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Decoding the Cooks in the Cowboys’ Kitchen
By Rob Phillips on January 29, 2014
For the second straight offseason, the Cowboys’ only structural solutions to a disappointing 8-8 season are new coordinators. Only this year, last year’s hires aren’t getting fired. Just reassigned.
Bill Callahan must be the first offensive coordinator in NFL history to lose his duties but not his title. Monte Kiffin must be the first (and oldest) defensive coordinator in NFL history to get promoted and demoted simultaneously: officially the assistant head coach, unofficially the marginalized advisor to longtime understudy and new defensive boss Rod Marinelli.
Umm, are the Cowboys attempting to break the Mavericks’ local record for most assistant coaches on staff? Team headquarters has already reached capacity. Where is Scott Linehan’s office — the racquetball courts down the hall?
Well, as always, I’ll try to provide some logic (with a dab of sarcasm) as Valley Ranch turns:
*Scott Linehan’s odd “passing game coordinator/overall playcaller” title actually works for me. I happen to agree with Jerry Jones (and Jimmy Johnson, by the way) that a young coach like Garrett needs a proven playcaller unloading his plate. Though well-intentioned, Callahan’s in-house promotion last year seemed forced, too convenient. Linehan is clearly Garrett’s guy and he brings a fresh eye to the offense. Will it work? Don’t know, but Garrett should get to sink or swim on his terms. Well, mostly his terms, since the general hunch is he didn’t relinquish playcalling on his own.
*Yes, Callahan’s demotion probably builds unnecessary, and at least temporary, staff tension. But the Cowboys have a legitimate reason for keeping him: he directed the franchise’s best offensive line in six years. DeMarco Murray led the league in rushing average (5.2 yards) among backs with at least 200 carries. He just didn’t get enough of them, which probably cost Callahan his coordinator tag.
*So, the Cowboys blocked the Browns from interviewing Callahan? Like it or not, he’s probably got better job security on a one-year deal in Dallas than a week-to-week deal in Cleveland. #Chudzinski!
*Was keeping Kiffin a prerequisite for keeping a fiercely loyal Marinelli? Yeah, maybe so. If they’d prefer Kiffin exit gracefully, I get that. The biggest question is how Marinelli’s style will differ from his mentor’s.
*How visible will Kiffin, 73, be? Certainly more than ex-receivers coach Jimmy Robinson, who accepted a “senior coaching consultant” role for 2013 yet was mostly unseen. Honestly, the Cowboys could’ve given Kiffin the same title as Robinson, but perhaps he’ll be a little more hands-on than expected.
*Through all this shuffling, let’s not forget the team’s biggest issue: roster depth and top-heavy talent. Two players were voted to the initial Pro Bowl roster; none on defense. Injuries? Fine excuse. Talk to the Patriots.
By Rob Phillips on January 29, 2014
For the second straight offseason, the Cowboys’ only structural solutions to a disappointing 8-8 season are new coordinators. Only this year, last year’s hires aren’t getting fired. Just reassigned.
Bill Callahan must be the first offensive coordinator in NFL history to lose his duties but not his title. Monte Kiffin must be the first (and oldest) defensive coordinator in NFL history to get promoted and demoted simultaneously: officially the assistant head coach, unofficially the marginalized advisor to longtime understudy and new defensive boss Rod Marinelli.
Umm, are the Cowboys attempting to break the Mavericks’ local record for most assistant coaches on staff? Team headquarters has already reached capacity. Where is Scott Linehan’s office — the racquetball courts down the hall?
Well, as always, I’ll try to provide some logic (with a dab of sarcasm) as Valley Ranch turns:
*Scott Linehan’s odd “passing game coordinator/overall playcaller” title actually works for me. I happen to agree with Jerry Jones (and Jimmy Johnson, by the way) that a young coach like Garrett needs a proven playcaller unloading his plate. Though well-intentioned, Callahan’s in-house promotion last year seemed forced, too convenient. Linehan is clearly Garrett’s guy and he brings a fresh eye to the offense. Will it work? Don’t know, but Garrett should get to sink or swim on his terms. Well, mostly his terms, since the general hunch is he didn’t relinquish playcalling on his own.
*Yes, Callahan’s demotion probably builds unnecessary, and at least temporary, staff tension. But the Cowboys have a legitimate reason for keeping him: he directed the franchise’s best offensive line in six years. DeMarco Murray led the league in rushing average (5.2 yards) among backs with at least 200 carries. He just didn’t get enough of them, which probably cost Callahan his coordinator tag.
*So, the Cowboys blocked the Browns from interviewing Callahan? Like it or not, he’s probably got better job security on a one-year deal in Dallas than a week-to-week deal in Cleveland. #Chudzinski!
*Was keeping Kiffin a prerequisite for keeping a fiercely loyal Marinelli? Yeah, maybe so. If they’d prefer Kiffin exit gracefully, I get that. The biggest question is how Marinelli’s style will differ from his mentor’s.
*How visible will Kiffin, 73, be? Certainly more than ex-receivers coach Jimmy Robinson, who accepted a “senior coaching consultant” role for 2013 yet was mostly unseen. Honestly, the Cowboys could’ve given Kiffin the same title as Robinson, but perhaps he’ll be a little more hands-on than expected.
*Through all this shuffling, let’s not forget the team’s biggest issue: roster depth and top-heavy talent. Two players were voted to the initial Pro Bowl roster; none on defense. Injuries? Fine excuse. Talk to the Patriots.
