NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Will Garrett Cost the Cowboys a Top Three Draft Spot?
What a catch-22 for newly minted Cowboys head coach (interim) Jason Garrett: If he does his job really well and delivers the tangible success Jerry Jones is asking for, he might actually cost the Cowboys a top draft pick.
The power ranking consensus this week gives the Cowboys the third pick in the 2011 draft. If Garrett were to exceed expectations, that pick could conceivably drop out of the the top ten. Not likely, but not unheard of either.
So what's your choice: Restore some dignity to this franchise by playing hard and winning a couple of the remaining games or hope for a high pick in the draft?
[Note: 20 of 20 power rankings that we regularly are now in.]
1. Major Media Networks & Affiliates
SportingNews.com: 26th (-5). "It's up to Jon Kitna, 38, and Keith Brooking, 35, to lead their teammates to a respectable finish under interim coach Jason Garrett."
CBSSports.com: 29th (n.c.). "The move to Jason Garrett won't change their fate. It will be interesting to see if they at least try harder now."
National Football Post: 29th (-1). "Firing Wade Phillips is one way to hide the embarrassment of the Cowboys 2010 season."
NFL.com's Brain Trust of Experts: 30th (-1). Three cheers for Bucky Brooks, who is the only NFL.com panelist who found it in his heart to award the Cowboys the number one draft pick.
ESPN: 30th (-1). "This wasn't the way Jason Garrett envisioned becoming a head coach, taking over an underachieving team at midseason. (Clayton)"
Fox Sports: 30th (n.c.). "Pulling the plug on head coach Wade Phillips won't solve anything. Jason Garrett, who was named interim head coach, is part of the problem. His refusal to commit to the running game is one of the big reasons why the offense underachieved this season."
USAToday.com: 31th (-2).
[updated] SI.com: 32nd (n.c.). "Nothing like getting your dream job, huh, Jason Garrett? I'm guessing this isn't necessarily the way he envisioned the big promotion unfolding. No pressure or anything, but your entire future as a head coach in the NFL likely hinges on how Jon Kitna and the rest of the characters who quit on Wade Phillips respond to the final eight games of the season."
2. Blogs & Other Media
ProFootballWeekly: 30th (-2). "Mike Jenkins has taken a serious fall this season."
Weii.com: 30th (n.c.). "Many across the NFL say that firing a head coach mid-season is the wrong decision to make. However, in this given situation, it was totally necessary. It was obvious the Cowboys players had given up hope under ex-head coach Wade Phillips and a change had to be made. Dallas was playing with no energy, maybe Jason Garrett can get something going in Arlington."
ColdHardFootballFacts.com: 30th (-2). "Any particular reason secondary coach Dave Campo didn’t lose his job along with Wade Phillips? The Cowboys are dead last in Defensive Passer Rating at 109.1, which puts them on pace for the worst pass defense in NFL history. When Campo took over for the 2008 season, the Cowboys were coming off a No. 5 performance (75.1 DPR); they then slipped to 20th in 2008 (86.2), and 16th in 2009 (83.5) despite a devastating front seven."
SB Nation.com: 31st (-1). "Wow. Just wow. The Cowboys are the biggest surprise of the year. You don't fire your coach without earning your way to the second to last ranking."
ProFootballTalk.com: 32nd (-1). "Jerry Jones' decision to fire a head coach during the season proves once again that, whenever someone in the media points to the fact that something has never happened as conclusive proof that it never will, ignore them."
Fanhouse.com: 32nd (n.c.). "Wade Phillips is out, Jason Garrett is in, and the Cowboys are done being relevant until at least the 2011 NFL Draft. It'll be interesting to see how Dallas responds to the coaching change, but it's about all that's worth watching here."
3. Statistics, Computer & Vegas rankings
[updated] AdvancedNFLstats: 21st (-5). Offense ranked No. 9 (n.c.), Defense ranked No. 26 (+2). This ranking model includes offensive and defensive passing and running efficiency, offensive turnover rates, defensive interception rates, and team penalty rates.
FootballOutsiders.com: 27th (n.c.). Offense ranked No. 22 (-4), Defense No. 28 (n.c.), Special Teams No. 21 (-5).
Jeff Sagarin's NFL rankings: 30th (-1). These are rankings based on W/L record, points differential and schedule strength.
