Go down Little did I know that Jon Kitna had a gift of his own. His mistake and about two dozen others resulted in a semi-shocking 27-26 loss on Christmas night to the Cardinals.
Boy, did shit hit the fan. Jerry Jones is pissed because his half-assed talent isn't very good. Well, he's more pissed that the coaches can't take his talent from the Big XII and Arkansas and turn it into a team that can beat the Cardinals in front of God and everybody.
Also, I noted Friday that there are a ton of players that will be playing for a spot in 2011 (or 2012 ... depending on work stoppage and whatnot) either on the Cowboys or with someone else.
I'm pretty sure several guys might have played themselves out of a spot.
Marion Barber
Marion Barber was good, but his over-celebration almost caused him to tear every muscle in his body. Probably playing in his final days as a Cowboy.
Roy Williams
He can't come back, right? His attempt at a catch resulted in the Cardinals second interception return for a touchdown. He failed to record a catch.
David Buehler
Again, you can't bring him back, right? He did hit a 53-yard field goal. He also missed a crucial extra point that cost the Cowboys overtime. I suspect he could be good one day. However, how many blown saves did it take the Rangers to replace Frank Francisco with Neftali Feliz?
Marc Columbo
Did you see the Arizona defenders just scooting around him? He looks like a dude that had been on another team's junk pile.
Alan Ball
C-U-T.
And they're not alone. However, they're the most likely to go. Frankly, I'd dump half the team.
Grades:
Quarterback -- C
Because Jon Kitna could not have been worse and Stephen McGee could not have been better.
Running Back -- B+
Considering they were within one score of the Cardinals throughout the second half, you wonder why the Cowboys didn't run more considering they gashed the Cards for 5.5 yards a carry. They ran the ball three times in two drives down eight to start the third.
Wide Receiver -- D
You could put the two Kitna interceptions on the receivers. That's 14 points there. Add to the fact that Roy Williams didn't get to the stadium on time to play and that the receiving corps was outdone by the tight ends 11-8, and you've got a pretty bad day for the receivers.
Tight End -- B
Martellus Bennett's kind of found an identity. Give him a little room to run and he can eat up yards. Jason Witten made it to 90 catches with eight.
Offensive Line -- F
Absolutely horrible. Starts with the right side of the line and works itself over. If the Cowboys had to blow up one full squad, it'd be the offensive line. Keep Doug Free and rebuild.
Defensive Line -- F
The Cowboys are 5-10. It's stated that you win games in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys aren't winning in the trenches. And are thus losing.
Linebacker -- D
Blah as blah can get. A defense that's come to be known a little for making plays couldn't milk a single turnover out of John Skelton.
Secondary -- D
Mike Jenkins' and Alan Ball's complete bumbling of the long touchdown pass defines the 2010 Dallas Cowboys.
Special Teams -- D
Dallas could never turn the field position around to their favor. Killed them all game starting in or around their own 20 yard line. Then the missed extra point happened and none of it mattered.
Coaching -- F
I thought the playcalling was atrocious. The porous offensive line resulted in the quarterback getting pounded. The defense looks disinterested. We haven't seen a team as focused or enthused about playing football since Wade Phillips strolled the sidelines. You know, eight weeks ago.
