Cowboys continue trying to add defensive coaching expertise

observer · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 196

---

With the Giants' upset win over the Patriots
in Super Bowl 42, the old adage "good de-
fense -wins- over good offense" is back in
play (suprisingly, as during the regular sea-
son, both the Cowboys, through week 13,
and the Patriots made it appear that passing
offenses were the ideal way to win).

The manner in which the Giants pressured
Brady and led the league in pressuring
offenses all season long spelled victory for
the Giants, along with Eli Manning leading
that last long drive for the go-ahead TD.
That catch by Tyree on that drive, amazing.

Meanwhile, on the Cowboys' side of the
fence, it appears that the Cowboys' focus
thus far is on adding defensive coaching
expertise:

---
Dallas Cowboys in talks with Gregg
Williams

Team may look to add ex-Redskins
assistant to defensive staff

11:39 PM CST on Sunday, February 3, 2008

By TODD ARCHER
The Dallas Morning News
http://tinyurl.com/2pv4cy
---

Excerpts:

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Cowboys' attempt to
build an all-star defensive staff has turned to
former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg
Williams.

According to a source, the Cowboys have talked
with Williams about joining Wade Phillips' staff.
The team also continues to wait for Dom Capers
to decide if he wants to join the Cowboys.

The Cowboys have replaced Todd Bowles with
Dave Campo in the secondary and Kacy Rodgers
with ex-Cleveland defensive coordinator Todd
Grantham on the defensive line. They have yet to
replace linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni.

Should Capers and Williams become assistants,
the Cowboys would have added four coaches with
at least defensive coordinator experience (Capers,
Williams, Campo and Grantham) and three former
head coaches (Capers, Williams and Campo).

Williams spent the last four years as Washington's
defensive coordinator but was fired by owner
Daniel Snyder after interviewing for the Redskins'
head coaching vacancy.

Before Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry
Jones made offensive coordinator Jason Garrett the
highest-paid assistant coach in the league, Williams
held the title in Washington, making $2.6 million
annually.

....

Williams is viewed as one of the NFL's top defen-
sive minds, but he has run a 4-3 scheme.

....

--- end excerpts ---

Archived from group: alt>sports>football>pro>dallas-cowboys

twoaxes · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 26

On Feb 4, 1:11 pm, "observer" wrote:
> ---
>
> With the Giants' upset win over the Patriots
> in Super Bowl 42, the old adage "good de-
> fense -wins- over good offense" is back in
> play (suprisingly, as during the regular sea-
> son, both the Cowboys, through week 13,
> and the Patriots made it appear that passing
> offenses were the ideal way to win).
>
> The manner in which the Giants pressured
> Brady and led the league in pressuring
> offenses all season long spelled victory for
> the Giants, along with Eli Manning leading
> that last long drive for the go-ahead TD.
> That catch by Tyree on that drive, amazing.
>
> Meanwhile, on the Cowboys' side of the
> fence, it appears that the Cowboys' focus
> thus far is on adding defensive coaching
> expertise:
>
> ---
> Dallas Cowboys in talks with Gregg
> Williams
>
> Team may look to add ex-Redskins
> assistant to defensive staff
>
> 11:39 PM CST on Sunday, February 3, 2008
>
> By TODD ARCHER
> The Dallas Morning News
> http://tinyurl.com/2pv4cy
> ---
>
> Excerpts:
>
> GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Cowboys' attempt to
> build an all-star defensive staff has turned to
> former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg
> Williams.
>
> According to a source, the Cowboys have talked
> with Williams about joining Wade Phillips' staff.
> The team also continues to wait for Dom Capers
> to decide if he wants to join the Cowboys.
>
> The Cowboys have replaced Todd Bowles with
> Dave Campo in the secondary and Kacy Rodgers
> with ex-Cleveland defensive coordinator Todd
> Grantham on the defensive line. They have yet to
> replace linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni.
>
> Should Capers and Williams become assistants,
> the Cowboys would have added four coaches with
> at least defensive coordinator experience (Capers,
> Williams, Campo and Grantham) and three former
> head coaches (Capers, Williams and Campo).
>
> Williams spent the last four years as Washington's
> defensive coordinator but was fired by owner
> Daniel Snyder after interviewing for the Redskins'
> head coaching vacancy.
>
> Before Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry
> Jones made offensive coordinator Jason Garrett the
> highest-paid assistant coach in the league, Williams
> held the title in Washington, making $2.6 million
> annually.
>
> ...
>
> Williams is viewed as one of the NFL's top defen-
> sive minds, but he has run a 4-3 scheme.
>
> ...
>
> --- end excerpts ---

I don't know if its offense or defense that wins championships. You
just have to play better than the other team. Its like with any
sport, the team with the momentum usually wins. The Cowboys faded at
the end of the year. Perhaps they peaked too soon. The Patriots
seemed to fade toward the end too. They didn't lose but they were not
as dominant. The Giants got hot, confident and the breaks started
falling their way. Remember the breaks Dallas got when they were
winning? The fumbles fell into their hands. The penalties went the
other way. The other guys were dropping passes.

