Overall, Jason Garrett’s offense is trending up
By RANDY GALLOWAY
Under different circumstances, this would be a good time, albeit a tad early, to offer a verbal butt-pat for the work of one Jason Garrett, offensive coordinator under fire.
Unfortunately, however, for Jason, it’s always something. In his case, two current somethings:
(1) Garrett is responsible for the continuing development of Tony Romo, who appeared about as organized on Sunday night as the Party Pass plan. At times, you had to wonder if Romo had been pole-dancing with the Party Passers between possessions.
(2) Jason’s decision late in the third quarter to turn Romo loose with the deep ball became an instant second guess, and remains so. It’s a cheap second guess, but it’s loud. Something about, with a lead (24-20 at the time), and with good field position, stay with the effective running game instead of trusting ol’ Cuckoo’s Nest.
Granted, Romo’s senseless pick at that point was a crusher.
The Valley Ranch sunshine pumpers have reminded us since Sunday night that the sky is not falling, it’s too early to panic, the upcoming schedule appears breezy all the way to late October, the defense has to be better than this, the mighty Giants were gifted four turnovers and still had to win it bang-bang at the gun, etc., etc., etc.
Not sure I actually disagree on any of those points, except when your quarterback plays as badly as Romo did — second game of the season or not — then it’s a time better suited to pump mud instead of sunshine.
But?…
In an attempt to be briefly positive, let’s go back to the work of Mr. Garrett.
Again, it’s early, but for all the concern about how effective the offense would be without a so-called big-play receiver, and for all the legit rips on Garrett about last season, the overall look of the offense is now trending up. Way up. Did I mention it’s early?
But through two games, the Cowboys have scored 65 points, with eight touchdowns.
Only the strong Brees coming out New Orleans (95 points and 12 TDs), and — a surprise — the Ravens (69 and 9) are league-ranked ahead of the Cowboys in both areas.
More impressive: This is all offensive points. Nothing from the defense, nothing from special teams. The defense hasn’t even provided a turnover to help in field position.
Follow along here:
The Cowboys have had 11 scoring drives in two games.
Only three started from inside the 50-yard line. Ironically, all three ended up as field goals. No field position has come inside the 30.
Six of the eight touchdowns have come when the Cowboys started a possession with 70 or more yards to cover. Against the Giants, the TD drives were nine plays, 62 yards; eight over 73; seven over 83 and seven over 71.
It made you wonder if that Cowboys’ offensive line should be removed from the overrated list, because, as you know, the points have come in contrasting styles.
Against Tampa, the Bucs’ defense was geared for the run game, not fearing the Cowboys’ receivers. And big plays kept falling out of humid air down in Florida.
Against the Giants — a team with a defensive philosophy, and front-seven talent, that doesn’t fear the run — the emphasis was preventing a repeat of big plays upstairs. One safety played a deep center field.
But, of course, the Cowboys tire-ironed that defense with 251 yards rushing.
Garrett was whiplashed last season for not being diverse enough with his play-calling. Way too pass happy was the charge, and there was justification for that criticism.
In the Giants game, however, there was a perfect balance of 29 run and 29 throw (although maybe one, or three, throws too many, based on Romo connecting with the wrong team). In Tampa, the breakdown was 27 pass and 24 run.
My apology if all of the above is too many numbers. And maybe it’s also a little too much sunshine.
It’s true, none of this matters if Tony Turnover continues to happen. Beyond, however, Romo’s brain drain against the Giants, the Cowboys have had excellent offensive output so far, and displayed the ability to move the ball and score points in various ways.
Those who kept telling me all spring and summer that this couldn’t possibly happen, not after the locker-room purge from last season, I’ve noticed you’ve been real quiet lately.
If not for Romo being rotten on Sunday night, your lips would be totally zipped.
Just thought I’d mention it. Thanks for listening.
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