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Mulling over what a 2019 season led by Jason Garrett would look like
By: C.C. Boorman | 35 minutes ago
With the Dallas Cowboys’ 2018 season in what appears to be a tail spin, there is a “what if?” scenario that presents itself.
What if Jason Garrett is able to pull up and stabilize the death dive? No, this is not a suggestion that Dallas can manage to make the playoffs. It is a suggestion that he could do enough to maintain his job as head coach of the team. The signs are there for this to become a reality.
Of primary importance is Jerry Jones’ comfort level with this coach and the significant emotional capital that has been invested. He clearly has unwavering, dog-like devotion to Garrett. He handpicked him, allowed him to oust the previous head coach and then with a couple of lightning in a bottle seasons, Garrett made him appear smart. That fact cannot be ignored since that coach of the year award continues to be invoked as the owner stridently defends his head coach.
Jones will also likely utilize every possible excuse to salvage the final year of Garrett’s contract as he prefers not to pay coaches to sit at home.
What will it take for this scenario to unfold? It is pretty simple. A close to .500 finish with, and this is important, leave enough hope for Jerry Jones to be able to market for 2019.
It will be a tough task for the carnival barker to sell 5-11, which seems to be the tipping point for anyone walking through the sticky mud in front of the attraction tent to actually stop and pay attention to the pitch.
The Cowboys now stand at 3-5 and they are at a jump off point for the season and for Garrett’s future.
A 7-9 or 8-8 showing could make Garrett’s retention a strong possibility. That would mean squeaking out a win or two somewhere between a couple of meetings with the Eagles and tilts with the Redskins, Falcons and Saints. Of particular interest is the three game stretch to finish out the year. Dallas will face off against the Colts, Buccaneers and Giants to close out their schedule. It may take the team totally quitting on him to make those games into instant losses. There just does not seem to be that kind of aura around the team at the moment. They seem to still buy into the messages Garrett has programmed into them. Two wins or even a sweep does not appear impossible.
Will a scrapping, battling and clawing 6-10 cut it?
Some are probably holding their nose and want to stop reading, but it has to be considered. Jerry Jones has never been one to bow down to fan grumbling. He is content when he can sleep at night and as long as his brand is relevant, he is virtually carefree. Selling Garrett back to the fans would be a challenge and Jones clearly has demonstrated that he loves to “show ‘em”.
So what would the horror movie that would be a lame duck Garrett offseason look like?
For starters, it would include some blood on the walls. The fans’ thirst to see heads roll would likely mean Scott Linehan would be shown the door and possibly take his ineffective QB coach with him. Part of this exodus would be a scapegoating of sorts, with the main part of the new 2019 con, which is part of the old con, that Dak Prescott needs to be in an incubator.
The hard part would be recruiting an offensive coordinator who would be willing to take a short-term gig with the most pressing task being to fix a damaged product in Prescott. There will likely be some more good news as it will be reported that Travis Frederick is expected to work his way back. The defense will have some light change as it is likely Ron Marinelli rides off into the sunset.
Kris Richard is already calling the defensive plays and will gladly assume the role of defensive coordinator. A lot of fluff, some minor buffing and a little gloss and presto. Hope springs eternal again.
Then in March, here comes free agency to keep the show going on. Without a first-round selection, the pressure may be on to add some splash signing that will revitalize the base. But knowing how the Joneses operate, they will go into full PR mode and announce big signings of their own, while dismissing any kind of big free agent signing that is not one of their own homegrown talents. DeMarcus Lawrence and Cole Beasley will get healthy brand-new deals while Byron Jones and Dak Prescott get their promised extensions. There may even be a risky free agent signing or two that could that still carry some pop for the sale, like TE Tyler Eifert, coming off another injury-riddled season.
April would bring a tepid draft as there is no first rounder to get excited about. The second-round player would likely be propped up as some first round value and the sell job would be back on.
Then by training camp, people will have likely forgotten how we feel at this very moment and will crowd Oxnard for Jerry Jones’ autograph and the ride will begin once again.
