Horry For 3!
01-27-2007, 07:37 PM
http://dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=65FB1707-AF00-6420-DCC59DD785D081C1
IRVING, Texas - Almost one year to the day, Gary Gibbs followed Sean Payton out of Dallas to New Orleans as the Saints' new defensive coordinator.
The former Cowboys linebackers coach (2002-05) returned Saturday morning to Valley Ranch as the sixth candidate to interview for the club's vacant head coaching position. He spent several hours meeting with Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones, along with a session with recently-retired head coach Bill Parcells.
"I felt like we had a good visit. Certainly it was a very comfortable visit, having been here for four years," Gibbs said. "I felt at ease. We covered a lot of topics and I thought it went well."
Gibbs emerged as a candidate four days after the Saints' Cinderella playoff run ended with a 39-14 loss to the NFC Champion Chicago Bears last Sunday. He and Payton, the Cowboys' former assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, helped rebuild the Saints into winners following an unprecedented 2005 season in which the team won only three games while displaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Gibbs' retooled defense, featuring former Cowboys linebackers Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita, finished 11th in total defense (307.3 yards per game) and helped New Orleans clinch the NFC South title with a 10-6 record. Gibbs' defense help short-circuit the Cowboys during the regular season, the Saints gaining the inside track on a first-round playoff bye by beating the Cowboys, 42-17, in Game 13.
The Cowboys on Friday interviewed another successful defensive coordinator in San Diego's Wade Phillips, whose 3-4 unit led the league in sacks in 2006. The Cowboys' search will continue at least through the weekend, with 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner scheduled to interview Sunday.
Unlike Phillips, who has been a head coach or interim head coach with four NFL teams, Gibbs' pro experience began in 2002 as the Cowboys' linebackers coach. In 1989, he replaced Barry Switzer as Oklahoma's head coach and remained there for six seasons.
"What I learned back at Oklahoma is you better beat Texas," Gibbs said, knowing that was the reason for the Sooners letting him go. "It's all about getting the right kind of people, surrounding yourself with quality character people. Certainly you need good players, but it's an organization that wins."
Turner also is familiar with the Cowboys organization. He spent three years as the club's offensive coordinator from 1991-93, and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman credits Turner for having a large role in his development.
Turner had two previous head coaching stops in Washington and Oakland before joining the 49ers' staff this past season.
Jones has now conducted six interviews in the six days since Parcells announced his retirement from coaching. Jones interviewed a trio of Cowboys assistants - Todd Bowles, Tony Sparano and Todd Haley - Tuesday and met with former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett for the better part of two days before hiring him to the coaching staff Thursday night.
Garrett's duties won't be determined until the head coaching search is completed, and he remains a candidate for the job himself. Meantime, two more Cowboys assistants have left for other jobs. Haley is the Cardinals' new offensive coordinator, and Anthony Lynn will coach the Browns' as the running backs coach.
Gibbs said he spent about 1½ hours Saturday speaking with Parcells, who was back at Valley Ranch for a five consecutive day after stepping down, and also said he visited with Garrett, whom the new head coach would have to accept on his staff.
"I saw Jason and we spent about 30 minutes together and had a good conversation," Gibbs said of the 40-year-old former Dolphins quarterbacks coach. "Certainly he's a bright young guy that's got a lot of passion for the game and has done a good job."
Gibbs certainly would enter a familiar setting if he gets the job. He coached five of the Cowboys' current linebackers, including first-time Pro Bowl selection DeMarcus Ware, during his four-year stint in Dallas. Greg Ellis didn't convert to linebacker until this past season.
Gibbs didn't have any theories regarding the Cowboys' defensive struggles down the stretch, in which they allowed 152 points and 16 touchdown passes in the final five regular-season games.
"My focus has been on our defense there in New Orleans," he said. "I didn't have time to look at anybody except somebody else's offense. I was scared to death of the Dallas offense, I can tell you that."
Gibbs ran a 4-3 scheme in New Orleans and said he spoke to Jones about defensive philosophy on Saturday. He also coached in a 3-4 system under Parcells in 2005.
"We talked a little bit about defense, what we'd do if I came here and how I thought we could do some things that might be a little bit different than they did this year," Gibbs said. "We talked a little bit about those things. At the end of the day it's making sure you put players in a good position to make plays."
Whoever Jones hires will inherit a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys have a mix of high draft picks and high-priced free agents on defense, and their aforementioned offense scored more than 400 points (425) for the first time since 1995.
