Illegitimate Second Guessing

[rcaldw]

I thought todays game was both a gut wrencher and a great game at the same time. I hated to lose, but I liked what I saw.

I thought Jason Garrett did a great job, and has done a great job.

There is a difference between legitimate second guessing and what I view as illegitimate and unfair.

Today, if you are second guessing Garrett, some of it may be unfair.

1. To say we should have taken the first field goal instead of go for it with Barber, I say FAIR ENOUGH. At the end of the day, those 3 points would have been the win IF the kicker makes it.

However, it is wrong to say that going for it was completely illogical. It was not. And it is especially unfair to criticize the playcall. The problem wasn't going with Barber, the problem was with the offensive line and the execution. We just got beat on the play, plain and simple.

2. To say we should have tried the 53 yard FG is UNFAIR, in my opinion. Why? Because THE VERY THING Garrett hoped to accomplish by the decision he made WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

He played field position. He trusted the defense. Guess what? Defense won, we get the interception and end up with a 1st down on their 39 yard line, just 4 yards further back than we were when we punted.

HOW CAN YOU CRITICIZE THAT? IT WORKED. HE WAS RIGHT.

And we scored the TD and took the lead.

3. As aggravated as I was with Roy Williams' fumble, how can you criticize the player's effort on that play. Huge 3rd and 6 play where Roy makes a HUGE play and just doesn't see the guy coming from his left who stripped him. Do I wish he had just gotten down on that play? Of course. And I really believe game over at that point. But he didn't. That happens. I think to second guess him is UNFAIR. That's just football. It happens.

4. The last scoring drive by the Saints. Was it gut wrenching. Yes. Did it cost us the game? Yes. But that defense played its butt off in the 2nd half. How can anyone not see that this team played its heart out today. I saw players pushing for extra yardage, diving to make tackles, battling for loose balls. It was just a tough loss.

I like Jason Garrett. Hire the guy permanently.

 

[KingintheNorth]

My only issue with Garrett today was the playcalling in the last series. I think we are way too predictable at times. To be fair, he gets to make mistakes too. Hopefully he learns from them but I'd really like to see him hire an experienced Offensive Coordinator if he returns next year.

 

[rcaldw]

My only issue with Garrett today was the playcalling in the last series. I think we are way too predictable at times. To be fair, he gets to make mistakes too. Hopefully he learns from them but I'd really like to see him hire an experienced Offensive Coordinator if he returns next year.

I understand that perspective, I really do, but I don't have a problem with the playcalls, I have a problem with Kitna's execution of those plays. He threw 1 interception today on that screen, and had multiple balls batted down. That is supposed to be a HIGH PERCENTAGE throw. Instead, with Kitna, it has been a crapshoot. Kitna has done a GREAT job as a backup. However, those are routine plays he has to make.

 

[sonnyboy]

I agree.

Still think Garrett should've taken the 53 attempt. But it did work out in our favor.

I do agree with the 59 yard attempt. I felt it gave us the best shot.


What bothers me most was our last 3 plays before the 59 yard FG.

In that situation defenses sometimes cheat a little looking for exactly the type of conservative plays we ran.

And we played right into the teeth of that defense with our 1st two plays. To bad we didn't go down field on 1st down. Good shot we could have set our selves up for a a shorter FG attempt.
Maybe even a couple of endzone shots fist.

 

[CATCH17]

I understand that perspective, I really do, but I don't have a problem with the playcalls, I have a problem with Kitna's execution of those plays. He threw 1 interception today on that screen, and had multiple balls batted down. That is supposed to be a HIGH PERCENTAGE throw. Instead, with Kitna, it has been a crapshoot. Kitna has done a GREAT job as a backup. However, those are routine plays he has to make.

The 4th and 1 toss to Barber?

The Goal Line formations in the middle of the field that always gain 1 yard? No deception from those ever.

The last drive was mismanaged too. No excuse for not having at worst a 55 yard field goal there.

We had 2 TO's too.


Garrett is doing some great things and I love what he is doing but his game management today was about a C+ and his playcalling was about the same.


But the focus and enthusiasm this team has shown under him is priceless.


Im not saying sign him up yet. Still plenty of time for this group of players to quit on him just like they quit on Wade.

 

[rcaldw]

The 4th and 1 toss to Barber?

The Goal Line formations in the middle of the field that always gain 1 yard? No deception from those ever.

The last drive was mismanaged too. No excuse for not having at worst a 55 yard field goal there.

We had 2 TO's too.


Garrett is doing some great things and I love what he is doing but his game management today was about a C+ and his playcalling was about the same.


But the focus and enthusiasm this team has shown under him is priceless.


Im not saying sign him up yet. Still plenty of time for this group of players to quit on him just like they quit on Wade.

I didn't have a problem with the toss, I had a problem with the execution of it.

