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Garrett accepts a role in debacle
By Tom Orsborn
December 17, 2013 12:27 AM
IRVING — One day after he blamed Tony Romo for the first of two interceptions the quarterback threw in the final minutes of Sunday's embarrassing 37-36 loss to Green Bay, Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett admitted he also had a role in the colossal collapse.
“We should have done a better job,” Garrett said Monday. “I should have done a better job, the staff should have done a better job, Tony should have done a better job.”
In overcoming a 23-point third-quarter deficit, the Packers scored touchdowns on five straight possessions in the second half, which points to the Cowboys' NFL-worst defense as the main culprit in the agonizing defeat.
But many critics have focused on Dallas' decision to abandon the running game in the second half. DeMarco Murray finished with 134 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, but he logged just seven carries in the second half even though the Cowboys possessed a 26-3 lead at the break.
“It's hard to explain, but the clock management by the Dallas Cowboys was about as bad as I've seen,” Fox analyst and Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman said on the air.
Garrett was asked if he wished he had asserted his authority as head coach more to ensure that offensive coordinator Bill Callahan and Romo called more running plays in the second half.
“I think when you step back and look at it again, you probably would have wanted a little bit more balance and run the ball a little bit more,” Garrett said.
The most scrutinized decision came while the Cowboys were trying to protect a 36-31 lead with less than three minutes left. Facing second-and-6 at the Dallas 35, Romo received a play with the option to run or pass.
But instead of handing off to Murray, Romo chose to pass after seeing Green Bay had 10 men stacked at the line of scrimmage. His slant to Miles Austin was picked off by Packers cornerback Sam Shields, prompting Murray to slam his helmet to the ground after he reached the sideline.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo “should have done a better job” in the waning minutes of Sunday's 37-36 loss to the Packers, coach Jason Garrett said. But Garrett also put some of the blame for blowing a 23-point lead on himself and his staff.
Seven plays later, Green Bay took the lead on Eddie Lacy's 1-yard run. Romo threw another interception with 1:24 left to all but end the game, but receiver Cole Beasley was at fault there after stopping short on a route.
In addressing the first interception, Garrett made it clear the blame should mainly fall on Romo's shoulders.
“Sometimes it's OK on second-and-6 to hand the ball off, take your lumps and deal with the third down, force them to use another timeout and then just work that situation out,” Garrett said. “That's something we've discussed.”
But was it discussed forcefully enough?
“I don't want to get into all the details of how I communicate with Tony, but we have good lines of communication,” Garrett said. “(Sunday) we had good lines of communication. There are always cases as a coach that you look back and say, 'I should have done this, I should have done that.' There certainly were cases of that yesterday. And we, as a team, didn't handle that well enough. We should have handled it better.”
The Cowboys (7-7) can still make the playoffs by winning Sunday at Washington (3-11) and on Dec. 29 in the regular-season finale at home against Philadelphia (8-6).
But what happens if they don't? Is Garrett's job safe?
Owner Jerry Jones reminded reporters Sunday that he said last month Garrett would return next season. Garrett was asked if Jones has told him he would be safe no matter what happens in the final two games.
“I'm just focused on doing my job,” said Garrett, who is 28-26 as the team's coach.
Garrett said he is confident the Cowboys can snap their two-game losing streak against the Redskins and set up a playoffs-or-bust game against a division foe in the finale for the third straight year.
“We have a lot of history with these guys, and we've done a lot of great things,” Garrett said of the players. “We have a tremendous amount of belief in them as people and players.”
By Tom Orsborn
December 17, 2013 12:27 AM
IRVING — One day after he blamed Tony Romo for the first of two interceptions the quarterback threw in the final minutes of Sunday's embarrassing 37-36 loss to Green Bay, Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett admitted he also had a role in the colossal collapse.
“We should have done a better job,” Garrett said Monday. “I should have done a better job, the staff should have done a better job, Tony should have done a better job.”
In overcoming a 23-point third-quarter deficit, the Packers scored touchdowns on five straight possessions in the second half, which points to the Cowboys' NFL-worst defense as the main culprit in the agonizing defeat.
But many critics have focused on Dallas' decision to abandon the running game in the second half. DeMarco Murray finished with 134 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, but he logged just seven carries in the second half even though the Cowboys possessed a 26-3 lead at the break.
“It's hard to explain, but the clock management by the Dallas Cowboys was about as bad as I've seen,” Fox analyst and Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman said on the air.
Garrett was asked if he wished he had asserted his authority as head coach more to ensure that offensive coordinator Bill Callahan and Romo called more running plays in the second half.
“I think when you step back and look at it again, you probably would have wanted a little bit more balance and run the ball a little bit more,” Garrett said.
The most scrutinized decision came while the Cowboys were trying to protect a 36-31 lead with less than three minutes left. Facing second-and-6 at the Dallas 35, Romo received a play with the option to run or pass.
But instead of handing off to Murray, Romo chose to pass after seeing Green Bay had 10 men stacked at the line of scrimmage. His slant to Miles Austin was picked off by Packers cornerback Sam Shields, prompting Murray to slam his helmet to the ground after he reached the sideline.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo “should have done a better job” in the waning minutes of Sunday's 37-36 loss to the Packers, coach Jason Garrett said. But Garrett also put some of the blame for blowing a 23-point lead on himself and his staff.
Seven plays later, Green Bay took the lead on Eddie Lacy's 1-yard run. Romo threw another interception with 1:24 left to all but end the game, but receiver Cole Beasley was at fault there after stopping short on a route.
In addressing the first interception, Garrett made it clear the blame should mainly fall on Romo's shoulders.
“Sometimes it's OK on second-and-6 to hand the ball off, take your lumps and deal with the third down, force them to use another timeout and then just work that situation out,” Garrett said. “That's something we've discussed.”
But was it discussed forcefully enough?
“I don't want to get into all the details of how I communicate with Tony, but we have good lines of communication,” Garrett said. “(Sunday) we had good lines of communication. There are always cases as a coach that you look back and say, 'I should have done this, I should have done that.' There certainly were cases of that yesterday. And we, as a team, didn't handle that well enough. We should have handled it better.”
The Cowboys (7-7) can still make the playoffs by winning Sunday at Washington (3-11) and on Dec. 29 in the regular-season finale at home against Philadelphia (8-6).
But what happens if they don't? Is Garrett's job safe?
Owner Jerry Jones reminded reporters Sunday that he said last month Garrett would return next season. Garrett was asked if Jones has told him he would be safe no matter what happens in the final two games.
“I'm just focused on doing my job,” said Garrett, who is 28-26 as the team's coach.
Garrett said he is confident the Cowboys can snap their two-game losing streak against the Redskins and set up a playoffs-or-bust game against a division foe in the finale for the third straight year.
“We have a lot of history with these guys, and we've done a lot of great things,” Garrett said of the players. “We have a tremendous amount of belief in them as people and players.”