Jerry Jones admits Cowboys have a lot of work to do after loss to Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Dallas Cowboys’ awful season is just about over now, and owner Jerry Jones doesn’t want anyone thinking he believes quarterback Tony Romo’s repeat collarbone breaks were all that kept them from being among the NFC’s elite.
“I don’t have the heart to put us in with those clubs right now, because I don’t want to — we’ve got more work to do than just get Romo healthy,” Jones told reporters after Sunday’s 28-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers dropped the Cowboys two games back in the NFC East with three to go.
“And I’m not just saying that to be magnanimous here for anybody in some way. But we’ve got a lot of work (to do). I want you to know that there are some things that we have to do better for us to have a healthy Romo and have an effective Dez Bryant. There’s some things we’ve got to really address and do better as we look over these last three games and in the future.”
Does that mean coaching, in which Jones hinted disappointment after last week’s win against the Washington Redskins?
“I’m just saying in general, all the way across,” Jones said. “I thought for instance that 71 (rookie left guard La’el Collins) played lights out out there tonight. He’s very aggressive. But my point is, that offensive line — I’m proud of the talent we’ve got right there, but obviously, you can have a talented, healthy offensive line … and you can win four ballgames with three to go. I’m not (trying) to be humorous about it, but it’s not the answer at all.”
Same goes for Dallas’ defensive front, which Jones praised as one of the most talented they’ve fielded in years with everyone available the past few weeks. But that group couldn’t stop the Packers from running 44 times for 230 yards on Sunday — using the Cowboys’ own formula against them in a rematch of last season’s divisional playoff here.
They knew they had no margin for error after the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles won earlier in the day to move to 6-7. But the Cowboys seemed flat in the first half, the defense wore down and the offense couldn’t get anything going after pulling within a touchdown in the third quarter – a common problem in the slide to 4-9.
“There’s a lot of frustration. There’s disappointment,” tight end Jason Witten told Paste BN Sports. “It’s not time to feel sorry for yourself or look at all that. We have to play together at critical times. When that game was 14-7 and offensively we get it back and get three possessions and get one first down, you’re not going to win many games that way.”
Jones praised Jason Garrett as “an outstanding coach” and gave him a new five-year contract after the Cowboys’ surge forward last season. Jones also said he doesn’t mind counting on Romo being healthy next season at age 36. But the way Jones spoke Sunday made it sound as if a thorough re-analysis is in order on the way the Cowboys are constructed.
Can you blame him?
After Bryant’s late fourth-down catch was overturned and the Packers sent Dallas packing here back in January, Jones and his personnel staff took a series of calculated gambles – from letting running back DeMarco Murray leave in free agency to signing lightning-rod defensive end Greg Hardy – in hopes of building a team that could win it all in 2015.
Instead, Bryant got hurt in the opener and missed five games. Romo went down in Week 2, returned for two starts and then got hurt again on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys’ two most important players were healthy together for a total of about six quarters. They had to wait for Hardy and linebacker Rolando McClain to return from suspension in Week 5.
“My dream was to have a lot of these players that were not with us early, to have them back right now, peaking,” Jones said.
Jones has admitted the flaws in his backup quarterback plan, starting with Brandon Weeden and then a trade for journeyman Matt Cassel, whose limitations were on display again Sunday – though Bryant didn’t help him on a rainy day at Lambeau Field.
One high throw bounced off Bryant’s hands for an interception to stop an impressive opening drive. He dropped several others, including one that slid out of his right arm, hit the ground and (rather fittingly) was overturned on review.
The plan going in was to feed Bryant more, Jones said. But the Cowboys’ lone scoring drive Sunday featured four straight run plays, while Aaron Rodgers passed for 218 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay.
“We need everything to go just right for us to beat a team out here with Rodgers doing his thing,” Jones said. “We didn’t have it. There were a lot of things (that went wrong). You can start right here certainly with me and be critical about a lot of aspects of this team.”
It sure sounds like Jones will be doing the same during an offseason that’s practically underway now.
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Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero
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