Mr.Po

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Blowout loss proves Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has failed on so many levels


By Matt Mosley , Special Contributor @mattmosley

ARLINGTON - The Dallas Cowboys' 2017 season ended in a federal courthouse in New York three weeks ago. Any hope this team could survive without suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott vanished in the wake of a 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thanksgiving Day. A season that once seemed so promising now becomes about trying to preserve what dignity might be left.
The Cowboys have found out the hard way quarterback Dak Prescott isn't yet capable of carrying an offense on his own. His one shining moment Thursday -- a 34-yard touchdown scamper - was negated by a Tyron Smith holding penalty. The Cowboys actually had another opponent with a injured kicker that put the Chargers in an awkward spot, but it didn't end up mattering. The Cowboys trailed 3-0 at halftime, but it felt like a three-touchdown deficit with this inept offense. The Cowboys set the team record by going 10 quarters without a touchdown before finding the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

Maybe owner Jerry Jones will take a break from his battle with Roger Goodell to realize that his coaching staff has failed him on many levels. Jason Garrett loves to talk about his team having a lack of possessions after losses, but a big part of that is the offense not being able to sustain anything. Prescott is a complete mess at this point. He has no chemistry with the Cowboys' alleged elite wide receiver, Dez Bryant, and he's basically relegated to tossing short passes to Jason Witten that have little chance of going anywhere. I assume Garrett will be extended a courtesy pass this season because of Elliott's suspension, but that shouldn't be the case. Teams like the Vikings and Eagles have found ways to flourish despite losing key starters. The Cowboys fold every time Elliott or linebacker Sean Lee is out of the lineup.

I do think there's a scenario where Garrett gets himself fired, though. If the Cowboys continue to sputter on offense and find themselves with a 5-9 record when Elliott returns, Garrett could be firmly on the hot seat. This would be the second season in the past three where missing one key player completely derailed the team. Two years ago, the team wasn't able to function without Tony Romo. The offense has looked so awful the past three games that it has suddenly cast doubt on Prescott as the leader of that unit.

Elliott certainly deserves his portion of blame for putting the Cowboys in this spot, but the lack of resiliency from the players and this coaching staff is stunning. Jones has said he believes there's enough talent on offense to overcome Elliott's absence, but he's probably dreaming at this point. It does appear there's a complete lack of imagination among the coaching staff. And even though Scott Linehan calls the plays, offense remains Garrett's department. I guess he could make Linehan the fall guy if things truly turn south, but Jones would have to think long and hard about how uncompetitive this team has looked. The Cowboys have now been outscored 92-22 over their past three games. Last year's 13-3 campaign was built around a ball-control offense. On Sunday, the Cowboys gained 79 yards on the ground and were outgained 515-247 overall. Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said on the CBS broadcast that it was more about a lack of big plays in the passing game than in the run game. But right now we just know that nothing is working.

There's a chance the Cowboys would be in much better shape with Elliott, but that shouldn't be an excuse Garrett gets to use. He has a team that falls to pieces when Smith or Elliott is out of the lineup. Smith was back in the starting lineup, but his presence didn't have a galvanizing effect on the offense.

"Offensively, the performance wasn't up to par," Garrett said. "In each of the [three] games, we were in the games at halftime. That is the recurring theme."

That's a problem that Garrett seems to take solace in being competitive in the first half. That's not really something for a team to rally around. The Cowboys were down 3-0 at the half Thursdaybecause the Chargers didn't have a kicking option for much of the half. Rivers was still able to torch the defense. He finished 27 of 33 for 434 yards and three touchdowns.

This is one of the worst stretches we've seen from the Cowboys in years, and it's time for Garrett to be held accountable. The Zeke excuse can only get him so far. If this team can't even compete over the next three weeks without Elliott, it will be time to take a long look at Garrett's future.
 

icup

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Thank you mr matt mosley for your contributions to the cause

Fuck garrett
 

Mr.Po

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This guy has been like Teflon for much of his coaching career. It's finally time for this imposter to get more than his fair share of the blame for the sad state affairs this team has endured during his tenure as pretend coach.

It's so obvious he is on over his head when matching X's and O's with other coaches and heaven forbid he not go into a game with a full deck because he hasn't a clue how to adjust to adversity.
 

Doomsday

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This is what social media is intended for. The mainstream media likes to shill for corporations and shit

The Fourth Estate became the Fifth Column somehow, becoming lapdogs instead of watchdogs not just for corporations but for big government as well. All skepticism is gone, unless of course you're in favor.

