Urine sample came back negative. I wasn’t advocating for Zimmer lol. Was trying to get in Jerry’s head and ask if in some warped state of the world he would give Zimmer a shot.
I think Zimmer's best shot is if Deion really is in play. He's been a mentor and sounding board for Deion and I can see him as something like Consultant HC/Defensive Coordinator with Deion as HC.
Great mailbag! A bunch of solid and thought-provoking questions are the hallmark of a great community.
Re: our next head coach, I share the concern that Dallas jumping to the Shanahan tree a decade late (and after the Flores tree is showing great success against it) might not be optimal. Once this staff is out I don’t know if there’s anyone in the building who really understands Dak’s strengths and weaknesses and can make a hire that solves for those. But without doing a deep dive, I’d broadly say that:
- Offense still trumps defense even in this resurgent two-high era, so get the right offensive mind or at least a defensive guy who’ll prioritize hiring one (Vrabel bringing in Arthur Smith 2.0 makes me neither warm nor fuzzy)
- Get a guy whose system involves attacking a side of the field and puts specific defenders in horizontal or vertical conflict rather that pure progression, and can teach and enforce the route running details that make such a system work (I’m looking at you, CeeDee…)
- On maximizing Parsons, I wonder if a Lions-style Wide 9 4-man front might serve us as well or better than trading out all the bodies up front to find a functional 0 tech and a couple of 5 techs. Vs 11 personnel I don’t know how often you keep a five-man front anyway, and I think alignment and responsibility have more impact on Parsons’ wear and tear than whether or not he has a hand on the ground pre-snap. We’ll need bona fide IDL in any event, and Mason Graham would be a nice place to start if they don’t spend their 1st on Tetraioa McMillan.
I enjoyed the thoughts, Bob. It is the best thing we have to think about regarding the Cowboys right now. I hear a lot about Ashton Jeanty. I would be excited about a star runningback, but should the Cowboys take a running back in the first round? I think runningbacks are worth more than the conventional wisdom right now, but their careers are short. I appreciated your comments about growing up with a dynasty. I came of age in the Staubach, Lilly era. It is hard to ever top that, but at least we had the 90s team.
I asked Albert Breer about McCarthy - he said there is a (new?) effort by (some) owners to avoid paying coaches for not doing anything. Who knows. The whole thing is dumb.
Great Mailbag but the standout or me was the clip of Campbell, particularly as he talked about the toughness of his training camp being "money in the bank" paying "dividends as the season goes 'cause you can't do it during the season". For me that contrast with Mike McCarthy's "September Football" where it seems he's still trying to work out who can play and what his running back rotation is. I'm probably wrong but I don't recall any Cowboys HC or management figure ever saying anything like "You put 'em in pressure situations....you figure out who can steady their heart rate and make big plays in the moment ... in pressure situations... and the guys that maybe that's not their deal and you get 'em out of the way." There's a ruthlessness in that statement that I don't see in the Cowboys set up and maybe that's the biggest reason they wilted in all the playoff losses.
Re: Next Head Coach - Vrabel probably leader in my clubhouse for culture shifting. But there’s a part of me that feels like this could be Jerry’s last head coach hire and why not use this opportunity to do something fresh other than hire another re-tread? It feels like another Cowboys-style safe head coach hire.
A part of me wants them to step outside of the box, which is why Jesse Minter intrigues me. I won’t pretend to know a ton about him, but I’d like a defensive head coach to pair with my best player. I’m tired of chasing offenses that we think will be the magic trick to bringing consistency with #4.
Agree on Vrabel and culture. He would bring a sense of purpose and some professionalism that, for whatever reason, is currently missing.
He's also gonna bring some Neanderthal thinking that, IMO, has hampered this franchise for a long time. Other than Kellen Moore, we haven't seen any "modern" offensive ideas and Vrabel is unlikely to bring any.
I guess team him with a whiz-bang OC and you might have something, but who is that guy? Like Bob said, the Shannahan/McVey schemes have become so widespread that jumping on that bandwagon feels like last-to-the-party "metooism" that's unlikely to yield great results.
I dunno...I wrote about this when McCarthy was hired. The QB, the schemes, the roster, the coaching staffs....they all change, but the results are the same. What's the one common denominator? We all know...and as long as he's around it's hard to see any real change in fortunes.
