trying to get Miles his catches, and trying to get Dez in the flow, and trying to get Roy some catches, and trying to get a few to Witten and Martellus Bennett, too.
And in the running game, Marion Barber gets a few carries and has success. So now it's time to get Felix Jones involved. Let's see what he can add to the party. And then after that, Tashard Choice comes in on third downs to get some snaps. And then Choice comes in for the Razorback (and we'll get to that in a second, too).
But it's just too many options for one game. The Cowboys don't need to make sure they keep everyone happy because as we've come to realize here in the last few years, it's not going to happen.
You're not going to keep them all happy. Too many egos and too much pride for that to happen. They all think they should be the one to make the play, so even in a victory, you're not going to have perfect harmony.
I say focus on the two or three guys that can really produce: Austin and Witten, and then probably Dez.
No reason to force the ball to Bennett or Kevin Ogletree or Sam Hurd or even Williams. But Williams will be out there and he'll probably thrive with more catches if they just allow him to flow with the offense.
With the running game, I would scrap the three-headed monster stuff. First of all, it's not really a monster at all right now. Secondly, nobody gets a chance to find a rhythm. I still think Barber should be the starting running back, but I also think he should be a second-quarter tailback, too.
If you get 27 yards in the first quarter, you probably shouldn't finish with 31 for the game. Isn't there something about sticking with the hot hand?
But they seem so worried about getting Jones his carries too and then even Choice. Just go with one guy and have a compliment back in Felix, who can also be used at receiver if needed.
As for the Razorback, have we seen enough yet? It doesn't work and, frankly, it's not needed.
The Wildcat formation was created for teams with bad quarterbacks. Plain and simple. If the strength of your team is your running backs, then find a way to use them better. That's what the Wildcat does.
That's what happened at Arkansas with Jones, Darren McFadden and Peyton Hillis. Those three guys were in the same collegiate backfield and now all three of them are either starters, featured backs or play key roles for their respective NFL teams.
With the Dolphins, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams were just better threats than quarterback Chad Pennington or even Chad Henne now. But you don't see Peyton Manning split out wide or Tom Brady or Drew Brees or really any of these top-tier quarterbacks. And neither should Tony Romo.
That play isn't working, especially if Choice never gives the ball away. It's almost like he's tried so hard to get any carries that when he's got the ball, he doesn't want to give it up.
He should've pitched the ball to Felix in Washington and should've handed it off against Chicago.
I say scrap that play.
Defensively, the Cowboys have to find a nickel linebacker. What in the name of Bobby Carpenter is going on?
You guys thought he was a huge bust because he was a first-round pick who didn't start. Well, that's fine. But this team has a third-round pick from last year in Jason Williams who is just a special teams guy. And then Sean Lee, a second-round pick with supposedly first-round talent, wasn't ready to play the nickel and now he's hurt again, something that has plagued him for two years and caused him to fall in the draft.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Cowboys go with a safety in that role, with someone like Barry Church or even Danny McCray, one of these big-bodied safeties who can cover a tight end. But it can't continue to be Bradie James and Keith Brooking, or we're going to see them both start wearing down on defense, too.
I don't think it's time for wholesale changes, but the winless start certainly calls for some tweaks and adjustments.
And there's my (0-and) 2 cents.
