Dallas Cowboys: Rob Ryan as Next Head Coach in 2012?

Now don’t act like you’ve never thought about it. 

Whether it’s the ugly memories of father Buddy Ryan taunting former Dallas head coaches Tom Landry or Jimmy Johnson, or the bold statement that brother Rex was not arriving in New York to simply kiss the rings of Bill Belichick, you have to like the brashness of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

The Ryan family is cut from the same thread as the Founding Fathers of this great country. Remember that it took some pretty unconventional energy to convince the colonies that independence from the silly aristocracy in England was the way to go.

Going against the grain is how things get done. This is what Rob Ryan’s attitude reflects. There is a fine line between cocky and confident since the two are not exactly the same. Ryan truly is the latter.

When you believe in what you are, so do others. After all, they have no evidence to the contrary do they? And if they generally back up what they say then they have the ability to lead men.

It was never sold that Jason Garrett was confident or cocky, but rather smart. I even heard the term genius tossed around and some five-plus years following his odd arrival as offensive coordinator, I’m still waiting to see the second coming of Bill Walsh, you know?

Instead, we’ve seen horribly crafted game plan after horribly crafted game plan that often bring about average results with respect to wins and losses. Within these results we’ve seen more shocking catastrophes than at any point in Dallas Cowboys history. I could list examples but I’m only trying to write an article here as opposed to a novel.

Sunday’s loss against Detroit was only the latest victory thrown into the wind due to ridiculous play-calling. Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo is the scapegoat only a week following what was hailed as a turning point victory against Washington with broken ribs. That win followed another heroic win over San Francisco, the game in which Romo was hurt just a week into the regular season. But then those two wins were preceded by a huge giveaway against New York to begin the season. A Romo fumble near the goal line following a scramble was the turning point in that fiasco.

But who is at the controls of this offense?

Jason Garrett.

And does anyone believe that Garrett is going to change?

If so, they really shouldn’t.

If not for offensive mistakes and turnovers throughout the 2011 regular season, the Dallas defense has played well enough to put Dallas at 4-0, period. A unit that turned in a franchise worst performance just a year ago is finally utilizing its weapons to create havoc and cause turnovers, a hallmark of the Ryan family legacy calling defense.

Thank you, Rob Ryan.

And does anyone really believe that Rob Ryan does not possess the personality and attitude that winning head coaches often own?

If so, they really shouldn’t.

Former head coach Jimmy Johnson had these qualities. In fact he had boatloads of these qualities. He may not have been quite as vulgar openly as Ryan but he was a master at psychologically engineering his team to believe it was going to win.

The Dallas Cowboys do not win the classic 1992 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco if not for Johnson. This was the youngest but most impressionable roster in the NFL and they were taught not to care about the 49ers legacy that, for all we knew at the time, was still being written.

Jimmy Johnson made his teams feel like they were the best, even if they were not. Rob Ryan takes more of the “us against the world” approach with his units, thus uniting his players as a unit that can’t be stopped … unless of course his offense turns the ball over a few times which obviously breaks wills and motivation.

If you’ve built a foundation and have started laying the bricks and someone on the team keeps tearing them down it will eventually destroy the project.

Simply put, Rob Ryan is a wall builder but after only four games, two trends, both rather predictable, have emerged.

First of all, when the Dallas offense plays well, likely jumping out to an early lead that the defense is obviously helping to either build or maintain, you can feel the disaster coming in the form of a game changing, momentum shifting turnover. See Week 1 and Week 4.

Second, when the offense is clearly struggling with penalties, horrible snaps and an injured quarterback, the defense has shown the ability to win with little in the way of help concerning points or field position.

Thanks to the combination of turnovers and lame play-calling and execution, Jason Garrett is why the Cowboys are 2-2 en route to another 7-9 to 9-7 type of season. It’s only a matter of time before owner and G.M. and Commander of the Universe Jerry Jones pulls the plug. The guy has a big building to fill and Garrett garners about the same level of confidence as just about any elected member of either house of Congress.

Can you say ineffective?

But just like America itself, America’s Team needs more. It needs brashness, toughness and a desire to win that trumps all personal ideology or agendas.

Rob Ryan for Head Coach in 2012!