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Yes, we’ve read that Jerry Jones will keep Wade Phillips onboard as the Head Coach for the rest of the season; but, we all know that anything can change quick in Dallas. The coaching market is not doing to well, and firing coaches midseason is en vogue right now, and Wade will need to pull out a win over the next two games to have a remote chance at staying aboard.

With quick changes in San Fran, Oakland, and St. Louis, its well within the realm that Jerry will follow suit to jumpstart this way underachieving unit, two more devastating losses and you can call it over.

Supposedly, Wade will take command of the defense, something he should have been doing since he was hired. If we get blownout, there needs to be serious consideration at making a move, otherwise we’re in for a high 2nd round pick and the Lions will have a sweet pair of high 1st rounders.

We’ll see what happens

Looks like the seat got hot, and Phillips is getting up and making some moves, Defensive Coordinator, Brian Stewart has been removed from that position…or is this something being mandated by Jerry Jones? Fact is, Jerry brought in Wade to run his version of the 3-4 which was said to be aggressive and in your face, much like the Chargers defenses he ran. We have not seen an ounce of this is Dallas, nothing.

So, whether the removal of Brian Stewart was Wade’s or Jerry’s idea, something had to change. We should have never reached this point. I thought this team was going to be molded around Wade as the HC/DC and Garrett as the AHC/OC; a two headed coaching attack. Instead for whatever reason, Phillips handed over the scheme to Stewart and he sucked at it, and that’s been cleaned up for our younger readers.

Ed Werder of ESPN broke the news of Stewart’s demotion:

…reports Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart has been relieved of his duties. Head coach Wade Phillips will handle the play-calling in place of Stewart.

This is one step in the right direction, I expect to see an instant difference on the defensive attacks, if not, then get Wade out of here next, that’s it.

Looks like others are thinking like me in regards to what is going to happen next with Wade Phillips. I blogged about this yesterday during the 3rd quarter of the game. I layed out the scenario in which Wade will be given until the bye week at the lastest; at which point, Jason Garrett would be handed over the team as the Interim Head Coach.

DMN Blog had very similar thoughts on this scenario, which further reinforces my thinking as well:

But Jerry might be forced to make a move, especially if the Cowboys lose their next two games (a likely scenario) and enter the bye week with a losing record. Dallas would be in Save Our Season mode at that point.

Maybe it makes sense to give Garrett a trial period for the last half of the season. If he can’t right the ship, Jerry can make a run at Bill Cowher or another big-name coach this winter.

For now, Wade Phillips is still at the wheel, and the league’s most talented team appears to be headed for a fiery crash. (DMN)

That’s pretty close to what I said yesterday, so there are obviously more writers and fans thinking the same thing…Wade Phillips’ days in Dallas are numbered, as in 14 days to be exact.

I’m going to add more into the scenario I layed out yesterday. I think Jerry Jones thought ahead and brought in the people he did to supplement Wade’s staff. Prime example would be Dave Campo. Dave Campo knows Jerry, and he’s a defensive mind, he’s been a successful defensive coordinator in the NFL. Judd Garrett was also hired as the Assistant Director or Pro Scouting, let’s not forget that part. That being said, if Wade Phillips is indeed canned by the bye week, which I believe will indeed happen, then you’ll be saying good bye to Brian Stewart as well. There is no way we keep the horrible Phillips understudy in training on board as our defensive coordinator. Campo will likely take over as DC.

Both Garrett and Campo will be judged on how they handle the team on the interim basis. If all goes well, and I mean a complete turnaround into the playoffs, then Garrett will remain as head coach, and Campo will remain on as DC. Furthermore, with Campo on board, we could make a transition back to the 4-3 if we wish. The 3-4 has been a complete utter failure under Parcells and Phillips, who were supposedly 3-4 gurus, so if neither could get it going, then why keep running it? Some defensive systems are cyclical, and I think the 3-4 has run its course in Dallas.

Now, I know we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but I thought it would be interesting to see the potential makeup of the staff in the coming weeks. Jerry is not dumb, and clearly has his contingencies well in place.

As I write this the game is still going, its the 3rd Quarter and the Cowboys are absolutely abysmal, this team is in serious trouble, serious. Wade has lost this team, they are not playing. This looks like a 5-11 team at best. Let the drama begin in Dallas, it starts and ends with Wade Phillips. I’m going to put this out there…Wade Phillips will be canned by the bye week, at the latest.

