Has Parcells lost the magic touch? (1 Viewer)

[Ghost Rider]

He won two Super Bowls with the Giants.

He took the Patriots to the Super Bowl.

He took a Jets team from 1-15 to the AFC title game.

However, in his four years in Dallas, all he has managed is a 34-32 record, two playoff appearances, zero division titles, and zero playoff wins. Yes, I am aware that the Cowboys were in poor shape when he got there, so he deserves credit for turning things around, but the Parcells of old would have had this team in the Super Bowl or at least in the NFC title game by now, rather than losing wild card games in a weak conference.

From my point of view, Parcells is still a very good coach, but he doesn't seem to have that magic touch that could turn a previously hapless team into a real contender anymore.

Note, this is not a fishing trip.

Feel free to disagree or agree with me.

 

[dgreen]

What do you mean by "magic touch"?

We look back now and assume there was some "magic touch" because of the results we see. But, my guess is he does things the same way now as he did before. Yet, there are different results...for now. If you define "magic touch" based on results, you can say he lost it in 1987, 1995, 1999, and 2004. But, to me, it makes little sense to say he had it, lost it, had it, lost it, had it, lost it.

To me, "magic touch" has to be about what one does or who one is, not just based on results. I think Parcells is who he always has been. I think if he had the "magic touch" in 1986, then he probably has it now because he's the same guy.

Either he had it and still does or he never had it. There's a formula to success that a lot of coaches use. But, season to season, results may vary.

I think some people think it's easier than it really is to win in the NFL. People say things like, "Well, X only won one more Super Bowl than Y." ONLY one more? ONLY? Getting just one is extremely difficult. If the NFL had perfect parity, each team would win the Super Bowl once every 32 years. There are a lot of really good coaches and players who never sniff the Super Bowl. And, some probably even have some "magic touch." But, things happen and other teams win. One of the biggest nonsense in sports is that the Buffalo Bills of the early 90s were failures. For some reason, they are looked down on more in those four years than the Cardinals who were a combined 20-44 from 1990-1993.

 

[Volleydog]

The only thing he's lost is Belichick running his defense. I didn't used to believe that until I saw the records once. I don't have them readily available, but look at the records (especially playoff performances) for the Giants, Jets, Patriots, and Cowboys. It will be painfully obvious when the Bill's were together and when they weren't.

 

[cowboyz]

some components that explain parcells lack of success

qb play hasn't been there until romo

defensive switch to 3-4.additionally was delayed and kept zimmer the 4-3 coach(of course he might be as good as payton ).

draft, never got the oline he needed for the running game. busted on those guys, plus marco rivera.

qbs

1st quincy carter

2nd vinny testaverde

3rd drew bledsoe

4th romo

def

1st 4-3 defense did good, decided not to change to the 3-4

2nd 4-3 exposed

3rd 3-4 mostly rookies and 4-3 guys playing, kept zimmer to learn to the 3-4

4th 3-4 2nd year for most players, doing good, then got exposed by the saints at ilb james/SS williams/no pass rush

drafts

1st got some good players newman, witten, bradie james(not so much anymore)

2nd drafted OT and G, total busts

3rd changed to the 3-4

4th supplemented to the 3-4, and drafted extras presumably for a playoff run

Why things are looking up for BP's potential 5th and certainly last year

positives

QB:romo

defense:3rd year, got a player for each position, plus extras jason hatcher at DE, ellis presumably at nickel DE coming back. hopefully brings in a real 3-4 coach

oline:got marc colombo and gurode playing well.

I think BP will evaluate these things and see what his chances of fixing them are. The biggest issues being the pass rush(DE) and oline(G).

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Lawrence Taylor and Bill Belichick can't bail him out now.

 

[drdgreenlove]

I think the answer is that parcells is getting grouchier and having less fun.... He also does not seem (to me) to work as much magic in the lockerroom...

