WFAA Blog: T.O. Is Not The Problem

by David Marcus

There's no question that T.O. is not the player he once was. But he still has the ability to change a game, provided he's on the same page as his quarterback and his coaches.

Sadly, that was not the case much of last season.

As soon as Roy Williams arrived on the scene from Detroit, it seemed like Jason Garrett tried too hard to get all his receivers involved and the Cowboys offense seemed watered down. Losing Marion Barber as a running threat certainly didn't help either.

But instead of blaming Owens as a convenient scapegoat, the Cowboys coaching staff needs to better utilize him. Make him work for you. It's too easy to say T.O. is breaking up the team and that the best decision is to get rid of him. It's the easy way out.

If he indeed stays, Garrett needs to stay out of these battles with Owens and simply come up with an offensive plan that puts his talented receiver in the right places at the right times. You notice he's ineffective in a certain route or a short slant? Then stop using those plays. Play to T.O.'s strengths...he still has many.

I don't doubt that Owens can be a disruptive force in the locker room. But listen to his teammates....they like the guy. They get a kick out of him.

T.O. is not the problem. Maybe a symptom...but not the problem.