Here’s whats going to happen:

The Cowboys take a beating and lose to the Rams, we drop to 4-3. Next week the Bucs have their turn on beating us, 4-4, we go to the meadowland and the Giants crush us 4-5. We hit the bye week and Phillips is given the boot, and Jason Garrett becomes the Interim Head Coach. Jerry got the pieces in place for Garrett and he’ll be given his shot to right the ship. Either way you cut it, this team is in horrible shape. The party is over in Dallas, and if Garrett isn’t given the shot to turn it around, the Jerry better be calling Bill Cowher behind the scenes, and that’s for real.

Week 7 will bring as much post drama as last week. Without a doubt this is going to be a huge game with major implications. First off, its been announced that Brad Johnson will indeed start the game, but, Romo will still be active as the #2 QB today. To me this is the right move, let Romo get healed, and let him get his mind right on the sidelines. This game will give us a glimpse of things to come in the next few weeks leading up to the bye week.

We’re sitting at a modest 4-2 record right now, but over the next three games we could very well be 4-5 going into the bye. Anyone that thinks the Rams will be an easy game will be grossly mistaken. The Rams will be at home, they have a new found confidence playing for Haslett, and they will show up to deliver a KO to the Cowboys. The question will be whether or not Phillips has prepared this team. Wade has always said the mistakes are on him, so if we keep up on this mediocre path, then he’ll be the mistake Jerry has made, and a change could happen if we lose a streak of games, you can guarantee it. For now, lets hope for some wins, or our chances of a playoff spot will be greatly diminished.

This is a huge game for Wade and Cowboys Nation.

How we win:

- Feed the Barbarian

- Play action

- Offensive aggressiveness, dynamic playcalling
- Pressure Bulger, sack him, force INTs

- No defensive let ups

- Special teams coverage must improve

How we lose:

- Turnovers

- Falling behind early

- Sloppy tacking

- Bad Special Teams coverage

- Lack of running game

- Quick 3 & outs

Potential Fallout

The Cowboys must win this game, and preferrably win big over the lowly Rams, anything less than that and the questions of the state of the Cowboys will remain. Jerry Jones has been patient, but you can bet that another sloppy game and sloppy special teams with a loss will cost someone’s job, and that would start with Bruce Read. The special teams unit has put us in some bad situations early and throughout whole games, you can’t win games, let alone get to the playoffs with that piece of the puzzle being so bas as it is right now. Next game is a rematch with the Bills, and they will be looking for revenge, and the Bills are a good team, after that we visit the Giants on the road. We need to win the very winable game today. We’re either going to rally the troops, win, and go home more confident against an upcoming Bills game, OR we can faulter against the Rams, go home withered and completely deflated and probably lose the next two games. Which team will show up? We’re about to find out.

NFL.com Gamecenter

Madden Forecast: Cowboys 27 Rams 24

Breaking NEWS:

Cowboys acquire WR Williams from Detroit

Posted: Adam Schefter | Adam Schefter | Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Roy Williams

The Lions have traded WR Roy Williams to the Cowboys for at least one first round pick. More details to come.

Let the insanity begin!!!

About the compensation, from DC.com:

IRVING, Texas - In a bold move to inject some Pro Bowl production into a battered offense, the Cowboys acquired Detroit Lions receiver Roy Williams just before the NFL’s 3 p.m. (CDT) trade deadline.

The Lions will receive the Cowboys’ 2009 first-round pick, a third-round pick and sixth-round pick. The Cowboys get Detroit’s 2009 seventh-round pick in the Williams trade, plus Tennessee’s 2009 fifth-round pick now that cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has been suspended at least four games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Williams, who has been involved in trade rumors for weeks, instantly provides a speed complement opposite Terrell Owens and a big target for backup quarterback Brad Johnson, who has been ushered into the starting lineup with Tony Romo (fractured right pinkie finger) expected to miss about a month.

Williams is scheduled to be a free agent after the season. The former University of Texas star has expressed a desire to return to his home state, and the winless Lions’ decision to trade their best offensive player signals a directional shift under new management (longtime GM Matt Millen was fired two weeks ago).

Through the first six games, Williams has 17 catches for 232 yards and a touchdown.

Per DMN Blog:

Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones suspended four games
Tim MacMahon   E-mail   News tips

Calvin Watkins reports that commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended CB Adam “Pacman” Jones four games for his fight with team-appointed bodyguard Tommy Jones at a downtown Dallas hotel….

Lets move on, what a waste of a 4th rounder. Get Jenkins in there and let him earn his keep. 1st round pick, its time to step up.

The Cowboys moved the 3-4 defense in 2005, and after several season’s its been a complete and utter disappointment. There can be several factors that have led to let down of the much hyped system. Parcells was supposedly a guru of the system, and somehow under his tenure, it never lived up to the in-your face pressure it had touted.

