It’s looking more and more likely that the 2019 season will go the way of the 2018 season- with a division title and a first or second round playoff loss. If the season plays out in that manner, it’s painfully obvious that Jason Garrett’s tenure will come to an end. Garrett will be remembered as a good coach, better than many of his predecessors, but one who couldn’t succeed when it mattered most for the team. The next page will need to be written on who will lead the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 and years to come. After reading and researching, the obvious top solution should be Urban Meyer. His qualifications and experiences check every box, making him the obvious choice and the person to take this team to the next level. Check out just some of the qualifications I’ve been able to come up with to validate the move.
1. Comfortable with Dak
As you consistently hear from national media the concern is continuing to move Dak ahead in his development. It should be remembered that Dak was coached and developed by Dan Mullen at Mississippi State. Mullen was a top assistant and offensive coordinator for Meyer at Florida and brought that system with him to Mississippi State. Dak is Urban’s type of QB and should continue his trajectory to becoming a Super Bowl caliber quarterback.
2. Handling Zeke
Zeke Elliott is possibly the Cowboys most dynamic and combustible player and the more success they have keeping him from the police blotter; the better for the team. With Urban being the new coach, it could draw comparison to Michael Irvin getting Jimmy Johnson many years ago. Irvin didn’t stay out of trouble his whole career in Dallas, but walked the line a lot better with Jimmy walking the halls.
3. Strong Familiarity with Current College Players
With the departure of Jason Garrett, the Cowboys would benefit with someone who is familiar with the next few draft classes and finding those diamonds in the rough. Meyer would add a valuable addition to the selection process something they have not had since Jimmy and the boys were in the war room.
4. Proven Track Record
Of course Urban has never walked the sidelines of an NFL team but he has won at four college programs Bowling Green (17-6 in 2 years), Utah (22-2 in 2 years), Florida (65-15 in 6 years) and Ohio State (83-9 in 7 years). He wins and wins big wherever he coaches in football. The belief from some circles is Dallas is the one of only a few NFL jobs that he would make the jump for to the professional ranks. The chance to become only the third coach to win a National Title and Super Bowl would be too tempting for Urban. Plus a Super Bowl title would give him something a certain coach in Alabama could not accomplish during his tenure in the NFL.
5. Player Development
First day NFL draft selections were a common event during Meyer’s stops in college, especially at Florida and Ohio State. The impressive aspect of Meyer’s tenure had players develop at nearly every position and wasn’t only focused on offense his calling card. He has the resume to convince anyone that he can get the best out of a player.
6. Coaching Staff
With the success that Meyer has had at the college ranks, recruiting a top echelon coaching staff should not be an issue, and many of his former assistants would likely lineup to coach with him again for the most valuable franchise in professional sports. As we have seen, Urban is a builder and not a long term answer, so possibly after five or six years, he would likely look to move on and maybe really retire as he would be in his early 60’s at that point. One of those assistants who made the jump with him could be next up to benefit from the work he would have done and assume the reigns in Big D.
7. Familiarity with both sides of the ball
Researching this article, I was surprised to discover that Meyer actually was a defensive back at the University of Cincinnati and some of his early stops as an assistant where on the defensive side of the ball. Urban is as sharp a football coach as there is on the market and has the feel, with his resume and the Cowboys talent, of a perfect marriage. Too often a hot offensive or defensive coordinator gets the promotion and then has to lean heavily on a coordinator on the other side. Urban knows football and would be the leader for both sides of the ball.
Recently, as many people have seen, Urban Meyer was on Fox Sport One with Colin Cowherd where he openly said “the Cowboys are the one team you answer,” when Colin asked if Lincoln Riley would take a call from Jerry Jones. Urban went on to rave about the talent on the team, the stage of coaching the Dallas Cowboys and the appeal of all things Dallas. The biggest concern I see for the Dallas Cowboys is Urban’s track record of having some players and assistants in his program that were not of the highest character and not fixing the situation appropriately when he was made aware of it. Granted Urban would not be the only voice, with the Cowboys controlling everything and I am sure Will McClay and the current front office would work in tandem with him in making sure the players behave within NFL rules.
Urban coming to the Cowboys sidelines has the feel of Phil Jackson joining the Lakers after playoff failures with Shaq and Kobe. We all remember how that ended. @ftballdialogue
Cowboys Corner 