Who should go first?
A popular topic during today's live Game Log was which member of the Cowboys coaching staff should be fired first.
Popular choices were special teams coach Bruce Read and head coach Wade Phillips.
But don't forget, the defense has struggled mightily at times -- could Brian Stewart be the first to go?
And the offensive unit doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders -- should Jason Garrett get the boot?
Tony Romo doesn't have the time to pass that he used to -- is Hudson Houck the one who should be out?
Or should Jerry just sell the team? Will that solve the problems?
Who should go first? Tell us in the comments below!
Fire Phillips and Read.
Posted by: JOHN | October 12, 2008 at 07:24 PM
The team ought to sell Jerry!
Posted by: JOHN | October 12, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Considering the Cowboys special teams gave up two bookend touchdowns today, sounds like the special teams coach is the one to go. Cowboys are playing like they just need to show up and they'll be handed the win, while every opponent really gears up to play the Cowboys. The whole team needs an attitude adjustment and that starts with the head coach. Is Wade the guy to do that?? We'll see...
Posted by: Jeff | October 12, 2008 at 07:30 PM
Bruce REad should be fired...I didn't see hardly any play action pass...the Cardinals were just pinning their ears back and coming at Romo....so run more screens, the ones they ran worked pretty well....
Take away the 13 points that the Cards scored on special teams and Dallas wins the game...blocked punt in overtime, is inexcusable....kick return for touchdown was overdue to happen....
Now we lose McBriar, for how long? I hope we can find somebody out there on the waiver wire that can punt....
hope that Felix Jones is hurt to bad and Jay Ratliff....
I would say that we can count on beating hte Rams however who knows now....and then we play the Bucs at home???
If you look at the Cowboys remaining schedule...which is 10 games with them already playing 6, we are 4 wins and 2 losses....going just .500 puts us at 9 - 7.....
This team needs to step it up, and get it together....all of this talent...all of the mistakes that they have had finally caught up with them.
5 games today were won on special teams in the last seconds of the game....
Posted by: greg | October 12, 2008 at 07:30 PM
Bruce Read.Special Teams with the exception of the field goal team has been a on going problem since last year.The kick and punt coverage is terrible.
Posted by: Brian | October 12, 2008 at 07:34 PM
read needs to go NOW! bring coach joe back. do something to wake the ranch up. also please get a receiver b4 the trade deadline. the redhead better figure some things out because it looks like some teams have figured him out & finally, kosier seems to be missed more than anyone thought.
Posted by: tony | October 12, 2008 at 07:41 PM
Bruce Read. The end. No other coach has done as poorly with what he has (although all the other coaches are doing poor overall as well).
You can kiss McBriar out for probably the year. That was a horrendous hit after Curtis airmailed the block. At the least, he broke his leg. At worst, he lost all 3 ligaments in it as well. It looked that bad. If he can even resume a career close to where he was (among the league's elite) I'd be impressed. It would be a true miracle if that even occurs in 2008 after the way that leg got crushed. I guess he won't be sending TOny Kurtass any Christmas cards this year.
Posted by: The Swami | October 12, 2008 at 07:45 PM
This team is a joke. I have been a Dallas fan for over 30 years and this is truly the first team that comes across as so arrogant that they think they don't have to adjust. They force the ball to Owens and don't run against Owens and then two weeks in a row they force the run to start the game. They start slow because they now run on 1st and 2nd down and have to punt. They have no clue how to get the ball to their WRs. Other teams have their star receivers still get the ball. Where was Whitten when they needed blitz relief. The only play who showed up today was Barber - and only in the passing game.
They get the ball in over-time and do squat with the ball.
Posted by: mike | October 12, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Phillips needs to go first! It all starts with the head coach. Need a disciplinarian at the top, with player coaches underneath. If T.O. and others don't like it, let them go. A team will always perform better than individuals, regardless of how much talent those individuals have!
Posted by: Russell | October 12, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Stewart's defense made one game-changing play all day. The Ware sack on Arizona's last drive. His CBs can't defend against WRs. They can't. Special teams are a joke. The passing game is horrendous and everyone has the book on Barber WHEN we try to force the run. Owens? I would be made right now too if I were him. I don't want to force the ball to him but you can surely try. Other teams get the ball to Moss, Harrison, Wayne, A. Johnson, etc.
Posted by: tank | October 12, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Phillips waived off one of the first penalties like it didn't matter since he didn't agree with it. Well, he can't waive off the effects of the penalty. The team kills a punt return and gets in a hole. Stop dismissing penalties as if they are no big deal. They kill your team.
Posted by: mike | October 12, 2008 at 07:51 PM
13 points and a missed field goal?? Its gotta be Bruce Read to get the boot!
The O line looked downright terrible tonight, Romo was on the ground for just about half of his dropbacks tonight. Pathetic.
Bottom line: standings dont change at all. Playoffs are the goal, playoff win after that. Great teams win games like this, maybe we just have to admit we arent great yet.
Posted by: American Fan | October 12, 2008 at 07:51 PM
It starts with the head coach. No discipline and this was bound to happen. It start with the playoffs last year and has just carried over. The special teams coach is a joke. Bring back Coach Joe. The owner needs to realize that money doesn't buy a championship team. Your players have to want to win and apparently the Cowboy players don't want too.
