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Just lay back, keep still and enjoy itA football idiot. I called it, if I can toot my own horn real quick. Almost nailed the score. Basically what I thought would happen did happen on every front in every way. It was a gangbang of ineptness.
Now, for the blame game. The Cowboys' season is over. You start at the top. Yes, I know Jerry Jones is not going to fire the general manager. That doesn't mean we shouldn't point out his transgressions. He's not going anywhere, but the bulk of the blame should always go to the top. Shit runs uphill in professional sports.
Then the coaches. I don't get why going to more of a hurry-up, quick-throw offense was such a hurdle. I mean, it's obvious. You have an offensive line that can't block, you start calling plays that gives Tony Romo three seconds to throw the ball. Everyone watching knew what the offense needed to do and it took Jason Garrett a full half to figure it out. Princeton, my ass.
Rob Ryan is a wreck. However, in the back of my head, I'm think it's more personnel than gameplan. The secondary is absolutely horrid. Probably the worst in the league. I can't think of a truly redeemable individual. Orlando Scandrick is the closest. Even he's fallen off mightily this season. Terence Newman is simply awful. He's was getting picked on. Yes, the No. 1 cornerback of the Dallas Cowboys was getting picked on. Somewhere Everson Walls is weeping.
And for the worst of the worse: Alan Ball. No one's having a worse night in the world than Ball. Penalties, flubbing the recovery on the muffed punt, getting torched in the secondary. If it holds any value, Newman was briefly benched for Ball.
Offensively, the offensive line is ... offensive. They're bad and there needs to be major upgrades and I'm not talking Montrae Holland or Derrick Dockery. You take Doug Free and Tyron Smith and start over. Keep whoever for back-up or whatever. Otherwise, it's a wash.
As for Tony Romo, my stance stays the same. He's a really good quarterback. But I think this is as probably good as you're going to get with him. It's not Romo as much as the mindset of the management. Romo's as much of the outcome of ineptitude. What I'm saying, if anyone is pissed, it's Romo. He's no longer the aw-shucks, undrafted kid from directional Illinois university.
Fact is, no one takes it in the nuts from week to week than Romo (deservedly or not) and so when you see the awful offensive line, defense, special teams and coaches like the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys never claimed to be a "Dream Team." Which is good since the "Dream Team" finished second in the division and the Cowboys third, at 7-9. It was a pathetic season and any reason to be optimistic was foolish and dumb.
No playoffs for the Dallas Cowboys. The drought and woe continue as Jerry and Co. head into the war room to get all of this straightened out. FYI, it won't be soon. I hope none of you took third mortgages on your home for season tickets to the trash bin off Hwy. 360.
Grades, for a final time:
Quarterback -- B
Was never in a position to succeed for 30 minutes of the game. Jason Garrett and the coaching staff left him out to dry behind that ship shod line. When the gameplan changed, Romo executed.
Running Back -- D
I noticed Sammy Morris when he ran. I did not notice Felix Jones in the least. If Jones is back next season, he needs to be (of course) a back-up and returning kicks.
Wide Receiver -- C
Yawn. If Laurent Robinson is this team's best receiver, then they need an enema. Miles Austin is getting paid a lot of money (in addition to banging Kim Kardashian) to be an afterthought.
Tight End -- C
Good things happen when you find Jason Witten. For maybe the first time in forever, Witten's become a sort of of a fifth option. And don't give me that "He's helping out on pass protection line." I'm tired of third-rate football analyst talk. Witten is the most viable, consistent pass catcher on the team and he's been a non-factor the last five weeks. And the Cowboys start their fishing trips tomorrow.
Offensive Line -- F
Terrible. No match for the Giants' front four. And, yes, the Giants brought three or four almost every play and wound up getting a lot of pressure on Romo. It doesn't help that he's trying to throw the ball around or above eight defensive backs. Blow. It. Up.
Defensive Line -- F
Three years ago, this was a position of great strength. They used to brag about being able to shuffle guys in on every play that could start on many other teams. Now it's Josh Brent, Sean Lissemore, Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher and the great disappearing Jay Ratliff. Pathetic.
Linebackers -- F
If you want to blow up some more stuff, keep on going with Keith Brooking and Bradie James. Literally, is Bradie James even playing anymore? DeMarcus Ware with another one-and-a-half meaningless sacks. Ware and Anthony Spencer with another killer dozen neutral zone infractions.
Secondary -- F
Pathetic and awful. And Terence Newman is getting paid $10 million this season. $10 million to get picked on by other teams. Literally, if you wanted to pin this loss -- this season -- on one player, I start with Newman. Alan Ball is the worst player in Cowboys history. The only missing was a nice Frank Walker holding penalty.
Special Teams -- D
Nothing. No spark. Nothing. Missed a prize opportunity on the muffed punt and that was Alan Balled. The rookie punter (why wasn't Mat McBriar put on injured reserve five weeks ago?) was hit or miss. Dan Bailey with a missed field goal. What in the name of Deion Sanders is wrong with this team's punt return coverage?
Coaching -- F
This team was no match to beat the Giants. What's worse, they were never put in a place to compete until it was far too late. Cowboys coaching adjusts about as well as a satellite dish.
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