DMN Blog: Jason Garrett deserves a share of the blame, too
by Tim MacMahon
Jason Witten and Tony Romo each took blame for the game-deciding play in the loss to Pittsburgh.
Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, as far as I know, didn't address reporters after the game. He deserves a share of the blame, too.
Steelers nickel back Deshea Townsend knew what play was coming based on the Cowboys' alignment. So did Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who made a call to put Townsend in position to pick off the pass to Witten and return it for a touchdown. If the opposition knows exactly what's coming, that's on the offensive coordinator.
Garrett's most glaring mistakes, though, came much earlier in the game. His play-calling at the end of the Cowboys' second possession was puzzling, to say the least. On third-and-2 at the Pittsburgh 34, he motioned T.O. into an empty backfield and ran a toss right to him. On fourth-and-1, he motioned Tashard Choice out of the backfield and ran a fullback dive to Deon Anderson, who got stuffed by James Harrison. It was a classic case of getting too cute, putting the ball in hands of players who aren't used to having it in that position.
That sequence of plays probably cost the Cowboys at least three points. If the Cowboys score on that possession, there wouldn't have been any need to run the two-minute drill with the game on the line.
Jason Witten and Tony Romo each took blame for the game-deciding play in the loss to Pittsburgh.
Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, as far as I know, didn't address reporters after the game. He deserves a share of the blame, too.
Steelers nickel back Deshea Townsend knew what play was coming based on the Cowboys' alignment. So did Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who made a call to put Townsend in position to pick off the pass to Witten and return it for a touchdown. If the opposition knows exactly what's coming, that's on the offensive coordinator.
Garrett's most glaring mistakes, though, came much earlier in the game. His play-calling at the end of the Cowboys' second possession was puzzling, to say the least. On third-and-2 at the Pittsburgh 34, he motioned T.O. into an empty backfield and ran a toss right to him. On fourth-and-1, he motioned Tashard Choice out of the backfield and ran a fullback dive to Deon Anderson, who got stuffed by James Harrison. It was a classic case of getting too cute, putting the ball in hands of players who aren't used to having it in that position.
That sequence of plays probably cost the Cowboys at least three points. If the Cowboys score on that possession, there wouldn't have been any need to run the two-minute drill with the game on the line.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:53 PM
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