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Jason Garrett's Dallas Cowboys program is on the line in 2016
7:55 AM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Coach Jason Garrett likes to tell his Dallas Cowboys players to walk with their heads high, shoulders back and chests out.
It gives the air of confidence and belief, even if circumstances might say otherwise.
The Cowboys finished 4-12 in 2015 with the worst record in the NFC but last week at the Senior Bowl, Garrett had his head high, shoulders back and chest out. He does not let things bother him. At least publicly.
"One thing he is, he has an inordinate work ethic and he really does focus and really is going to be that way no matter what our record was the prior season," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "So I know that it's frustrating to him to have the kind of year we had but he was showing that and not in a way that hindered him coaching. But he was frustrated as I'm sure as he is right now at times during the season."
The day after the season-ending loss to the Washington Redskins, Garrett and his program had taken a step back. Even in the three straight 8-8 finishes from 2011-13 Garrett could see progress through the disappointment of three straight winner-take-all losses in de facto NFC East Championship Games.
It all came together in 2014 with a 12-4 record and a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs and it all fell apart in 2015 with the 4-12 record, including a 1-11 record without quarterback Tony Romo.
"What we have to do is just focus on becoming a better football team," Garrett said. "That's going to take a lot of hard work. We have to add players to our team. We have a lot of good players on our team right now. We just have to get back to work and focused on 2016. There's a lot to learn from what happened this past year for us. Again, our focus needs to be just on getting back to work one day at a time and doing things the right way."
Like 2014, 2016 is shaping up as a referendum on Garrett, except this time he has the security of a contract through 2019. In 2014, he was in the final year of his deal, coaching for his future.
Garrett is not making major changes to his coaching staff. Secondary coach Jerome Henderson left for the Atlanta Falcons and former University of Miami coach Al Golden was interviewed for a spot on the staff last week in Mobile, Alabama. Tight ends coach Mike Pope did not coach in the Senior Bowl because of a personal matter.
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said he does not expect major schematic changes. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's scheme is based on playing fast.
Jones has put his faith -- and patience -- in Garrett since he named him the offensive coordinator in 2007, the interim head coach in 2010 and the full-time coach in 2011.
"I have all the confidence that you need to have in Jason," Jones said. "I really like our staff. There's an old adage in evaluating players, since we're here at the Senior Bowl, if you see them do it you know they can do it. If they've done it one or two times then they can do it. Now we've seen this staff perform and have a good year, (2014). That's why I'm confident that if we get some stability at certainly some key positions on offense that we can have the team that we want to have."
The Cowboys' resolve, through Garrett's agenda, in 2015 was to forget the success of 2014 and somehow make the next step, and they failed miserably. The resolve in 2016 is to forget the failure of 2015 and find success again.
Garrett will be leading the way with his head high, shoulders back and chest out.
"Well, I'd like to think that our resolve is equal to achieve what we want to achieve, build a program we can all be proud of," Garrett said. "Then have success, have success on the field and be a winning championship football team."
___________________________________
Title was a little misleading. Sounds like Archer is about to write about how Garrett's neck might be on the line, and then doesn't write that at all.
7:55 AM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Coach Jason Garrett likes to tell his Dallas Cowboys players to walk with their heads high, shoulders back and chests out.
It gives the air of confidence and belief, even if circumstances might say otherwise.
The Cowboys finished 4-12 in 2015 with the worst record in the NFC but last week at the Senior Bowl, Garrett had his head high, shoulders back and chest out. He does not let things bother him. At least publicly.
"One thing he is, he has an inordinate work ethic and he really does focus and really is going to be that way no matter what our record was the prior season," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "So I know that it's frustrating to him to have the kind of year we had but he was showing that and not in a way that hindered him coaching. But he was frustrated as I'm sure as he is right now at times during the season."
The day after the season-ending loss to the Washington Redskins, Garrett and his program had taken a step back. Even in the three straight 8-8 finishes from 2011-13 Garrett could see progress through the disappointment of three straight winner-take-all losses in de facto NFC East Championship Games.
It all came together in 2014 with a 12-4 record and a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs and it all fell apart in 2015 with the 4-12 record, including a 1-11 record without quarterback Tony Romo.
"What we have to do is just focus on becoming a better football team," Garrett said. "That's going to take a lot of hard work. We have to add players to our team. We have a lot of good players on our team right now. We just have to get back to work and focused on 2016. There's a lot to learn from what happened this past year for us. Again, our focus needs to be just on getting back to work one day at a time and doing things the right way."
Like 2014, 2016 is shaping up as a referendum on Garrett, except this time he has the security of a contract through 2019. In 2014, he was in the final year of his deal, coaching for his future.
Garrett is not making major changes to his coaching staff. Secondary coach Jerome Henderson left for the Atlanta Falcons and former University of Miami coach Al Golden was interviewed for a spot on the staff last week in Mobile, Alabama. Tight ends coach Mike Pope did not coach in the Senior Bowl because of a personal matter.
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said he does not expect major schematic changes. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's scheme is based on playing fast.
Jones has put his faith -- and patience -- in Garrett since he named him the offensive coordinator in 2007, the interim head coach in 2010 and the full-time coach in 2011.
"I have all the confidence that you need to have in Jason," Jones said. "I really like our staff. There's an old adage in evaluating players, since we're here at the Senior Bowl, if you see them do it you know they can do it. If they've done it one or two times then they can do it. Now we've seen this staff perform and have a good year, (2014). That's why I'm confident that if we get some stability at certainly some key positions on offense that we can have the team that we want to have."
The Cowboys' resolve, through Garrett's agenda, in 2015 was to forget the success of 2014 and somehow make the next step, and they failed miserably. The resolve in 2016 is to forget the failure of 2015 and find success again.
Garrett will be leading the way with his head high, shoulders back and chest out.
"Well, I'd like to think that our resolve is equal to achieve what we want to achieve, build a program we can all be proud of," Garrett said. "Then have success, have success on the field and be a winning championship football team."
___________________________________
Title was a little misleading. Sounds like Archer is about to write about how Garrett's neck might be on the line, and then doesn't write that at all.