl and does things the right way.
If the players don't like Garrett, so what.
At 1-7, they have no choice.
"Wade is no longer the coach," Garrett said. "I am the coach, and what we're going to do going forward is get ready to have a great meeting, a great walk-through and a great practice on Wednesday, and give ourselves a chance to beat the Giants on Sunday."
Differences between interim head coach and departed Wade Phillips are loud, clear
IRVING, Texas -- One of the differences between Wade Phillips, the deposed coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and Jason Garrett is the way they talk.
Phillips talks in low tones with a slight Texas twang.
Garrett, who became the first interim coach in franchise history Monday, speaks loudly. He commands the room in a way the Cowboys haven't seen the past four years.
Whether this will help the team fix its 1-7 record and end a five-game losing streak, Dallas' longest since 1997, is uncertain.
When Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said it was time for a culture change at Valley Ranch, he moved out Phillips and his folksy way of doing things, and pushed in Garrett, the kid born in Abington, Pa., who played high school football in Chagrin, Ohio, and later attended Princeton.
"We're all disappointed with how this season has started," Garrett said. "I think players understand that at the end of the day, it's a bottom-line business. You have to win. You have to win in this league."
Garrett, 44, will remain the offensive coordinator, a job he's held since 2007.
The Cowboys had no choice but to make this call.
Phillips, while a good man who is an excellent football coach, failed in trying to push the Cowboys to an elite level.
It's unknown whether Garrett can do what Phillips couldn't. Jones is giving him eight weeks to turn things around, and then he'll evaluate the process.
"There'll be some changes that I think will be tangible that people in our organization will notice right from the start," Garrett said. "I think over time those changes will be implemented into our football team. They won't be drastic changes. I just think the personality of the leader will come through a little bit. That's in any organization."
Garrett didn't act like he was an interim coach Monday night, as he called himself the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
When asked whether this is an interim job, he said, "I look at it as embracing an opportunity."
Jones said he'd see how the team performs under Garrett over the last eight games before making a decision whether to remove "interim" from his job title.
"He does have the opportunity to get the job long term," Jones said.
There is a perceived rift between Garrett and some offensive and defensive players. It probably stems from the Terrell Owens era.
Watching Garrett at Monday's news conference, you got the feeling he doesn't care whether the players like him, as long as they practice and play hard, because that's all that matters.
While Phillips might be noted for trying to be a father figure to some players, Garrett is more like the older brother who has the good credit, marries the pretty girl and does things the right way.
If the players don't like Garrett, so what.
At 1-7, they have no choice.
"Wade is no longer the coach," Garrett said. "I am the coach, and what we're going to do going forward is get ready to have a great meeting, a great walk-through and a great practice on Wednesday, and give ourselves a chance to beat the Giants on Sunday."