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Moore: Wade Phillips vows change, and plenty of areas should be considered
12:13 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
IRVING – Wade Phillips vows there will be changes.
VERNON BRYANT/DMN
Coach Wade Phillips says he's 'looking at several different things' that can be changed to get the 0-2 Cowboys on track in time for Sunday's game at unbeaten Houston. What those changes entail, he won't say.
The players have their own opinions as to what is wrong. Their theories include too much hype, lax practice habits, lack of execution and suffocating expectations.
You name it. The Cowboys did. What you can't find is a consensus.
Coaches and players grope to explain the team's dreadful 0-2 start. The trick is to find answers before Sunday's crucial meeting with the Houston Texans.
"We'll change some things that need changing," Phillips said. "I'm looking at several different things."
Kicker is not one of them. David Buehler lives to kick field goals for another game, even after a missed field goal attempt in each of the first two games.
Phillips was purposely vague about what's to come. He wants to work through the scenarios with his staff. Changes in the starting lineup, the rotation, the playbook and practice will all be explored.
The Cowboys coach doesn't want to shout at his players. He wants to analyze and give them something to sink their teeth into. Phillips does not want to overreact, and in truth, there are few major changes that make sense to implement. But it's all on the table.
"We're going to look at everything," Phillips said. "You keep evaluating what you're doing, how you're doing it, what we need to do better along with personnel, along with practice, whatever. I'm looking at a lot of different things right now.
"We need to change the track we're on."
Back on track? These areas are currently derailed and demand attention.
• Scoring offense: No. 24 with an average of 13.5 points.
• Rushing: No. 28 with an average of 69.5 yards.
• Scoring defense: No. 20 with an average of 20 points.
• Sacks: No. 25 with two.
This is all unfamiliar territory. The Cowboys were never under .500 with Phillips as head coach until they lost the opener. It has been six years since the Cowboys were two games under .500.
Receiver Roy Williams said this start should bring the Cowboys back to earth since the media will now focus on what's wrong rather than Super Bowl aspirations.
Safety Gerald Sensabaugh talked about distractions and a sense of entitlement.
"We should be winning," Sensabaugh said. "There's no excuse for this. We need to be focused as a team and organization on winning football games.
"I think it's too much hype around here, you know what I mean? The Super Bowl is here. Everybody's talking about the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. We ain't won a damn game yet. I don't even want to hear nobody talking about the Super Bowl. Really, can we just talk about the next game?
"There's too much hype."
Cornerback Terence Newman spoke of the players needing to do a better job of policing themselves during practice. Defensive end Igor Olshansky conceded he was shocked by the 0-2 start but doesn't feel drastic changes are in order.
"We've just got to keep doing what we're doing," he said. "I think the formula is in place to win.
"It's just got to click, and it will."
Phillips walks a fine line here. He has preached the virtues of continuity yet must now determine if that has slipped into complacency. The plus is that he feels good about the character of the players, their internal leadership and the fact they will keep their noses to the grindstone.
"The bottom line is we haven't played well," tight end Jason Witten said. "What is the answer? Is it penalties, not executing, turnovers, practice, distractions, expectations? I mean, the bottom line is you've got to find a way to turn it around.
"Our actions have got to speak for all of us. We've got to play better."
Immediately. Even though it's early in the season, the Cowboys can't afford to wait. To borrow an analogy from Phillips, this is a 16-round fight and his team has already been knocked down twice.
"We're close, but we're too far away," Phillips said. "That's our problem now."
Change is coming.
12:13 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
IRVING – Wade Phillips vows there will be changes.
VERNON BRYANT/DMN
Coach Wade Phillips says he's 'looking at several different things' that can be changed to get the 0-2 Cowboys on track in time for Sunday's game at unbeaten Houston. What those changes entail, he won't say.
The players have their own opinions as to what is wrong. Their theories include too much hype, lax practice habits, lack of execution and suffocating expectations.
You name it. The Cowboys did. What you can't find is a consensus.
Coaches and players grope to explain the team's dreadful 0-2 start. The trick is to find answers before Sunday's crucial meeting with the Houston Texans.
"We'll change some things that need changing," Phillips said. "I'm looking at several different things."
Kicker is not one of them. David Buehler lives to kick field goals for another game, even after a missed field goal attempt in each of the first two games.
Phillips was purposely vague about what's to come. He wants to work through the scenarios with his staff. Changes in the starting lineup, the rotation, the playbook and practice will all be explored.
The Cowboys coach doesn't want to shout at his players. He wants to analyze and give them something to sink their teeth into. Phillips does not want to overreact, and in truth, there are few major changes that make sense to implement. But it's all on the table.
"We're going to look at everything," Phillips said. "You keep evaluating what you're doing, how you're doing it, what we need to do better along with personnel, along with practice, whatever. I'm looking at a lot of different things right now.
"We need to change the track we're on."
Back on track? These areas are currently derailed and demand attention.
• Scoring offense: No. 24 with an average of 13.5 points.
• Rushing: No. 28 with an average of 69.5 yards.
• Scoring defense: No. 20 with an average of 20 points.
• Sacks: No. 25 with two.
This is all unfamiliar territory. The Cowboys were never under .500 with Phillips as head coach until they lost the opener. It has been six years since the Cowboys were two games under .500.
Receiver Roy Williams said this start should bring the Cowboys back to earth since the media will now focus on what's wrong rather than Super Bowl aspirations.
Safety Gerald Sensabaugh talked about distractions and a sense of entitlement.
"We should be winning," Sensabaugh said. "There's no excuse for this. We need to be focused as a team and organization on winning football games.
"I think it's too much hype around here, you know what I mean? The Super Bowl is here. Everybody's talking about the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. We ain't won a damn game yet. I don't even want to hear nobody talking about the Super Bowl. Really, can we just talk about the next game?
"There's too much hype."
Cornerback Terence Newman spoke of the players needing to do a better job of policing themselves during practice. Defensive end Igor Olshansky conceded he was shocked by the 0-2 start but doesn't feel drastic changes are in order.
"We've just got to keep doing what we're doing," he said. "I think the formula is in place to win.
"It's just got to click, and it will."
Phillips walks a fine line here. He has preached the virtues of continuity yet must now determine if that has slipped into complacency. The plus is that he feels good about the character of the players, their internal leadership and the fact they will keep their noses to the grindstone.
"The bottom line is we haven't played well," tight end Jason Witten said. "What is the answer? Is it penalties, not executing, turnovers, practice, distractions, expectations? I mean, the bottom line is you've got to find a way to turn it around.
"Our actions have got to speak for all of us. We've got to play better."
Immediately. Even though it's early in the season, the Cowboys can't afford to wait. To borrow an analogy from Phillips, this is a 16-round fight and his team has already been knocked down twice.
"We're close, but we're too far away," Phillips said. "That's our problem now."
Change is coming.
