GARRETT HAS WORK TO DO IN THE POST-T.O. ERA

The scenario reads like a coordinator’s best dreamt fantasy.  Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten.  Probowler after Probowler.  On paper, the Dallas Cowboys offense was arguably the most talented in the NFL.

Put that together with a defensive minded head coach with no interest in calling the offensive shots and an owner who just wants to win, and will sign any checks necessary to do that, and you have what could be the cushiest job in the league.  That is, of course, if you can get results.

After two seasons with no playoff wins under Jason Garret’s belt as offensive coordinator, some felt that Garret was making plays to predictable.  With Owens as a deep threat, you don’t need to be too creative, but having him on your team isn’t enough, either.  Last season, Garret proved that talent wasn’t enough, you have to get creative with the options you have. 

In the offseason, those options got slimmer.

The suprising release of Terrell Owens rid the All Star offense of, what some would say, the biggest problem to the team.  Critics would say that T.O.’s verbal demands for a larger role in the playbook put undue pressure on Romo and Garret alike.  With him gone, Garret would be allowed to make decisions without worrying about the feelings of positional players and focus more on how to redesign a playbook without using a true deep threat.

Although a step down in talent, Roy Williams is able to be a leading receiver in this league.  The question isn’t how productive is he able to be as much as how productive is Garret able to be using a down the middle receiver like Williams as a target instead of a speedy, deep threat like Owens.

At tight end, Jason Witten has shown the capability to be a reliable passing option but, like Williams, Witten is an option for the middle of the field, and not a deep threat.

Martellus Bennett, in his second year, brings promise to a dual tight end set.  His height and speed don’t bring promise to replace T.O., but does provide an Antonio Gates type option. 

Garret needs to focus on the short field in 2009, removing most of the plays involving the deep pass.  At least in 2009, he’ll be able to make such changes with Owens telling him to do otherwise.