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Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Jerry Jones has completed his most important hire.
Now it's Jason Garrett's turn.
The search for a defensive coordinator is underway. Not much has seeped out concerning the Cowboys' intentions. But here are some names to keep in mind and the scenarios Garrett must sort through as he determines the direction of the Cowboys defense.
Let's start with Paul Pasqualoni, the team's interim coordinator. The number of turnovers forced by the defense went up dramatically under his direction, but so did the number of big plays allowed.
Garrett pushed for Pasqualoni to be elevated to coordinator after Wade Phillips was released. He respects Pasqualoni's knowledge, approach and attention to detail. Garrett is comfortable with him.
Is that enough? Can Garrett afford to be comfortable with his first significant move, or does he need to make a stronger statement?
Pasqualoni isn't a bad choice. He's a very good coach. But is it a smart political move on Garrett's part given how bad the defense was this season? Can owner Jerry Jones sell Pasqualoni to a disillusioned public, especially when you consider this time last year Miami relieved Pasqualoni of his duties as defensive coordinator?
All of this works against Pasqualoni being retained as coordinator. He will have a key role on Garrett's staff moving forward, but it's hard to envision it will be in such a visible role.
Miami's Todd Bowles interviewed with Jones earlier in the week ostensibly for the head coaching vacancy. He never had a shot at that job, but the appearance was he could land on the defensive side of the ball much the way Garrett did on the offensive side four years earlier.
Jones is a big fan of Bowles. He has a level of support among the players at Valley Ranch. But think about it.
Jones brought Bowles in for an interview, not Garrett. The is the same Jones who vaulted from his chair at Thursday's news conference to capture the lecturn and proclaim, "Jason will have the final say on any person that leaves the coaching staff or comes to the coaching staff."
Bowles has no experience as a defensive coordinator. The club just hired a head coach with only eight games of experience. Can it afford to hire a defensive coordinator with even less?
Garrett has no strong ties to Bowles. If he hires him as defensive coordinator, it will appear he deferred to Jones or allowed the owner to make his first hire. That's not good for Garrett or Jones.
The more plausible scenario was that Miami's staff would break up after owner Stephen Ross and his wandering eye focused on Bill Cowher and Jim Harbaugh. The Cowboys would then have been in position to make a run for defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Bowles and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers.
That won't happen now. Not only will coach Tony Sparano remain with the Dolphins, it appears Ross will give him a little extra money for the humiliation he inflicted.
So where does Garrett turn? Dom Capers was the defensive coordinator Garrett mentioned when he interviewed with Jones back in 2007. He's good. If you want an idea of what a Capers defense is about, watch Sunday's wild-card game between Green Bay and Philadelphia.
The Packers aren't about to let Capers go.
If you can't get the man you want, follow his coaching tree. Winston Moss is the Packers assistant head coach and linebackers coach. You heard his name as a possible Rooney Rule candidate before the Cowboys interviewed Bowles.
Vic Fangio is a highly respected Capers disciple. He was a defensive coordinator under Capers in Carolina and Houston and also served in that capacity for Indianapolis. The problem is he will follow Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers.
That leaves Greg Manusky looking for a job.
Manusky played in the league for 12 years. He's a good communicator and a demanding presence. San Francisco's defense showed steady improvement in his four years as coordinator.
Then there's Eric Mangini. He stumbled in two head coaching stints, but he's respected around the league for his abilities as a defensive coordinator.
Garrett constantly talks about how you need emotion, passion and enthusiasm in this game. There is no shortage of those qualities in Mangini.
So what will Garrett do? We'll see.
First hires tell a lot.
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Jerry Jones has completed his most important hire.
Now it's Jason Garrett's turn.
The search for a defensive coordinator is underway. Not much has seeped out concerning the Cowboys' intentions. But here are some names to keep in mind and the scenarios Garrett must sort through as he determines the direction of the Cowboys defense.
Let's start with Paul Pasqualoni, the team's interim coordinator. The number of turnovers forced by the defense went up dramatically under his direction, but so did the number of big plays allowed.
Garrett pushed for Pasqualoni to be elevated to coordinator after Wade Phillips was released. He respects Pasqualoni's knowledge, approach and attention to detail. Garrett is comfortable with him.
Is that enough? Can Garrett afford to be comfortable with his first significant move, or does he need to make a stronger statement?
Pasqualoni isn't a bad choice. He's a very good coach. But is it a smart political move on Garrett's part given how bad the defense was this season? Can owner Jerry Jones sell Pasqualoni to a disillusioned public, especially when you consider this time last year Miami relieved Pasqualoni of his duties as defensive coordinator?
All of this works against Pasqualoni being retained as coordinator. He will have a key role on Garrett's staff moving forward, but it's hard to envision it will be in such a visible role.
Miami's Todd Bowles interviewed with Jones earlier in the week ostensibly for the head coaching vacancy. He never had a shot at that job, but the appearance was he could land on the defensive side of the ball much the way Garrett did on the offensive side four years earlier.
Jones is a big fan of Bowles. He has a level of support among the players at Valley Ranch. But think about it.
Jones brought Bowles in for an interview, not Garrett. The is the same Jones who vaulted from his chair at Thursday's news conference to capture the lecturn and proclaim, "Jason will have the final say on any person that leaves the coaching staff or comes to the coaching staff."
Bowles has no experience as a defensive coordinator. The club just hired a head coach with only eight games of experience. Can it afford to hire a defensive coordinator with even less?
Garrett has no strong ties to Bowles. If he hires him as defensive coordinator, it will appear he deferred to Jones or allowed the owner to make his first hire. That's not good for Garrett or Jones.
The more plausible scenario was that Miami's staff would break up after owner Stephen Ross and his wandering eye focused on Bill Cowher and Jim Harbaugh. The Cowboys would then have been in position to make a run for defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Bowles and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers.
That won't happen now. Not only will coach Tony Sparano remain with the Dolphins, it appears Ross will give him a little extra money for the humiliation he inflicted.
So where does Garrett turn? Dom Capers was the defensive coordinator Garrett mentioned when he interviewed with Jones back in 2007. He's good. If you want an idea of what a Capers defense is about, watch Sunday's wild-card game between Green Bay and Philadelphia.
The Packers aren't about to let Capers go.
If you can't get the man you want, follow his coaching tree. Winston Moss is the Packers assistant head coach and linebackers coach. You heard his name as a possible Rooney Rule candidate before the Cowboys interviewed Bowles.
Vic Fangio is a highly respected Capers disciple. He was a defensive coordinator under Capers in Carolina and Houston and also served in that capacity for Indianapolis. The problem is he will follow Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers.
That leaves Greg Manusky looking for a job.
Manusky played in the league for 12 years. He's a good communicator and a demanding presence. San Francisco's defense showed steady improvement in his four years as coordinator.
Then there's Eric Mangini. He stumbled in two head coaching stints, but he's respected around the league for his abilities as a defensive coordinator.
Garrett constantly talks about how you need emotion, passion and enthusiasm in this game. There is no shortage of those qualities in Mangini.
So what will Garrett do? We'll see.
First hires tell a lot.