Since this is Jerry’s last hire, you know he’ll want to make a splash. That means only two names: Deion or Belicek. I have reservations about both, but I’m open-minded enough to take a wait and see approach. I wouldn’t be surprised if there have already been contacts made. After Jerry’s experience with Parcells, I think he would have a problem hiring someone who would want that much autonomy, so that leaves Sanders, and I’m not sure he comes without a guarantee of drafting his son.
Re-tread is probably a little insulting to Vrabel bc he didn’t deserve the ax in Tennessee. I just optimistically hope that this time yields an opportunity for Jerry/front office to try a different approach.
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. It’s a shame that Cowboys are unlikely to make a trip to this side of the pond anytime soon, I guess I’ll have to make the same journey the other way
I did travel to watch them play against the Bears in Chicago (December 2019) when Trubisky had the game of his life. Great memories of that trip, awful result on the field aside
I’ve been a subscriber since the beginning. I used to get mailbags. I haven’t gotten one in a while until this one. Did the subscription change to these are now mostly for a higher tier?
No worries. I was just worrying I may have been missing them. I know when this space opened up, there was a lot of opportunity for them. You've certainly increased your amount of columns since then. Also, you're obviously also busier in-season. Thanks for the reply.
A lot of great questions, this forum is truly the best out there! I really hope Jerry has the foresight to take on someone like Vrabel (depending on his OC) or a young offensive minded coach (like a Johnson or Slowik) and gives them the keys to drive this thing. I don’t know if Kingsbury’s system would work as well with an immobile QB such as Dak. Alas, as with everything else his likely goal for hiring a head coach will be what kind of media attention it will grab rather than what will be best for the on-field product. One can only dream, but I remain reserved in my outlook.
Please don't make me write an essay on this topic.
Here is the short version:
If you would take a B+ prospect over a A prospect at the same position because of the Alma Mater of both players, you need your head examined. Respectfully. :)
Zimmer for head coach guy is gonna get a text from the league office for a urine sample waiting for him at the office tomorrow
Urine sample came back negative. I wasn’t advocating for Zimmer lol. Was trying to get in Jerry’s head and ask if in some warped state of the world he would give Zimmer a shot.
I think Zimmer's best shot is if Deion really is in play. He's been a mentor and sounding board for Deion and I can see him as something like Consultant HC/Defensive Coordinator with Deion as HC.
Haha I fear that path and it could be a reality
I really worry more about Moore (pun intended). Can 100% see Jerry doing something like that.
Great mailbag! A bunch of solid and thought-provoking questions are the hallmark of a great community.
Re: our next head coach, I share the concern that Dallas jumping to the Shanahan tree a decade late (and after the Flores tree is showing great success against it) might not be optimal. Once this staff is out I don’t know if there’s anyone in the building who really understands Dak’s strengths and weaknesses and can make a hire that solves for those. But without doing a deep dive, I’d broadly say that:
- Offense still trumps defense even in this resurgent two-high era, so get the right offensive mind or at least a defensive guy who’ll prioritize hiring one (Vrabel bringing in Arthur Smith 2.0 makes me neither warm nor fuzzy)
- Get a guy whose system involves attacking a side of the field and puts specific defenders in horizontal or vertical conflict rather that pure progression, and can teach and enforce the route running details that make such a system work (I’m looking at you, CeeDee…)
- On maximizing Parsons, I wonder if a Lions-style Wide 9 4-man front might serve us as well or better than trading out all the bodies up front to find a functional 0 tech and a couple of 5 techs. Vs 11 personnel I don’t know how often you keep a five-man front anyway, and I think alignment and responsibility have more impact on Parsons’ wear and tear than whether or not he has a hand on the ground pre-snap. We’ll need bona fide IDL in any event, and Mason Graham would be a nice place to start if they don’t spend their 1st on Tetraioa McMillan.
I enjoyed the thoughts, Bob. It is the best thing we have to think about regarding the Cowboys right now. I hear a lot about Ashton Jeanty. I would be excited about a star runningback, but should the Cowboys take a running back in the first round? I think runningbacks are worth more than the conventional wisdom right now, but their careers are short. I appreciated your comments about growing up with a dynasty. I came of age in the Staubach, Lilly era. It is hard to ever top that, but at least we had the 90s team.
I asked Albert Breer about McCarthy - he said there is a (new?) effort by (some) owners to avoid paying coaches for not doing anything. Who knows. The whole thing is dumb.
