ESPN

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:02 PM)

Y'all ready to do this? Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, UT, Wash. It's all fair game. LEt's roll.

Greg (CT)

Why didnt we have any pass rush vs. an o-line with 3 backups?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:05 PM)

The guys you had rushing the passer in two spots are just guys. Ware is dinged and in the 4-3, he rotates much more than he ever did at LB. When that happens, Jason Hatcher is only pass rusher on the field and he gets double teamed. George Selvie is nice story, but you can't really expect him to play at stud level all season. We're talking about a dude on his 4th team in 4 seasons. He has some limitations

Greg (CT)

I know you'll say it's way too early but i'm sorry Terrance Willaims looks terrible, do you think he'll be benched in favor of Harris? Ton of dropped passes and stretching the ball out in that situation was flat out dumb. No luxury of patience with this team

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:06 PM)

That's just not true. He caught 7 of 8 passes thrown his way against SD. He dropped the first one and caught the others. He made a mistake on the fumble, but clearly it was a case of misguided effort. I don't how his career will turn out, but there's an awful lot of complaining about a 3rd round pick who has caught 12 passes and has two grabs of more than 20 yards

Bryan (Springdale, AR) [via mobile]

Before anyone talks bad about Romo, can you point out that if the 4 drops were caught (and they were all on the mark), he would have had an 84% completion %? Our linebackers and pass rush lost us this game. Rivers had his way over the middle any time he wanted it.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:09 PM)

Defense played poorly. Romo was fine. Who cares what he would've done without the drops. We gave him credit for both Dez's touchdowns, as we should have, when Dez did the heavy lifting on both. I don't know why folks always want to portion out credit or blame to Romo

Shawn (NC)

Hi JJT! Why isn't JG benching Claiborne? Claiborne is proving himself to be less effective this year more so than last year. I love the cowboys but I'm starting to lose faith. Thanks for hosting another great episode of our weekly chats regarding my Boys and the Rangers.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:13 PM)

You have to have a viable option before you bench someone. Even if Scandrick starts, most teams run a bevy of three-receiver formations so he'd be on the field in those situations. If not, Scandrick can play outside and BW Webb can play the slot. See, benching a dude is not always as easy as it looks.

Chris (Phoenix Az)

Why all the complaining about the run game. With Romo throwing for over 70% and only averaging about 6.5yrd per completion. Is that just as effective as running.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:14 PM)

at one level yes, but you win in the NFL by running when u need to run it and when u want to run it and by making big plays in the passing game. The Cowboys rank 27th in the NFL in plays of 20 yards or more. That's not good enough. It's a catch22 for the QB. You want to protect the ball, but by protecting the ball you're not taking shots and stretching the field

Chris (Phoenix Az)

I understand being safer with the ball but is the lack of downfield opportunities a lack of trust or just the new style of offense. With improvement in the oline I figure they throw to Dez like they did when TO was in Dallas.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:15 PM)

garrett has always wanted a lot of dudes to touch the ball. They're not force-feeding anyone

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:18 PM)

If I had to label it, I'd say they don't trust the offensive line, which is why they're throwing so many short passes. That could change during the season because it has really been OK. The reality is this is a flawed team with a lot of little problems.

Marty (San Antonio)

How do the Cowboys evaluate who's responsible for the amount of injuries we seem to be cursed with. Is it the strength and conditioning? Is it that we are selecting injury prone players? Why is it the same injuries with certain players? ie Austin with the hamstring issue and Ratliff with the Groin. Or is it just the hand that being dealt every year?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:22 PM)

It's football. It's a physical game. Injuries occur. There's no blame to be assessed.

Bigharb (Chicago)

I'm not sure if the Boys have the ability to compete beyond the putrid NFC East this year but do you think the willingness to start Scandrick & possibly Sims represents a positive growth in the organization. I couldn't see Jerry allowing something that makes it look like a high draft pick might have been a mistake to happen in past years

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:25 PM)

my good buddy Todd Archer asked Garrett yesterday why he seemed to have so little patience with players and why he seemed to quick to replace guys. Garrett gave an honest answer. As the roster gets better and there's more competition, then you have viable options to replace guys who are underperforming. As the roster gets better, Garrett has more options. So he can bench Will Allen for JJ Wilcox. Or Brian Waters for Mackenzy Bernadeau. Or move Morris Claiborne to the bench for Scandrick

Mac (CT)

Time to bench Claiborne and see what Webb can do? Can't do worse.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:26 PM)

actually, he can do worse. People always say you can't do worse, but you can.

Charles Keeth (Heathrow, Florida)

At what point if ever do we really rebuild and cut ties with the so called core veterans who have done nothing to lead this team to anything remotely near or in the vicinity of success? Maybe it's time to just take our lumps and make a real change instead of the status qou of .500 football.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:28 PM)

Never. Jerry has to fill his $1.25 billion stadium and keep the brand high profile ,so he can continue to make money with sponsorships. The Cowboys have been trying to rebuild on the fly since Garrett took over. That's why he keeps saying only 17 players remain from the 2010 team

Nate Keyman (Sioux Falls)

I don't it was good idea the fried rob Ryan

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:29 PM)

I didn't care one way or the other. I just wanted some honesty. He was a scapegoat. The play-caller also got fired. The quarterback and the head coach remained. Someone's head had to be served on a platter. it was Rob's. I wrote that at the time. Nothing has changed.

