The worst season in Cowboys history is finally over. Oh there have been worse records but never has a Cowboys team with so much promise, flopped so miserably. Jerry Jones fired Wade Phillips, mid season, the only time that has happened in the history of the Cowboys.
The defense was Wade's downfall. He has always been a defensive 'fix it guy.' The GM/Owner shares a lot of the blame for this season's disaster. It started when there were no outside free agents signed in the off season. They were the only team in the league to do this. They relied on unproven first time starters to carry the load. Alan Ball and Gerald Sensabaugh were total failures as safeties. Ball, especially, had never done anything in the past to warrant a promotion but he was there anyway. Anthony Spencer took several steps back at OLB. He was joined in miserable seasons by Keith Brookings..ILB and Jay Ratliff..NT who looked out of position.
The offense was productive, if all you do is look at the yards, but they made way too many mistakes and never figured out the red zone. The offensive line played horribly as a unit and when they did put in a back up it cost them dearly. The one bright spot was Dez Bryant who showed promise but couldn't stay healthy and was lost for the year. Romo played in only five games but Jon Kitna played well as his back up and their third string QB, Steven McGee won a game and should have won two.
This team lost more games than their opponents won them. Mistakes were the mantra of this team. They were the most penalized team in the league for the second time in three years. The only time they were not number one they were number two. Plus so many of their penalties were in key situations.
The team was 1-7 under Wade Phillips and 5-3 under Jason Garrett. The team did respond to Jason but then the real culprit was exposed. The culprit was lack of talent. This team just wasn't good enough to win without some luck. They gave up more points than any Cowboys team in the history of the franchise. The offense kicked in with some horrible turnovers and mistakes at key times. The big difference in pre and post Wade was the defense, while still sucking, got some turnovers.
Moving forward the Cowboys have the number nine pick in the 2011 draft. They have a favorable schedule for next season. Jerry won't stand pat this season on free agency and that is good because there will be a lot of holes to fill. The entire defensive line are nearly all free agents. That is the bad news, the good news is they need to go..Ratliff needs to be moved to DE where he won't face as many double teams. They need a monster in the middle to stuff the run. We need Sean Lee to step up and replace Brookings, who his surely a goner.
On offense the team needs a couple of Olinemen..Free and Gurode may be the only survivors, although Kosier if he can stay healthy might be kept. For sure Davis and Colombo are gone. I see no need to blow up the running backs, there are more places to put your money. A wide receiver is needed unless they can get Roy Williams to take a pay cut. TE is in good shape as is the QB situation. The Cowboys were the only team with two 1000 yard receivers. Jason Witten and Miles Austin both achieved this.
Special teams need to become special. The team signed Brown a kicker who kicked in Houston. He is reliable but with not much of a leg. Buelher as I post before contributed in two losses. We still need a return guy. Dez seems too fragile to handle both returns and wide receiver.
Here is to 2011 and a return to the playoffs. It will be hard to see two other teams play in the Super Bowl in the Cowboy's stadium..
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