Dallas Cowboys: The one thing saving Jason Garrett’s job
By Reid Hanson
After the Monday night debacle in Big D, Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan are dangerously close to being fired from the Dallas Cowboys. But there’s one thing saving them.
What the [insert your four-letter word of choice here] just happened? This question, no doubt, ran through the minds of many in Cowboys Nation as they watched the Dallas Cowboys absolutely bomb a make-or-break home game against one of the worst teams in the NFL.
By the looks of things it was going through the players’ minds, the coaches’ minds, and the local media’s minds as the deficit grew. I can also say with a high level of confidence it was going through ownership’s mind as Jerry Jones prematurely left the suite and presumably exploded behind closed doors.
Disclaimer: It’s important to point out “presumably” is the operative word here because this article, while based in reality, is of a speculative nature.
As crazy as it sounds Jason Garrett is in danger of losing his job.
To many, the idea of Jason Garrett losing his job isn’t crazy at all. In fact, it’s long overdue. But for those who know Jerry Jones, firing Garrett has never been a real option. Jerry loves Jason and even though the results haven’t been there, Jerry trusts Jason’s process. Until now.
Jerry Jones was asked if there is any situation he'd consider a mid-season head coaching change and he said, "No!" Said he didn't see this coming tonight. Said you can't consider them still in the NFC East race until they play better.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) November 6, 2018
Jerry was asked right after the game if a head coaching change was going to be made mid-season. Jerry promptly shot that down. For good reason, too. Who the hell is he going to find? The same applies to Scott Linehan. Scott would be fired yesterday if Jerry had a viable option right now. What is going to do? Promote Kellen Moore to offensive coordinator? I threw up in my mouth just typing that ugly suggestion.
The one thing saving Jason Garrett is the utter lack of options – Options specifically to fix the offense. Jerry could always promote Rod Marinelli to interim Head Coach and bump up Kris Richard to DC while he was at it (he’s going to promote Richard to DC this offseason anyway), but that wouldn’t solve the dilemma on offense. Linehan is confidently insulated in first-year coaches. Nobody remotely warrants an interim job. You can’t really poach from other teams in the middle of the season either. The Cowboys are stuck.
Jerry has been betrayed
Jerry Jones has to be feeling betrayed at this point. He did his part. Jerry traded the future away when he shipped a first rounder for Amari Cooper. He gave them the playmaker they wanted. Then he fired the coach they hated when he sent Paul Alexander packing. In the offseason he even stepped out on a ledge when he let Linehan bring in his inexperienced protégé, Kellen Moore, as the QB coach.
He didn’t even stop there. Jerry has been in full pep rally mode as of late, announcing Gil Brandt into the Ring of Honor and doing a pregame tribute to Jason Witten. Jerry did everything he could possibly do to get this team hyped up and turned around. The fans even did their part and had AT&T stadium rocking on Monday Night Football.
In spite of everything, the team did…that…whatever that was.
In what’s been repeated referred to as an “uninspired performance” the Dallas Cowboys seemingly performed at a level just one notch above “giving up”. And everyone knows when a team gives up, the coaching staff must change.
Jerry Jones asked if he's still backing coah Jason Garrett and OC Scott Linehan: "Well, again, I’m not in the business of backing anybody. They’re my head coach and they’re my coordinator. So I just don’t not back them publicly."
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) November 6, 2018
I truly believe Jerry Jones sees that right now. He finally sees Jason Garrett (and to a greater degree, Scott Linehan) probably needs to go. Why is Jerry so sure a change won’t be made mid-season? Because there’s no one out there to replace them.
The Dallas Cowboys have done such a poor job cultivating coaching talent they have no viable option on staff to replace Garrett/Linehan and fix the offense. It’s a sad day ‘round these parts and it’s hard to look forward to tomorrow when you have a lame duck leading the charge but that seems to be where we’re at.
Next. Expect Dallas' new O-line to be like the old one as well. dark
Fans have seen it for a while but it’s finally becoming clear to Jerry. Garrett and Linehan better hope Jerry doesn’t somehow find a replacement out there these next few week or they aren’t going to survive next week, let alone this season. But that’s just my speculation…
- Published on 11/06/2018 at 13:01 PM
- Last updated at 11/06/2018 at 12:00 PM