If coaches are going to be ripped and fired for failure, they sure ought to get some credit for success. The best team in the NFC gets tons of publicity (Romo, T.O.), but none of it is directed at its coach. Let me be the first to say it - Wade Phillips is doing as good of a job as any coach in the NFL this year.
I recently heard a few national commentators debating who should be NFL Coach of the Year and Wade Phillips name was never mentioned. Mike McCarthy, Bill Belichick, Romeo Crennel...but not Wade Phillips?
After watching the immensely talented Cowboys play slow, confused and unmotivated football under the legendary Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips has found the right balance between freedom and order to allow these Pokes to excel. Dallas has been absolutely terrific this season - scoring points at will and actually stopping people on defense from time to time.
Forget for a second that Wade Phillips is the coach. If I told you that the Dallas Cowboys were 11-1, that Terrell Owens was having an all-world season without being a distraction or cancer, that Tony Romo had emerged in his second season as a starter into a Top 5 quarterback, that DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis each have 10 sacks, that the Pokes have 1,000 yards more offense than their opponents, twice as many quarterback sacks, 20 more touchdowns, and a +7 turnover margin for the season, wouldn't you expect the coach of the NFL's signature franchise to be getting a sniff of recognition?
So why isn't Wade Phillips? When the Cowboys are discussed this season, the order of priority is Owens, Romo, Jerry Jones, Barber, Ware, Crayton, Newman, Tank Johnson, Roy Williams, then maybe Phillips? Wait, I forgot right guard Leonard Davis. Seriously, Bill Parcells still gets more attention in Big D than Wade Phillips.
It is time for that to stop. He may not be flashy. His hiring did not exactly thrill the fanbase. But the proof, my friends, is in the pudding. 11-1. The only loss is to the undefeated Patriots. This season, the Cowboys shut down Adrian Peterson, knocked out Brett Favre and totally confused Eli Manning. Okay, that last one isn't especially impressive, but the overall product has been. The Cowboys are having a historic season - one not matched by Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson or Bill Parcells - and Wade Phillips ought to get much of the credit.
I know, I know - the Cowboys are loaded with talent and Phillips is basically just standing there watching it. Really? There isn't a difference between the way this team plays vs. last year's team? The offense is explosive - last year it was plodding. The defense gets after people - last year it waited, reacted and gave up points. The team this year seems to be enjoying football - last year it seemed like Sunday was an unenjoyable occupation.
What is the difference between this year and last year? Wade Phillips. Jason Garrett deserves some recognition as well, but it starts with the head coach. If the Cowboys were 6-6 right now with Romo struggling, T.O. whining, and the defense stinking, Phillips would be burned in effigy in Dallas.
Instead, the Cowboys are 11-1, already in the playoffs and the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Wade Phillips ought to be given the credit he deserves for the job he has done this year.
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