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Each week, Jean-Jacques Taylor answers your questions in our Cowboys newsletter. It's easy to sign up and free to receive. Just click over to our newletter page.
Some highlights of his most recent newsletter:
Rick Hayes from Atlanta asks, “How does the first half of the season "weigh in" on the decision to keep Jason Garrett given his participation in those losses?”
TAYLOR: I think we can look at what has happened the last few weeks and see that Garrett has been a difference-maker as a head coach. He has more control than he did as an assistant when it comes to practice schedule, tempo and physicality. Yes, he had a role in the 1-7 start, but he's done quite a few good things as the Cowboys have gone 4-2 under him.
Brandon Bilderrain from Santa Monica, California wonders, “What is up with our defense? How did it go from a defense that finished so strong last year to this?”
TAYLOR: I've said this quite a few times, and nothing has changed. Great players are playing good, good players are playing average, and average players are playing badly. Then comes the question of whether the cornerbacks have struggled because the pass rush has been subpar or whether the struggling cornerbacks have made the pass rush a nonfactor most weeks. Only one or two guys have played well on defense – and it hasn't mattered whether the Cowboys are playing man or zone. They should be better, but it hasn't worked out that way this season.
Thanh Trinh writes, “ Jerry Jones is dumber than dumb for not playing his younger players (Stephen McGee) to see if they can play and he's messing up a top-five draft pick. What is the sense of trying to win meaningless games in 2010?”
TAYLOR: First, Jon Kitna has played so well that there hasn't been a need to play McGee. I don't mind seeing young guys play, but they have to earn the playing time in practice. It can't be a gift. The Cowboys have already won too many games to get an impact player in the top five, so they might as well win as many games as possible.
Tom Wolf from New Braunfels wonders, “I understand Dallas has only two players on the roster from the 2009 draft, both, obscure backups. New England has five starters from the same draft. Does JJ make the final decision on all draft picks?”
TAYLOR: We can all agree the 2009 draft was awful. But you don't judge a coach or a regime on one draft. You have to consider the body of work. For the most part, this decade, the Cowboys have done a good job on their first-round picks. That said, we know this is an important draft coming up. They don't need to make any mistakes.
Mel Douglas asks, “How much longer do we have to tolerate poor performances from Mike Jenkins?”
TAYLOR: He's a talented guy having a bad season. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 113.5 against him. He lost some confidence with the steady stream of pass interference penalties earlier in the season, and it affected him. The Cowboys have to figure out whether Jenkins is the terrific player from last season or the subpar player from this season.
Richard Hand from Allen writes, “Who do you think will be the head coach next season?”
TAYLOR: You'd have to say Jason Garrett is the front-runner, but Jerry must do his due diligence and interview every viable candidate. If nothing else, it gives him an opportunity to pick the brains of some smart men and use some of their good ideas to fix this team.
Each week, Jean-Jacques Taylor answers your questions in our Cowboys newsletter. It's easy to sign up and free to receive. Just click over to our newletter page.
Some highlights of his most recent newsletter:
Rick Hayes from Atlanta asks, “How does the first half of the season "weigh in" on the decision to keep Jason Garrett given his participation in those losses?”
TAYLOR: I think we can look at what has happened the last few weeks and see that Garrett has been a difference-maker as a head coach. He has more control than he did as an assistant when it comes to practice schedule, tempo and physicality. Yes, he had a role in the 1-7 start, but he's done quite a few good things as the Cowboys have gone 4-2 under him.
Brandon Bilderrain from Santa Monica, California wonders, “What is up with our defense? How did it go from a defense that finished so strong last year to this?”
TAYLOR: I've said this quite a few times, and nothing has changed. Great players are playing good, good players are playing average, and average players are playing badly. Then comes the question of whether the cornerbacks have struggled because the pass rush has been subpar or whether the struggling cornerbacks have made the pass rush a nonfactor most weeks. Only one or two guys have played well on defense – and it hasn't mattered whether the Cowboys are playing man or zone. They should be better, but it hasn't worked out that way this season.
Thanh Trinh writes, “ Jerry Jones is dumber than dumb for not playing his younger players (Stephen McGee) to see if they can play and he's messing up a top-five draft pick. What is the sense of trying to win meaningless games in 2010?”
TAYLOR: First, Jon Kitna has played so well that there hasn't been a need to play McGee. I don't mind seeing young guys play, but they have to earn the playing time in practice. It can't be a gift. The Cowboys have already won too many games to get an impact player in the top five, so they might as well win as many games as possible.
Tom Wolf from New Braunfels wonders, “I understand Dallas has only two players on the roster from the 2009 draft, both, obscure backups. New England has five starters from the same draft. Does JJ make the final decision on all draft picks?”
TAYLOR: We can all agree the 2009 draft was awful. But you don't judge a coach or a regime on one draft. You have to consider the body of work. For the most part, this decade, the Cowboys have done a good job on their first-round picks. That said, we know this is an important draft coming up. They don't need to make any mistakes.
Mel Douglas asks, “How much longer do we have to tolerate poor performances from Mike Jenkins?”
TAYLOR: He's a talented guy having a bad season. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 113.5 against him. He lost some confidence with the steady stream of pass interference penalties earlier in the season, and it affected him. The Cowboys have to figure out whether Jenkins is the terrific player from last season or the subpar player from this season.
Richard Hand from Allen writes, “Who do you think will be the head coach next season?”
TAYLOR: You'd have to say Jason Garrett is the front-runner, but Jerry must do his due diligence and interview every viable candidate. If nothing else, it gives him an opportunity to pick the brains of some smart men and use some of their good ideas to fix this team.
