doncherry
September-26th-2007, 01:22 PM
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Bill Parcells' work in Dallas paying off for Wade Phillips
Updated: Sep25, 2007, 11:53 PM EDT
By Jeff Mroz
Special to NBCSports.com
When Wade Phillips was hired as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, the media and many Cowboys players used it as a chance to take jabs at Bill Parcells.
Claims that players were not able to be themselves and play freely surfaced along with criticisms about Parcells' dictatorial style of running the team. With the Cowboys off to a 3-0 start, following a blowout victory against the Bears, it seems like their fans want to already erect a statue of Phillips outside Texas Stadium.
To those who continue to bash Parcells by using the Cowboys' fast start to show his methods were not effective it says here that if it weren't for Parcells, the Cowboys would be not be 3-0.
Let's look back at the situation Parcells encountered when named head coach. The Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl Champion teams of the early to mid-'90s had quickly been forgotten, overshadowed by losing teams and drug and legal problems during the later portion of the decade.
After three consecutive 5-11 seasons, Jerry Jones had seen his Lone Star tarnished enough. He wanted to clean the image of the team as well as make it a winner. Jones turned to Parcells and lured him out of retirement. In his first season, Parcells led the Cowboys to the playoffs with a 10-6 record. The Cowboys have since been a playoff contender each year. The reason: Parcells.
Parcells instantly changed the atmosphere. He did not want the best players; rather he wanted the right players, and by right he meant right ... no gray areas. Before every season, Parcells met with the team to tell them what he expected. He wanted players to know the playbook inside and out. Parcells preached that he would never put a player in the game if he did not know his assignment. Parcells always told the team: "Don't tell me how good you are, show me." He did not want these types of players, he expected them.
Year-by-year Parcells added these types of players to fit his system. They are the leaders and difference-makers on the current Dallas Cowboy team. In his first draft, the Cowboys selected Terrance Newman, Jason Witten, Bradie James, and signed Tony Romo as a free agent. In the next two drafts, Dallas acquired Julius Jones, Demarcus Ware, Marcus Spears and Marion Barber III.
Parcells treated every one of his players with the same respect, but demanded even more from his best. Parcells had one of the NFL's most challenging off-season workout programs, consisting of a demanding lifting program (heavy squats, Olympic lifts), etc. and a large dose of conditioning.
He expected the players to attend and would watch to see who was there, how they were doing, who was slacking off, and who was working the hardest. If Parcells was not able to be there, he would call strength coach Joe Juraszek for a full report. Parcells oversaw and wanted to know everything; you could not pull a fast one over on Bill Parcells.
Parcells wanted his best players working the hardest, which is exactly what happened. In the off-season programs, Roy Williams would be the first player at the facility, usually showing up before 7 a.m. Newman and James would also put in long hours.
Romo, Witten, and Barber III frequently did a significant amount of extra work in addition to the scheduled program. All but Williams are Parcells' handpicked players, and make up the team's nucleus. They not only account for the current success, they have an immense year-round impact. The Cowboys' top game performers are their best leaders. A young player seeing that the best players on the team also work the hardest and show up with a purpose every day is invaluable and contagious.
This is the atmosphere that Parcells created, demanded, and expected. It is also the team that Phillips inherited. Phillips was handed the keys to a well-oiled machine. His contrasting laid back style to the previous regime is working out perfectly. However, Parcells trained and schooled the players, enabling Phillips to succeed. It was Parcells who built the mansion. So before anybody thinks about taking a jab at Parcells, realize that the 3-0 start is the fruit of his labor.
Jeff Mroz is a quarterback from Greensburg, Pa., who was the football captain at Yale in 2005. Following graduation, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys, where he stayed until August 2006. He was on the Philadelphia Eagles roster from January-May, 2007.
Bill Parcells' work in Dallas paying off for Wade Phillips
Updated: Sep25, 2007, 11:53 PM EDT
By Jeff Mroz
Special to NBCSports.com
When Wade Phillips was hired as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, the media and many Cowboys players used it as a chance to take jabs at Bill Parcells.
Claims that players were not able to be themselves and play freely surfaced along with criticisms about Parcells' dictatorial style of running the team. With the Cowboys off to a 3-0 start, following a blowout victory against the Bears, it seems like their fans want to already erect a statue of Phillips outside Texas Stadium.
To those who continue to bash Parcells by using the Cowboys' fast start to show his methods were not effective it says here that if it weren't for Parcells, the Cowboys would be not be 3-0.
Let's look back at the situation Parcells encountered when named head coach. The Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl Champion teams of the early to mid-'90s had quickly been forgotten, overshadowed by losing teams and drug and legal problems during the later portion of the decade.
After three consecutive 5-11 seasons, Jerry Jones had seen his Lone Star tarnished enough. He wanted to clean the image of the team as well as make it a winner. Jones turned to Parcells and lured him out of retirement. In his first season, Parcells led the Cowboys to the playoffs with a 10-6 record. The Cowboys have since been a playoff contender each year. The reason: Parcells.
Parcells instantly changed the atmosphere. He did not want the best players; rather he wanted the right players, and by right he meant right ... no gray areas. Before every season, Parcells met with the team to tell them what he expected. He wanted players to know the playbook inside and out. Parcells preached that he would never put a player in the game if he did not know his assignment. Parcells always told the team: "Don't tell me how good you are, show me." He did not want these types of players, he expected them.
Year-by-year Parcells added these types of players to fit his system. They are the leaders and difference-makers on the current Dallas Cowboy team. In his first draft, the Cowboys selected Terrance Newman, Jason Witten, Bradie James, and signed Tony Romo as a free agent. In the next two drafts, Dallas acquired Julius Jones, Demarcus Ware, Marcus Spears and Marion Barber III.
Parcells treated every one of his players with the same respect, but demanded even more from his best. Parcells had one of the NFL's most challenging off-season workout programs, consisting of a demanding lifting program (heavy squats, Olympic lifts), etc. and a large dose of conditioning.
He expected the players to attend and would watch to see who was there, how they were doing, who was slacking off, and who was working the hardest. If Parcells was not able to be there, he would call strength coach Joe Juraszek for a full report. Parcells oversaw and wanted to know everything; you could not pull a fast one over on Bill Parcells.
Parcells wanted his best players working the hardest, which is exactly what happened. In the off-season programs, Roy Williams would be the first player at the facility, usually showing up before 7 a.m. Newman and James would also put in long hours.
Romo, Witten, and Barber III frequently did a significant amount of extra work in addition to the scheduled program. All but Williams are Parcells' handpicked players, and make up the team's nucleus. They not only account for the current success, they have an immense year-round impact. The Cowboys' top game performers are their best leaders. A young player seeing that the best players on the team also work the hardest and show up with a purpose every day is invaluable and contagious.
This is the atmosphere that Parcells created, demanded, and expected. It is also the team that Phillips inherited. Phillips was handed the keys to a well-oiled machine. His contrasting laid back style to the previous regime is working out perfectly. However, Parcells trained and schooled the players, enabling Phillips to succeed. It was Parcells who built the mansion. So before anybody thinks about taking a jab at Parcells, realize that the 3-0 start is the fruit of his labor.
Jeff Mroz is a quarterback from Greensburg, Pa., who was the football captain at Yale in 2005. Following graduation, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys, where he stayed until August 2006. He was on the Philadelphia Eagles roster from January-May, 2007.