p1_
DCC 4Life
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2013
- Messages
- 26,638
By Kevin Sherrington , Staff Columnist Contact Kevin Sherrington on Twitter: @KSherringtonDMN
FRISCO -- From the veritable moment Kellen Moore inherited Scott Linehan's old job as offensive coordinator to the last day of minicamp Thursday, Jason Garrett's message has been consistent: No wiz kids in charge around here. The boss is less interested in a Sean McVay starter kit than in implying the new guy hasn't reinvented anything.
The question is, for whom is this message intended?
Fans expecting a 21st century offense?
Or Kellen Moore?
Before considering the questions, a quick note here to acknowledge a vote of confidence this week for the new OC, this time from Cole Beasley. What makes this particularly interesting is that the pride of Little Elm hasn't had much nice to say about his former employers since his exile to Buffalo. Just the same, he's apparently a big fan of the Cowboys' 29-year-old coordinator.
Replying to a Linehan hater, Beasley tweeted, "Kellen will be great
Beasley was more emphatic with his praise for Moore than anything you may have read or heard from the Cowboys' head coach, which, granted, isn't saying much. Your Roomba is more animated. But even for an automaton like Garrett, the caution is palpable. Almost as if he were afraid Moore might outgrow his hat size.
Once again Thursday, Garrett, in describing the Cowboys' offensive process going forward, used the word "collaborative." Used it twice, in fact. Talked again about all the great thinkers on offense whom Moore can tap.
The takeaway quotes: "He's been with us a few years and he has a good feel for how we want to do things"; "He's not doing it by himself"; and "Injecting some new ideas and finding some old ideas . . . making it collaborative . . . to go with what this offense is going to be all about."
Does any of the above sound like the description of a guy who's been given the keys?
What this situation requires is a step back for a better view. Only three years ago, when Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott were precocious pups, the Cowboys' smashmouth offense ruled. Finished fifth in the league in points. Since then, though, the rest of the NFL has seen the Cowboys' offense coming from a month out. Frankly, it was a miracle the Cowboys went 10-6 this past season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs after finishing 22nd in points. Not a single playoff team scored fewer.
Consider what's happened since this time last year as a result of the offense's two-year decline:
The Cowboys have replaced their OC, offensive line coach and quarterbacks coach; added receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb; and supplemented their running game by drafting Tony Pollard and Mike Weber.
Garrett and the Joneses were so aware of the need for changes, they made at least a couple well into last season, when the timing wasn't ideal. They might have made even more, except Linehan may or may not have resisted Garrett's input.
If there's any truth to the latter, it might be easier to see why Garrett keeps calling the offense under Moore a "collaborative" effort. He's not just singing kumbaya here. He's sending the message, publicly and privately, that this remains his offense and he'll do with it as he pleases.
Fans should get a clue now: The Cowboys are not all of a sudden becoming the Rams. Not only is it not in Garrett's DNA, it's probably not best for Dak, either.
The Cowboys' quarterback stood at his locker after Thursday's final day of football, at least until July, and talked about how good he felt about where he's at. He cited Moore's poise calling plays in practice. Also acknowledged Jon Kitna's "amazing" performance as quarterbacks coach so far, crediting him for "my growth in the short time he's been here."
Other than correcting fundamentals that have contributed mightily to his off-center throws, Dak's biggest issue has been an inability to get rid of the ball in a timely fashion. We'll see how his footwork and timing hold up under duress. Until then, it seems fair to ask:
Do you really want to stunt Dak's growth by filling his head and view with a bunch of stuff he's never seen before?
Cooper describes the changes as "small variations" in the form of formations and shifts. They're running the same offense, only with different looks so it's not so easy to tell what's coming.
"That allows me to do my best," the lead receiver said this week, "because obviously when you motion and shift, it kind of confuses the defense and gets them off balance.
"The more you can confuse that defense, obviously the better it is for the offense."
Cooper also likes the fact that the bright new OC is a young guy who players can relate to, even "talk to him about certain things."
Now that doesn't mean Cooper will suddenly go all Dez Bryant on Moore, but you shouldn't be surprised to see them in sideline discussions. More of that "collaborative" thing Garrett keeps referencing. Running the Cowboys' offense apparently takes a village.
