There have been some turbulent moments during Jason Garrett’s time as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve suffered a 4-12 season, missed the playoffs five times, and been on the other end of some brutal blowouts.
But nothing during this Jason Garrett era compares to what has happened to the Dallas Cowboys over the last calendar year. Nothing.
One year ago Monday Night, veteran Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali declared that the Dallas Cowboys were the best team in football. And at the time, it made sense. Dallas had just gotten finished destroying one of the AFC’s best teams in the Chiefs, controlling the tempo from start to finish. The offensive line imposed their will, the running game was top notch, and Dak Prescott played one of the better games of his young career.
They were 5-3, and many thought they had a chance to sneak up on people as an NFC Wild Card team.
This morning things feel very different. Very different. About as different as they could feel. It’s become abundantly clear that the trio which heads this offense will not work. Jason Garrett, Scott Linehan, and Dak Prescott. None have been good enough, and as a collective unit, they’ve been one of the league’s worst.
Maybe Dak Prescott can be salvaged under a creative offensive staff the way Jared Goff was in Los Angeles. Maybe Jason Garrett can redeem himself as a head coach if given a quarterback more similar to the skill set of Tony Romo. Maybe. But what’s for sure is that together, as head coach and quarterback, this relationship has run its course.
This is rock bottom. Sure they hit a stretch in November last season where they suffered blowout loss after blowout loss, but there were reasonable excuses for it. Ezekiel Elliott was suspended. Tyron Smith was injured. Sean Lee was out. Now? This is the team which Garrett, Linehan and staff have built. They are no more injured than your average NFL team, but they are playing worse than that average level.
Especially on offense, which is allegedly their head coach’s specialty.
Over the next few weeks losses will probably come. Two games against Philadelphia, one on the road against the surging Atlanta Falcons, and one against arguably the league’s best New Orleans Saints. But free fall in the short term may be what’s best for the Dallas Cowboys in the long term.
I do believe this team will fight. They always do. And while they are relatively talented, and should be competitive week to week, the coaching and quarterback play may be just too much to overcome. Of course it’s not all Dak’s fault, or all Garrett’s fault. The offensive line hasn’t played up to their billing, the receivers have been lackluster most weeks, and despite their hype the defense failed them multiple times last night.
But winning and losing in the NFL starts at the top. And the top contains the head coach, play caller, and quarterback. Unfortunately, it’s become tough to believe Jerry Jones will pull the trigger on what look like necessary changes.
This team will continue to underperform as long as Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan are coaching. It’s an actual joke that these guys are still coaching. Linehans offense is ancient and hasn’t adapted to today’s game at all. Not to mention that it’s so predictable I sit at home and can call out almost every play based on down and distance and personnel. Then you have coach clap a lot who does nothing right. The guy makes the absolute worst challenges, is conservative when he should be aggressive and vice versa. Meanwhile, he is a push over of a coach. The best teams in this league have coaches that hold their players accountable. If they commit a stupid penalty, other guys come in, and in turn, these good teams typically don’t commit a lot of penalties. We are always being penalized and making things harder on ourselves and Garrett just claps and then smiles and smacks them on the ass when they come to the sidelines. Dak will never be successful under these two. It could be Daks ability, but unless we can get him an actual coach (someone with offensive creativity like a Sean mcvay), we will never know what he can be. It’s pathetic to see what this franchise has become under this bum Garrett.
Nick, agree with you on just about everything but Dak. In the Redskin game Romo pointed out open receivers where he just needed to let in go. The end zone INT- Did he think Jimmy Graham was on the team? Ridiculous. As a 48 year fan, not an expert, I’ve seen all the Dallas QB’s who’ve had it and those that don’t. He does not have “It”. Might sound crazy but I’d give 2020 first round and other picks to move up next year and draft a quality QB. So another 6-10 year to pave the way for the next 10-15 years of a Mahomes or Goff. Count me in.
I can’t fully disagree. I am at a weird spot when it comes to Dak. I want to believe that he can be the guy if we gave him the coaching and weapons. I am starting to lose faith in him unfortunately. There’s part of me that wonders if he could be more successful if we weren’t so predictable on offense. Also, prior to getting cooper, our WRs had the lowest separation of any group in the league and with our O-line, the running game hasn’t been anywhere near where it should be. But I agree that there are a lot of times he looks timid and scared to throw the ball. It seems that the only option, in my opinion, is let him go into the final year of his contract, give him a real coach, and see what he is. If he’s not the guy move on. Being a 26 year old fan I just sometimes think that the grass isn’t always greener. I grew up with vinny testaverde, drew Henson, Quincy carter, chad Hutchinson, and drew bledsoe as the quarterback until romo. Those were dark dark days and I fear going back to them. Dak needs to step up or step away though. We had to know what direction we are going as a franchise with some promising young pieces.
Dak needs a new coaching staff. Don’t forget his 13-3 rule season so we’re know he had skills. This team is a problem as a whole andys until we get new coaching they’ll always be a .500 o.r worse team. Jerry Jones is a big part of ther problem here as well not being able to admit he’s made a huge mistake keeping Garrett this long. Any other team and Garrett would be sitting at home watching the games. It’s silly to think during 1 coach o.r signing 1 player was going to fix the problem.
Aikman said all we needed to know and already knew. Success starts from the top . Common denominator for all the crap we are dealing with ??? JERRY JONES . who will go down as the biggest fool ever. he will not be remembered for the great Stadium or the bought and paid for yellow HOF jacket but for the last 23 years of JACK SQUAT !!! Also the first and only GM to Ever fire a SUPER BOWL WINNING coach and had the audacity to say the Chan Gailey was his worst decision . GIVE US A BREAK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!