120 replies to this topic

[Jaymze13]

Turner becomes leading candidate

By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

IRVING -- Norv Turner is coming to interview for the Cowboys' head coaching job Sunday and appears to be the leading candidate to replace Bill Parcells.

The San Francisco 49ers reportedly have made a substantial offer to keep Turner, the team's offensive coordinator, from even interviewing with the Cowboys. But Turner, who is in Mobile, Ala., as a coach in the Senior Bowl today, will still interview with the Cowboys and has emerged as the favorite to coach the team, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.

Turner has a history with Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones and has been a head coach twice previously in the NFL, with Washington (1994-2000) and Oakland (2004-05).

He was the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys in their Super Bowl-winning seasons of 1992 and 1993 and groomed Troy Aikman. He also coached Jason Garrett as one of the backup quarterbacks in 1993, and Garrett on Thursday was named to the Cowboys' staff, presumably as the offensive coordinator.

Turner was offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers in 2001 and the Miami Dolphins in 2002-03.

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs, who was on the Cowboys' staff for four seasons before this one, will interview with Jones today at Valley Ranch.

He follows another defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips of the San Diego Chargers, who spent most of Friday at Cowboys' headquarters.

Sporting his Sunday best -- in this case a blue suit and tie -- Phillips arrived at Valley Ranch at 8:30 a.m. and left around 3:20 p.m. He met with Jerry Jones, president Stephen Jones, former coach Bill Parcells and Garrett about the vacant position.

"I think [Jerry Jones] knows what I'm about," Phillips said in a six-minute session with the media.

"I don't think [the coaching decision] will be a long, drawn-out process," Phillips said. "That's what I've been told."

Phillips said of his conversation with Parcells, "He said he'd help any way he could and he will, personnel-wise or anything. We did talk a little bit about some of the personnel they had here, and he thought who could play and how well. Which is helpful, and if I were to be here, that would be something I would tap into him and see a lot more in-depth about the players that are here."

Phillips, 60, spent the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator in San Diego. He's been an NFL head coach twice. Both times he was fired.

He coached the Denver Broncos to a 9-7 record in 1993 and was 7-9 in '94, then was replaced by Mike Shanahan. Phillips compiled a 29-19 record with the Buffalo Bills from 1998 through 2000.

Despite his less-than-ceremonious departures from both jobs, Phillips remains highly regarded as an astute defensive coach who runs the 3-4. It's those last two numbers that intrigue Jones.

Under Parcells, the Cowboys drafted and signed players to fit that scheme. One player, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, was selected one pick ahead of Shawne Merriman, who flourished under Phillips in San Diego. Merriman led the NFL with 17 sacks this season.

"I wished we could have had both of them," Phillips said. "[Ware] is a really good, young player. I think he's going to develop into a great player."

The Chargers' defense ranked seventh in the NFL in fewest points allowed this season.

Even though the Cowboys have hired Garrett to be the offensive coordinator, at least, and are ostensibly grooming him to be a head coach, Phillips expressed no concerns.

"In this day and time, to get good coaches sometimes you have to put the cart before the horse," Phillips said. "In this situation, if you have good coaches, a lot of times you want to keep them."

Phillips said he believes Garrett is a "rising star." He just doesn't know him well.

What he does know is that this Cowboys team has the potential to be good.

"Bill Parcells was here and put together a solid team. That's pretty important already," Phillips said. "They were in the playoffs. That's a good start for any head coach coming in."

[Nedfan]

I'm still not sure who to take here. I like Norv Turner as a OC, but not as a HC. Some coaches are just not cut out to be HCs. I think Wade Phillips would make a great DC, but why would he leave SD without moving up? Some coaches can be HCs and still call plays, Parcells, Payton, Holmgren..., but I also think that Payton has gotten too much credit for his success. Had he come to NO and had to run the offense with Brooks and Co., I don't think NO would have been anywhere near as successful. Not trying to dis Payton, per say, but success in football is always a combination of things and when the combination is right, things click. Anyone who doesn't think that the acqusition of Drew Brees (best NFC QB) and Reggie BUsh (exciting everytime he touches the ball) had as much or more effect on NO's success this season is a fool. Look at what one player (Romo) did for the Cowboys at first. Talk about a shot in the arm...