Maybe you can blame the ineffectiveness on the instability from the coaching aspect, rather than the scheme. Let’s look at the 3-4 Timeline:

In 2005, our defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, had been a 4-3 guru, and was forced to implement a totally new scheme, it never did much.We brought 3-4 type players; Ferguson, Ware, Spears, Burnett, and Canty were all added.
In 2006, Zimmer had another year under the system, but again, the pressure and production never came to fruition as it had been said to do.

In 2007, Parcells leaves, Jerry Jones interviews several coaches, it came down to Norv Turner and Wade Phillips. The Cowboys had even interviewed the 4-3 guru Ron Rivera, who incidentally now works for Norv Turner in San Diego. The Cowboys hire Wade Phillips who brought a highly vaunted style of 3-4 to the table, something the last version of the 3-4 lacked. It was said that the Phillips 34 was more aggressive, and that we would see all sorts of exoctic disguises, with all sorts of blitz packages galore. Guess what, no it didn’t. Where were the blitz packages and aggressiveness down the stretch and the playoffs? Brian Stewart took over the defensive coordinator position and either watered it down, or was still getting use to the new position coming up from the secondary coaching ranks previously.

In 2008, same story, we still have Brian Stewart, and the Phillips 34 has not been as advertised. We’ve been hoodwinked. The defense is not getting after the QB, there’s no pressure, no exotic blitz packages, no man to man, just cushion and more of the Parcells read and react 34 which we didn’t care for, somehow its still being run in Dallas.

The 3-4, whether it be the Parcells 34 or Phillips 34 has been a second-rate defensive bust of a scheme. I’m ready to dump this system for the next coach that comes on board, because one thing is for sure, Phillips is gone in case you didn’t know it. The only person I’d be willing to try the 3-4 again, would be Bill Cowher, he had a good grasp of the system for years, and he’s a well rounded coach.Cowher on the 3-4 (2005):

“I think it is cyclical,” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. “That seems to be the case in the league. You’ve seen a couple more teams, it seems like every week, that are going to it. We’ll see how long people stay with it. It’s one thing to make the change; it’s another to stick to it.”

If we stick with the 3-4 it needs to be Cowher leading the troops; otherwise, get a 4-3 guru back in here and utilize what we have. Our roster is primed to excel back in the 4-3, maybe even the 4-6. Can you imagine having Ware, Tank, Ratliff, Canty, Spencer, Ellis all on the field. That would be 90s SuperBowl defense right there.

Do you know what was the last NFC team that used the 3-4 which made the Super Bowl? The New York Giants, under Parcells, in 1991. Since 1991, all the NFC teams got to big game with the 4-3. Just look at the most recent NFC represenatives:the Bucs, Panthers, Eagels, Bears, and Giants to the Super Bowl.

Screw the 3-4, just based on that, we’re against all odds to make it based on history…since 1991, pathetic.

The news just got worse, Romo is reportedly going to be out 4 weeks with a broken finger on his throwing hand. Happened when he landed on his hand when he didn’t have pocket awareness…

From ESPN.com:

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has a broken pinkie on his throwing hand and will be out four weeks, a team source told ESPN’s Michael Smith.

Romo initially was diagnosed with a pinkie sprain in Sunday’s 30-24 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The injury will not require surgery, a member of the Cowboys’ medical staff told ESPN.com’s Matt Mosley.

Veteran quarterback Brad Johnson, the Cowboys’ holder on kicks, is Romo’s backup.

The Cowboys have lost two of their last three games after starting the season 3-0

I wrote earlier that this was a must win for Wade Phillips, and we floundered from the first play of the game until the last play of the game. This was a complete meltdown and disaster. The fact that the Cowboys were in this position of making a late failed rally further proves how overrated this squad is. Without a doubt we have officially taken a step backwards.

Wade Phillips is not getting this team prepared or not motivating the players that need to be motivated. The players have to be held accountable, and Romo is a liabilty in the same vein as Drew Bledsoe…turning over the ball, fumbling around, and not aware of his surroundings cost us today, and hurt us in other uneccesarily close games in weeks past. Something is wrong with Romo.

We’re in trouble. Get ready for the scrutiny and fallout because its here in full effect.

The Cowboys drop to 4-2, their next 3 games are: @Rams, Bucs, @Giants…. all of the sudden this team could lose three more after its all said and done. To think we’re going to turn it around is foolishness. This team has had too many let downs, too many turnover, and too many penalties.

Jerry Jones is disappointed, and you know he’s thinking of the next coach of this team. Its gonna be Cowher. This is not panic mode, its reality.  This hiring cooridinators is not getting it done.