ESPN Dallas: You have to wonder about Jason Garrett

[WoodysGirl]

Play calling in Cowboys' opening loss results in more head-scratching than scoring

http://a.espncdn.com/i/columnists/Watkins_Calvin_35.jpg (http://search.espn.go.com/calvin-watkins/) By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com
Archive (http://search.espn.go.com/calvin-watkins/)

IRVING, Texas -- This isn't about whether Wade Phillips has command of his team or his coaches.

The Dallas Cowboys' coach says he does, and we believe him.

The problem is the offensive coordinator.

Does Phillips believe in him?

He says he does.

After watching Jason Garrett make 71 play calls in the Cowboys' 13-7 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday night, though, you start to wonder.

There were too many times when Garrett's play calling looked, well, questionable.

Garrett has shown growth in four seasons as the offensive playcaller, but he did some strange things Sunday night.

"I thought we did some things well," Garrett said after the game. "We moved the ball fairly well at times. Obviously, we need to score more points. I thought we bogged down."

Sometimes getting bogged down isn't the offensive coordinator's fault. The players on the field can make mistakes that hamper the play calling.

Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/columns/story?columnist=watkins_calvin&id=5569383

[burntricersx]

Is it me or does former QB Jason Garrett get pass happy? The run was effective but eventually we stopped using it. I didn't get it.

[Idgit]

I bet Calvin could do a better job calling plays than Jason can. He should say so in the next press conference.

[mmillman]

I bet Calvin could do a better job calling plays than Jason can. He should say so in the next press conference.

This isn't a new problem. Dallas has had trouble scoring for a couple of years now. Talent wise this team should be as good as any but they don't perform up to that level and the coaches do a poor job of adjusting.

[Rynie]

Is it me or does former QB Jason Garrett get pass happy? The run was effective but eventually we stopped using it. I didn't get it.

He does whatever DOESN'T WORK. I swear last season there would be games where all we did was run. It didn't work, but we still were running. Then, the next game he'd completely abandon the running game and it'd be pass pass pass. I'm still not calling for his head, but a little balance would be nice.

[sk0aL]

I still have more faith in Garrett than I do Wade. Last year Dallas was #2 in the league in total offense, but only #14 in total points. That tells you right there how badly penalties are killing this team, and to me that falls directly on the HC. Almost every team that was ranked Top 10 in total yards was also Top 10 in total points, but not Dallas.

I agree that Garrett could do much better, but he can't prevent players from committing stupid penalties. People forget that on our first 4 drives against the Redskins we got inside the 35 yard line, only to kill ourselves with penalties. People forget that Garrett called the plays on the final drive that put us in a position to win. He called the play that would have won the game had Barron not been an idiot.

[tyke1doe]

He does whatever DOESN'T WORK. I swear last season there would be games where all we did was run. It didn't work, but we still were running. Then, the next game he'd completely abandon the running game and it'd be pass pass pass. I'm still not calling for his head, but a little balance would be nice.

Which games? :huh: :confused:

[Chocolate Lab]

That article and the video piece with MacMahon were pretty good, really.

And I will say that last night on 103.3 from 7-9 on Trahan's show, it was him, Watkins, and Broaddus, and they had a good little roundtable about this and the relationship between Wade and Jason. Watkins was actually one of the better ones on there, too, as far as being a voice of reason.

The bottom line is that he's far better at these things than he is his articles. He's just a poor writer (and proofreader).

[ConstantReboot]

I still have more faith in Garrett than I do Wade. Last year Dallas was #2 in the league in total offense, but only #14 in total points. That tells you right there how badly penalties are killing this team, and to me that falls directly on the HC. Almost every team that was ranked Top 10 in total yards was also Top 10 in total points, but not Dallas.

I agree that Garrett could do much better, but he can't prevent players from committing stupid penalties. People forget that on our first 4 drives against the Redskins we got inside the 35 yard line, only to kill ourselves with penalties. People forget that Garrett called the plays on the final drive that put us in a position to win. He called the play that would have won the game had Barron not been an idiot.

Wade and the defense has delivered time and time again, even last year. It was because of our defense that we were able to win as many games as we won last year.

Garrett is in full control and in charge of the offense, not Wade. If there is a penalty on the offense, blame that on Garrett.

When penalties happen year after year after year, its no long the players fault. Its the coaches. If your a coach you would do everything in your power to stop holding plays or false starts. Those plays have haunted us in the past and has bitten us once again this past game. That is Garrett's fault. He has no discipline, no accountability and doesn't know how to call plays. He won't be a good replacement for Wade anytime soon if ever.