Covers.com: 30th (-1). "Dallas hit a new low after getting embarrassed on national television at Green Bay. Head coach Wade Philips was finally fired and now the players are playing for their own jobs."
WhatIFsports: 30th (-5). These guys simulate every possible match-up in the NFL 100 times, and use the winning percentages from those nearly 50,000 games to evaluate every team, with updated rosters and depth charts.
Betus.com: 31st (-1). "I know Wade Phillips was the head coach and all, but doesn’t some of the blame reside with Tony Romo as well? What has he proven in his career aside from blowing playoff games? Next Game: Dallas vs. New York Giants -13.5"
It's all divisional games this week in the East. The Cowboys face the Giants on Sunday, while the the Eagles and Redskins go at it on Monday. Here's how the NFC East fared, plus what draft pick the rankings translate to for the Cowboys:
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What if?
Dallas finishes with the worst record. The 2011 draft happens and Dallas drafts first (or trades it, whatever). Then there is a work stoppage in say May 2011. The 11 season is a no-show (no games, none, period). Then the CBA is settled, say mid Jan 2012. Will there be another draft in 2012? Will everyone pick in the same order as 11? What a bounty! Is this how it would go down?
I have not even thought about that, good question.
Super Bowl Baby!!!
I had the exact same thought.
I wonder if they would do some sort of weighted lottery in 2012 like the NBA does if there was no season next year. Oh well, we could still get some baller either way.
Mel Kiper?
Is that you?
"Wade is no longer the coach." Jason Garrett
by k2spitfire88 on Nov 9, 2010 10:20 PM CST up reply actions
"Will there be another draft in 2012?"
Yes. There has to be.
Will everyone pick in the same order as 11?
Great question. I would think yes, but I don’t know for sure.
Draft Lottery
I would bet there would be a draft lottery much like the NBA does for that year if there was not football played. Of course the cowboys would have a high probability at a high draft pick again, but nothing guaranteed.
"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious." –Vince Lombardi
by ProBowlFactory on Nov 9, 2010 9:03 PM CST up reply actions
Why?
Why not just keep the same order?
by RisingSunCowboy on Nov 10, 2010 12:08 AM CST up reply actions
Not to me
If draft order is assigned in order to help the worst teams and not the best teams, then why would the motivation change simply because no one played between drafts?
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
exactly
I dont even see how this is being questioned.
by RisingSunCowboy on Nov 11, 2010 1:28 AM CST up reply actions
So let me get this straight
The worst team in football is awarded the top pick. A year passes with nothing happening and all of a sudden that team should stand to lose its top pick?
by RisingSunCowboy on Nov 11, 2010 1:29 AM CST up reply actions
too tired to look it up
but the NHL had that happen w/their last work stoppage. Well i’m pretty sure of that at least. I know the same questions came up for them as well
by Perry the Platypus on Nov 9, 2010 10:11 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
My suggestion....
if I wanted to be fair (and I don’t if I’m drafting first in 11), is to do something like they do in Little League and such: Round one goes in regular order based on 2010’s final standings, then Round 2 would be 32-1. Then Rd 3 would be 1-32 again and on and on through 7 rounds. Hokey, sure, but somebody will want some degree of leveling out with no games in 11 to establish the draft order in ’12.
Little doubt here that
we will make poor decisions regardless of where we draft, so…. just win baby!
Team needs some confidence.
Unless jj is certain of a work stoppage & draft order is for 2 drafts(I would doubt that.) But if that’s the case, we could have kept wade.
And completely agree with CHFF on dave campo. His walking papers should have been permanent the 1st time around.
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
"What the hell is goin ON out here?!" - Lombardi
The Sale Begins Soon
Everyone should be on the trading block. Our new coach needs to choose between a 3-4 or a 4-3, and we could fire sale this team to yield 1989-like draft picks. Of course our GM needs to step down and a competent scouting staff be hired in the meanwhile.
Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.
I have a hunch
that this “high level of talent” that the organization/media/fans has pumped up is not viewed with the same eyes in the rest of the league. The only people I hear say that are media/BSPN. I bet the war room would be very disappopinted at what we could actually get for this bunch of quitters. I have even read some quotes from opposing players that the “talent” label for Dallas is a pretty good motivator for them prior to suiting up the week before playing Dallas. I doubt MBIII brings much; same for Felix or Witten or anybody on defense. Remember, Jerry is in their war rooms.
