dbair1967
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We are the epitome of that movie "Groundhog Day!". We see the same story unfold almost every year. Year after year. We've now lost to every team in our division in win or go home games since 2008. Its a frustrating thing to watch.
I like Jason Garrett. I thought he was one of those classic overachiever guys as a player. Very limited talent, but because he worked his ass off and did all the little things right, he made himself a serviceable NFL player. We won a number of games with him playing in place of Aikman (or in the case of Thanksgiving 1994, in place of Aikman and Peete). Everyone who played with him thought he was a super bright guy who'd eventually be a really good NFL coach. As a coach the team plays hard for him. They never quit. They've had to overcome alot of adversity this year on and off the field.
That said, even I (one of his biggest supporters) admitted weeks ago I thought he was no longer the answer here. Last night was yet further proof of why. We arnt going to win big with him as HC. He tries. I think he probably works hard. He gets the team to play hard for him. But he is lacking in other areas and its time to move on. In spite of what Jay Glazer reported the last two weekends, I dont think Garrett is safe and I do think he'll be fired sometime in the next 7-10 days.
Onto our next big issue. Tony Romo. I said it last night and will say it again, Romo is the prime example of a "coach killer". I dont think most people understand the term. Some think it only refers to off field issues clouding the issue for an otherwise great talent. In Romo's case its that he is so good on occassions that every coach who watches him will think "I can be the difference for that guy" and "I can coach him out of those mind numbing mistakes". You cant. Nobody can. Jimmy Johnson in his prime cant. I dont think he is a championship QB. Its been almost 7 full seasons as a starter now, and he is exactly the same player now as he was when he first took over as a QB. He can be sensational at times. Sometimes for weeks at a time. But in the end he has the absolute worst flaw a QB can have. He folds when the games matter most. I am not talking about 4th quarters of some mid season game. I am talking about BIG games. If the Cowboys sign Romo to a longterm contract extension, the next coach will never see the end of his contract. Take it to the bank. I'd absolutely let him play out the last year of his deal or seriously entertain trade offers for him this offseason and start rebuilding. Another thing I will echo from last night. For all those that say we wouldnt be anywhere without Romo I present two questions: 1) Where do you think we are right now WITH him and 2) If you believe nobody else could do what he does, why did we go 5-3 (and easily could have been 6-2 or 7-1 had it not been for a couple of crazy plays) the 2nd half of 2010 with a social security QB at the helm for most of those games on a team that was epic bad? That dinasaur QB played pretty damn well too and put up some good numbers. Kyle Orton is a capable NFL starter. He can bridge the gap until a drafted guy is ready. He is not a Quincy Carter or end of his career Vinny Testaverde. If Orton had played all 16 games this year, I have little doubt our record would probably be exactly the same as it is right now. 8-8. If they put Romo on the market, there will be quite a bit of interest in him. Starting with teams like the Chiefs and Jets.
The OL obviously needs upgrades. The safety positions both need to be changed out, bad. We need more talent in the defensive front 3 (or 4, if someone wanted to switch back to a 4-3 style defense). They'll need to decide what to do with Miles Austin, who seemingly is never healthy and drops way too many passes now for a guy who makes what he makes. But in the end, if Garrett/Romo/Ryan all return as is, we'll be sitting here after next years season ending game vs Philly, Washington or NYG and having this EXACT SAME DISCUSSION. Groundhog Day will have returned. The definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over and expecting to see a different result. Jerry has to look in the mirror and realize that he cant fix what is wrong with the team by doing what he is doing (and has been doing for 18 years)
I really dont have anything to say about the game itself. Everyone saw the same thing. A very winnable game against a beatable opponent, and we didnt get it done. Bad QB play. Turnovers on our side, none forced by our D. Terrible run defense and a couple more special team gaffes at very inopportune times. Neither the offense or defense made a single adjustment despite seeing the same two things all night long. It was like a high school game in some ways. Even Shanahan took a pot shot at halftime, saying he wasnt all that worried about only throwing for 47 passing yards because of what he was seeing his rush offense do. Same 'ol Same 'ol.
