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Rob Phillips: Garrett's Hires Share A Demanding Trait
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - We all learned something about Jason Garrett in his eight games as Wade Phillips' interim replacement: Jason Garrett the head coach didn't meet the perception of Jason Garrett the offensive coordinator/assistant head coach.
As Phillips' second-in-command, Garrett ran the offense but wasn't the face of the team. He didn't speak publicly but maybe once or twice a week, and when he did, he didn't let his personality supersede Phillips' authority. Almost a bit player, if you will, even if his job was quite significant. And who knows, he might have gone out of his way to disarm the eyebrow-raising over his 2007 arrival - two weeks before Phillips' - by settling into the background.
Now he's in charge, and he's anything but a mild-mannered cog in the wheel. The offensive players who worked under him could have told you that three and a half years ago, but that eight-game stretch definitively and accurately revealed Jason Garrett as an organized, enthusiastic, yet authoritative, presence.
He might not be ornery, like his long-time coach Jimmy Johnson. Or notoriously grumpy, like his old boss Nick Saban. But he clearly defines expectations, demands consistency and wants internal competition.
Based on second-hand information as well as Thursday's informal meet-and-greet at Valley Ranch, Garrett's staff additions seem to have a no-nonsense approach.
Let's start with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, a fascinating hire on many levels. There's the Cowboys' blood feud with his dad Buddy's old Eagles teams and his brother Rex's current head coaching success with the Jets. Fans expect an instant defensive revival based on his last name alone, and Ryan plans to deliver.
"We're gonna sic 'em from the word 'go,'" he said.
True to his reputation, Ryan's not exactly shy. You'd never hear Garrett proclaim greatness at any point, really, much less in mid-February. Or use a four-letter word that's unusable on the 10 o'clock news.
These two might seem like an odd couple, but they're more alike than appearances suggest. From everything you hear about Ryan, he's as passionate as Garrett about football and he challenges his defenses on a daily basis.
"I think he creates an atmosphere where it's hard, it's tough, guys work at it, but at the same time they enjoy playing football for him," Garrett said recently. "A lot of different people told me that."
Garrett undoubtedly got the same feedback about new defensive line coach Brian Baker, who has 15 years of NFL coaching experience, including 13 at his current position. The two men don't have a direct football connection but Baker came highly recommended.
Heard Baker wasn't a softie, either. He confirmed it.
"I'm very demanding on players," he said. "I hold them accountable, responsible. I let them know that we're in it together, but my role is to push them as hard as they can push.
"I use the phrase 'comfort zone.' I don't even let them get close to living in a comfort zone. I want to create an environment where their intensity level is so high that when it gets to the game, which would normally raise it, then they're playing at a level that's too high for the offensive line to match."
Jimmy Robinson, new assistant head coach/wide receivers coach and ex-receivers coach of the world champion Green Bay Packers? Same deal. He's been around the game a long time, starting as a wide receiver for the Giants in 1976 and later crossing paths with Garrett as the Giants receivers coach from 2000-03, and is conscientious about the position's nuances. Because the Cowboys lost a good one in Ray Sherman, it was important to find another teacher for an immense talent like Dez Bryant, who has missed a lot of football over the last two years due to NCAA suspension and injury.
Matt Eberflus, new linebackers coach who worked under Ryan in Cleveland? Extremely high praise from Ryan about his knowledge and experience.
New strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik? Wasn't around to cover him here from 1990-96, but the man can't fit all his Super Bowl rings on one hand (three with the Cowboys, three with the Patriots). He's gotten results everywhere he's been and Garrett was fortunate to find a highly-respected replacement for Joe Juraszek, Woicik's original successor in 1997 who took a medical leave of absence last season, his 14th in Dallas.
Garrett has stressed the importance of playing physical football, particularly up front, and it starts in the offseason program. Although the normal structure could be impeded by a potential league lockout, Woicik is exactly the kind of stringent instructor to carry on what Juraszek fostered.
Now to be clear, this isn't to say the departing staff members or the incumbent assistants lack these qualities. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, for example, is in the same mold; he demands perfection, and would make a fine head coach somewhere.
But Garrett has also put his imprint on the staff. He has added more experience, some fresh ideas and some new voices that are probably needed after an utterly disappointing 6-10 season.
Will this staff get the players back to contention for a full 16 games? We'll see. But from listening to them and others, it's easy to see why the head coach made his choices. There's a little Jason Garrett in all of them.