Draft
I posted this question on DMN. Does anyone really want Jerry to have the first pick in the draft? Many people question his drafting ability, not necessarily me all the time, but he can make you scratch your head. In my mind he should have paid more attention to the O-Line in the last two drafts. Yeah Bryant should be good for a long time, but that O-Line needs to be re-built, as all has stated previously. So based on that Jerry will crack under pressure and draft the Hotdog QB and pass on the line again with the #1 pick, and that is if he doesn’t trade it away and then see his lineman drafted by another team, which seems to be the argument for why the didn’t draft any lineman the last two years.
Ahab the Arab
I say keep an eye on this kid, this Louie the Looper. He's going places!
Would it be safe to say
that if this organization doesn’t come away with at least 2 top level OLinemen from FA and the draft in 2011 that JJones should be drawn and quartered?
There is no top level talent in the draft this year. So it will have to come FA
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
referring to O-Line
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
What I'm saying lets not stage our version of Shay's Rebellion if we don't get Oline in the first 2 picks of this year's draft
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
I think he is with his outdated blocking schemes
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
For the most part I usually agree with you Rohpuri, although I don’t think his scheme is the problem as much as his lack of recognition.
Case in point – McQuistan being a servicable, if not good; starter for the Dolphins. We traded away much needed line depth for a 6th round pick!? That one has to fall squarely on Houck’s shoulders, he spends the most time with these guys.
That's what I'm trying to say
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
Being the biggest loser
may be great for fatties, but not for this football team. I’d rather see our past draft picks show they were worth it and play to win the last half of the season, not crash and burn so Jerry gets to throw the dice on the next rookie class.
Just win, baby.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Sort of a
“I find your lack of faith disturbing”? maybe, but the question seems to now be, What would do this team more good? Some confidence boosting wins or two straight high first round draft picks?
The wins
IMO
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
I agree.
What good would it do to draft an Andrew Luck or Pat Peterson if the team has turned into the Detriot Lions and finds losing acceptable. that would be a complete rebuilding project where basically the whole team would need to be replaced. That’s not a good thing. We have some good players, and some great players. If we can replace the chaff, like OL, ILB, and DBs, we can turn it around again. It might take a couple of years, but much less time than a complete rebuild and hopeless squalor like the Lions have been most of the time.
As I’ve said before, I’m not interested in high draft picks. I’m interested in winning. This isn’t Madden where you can screw your season for a high draft pick and not suffer consequences.
In Madden
I win the Super Bowl every year, yet end up with two high first rounders every year as well. How do I do that? I cheat.
by One.Cool.Customer on Nov 10, 2010 1:13 AM CST up reply actions
My Akwasi Owusu Ansah is rated about 94 @ free safety in Madden because I edited his stats :)
You know what’s terrible though? I played a dynasty with the Cowboys, and after 2010 year every player started plummeting!
Jay Ratliff started declining, so did Romo and Austin plateaued. Dez Bryant shot up though, Kevin Ogletree eventually hit an 84 as a receiver (good for the slot IMHO). My offensive line collapsed and the secondary collapsed.
I thought it was an aberration but seeing the collapse this year makes it very ominous indeed.
After winning the Super Bowl with the Cowboys in 2010
I undertook a whole sale rebuilding process:
1) I traded away
T-New to the 49ers for a 1st Rd pick; I traded Felix to the Chargers for Ryan Matthews; I traded Sensi to the Saints for Malcolm Jenkins; I traded Roy Williams to the Bears for Devin Aromashadu; I traded Witten to the Ravens for Ed Dixon and 4th Rder. I traded away Brooking and Bradie James for 4th and 5th Rd picks; Because the O-Line didn’t suck, I was able to trade away 4 starters (I Kept Free) in package deals with draft picks to either move down in the draft or move up depending on teams’ interests/needs, or get back young linemen from teams who had an abundance of depth. I traded away Barber and Ogletree to the Raiders for a 3rd Rd pick and Jacoby Ford (my Kick Return Specialist).
2) After all my maneuvering, I ended up with 10 picks (the limit) between RDs 1-5, I drafted heavily in rds 3 and 4.