I don't care for the 3-4, but Dallas was successful with it early on, and still stopped the run with it, but it needs some tweaking in the pass coverage. Wade Phillips is an excellent defensive coach, but like I said, he would surely want to move up. I always liked Jason Garret, and thought someone would take him away from Dallas as a starter. He took it like a man having to play second fiddle to Aikman all those years. I don't know anything about his coaching prowess though. Somebody help me here. The media can throw anyone in the headlines they want, but I still have to convince myself if it will work.

For the record, I didn't think Jimmy Johnson would be successful either, and I still don't think he would have been near as good had he not had Herschell Walker to trade for 3 starters and 8 draft picks. He turned out to be a great Cowboys coach (his time at the Dolphins was forgettable), but look at the team and assts.he had in Dallas, phenominal to say the least. Barry Switzer coached them to a SB, kinda like Seifert did with the 49ers. Were either of these two coaches great? Turns out....no. I do think Johnson could do something with this Cowboys team as the talent is already in place, but he'd never come back to Dallas.

OK, I'm through rambling now.

[Jaymze13]

Turner won't fix what is broken

By Jennifer Floyd Engel
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Norv Turner is going to be named the head coach of the Cowboys on Monday.

Oh, nobody has officially announced this ho-hum news. Nor am I pretending to have an inside pipeline to Owner Jones' brain. It's just a hunch based on what has been happening at Valley Ranch.

Did I mention this is a mistake? On so many levels.

Norv is not a bad guy or a bad coach. Quite the opposite. He is actually a great offensive coordinator, exactly the kind of guy you want tutoring Tony Romo in what may be a defining season for him.

What is slightly confounding is why nobody seems to recognize this is exactly what already-hired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was touted for. If anything, Norv sounds like an older more scarred version of Garrett.

I mean, seriously, how many gurus does Romo need? And was anybody actually paying attention in December?

If an excess of experts, gurus and possibly faith healers are needed for any Cowboys, look at the 11-plus lost souls on defense. They were the group that absolutely cratered in crunch time, giving up an NFL-worst 152 points in December.

In the words of one Cowboys insider, "This defense is broken." Not irreparable but definitely broken -- in spirit, in scheme and in talent in a few areas.

In my world, a defense in shambles, plus Garrett already employed, equals a strong case for the Cowboys' next coach to be a defensive guy.

But my world is definitely not Jerry's. My perfect world actually has Owner Jones waiting post-Super Bowl to see if prying Lovie Smith from Chicago -- or at least stealing his defensive coordinator, Ron Rivera -- is a possibility.

Neither seems to have much of a chance, which is why Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is the next-best choice for Owner Jones.

Logic says, when your defense is "broken," you bring in the guy who ran your exact scheme, only better and with results, in San Diego. Especially when you realize Romo is the best thing this team has going at the moment.

Romo-mania needs to be tweaked, not saved.

This is not to say the NFL is not all about the quarterback. It is, but even the best QB going right now, Indy's Peyton Manning, needed defensive help to reach a Super Bowl. Chicago, of course, plays next Sunday almost solely because of its defense.

So, really, it does not matter if Turner, by his presence, molds Romo into Roger Staubach. The Cowboys are not going anywhere with this defense as presently constructed. And Norv is not the guy to handle the overhaul.

This is problematic because Norv is probably going to be the head coach, and nobody has any clue who will be the unlucky fool charged with cleaning up the mess on defense.

Does Norv stay with a Coach Parcells holdover like Todd Bowles or Paul Pasqualoni? Or does he go with somebody he knows like, say, Dave Campo? And is the decision even Norv's to make?

Owner Jones reasserted himself into coaching matters with the Garrett hire and is unlikely to fade quietly back to the spot he occupied during CP's tenure. If so, what he needs to realize is hiring Norv only solves half of the problem, the half that was not the Cowboys' biggest problem, the half that was supposedly fixed by Garrett, the half that is not "broken."

Hiring Norv just means Owner Jones has zero room for error when bringing in somebody to fix the other, uglier half.

Did I mention this is a mistake?

Jennifer Floyd Engel can be heard weekdays 9 a.m.-noon on The Little Ball of Hate Show on ESPN/103.3 FM.

[Jaymze13]

A 'special' job to Gibbs

By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

IRVING -- The last time Gary Gibbs was a head coach was 1994 at the University of Oklahoma, an environment that can be politely described as challenging.