Rob Phillips: Garrett's Hires Share A Demanding Trait
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - We all learned something about Jason Garrett in his eight games as Wade Phillips' interim replacement: Jason Garrett the head coach didn't meet the perception of Jason Garrett the offensive coordinator/assistant head coach.
As Phillips' second-in-command, Garrett ran the offense but wasn't the face of the team. He didn't speak publicly but maybe once or twice a week, and when he did, he didn't let his personality supersede Phillips' authority. Almost a bit player, if you will, even if his job was quite significant. And who knows, he might have gone out of his way to disarm the eyebrow-raising over his 2007 arrival - two weeks before Phillips' - by settling into the background.
Now he's in charge, and he's anything but a mild-mannered cog in the wheel. The offensive players who worked under him could have told you that three and a half years ago, but that eight-game stretch definitively and accurately revealed Jason Garrett as an organized, enthusiastic, yet authoritative, presence.
He might not be ornery, like his long-time coach Jimmy Johnson. Or notoriously grumpy, like his old boss Nick Saban. But he clearly defines expectations, demands consistency and wants internal competition.
Based on second-hand information as well as Thursday's informal meet-and-greet at Valley Ranch, Garrett's staff additions seem to have a no-nonsense approach.
Let's start with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, a fascinating hire on many levels. There's the Cowboys' blood feud with his dad Buddy's old Eagles teams and his brother Rex's current head coaching success with the Jets. Fans expect an instant defensive revival based on his last name alone, and Ryan plans to deliver.
"We're gonna sic 'em from the word 'go,'" he said.
True to his reputation, Ryan's not exactly shy. You'd never hear Garrett proclaim greatness at any point, really, much less in mid-February. Or use a four-letter word that's unusable on the 10 o'clock news.
These two might seem like an odd couple, but they're more alike than appearances suggest. From everything you hear about Ryan, he's as passionate as Garrett about football and he challenges his defenses on a daily basis.
"I think he creates an atmosphere where it's hard, it's tough, guys work at it, but at the same time they enjoy playing football for him," Garrett said recently. "A lot of different people told me that."
Garrett undoubtedly got the same feedback about new defensive line coach Brian Baker, who has 15 years of NFL coaching experience, including 13 at his current position. The two men don't have a direct football connection but Baker came highly recommended.
Heard Baker wasn't a softie, either. He confirmed it.
"I'm very demanding on players," he said. "I hold them accountable, responsible. I let them know that we're in it together, but my role is to push them as hard as they can push.
"I use the phrase 'comfort zone.' I don't even let them get close to living in a comfort zone. I want to create an environment where their intensity level is so high that when it gets to the game, which would normally raise it, then they're playing at a level that's too high for the offensive line to match."
Jimmy Robinson, new assistant head coach/wide receivers coach and ex-receivers coach of the world champion Green Bay Packers? Same deal. He's been around the game a long time, starting as a wide receiver for the Giants in 1976 and later crossing paths with Garrett as the Giants receivers coach from 2000-03, and is conscientious about the position's nuances. Because the Cowboys lost a good one in Ray Sherman, it was important to find another teacher for an immense talent like Dez Bryant, who has missed a lot of football over the last two years due to NCAA suspension and injury.
Matt Eberflus, new linebackers coach who worked under Ryan in Cleveland? Extremely high praise from Ryan about his knowledge and experience.
New strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik? Wasn't around to cover him here from 1990-96, but the man can't fit all his Super Bowl rings on one hand (three with the Cowboys, three with the Patriots). He's gotten results everywhere he's been and Garrett was fortunate to find a highly-respected replacement for Joe Juraszek, Woicik's original successor in 1997 who took a medical leave of absence last season, his 14th in Dallas.
Garrett has stressed the importance of playing physical football, particularly up front, and it starts in the offseason program. Although the normal structure could be impeded by a potential league lockout, Woicik is exactly the kind of stringent instructor to carry on what Juraszek fostered.
Now to be clear, this isn't to say the departing staff members or the incumbent assistants lack these qualities. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, for example, is in the same mold; he demands perfection, and would make a fine head coach somewhere.
But Garrett has also put his imprint on the staff. He has added more experience, some fresh ideas and some new voices that are probably needed after an utterly disappointing 6-10 season.
Will this staff get the players back to contention for a full 16 games? We'll see. But from listening to them and others, it's easy to see why the head coach made his choices. There's a little Jason Garrett in all of them.