Posted by: Marilyn | October 12, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Wade absolutely needs to go, and now! Forget last year. If anything, last season should serve as an example of why he needs to hit the bricks. His team was on the brink of a 15-1 record, faded down the stretch, and squandered home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a first round loss. Allowing players to go on vacation during the first round bye? There's not one of 500 other coaches who wouldn't have hit the ceiling over that escapade. First and foremost, the team should have never been given the time off. Second, he should have had steam boiling out of his ears when he found out about the trip to Mexico.
Wade Phillips is like a pilot who has lost control of an aircraft but instead of fighting to regain control, he gives the flight crew the rest of the day off and waits for the plane to miraculously right itself, and then blames the air traffic controllers for the ensuing crash when it doesn't happen.
He's probably a nice guy, but he's not here to be the players' buddy. He's the boss and if he cannot or will not take the reigns and show the guts it takes to get into people's faces, then he needs to be shown the door first thing in the morning.
Posted by: rjaam | October 12, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Do the Cowboys have a special teams coach? It does not appear that they do. If they do have a special teams coach, he should be fired.
Posted by: Sean Riley | October 12, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Junk this 3-4 defense. It ain't workin' and the players aren't buying into it. I've never like the 3-4, even though there have been some 3-4 teams that have won championships with it recently. All that means is one thing, Jerry Jones is a follower and not a leader. Jerry falls for the latest scheme of the day and he always ends up playing catch up.
Under Tex Schramm, Landry, and Brandt, the Cowboys were innovators. Everyone else in the league built their teams based on what the Cowboys were doing. Today, they have become copycats who try to cash in on the latest trend, usually with no success. Remember when Donovan McNabb and Duante Culpepper came into the league and mobile black quarterbacks were all the rage? Jerry runs out and wastes a high draft pick on Quincy Carter. New England has success with the 3-4 and Jerry has to have it now. Jerry does not innovate, he imitates, and with no success to show for it.
Junk this 3-4 now and go back to the 4-3. Like Wade Phillips, this ain't working out.
Posted by: rjaam | October 12, 2008 at 08:08 PM
It starts with the head coach. The Summer camp was a joke and it got carry over to the season. Fire HC and get Bill Cowher. Get the coach who can light the fire under the player rear end. The Special team coah is a joker, he has to go as well.
Posted by: CoachMessup | October 12, 2008 at 08:14 PM
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
We want Bill Cowher.
Posted by: CoachMessup | October 12, 2008 at 08:16 PM
It all starts with the GM. He needs to get fired, but he won't fire himself and he hated having a real coach like Parcells and well, like the Jimster, so we can count on many more years of 'yes' men for Jerry. Losers like Wade who shouldn't be coaching anywhere are a dime a dozen so he will make a big show of firing him in the offseason, but instead of bringing in Cowher, we will end up with another Wade, Campo, Switzer hybrid.
Posted by: Jimmy Johnson | October 12, 2008 at 08:27 PM
I don't want anyone to be fired; I just think that everybody should step it up and do their jobs. The "Boys defense looked bad today, especially in that next to last Arizona drive. The corners looked pathetic (Anthony Henry got beat like a drum); the offensive line was horrible; Romo peaked a year ago and hasn't improved his game; I think he is destined to be an "average" quarterback. There is not a top-notch wide receiver on this team. I think that it is up to Coach Wade to right this ship as he is the head coach and should be the leader and get some discipline on this team. If that doesn't work, he should not be asked to return next year.
Posted by: Sharon | October 12, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Special teams have been a problem going back to last year. Bruce Read should already be gone. This team is showing its true identity and its not the identity of a champion. Its just a matter of time before the team begins to point fingers and implode, starting with #81. Do not be suprised if they lay another egg next week in St Louis.
Posted by: Larry | October 12, 2008 at 08:29 PM
the cowboys need a good shaking up all around but the most glaring problem i see is they need to make this trade with detriot to get RW even if you give up a #1 because i see teams rolling all their coverage to TO and the other guys are not getting open in zone and one on one coverage and we are seeing the effects of that we need a true second wideout and craton can flurish in that #3 spot and wade needs to take over play call on D and demote stewart to another roll on the team
Posted by: dallas fan for life | October 12, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Does everyone remember Camp Cup-Cake, Not tackling in camp... Now the cowboys can't stop anyone... Missed tackles. no discipline... Too many yellow flags... Unable to finish a game.... Sounds like a typical Wade Phillips Team.... He has to be fired.... Team attitude is bad... Attitude reflects leadership
FIRE WADE
Posted by: J GEE | October 12, 2008 at 08:31 PM
LITTLE BUM AND BRIAN STEWART
Posted by: TRAMO | October 12, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Someone HAS to go, even if it's only symbolic. Unfortunately for Bruce Read, he looks like the prime candidate for scapegoat.
Some adjustments, at the very least, elsewhere. Such as, the secondary...which seems to have trouble covering its own shadow.
And a new QB coach should be in order, because I think Romo has stopped listening to Wilson.
Ultimately, after the Cowboys finish the NFC East out of the playoffs altogether, Wade Phillips will be replaced and there will be significant staff adjustments, but I don't see the Jones family making that decision after game 6.
Posted by: J V Donnant | October 12, 2008 at 08:38 PM