JR: First, it is important to understand that I am self-employed, So, technically my position as Head Coach with the Munich Cowboys is a consulting relationship. When we agreed to work together last year, we were thinking about a 3 year plan.  Every year I am contacted by a few teams in Europe about Head Coach positions, and, other possible consulting or clinic situations. I am providing a service in consulting and coaching, and any team and person can hire me for that service. That is the freedom of being self employed.
In 2008, I will do some clinics or consulting projects with other teams, about coaching strategy, or team development.  This would be on weekends before or after the Cowboys season, or maybe during the July break. This is not in conflict with my position with the Cowboys. We agreed on a cooperation like that. Sometimes, if there is talk about my consulting with a team in another country, or a team in Germany, this can be misunderstood, or misinterpreted, or mistranslated as a Head Coach job situation.
On the personal side, I like Germany, and especially the city of Munich, and the people in the Cowboys family. I believe  that there is a great future for the Cowboys organization and why not be were you like to be and do the job that you love to do. For me, it is not always about the money. That’s why I’m here. For me, if it was about the money, I would be coaching in the USA.
As a Head Coach in Europe, I would like to lead the Cowboys into the German Bowl.

MC: Six months ago, the Munich Cowboys finished with 15 wins, 1 tie,  0 losses, won the 2nd  League and the Relegation.  How do you feel personally as you look back on the 2007 season?

JR: The 2007 season was one of the most rewarding and gratifying seasons in my career. 
As I look back on my favorite seasons, I think of the 1982 National Championship at Penn State, Another is 2002, winning the German Bowl as Head Coach of the Hamburg Blue Devils.
Also, 1994, my first year in Europe, with the FLE and Munich Thunder, was special.

MC: What makes a season “special”?

JR:  I think it is the feeling and emotion. The feeling of super-achievement. When you do better than expected, in a game or a season, When you are an underdog. The FLE Munich Thunder team – people were not even sure they would play a game, and they went on to win the Division . The Blue Devils in 2002, lost twice to Braunschweig in the regular season - by big scores - and were 17 point underdogs in the German Bowl, and won 16-13. This year’s Super Bowl – the way the Giants beat the Patriots-- reminded me of that 2002 German Bowl.

MC: So you see the 2007 Cowboys in that way?

JR: Yes.  For sure.  Last years Cowboys were a big question mark going into the season. People had goals like “respectability”, and win more than you lose. Most people predicted 3rd or 4th place in the 2nd League, and look to 2008 for the possibility for promotion to the GFL. I do not think that anyone around the Cowboys, or the 2nd League, expected 15 wins and an undefeated season.

MC: Did you?  Did you expect an undefeated season?

JR: No. Not an undefeated season.  However, I do not think about season results, I think about game results. In the beginning, I believed we could win the 2nd League and move up to the GFL.  But my thought process is about winning each game, one game at a time. And if you do that, you will win every game and then, in the end,  that adds up to an undefeated season.

MC: What are your goals for the 2008 Cowboys?

JR: Always, my personal and private goal is to reach the highest possibility. In the GFL, that is the German Bowl. For the team, when we look at our season, we are looking at a 12 to 15 game schedule. But our focus and preparation is short term, day to day, practice to practice, play to play. We look at the one game in front of us, and not the big picture. And when we play that one game, we can only play one play at a time. You only have control of one play at a time.

MC:  Do you have any predictions for the 2008 season?

JR:  No.  I do not make predictions – or else I would be living in Las Vegas!
It is too early for me to evaluate our team, and the other teams in the GFL south. 
I do know this: we will compete and play hard.

MC: What are some of the differences between this year, going in to the 2008 season,
and last year at this time?

JR: First, I know the players and the coaches. Last year at this time I was learning faces and names. Second, we know our operating systems, our concepts, and language and terminology on offense and defense. Also, our coaching staff has worked together. And, adding Kevin Herron as Defensive Coordinator is important. Finally, the addition of new players will help. One other point is that the organization – the off the field part of the Cowboys – also has a year of experience working together.

MC: What do you see as the strengths of the 2008 Munich Cowboys team?

JR: One strength is team speed on defense. At the end of the 2007 season, of all 26 teams
in the GFL 1 and 2, the Cowboys were number one in scoring defense.
We have experience together in our systems – offense, defense, and special teams.
I think we have playmakers on both sides of the ball. I think we have depth at the skill positions on offense. We are two deep at quarterback with Travis Harvey and Gary Lautenschlager, and two deep at running back with Jerome Morris and Dominique Kandolo, and we have several talented players at wide receiver.
Another important point is that I know the players better. Last year I was learning about each player, their abilities and individual skills. That is a learning curve for me that continued in to the season. For example, now I know how good an all-around Tight End Pierre Hollander can be, as a blocker and receiver. Another is Gary Lautenschlager. My knowledge of his skills was based on his experience in a different type of offensive system. Now, after watching him play in our style of offense, which was designed more for Travis Harvey’s skill set, I know Gary can do more, and play a bigger role in our plans for this year.

MC: Any weaknesses?

JR:  If I think we have any weakness, I prefer to keep that a secret, particularly from our opponents who might read this!

MC: What are the challenges for the Cowboys playing in the GFL?

JR: For one, there will be no easy games, no opponents that are weak, no situations where you can plan on a win unless you totally let down on game day.  Our preparation must be sharp every week. The time we are spending in the off season, working out, strength training, speed training, all of that is more important. On every team there are a few top players who can get by on game day on their natural talent. That will be more difficult this year in the GFL. Some players will go from “star” to “average” if they do not work at getting better. Each and every Cowboy player must have a stronger dedication and commitment, physically and mentally.

MC: What about new players?  What are the Cowboys plans about recruiting and imports?

JR:  I would like to see how far we can go without imports. Last year we competed successfully against teams who imported Americans at key positions.  We have a great core group of local Munich area players. I think better than the great teams of 2000 and 2001. I would like to add new players from the Munich area, and nearby Bavaria.  We want players who would like the challenge and enjoy the experience, of playing in the GFL, and going to the German Bowl.
Also there are a few Americans in the local area who have made their life in Germany  - like Travis – with wives, and kids, and I would like to have them as part of the Cowboys family.
I want to develop a team whose foundation is German players.  I do not want a team that I coach to be about imports, and getting the ball every play from the American quarterback to the American running back or wide receiver. I think that is a correct formula for some teams, but for the Cowboys, as the only GFL team in Bavaria, we want to build our team and win with local players.

MC: You have talked about a “guest coaches” program. What is that?

JR: In 2006 in Italy, a friend of mine, John Pease, who was a 15 year NFL defensive line coach, came to stay with me and he helped informally with our defensive line while visiting Italy. 
He was part of an NFL staff that was fired, but he had one more year on his contract, so he was able to not take a job for a year.  We had coached together in the USFL for the Philadelphia Stars. This was a great experience for the players. This got me thinking about having a program where a coach visits in the pre-season to work with a position group. Maybe a coach between jobs, or a retired coach, or someone who is interested in coaching in Europe and wants to try it out for a few weeks. This does not have to be an American coach. Last year, in pre season, Javier Cook - who was just named the Head Coach of the Braunschweig Lions – he worked with the Cowboys in the pre season, So this concept of a guest coach is something we want to continue.

MC: Last question : Do you see 2008 like 2007, with “middle of the pack” expectations for the first year return to the GFL, and maybe, in the end, a surprise, and a higher result?

JR:  I can only see one game at a time.

MC: John Rosenberg, thank you for this interview and Good Luck for the season 2008!