The Pats had several chances to stop the Giants at the end and didn't
get it done. Samuel and Harrison both dropped INTs on the Giants last
TD drive that would have ended the game. The pass to Tyree that
Harrison failed to knock loose was another opportunity. On the TD
pass, the Pats rushed 9 guys but no one got to Manning. If they sack
him there, that might have ended it too or at least made the Giants
rush their game and possibly falter.

One thing I thought last night, after the Pats scored the go ahead TD
and stuff the Giants on the kickoff, they seemed to get a little too
cocky. When the Manning pass bounced off Samuel's hands, rather than
being pissed, he seemed a little too cool about it. I would have
expected a little more emotion at that point considering the stakes.
Perhaps they let up just a tad and let the game slip away.... they
Giants may have done the same thing when they made it 10-7.

observer · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 196

On Feb 4, 1:11 pm, "observer" wrote ...
>
> ---
>
> With the Giants' upset win over the Patriots
> in Super Bowl 42, the old adage "good de-
> fense -wins- over good offense" is back in
> play (suprisingly, as during the regular sea-
> son, both the Cowboys, through week 13,
> and the Patriots made it appear that passing
> offenses were the ideal way to win).
>
> The manner in which the Giants pressured
> Brady and led the league in pressuring
> offenses all season long spelled victory for
> the Giants, along with Eli Manning leading
> that last long drive for the go-ahead TD.
> That catch by Tyree on that drive, amazing.
>
> Meanwhile, on the Cowboys' side of the
> fence, it appears that the Cowboys' focus
> thus far is on adding defensive coaching
> expertise:
>
> ---
> Dallas Cowboys in talks with Gregg
> Williams
>
> Team may look to add ex-Redskins
> assistant to defensive staff
>
> 11:39 PM CST on Sunday, February 3, 2008
>
> By TODD ARCHER
> The Dallas Morning News
> http://tinyurl.com/2pv4cy
> ---
>
> [...]

---
Ex-Redskins assistant Williams
won't be on Dallas Cowboys' staff

11:05 PM CST on Tuesday, February 5, 2008

By ALBERT BREER / The Dallas Morning News
http://tinyurl.com/2bb4sj
---

Excerpts:

IRVING - Cross Gregg Williams off your list.

The former Washington Redskins assistant agreed
Tuesday to become the Jacksonville Jaguars defen-
sive coordinator and assistant head coach, replac-
ing Mike Smith as defensive coordinator and Dave
Campo as assistant head coach. Williams inter-
viewed with the Cowboys last week for a job on
the Dallas staff.

The only staff opening remains at linebackers coach,
and the Cowboys are taking a look at former Bengals
assistant Ricky Hunley, who was fired during Marvin
Lewis' season-ending overhaul of Cincinnati's defen-
sive staff. Hunley said he would be interested in the
job but said he has not heard from the Cowboys.

....

Dom Capers remains in the mix for the Cowboys,
mulling an offer to become either the defensive coor-
dinator or a defensive consultant. But Capers could
wait to see what happens with Giants coordinator
Steve Spagnuolo.

Spagnuolo, a hot name after holding the NFL's top
three offenses to a total of 51 points in the playoffs,
interviewed for the Redskins head coaching job
Tuesday. If Spagnuolo gets the job, it would put
New York coach Tom Coughlin, who has ties to
Capers, on the hunt for a new defensive coordin-
ator.

Capers, who has been characterized as a 3-4 coach,
spent 1999 and 2000 in Jacksonville coordinating
a 4-3 defense under then-Jaguars head coach Cough-
lin and would be likely to do the same if the two
were reunited with the Giants.

--- end excerpts ---

Good defensive stand At least they have decided to start playing, too.

Cowboys need to win 3 of 4? Would you say thats about right? 3 of 4? Kansas City, Washington, Caroline, StLouis.. Which ones can they win? 12/11 Kansas City (CBS) 3:15 p.m. Purchase Tickets Sun 12/18 @ Washington (FOX) 3:15 p.m. Travel Packages Sat 12/24 @ Carolina (FOX) Noon Travel

Draft by Cowboys Who will Dallas draft this season? Do they need to look at Quarterbacks or linemen?

Cowboys have something in common with the Ravens one and done. A team that most everyone said was either the best or second-best in the league... dominated. By the Colt defense. And with Peyton finishing with a QB rating that would make Eli look like a superstar by comparison. wow.

Parcells wants Cowboys to put egos aside --- Posted July 30, 2005 By Jean-Jacques Taylor The Dallas Morning News --- Excerpts: Coach Bill Parcells stood before his players Friday morning and implored them to put their individual agendas as