Justin (Garland)

Do you happen to know where the Longhorns are staying for the Iowa State game or do they normally travel day of game?!

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:29 PM)

nope. You can find it pretty easily on a UT message board

Rick (TX)

Even after last night, I see the Rangers trending upward in the immediate future. Pitching is beyond solid. They just need to get another bat, maybe shore up first base, and figure out what to do with Profar. Relatively speaking, those don't seem like huge deals. How do you see the the Rangers' future?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:30 PM)

They still have a core of talent and the starting pitching and BP is good. They gotta deal with these September demons because they're real. perhaps the 7-game winning streak helped get rid of them. The Rangers will win 90 and be in the hunt next season too

Tony (New York)

Game management continues to be a weakness for the Princeton Graduate. How is it that when we are in a high percentage kicking range that the decision is made to kick the field goal and prepare to dial up the defense for 3rd and out using timeouts and the two minute warning? This reminded me of Baltimore minus Princeton calling the plays.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:32 PM)

Bailey is one of the best in the game and he missed it left, I think, not short. He gave a player a chance to make a play. It didn't work out. It happens.

Rick (TX)

Will 8-8 get the Cowboys into the playoffs this season? Do you think Jerry would fire Garrett after an 8-8 season if they still make it to the postseason? Not a banner year so far for the NFC East.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:32 PM)

I don't think so. Who's his replacement. Only KC and Oak have hied more coaches than Jerry since 1997 and it hasn't helped him much

Alex, Garland Tx [via mobile]

Was Janoris Jenkins worth risking to draft over Morris Claiborne?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:33 PM)

cowboys don't like guys with issues - and that's why he fell

Mike (Missouri)

Is 8-8 enough to win the division this year?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:33 PM)

might be

Chris (ATX) [via mobile]

What do you make of all the negative reaction towards Nelson Cruz, and Wash's decision to start him. After going 0-4 it seemed to compound, what are the chances Nellie still has a home in DFW?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:34 PM)

I didn't hear any negative reaction. Nor did I read it. I didn't expect him to impact the game after missing 50 games. If the Rangers offer enough money he'll be here. If not, he won't. It's a business.

G-Money (Chicago, IL)

Blessings JJT - If you're Coach Garrett, how do you convince your team that they have any chance of beating the Broncos? Because as fans, we all know it ain't gonna happen - and so do you, right?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:37 PM)

that's cause fans are emotional. Coaches and players must be pragmatic. You look at tape, you show your team things it can exploit and why it can win if it does. There's only been two teams with undefeated regular seasons. Someone is going to beat Denver. Why not us? That will be primary discussion between coaches and players

Steve (Dallas)

Any word if Ratliff will be ready to play--I know he'll be slowly worked back in---when he comes off the PUP after week 6??

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:38 PM)

who knows? He hasn't payed in a long time. He's not going to show up and be a beast. I wouldn't have great expectations whenever he returns

T-BONE (Philly)

Why does Ware continue to get a pass. He has been ineffective or non-existent in a significant number of games. I know he has been "hurt" but that is part of the equation - he is NOT on the field dominating as he is hyped.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:41 PM)

Did you watch the game last week against St. Louis: 6T, 2 sacks, 3 TFL and 2 QB hits. So don't act like he hasn't played well at times this season. Injuries are real. He's already had two stingers and strained his back against SD. They're not excuses, but the reality is when guys are hurt they can't play to the fullest of their ability

Reggie Smith (Washington DC)

Your thoughts of Wash pulling Yu on Sunday. Did he lose confidence in his "Ace". Also, will Austin play this week?

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:43 PM)

I laugh at the criticism because it took considerably more courage to yank Yu than it did to leave him in, which would've been the easy thing to do. Wash treats all pitchers essentially the same. When the game is on the line after the 6th inning, you gotta get outs to stay in the game. That game was essentially a playoff game, so he moved up his standard to the 5th. If you watched Yu the last month, then we've seen Yu blow several leads. The Rangers couldn't afford for him to blow another in that game

Greg (CT)

Would you agree it's absolutely outrageous for people to be complaining that Romo isnt taking any deep shots this year. He's been bashed since he started for being a gunslinger and when he takes it down a notch and plays smarter people still have an issue.

