Cowboys Corner

Kitna plays OK; Cowboys lose

Jon Kitna, 38, made his first start since Oct. 5, 2008, when he was with Detroit. He helped the Cowboys to 415 yards, as Dallas outgained its opponent for the sixth time in seven games.

Kitna gave the Cowboys a chance to win, but they lost, like they have six times this season, managing only 17 points.

“I thought Kitna played like I had hoped, frankly, if you can say that in a loss,” said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who traded for Kitna before last season. “I think Kitna was strong with his throws, and frankly, there’s no excuses because actually a couple of throws didn’t make the difference out here, but certainly, it was tough luck from his part to have those balls bounce up [and be intercepted].

“There’s no way that the play of our quarterback doesn’t give us a chance to win the game today.”

Kitna completed 34-of-49 passes for 379 yards with one touchdown, four interceptions and a passer rating of 64.9. The 49 attempts were the eighth-most in team history, while the 34 completions tied for the third-most.

“I felt going into the game we had a chance to be very effective,” Kitna said. “…The great thing for me is I felt like I was seeing the field well. That’s always the thing you concern yourself with [after] not having played for awhile. I felt like I was seeing the moving parts pretty well.”

-- Charean Williams

Costa plays

Starting left guard Kyle Kosier (ankle/Achilles’) missed his third game with injury this season. His replacement, Montrae Holland (groin), also sat out. That left rookie free agent Phil Costa to make his first start.

Costa had a holding penalty on the play before Jon Kitna threw an interception off the hands of Miles Austin.

“You go out there to win, and we didn’t do that today,” Costa said. “That’s kind of the bottom line of it. I felt pretty comfortable in there. Overall, I thought it was OK. Obviously, like any place, you have got some stuff to work on and watch some film and correct some things. But I thought I improved from last week and the bottom line is to win, and we didn’t do that today.”

-- Charean Williams

Gronkowski inactive

 

The Cowboys have only one fullback on their roster, and they decided not to use him Sunday. Rookie Chris Gronkowski was inactive with most of his snaps going to tight end Scott Chandler.

 Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said that Gronkowski was not hurt.

 Gronkowski missed an assignment on the play Tony Romo was hurt by blitzing Giants linebacker Michael Boley. Perhaps the Cowboys did not want to take a chance on another such play Sunday with backup Jon Kitna on the field.

“Scott Chandler played more,” Garrett said. “He was going to get some of those opportunities that Chris has had the past few weeks.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Running nowhere

For the third consecutive game, the Cowboys failed to gain 100 yards on the ground. Dallas had 50 rushing yards on 22 carries as Felix Jones carried eight times for 22 yards and Marion Barber picked up 16 yards on nine carries. (Quarterback Jon Kitna scrambled for 12 yards on five carries.)

“We’ve just got to keep finding ways to run the football,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. “[We just need to] run it from different personnel groups and just find ways each week to come off the ball and create some yardage and some productivity in the running game, because it’s going to help our offensive line, help our passing game and will help our football team.”

-- Charean Williams 

Drop city

 

First, it was Felix Jones. Then, it was Miles Austin. Later, it was Roy Williams.

The Cowboys dropped four passes, with three tipped to Jaguars’ defenders for interceptions. Jones, Austin and Williams all had drops that led to interceptions.

“That’s what happens when you drop a ball and tip it up in the air and guys are behind you; they usually catch it,” Austin said. “Any time you have drops, you’re letting your quarterback down.”

The Cowboys entered the game tied for 20^th in dropped passes, according to STATS, Inc., with nine. They added to their total Sunday.

“It’s all wide receivers. It’s ALL wide receivers,” Williams said. “Tipped balls, that’s on us.”

Austin had seven catches for 117 yards, but the reception he didn’t make is the one he remembers most. In the second quarter, he bobbled a pass that cornerback Derek Cox intercepted. The Jaguars drove 77 yards for a 14-3 lead and never looked back.

“It was an under route, and a lot of times when I try to catch the ball, I try to keep my feet on the ground,” Austin said. “But it was a good ball I thought. It was one that I would normally think I would catch. But you know….”

The Cowboys are minus-five in turnover ratio this season, with 10 takeaways and 15 giveaways. They were minus-three Sunday, throwing four interceptions while recovering a fumble.

-- Charean Williams

Even Roy can see darkness on the horizon

Roy Williams has been the most positive Cowboy, especially with the adversity the team has put itself through.

Williams has continually said the Cowboys can turn the season around. Two weeks ago, he said maybe they could win 10 straight and finish 11-5.

Last week, he said there would be no dropoff from Tony Romo to Jon Kitna.

And Sunday, he said the Cowboys can still make the playoffs.

But even Williams has his breaking point. And he has reached it.

When asked if he still believes the 1-6 Cowboys can make the playoffs, he said: "I do. but that's just me."

The chances, however, have become small.

"This is our last shot," he said of the game next week in Green Bay. "Once you get to seven losses, you have a very slim chance of making it in. That's where we play just to play. You still don't give up, but you've got to play for somebody."

-- Jan Hubbard

Even Roy can see darkness on the horizon

Roy Williams has been the most positive Cowboy, especially with the adversity the team has put itself through.

Williams has continually said the Cowboys can turn the season around. Two weeks ago, he said maybe they could win 10 straight and finish 11-5.

Last week, he said there would be no dropoff from Tony Romo to Jon Kitna.

And Sunday, he said the Cowboys can still make the playoffs.

But even Williams has his breaking point. And he has reached it.

When asked if he still believes the 1-6 Cowboys can make the playoffs, he said: "I do. but that's just me."

The chances, however, have become small.

"This is our last shot," he said of the game next week in Green Bay. "Once you get to seven losses, you have a very slim chance of making it in. That's where we play just to play. You still don't give up, but you've got to play for somebody."

-- Jan Hubbard

Fullbacks? Who needs fullbacks?

The Cowboys went into the game with only one fullback on the roster, and they decided not to use him Sunday.

Rookie Chris Gronkowski was inactive Sunday with most of his snaps going to tight end Scott Chandler.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said that Gronkowski was not hurt.

“No, I don’t think that factored that much into it,” Garrett said.

Gronkowski was on the field against the Giants last week and missed an assignment on the play when Tony Romo was hurt. Perhaps the Cowboys did not want to take a chance on another such play Sunday with backup Jon Kitna on the field.

-- Jan Hubbard

If they make David Garrard look great . . .

David Garrard completed 17 of 21 passes for 260 yards and four TDs Sunday. He also ran for one. That can’t make Cowboys defensive coaches feel too secure. In coming weeks, here are the quarterbacks Dallas will have to face:

Green Bay’s Aaron Rogers, the Giants’ Eli Manning, Drew Brees of New Orleans, Peyton Manning of Indianapolis and Philadelphia’s Michael Vick.

The only so-called “breaks” they will have will be against Detroit Matthew Stafford, Arizona’s Max hall and Washington’s Donovan McNabb.

-- Jan Hubbard

Marcus knows who signs the checks

Jerry Jones was not the only one asked about the future of head coach Wade Phillips. Players were also asked, but defensive end Marcus Spears made it clear that Jones is the boss.

“Whatever Jerry decides to do, that’s what he does,” Spears said. “He calls the shots. I’m pretty sure that whatever their discussions are, I’m never a part of them. So whatever happens, happens.”

-- Jan Hubbard