The Cowboys failed Tony Romo; 5 things fans want to see now
Thoughts on how the Dallas Cowboys failed Tony Romo, and 5 things to consider with 5 games left in 2015.
Had the Dallas Cowboys groomed the second quarterback spot right, savior Tony Romo wouldn’t have rushed back. He wouldn’t have to.
Instead, Dallas went 0-7 in his absence.
Romo, who turns 36 in April, felt he had no choice but to return as soon as possible. Dressed in street clothes on the sidelines, he saw what the team was without him. It was Romo or nothing.
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The Cowboys coaching staff let Romo on the field knowing the offensive line play was sporadic, or to put it nicely, not so 2014. They watched as their star quarterback took crushing hits in Miami. They hoped he’d fare better against a 10-0 squad in the Carolina Panthers.
They hoped his two back surgeries in two years wouldn’t be a problem, and that his left clavicle was strong enough to endure. Keep in mind, this is the same guy who took a pain-killing shot nearly every game in 2014.
The team watched Romo make five unusual throws that resulted in five interceptions in his first two games back. Playing two football games in five days was not a matter either — Romo would prep mentally and physically because really, he always does, they thought.
It’s a bit ironic to think that the Cowboys supplemented Romo with a cushy offensive line over the years, a number one wide receiver in Dez Bryant, a viable number two receiver in Terrance Williams, an offensive play caller in Scott Linehan, but failed superbly in grooming talent behind the quarterback position, which was what Romo truly needed this year.
Tony Romo may walk around Dallas with his head down, feeling he broke when his teammates and coaches needed him most, but the truth is obvious: The Dallas Cowboys failed their quarterback, not the other way around.
Tony Romo walks to his car. Says the doctors haven't given him any indication yet. Says he'll get that info tomorrow pic.twitter.com/yaEa6Yi9hZ
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) November 27, 2015
Five Things Fans Want to See Now
• (1) The fans want to see Kellen Moore at quarterback. There’s no room for error at 3-8, so why put Matt Cassel in when he went 0-4 as a starter. Cassel has five touchdowns to five interceptions in six games played, with a quarterback rating of 78.8.
Kellen Moore has been in the wings for four years. Scott Linehan has voted for him. He is 50-3 as a college quarterback. The Cowboys need to find their next quarterback, so might as well insert Moore to see what he can do with a 3-8 team in a weak NFC East division.
• (2) The fans want to see Jason Garrett on the hot seat. The head coach surpassed Jimmy Johnson in games coached at 83 games currently. He has a 44-39 record after the Thanksgiving match, which is a .530 winning percentage. He is 1-1 in the playoffs.
The Cowboys can’t dance around the coaching spot any longer, especially with high-caliber coaches looking for jobs next season. Could Dallas really pass up Sean Payton if he is on the chopping block in New Orleans?
• (3) The fans want to see defensive lineman Randy Gregory. After starting the 2015 preseason with three sacks in three games, the rookie has zero sacks in seven contests. The first-round talent has four total tackles. He had five in preseason.
An early Week 1 injury and Greg Hardy may have slowed Gregory’s time on the field, but the 23-year old has talent. With the Cowboys unsure about Hardy’s future role with the team, it is time for Gregory to develop (particularly in the run attack) by giving him more snaps and a bigger role.
• (4) The fans want to see Byron Jones as a permanent starter in the secondary. Safety. Cornerback. It doesn’t matter — leave Jones on the turf. The rookie first rounder has proved worthy of a high draft pick. Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr‘s time with the team could be ending with Jones’ recent play.
David Moore from the Dallas Morning News believes the Cowboys should keep Claiborne next season for the right price. Claiborne has been injury prone and lacks playmaking ability, but Dallas will need his services if the secondary is to survive a roster shake up.
• (5) The fans want to see the Cowboys seriously consider drafting a quarterback, running back, and secondary positions next year. I know this is me cheating a bit, as the list says five things right now, but the next few decisions in the final five games will determine what the team does in the offseason.
Next: Eight Tony Romo replacements for the Cowboys in 2016
We know that Moore, Gregory, and Jones should play, which is an extension of evaluating the quarterback, defensive line, and secondary spots. At the running back position, Darren McFadden turns 29 next year. Joseph Randle is at a shopping mall near you. The Cowboys need a star quality back, one who is new (read: rookie), crisp, and with low miles.
Don’t you just love that new car smell?