We are 6 weeks (5 games for the boys) into the 2010 NFL season and the Cowboys befuddling 1-4 record reflects their consistently inconsistent play on the field. There are many things that factor into the alarmingly sluggish start for the cowboys, among them penalties, stupidity and poor coaching. There is also the problem of players who seem to be missing on the field even though they are always on the playing field. Their lack of production is another reason for the dearth of success in the Cowboys season thus far. Here is my early season list of missing cowboys.
1. Alan Ball- Safety
The Cowboys thought they were better off without the pricey Ken Hamlin and opted to go with the young Alan Ball at free safety this year. The result has been a player who we barely see ever on our television screens except when he's late to help coverage over the middle. He has proven that he wants nothing to do with making physical contact with an opponent. He has a measly 12 solo tackles, (14 total) ONE, (that's right, ONE) pass defended and no interceptions. LaRon Landry, the Redskins free safety, has 48 solo tackles, (63 total) 1 interception, 1 sack and 4 passes defended on his own. Alan Ball and his safety companion Gerald Sensabaugh have 32 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defended, and no interceptions between them. That's ridiculous. The Cowboys safeties are a joke.
2. Anthony Spencer- Outside Linebacker
Anthony Spencer was thought to have broken out last year. After a slow start in his first season as a starter he started roaring through offensive lines like a rabbid dog. He ended up with 6 sacks, most in a very short span, along with 67 total tackles, 7 passes defended, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles. He seems to still be in hibernation this season as he only has 2 sacks and 14 tackles. When someone has a "breakout" season they are supposed to follow it up by asserting dominance from the get-go. Spencer on the other hand, has yet to consistently rush the passer and as a result the Cowboys are not able to effectively pressure opposing quarterbacks. They will not be a completely effective defense until they can start forcing the QB to sweat a little bit when he's in the pocket.
3. David Buehler- Kicker
First we draft this guy to be a kick-off specialist and he does the job to perfection; 29 touchbacks, a Cowboys record, and the league leader. Then we get rid of Nick Folk because he is, out of nowhere, completely inadequate. Now a season later Nick Folk is kicking the ball in from everywhere and anywhere for the first place Jets while Buehler is only 6/9 on FG's (2 of which would have greatly helped the Cowboys cause) and he only has 3 touchbacks! He can't even do what the Cowboys originally drafted him to do. The Cowboys coverage unit is the worst in the league and Buehlers sudden inability to kick a touchback is a large part of the problem. He's in the doghouse for sure.
4. The Tight Ends- Jason Witten & Martellus Bennett
There is no doubt that Jason Witten is one of the most exceptional tight ends in the league. Over the past 7 seasons he has been one of the top receiving tight ends in the league and he is an exceptional blocker. Witten is also a gamer. He is a model for toughness... see his helmetless run against the Eagles and the seasons where he played with cracked ribs and a broken jaw as example. Though, for some reason, he has yet to really be a contributor on the offense so far this season. He hasn't been targeted as much by Romo and has even dropped a few balls which truly is a rarity for Witten. He only has 23 catches for 270 yard thus far which is well off his pace for an 80 catch 1,000 yard season. Romo needs to find him more, especially on 6-9 yard 3rd down distances, for the Cowboys to flourish.
Martellus Bennett just doesn't seem like he's going to be that big threat receiving tight end that Jerry Jones envisioned him to be when he drafted him in the 2nd round in 2008. His athletic ability is unquestionable and he is a great blocker. His work ethic, however, is questionable and he seems to have struggled to fit into this, perhaps overloaded, offense.
5. Marion Barber & Tashard Choice- Running Backs
Where do you begin with the Cowboys and their running game? It is woeful. I know their offensive line is aging a bit but it is still big enough to create holes and these running backs need to find ways to run through them. Barber's productivity has drastically diminished since his pro-bowl season where he was the Cowboys third down back. The Cowboys made the mistake of thinking that Barber was an every down back which he is not. He is a punisher and most of all a finisher. He is not fast enough or nimble enough to be the primary back and now, because of the misuse of him, his body has taken such a beating that he is no longer dealing out punishment when he runs. He was once one of the most feared backs to tackle in the league. Now he gets little production out of the 10 touches a game he gets.
Tashard Choice doesn't even see the field any more so at least we know where he is: Grabbing some bench on the sideline. He was never a great back but he is a tough runner and a leader on this team. I don't know that he will ever be good enough to be a featured back but it just seems that opportunities won't present themselves in Dallas for him. It will be interesting to see if he survives the trading deadline (3 pm CST) today.
That "Three-headed monster" running game of Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice looks more like a 3-headed guppie to the rest of the league.
6. Leonard Davis- Guard
Well this guy aged really quick. He's been a pro-bowl player ever since he fled Arizona to join the Cowboys. He is one of the biggest guys in the entire NFL and all of a sudden a huge liability for this offensive line. He is not creating much of a push on the right side of the line for the running game and he is pass protecting so poorly that he's had to be replaced by Montrae Holland once so far this season. If he doesn't regain his old form soon, its going to be a long year for the Cowboys offense.
I think it's about time we take a look at the offensive coordinator. Where is the imagination, where's the mystery, where's the "three-headed monster". What has the golden boy really brought to the table the last few years ...... making Romo a pocket QB, king of the delayed draw, turning the always dominating Cowboy running game into an ineffective filler between passes and the offense easily predictable to defend. OK, maybe Tony put on a few pounds and can't move anymore but can't we see some imagination?
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I am in complete agreement. Garrett has shown about as much creativity as a Bill Belichick press conference. He is so obsessed with having Romo launch the ball down field (before Romo went out) because he fell onto some lucky magic with it in his first year as coordinator. Even Jessica Simpson would have been able to point out that this offense is grossly one dimensional. The running game cannot be treated like a piece of asparagus on your dinner table: Eaten only when your parents chide you to. It must be an intregal part of your offense. The Cowboys need a coordinator who is smart enough to take what is given to him at some points, but creative enough to keep a defense guessing and thus off-balance. The reason the Cowboys always gain a ton of yards is because they such a skilled stable of recievers and a very good QB. They don't score points, however, because Garrett is about at creative as a house plant.
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