Great Mailbag but the standout or me was the clip of Campbell, particularly as he talked about the toughness of his training camp being "money in the bank" paying "dividends as the season goes 'cause you can't do it during the season". For me that contrast with Mike McCarthy's "September Football" where it seems he's still trying to work out who can play and what his running back rotation is. I'm probably wrong but I don't recall any Cowboys HC or management figure ever saying anything like "You put 'em in pressure situations....you figure out who can steady their heart rate and make big plays in the moment ... in pressure situations... and the guys that maybe that's not their deal and you get 'em out of the way." There's a ruthlessness in that statement that I don't see in the Cowboys set up and maybe that's the biggest reason they wilted in all the playoff losses.
Thank you Bob for the great answers and hard work.
….of offense installed in Dallas
Awesome stuff!! Especially liked Eduardo’s questions. Great stuff all around. Man it would be cool to see that kind of offense installed.
Re: Next Head Coach - Vrabel probably leader in my clubhouse for culture shifting. But there’s a part of me that feels like this could be Jerry’s last head coach hire and why not use this opportunity to do something fresh other than hire another re-tread? It feels like another Cowboys-style safe head coach hire.
A part of me wants them to step outside of the box, which is why Jesse Minter intrigues me. I won’t pretend to know a ton about him, but I’d like a defensive head coach to pair with my best player. I’m tired of chasing offenses that we think will be the magic trick to bringing consistency with #4.
Agree on Vrabel and culture. He would bring a sense of purpose and some professionalism that, for whatever reason, is currently missing.
He's also gonna bring some Neanderthal thinking that, IMO, has hampered this franchise for a long time. Other than Kellen Moore, we haven't seen any "modern" offensive ideas and Vrabel is unlikely to bring any.
I guess team him with a whiz-bang OC and you might have something, but who is that guy? Like Bob said, the Shannahan/McVey schemes have become so widespread that jumping on that bandwagon feels like last-to-the-party "metooism" that's unlikely to yield great results.
I dunno...I wrote about this when McCarthy was hired. The QB, the schemes, the roster, the coaching staffs....they all change, but the results are the same. What's the one common denominator? We all know...and as long as he's around it's hard to see any real change in fortunes.
Since this is Jerry’s last hire, you know he’ll want to make a splash. That means only two names: Deion or Belicek. I have reservations about both, but I’m open-minded enough to take a wait and see approach. I wouldn’t be surprised if there have already been contacts made. After Jerry’s experience with Parcells, I think he would have a problem hiring someone who would want that much autonomy, so that leaves Sanders, and I’m not sure he comes without a guarantee of drafting his son.
Deion pounds the table for his son and Travis both. Jerry pays the price to dump Dak. Dallas wins 3 of the next 4.
::in my best Lt. Aldo Raine voice::
I'd take that deal.
Re-tread is probably a little insulting to Vrabel bc he didn’t deserve the ax in Tennessee. I just optimistically hope that this time yields an opportunity for Jerry/front office to try a different approach.
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. It’s a shame that Cowboys are unlikely to make a trip to this side of the pond anytime soon, I guess I’ll have to make the same journey the other way
I did travel to watch them play against the Bears in Chicago (December 2019) when Trubisky had the game of his life. Great memories of that trip, awful result on the field aside
I’ve been a subscriber since the beginning. I used to get mailbags. I haven’t gotten one in a while until this one. Did the subscription change to these are now mostly for a higher tier?
I haven't had time for mailbags in-season. I will look for chances to do more.
No worries. I was just worrying I may have been missing them. I know when this space opened up, there was a lot of opportunity for them. You've certainly increased your amount of columns since then. Also, you're obviously also busier in-season. Thanks for the reply.
A lot of great questions, this forum is truly the best out there! I really hope Jerry has the foresight to take on someone like Vrabel (depending on his OC) or a young offensive minded coach (like a Johnson or Slowik) and gives them the keys to drive this thing. I don’t know if Kingsbury’s system would work as well with an immobile QB such as Dak. Alas, as with everything else his likely goal for hiring a head coach will be what kind of media attention it will grab rather than what will be best for the on-field product. One can only dream, but I remain reserved in my outlook.
No more Michigan DL draft picks! Ever. I don’t care. Just don’t.
Please don't make me write an essay on this topic.
Here is the short version:
If you would take a B+ prospect over a A prospect at the same position because of the Alma Mater of both players, you need your head examined. Respectfully. :)
I’m just hurt right now, Bob. Taco, then Mazi… I’m sure I’ll recover.