The Cowboys fired Brian Stewart last month, quite possibly because he was earning a defensive coordinator's salary but wasn't actually coordinating the defense. Head coach Wade Phillips commandeered the play-calling duties from Stewart back in October, and the defense improved -- up till Week 15, anyway; two late-season no-shows against the Ravens and Eagles sealed the team's playoff fate. During a Tuesday presser, however, owner Jerry Jones announced that he wouldn't hire a replacement for Stewart because the current coordinator is already on the payroll. And he loves puffy jackets.
Yep, Phillips will serve as head coach and defensive coordinator next season. Actually, I think it's a swell idea. The only way things could be better: if Jones hires a head coach and let Phillips devote all his energy to the defense without having to worry about the headaches that come coaching up an entire team.
But it's that little fact that could eventually be Wade's undoing. As the Dallas Morning News' Tim MacMahon writes:
"... But Stewart was more than just the designated donut-run dude. He was Phillips' right-hand man until Jerry got rid of him and logged a lot of hours doing the grunt work necessary to prepare game plans.Now might be a good time for Jerry to revisit his stance on mandatory minimums for hours worked per week. Wade could probably use the pick-me-up.
With Stewart gone and no replacement coming, the defensive position coaches will be asked to do more, but Phillips' workload will increase, too. As if his plate wasn't full enough putting his Get Tough Plan in effect."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-18-2009 @ 7:17PM
Jaime Cadena said...
Wades title can change all day long. Jerry's running this ship and we haven't seen the U-turn away from that iceberg, and he's building up speed. DOA
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