I don't see an effort problem with this team. "Camp Cupcake" is a mirage. The team started out on fire. They were 3-0. If the camp made the players "weak". How did they win 13 games last year? So, I don't see an effort problem on this team. They ran into a buzz saw yesterday, and it should have never come down to that game. There wasn't an effort problem when Parcells was here. His defense got exposed by the Saints. He had some games where the game was out of reach and hope was lost and it got ugly, too.
What I saw was an offensive coordinator, who made $ 3 million dollars and had enormous power, give Marion Barber 8 carries and Felix Jones 0 in a 2 point loss to the Commanders. When the very week before, the running game was dominant, and people were saying the Cowboys were the best team in the NFL. Felix had a long TD run at GB, and the Cowboys' offensive line and Marion Barber smashed the Packers' defense with all their players still playing. In fact, I don't even think Garrett plays Felix Jones at all in Cleveland if Barber doesn't get hurt.
How does Marion Barber get 8 carries and Felix zero in that game? Garrett ran the football in the second Commanders game and beat them. He's making $ 3 million dollars to run the offense. It's his responsibility to get those running backs involved and take the pressure off Tony Romo in a blitz happy division with good secondaries. Felix Jones didn't even touch the ball on offense that day. That is not on Tony Romo. That is on Jason Garrett.
4th and inches at Pittsburgh: (a first down could be at least 3 points)
Deon Anderons gets the ball and gets stuffed. You could sneak it, or give it to Choice, who was in the backfield. The right side of the line (Davis and Columbo) had a nice push. The FB didn't have the instincts to see it, feel it, and hit it. If you are going to lose on the play, lose with the best player carrying the ball. That is Choice or Romo.
4th and 3 at Pittsburgh (again, a first down could be at least 3 points)
Romo drops back, looks down the field, no one is open, and the deep pass is incomplete. He had plenty of time, but nothing was there. This happened too many times this year. It was a crucial call, and the Cowboys play call didn't work. Dallas needed 3 yards to get Folk on the field, but the ball goes flying 30 yards down the field. Dallas had some success when they ran the ball on 4th down this year. Still, get the 4th and inches and 3 points out of one of the two critical drives, and you probably win.
These are game deciding play calls. On 4th and 3, you better at least give yourself a chance to make the first down or have a play dialed up that will get someone open. Romo had no chance on this call. You are better off running it than throwing 30 yard bombs to no player on 4th and 3. Now, Romo didn't have a great game that day, but Jason Garrett deserves his share of the blame. The Cowboys had no business throwing the ball down the field while in their own redzone that day because of the defense and the weather. A more conservative approach would have served the quarterback better. Again, is it asking too much from your offensive coordinator to not throw deep fades in bad weather or wind when your in your own redzone or near it? How about some safer calls to give yourself some more room to work with before you open it up?
Why were the Cowboys even throwing the football in the second Giants game when they were pinned back on their own goalline? The score was 14-3, and the defense had complete control of the game. Just give the punter some room and kick the ball. Romo saved the game when he knocked the ball out of bounds. Garrett didn't recall the Eagles and Arizona games. The last thing you want is the ball on the ground in the endzone in that situation.
How could Garrett have prevented it? He could have run the ball and punted if he had to do so. You can't rush the passer when you run it down there.
