EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jason Garrett has been cryptic regarding any potential changes to the Cowboys' offensive structure for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
But ESPN's Ed Werder is reporting Garrett will move quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson to the press box, possibly bringing Wes Phillips down to the sidelines and he will relay the play call to quarterback Tony Romo.
This is a positive move for Garrett because it gives him more power over a struggling offense that's seen Romo coming off a season-low 41.7 completion percentage against the New Orleans Saints.
No matter what owner/general manager Jerry Jones says, Garrett's job is on the line here. Jones said he's committed to Garrett for 2014, but it's hard to believe if the Cowboys miss the postseason for a fourth consecutive season that Jones will stay with the redheaded coach.
And speaking of Garrett this is the best move he can make, short of taking over the playcalling duties himself. If he replaces Bill Callahan as the play caller it could cause controversy outside of Valley Ranch. It would be publicized as a demotion for Callahan, though he wouldn't be the first coach to lose play-calling duties in season. But it would also mean the Cowboys would be in desperation mode with six games remaining in the regular season by Garrett taking over.
Now Garrett gets more control not only of his offense but of the team as well.
The Cowboys are coming off a bad loss to the Saints, 49-17, and Garrett can't do anything with the defense. He's got to let Monte Kiffin fix that unit. So, all Garrett has left is the offense.
He has an opportunity to control something with the game-day operation and that's helping the offense. Garrett might want to put a few more things in Romo's ear before things start happening on the field. This is Garrett's offense that Callahan is trying to run and he's employed a few wrinkles of the West Coast offense and the pistol. Yet, the Cowboys' offense continues to fail at finding a level of consistency.
The one constant with the Cowboys' offense has been Garrett these last few years. Now Callahan has taken over and we've seen a franchise-low for rushing attempts, a sideline rant by Dez Bryant, a lack of touches for Jason Witten and while we do have Romo throwing just six interceptions, the Cowboys are in second-place in the NFC East.
The reality is Garrett can't afford a second-place finish again in the division. Garrett needs a first-place finish. If not he's going to be finished and to prevent that from occurring he needed to take control of things.