Dallas Cowboys: I'll be your Huckleberry...

The majority of pot hole patrols have come up with two major areas of failure to last season.

First, being the wide receiver image following the departure of Terrell Owens. The media feeding frenzie has not even abated despite his departure. What the media did was remove the focus of the players on the Dallas team, but it did not alter what was the crux of the matter and what was being taken onto the field.

This should be viewed more accurately as a loss of production on the offensive side of the ball.

Let's start with TO himself. It is true and a valid observation that TO was among the top NFL producers over the three years he was with Dallas, in touchdowns scored.

That is a valid point, but not limiting as an indicator of what is involved with this aspect of analytical analysis. Stats are useful, but nowhere close to all inclusive in their limiting elements.

There is relevance to observing that TO deserves to be included in a future Hall of Fame status. That is part of the element that is seen by a fan. That although, does not transcend the progression of trends within the makeup of the team itself.

First, T.O. was the same No. 1 receiver that accumulated 20 percent of all of his success last season. Heck, Julius Jones hit upon some highlight specials in his career with Dallas as well.

Single game or even duplicate games does not make fullness in contributions by a player. T.O. was the same receiver who accumulated an average total yardage of slightly over 50 yards a game for the length of 10 games.

That is poor production for most No. 2 receivers through the league. Teams smacked their lips when they say the Dallas T.O.-oriented express arrive at their fields. T.O. was no longer able to come through in crunch time and produce those game changers that he had been able to previously in his career.

T.O. was more of the problem than the solution. His being the second highest dropped pass leader for the second consecutive year became a real factor.

He no longer went out of his way to go to where his quarterback threw the ball, but expected to be thrown exactly where his own window of opportunity suited him. Now, no longer was he even where he was expected to be able to catch a good thrown ball, or fighting to get balls in conflict.

These indicators speak louder than the total touchdown factor. This killed opportunity. Opportunities lost is what dispelled Camelot from view.

That is only a part of the issue on the offensive production. Injuries did play a major role here also.

First, the run production in the very center of the field, with the loss of Kyle Kosier and then Montrae Holland, meant that the team could NOT run a strong Red Zone offense. It had to then rely on an unreliable T.O. and a very injured Jason Witten. Although, Jason Witten was the team's 'Iron Man' and performed at a very high clip.

Witten was severely injured almost the entire season. He could have been much stronger towards the end of the season, if not for quite a few limiting injuries. He would have been off the charts if not for these injuries.

Next, you have Tony Romo, who missed a very crucial consistency period that opened the door for poor executions, adjustments, and further injuries to accumulate. His three games off the field and Brad Johnson's mockery to the position were only a part of the effect of Romo's injury.

Romo had stitches in his chin early in the season, and then had a cast on his hand an additional three game injury stint. A player such as Romo played through pains, but it did have a detrimental affect as to throwing habits, ball release, and time of delivery as grip on the ball was very prominently being affected.

As breakdowns in the adjusted and much weaker offensive line, now with an injured Flozell Adams on the outside and a very weak Procter in the interior, Romo now no longer was able to set his feet properly in a collapsing pocket. Opponents adjusted their attacks to attack Romo and take advantage of hesitancy between Adams and Procter.

Additionally, roles became blurred as Miles Austin, Hurd, and then swapping of roles between Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams further blurred team consistency and productions.

Not only this, but the running back group lost Felix Jones and his ability to provide explosive elements to an attack. This changes the fabric of opponent's game plans drastically.

Dallas could not pound Marion Barber inside, as that area of the offensive line was not dominant as Barber was injured for most of this past season. They could not go wide, as the speed of Jones was on injured reserves and it was Procter doing the pulling.

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