The Cowboys arguably had the worst defense this season under Phillips tenure. I was interested in splitting off from the other thread a bit and looking at Phillips historically as a defensive coordinator. Is he really as good as advertised?
I think if you allow him to draft his players, he will assemble a good D. I have forgotten what a disguised blitz looks like. =)
I know he got of attention as San Diego's coordinator playing Shotty ball, but since he's left the Chargers - their D seems every bit as good. And his years in Buffalo were a long time ago now.
Like I said in the other thread, Phillips was fortunate to inherit some well established players in his tenures around the league. Bills had hall of fame defensive end Bruce Smith still playing at pro bowl level up until the late 1990s. However, Phillips did help DE draft Marcellus Wiley and NT Pat Williams while he was defensive coordinator for the Bills from 1995 to 1997. Also, the Dallas defense was built up from the ground by Parcells who draft DeMarcus Ware, Marcus Spears, Chris Canty, and Bobby Carpenter. Wade Phillips came in in 2007 and took over a playoff team which had lost to the Seahawks in a wild card in Parcells last season in Dallas. So here Phillips had very little rebuilding to do. Wade Phillips gets too much press for being a defensive guru but in fact none of his teams ever had any real playoff success. Phillips has mostly taken bad defenses and made them good in the regular season in terms of numbers and statistical rankings. But that is very misleading because regular season success without playoff success is not a true measurement of a coach's abilities.
Eh, I wouldn't count what the Cowboys defense did this year under Wade. They had quit on him in that circus atmosphere. I mean, they are playing a lot better under Garrett and it was the same guys that Wade had. That being said, say it ain't so Joe!! (Wade coming to Houston)
I definitely wouldn't call him a guru. I'd say he's more in the average to good range. But he'd be the best DC we've had simply because he has experience.
Last year, the dallas fired the DC, and put Wade in that job, and last year, they finally won a playoff game, won the division and limited the Eagles, to a very few points in two games. Maybe he is not a defensive guru, but he is not that bad and now I think anything is better than Frank Bush as a DC.
Exactly one less than did Wade. A better question is: How many playoffs games has Wade won period? Answer: one.
An even better question is how many different franchises has Parcells constructed into a playoff team? 5. How many playoff teams has the combo of Rick Smith, Kubiak, and Wade Phillips constructed? Please get SOMEBODY who has had team-building experience!
Frank Bush was not the problem. Last year, our defense put up better rankings in yards and points than it has since 2004. This year, we let go of our two veteran (albeit overpaid) corners, lose our best defensive player, and this happens. The problem is talent evaluation and team management. We are slapping a band-aid on a gaping wound with this. Yes, the defensive coaching probably needed a shakeup, but if they weren't going to fire Kubiak they should have at least brought in a competent GM. The only hope is that Wade has a very good eye for talent and can convince Rick and Kub of it. Otherwise, we may improve -- because it's hard to get much worse than our secondary was -- might even make the playoffs, but there is no Super Bowl in sight and that is all that matters at the end of the day.
Exactly! Kubiak is an offensive coordinator ...and nothing more. Not a leader, not a coach, and DAMN sure not a GM... That's the problem.
As far as Bob is concerned, if you're a good coordinator then you're a good head coach. Whatever problems that don't apply to your area of specialty are not your fault.
