Even a day later, Cowboys play calling mystifies

by Andy | Dec 16, 2013 | 2013 season, NFL Random Thoughts

Hmm. Does anyone get the sense some people are on the hot seat in Dallas?

And they should be, but you never really know in Jerry World.

But after Sunday’s dramatic comeback loss to Green Bay, you had Jason Garrett throwing QB Tony Romo and offensive coordinator Bill Callahan under the bus, Romo for audibling to the final fateful pass and Callahan for the play calling throughout the day.

You’ve got Callahan and WR Dez Bryant refusing to speak to the media afterward.

And you’ve got Jones refusing “to be firm” about his declaration that Jason Garrett would return as head coach … though if you read the PFT post it looks like he actually is saying he is firm on that stance … and why not? Because Jones isn’t holding himself accountable for his team’s failings, it makes sense to not hold Garrett to the same standing.

The plain and simple fact of the matter is this. If Garrett wanted a run called, he could go to Callahan and say “I want a run called.” Or he could go to Romo and say “I want a run called. No frickin’ dumbass audibles, Tony.” He is the head coach. The buck stops with him on game day. (Shoot, I did a Google search to confirm whether play calling was one word or two and the second item that came up was a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel headline calling the Cowboys’ play calling “bizarre.”)

But instead, the team has now twice in a row come out of the gates on fire, establishing the run with a healthy dose of DeMarco Murray. And twice the team has then largely abandoned the run, once snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the final minutes and once getting shellacked. And once again, the Cowboys are 7-7, on their way to another .500 season – which is right around where this team has been most seasons since Jones installed himself as general manager.

Here’s the breakdown: (more…)

Cowboys becoming league-wide laughingstock

by Andy | Dec 15, 2013 | 2013 season, NFL Random Thoughts

Despite the presence of DeMarcus Ware, DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and a litany of other solid players — and a 26-3 halftime lead – the Dallas Cowboys just dropped to 7-7 by losing at home to Green Bay.

They managed to do so despite 134 yards rushing from Murray, who averaged nearly 8 yards per carry.

For the second week in a row, the Cowboys looked as though they could spend all day gashing an opponent on the ground — yet they stubbornly refused to do so.

This team’s play-calling was widely criticized by Troy Aikman on FOX and throughout the Twittersphere. And rightfully so. Dallas’ decision to rely on the pass throughout the second half left time on the clock and gave Green Bay repeated opportunities to complete the comeback — the Packers outscored Dallas 34-10 in the second half.

And the unwillingness to run in the second quarter stalled several drives that ended in field goals instead of touchdowns, giving Green Bay reason to believe it had a chance to get back in the game.

The Cowboys needed this game to earn a tie in the division with Philadelphia. The Eagles gave Dallas a gift by losing to Minnesota earlier.

If it wasn’t obvious before now, Jerry Jones needs to reevaluate pretty much every level of management on this team. There is too much top-end talent for this team to be unable to put teams away. The defense — under Monte Kiffin, who replaced last year’s ineffective coordinator Rob Ryan — is abysmal. The play-calling is a joke. The obvious answer is Jones. But Jones obviously isn’t going to fire Jones.

If he needs to fill his ego by being the guy in front of the camera, fine. He needs to bring someone in behind the scenes who can give run personnel while placating Jones’ ego. And this coaching staff … this is a joke. This entire group has to go.

Otherwise this bunch is going to continue underachieving at a .500 level for years to come. And guys like Witten, Bryant, Ware and several others deserve better.