Post by prossman on Jan 17, 2009 11:42:28 GMT -7
Posted: 2009-01-17, 07:44:25 Post subject: Re: St. Louis Media Question Hiring Garrett
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Rams would take a huge gamble if they hire Garrett
By Bernie Miklasz
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/17/2009
And now it seems that Jason Garrett could be the chosen one in Billy Devaney's search for a new Rams head coach. But given the misdirection plays being run by Devaney at Rams Park, who knows for sure until the new coach is formally signed, sealed, delivered and introduced?
I want to confess something here: This one floors me. If Garrett is destined to be the next head coach at Rams Park, I never saw it coming. I never took it seriously. I never realized the extent of the apparent man crush that Devaney has on Garrett. And maybe this is all just another head fake by Devaney. Again: who knows?
I'm benching myself on this one. When it comes to knowing what Devaney is really up to, I'm about as useful as Fakhir Brown, because I keep getting lost in the coverage.
But I will say this for Devaney: If Garrett is his choice, and owner Chip Rosenbloom concurs, then I respect Devaney for having the guts to venture out to the precipice, to put his GM career on the line with such a profound gamble.
Look, any coach hired by the Rams is a gamble. There are no sure things here. But if you talked to the football execs who run the other 31 franchises, I am sure that most of them would see minimal risk in offering the job to Leslie Frazier, Rex Ryan or Steve Spagnuolo.
All three defensive coordinators have served lengthy apprenticeships, all have demonstrated an ability to lead players, all have paid their dues to prepare for the next level of responsibility and opportunity.
I don't think many NFL execs would question Devaney if he turned to Ryan, Spagnuolo or Frazier. I believe most NFL team execs would say: understandable hire; that makes sense. And if Spagnuolo, Ryan or Frazier failed as Rams head coach, I don't think many execs would aggressively second-guess Devaney's decision for the very same reason: Hey, it made sense at the time.
I don't want to demonize Garrett. By all accounts he's a highly intelligent man, and a good person. But of the finalists, Garrett brings the most questions and the thinnest résumé. He's short on professional coaching experience. And Garrett just finished a season in which he was embroiled in controversy. The level of respect Garrett commanded among Dallas offensive players was called into question. His ability to lead players was called into question. (Understand that I don't blame Garrett for any issues revolving around Terrell Owens, a known troublemaker.) Garrett's stock has taken a dramatic plunge over the last year.
Compared to the other candidates — Frazier, Ryan, Spagnuolo — Garrett would be a controversial choice, the most unpopular choice among Rams fans, and a surprising choice that would be met with the most scrutiny around the league. I can hear it now: "What is Billy doing, to go with an unproven, offensive-minded assistant coach who had shaky player relations? Didn't the Rams just go through this with Scott Linehan?"
If Devaney hires Garrett, and Garrett develops into a fantastic head coach, then Billy D will be heralded as a courageous visionary.
If Garrett flops, then Devaney will be ridiculed as a stooge GM who passed up safer, more respected alternatives to hire a novice.
If Garrett goes down, Devaney will take the fall. A hard fall.
_________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams would take a huge gamble if they hire Garrett
By Bernie Miklasz
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/17/2009
And now it seems that Jason Garrett could be the chosen one in Billy Devaney's search for a new Rams head coach. But given the misdirection plays being run by Devaney at Rams Park, who knows for sure until the new coach is formally signed, sealed, delivered and introduced?
I want to confess something here: This one floors me. If Garrett is destined to be the next head coach at Rams Park, I never saw it coming. I never took it seriously. I never realized the extent of the apparent man crush that Devaney has on Garrett. And maybe this is all just another head fake by Devaney. Again: who knows?
I'm benching myself on this one. When it comes to knowing what Devaney is really up to, I'm about as useful as Fakhir Brown, because I keep getting lost in the coverage.
But I will say this for Devaney: If Garrett is his choice, and owner Chip Rosenbloom concurs, then I respect Devaney for having the guts to venture out to the precipice, to put his GM career on the line with such a profound gamble.
Look, any coach hired by the Rams is a gamble. There are no sure things here. But if you talked to the football execs who run the other 31 franchises, I am sure that most of them would see minimal risk in offering the job to Leslie Frazier, Rex Ryan or Steve Spagnuolo.
All three defensive coordinators have served lengthy apprenticeships, all have demonstrated an ability to lead players, all have paid their dues to prepare for the next level of responsibility and opportunity.
I don't think many NFL execs would question Devaney if he turned to Ryan, Spagnuolo or Frazier. I believe most NFL team execs would say: understandable hire; that makes sense. And if Spagnuolo, Ryan or Frazier failed as Rams head coach, I don't think many execs would aggressively second-guess Devaney's decision for the very same reason: Hey, it made sense at the time.
I don't want to demonize Garrett. By all accounts he's a highly intelligent man, and a good person. But of the finalists, Garrett brings the most questions and the thinnest résumé. He's short on professional coaching experience. And Garrett just finished a season in which he was embroiled in controversy. The level of respect Garrett commanded among Dallas offensive players was called into question. His ability to lead players was called into question. (Understand that I don't blame Garrett for any issues revolving around Terrell Owens, a known troublemaker.) Garrett's stock has taken a dramatic plunge over the last year.
Compared to the other candidates — Frazier, Ryan, Spagnuolo — Garrett would be a controversial choice, the most unpopular choice among Rams fans, and a surprising choice that would be met with the most scrutiny around the league. I can hear it now: "What is Billy doing, to go with an unproven, offensive-minded assistant coach who had shaky player relations? Didn't the Rams just go through this with Scott Linehan?"
If Devaney hires Garrett, and Garrett develops into a fantastic head coach, then Billy D will be heralded as a courageous visionary.
If Garrett flops, then Devaney will be ridiculed as a stooge GM who passed up safer, more respected alternatives to hire a novice.
If Garrett goes down, Devaney will take the fall. A hard fall.
_________________