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Underdog · 02-05-2008, 01:09 PM

Waiting Game
Cowboys Trying To Fill Final Coaching Staff Pieces
dallascowboys.com

IRVING, Texas - The season that actually counts is now officially in the books.

Some 13 Cowboys players still have a game left to play as they head over to Hawaii for this Sunday's Pro Bowl, where a league-record baker's dozen will participate for Dallas.

It's unlikely the Pro Bowl can generate anything close to the excitement from Sunday's Super Bowl XLII shocker, in which the Giants became the first team to beat New England all year.

While some will debate what the game meant in a historic context, it might help settle the NFL coaching carousel. And the potential domino effect could play a role in the Cowboys' attempt to finalize their own coaching staff.

Last week, the Cowboys interviewed veteran defensive coach Dom Capers for an unidentified position on the staff. The Cowboys have just one vacant spot - linebackers coach - but it appears as if head coach Wade Phillips has considered creating a consultant-type spot for Capers, who has been a head coach twice in Carolina and Houston and spent the last three years as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator.

Over the weekend, the Cowboys reportedly met with former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, possibly for the same type of assistant position as Capers. Unlike Capers, Williams does have experience coaching linebackers, a position he held in Tennessee before becoming the Titans' defensive coordinator from 1999-2000.

Williams was recently fired by the Redskins, a surprising move considering he not only interviewed for their vacant head coaching job multiple times last month but also was considered the leading candidate.

Instead, Williams and offensive coordinator Al Saunders were dismissed by Washington owner Daniel Snyder last week.

While the Redskins reportedly have met with former 49ers and Lions coach Steve Mariucci about the opening, they now want to talk to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, whose defense shut down the Patriots' offense in New York's 17-14 victory.

Now how does all of this relate to the Cowboys?

If Spagnuolo leaves the Giants for Washington, it would open up a defensive coordinator position in New York.

That could be an ideal destination for Williams, a veteran defensive coach with a proven 4-3 scheme he could install with the Giants. Not to mention he has experience in NFC East division, given his tenure with the Redskins.

Capers also could be an option despite his history of running a 3-4 defense. While the Giants' personnel is more fit for a 4-3, Capers does have a history with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, having served as the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville from 1999-2000 when Coughlin was head coach.

The Cowboys have only a linebackers coaching position currently available, so it's unlikely they could offer a position that could compare to the opportunity of coaching the defense of the reigning Super Bowl champions.

So depending on how these dominoes fall and whether the Cowboys have other candidates in mind, which is also possible, it could take a few days to sort out the final pieces of their coaching staff puzzle.

So far this off-season, the Cowboys have lost four coaches to the Dolphins, including Tony Sparano, who took over as head coach in Miami. He brought with him Todd Bowles, Paul Pasqualoni and Kacy Rodgers, all but raiding the Cowboys' defensive side of the staff.

Since their departures, the Cowboys hired Hudson Houck to coach the offensive line, a position Sparano held, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett assumed his assistant head coach responsibilities. Houck coached the Cowboys' line for nine seasons from 1993-2001. Since then he has coached in San Diego and Miami, working with both Phillips and Garrett, the team's backup quarterback in Dallas from 1993-99.

The Cowboys replaced Rodgers on the defensive line with Todd Grantham, who spent the last three years as the Browns' defensive coordinator.

Next, the Cowboys brought back former head coach Dave Campo as the team's secondary coach to replace Bowles. Campo coached the Cowboys to three straight 5-11 seasons as head coach from 2000-02. He has since held a defensive coordinator position in Cleveland and spent the last three years in Jacksonville, where he was the assistant head coach/secondary coach for the Jaguars.

With Campo and Grantham, the Cowboys now have three position coaches who previously have been a coordinator in the NFL, along with receivers coach Ray Sherman.

02-05-2008, 01:09 PM	#4
Underdog Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 41.21.1 Posts: 36,143	Waiting Game Cowboys Trying To Fill Final Coaching Staff Pieces dallascowboys.com IRVING, Texas - The season that actually counts is now officially in the books. Some 13 Cowboys players still have a game left to play as they head over to Hawaii for this Sunday's Pro Bowl, where a league-record baker's dozen will participate for Dallas. It's unlikely the Pro Bowl can generate anything close to the excitement from Sunday's Super Bowl XLII shocker, in which the Giants became the first team to beat New England all year. While some will debate what the game meant in a historic context, it might help settle the NFL coaching carousel. And the potential domino effect could play a role in the Cowboys' attempt to finalize their own coaching staff. Last week, the Cowboys interviewed veteran defensive coach Dom Capers for an unidentified position on the staff. The Cowboys have just one vacant spot - linebackers coach - but it appears as if head coach Wade Phillips has considered creating a consultant-type spot for Capers, who has been a head coach twice in Carolina and Houston and spent the last three years as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. Over the weekend, the Cowboys reportedly met with former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, possibly for the same type of assistant position as Capers. Unlike Capers, Williams does have experience coaching linebackers, a position he held in Tennessee before becoming the Titans' defensive coordinator from 1999-2000. Williams was recently fired by the Redskins, a surprising move considering he not only interviewed for their vacant head coaching job multiple times last month but also was considered the leading candidate. Instead, Williams and offensive coordinator Al Saunders were dismissed by Washington owner Daniel Snyder last week. While the Redskins reportedly have met with former 49ers and Lions coach Steve Mariucci about the opening, they now want to talk to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, whose defense shut down the Patriots' offense in New York's 17-14 victory. Now how does all of this relate to the Cowboys? If Spagnuolo leaves the Giants for Washington, it would open up a defensive coordinator position in New York. That could be an ideal destination for Williams, a veteran defensive coach with a proven 4-3 scheme he could install with the Giants. Not to mention he has experience in NFC East division, given his tenure with the Redskins. Capers also could be an option despite his history of running a 3-4 defense. While the Giants' personnel is more fit for a 4-3, Capers does have a history with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, having served as the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville from 1999-2000 when Coughlin was head coach. The Cowboys have only a linebackers coaching position currently available, so it's unlikely they could offer a position that could compare to the opportunity of coaching the defense of the reigning Super Bowl champions. So depending on how these dominoes fall and whether the Cowboys have other candidates in mind, which is also possible, it could take a few days to sort out the final pieces of their coaching staff puzzle. So far this off-season, the Cowboys have lost four coaches to the Dolphins, including Tony Sparano, who took over as head coach in Miami. He brought with him Todd Bowles, Paul Pasqualoni and Kacy Rodgers, all but raiding the Cowboys' defensive side of the staff. Since their departures, the Cowboys hired Hudson Houck to coach the offensive line, a position Sparano held, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett assumed his assistant head coach responsibilities. Houck coached the Cowboys' line for nine seasons from 1993-2001. Since then he has coached in San Diego and Miami, working with both Phillips and Garrett, the team's backup quarterback in Dallas from 1993-99. The Cowboys replaced Rodgers on the defensive line with Todd Grantham, who spent the last three years as the Browns' defensive coordinator. Next, the Cowboys brought back former head coach Dave Campo as the team's secondary coach to replace Bowles. Campo coached the Cowboys to three straight 5-11 seasons as head coach from 2000-02. He has since held a defensive coordinator position in Cleveland and spent the last three years in Jacksonville, where he was the assistant head coach/secondary coach for the Jaguars. With Campo and Grantham, the Cowboys now have three position coaches who previously have been a coordinator in the NFL, along with receivers coach Ray Sherman. __________________ These days being a fan is a competition to see who can be the most upset when your team loses. That proves you love winning more. That's how it works.