Next year, Parcells' way will be the only way
By Dan Pompei - SportingNews.com
That was Bill Parcells working the Cowboys' sideline at Texas Stadium last Sunday, an open flame in a hayloft. There he was, glaring straight ahead, hands on hips after a missed extra-point attempt. There he was, scolding quarterback Quincy Carter about making "impulse decisions." There he was, shaking his head over a defensive breakdown.
Parcells' players fit him like his 12th-grade jeans. So starting next year, expect the Cowboys to be tailored to their coach. Parcells' most significant achievement in 2003 might be building a case for tearing apart the roster in the offseason-and rebuilding it the Parcells way.
With the way the NFL has evolved, flexibility is an asset in a head coach. Usually, Parcells is as flexible ideologically as he appears to be physically-and this is not a man you want to see try to touch his toes.
In his defense, Parcells won nine games in 1997 with his first Jets team, which was not in his image. He also bent enough in New England to build his offense around a young quarterback with a big arm after Drew Bledsoe fell into his lap. But Parcells, who has achieved greatness through rigidity, prefers to do it the way he knows that works.
His way might not have worked if he had become coach of the Buccaneers before the 2002 season, however. You can make a pretty strong argument that Tampa Bay would not have won the Super Bowl under Parcells instead of Jon Gruden. In fact, sources say Parcells was talking about trading defensive tackle Warren Sapp for Jets running back Curtis Martin if Parcells had taken the job. Parcells wanted a bigger, stronger defensive front and a more reliable running back.
Of course the Cowboys' talent doesn't compare with the Bucs' talent in any area, so they are more ripe for change. But so far, like Gruden in Tampa Bay, Parcells has kept the best part of his new team-the defense-intact. He retained coordinator Mike Zimmer and his system.
But everybody knows this isn't Parcells' style of defense. He has shown a preference for a 3-4 front. He likes big, stout linemen who can thrive in a two-gap system and hold the point of attack. He likes linebackers who can take on guards. With the Cowboys, he's stuck with small, quick one-gap linemen and linebackers who like to run around in space. His last defensive line with the Jets weighed 10 pounds per man more than his line with the Cowboys. His last group of linebackers in New York averaged 15 pounds more than his Cowboys 'backers.
In their 27-13 opening day victory, the Falcons took advantage of the Cowboys' speed and pursuit by rolling quarterback Doug Johnson right and having him throw back to his left to tight end Alge Crumpler, who was all alone and scored on a 41-yard touchdown. The play might not have worked against the style of defense Parcells prefers.
The makeup of the offensive line also isn't Parcells' ideal. He prefers athletic blockers and "hates fat, sloppy offensive linemen," in the words of one former associate. Parcells' offensive line with the Cowboys averages 328 pounds. His last offensive line with the Jets averaged 305.
Parcells passed on the opportunity to acquire a veteran caretaker-type quarterback like Neil O'Donnell, but he probably won't next year. Quincy Carter doesn't fit the Parcells blueprint. If a quarterback doesn't take care of the ball, or if he makes poor decisions under pressure, he will not last with Parcells.
If Parcells were a judge, Carter would be on probation. Parcells did compliment Carter for wisely getting rid of the ball at various times against the Falcons. But when asked what he liked about Carter's overall play, Parcells said, "Not a lot." Carter fumbled a handoff for a 14-yard loss. Later, he tried to run with only one hand on the ball and fumbled, setting up a Falcons touchdown. On another play, Carter found himself caught between scrambling and trying to salvage a throw, and the result was an interception. "Either tuck it and run it, or throw it away," Parcells said.
Carter, whose feet might be his best quality, had only four rushes against Atlanta. "If Quincy decides to run a lot, his mobility will get him in the doghouse," says ESPN analyst and former Parcells guy Bryan Cox. "He says, ‘Quarterbacks get paid to pass; running backs get paid to run.' "
Parcells isn't looking for flash from his running backs. He's looking for durability, endurance and the ability to hit the right hole and pick up blitzes. And above all else, NO FUMBLES. Anything else is sprinkles on the sundae.
Whether he can get that from Troy Hambrick or any of the other Cowboys backs is questionable. Heck, Emmitt Smith was better suited for the role than any of these guys. Even though third-down back Aveion Cason had a 63-yard touchdown run against Atlanta, Parcells said he was "not exactly" pleased with Cason's play. "There were some things you didn't see that I saw," he said.
The Cowboys won't look much like Parcells' old Giants teams when he comes home to Giants Stadium on Monday. But they will the next time Dallas plays the Giants in Jersey.
Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at pompei@sportingnews.com.