SPORTS reporting used to be immune to all of that and it wasn't that long ago that it was, it had intregity for well over 100 years. Particularly the Dallas print and TV sports media. I guess "three super bowls" ended skepticism for them and it appears Jerry's friendship with Trump and his millions contributed to his campaign combined with his stance on anthem protests brought him into disfavor. And of course once the skepticism switch is turned back on, the glaring idiot that is Garrett can no longer be denied.
 

Scot

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060025e8c289be5bb7331227e9e428a1.jpg
 

MrB

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I'm just glad that they are not allowing for the "no Zeke excuse".

Probably because the running game hasn’t been terrible. If they could just make some plays in the passing game and if they could actually get a stop on defense their running game is good enough to win.
 

dbair1967

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Probably because the running game hasn’t been terrible. If they could just make some plays in the passing game and if they could actually get a stop on defense their running game is good enough to win.

While it hasn't been terrible, they arnt controlling games with the run like they did in 2014 or last year.

There are far too many no gains or rushes for losses. They rarely can try to run the ball on consecutive downs much less knock off those 10-15 play drives where they run the ball 7,8, 9 times or something.

The whole team is pretty much a disaster in every area except punting and placekicking this year.
 

MrB

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While it hasn't been terrible, they arnt controlling games with the run like they did in 2014 or last year.

There are far too many no gains or rushes for losses. They rarely can try to run the ball on consecutive downs much less knock off those 10-15 play drives where they run the ball 7,8, 9 times or something.

The whole team is pretty much a disaster in every area except punting and placekicking this year.

That’s my point, they don’t need to control the game with the run like they did in 2014 or 2016. They just need to make some plays in the passing game and get some stops. Their passing game is not be utilized correctly because of Garrett/Linehan’s shitty play calling. Dak needs to get better and moving his protection around too. He could give himself a extra second or two if he moves his protection to where he needs it most before the snap.
 

dbair1967

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That’s my point, they don’t need to control the game with the run like they did in 2014 or 2016. They just need to make some plays in the passing game and get some stops. Their passing game is not be utilized correctly because of Garrett/Linehan’s shitty play calling. Dak needs to get better and moving his protection around too. He could give himself a extra second or two if he moves his protection to where he needs it most before the snap.

I don't think its the play calling to be honest. Maybe some of the play designs you can find fault with, but when you watch our games and then look at a lot of the replays, there arnt a lot of examples of our guys getting open. There's also too many examples of the pocket getting blown up too. Last year Prescott was much more accurate than this year as well, although his accuracy wasn't that bad until the past few weeks. he had had more misfires early in the year than last yr, but he wasn't as blatantly inaccurate as he's been these past 3 games.

In terms of moving the pocket, they do some of that and none of those plays are working either. Without Zeke in there to really burn them running, teams arnt worried about the naked bootlegs and are selling out to go after Prescott on those play-fakes. And even when they don't get to him immediately, you just don't see guys breaking open downfield.

Last year and in 2014 our pass protection was just sensational. It really wasn't bad in 2015 either, the issue that year was how awful the QB play really was.

I mentioned last week I think its essential though to blow up the HC and staff this offseason because I do think Prescott looks shellshocked out there. They are teetering on ruining him when he showed last yr that he should be a guy you can build around for a decade.
 

LAZARUS_LOGAN

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The Fourth Estate became the Fifth Column somehow, becoming lapdogs instead of watchdogs not just for corporations but for big government as well. All skepticism is gone, unless of course you're in favor.

SPORTS reporting used to be immune to all of that and it wasn't that long ago that it was, it had intregity for well over 100 years. Particularly the Dallas print and TV sports media. I guess "three super bowls" ended skepticism for them and it appears Jerry's friendship with Trump and his millions contributed to his campaign combined with his stance on anthem protests brought him into disfavor. And of course once the skepticism switch is turned back on, the glaring idiot that is Garrett can no longer be denied.



Jerry can probably control the local media but he cannot touch social media. And pretty soon, social media will make too much noise to where the local/mainstream media cannot ignore it.
 

LAZARUS_LOGAN

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I don't think its the play calling to be honest. Maybe some of the play designs you can find fault with, but when you watch our games and then look at a lot of the replays, there arnt a lot of examples of our guys getting open.

Garrett's system. And this is where Omega comes in with the breakdown.
 

MrB

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So let’s say we all get our wish and Garrett is canned after the season. Who are some realistic options for replacing Red?

I know more than a couple of us want Harbaugh but the truth is he may have too strong of a personality to work with Jerry. Harbaugh may also not be ok with no having 100% control over the team. So after him who else is out there?
 

theoneandonly

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I been saying all along Art Briles and one of the local shows or journalists agreed. He is right up Jerry's alley: A drinking buddy who will do anything for a buck, and give Jerry credit if they miraculously win.
 
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