Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys: Jason Garrett has to stop playing not to lose

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Jason Garrett has been one of the most conservative coaches in the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys can never become winners until he changes that approach

The phrase gets thrown around a lot, especially in Dallas: the goal is simply “not to lose” the game, but control the clock and force the opponent to beat you. However, the problem is that this strategy is outdated and hasn’t worked for the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas had that philosophy on Sunday with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. The fourth-round pick threw 45 passes. 26 of those went towards either tight end Jason Witten or slot receiver Cole Beasley, players known for making solid catches within yards of the line of scrimmage.

They also decided twice on third-and-long plays to throw screen passes to Witten. Seriously; to Witten. Now let’s be honest, Witten is one of the best tight ends of all-time. But if anyone thinks he can break a long run on a screen, they are delusional. These were simply plays of concession.

Such poor throws and towel tossing have become the norm in Dallas. Last season, Brandon Weeden set a team record for completions in a row. However, it never lead to any wins. The same results were happening with Matt Cassel and the two veteran quarterbacks were the scapegoats.

The problem, however, wasn’t them. This was proven when Weeden went to Houston after being cut by Dallas and won a game for the team as a starter with just weeks to prepare. The problem is Jason Garrett and his ultra-conservative approach to the game.

Sadly, team owner Jerry Jones even knows it. Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram quoted Jones last December questioning how this coaching staff couldn’t manage to squeak out more than one lousy win without their quarterback Tony Romo.

“I am stunned that we haven’t been able to win more games without Tony, and I would have thought that we could have coached it up enough, and put it together enough, that we would not have lost those games without Romo early. We would be in better shape than we are right now.”

Yet in 2016, we see more of the same. Romo is hurt and Garrett is scared to death to throw the ball more than five yards down the field. And adjustments? Garrett seems to think those must not be necessary as evidenced by his game plan never, ever-changing no mater who the team faces.

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett at the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Is This Still On-the-Job-Training?

It was said back in 2012 that Garrett was on a “learning curve.” This was Jones’ response to some late game clock issues by Garrett as he struggled to win close games.

Sound familiar? The Cowboys are masters of losing close games. In 2015 they lost overtime games to the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles by six points each. They lost to the powerhouse Seattle Seahawks by one, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by four, the New York Jets by three, and the New York Giants by seven.

Now they’ve started this year with a one-point loss. The players may change, but the problem stays the same. Jason Garrett is simply too focused on the way things were in the 1990’s when he played.

His mindset is to win in the NFL all you have to do is control the clock and avoid turnovers. Better put, play the game not to lose. The issue is he is playing without winning being the primary focus.

It’s time for a new philosophy, and Jeff Sullivan of the team’s official website explained why in his piece titled “Stop trying not to lose.”

I’m done with time of possession. Have read several new-age articles the last few months on why it’s meaningless, and while I was holding out hope, here’s the first half numbers: Both teams had 185 yards, the Giants led 13-9 and the Cowboys held the football for more than 22 minutes. The Cowboys were successful in 2014 for many reasons, none of which were time of possession. If the opposing offense is better than your defense, guess what, they are going to score.

Sullivan also blames Garrett for not trying to go deep more often and says Dez Bryant should have been able to haul in a couple of touchdowns. The blame keeps falling on quarterbacks and players like Terrance Williams who blew it at the end by not getting out of bounds. Though at fault, they aren’t the only ones to blame.

Dez keeps dropping catches a guy with his salary should make. The so-called “best offensive line in the NFL” opened no holes for running back Ezekiel Elliott. And Garrett keeps putting his team into situations where one mistake, like the one Williams made, will cost them the entire game.

Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys before the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

How Can They Fix This?

Garrett isn’t really a poor coach. If he were, the team would have quit on him long ago. They haven’t and you can tell by their play on the field. They fight hard and the defense actually plays better than their talent says they should.

The problem is he is plagued by coaching scared football. He is mortified of turning the ball over. He is scared to death that someone could make a mistake.

Doing so puts the team in the unfavorable position of having to play perfect football. The fact is their defense kinda stinks. So what are the options? Option one has been what he is doing. Control the clock and hope you somehow squeak out a last-second win.

The problem there is if the opponents are better on offense than your defense, you won’t get that last stop you need. Then it becomes a 50-50 toss up on whether or not you win. Which would explain Garrett’s 45-44 career coaching record.

The other philosophy is to put your foot on the gas and put the pressure on the opponent. Dallas should have a puncher’s chance against any team based on their offensive skill players.

They have Dez Bryant as the stud receiver and deep threats like Williams and Brice Butler. They have sure-handed threats like Witten and Beasley. Their running game should have been better. Elliott didn’t shine in his debut, but Alfred Morris may be the best backup or secondary running back in the league.

Use those players. Keep feeding Morris when he’s bowling people over. Get Elliott going on some pass patterns when running lanes aren’t there. Lob it up once or twice to Bryant and make the defense back off. Do something other than attack three-to-five yards past the line of scrimmage.

The Dallas Cowboys aren’t a good all-around football team right now. That doesn’t mean they can’t find ways to win. All they need to do is reel off about nine of those and they could win their poor division.

That won’t happen though as long as Garrett is more afraid of losing than he is dedicated to winning.