Dallas’ Phillips wades into new territory
Coach trying to get tough to save his job
Published: June 17, 2009, 7:35 am
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FORT WORTH, Texas — A former assistant under Wade Phillips during the coach’s tenure with the Buffalo Bills said Phillips is very bright, and not the bumbling, silver-haired uncle he’s often portrayed as by the media. Another former assistant said Phillips was “dumb like a fox” during his time as head coach of the Broncos.
But these same assistants also said organization, detail and structure were not areas of strength and that confrontation appeared to make Phillips so uncomfortable that he avoided it. He was the type of boss who would tell a player he was doing great and cut him one day later.
Despite what Phillips says, he is aware of his critics, his status as a punch line, and his tenuous job security with the Dallas Cowboys. It’s why the self-described “softy” is trying to get tough.
Accurately painted as a decent, gentle and kind man — as if those qualities are flaws—what Phillips will attempt to do in 2009 might be one of the most difficult tasks a head coach can attempt. While it is possible for a coach to complete such a makeover, Phillips’ planned transformation might be the single most difficult mission he’s had with the Cowboys.
“I’ve always thought it was much easier to do it the other way around,” University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self said. “Much easier to be tough on them and then let up a little bit than it is to not be as tough on them and then try to put the hammer down. I’m not saying it can’t be done. . . . Going into a new situation, that obviously is the time when you want to do it as opposed to when you’re established in a place.”
Phillips is established. He is almost 62 and facing his third season as the Cowboys’ head coach.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones does not agree with the image of Phillips sitting in meetings like a bobblehead doll and agreeing to anything, such as using former Cowboy Adam “Pacman” Jones as a punt returner.
“I’ve seen him bite and bite good. It’s a mistake for anybody [to think] that he won’t and doesn’t disagree with me,” Jones said. “He can be, not abrasive, but he can be very firm on [making] his points. To the point that I don’t find him to not have the kind of substance that will direct men. I think [he] does.”
Phillips’ philosophy of trusting the team to play “follow the leaders” worked until the point last season when it appeared there was no leadership. That necessitated his pledge after the season ended to instill more discipline and “more whatever.”
“Personality probably isn’t going to change as much as what you ask them to do,” Phillips said the day after the season ended. “Things aren’t going to change unless you change them.”
One of the more visible examples during offseason practices: Phillips kicking players out of a play if they commit a mental error.
“You can see he’s changed already. Before we would never have done that,” linebacker Bradie James said.
Another example of instilling more discipline is levying heavier fines, notably with second-year tight end Martellus Bennett for a profane video that created a stir on the Internet.
“If the number is big enough [fines] work, but the number has to be big,” Dallas Stars veteran Mike Modano said.
Phillips in his two years with the Cowboys has established himself as likable and approachable, but maybe a bit too trusting. A bit too amenable.
When pushed on the subject last season, Phillips said, “I’m the head coach. I can do whatever I want.”
But when the season ended, he agreed to a no-comment policy ordered by Jerry Jones. If Phillips wanted to comment, it had to be approved. Even if he saw no harm, the ploy made Phillips look weak.
It further fueled doubt that a coach with an established personality could turn into an authoritarian.
Phillips’ passive-aggressive approach is the opposite of his predecessor, Bill Parcells. Both can work. Both have shelf lives.
“We’ve seen it from both ends of the spectrum,” Phillips said. “Guys are so demanding that they almost beat down the players and vice versa. Maybe I’ve been on the bottom of that and that can change.”
Areas of weakness — structure, organization, detail — will need to become strengths. Phillips said he plans to pay more attention to detail.
“I think you can see he’s more involved now and he’s really trying to make this work,” James said. “I think it can.”
There are doubts, because of his history, his age and the fact his personality traits have been established.
“You can never go against who you really are,” said former Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett, who was fired last week after six seasons as a “player-friendly” coach. “Players can see it. You have to trust who you are and what you’re doing . . . if you are going to have any kind of credibility.”
Whether Phillips can pull it off will likely determine his own fate as head coach — and the success of the 2009 Dallas Cowboys.
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