Fox: Cowboys' season over, but don't blame Romo

[CCBoy]

Cowboys' season over, but don't blame Romo
By Jon Machota


http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/01...80&feedID=4680




The Cowboys' season ended Sunday night after a 31-14 loss to the New York Giants.

Here are my thoughts on Dallas' eighth and final loss of the season.

1.) Let's be honest, the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs because they didn't deserve to make the playoffs. The defense couldn't stop anybody, the running game was only above average when DeMarco Murray was healthy and the offensive line was a patchwork group that was never better than average at any time this season. You are what your record says you are and the Cowboys are a .500 team. Heck, if it weren't for a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, arguably the worst team in the league by the time December rolled around, Dallas wouldn't have won a game after November.

2.) The only way the Cowboys were going to win on Sunday night is if they played nearly flawless. That obviously didn't happen, falling behind 21-0 by halftime. Tony Romo wasn't bad, throwing for 289 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, but the running game was non-existent, finishing with 49 yards. Like the defense has done most of the season, a lack of a pass rush allowed an opposing quarterback to pass for nearly 350 yards on ab ineffective group of defensive backs. It's pretty obvious, the talent-level on defense needs to be upgraded tremendously. Blaming defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is too easy. The man runs his mouth as much as any coach in sports but he deserves more than a shortened offseason and few additions to correct a troubled group. If things haven't changed by this time next year then blaming him is completely understandable. Also, spending every 2012 draft pick on a defensive player doesn't sound like too bad of an idea...