FanPost

Keeping Garrett Is The Right Call

When you bring up the name of the head football coach it seems everyone has an opinion. With the largest voices usually speak negatively about Jason Garrett. Many fans that I interact with on a daily basis think that Jason Garrett should have been fired after finishing his third straight 8-8 season. But to their chagrin Jerry Jones brought him back for his fourth season after taking over midway through the 2010 season.

Many of the local media seem to think that this season should be a "win or go home" situation for the former Cowboys quarterback. However during the opening press conference Jones squashed that theory.

What speaks to me is the fact that he said as far as the record. Maybe it is more about how Garrett gets to that record and not what it ends up being. If the Cowboys go 8-8 again then there will be an uproar by this fan base. But think of it like this, what if the team starts 0-4 and they finish the season going 8-4? Does ending on a positive note mean nothing? It is quite the opposite actually; it shows that Garrett can get this team up for a game in the face of a negative situation.

I have been impressed with what Garrett has done with this team despite some questionable game-management gaffes along the way. Garrett took over a team that was just embarrassed in Green Bay dropping their record to 1-7 back in 2010. This team could have just mailed it in for the remaining part of the season but they fought despite not having their franchise quarterback.

Another key indicator that Garrett was on the right track was the game in Cincinnati. Prior to the game Josh Brent was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter after wrecking his car. The incident also came with a price. It cost the life of Brent’s best friend and practice squad member Jerry Brown Jr. The team could have lost the game and many in that situation could have difficulty maintaining focus.

Getting back to my point about the record, Garrett had this team so close to the playoffs but I know that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. There is no denying that the defense a season ago was putrid, in terms of the number of yards given up, they were the worst in the NFL. With a play here or a play there on offense that last game against Philadelphia wouldn’t have mattered. This team lost five games by three or less points a season ago regardless of how the defense looked, they aren’t far off.

Garrett has been instrumental in turning this team around especially in player development and player acquisition through the NFL Draft. As many already know, the Cowboys have made a conscious effort to fix their protection issues. If you look at the history of the Cowboys first round draft picks under Jerry Jones they never drafted an offensive lineman. In the four years under Garrett the Cowboys have selected Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and most recently Zack Martin. His input has been monumental.

Fans and media alike have to realize that Jerry doesn’t want to fire Garrett for a couple reasons. The owner has made the Cowboys a family business. Stephen, Jerry Jr and Charlotte play a huge hand in the business and Jason is like another child to Jerry. The other reason Jerry doesn’t want to fire him being that the owner doesn’t want to hire another coach with how comfortable he feels with Jason.

Whether you love him or despise him, Jason Garrett has this team going in the right direction.


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