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- 2018-2019
Offseason: Replacing Linehan (The Man With the Age Old Plan)
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This edition of "The Tortured
Cowboys Fan" has also been published by the fine folks at
Sports TalkLine.
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January 21, 2019 At 12:27 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- "Cowboys Nation" finally got that
for which they have been begging for since 2017. Owner and GM Jerry
placed the head of offensive coordinator Scott Linehan under the
guillotine. While he (like so many other coaches in the NFL) is
human and has a family to feed, there was increasingly no excuse for
a game day system that – even on paper – does not often enough put
players in position to succeed.
Today’s NFL game “strongly encourages” OC’s to pursue a flexible
scheme theme, and “America’s Team” has been operating a system that
forces all 11 players (regardless of their maximum capabilities) to
win their one-on-one assignments without fail, rather than counting
on wrinkles that can help them out when a play call or execution
suddenly becomes stale.
While “the ultimate team sport” requires each participating player
to “do your job (and then some to avoid appearing the replaceable
slob),” the Dallas offense is further impacted at the most important
position of quarterback, historically-critical skills for which the
occupant should not lack. Dak Prescott has been an absolutely
willing 3-year starter and (by all accounts) an admired leader.
Though he has a 33-18 record and has done everything he could, he
has intermittently required more from his teammates than any
modern-day NFL quarterback consistently should. Without the innate
ability to regularly (however unfairly) make those around him
better, he (like the limiting system in which he plays) becomes a
performance bleeder. Dak may still be a former fourth round draft
pick, but as the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys (or any
NFL team), his offensive teammates require more from him to properly
and reliably click.
Dallas fans (until a few days ago) considered the removal of Linehan
to perhaps be one of the three greatest (and most current)
challenges of all for the 5-time Super Bowl champion Cowboys (with
the other two tests being how to get Jason Garrett to be a more
successful part of the head coaching equation and how to get GM
Jerry to defer even more to son Stephen while going on a long,
radio-silenced vacation).
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Replacing "The Man With The Age Old Plan" may prove to be the
Cowboys’ biggest test in years as (for all involved) it could
involve a significant change in gears. The same timing offense that
worked so beautifully for Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith,
Jay Novacek, Alvin Harper, and their massive offensive line has been
an often inconsistent, one-dimensional train wreck since the
departure of “That Announcer Guy,” who could personally raise (or
admittedly ruin) the productivity of those around him and – in doing
so – hide the warts of a system that had become corroded and
outmoded.
Rumor-turned-fact has it that Cowboys’ former backup QB Jon Kitna
will be named the Cowboys’ new quarterbacks coach. The undesirable
question then begs: “What becomes of outgoing QB coach, Kellen
Moore? Will the dedicated Linehan pledge be pushed off the
employment edge or do Jerry and Jason have something more sinister
(for the fans) in store?” The equally undesirable answer (depending
upon whom you ask) is becoming unimaginatively clear with cruel fate
perhaps grinning from ear to ear.
"He (deserves) a lot of credit for my success in the league.
Everything that I've done, teaching the game, breaking the game
down. I'm not into all the speculation and things like that. I hope
he's here. I hope we figure it out. He means a lot to me." – Dak
Prescott on Scott Linehan following the 2017 season.
“I pushed for that, and I know he helped me so much throughout the
(2017) season. He’s just so smart . . . I’m excited I get to play
under him now, and I’m excited for him to take this role as a coach,
and I know he’ll be really good at it.” – Dak Prescott on Kellen
Moore following the 2017 season.
There may or may not be a(n ill-fated?) pattern developing for the
Cowboys’ starting quarterback around whom the Dallas brain trust
clearly wants the current offensive system to keep enveloping. The
system needs to remain run-first (or at least reasonably balanced
between run and pass) but play more towards Prescott’s (throw on the
run) strengths while also displaying more downfield aggression
(which would somewhat double as a necessary antidote for his
risk-averse obsession).
