Jason Garrett Immediately Sets a New Tone

If you haven't watched Jason Garrett's Monday introductory press conference I highly recommend you check it out. You will immediately notice that Jason Garrett has a presence about him that has been missing from the head coach for about three and a half years. Garrett is direct and makes his statements with conviction. He seems like a natural leader.

What I like the most about the tone Jason Garrett is setting is the message he has given the team. "Be great today" sums up his philosophy. And if the players really take that message to heart the Cowboys might be able to begin picking up the pieces and get the team moving back in a positive direction before the season ends.

Garrett's first practice as a head coach was a practice in full pads. Wade Phillips never held a full pad practice in his entire time as head coach of the Cowboys. Maybe that doesn't mean anything but it does make you realize right away that Jason Garrett is going to make changes and he is going to run the team his way.

At practice today Garrett was reportedly yelling at the players to hustle between drills and was constantly stressing tempo during practice. That is a far cry from the laid back approach that Wade Phillips had that allowed the team to slowly unravel this season. And Jason Garrett laid down the law in his first team meeting letting the team know that things are changing right now.

I know there isn't any reason to have hope for the playoffs. I have accepted that fact. But I am honestly excited about seeing what Garrett can do with the team. I don't expect immediate results against the Giants this week but I do expect to see a team showing promise for next year by the time the season wraps up. There is something about the way that Garrett talks that makes me believe he is ready to turn this team around.

Garrett says the best players will play. I hope that is true. And he says there will be lineup changes but isn't ready to let everyone know what those are yet. I have to believe the changes involve benching Alan Ball. And I hope that anyone who is seen giving less than their best effort will be immediately pulled from the game.

I hope the fans that aren't happy with Jason Garrett running the team will give him a shot before they say he can't do the job. It seems like Garrett is was ready to take over and is fully capable of running the team. Give him a chance to show what he can do. The season is a lost cause anyway so if Garrett can turn things around we will be watching the beginning of a new era for the Dallas Cowboys.