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:46 PM)

No. First, it's not bashing. Romo has always been a dude who averaged just about 8.0 per pass attempt, which is outstanding. He's averaging 6.7 this year, which is average. You win in this game - ask any coach or player - by making big plays in the passing game. You run the ball to slow down the pass rush, close out the game, set up play-action passes, but all the rules are designed to help the passing game. You have to take shots down the field. Cowboys rank 27th in the NFL in big plays. Not good enough.

pj (midlo)

Hi JJT, how would you approach playing the Broncos on Sunday from an offensive standpoint ?- If it were me on Defense I would force Broncos to run - once Manning gets the smell of blood in the water in the passing game it is all over - Force the run and play for a turnover or two

jean-Jacques taylor

  (1:47 PM)

You can't force the Broncos to do anything. They do what they want. They don't take what Defensive gives them. They take what they want. If you can't confuse Peyton, it's really hard because he's going to find the mismatch

Bryan (Springdale, AR) [via mobile]

Is it time for Dez to start demanding that the ball be thrown to him more in an "up for grabs" situation? The guy should be getting 12-14 targets a game. He should be treated like Calvin Johnson.

JJT

  (1:49 PM)

Did you know the Cowboys have won just one game when Dez has been targeted 10+ times. just saying.

Mac (Ct)

I do think Selvie can continue to play at a high level. Wasn't James Harrison cut by the Steelers 3 or 4 times, as well as Baltimore, by your standards he shoulda just been thrown out of the league, and I think he turned out ok. If players can't get better why even coach them?

JJT

  (1:50 PM)

There are 1,600 players in the NFL. The odds of a guy who's been with 4 teams in 4 seasons changing his narrative is slim. If he's still playing at a high level week 16, then he'll have surprised me. It's not my job to have hope, faith and optimism. It's my job to deal in reality.

G-Money (Chicago, IL)

I hear you about fans being emotional, but we fans can be pragmatic sometimes as well. That being said, what are the weaknesses on the Broncos' team that the Cowboys should try to exploit?

JJT

  (1:51 PM)

I don't know. I don't start looking at Broncos until Wednesday. This is my last day with SD

MAX (DALLAS /TULSA )

HI JJT- I am sorry for missing your previous chats this season but I read them all and I think you have been as fair and honest with the boys as anyone could fairly hope . I think this team is still learning . They have quite a few new parts and they are a little inconsistant. I am really not a Claiborne fan at the moment. I don't want to trash him but he is always nicked up and seems scared . What do you think his boggest problem is . THX sir and have a great weeks

JJT

  (1:52 PM)

The Cowboys have a lot of high-end talent and not much depth. When they have injuries, it's hard to overcome then. Look at the defensive line. You had a guy show up off the street and get 18 snaps this week. That's not a positive.

Jerry (Allen)

Where do you see the Mavs finishing in the Western Conference this season? The Southwest Division alone is going to be ridiculous: San Antonio, Memphis, Houston, New Orleans. Wow. I don't see a playoffs for the Mavs this season. Your thoughts?

JJT

  (1:56 PM)

I didn't think they were a playoff team last year and they weren't. I think they're a playoff team this year. Lot of depth. Lot of vets. Quality coach. Good bench. That said, they're not a great team. I see in no order Clippers, Thunder, Spurs, Rockets, Golden State and Grizzlies finish ahead of Mavs. Some folks seem to think Grizzlies will drop cause they lost Lionel Hollins. The Mavs will be in pack of teams getting last 2 spots. I expect them to grab one, though.

Malcolm Shipp (Memphis, TN.)

Is there anyone in the Cowboys organization with the intestinal fortitude to tell Mr. Jones that the manner in which he has run this team is not, has not and will not work? I really believe he does not care about winning, only padding his pockets.

JJT

  (1:57 PM)

I'm always curious about that. At your job, would you have the intestinal fortitude to tell the CEO that the manner in which he has run this team is not, has not and will not work?

Matthew (Dallas)

The Rangers starting pitching is formidable (at least on paper). However their record is surprising and doesn't really attest to this, especially Garza's, who is supposed to be an innings eater. What was up? Overrated or just fluky results? Also what pitching changing do you expect (if any) in off-season?

JJT

  (1:58 PM)

Starters were good much of the season. The offense was the problem. That said, Garza was just a guy for the Rangers

Kyle (Irving)

How much of an upgrade will Monta Ellis be over O.J. Mayo, if at all?

JJT

  (1:59 PM)

He should be huge upgrade. Ellis is a legit starter and quality player. Mayo is on his 3rd team in 3 years and didn't do much when it mattered last season

Zach (SA TX)

Do you think the Mavs offseason acquisitions are enough to get them back into the playoffs?

JJT

  (2:00 PM)

This year, I'll be surprised if Mavs not in the playoffs

Ian (Atl, GA)

Many will point to the Defense as an issue last week, but I also wonder what is up with Callahan and the offense. The SD defense was near last in both the run and the pass and the Cowboys Offense could only get 14 points. Plus, we either see heavy emphasis on 3 WR, or 2TE but not a good mixture of both. Can't a game plan implement Williams, Hannah, and Escobar? It seems like Callahan just uses only one of them a game!

JJT

  (2:01 PM)

It's hard when you only get 3 possessions in the 2H. ron Leary holding penalty was huge. It negated a first down catch by Cole Beasley and Cowboys punted

JJT

  (2:01 PM)

Great chat today. I'm going to watch the All 22 coach's tape so I can see what happened on both sides of the ball last week.