But since he left Norman as the man with the task of replacing Barry Switzer, Gibbs has rebuilt his image as a solid defensive coordinator with New Orleans. And a man who loves to coach.

"I think everybody would like to be a head coach in the NFL but certainly [the Cowboys are] special," Gibbs said Saturday at Cowboys headquarters. "[Being a head coach] didn't drive me. I just enjoy coaching and trying to win a football game on Sunday."

Gibbs became the sixth candidate to interview for the Cowboys' coaching vacancy. The seventh, and likely the last, will be 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who is scheduled to interview today.

But it was Gibbs' turn Saturday. An assistant coach with the Cowboys from 2002-05, Gibbs' stock took off as the defensive coordinator with the Saints this season. Despite a roster that was at once regarded as average, the Saints finished the season ranked fourth in the conference in total defense.

Gibbs said he met with Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones. He also met with recently hired Jason Garrett and former coach Bill Parcells.

Gibbs, who worked for Parcells as the Cowboys' linebackers coach, met with Parcells for about 90 minutes.

"You learn a lot from a man like him," said Gibbs, who left Valley Ranch around 3 p.m. "He has a lot of information you can pick up."

The discussion of the Cowboys' 3-4 defense scheme came up in Gibbs' meeting with Jones. Although Gibbs ran a 4-3 defense with the Saints, he played a part in transitioning the Cowboys from the 4-3 to the 3-4. Jones has made it no secret he believes in the 3-4.

The topic of receiver Terrell Owens did not come up in the interview.

"At the end of the day we want to win. I know [Owens] wants to based on what I see on television," Gibbs said. "He's a playmaker, and you want to try to take advantage of playmakers."

A native of Beaumont, Gibbs made a name for himself as a linebacker and later a coach at Oklahoma. He served as an assistant there from 1975-88. He became the head coach in 1989, compiled a 44-23-2 record in six seasons and guided the Sooners to three bowl appearances.

His time as head coach in Norman, however, was difficult. Gibbs took
over a program that had been through controversial incidents and NCAA investigations. Gibbs' last season at Oklahoma was 1994 and he didn't return to coaching until 2000 at the University of Georgia.

[lorenzo]

I'm still not sure who to take here. I like Norv Turner as a OC, but not as a HC. Some coaches are just not cut out to be HCs. I think Wade Phillips would make a great DC, but why would he leave SD without moving up? Some coaches can be HCs and still call plays, Parcells, Payton, Holmgren..., but I also think that Payton has gotten too much credit for his success. Had he come to NO and had to run the offense with Brooks and Co., I don't think NO would have been anywhere near as successful. Not trying to dis Payton, per say, but success in football is always a combination of things and when the combination is right, things click. Anyone who doesn't think that the acqusition of Drew Brees (best NFC QB) and Reggie BUsh (exciting everytime he touches the ball) had as much or more effect on NO's success this season is a fool. Look at what one player (Romo) did for the Cowboys at first. Talk about a shot in the arm...

I don't care for the 3-4, but Dallas was successful with it early on, and still stopped the run with it, but it needs some tweaking in the pass coverage. Wade Phillips is an excellent defensive coach, but like I said, he would surely want to move up. I always liked Jason Garret, and thought someone would take him away from Dallas as a starter. He took it like a man having to play second fiddle to Aikman all those years. I don't know anything about his coaching prowess though. Somebody help me here. The media can throw anyone in the headlines they want, but I still have to convince myself if it will work.

For the record, I didn't think Jimmy Johnson would be successful either, and I still don't think he would have been near as good had he not had Herschell Walker to trade for 3 starters and 8 draft picks. He turned out to be a great Cowboys coach (his time at the Dolphins was forgettable), but look at the team and assts.he had in Dallas, phenominal to say the least. Barry Switzer coached them to a SB, kinda like Seifert did with the 49ers. Were either of these two coaches great? Turns out....no. I do think Johnson could do something with this Cowboys team as the talent is already in place, but he'd never come back to Dallas.

OK, I'm through rambling now.

