3 things that would not hurt my feelings if they happened...

[CF74]

This was much more the case in seasons past. This year he did a good job of shortening the routes. Yet despite this, the sacks given up increased. I don't think Romo caused there to be all that many sacks. A few were coverage sacks but most of them were the Dallas OL failing horribly and basically whiffing on someone or misreading a blitz.

At one point I was wondering if it was due to Houck and coaching. In the end, I concluded it was due to a lack of talent along the OL and the lack of fear among DC's about the consequences of a blitz. We started getting better at beating blitzes with the screens, tosses and slants - but in the Vikings game they didn't need to blitz to get a jailbreak type pass rush and that gave Romo no chance.

I would say there are three things I'd like to see next year after the draft/FA:

1. Doug Free at LT
2. Draft new starter at RT
3. Hopefully Brewster beats out Kosier at Guard
4. Felix is the starter at RB
5. Open competition at WR between RW and KO and possibly a draft pick for #2 WR
6. Increased use of the 2 TE, 2 WR offense
7. Less OL penalties and mistakes in the red zone
8. Better OL blocking in the short yardage
9. Choice should be the RB in short yardage and goal line situations
10. Lots more screens plays given how much we are blitzed
11. A recognition that the way the league is going we need a much more athletic OL so they can get out and make blocks in space instead of just bulldozing the guy in front of them (not that they could actually do it anyway).

We saw a ton of pressure this year come right up the middle I just wonder how long Gurode's knee has been messed up..

 

[NeonNinja]

We saw a ton of pressure this year come right up the middle I just wonder how long Gurode's knee has been messed up..

I remember it bothering him at some point throughout the season. He's very productive but lacks C awareness.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

That is my thinking and I hope that comes into fruition.

Well said!!!

I just think I will allow a TRUE NFL pedigree to speak for itself, endure some growing pains.... Whether we like it or not, yes, even in the IGS world we live in..... sometimes we just have to let the process play out.

Furthermore, I hope that Jerry can let Stephen and Garrett build a foundation that is not only long lasting but no LONGGGG droughts in between. A down year here and there is ok... no more 13 year skull and bones teams

 

[TNCowboy]

If the offensive line improves, it will be eerily coincidental on how much better a coordinator Garrett becomes.

What's eery is how some fans are expecting a quantum leap in play from the oldest OL in the league.

Garrett's been here 3 years and the OL play continues to deteriorate. How is it he bears no responsibility?

His sycophants won't admit it, but the only reason he got and has kept his job is his ties to the old days. Few OC's did less with more this year. The lack of points all year from the offense tells Garrett's tale better than anything else. I suspect that as long as he's here, one of the league's most talented units will continue to underachieve.

 

[Undisputed]

We were a Top 5 ranked offense before Garrett was even here. We were 18th in scoring last year, and 14th in scoring this year.

So what exactly has Red Jesus brought to the table? Honestly, I would shed no tears if he up and left.

 

[utrunner07]

Well you darn sure don't get rid of the guy just because he was avg in scoring and top 5 in most all other offensive categories.. That's rather silly, don't you think? Unbelievable!!

No, I agree. My point is that you (or others) really have just as much legit reason to defend Garrett as others have legit reason to bash him. Thats what Garrett has been good at times, great at times and left you wondering WTH at other times. He seems slow to learn and slow to change but does eventually do so.

 

[T-RO]

Nobody in their right mind can, then again alot of people who post in CZ are mindless.

Most of the Red hate is merely fallout from Toxicity and his time in Dallas. Blue was a mindless and rabid TO fan so his continued hate on Garrett is no surprise.

 

[Eskimo]

We saw a ton of pressure this year come right up the middle I just wonder how long Gurode's knee has been messed up..

It is hard to say because he was able to play through it and was still moving pretty well on the field late into the season. The best solution against the inside blitz is to get the ball to the perimeter - we now have the players to do this

 

[Cover 2]

Most of the Red hate is merely fallout from Toxicity and his time in Dallas. Blue was a mindless and rabid TO fan so his continued hate on Garrett is no surprise.

It comes from the fact that we had the #14 scoring offense.

 

[Eskimo]

We were a Top 5 ranked offense before Garrett was even here. We were 18th in scoring last year, and 14th in scoring this year.

So what exactly has Red Jesus brought to the table? Honestly, I would shed no tears if he up and left.

Yes, but in 2006 we still had TO in his prime and Terry Glenn in his prime. We haven't had a WR tandem like that since. Heck, in 2007 we had TO, Crayton and Hurd as our 3 WRs and Garrett still put up big numbers.

 

[NextGenBoys]

More likely:

Garrett goes elsewhere and does well, and CZ fans go ape over Jerry letting him go.

And locally, we hire a "real' OC and the offense takes a step backward.