“How might that look?” you say. Imagine the Cowboys’ final regular
season game in 2018 against the (depleted) Giants. Dak and Co. (with
a playoff berth firmly in hand) could have rolled over with plenty
of injury-fearing fans more than willing to understand. Dak instead
(and in the absence of Zeke or any quality rushing attack of which
to speak) spent most of the contest (GASP) rolling out, throwing on
the run, and displaying plenty of game day defiance. Now, add Zeke
back into that offensive stew, and there is plenty with which a
reasonably-curious and competent offensive chef, err, coordinator
can cook.
Kellen Moore and Jon Kitna (regardless of their difference in height
or their wide disparity in college-versus-NFL playing experience)
were similarly-aggressive quarterbacks who had enough
naturally-aspirated pocket presence, sense of anticipation, and
vision of the entire field to (comfortably) take many of the risks
and make many of the passes (from merely moving the sticks to
vectors so vertical) and rarely allowing their offenses to move like
molasses. While Moore had blazing stats with Boise State - and he
played in but three NFL games (YES, Yes, yes, with four
touchdowns to six interceptions) – he had (and may still have?) that
aggressive trait.
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While Moore and Kitna are not (conceptually) “two wild and crazy
guys,” they could be (to fan groans or glee?) the well-liked fellas
who allow GM Jerry and coach Garrett to keep their prized system
within a flexible disguise. They know and believe in the system
(functionally duplicated without results replicated) from the
Cowboys’ years with Norv Turner. They collectively may be able to
coach Prescott into more of the reads, recognitions, and confident
actions (whether from a static shotgun or more comfortably on the
run) that could make Dallas’ offense “just a bit more” like a barn
burner.
The other (perhaps overlooked) common denominator among Kellen
Moore, Jon Kitna, and Dak Prescott is they have been viewed as
positional underdogs their entire careers. That element (almost as
much as any other) may be what helps improve the direction in which
Prescott’s vehicle for success ultimately steers.
Will They Or Won’t They?
While there are a number of new offensive ways (for America’s Team)
to go, Cowboys Nation – from discerning to morbidly myopic – must
know, deep down, that Jerry and Jason have zero interest in the
dreaded “tear down (and start over)” topic. If they were going to
entertain a new voice from beyond the grave, err, outside of the
organization ("Holy moly, Batman, err, Georgia's James Coley!"),
some of the best investigative reporters out there would have
already unearthed and identified that potential new relation.
Anything is possible and Jerry LOVES him a big splash. Will
Jerry (in “my way” defiance) and Jason (in doting compliance) really
have the nerve to eliminate another offensive crash . . . or will
they create another “hiding place” where their (proven-yet-unmovin’)
system they can still stash?
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Will Jerry and Jason (against all odds) really follow through with
keeping their old offensive system together, no matter how many
(more) of the Cowboys’ future opponents generate higher-scoring
weather?
Will they demonstrate an urgent understanding (even with the
much-improved “Marinelli’s Men”) that their offensive unit must be
able to reliably do-and-score more often than every now and then?
The “Hot Boyz” could become quite long-term good, but they are not
in the 2000 Baltimore Ravens (“We Don’t Need No Stinking Offense”)
neighborhood. More balance between units (yes, even “special” teams)
is the best way to keep the defense fresh, and that is the only way
the Cowboys as a whole can truly mesh.
Will whomever takes over as offensive coordinator demonstrate that
(while adjustments to the existing or entirely new path must help
Dak handle more competitive math) the way forward must be less “all
for one” and more “one for all” to desperately prevent the offense
from hitting another limiting wall? The ability to dive deeper on
the Cowboys’ game day roster – through system flexibility – is a
necessity for the long haul.
The Dallas Cowboys’ future could be and should be bright, but will
they select a freshened or completely revamped offense to help them
finally, decades later, “Finish The Fight?”
We shall see. We always do.
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