Time will tell whether Gibbs will get to coach that talent.
IRVING, Texas - Almost one year to the day, Gary Gibbs followed Sean Payton out of Dallas to New Orleans as the Saints' new defensive coordinator.
The former Cowboys linebackers coach (2002-05) returned Saturday morning to Valley Ranch as the sixth candidate to interview for the club's vacant head coaching position. He spent several hours meeting with Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones, along with a session with recently-retired head coach Bill Parcells.
"I felt like we had a good visit. Certainly it was a very comfortable visit, having been here for four years," Gibbs said. "I felt at ease. We covered a lot of topics and I thought it went well."
Gibbs emerged as a candidate four days after the Saints' Cinderella playoff run ended with a 39-14 loss to the NFC Champion Chicago Bears last Sunday. He and Payton, the Cowboys' former assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, helped rebuild the Saints into winners following an unprecedented 2005 season in which the team won only three games while displaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Gibbs' retooled defense, featuring former Cowboys linebackers Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita, finished 11th in total defense (307.3 yards per game) and helped New Orleans clinch the NFC South title with a 10-6 record. Gibbs' defense help short-circuit the Cowboys during the regular season, the Saints gaining the inside track on a first-round playoff bye by beating the Cowboys, 42-17, in Game 13.
The Cowboys on Friday interviewed another successful defensive coordinator in San Diego's Wade Phillips, whose 3-4 unit led the league in sacks in 2006. The Cowboys' search will continue at least through the weekend, with 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner scheduled to interview Sunday.
Unlike Phillips, who has been a head coach or interim head coach with four NFL teams, Gibbs' pro experience began in 2002 as the Cowboys' linebackers coach. In 1989, he replaced Barry Switzer as Oklahoma's head coach and remained there for six seasons.
"What I learned back at Oklahoma is you better beat Texas," Gibbs said, knowing that was the reason for the Sooners letting him go. "It's all about getting the right kind of people, surrounding yourself with quality character people. Certainly you need good players, but it's an organization that wins."
Turner also is familiar with the Cowboys organization. He spent three years as the club's offensive coordinator from 1991-93, and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman credits Turner for having a large role in his development.
Turner had two previous head coaching stops in Washington and Oakland before joining the 49ers' staff this past season.
Jones has now conducted six interviews in the six days since Parcells announced his retirement from coaching. Jones interviewed a trio of Cowboys assistants - Todd Bowles, Tony Sparano and Todd Haley - Tuesday and met with former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett for the better part of two days before hiring him to the coaching staff Thursday night.
Garrett's duties won't be determined until the head coaching search is completed, and he remains a candidate for the job himself. Meantime, two more Cowboys assistants have left for other jobs. Haley is the Cardinals' new offensive coordinator, and Anthony Lynn will coach the Browns' as the running backs coach.
Gibbs said he spent about 1½ hours Saturday speaking with Parcells, who was back at Valley Ranch for a five consecutive day after stepping down, and also said he visited with Garrett, whom the new head coach would have to accept on his staff.
"I saw Jason and we spent about 30 minutes together and had a good conversation," Gibbs said of the 40-year-old former Dolphins quarterbacks coach. "Certainly he's a bright young guy that's got a lot of passion for the game and has done a good job."
Gibbs certainly would enter a familiar setting if he gets the job. He coached five of the Cowboys' current linebackers, including first-time Pro Bowl selection DeMarcus Ware, during his four-year stint in Dallas. Greg Ellis didn't convert to linebacker until this past season.
Gibbs didn't have any theories regarding the Cowboys' defensive struggles down the stretch, in which they allowed 152 points and 16 touchdown passes in the final five regular-season games.
"My focus has been on our defense there in New Orleans," he said. "I didn't have time to look at anybody except somebody else's offense. I was scared to death of the Dallas offense, I can tell you that."
Gibbs ran a 4-3 scheme in New Orleans and said he spoke to Jones about defensive philosophy on Saturday. He also coached in a 3-4 system under Parcells in 2005.
"We talked a little bit about defense, what we'd do if I came here and how I thought we could do some things that might be a little bit different than they did this year," Gibbs said. "We talked a little bit about those things. At the end of the day it's making sure you put players in a good position to make plays."
Whoever Jones hires will inherit a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys have a mix of high draft picks and high-priced free agents on defense, and their aforementioned offense scored more than 400 points (425) for the first time since 1995.
Time will tell whether Gibbs will get to coach that talent.