A week ago, we were all discussing NFC scenarios that would result in the Dallas Cowboys being a playoff team. Now, the conversations have drastically changed. After being eliminated last Sunday by completely self-destructing versus the Seattle Seahawks, but Cowboys’ fans have moved on. Perhaps the most discussed of all, the Cowboys coaching staff.
Naturally, fans are upset. After seeing their favorite team go 13-3 as the best team in the NFC only to miss the playoffs a year later, it’s hard to be happy with your coaches.
Cowboys Nation is upset about the lack of adjustments, the way they weren’t able overcome some key players’ absences, and the play calling. A large amount of die-hard Cowboys fans are truly mad about how an offense loaded with talent became so predictable under the reigns of Scott Linehan and Jason Garrett.
As it turns out, we may not be the only ones upset about the playbook’s predictability:
The issue for several players is a predictable playbook. Opposing teams know exactly where the ball is going. https://t.co/4OQdHuMKAs
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) December 28, 2017
According to Jane Slater from NFL Network, players see the “predictable playbook” as an actual issue. Reading this, I can’t help wondering about what’s next for the franchise.
Jerry Jones has said on DFW’s 105.3 The Fan that Garrett’s job is not an issue. But if you have players who are unhappy with a playbook, you have to ask yourself: How do they feel about their coach? I know Scott Linehan calls the plays on Sundays, but Garrett is also at fault here.
I would imagine Garrett can walk over to Linehan in the middle of a game to tell him they should be running with their best offensive player that just got back from a suspension. If he can’t do that… shouldn’t he be?
It’s tough to already be thinking about the possibility of seeing the exact same coaching staff back next year because of how stubborn this front office has become at times, and how they’ve settled for mediocrity.
It’s still too early to know, but without changes to the Cowboys coaching staff for 2018 season, the only thing that likely to change is lower expectations than in 2017 and less risk of disappointment. Other than that, how much change can you expect?
At the end of the day, this football team could care less about the opinions of people like us who watch games from our couches. But hopefully, with players considering the team’s playbook an issue, Jerry Jones & Co. may start thinking long and hard about making a change of the Dallas Cowboys’ leader.
A year ago, we gave all the credit in the world to this same coaching staff for doing an excellent job of simplifying and giving Dak the tools to execute in an offense built for Tony Romo. Now the problem is that it looks exactly the same, and it seems like the rest of the NFL has figured it out.
Bottom line: The Cowboys could do better, but these coaches are holding them back.
After a loss that closed the case on Garrett ever winning a late-season elimination game (he’s 0-4, and this one was a lay-up), the Cowboys fan’s holidays are further ruined by word Jones will invite him back, and Garrett will play his nucleus Sunday so he can go 9-7.
Bad Linehan is only part of the problem. Garrett is getting outcoached during games, fails to adjust and often struggles after halftime. If we want an elite Dak – and not see his years squandered – we need an elite HC not a mediocre one.
I think we could do much better. We need a new coaching staff. Thanks for reading!
Couldn’t have said it better. But Jerry is satisfied with mediocrity and that almighty dollar. Being in NFL Purgatory, will continue as long as Jerry’s wallet is lined with Benjamins.