Dropped two key passes then let up on what would have been the game
winner.

His giving up on that go route and then realizing the ball was coming
his way and trying to catch up to it in the end zone only to have it
just out of his reach with 10 seconds left....that was inexcusable.

This team needs to learn to play pissed off ALL the time. It lacks
motivation. It gets tired in December and fades. Every single
year.

We need to be like the Pats and run over there, stick the knife deep
in the other team early, twist it around, and then laugh at them.
They have that killer instinct this team still lacks.

After watching that game yesterday it's obvious changes need to be
made on both sides of the ball.

Offense:

1. Julius Jones needs to go. We need a bigger stronger back that
can get yards after the first contact, which JJ demonstrated many,
many times this year he cannot do. Barber should be the starter next
year and like LT gets spelled by Michael Turner in San Diego, we need
someone to carry the ball and spell Barber for 30% or so of the
carries.

2. New coaching for the Offensive Line. Despite what Madden says,
this is NOT one of the best Offensive lines in the NFL. The best line
should be able to pass block AND run block. 8 or 9 times a game our
backs are getting hit in the backfield right after taking the
handoff. The run-blocking on this team has been HORRIBLE. If it was
a competent run blocking line Barber would have rushed for 1,500
yards this year easily. As it was he still almost topped 1,000, and
that when getting just over half the carries. Sparano is leaving and
I say good riddance. We need a O-Line coach that doesn't just focus
on pass blocking and can't teach these guys to run block better.

3. A better WR to replace Crayton, and Glenn if he retires. TO
looked good this year and keeps himself in such good shape people
keep expecting him to decline and he just keeps going. Hurd and
Austin showed more development during the season but it's not clear
yet if they are long-term answers. Dallas needs to bring in some
good WR's this year, possible drafting one and signing one in FA.

Defense:

1. The front seven got all the 1st Round Draft picks the last couple
of years - Ware, Spears, Spencer, Carpenter. The last two 1st round
picks we spent on the secondary were Roy Williams and Terrance
Newman. Over 5 seasons ago. Anybody who watched that game against
the Giants is now aware..........I'd say VERY WELL AWARE...of just
how much help that secondary desperately needs. THIS is going to be
the top priority in the draft and FA. Not a RB or a WR. Dallas did
much, much better at stopping the deep ball with the addition of
Hamlin back there helping the CB's over the top. But against the
short ball our nickel back - Jacques Reeves, was toasted to buttery
goodness all season long. Henry and Newman are struggling with
injuries most of the year and it's become obvious that Dallas'
secondary unit needs more real talent on it. This is why drafting
one, possibly two CB/SS hybrids early is going to be such a
priority. Dallas was anemic 17th in the league versus the pass last
year and over 3/4 of that yardage given up was passes under 15
yards. THIS is what the team MUST improve next season or face
another early playoff exit.

2. The ILB'ers are too slow to drop back and help out in pass
coverage. Roy Williams takes most of the heat for those underneath
short passes but how many people notice when he comes up to make the
tackle there is no LB'er anywhere near the area? Akin and Bradie are
stout against the run but they cannot cover to save their lives. Roy
often comes up to 'help out' and the LB'er just lets the TE or RB go
and leaves Roy hanging. We need to see this Training Camp if Kevin
Burnett and Bobby Carpenter or anyone else can do better dropping
back in the middle in coverage. Our LB'er had 0 interceptions this
year.

3. Special Teams coach Bruce Read needs to be fired. This unit
tackled and covered lousy all year long, consistently letting other
teams return kicks to the 30 yard line or beyond. Part of it is NFL
culture, where it's a habit to stick 'developmental players' on your
ST. In other words, slow guys that aren't good enough to start yet.
What sense does it make to put 3rd and 4th string TE's and WR's and
RB's on your kick coverage unit and then not teach them to tackle
adequately? If you have to play starters and 2nd string defenders,
so be it. I'm tired of watching a 3rd string WR burn down the field,
get to the KR at the 15 and blow the tackle as the guy gets to the 30
yard line. Put your starting CB's in there if you have too. It's a
game of field position and this insanity must stop.

This is the second straight early playoff exit in a row for this
Cowboys team. The coaches are different but many of the players are
the same as last year under Tuna, and were in that Seattle game.
They had better learn to get nasty out there early and often and then
STAY nasty all year long, because they just learned for the second
traumatic time in a row what happens if you get out played, out
hustled, out-intensified in the playoffs.