3) In the draft: I took 2 guards, a tackle, 2 Defensive Ends (that I converted to OLBs behind Ware and Spencer ), 1 Big Fat DT who is fast which allowed me to move Rat to End, 1 cover corner that is fast with great hands, and 2 safeties, one of which I traded to the 49ers for Taylor Mays (a beast in the video game), and a QB who I traded to the Panthers for Jimmy Clausen.
4) My new Inside Linebackers are Leon Williams and Navaro Bowman (yes I traded Sean Lee to the 49ers as well).
I’ve only played 4 games of 2011, and while my interceptions have gone down, my special teams has improved and my defense is a sack machine. The offense is 10 X more explosive than 2010, which is insane, cause the 2010 offense put the 2007 Patriots, the 1999 Rams, and the 1998 Vikings to shame.
Romo to Dez and Romo to Austin are unstoppable.
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
Well
If Garrett is able to rally the troops and get these guys to show some heart and dedication, then I want as many wins as possible as well as Garrett interviewing for the job again next year. While I know it is doubtful, I am sick of a complete lack of respect and the Cowboy name being destroyed. I’ll take pride and heart over a high draft pick any day.
FA
I don’t think most teams really let go of top level lineman. They would sign them long term. Dallas has built this line on stealing from others, (Davis and Kosier) taken a chance on a severely injured player ( Colombo) and the draft. I think if they had put Davis at tackle then he would have been terrible. I think this opinion is backed up by the fact they didn’t move him to tackle. Colombo is done, as is Kosier and possible Gurode. I think it takes several drafts to re-build this and that is if they hit everytime. We need a talent evaluator worst than we need lineman. I am not going to criticze Jerry, but we need a talent evaluator and until we get that we won’t be building the line, unless we just finaly beat the odds and draft better.
Ahab the Arab
I say keep an eye on this kid, this Louie the Looper. He's going places!
Wade's Epitaph
And the road leads on to Glory, but you've used up your last wish
Ahem, Ahem, Ahem. Tony Washington
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
He'll be a Cowboys
Almost Guarantee it…..along with about 4 other top free agents. Jerry is going to spend, should be interesting
by -Primetime21- on Nov 9, 2010 10:10 PM CST up reply actions
Reply fail
He’ll be a Cowboy, along with a crop of other new faces, I have a feeling Jerry is going to spend quite a bit
by -Primetime21- on Nov 9, 2010 10:11 PM CST up reply actions
I hope we play hard and lose every single remaining game by 1 point
Sean Lissemore = The next Bruce Smith
I hope we do not win late in the season
If we win late in the season it will give Jerry a false sense of accomplishment and he will not do what has to happen and clean house. Beware of the fools gold.
If we keep losing
all season, he will have to get rid of everybody. If we win some, he knows who to keep and who to dump.
“You. Play. To. Win. The. Game.”
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
In the words of Herm Edwards
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME-HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!
If we try to win games, we can more appropriately see which players are playing hard and which players are mailing it in.
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
It really is a shame
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
It really is a shame
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
Dignity - Agreed
However, at the end of the year there are always teams that fold up the tent and give games away. Garrett will be pushing this team to the very end. I hope we are not on the winning end of those throw away games. This will once again let Jerry internally justify the decisions he has made and not realize wholesale changes are needed.
Since there isn't a guy that's actually worthy of a top pick this year aside from Luck
Then let’s get some dignity back.
Troller formerly know as Cowboysaficionado.
Yep
Now I’m warming up to him. I hope someone doesn’t come around to kill my dreams lol
Troller formerly know as Cowboysaficionado.
I'd take Peterson over Prince
Saw Blackmon (Okie St.) dominate Prince up and down the field this year, he’s also struggled a few other times this year as well.
Personally I think Peterson is the total package, he can cover, tackle, and play the run pretty well, oh and his return ability isn’t too bad either.
Oh and one other thing….how much does it suck to be talking about this in November?
by -Primetime21- on Nov 9, 2010 10:55 PM CST up reply actions
next Charles Woodson
if we dont get him im going to be pissed off
I dont want a DE say Marcel Dareus, I want Patrick Peterson, a gamebreaking ballhawk
Deion Sanders the last one here
by Archie Barberio on Nov 10, 2010 12:27 AM CST up reply actions
I'm willing to bet that
there is a franchise quality player in this draft. Luck, Peterson, Prince, that DB from NCarolina,etc.
