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Get Dallas Cowboys news on your cellLet me introduce you to Tony Sparano
10:46 AM Mon, Nov 27, 2006 | Permalink
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Some of you wondered why Bill Parcells put up a fight for this guy when Sean Payton was raiding his coaching staff. Parcells says he's not into titles, which is easy to say when you're the head coach. Sparano had the opportunity to add "offensive coordinator" to his resume and make a lot more money in New Orleans, but Parcells wouldn't let him go. Here's what one local columnist (JJT) had to say about Sparano:
IRVING – Now, you know why Sean Payton wanted Tony Sparano to join him in the Big Easy. Now, you understand why Bill Parcells wouldn't let Sparano be Payton's offensive coordinator. He wanted Sparano to be a difference-maker in Dallas. Sparano, perhaps the most anonymous assistant on a staff Parcells shields from the public, calls the plays for a Cowboys offense that hasn't been this prolific since Troy, Michael and Emmitt were scoring touchdowns and leading the Cowboys to championships. The offense never reached its full potential under Drew Bledsoe because he took too many sacks, directed too many passes toward Terry Glenn and made too many poor decisions that lost games. When Parcells finally benched Bledsoe five games ago and inserted Tony Romo into the lineup, no one thought the 26-year-old who didn't throw his first pass until this season would ignite an offense. He's done it by executing Sparano's game plans better than Bledsoe. Talk to enough players and they'll tell you Sparano's game plans are designed to make each of the Cowboys' offensive weapons a play-maker during the course of the game. That didn't always happen with Bledsoe at the helm; Romo makes sure it does. So T.O. no longer whines about his involvement. Even Glenn, who had a special karma with Bledsoe, is averaging more yards per game with Romo at quarterback. The Cowboys rank third in the NFL in total offense – fourth in rushing and fifth in passing. No other team ranks among the top five in both categories. Dallas' 28.1 scoring average ranks third. "He's done a good job," Parcells said about Sparano in an understatement. The first drive of the second half in the Cowboys' 38-10 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday was the epitome of Sparano's offensive philosophy. Counting Romo, six players touched the ball on the eight-play, 82-yard drive that ended with Marion Barber's 1-yard touchdown catch for a 21-10 lead. Anthony Fasano, Barber, Glenn and T.O. caught passes, and Barber and Julius Jones combined for three carries. Dallas finished the game with 435 yards, 27 first downs and no turnovers. The Cowboys converted seven of 12 third downs. The 45-year-old Sparano is not a prototypical play-caller. Most line coaches don't call plays because they're not experienced enough with the passing game to succeed. Philadelphia coach Andy Reid is one of the few exceptions. Maybe he and Sparano will start a trend. Sparano has spent a lifetime preparing for this opportunity. He spent five seasons as Boston University's offensive coordinator, helping the Terriers go 11-0 and win a Yankee Conference title in 1993. That led to a head coaching position at his alma mater, New Haven, a Division II school that he led to the title game in 1997. He left for the NFL in 1998, spending two seasons as an offensive assistant with Cleveland before coaching tight ends in Washington (2001) and Jacksonville (2002) before Parcells hired him to do the same in 2003 – so he had plenty of experience with the passing game. Being a successful play-caller is more than X's and O's. It's about massaging egos and maintaining an even temperament when the pressure is most intense. Sparano succeeds because he's confident, although his ego fits easily into his back pocket. He never played in the NFL, but the players respect him because he worked his way up through the college ranks. They also respect his ability to teach without demeaning. "He can take the most complicated subject," center Andre Gurode said, "and break it down so it's simple. That's why he's a good coach." He can also have fun, like the day he teased Romo about his rumored romance with Jessica Simpson after an errant pass in practice. After the Cowboys beat Tampa Bay, Sparano walked around the locker room making eye contact with all of the key offensive players – it seemed to be his way of letting them know his appreciation. Tight end Jason Witten, surrounded by a throng of reporters, didn't see Sparano, so the coach walked into the training room. A moment later, he walked over to the crowd around Witten and waited patiently for another minute or so until he made eye contact with Witten. Only then did he leave. E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
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Comments
Posted by Texas Pride @ 12:12 PM Mon, Nov 27, 2006
The play-calling has been magnificent...I believe that is one of the reasons we are seeing a high level of execution...the offensive coaches are putting all of the players in a position to succeed, and I can't say enough about what they have done to play to the strengths of Romo...kudos!!
Posted by Big Tom, NYC @ 12:25 PM Mon, Nov 27, 2006
It's like Bill Parcell's has been saying lo these past 4 years, Execution!
Posted by housefan @ 1:53 PM Mon, Nov 27, 2006
The "bus driver" kept crashing. Now the Boys have a jet pilot.
It is amazing how everyone else is so much better now.
Posted by Craig @ 2:40 PM Mon, Nov 27, 2006
I agree that they're now calling plays geared towards the offense's strength, but my question is why they weren't doing so when Bledsoe was at the helm? Long-route plays that take 5 seconds to develop for an immobile QB behind a porous line and RBs who have only moderate blocking skill? That's a recipe for disaster.
(note: not to be read as defending Bledsoe, but rather attacking the playcallers. I'm as happy as anyone else that Romo's back there now)
Posted by Steven @ 4:48 PM Mon, Nov 27, 2006
So Craig are you saying we should have changed our offense to suit Bledsoe's immobility? They tried to put the players in the best position to succeed. It didn't help that Bledsoe practically ignored TO. Witten was basically a 6th offensive lineman. Too bad we waited so long to put Romo in. We may be fighting Chicago for best in the NFC.
Posted by P @ 5:23 PM Mon, Nov 27, 2006
Romo doesn't stand there and let the opposing team tee off on him, he utilizes all of his weapons, and hasn't made a habit of confusing the DBs for his wide receivers. Toss in a healthy dose of the run, and that's a well balanced offensive game plan.
Posted by joe hottinger @ 6:58 PM Mon, Nov 27, 2006
this guy has something simular to T.O. JUST WATCH HIM. THEY BOTH GOT A SCREW LOOSE..WHERE DOES JERRY JONES PICK UP THESE PACKAGES. THE CUSTOMERS PAYING TOO MUCH TO WATCH THESE GAMES.....
Posted by Tom @ 10:34 PM Tue, Nov 28, 2006
ReadingJoeHottinger's comment: Am I missing something? I do not understand "who has a screw loose?" Can someone explain?