Exactly.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I stopped reading right there. Had it been the first point I might know what the other 2 are. Ridiculous.

Yeah, I didn't like the way Garrett called the last game. But I overreacted and don't want him gone.

 

[Undisputed]

Yes, but in 2006 we still had TO in his prime and Terry Glenn in his prime. We haven't had a WR tandem like that since. Heck, in 2007 we had TO, Crayton and Hurd as our 3 WRs and Garrett still put up big numbers.

TO and Terry Glenn were hardly in the prime of their careers, even though they didn't need to be to be effective. That was also Romo's first year getting any serious action, a season that started with Bledsoe at the helm, and a season that we fed Julius Jones 267 carries. We've at least gained as many weapons as we've lost.

The point is, we have enough talent to be one of the top scoring teams in the league, yet we haven't even sniffed the top 10 the last two seasons. Something to do with Sparano's departure? Maybe. But those are the facts.

 

[Hoofbite]

Yes, but in 2006 we still had TO in his prime and Terry Glenn in his prime. We haven't had a WR tandem like that since. Heck, in 2007 we had TO, Crayton and Hurd as our 3 WRs and Garrett still put up big numbers.

Also had Bledsoe starting about 1/3rd of that season and didn't have anything that resembled the RBs that Dallas has now.

It all washes out.

 

[Bleu Star]

I would say there are three things I'd like to see next year after the draft/FA:

1. Doug Free at LT
2. Draft new starter at RT
3. Hopefully Brewster beats out Kosier at Guard
4. Felix is the starter at RB
5. Open competition at WR between RW and KO and possibly a draft pick for #2 WR
6. Increased use of the 2 TE, 2 WR offense
7. Less OL penalties and mistakes in the red zone
8. Better OL blocking in the short yardage
9. Choice should be the RB in short yardage and goal line situations
10. Lots more screens plays given how much we are blitzed
11. A recognition that the way the league is going we need a much more athletic OL so they can get out and make blocks in space instead of just bulldozing the guy in front of them (not that they could actually do it anyway).

Can't count bro? Sorry. I had to mess with you.

 

[Bleu Star]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but isn't RW + Ogletree better than just Ogletree? If we're stuck, then why not try to get some value out of him? That said, there has to be an open competition for the job. $ and draft picks can't be the overriding factor anymore. Time to get the best man on the field regardless. If it turns out to be Roy, then more power to him.

I would be fine with open competition. May the best man win...

 

[Bleu Star]

Most of the Red hate is merely fallout from Toxicity and his time in Dallas. Blue was a mindless and rabid TO fan so his continued hate on Garrett is no surprise.

You are so off base here it's not even funny. Nice try though...

 

[Brooksey]

Exactly.

JG is not going anywhere because we don't have an alternative not because of the great job he's doing. He is the OC, he is responsible and needs to take accountability. I believe this (2010) will be his last year to improve on the Cowboys watch.

BTW - Hiring a new coach is not always a step backward as evident by the AFC championship game tomorrow. It's a popular thing to say on the board but untrue. How long have Caldwell and Ryan been HC's for their teams?

 

[Bleu Star]

Bleu, I've gotta give you credit. I used to think of you as this guy that would just argue and argue to make your point (TO), rarely acknowledging the other side (but it was always clear that you knew football well). Now you say things like "I'll admit that...." and "We'll agree to disagree..." I respect you for that (not that what "BIGDen" in Jersey thinks matters all that much to you ) .

I appreciate you saying that. I'm just another fan that basically got caught up in the euphoria of having TO on the team while he was here. That didn't work out and many of us moved on. That seems like so long ago. I sincerely appreciate the things Wade has done to steady this team (mostly from a defensive perspective) & that's coming from one of the biggest Wade detractors since he has been here... I have begun to see the value in having Wade here. (wow. I can't believe I just said that)

Garrett on the other hand... I just haven't been able to wrap my hands around why he irks me. One game he calls a masterpiece.. the next he panics and forgets he has a multitude of weapons at his disposal. The word nowadays is consistency. I would love to see Red "consistently" progress upwards. I'm not a big fan of his OC career looking like one big Wall Street stock. More peaks.. Less valleys please.

 

[Eskimo]

Also had Bledsoe starting about 1/3rd of that season and didn't have anything that resembled the RBs that Dallas has now.

It all washes out.

Not really because the OL is much worse than it was back then. We actually managed to keep Bledsoe upright. It has been slowly deteriorating each year as these guys got older and older. They were still pretty good in 2007 overall in pass protection. They were downright horrific at times this year and last year protecting Romo.

Garrett should get the genius label for managing to get a top 10 rushing attack out of these guys. I hope it also makes the FO appreciate Felix more for his ability to put up over 6 ypc and break several long runs. Outside of Chris Johnson I wonder how many backs had more big runs of more than 20 yards than Felix last year.