Time for something different. Hopefully it happens asap.
I like Jason Garrett. I thought he was one of those classic overachiever guys as a player. Very limited talent, but because he worked his ass off and did all the little things right, he made himself a serviceable NFL player. We won a number of games with him playing in place of Aikman (or in the case of Thanksgiving 1994, in place of Aikman and Peete). Everyone who played with him thought he was a super bright guy who'd eventually be a really good NFL coach. As a coach the team plays hard for him. They never quit. They've had to overcome alot of adversity this year on and off the field.
That said, even I (one of his biggest supporters) admitted weeks ago I thought he was no longer the answer here. Last night was yet further proof of why. We arnt going to win big with him as HC. He tries. I think he probably works hard. He gets the team to play hard for him. But he is lacking in other areas and its time to move on. In spite of what Jay Glazer reported the last two weekends, I dont think Garrett is safe and I do think he'll be fired sometime in the next 7-10 days.
Onto our next big issue. Tony Romo. I said it last night and will say it again, Romo is the prime example of a "coach killer". I dont think most people understand the term. Some think it only refers to off field issues clouding the issue for an otherwise great talent. In Romo's case its that he is so good on occassions that every coach who watches him will think "I can be the difference for that guy" and "I can coach him out of those mind numbing mistakes". You cant. Nobody can. Jimmy Johnson in his prime cant. I dont think he is a championship QB. Its been almost 7 full seasons as a starter now, and he is exactly the same player now as he was when he first took over as a QB. He can be sensational at times. Sometimes for weeks at a time. But in the end he has the absolute worst flaw a QB can have. He folds when the games matter most. I am not talking about 4th quarters of some mid season game. I am talking about BIG games. If the Cowboys sign Romo to a longterm contract extension, the next coach will never see the end of his contract. Take it to the bank. I'd absolutely let him play out the last year of his deal or seriously entertain trade offers for him this offseason and start rebuilding. Another thing I will echo from last night. For all those that say we wouldnt be anywhere without Romo I present two questions: 1) Where do you think we are right now WITH him and 2) If you believe nobody else could do what he does, why did we go 5-3 (and easily could have been 6-2 or 7-1 had it not been for a couple of crazy plays) the 2nd half of 2010 with a social security QB at the helm for most of those games on a team that was epic bad? That dinasaur QB played pretty damn well too and put up some good numbers. Kyle Orton is a capable NFL starter. He can bridge the gap until a drafted guy is ready. He is not a Quincy Carter or end of his career Vinny Testaverde. If Orton had played all 16 games this year, I have little doubt our record would probably be exactly the same as it is right now. 8-8. If they put Romo on the market, there will be quite a bit of interest in him. Starting with teams like the Chiefs and Jets.
The OL obviously needs upgrades. The safety positions both need to be changed out, bad. We need more talent in the defensive front 3 (or 4, if someone wanted to switch back to a 4-3 style defense). They'll need to decide what to do with Miles Austin, who seemingly is never healthy and drops way too many passes now for a guy who makes what he makes. But in the end, if Garrett/Romo/Ryan all return as is, we'll be sitting here after next years season ending game vs Philly, Washington or NYG and having this EXACT SAME DISCUSSION. Groundhog Day will have returned. The definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over and expecting to see a different result. Jerry has to look in the mirror and realize that he cant fix what is wrong with the team by doing what he is doing (and has been doing for 18 years)
I really dont have anything to say about the game itself. Everyone saw the same thing. A very winnable game against a beatable opponent, and we didnt get it done. Bad QB play. Turnovers on our side, none forced by our D. Terrible run defense and a couple more special team gaffes at very inopportune times. Neither the offense or defense made a single adjustment despite seeing the same two things all night long. It was like a high school game in some ways. Even Shanahan took a pot shot at halftime, saying he wasnt all that worried about only throwing for 47 passing yards because of what he was seeing his rush offense do. Same 'ol Same 'ol.
Time for something different. Hopefully it happens asap.