I'm skeptical on this draft, specially after I heard people say that Peterson is stiff
The one blue-chipper at safety, Rahim Moore, probably doesn’t declare.
Troller formerly know as Cowboysaficionado.
Not a fan of Deunta Williams???
Most people rank him higher than Moore from what I’ve seen…..but I’d still take Peterson, I’ve watched quite a bit of his games this year, and he’s played great, special player.
by -Primetime21- on Nov 9, 2010 10:50 PM CST up reply actions
Deunta Williams would be a nice pick
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
Duenta Williams would be sick!!!!!!
plus he is going to be a draft bargain I really want him
1.Patrick Peterson
2.Marcus Cannon or Pouncey
3.Duenta Williams
homerun draft 3 starters right away
by Archie Barberio on Nov 10, 2010 12:28 AM CST up reply actions
Would it be possible to get
Peterson, Williams, and Pouncey?
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
yeah
Pouncey is going to fall to the 2nd due to awful Center play, really he is a good guard
Peterson should be our 1st rd pick no brainer and Duenta has a 3rd rd grade on him
by Archie Barberio on Nov 11, 2010 10:31 AM CST up reply actions
Another question:
If a hot shot certain first rounder is a junior, do you declare if the lockout is a certainty? I am not up on all the timelines and deadlines, but why come out in a year when you’ll just… I don’t know….. play video games?
Yeah, if a lockout is certain, you declare
The next CBA will most likely limit rookie contracts, so you declare this year so you can get the last of the first round windfalls.
I ran into a group of men trying to take an old lady's purse and decided it was my duty to help out. She was a tough old broad, but in the end we got her purse.
Draft should not be a concern
Our only mission for the rest of the season should be to do whatever is in our power to prevent the Eagles, Giants or Skins playing a Super Bowl in our stadium. if that were to happen, no amount of first picks will take away the pain.
by RisingSunCowboy on Nov 10, 2010 12:10 AM CST reply actions
Goes back to Dignity
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
+1
Play with dignity and become competitive again. Look at the Browns and see how a new GM and Coach can chang the culture of a losing team and make them physical and competitive…let’s do that. Dropping a few spots in draft order is well worth regaining some dignity and respect. I think that kind of impact is more dire for this team.
Bring in Landry’s ghost (or Col. Jessep) to help the players find some pride…maybe even give Igor, Bigg, and Jenkins a code red.
“We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something (like this great franchise and the game of football). You use them as a punchline.”
Besides, if we win a few games we can at least stop debating whether we should (NOT) draft Luck! And if we are really lucky, Peterson will slip down to the 5-10th spot or some O-Linemen will shine late in the year and then at the combine and not prove a reach for us to draft early.
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry
Semper Fi
Happy Veteran’s Day Mud, thanks for everything.
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry
I appreciate that - Thanks!
And Happy Veteran’s Day to all the other vets on the blog!
When in doubt, empty your magazine
Um...why not?
As a fan I have no control over or any influence on what the team does. I can dream about draft picks, future Super Bowls, or games on Thanksgiving day or Christmas day.
by staubachfan on Nov 10, 2010 10:42 AM CST up reply actions
Vegas has Dallas 13 1/2 point dogs.
The love affair is over with the bettors, Vegas and Dallas. It took long enough, hard to believe now, Dallas was favored over Jax.
Lock n Load
Top 10 Pick ='s Trading down
The 1st round OLinemen are projected to go in the late teens and early twenties. Hopefully Jerry trades down and selects OLine, safties, and DLine for the entire draft
That would be absolutely stupid
The offensive lineman in this year’s draft are not supposed anything more than JAGs. I’m fine with DBs and Defensive Ends, this is supposed to be a great draft for those positions. But I dont want us passing up best available players at other positions (except wr) just for the sake of addressing a position.
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
by Rohpuri on Nov 10, 2010 10:08 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
My hope is that a lot of guys declare in advance of a rookie wage scale in the new CBA
Beef this draft up with studs please
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
That would interesting if that happened
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
by Rohpuri on Nov 10, 2010 10:15 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Can we promote Lonae Miller to RB
And give him a chance to play? The guy looked good in Pre-Season.
It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith
by Rohpuri on Nov 10, 2010 10:17 AM CST via mobile reply actions

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