Cowboys do not have correct formula for winning

[iceberg]

Yes, they played very well and in the end they earned it.

But good grief, SD's pro bowl kicker was horrible, to say the least. It's really a game that SD should have won if the FG kicker can kick accurately at around 40 yrds.

kicking in general sure has seemed to be bad this year overall.

i wonder if anyone has the stats over how many kicks were missed % wise vs. the last decade or so.

 

[Haley94]

Yes, they played very well and in the end they earned it.

But good grief, SD's pro bowl kicker was horrible, to say the least. It's really a game that SD should have won if the FG kicker can kick accurately at around 40 yrds.

Yup. I live in San Diego. Everyone was geared up for the Superbowl. Poeple are bumed out. Reminds me of the 2007 Cowboys, since they were expected to win this one.

 

[Woods]

Yup. I live in San Diego. Everyone was geared up for the Superbowl. Poeple are bumed out. Reminds me of the 2007 Cowboys, since they were expected to win this one.

I tell you what, if the Cowboys lost the way SD lost yesterday, I'd be depressed for a while.

Losing at home because your FG who was accurate all season couldn't connect from around 40 yards (two times from that distance, in fact) is inexcusable!

I really feel bad for Norv, though I think P Rivers is a bit of a punk. :

 

[DFWJC]

Lots of good points.
But the Jets are really stocked talent-wise at almost every position but WR and QB...and the QB is getting better.

The Jets pulled one out...but they lose if Keading just makes the kicks he has been making all season. Also, the Jets get pounded in Minny yesterday if the Vikes play at that level. Still great win for NYJ and I agree with many of your points. The trenches are where it's at.

 

[TheSport78]

"Are or should the other 28 teams not playing next weekend make coaching changes? Should the three left who don't win the SB?"

No, but yesterday's game had a glaring weakness on the offensive side of the ball; personnel wise and coaching wise. You always need to improve as a team whether you win the SB or go 0-16.

"Did Garrett do anything right this year?"

Of course he did, but most of his good games were against mediocre to below-average defenses. Look at the offensive production against good to great defenses:

Denver: 10 points
Green Bay: 7 points (last minute TD)
Washington: 7 and 17 points
San Diego: 17 points (last minute TD)

Those were the best defenses we've played all year, and all mediocre to below-averages performances.

"How do you think he did the past month, full year?"

If you're talking about December, I think he did an average job at best. We should have blown the Giants out of the water, but had 17 points and scored a last minute, worthless TD. The New Orleans game was the best gameplan he had all year in my opinion. We started fast and the players executed very well, but only scored 7 points in the second half. Our defense made big plays at the end of the game to seal it for us. The Washington game was a mediocre offensive performance as well. Philly was a perfect matchup for us because the Eagles are so one-dimensional. There was hardly any pressure on the offense to produce serious points because the defense was playing so well. 14 points in two games? Not a lot of pressure.

"Did our offense improve over last year?"

Statistically in YARDAGE they did, from 13th to 2nd.

In points we went in 2008 (22.6 points per game) ranked 18th to in 2009 (22.6 points per game) ranked 14th. So we moved up 4 spots, but averaged the exact same amount of points.

"Could our failings yesterday be the result of anything other than Garrett?"

It was mostly Garrett, but obviously Flozell going out was a killer. It's the adjustments Garrett didn't make after Flo went out. He gets stubborn and keeps running that delay-draw play against the best defensive line in football. When Felix finally got the offense moving, what does he do? He takes him out, puts Barber in and we get a negative play. This guy just doesn't get it.

 

[casmith07]

^^ A consistent theme in those 3 losses to Denver, GB, and San Diego were the abandonment of the running game due to Marion Barber's ineffectiveness.

 

[Clove]

People keep talking about the 91 boys and what they don't understand is, we had one of the best offensive lines in history, this line couldn't even sniff that teams dirty socks.

I think at least 2 parts of this line needs to be retooled.

 

[TheSport78]

People keep talking about the 91 boys and what they don't understand is, we had one of the best offensive lines in history, this line couldn't even sniff that teams dirty socks.

I think at least 2 parts of this line needs to be retooled.

Agreed. I think it starts with Colombo and Kosier. I hope Free and Brewster show something at the respective positions.

 

[hawklegion]

I know. How can anybody blame Romo on yesterdays lose, is beyond me.
Peyton Manning couldn't have done anything behind that offensive line yesterday.

+1,000,000

 

[wileedog]

Did Garrett do anything right this year?

How do you think he did the past month, full year?

I think Garrett improved this year, but the bar was low.

I also think he was incredibly inconsistent this year, and continues to have problems identifying the right personnel to be on the field. And every other week or so just pulls an absolute head scratcher.

He had some good games, particularly later in the year, and some bad, but even while he was better this year I still think he is an average Coordinator at best to this point. I bet there are some guys with a ton more experience salivating with what they could do with Romo, Felix, Witten and Austin, while we get pasted by a team that gave up 36 to Chicago a couple of weeks ago.

He needs a lot more experience IMO, but how long do we let the on-the-job training to continue?