See how it would work? Jones knows you all too well, loyal fans.
By: C.C. Boorman | 35 minutes ago
With the Dallas Cowboys’ 2018 season in what appears to be a tail spin, there is a “what if?” scenario that presents itself.
What if Jason Garrett is able to pull up and stabilize the death dive? No, this is not a suggestion that Dallas can manage to make the playoffs. It is a suggestion that he could do enough to maintain his job as head coach of the team. The signs are there for this to become a reality.
Of primary importance is Jerry Jones’ comfort level with this coach and the significant emotional capital that has been invested. He clearly has unwavering, dog-like devotion to Garrett. He handpicked him, allowed him to oust the previous head coach and then with a couple of lightning in a bottle seasons, Garrett made him appear smart. That fact cannot be ignored since that coach of the year award continues to be invoked as the owner stridently defends his head coach.
Jones will also likely utilize every possible excuse to salvage the final year of Garrett’s contract as he prefers not to pay coaches to sit at home.
What will it take for this scenario to unfold? It is pretty simple. A close to .500 finish with, and this is important, leave enough hope for Jerry Jones to be able to market for 2019.
It will be a tough task for the carnival barker to sell 5-11, which seems to be the tipping point for anyone walking through the sticky mud in front of the attraction tent to actually stop and pay attention to the pitch.
The Cowboys now stand at 3-5 and they are at a jump off point for the season and for Garrett’s future.
A 7-9 or 8-8 showing could make Garrett’s retention a strong possibility. That would mean squeaking out a win or two somewhere between a couple of meetings with the Eagles and tilts with the Redskins, Falcons and Saints. Of particular interest is the three game stretch to finish out the year. Dallas will face off against the Colts, Buccaneers and Giants to close out their schedule. It may take the team totally quitting on him to make those games into instant losses. There just does not seem to be that kind of aura around the team at the moment. They seem to still buy into the messages Garrett has programmed into them. Two wins or even a sweep does not appear impossible.
Will a scrapping, battling and clawing 6-10 cut it?
Some are probably holding their nose and want to stop reading, but it has to be considered. Jerry Jones has never been one to bow down to fan grumbling. He is content when he can sleep at night and as long as his brand is relevant, he is virtually carefree. Selling Garrett back to the fans would be a challenge and Jones clearly has demonstrated that he loves to “show ‘em”.
So what would the horror movie that would be a lame duck Garrett offseason look like?
For starters, it would include some blood on the walls. The fans’ thirst to see heads roll would likely mean Scott Linehan would be shown the door and possibly take his ineffective QB coach with him. Part of this exodus would be a scapegoating of sorts, with the main part of the new 2019 con, which is part of the old con, that Dak Prescott needs to be in an incubator.
The hard part would be recruiting an offensive coordinator who would be willing to take a short-term gig with the most pressing task being to fix a damaged product in Prescott. There will likely be some more good news as it will be reported that Travis Frederick is expected to work his way back. The defense will have some light change as it is likely Ron Marinelli rides off into the sunset.
Kris Richard is already calling the defensive plays and will gladly assume the role of defensive coordinator. A lot of fluff, some minor buffing and a little gloss and presto. Hope springs eternal again.
Then in March, here comes free agency to keep the show going on. Without a first-round selection, the pressure may be on to add some splash signing that will revitalize the base. But knowing how the Joneses operate, they will go into full PR mode and announce big signings of their own, while dismissing any kind of big free agent signing that is not one of their own homegrown talents. DeMarcus Lawrence and Cole Beasley will get healthy brand-new deals while Byron Jones and Dak Prescott get their promised extensions. There may even be a risky free agent signing or two that could that still carry some pop for the sale, like TE Tyler Eifert, coming off another injury-riddled season.
April would bring a tepid draft as there is no first rounder to get excited about. The second-round player would likely be propped up as some first round value and the sell job would be back on.
Then by training camp, people will have likely forgotten how we feel at this very moment and will crowd Oxnard for Jerry Jones’ autograph and the ride will begin once again.
See how it would work? Jones knows you all too well, loyal fans.
