America’s Team Has Lost It’s Way
Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) reacts on the ground after throwing an interception for a touchdown to New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (not pictured) at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE
The Dallas Cowboys game I watched yesterday was just disgraceful, offensively. It was, with few exceptions, poorly played, poorly managed, poorly coached, with poor play calling that didn’t match the personnel on the field. Had Wade Phillips been the head coach, he would be fired by now. I don’t know why on earth Jason Garrett keeps getting a pass. At the very least he should be escorted off the field with 3 minutes left to play in games.
The game I watched yesterday was also exciting (in the second half) and it was fun watching Cowboys QB,Tony Romo, abandon the failed ‘spread the ball around’ theory and rely on TE,Jason Witten and WR,Miles Austin – targeting them 38 out of 62 times – as they (truthfully) are the only play-makers left on the offense. The fact that Romo and the Cowboys had to revert to this speaks volumes about the state of their offense. More on that in a moment.
Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) is checked on by the training staff in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. The Giants beat the Cowboys 29-24. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
Alas, the Cowboys lost again at home to the Giants in an all too familiar way: Digging themselves a 1o to 20 point hole in an alarmingly quick mistake-fumble-interception-three stooges filled way, then abandoning the run, again, putting the game in the hands of their seemingly regressing QB, taking off on their ‘A typical’ Romo roller coaster ride.
The oddest thing in retrospect is, with just 1 or 2 less mistakes, we would have won this game due to the uninspired play of the New York Giants offense. But, no, as we are used to, the Dallas Cowboys have a way of playing to the level of their opponent, unable to take advantage of teams that come out flat. For all Romo’s INT’s, he and Giant’s QB, Eli Manning’s passer ratings were nearly identical – 58.3 to 58.4 respectively.
Could Cowboys Nation be more embarrassed this morning?
As anyone who’s read my articles knows, I’m a devout Romosapien, a Romo apologist even, but it is hard not to notice, regardless of the reasons, that Romo has taken a step backwards. After watching Tony struggle to keep his sorry excuse for a receiving corps lined up and running the correct routes over the last 7 games (did you see the play where Romo had to fake a hand off to an imaginary back because the real back broke the other way when the play started?, sad), I’ve come to the conclusion that Tony Romo can not be successful as a gunslinger type passer in this system anymore. Any chance of cohesive success in the Cowboys passing game, it seems, left with Laurent Robinson.
Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) and head coach Jason Garrett reacts to a review in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
Cowboys coach, Jason Garrett, has created an offense that is best served by a bus driver/game manager type QB. For this reason, Romo needs to bench himself and let the more than capable back up QB, Kyle Orton, finish the season, and Garrett needs to let him. Jason Garrett’s job may depend on it. Regardless, Romo’s style of play and Garrett’s style of offense can no longer co exist. The Cowboys simply do not have the personnel to pull it off with Romo at the helm. (It’s not Romo, it’s the rest of the offense and Garrett’s unnecessarily complicated play calling). Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, may have to choose who he likes more.
I’ve sent a tweet to Jerry asking him to do something about this untenable offensive (in more ways than one) situation. I love my Dallas Cowboys dearly and I know Jerry does too. I also appealed to Jerry’s business sense, noting that this team, as currently assembled and coached, is not a team Cowboys Nation will keep paying to see. I hope, for the Dallas Cowboys sake and with the title of ‘America’s Team’ at stake, I’m now speaking Jerry’s language.
Points and Observations:
-I think Jason Garrett is going to be a great coach some day. Right now he is learning how to be a coach, but he is doing it on Tony Romo’s, Jason Witten’s and DeMarcus Ware’s precious time. Time is running out.
-Jason Witten, Tony Romo and maybe Miles Austin set or broke various records and milestones in yesterday’s game.
-Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins need to be traded
-Heck, so does Romo. The Cowboys are wasting his prime and it’s time to start rebuilding anyway.
-What does Cowboys Nation have to look forward to in Atlanta next week?
-Say what you want (like I do) but Rob Ryan has got this defense playing good. DeMarcus Ware is not the force I’d hoped he’d be so far, but everyone else is playing better than I thought they would. Ryan’s ability, so far, to adjust to key injuries has been nothing short of miracle work territory.
-Jerry Jones likes to make a splash. I hope he shocks everyone with a blockbuster trade or 3 before the deadline.
-Artie Cappello