I completely understand your post nedfan. We'll see if N.O. can maintain their play next year. It's clear that they are much better with all of those additions that were made, not just bush and brees. it helps having a healthy deuce as well. I am one that does like the 3-4. Opposing offenses seem to have trouble against teams that run the system well, especially in the pass rush dept. But you need versatile experienced players to get the job done. They have struggled late in the past two seasons, maybe because the cowboys are still relying on a lot of youth in that dept. and also still need to solitify certain positions. The list is too long to name them all, but hopefully a lot of those young guys that parcells brought in will continue to develop. Hopefully some of those guys can help Ware get more pressure, while still making sure they don't blow their coverage assignments like they often did last year. With the addition of garrett as OC.....a norv turner hire just does not make sense to me. Especially with your defense needing further development because of a new system with so many young players. Maybe they know something we don't. Garrett has been exposed to a lot of successful offensive schemes over the years. It's obvious he has a high skill level and will be a fresh start for the cowboys offense. I think parcells calling the plays may have been too much for him at certain points last season. Wade phillups makes sense in the fact that he can continue to develop the cowboys defense. He has a lot of coaching experience and has a winning record as a HC. His last firing in buffalo wasn't because he failed.....it was because of a feud with management. You won't ask him to call plays on offense or even put together the game plan. That should be garrett's job if he's as good as they say he is. anyway i think the cowboys need a strong leader and motivator who has experiece and it's obvious that they need help at the defensive end. So i'm on board with bringing a defensive minded coach. Maybe Mike Singletary fits in somewhere as well.
Anyway about the coaching. You can't undermind the team johnson put together. It was one thing to trade walker for all of those picks, but to find all of those all-pro players with late-round picks was something you have to give johnson and his staff a lot of credit. They also hit it big with most of their top picks as well. maybe he knows he had some luck and will never be able to duplicate such results......so enjoying life in the keys and flying to L.A. every now and then to talk football isn't such a bad gig when compared to being a HC for the dallas cowboys when they aren't winning superbowls.
Johnson also had his hands tied somewhat in miami with marino at qb.....I don't think he got the total control he wanted there.

Edited by lorenzo, 30 January 2007 - 02:20 AM.

[Jaymze13]

Singletary added to candidates for Cowboys job
January 30
San Antonio Express-News: "The Dallas Cowboys' coaching search isn't over yet. In a surprise move, owner Jerry Jones is scheduled to interview Hall-of-Fame linebacker Mike Singletary today in Irving, a team spokesman said Monday. "

Cowboys consider 49ers' Singletary
January 30
San Francisco Chronicle: "If the Cowboys can't get offensive coordinator Norv Turner from the 49ers' staff, maybe they'll take linebackers and assistant head coach Mike Singletary. Despite reports that Turner would be the last to interview for Dallas' head-coaching opening, the Cowboys announced Monday that Singletary will be brought to Texas for an interview today."

49ers assistant Singletary to interview in Dallas
January 30
San Jose Mercury News (registration required): "The Dallas Cowboys' search for a new head coach turned Monday to a second 49ers assistant: Mike Singletary. Singletary, 48, was scheduled to interview today with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The 49ers' assistant head coach for defense would be the eighth candidate to be interviewed for the job vacated by the retiring Bill Parcells."

Singletary to talk to Cowboys about job
January 30
Sacramento Bee (registration required): "Instead, Cowboys officials asked for and received permission to interview another San Francisco assistant, Mike Singletary, for the position. Singletary, whose title in San Francisco is assistant head coach/defense, is expected to meet with team owner Jerry Jones and outgoing coach Bill Parcells, who is working as a team consultant."

Rooney Rule becomes hot topic once again
January 30
San Francisco Chronicle: "If you've paid attention to the head-coach screening process for the Bay Area's NFL teams -- and it has been hopping in recent years -- you've no doubt heard of the Rooney Rule. It's in the news today. Mike Singletary, the 49ers' assistant head coach for defense, is interviewing for the Dallas Cowboys' head-coaching vacancy. He's the eighth man to talk with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones since Bill Parcells retired from that gig."

[Jaymze13]

Cowboys talking to Singletary today

By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

IRVING -- Amid some quiet criticism floating from Miami that the Cowboys did not adequately satisfy the "Rooney Rule" by not interviewing a minority candidate, the team is taking no chances.

The Cowboys plan to interview San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach/defense Mike Singletary, who is African-American, today. The Hall of Fame linebacker served as a defensive assistant in San Francisco for the past two years.

He will be the first candidate to interview with the Cowboys who will not formally talk to former coach Bill Parcells. Monday was the first workday since the season ended that Parcells was not at Valley Ranch.

Current 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, however, appears to be in the lead to replace Parcells.