FRISCO -- From the veritable moment Kellen Moore inherited Scott Linehan's old job as offensive coordinator to the last day of minicamp Thursday, Jason Garrett's message has been consistent: No wiz kids in charge around here. The boss is less interested in a Sean McVay starter kit than in implying the new guy hasn't reinvented anything.
The question is, for whom is this message intended?
Fans expecting a 21st century offense?
Or Kellen Moore?
Before considering the questions, a quick note here to acknowledge a vote of confidence this week for the new OC, this time from Cole Beasley. What makes this particularly interesting is that the pride of Little Elm hasn't had much nice to say about his former employers since his exile to Buffalo. Just the same, he's apparently a big fan of the Cowboys' 29-year-old coordinator.
Replying to a Linehan hater, Beasley tweeted, "Kellen will be great
Beasley was more emphatic with his praise for Moore than anything you may have read or heard from the Cowboys' head coach, which, granted, isn't saying much. Your Roomba is more animated. But even for an automaton like Garrett, the caution is palpable. Almost as if he were afraid Moore might outgrow his hat size.
Once again Thursday, Garrett, in describing the Cowboys' offensive process going forward, used the word "collaborative." Used it twice, in fact. Talked again about all the great thinkers on offense whom Moore can tap.
The takeaway quotes: "He's been with us a few years and he has a good feel for how we want to do things"; "He's not doing it by himself"; and "Injecting some new ideas and finding some old ideas . . . making it collaborative . . . to go with what this offense is going to be all about."
Does any of the above sound like the description of a guy who's been given the keys?
What this situation requires is a step back for a better view. Only three years ago, when Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott were precocious pups, the Cowboys' smashmouth offense ruled. Finished fifth in the league in points. Since then, though, the rest of the NFL has seen the Cowboys' offense coming from a month out. Frankly, it was a miracle the Cowboys went 10-6 this past season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs after finishing 22nd in points. Not a single playoff team scored fewer.
Consider what's happened since this time last year as a result of the offense's two-year decline:
The Cowboys have replaced their OC, offensive line coach and quarterbacks coach; added receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb; and supplemented their running game by drafting Tony Pollard and Mike Weber.
Garrett and the Joneses were so aware of the need for changes, they made at least a couple well into last season, when the timing wasn't ideal. They might have made even more, except Linehan may or may not have resisted Garrett's input.
If there's any truth to the latter, it might be easier to see why Garrett keeps calling the offense under Moore a "collaborative" effort. He's not just singing kumbaya here. He's sending the message, publicly and privately, that this remains his offense and he'll do with it as he pleases.
Fans should get a clue now: The Cowboys are not all of a sudden becoming the Rams. Not only is it not in Garrett's DNA, it's probably not best for Dak, either.
The Cowboys' quarterback stood at his locker after Thursday's final day of football, at least until July, and talked about how good he felt about where he's at. He cited Moore's poise calling plays in practice. Also acknowledged Jon Kitna's "amazing" performance as quarterbacks coach so far, crediting him for "my growth in the short time he's been here."
Other than correcting fundamentals that have contributed mightily to his off-center throws, Dak's biggest issue has been an inability to get rid of the ball in a timely fashion. We'll see how his footwork and timing hold up under duress. Until then, it seems fair to ask:
Do you really want to stunt Dak's growth by filling his head and view with a bunch of stuff he's never seen before?
Cooper describes the changes as "small variations" in the form of formations and shifts. They're running the same offense, only with different looks so it's not so easy to tell what's coming.
"That allows me to do my best," the lead receiver said this week, "because obviously when you motion and shift, it kind of confuses the defense and gets them off balance.
"The more you can confuse that defense, obviously the better it is for the offense."
Cooper also likes the fact that the bright new OC is a young guy who players can relate to, even "talk to him about certain things."
Now that doesn't mean Cooper will suddenly go all Dez Bryant on Moore, but you shouldn't be surprised to see them in sideline discussions. More of that "collaborative" thing Garrett keeps referencing. Running the Cowboys' offense apparently takes a village.
