I'll go on record to say that I'm glad that it wasn't just the fans that were upset with the play calling in the game. I'm glad that the man in charge was just as upset. I HOPE that it leads to some change (and, no, I don't want Garrett fired/released).
I think it's safe to say, at this point, that it's time to tap the brakes on the greatness of Jason Garrett. The guy is a game above .500 (since taking over) with arguably one of the most talented offenses in the league at the skill positions. For the 2011 season he's served up a .400 ball club with one of the best defenses in the league and an offense that reads like a Pro Bowl roster. Absolutely unacceptable.
The lack of attention to producing an effective running game is absolutely unacceptable. The apologists will be out in force with the "Our O-line isn't big/good enough for a good running game." Well, the majority of those same fans were singing the praises of this being "Garrett's team", now. Guess what? Then he gets to eat **** for either failing to get the right guys in here or for not coaching a run blocking scheme that plays to their strengths. Shanahan made a living out of running the ball with undersized quick moving O-linemen (something that was supposed to be a strength with this O-line). Yet Garrett has us, again, at the bottom of the league in rushing (27th in the league IIRC). I'd like to put a foot in the balls of the next guy that says that running the ball isn't important in today's NFL. Because, quite frankly, that guy is too stupid to even discuss the game. Pull up all the stats you want and right afterward take a look at the Lions, Patriots, and Jets games and tell me that being able to run the ball and control the game wouldn't have went a mile towards winning those games. The only thing more demoralizing to the opposing defense than constantly staying on the field after 3rd downs is to have a team ram the ball down their throat when they know they need the ball back, and soon.
We're not to the point that heads need to roll. Garrett is a bright mind and the guy has a ton of potential. However, the fact that he's failing to the point that his owner speaking publicly about it (in the heat of the moment, or not) speaks volumes. The thing that was so disheartening was the fact that throughout the game Garrett tried to stay balanced,even though his running game wasn't very effective. He still tried to maintain some balance to keep the defense honest. On the final drive he threw balance out the window and went with the weakness of our offense to try and win the game. Absolutely mind-bending. I have no problem running the ball in that series, but for every single play? Really? Not a single call that plays to the strength of your offense? You've got Dez, Witten, Miles, and Romo on the field and you don't trust a a single one of them to get you ten yards in three plays? Unacceptable on every level.
Jones saw it. He knew it. He let his emotions get the best of him and he spoke about it. I think Jones should have held his tongue and taken it up with Garrett, but I do take relief in the fact that the owner has seen enough, also.