An NFL source said that the Cowboys are expected to conclude their search soon and that the new coach could be announced Wednesday. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones is scheduled to leave for the Super Bowl on Thursday.

By definition, the Cowboys complied with the "Rooney Rule" when they interviewed secondary coach Todd Bowles last week. But grumblings emanated from South Florida in recent days that Bowles was never a legitimate candidate and that the interview was perfunctory.

Singletary, 48, is considered more of a known quantity. He has interviewed for other head coaching jobs, even though his only NFL experience is four years as an assistant. He interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons after they fired Jim Mora Jr.

In 2005, Singletary's first season with the 49ers, he was assistant head coach/linebackers.

Singletary, a former Baylor great and Houston native, will be the eighth person to interview for the Cowboys' job.

[lorenzo]

some reasons why norv turner should be hired. I still think the defense needs development though...
http://www.dallascow...0D06DBB164520E5

[Jaymze13]

In spite of all the silliness about and around this Rooney rule, according to the radio it looks like Singletary has become a serious canidate for the Cowboy job. If he's the man, I say hire him.

[Nedfan]

If nothing else I'd bet he could keep Owens in line. Let Singletary look at him with that crazy LB stare of his and I think he would get in line with no back talk.

Other than that, I know nothing of his coaching prowess. He can't be worse than Chan Gailey (he's the man)

Edited by Nedfan, 31 January 2007 - 02:43 PM.

[lorenzo]

If nothing else I'd bet he could keep Owens in line. Let Singletary look at him with that crazy LB stare of his and I think he would get in line with no back talk.

Other than that, I know nothing of his coaching prowess. He can't be worse than Chan Gailey (he's the man)

yes....like garrett, singletary is a young coach on the rise. He is also a candidate to be a defensive coordinator for a team if he doesn't get a HC gig. JJ has already stated that he will not name his HC untill after the SB. This means there are more people to add to the list. obviously, assistants from the two SB teams. Ron Rivera is the big name being thrown around. Another person I would look at is the baltimore DC. He has been running a solid 3-4 defense in baltimore.

Edited by lorenzo, 01 February 2007 - 02:47 PM.

[Jaymze13]

I liked Gailey. Campo's years are the ones that make me shudder when I think about them.

I did LUV the idea about having Singletary starring down Owens.

[lorenzo]

How bout Ditka? He could get owens in the right direction right?

[Jaymze13]

How bout Ditka? He could get owens in the right direction right?

I dunno. Haven't we tried the old school approach plenty the last few years? I know he wasn't as old as Parcells, but he does come from a time not too far removed from Big Bill's time.

On the positive side it would be cool to have a former Cowboy player come full circle and wind up coaching the team.

[lorenzo]

I dunno. Haven't we tried the old school approach plenty the last few years? I know he wasn't as old as Parcells, but he does come from a time not too far removed from Big Bill's time.

On the positive side it would be cool to have a former Cowboy player come full circle and wind up coaching the team.

I was being sarchastic about that one. Ditka is one of the main ones always bashing owens.....so i don't think that would work unless owens agreed to wear a wedding dress ala ricky williams. Maybe ricky williams left a bad taste in ditka's mouth and he's taking it out on owens.

[Jaymze13]

I'd rather have 2 TO's than 1 Williams any day of the week.

[lorenzo]

I'd rather have 2 TO's than 1 Williams any day of the week.

I second that......at least T.O. usually will last thruout the season unless a limb is broken. I hope things work out for owens in dallas. Rumor has it that he might not talk to the media next season at all. I think that would be the best thing for him.....but i don't think he can do it.

[lorenzo]

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=2751312
Ron Rivera gets slammed with cowboys questions......rather than colts questions.
rivera is also very much a possible candidate as a DC under norv turner. In this star-Tele article they report that Rivera had asked turner to be his OC if he landed the GB job last year.
http://www.dfw.com/m...ts/16595576.htm

Edited by lorenzo, 02 February 2007 - 12:13 AM.

[yallerjacket]

How bout Ditka? He could get owens in the right direction right?

I heard Ditka on ESPN Radio (with Galloway I think) saying there was no way in he!! he would coach again. For any team.

[Jaymze13]

I don't blame him. I'm not sure he wouldn't have at least as many problems as guys like Parcells did with the superstar mentality of the modern NFL player.