I don't agree that you take 2-4 plays in a game you don't like and say he did a poor job play calling. The offense put up plenty of points today. Someone did some good play calling.

I still would suggest that if Kitna executes those screens better they may have accomplished the very thing we wanted.

So, for me personally, I think Garrett is doing more than just motivating. I think he is doing a good job of coaching. Not perfect. Will continue to grow in his current role.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I understand that perspective, I really do, but I don't have a problem with the playcalls, I have a problem with Kitna's execution of those plays. He threw 1 interception today on that screen, and had multiple balls batted down. That is supposed to be a HIGH PERCENTAGE throw. Instead, with Kitna, it has been a crapshoot. Kitna has done a GREAT job as a backup. However, those are routine plays he has to make.

the problem is the d linemen know it's coming and sit and wait for it. The last series the defense knew it was coming. In fact, after the 2nd time we probably had some pretty good one-on-one match-up's we could have exploited downfield (gutsy I know) but we kept trying it the quick hit.

Again, Garrett gets a pass from me because this is on-the-job training. I just want to see him improve as a playcaller. If I hear one more opposing player or coach call us predictable I'm going to throw up.

 

[CATCH17]

I didn't have a problem with the toss, I had a problem with the execution of it.

I don't agree that you take 2-4 plays in a game you don't like and say he did a poor job play calling. The offense put up plenty of points today. Someone did some good play calling.

I still would suggest that if Kitna executes those screens better they may have accomplished the very thing we wanted.

So, for me personally, I think Garrett is doing more than just motivating. I think he is doing a good job of coaching. Not perfect. Will continue to grow in his current role.

Well the 2 or 3 TE's with a FB in the middle of the field has bothered me all year.

Just lets everyone know we are running and we don't have the oline to do that without being deceptive.


And that last series cost us a more manageable field goal so yes you have to question that.


This is a very brief complaint and im with you. I personally feel he did enough for us to win. But I do have some game management/playcall issues.


Garrett needs to add more wrinkles to his offense. Like the Fake screen to Dez that sucked everyone in and then hit Felix on a swing pass. Absolutely beautiful play.

But we don't see enough of that from him.


Someone also has to step in on this Barber/Choice situation.

It's hurting the Run Game Production, Dallas Cowboys, and Dallas Cowboy fans not having T Choice play more.

 

[rcaldw]

the problem is the d linemen know it's coming and sit and wait for it. The last series the defense knew it was coming. In fact, after the 2nd time we probably had some pretty good one-on-one match-up's we could have exploited downfield (gutsy I know) but we kept trying it the quick hit.

Again, Garrett gets a pass from me because this is on-the-job training. I just want to see him improve as a playcaller. If I hear one more opposing player or coach call us predictable I'm going to throw up.

I gotcha. And I understand. I do think 27 points is enough to win ball games. It was just a great game.

 

[rcaldw]

Well the 2 or 3 TE's with a FB in the middle of the field has bothered me all year.

Just lets everyone know we are running and we don't have the oline to do that without being deceptive.


And that last series cost us a more manageable field goal so yes you have to question that.


This is a very brief complaint and im with you. I personally feel he did enough for us to win. But I do have some game management/playcall issues.


Garrett needs to add more wrinkles to his offense. Like the Fake screen to Dez that sucked everyone in and then hit Felix on a swing pass. Absolutely beautiful play.

But we don't see enough of that from him.


Someone also has to step in on this Barber/Choice situation.

It's hurting the Run Game Production, Dallas Cowboys, and Dallas Cowboy fans not having T Choice play more.

I agree with you on T Choice, and I also agree with that particular play call, and that we could do more of that kind of thing.

 

[superonyx]

Every play call that works is an amazing call and every play call that doesn't work is a stupid call. That's just a normal fan perspective. 20/20 hindsight. I can't blame Garrett for calling a bad game.

The toss to barber looked stupid at the time. But if he called a run Into the belly of the defense you would accuse him of being predictable. It's a no win situation. Garrett called a play the defense didn't expect. And if our players executed it properly it would have worked.


HOWEVER, Giving them a 3rd down again over declining the penalty was a bad decision. You never give a qb like brees another chance. You force the punt on 4th and 1.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I gotcha. And I understand. I do think 27 points is enough to win ball games. It was just a great game.

anyone who's ever played or coached football will tell you that you can go back and see plays that easily could have cost you the game. Today's game was a very good game and we just came up a little short. A lot of people are bashing Roy but the truth is that Malcolm Jenkins made an exceptional play.

We are a much better team than we were a month ago and Jason deserves the credit for that.

Second guessing is part of the job. I'm incredibly critical of Jerry Jones and have been told I'm always negative on here but I am very hopeful with the direction we are headed. I have little doubt Jason will get better.