Part may be true that he doesn't have the amazing coaching staff he used to... It seems every assistant gets plucked away into an assistant role... Perhaps the assistants wrre very valuable turning average players into above average... Certainly his staff in ny and ne was amazing... Not so in dallas

The to fgactor this year can't be underestimated.... I think to made bill lose his power in the lockerroom....

In fact I think bill won't come back if to stays....it is hard for bill to use discipline with a (?bipolar?) Wr on the team who is integral to the offense

 

[Ridgelake]

I've been a staunch defender of Parcells up until recently. I do think he has great football knowledge and history. He understand personnel very well and know what and how he wants things done.

But I was shocked at the number of coaching mistakes that I perceived late in the season.

In both the Philly game and teh Detroit game, Dallas made critical scheme errors right before halftime allowing opponents to score. I attribute this to bad coaching. Not getting the players into the right positions at the right time.

Dallas frequently had to scramble right before snaps when opposing teams split out TEs and RBs. Why weren't the LBs paying attention to the formations? Why were the assignments in those situations so confusing to the defense?

I was shocked that Dallas was not able to expose the Seattle defense that was starting 3 safeties and a nickle corner who was literally selling insurance the week before. So they played a lot of cover-2. Well, why aren't Witten and Fasano running deep seam patterns? Why aren't TO and Glenn running lots of slants, hooks, and outs? Why wasn't Dallas running more spread offenses to isolate receivers? It was dumbfounding to me watching that gameplan.

Is Parcells one of the best 32 coaches in the league? I'd still say yes based on his organization skills, personnel evaluation skills, and overall knowledge. But these various perceived coaching shortfalls late in the season has me really questioning whether he's still one of the best.

 

[redman]

He was using magic?

 

[H.K.]

Yes, I am aware that the Cowboys were in poor shape when he got there, so he deserves credit for turning things around, but the Parcells of old would have had this team in the Super Bowl or at least in the NFC title game by now, rather than losing wild card games in a weak conference.

They were 5-11 for three consecutive seasons prior to Parcells arrival. He had them at 10-6 the following year.Fast forward to today. 12 out of 32 teams made the post-season, and Parcells was one of them.

The fact that people consider a playoff year a disappointment or underachievement for Parcells says everything about how great a coach he is because he is being held to a standard higher than others, which he has set.

Parcells is one of the best coaches in the game, now, and forever. Romo botches a hold and that means Parcells has lost it? I ain't buying it.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Always over rated due to him having charmed the media in the World's media capital.

 

[Ghost Rider]

The fact that people consider a playoff year a disappointment or underachievement for Parcells says everything about how great a coach he is because he is being held to a standard higher than others, which he has set.

Yeah, I think I already said that.

Romo botches a hold and that means Parcells has lost it? I ain't buying it.

Who said that?

 

[Volleydog]

I was shocked that Dallas was not able to expose the Seattle defense that was starting 3 safeties and a nickle corner who was literally selling insurance the week before.

This was an excellent indictment of Tuna's poor coaching lately. I can answer one question for you. Nickle corners who were selling insurance last week actually aren't as good as nickle corners who were loan officers last week (Hunter's actual job). Clearly Dallas recognized this difference, and did not want to pick on a guy who had easy access to the credit history of every player & staff member. I also like that Seattle's 3rd safety (for this game's depth chart) was a hunting guide in Nebraska (or a nearby state) last week. 189 yards against that secondary. Wow. Of course, it didn't help Glenn & The Carcinogen kept dropping passes either.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Overrated.

He stole one Super Bowl with the

"wide right" Norwood debacle.

He completely mis-managed the Patriots

team that lost to the Packers.

During 23 years of coaching

he as one legitimate Super Bowl victory

over Denver in 1986.

...dude is a farce.

 

[H.K.]

Overrated.He stole one Super Bowl with the "wide right" Norwood debacle.He completely mis-managed the Patriotsteam that lost to the Packers.During 23 years of coaching he as one legitimate Super Bowl victoryover Denver in 1986....dude is a farce.

Allllll-riiiiighttyyyy then......