Jean-Jacques Taylor

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If Wade Phillips doesn't trust the players on the Cowboys' roster, then he needs to cut them and sign some players he does trust.

Doug Free, a three-year veteran, is supposed to be the backup for both tackles. With Marc Colombo presumably out for the rest of the season with a broken left leg and torn ligaments in his ankle, Free should move into the starting lineup.

Now, Phillips isn't sure he wants to do that.

He's contemplating moving Leonard Davis to right tackle and using Montrae Holland or Cory Procter at guard.

Then why is Free on the team? If Phillips is afraid to use him now, then he'll never use him. And if he'll never use him, then the Cowboys need to get rid of him.

It's not that complicated.

We're not talking about a rookie. This is Free's third season. He's been prepared for this opportunity since the Cowboys drafted him in the fourth round from Northern Illinois.

It's time to let him play and see what he can do. Besides, it's not like the coaching staff doesn't give him good reviews every summer during training camp.

Seriously, what's the point of having backups on the roster if you're afraid to play them?

After all, Tashard Choice has performed wonderfully every time he's gotten an opportunity to play because of injury. And we saw what Miles Austin did when opportunity presented itself against Kansas City.

Q: Who do you blame for the Green Bay loss – the players or the coaches?

Mike Chambers, Madisonville, Ky.

TAYLOR: I'd probably blame both, but I wouldn't go crazy. Two weeks ago, if I had told you the Cowboys would split a two-game trip to Philadelphia and Green Bay, you'd probably be thrilled. The defense played well, the offense played poorly. This is a good team – not a great team. It's going to lose at least two more games this season. I'd worry more about the injuries to Marc Colombo, Ken Hamlin and Mike Jenkins than losing to the Packers. I picked Dallas to win, but in doing so I went away from my theory that when teams are fairly evenly matched, the more desperate team wins, especially if it's playing at home. Clearly, the Packers were playing for their season.

Q: What are the chances of putting Leonard "Bigg" Davis at right tackle and Montrae Holland at right guard, leaving Doug Free to back up Flozell Adams and Davis? I know that it requires two moves instead of one, but having Davis at tackle could reduce a big dropoff from Colombo's high level of play while protecting Romo's right side better.

Rick Hayes, Atlanta

TAYLOR: That's a perfectly legitimate point, and let me add that you sent me this e-mail before Wade Phillips announced he was contemplating your suggestion. Maybe the Cowboys could add you to their staff. I'm not in favor of disturbing two positions. Davis is a good tackle, but he's a great guard because you can't get away from him like you can at tackle. At some point, you need to find out if Doug Free can play. This seems like a good time.

Q: It's time to call out Jason Garrett. He can't manage a game. His game plans are adequate at best. He panics and abandons the run game, instead of establishing it.

Tommy Caughran

TAYLOR: I'd suggest you calm down. I've gotten 30 versions of this e-mail in the last two days. Funny, I didn't get many of these early in the season when Dallas was averaging 27 points a game. This actually falls into my theory about why the Cowboys need some star players – not just quality role players. When you have an Adrian Peterson or Maurice Jones-Drew or Chris Johnson, then the offensive coordinator makes sure those guys get the ball enough to have a chance to make a play. When Marion Barber is your starter and finisher and Felix Jones is your change-of-pace guy and Tashard Choice is the third-down back and Razorback quarterback, it's too easy to lose sight of the running game because they're in and out of the game so much, it's hard to ensure they find a rhythm. When you have a coordinator like Garrett, who likes to throw the ball, it's easy for him to get discouraged by the running game because he wants to throw it. He doesn't have the patience of a coach who is steeped in running the ball. As long as he's the coordinator, it's always going to be a struggle for him. That said, the Cowboys had 21 plays in the first half, which is not enough to have any kind of offensive flow.

Q: I have said for a long time that the Cowboys' greatest liability is Wade Phillips. Surely I am not the only one who is tired of seeing Wade roll his eyes and look to the heavens as if he is going to get help from on high. There is no leadership from the Cowboys coaching staff and there will not be until Phillips is gone and they hire a legitimate head coach. I had high hopes for the Cowboys this season. After this performance, I have my doubts.

David Roach

TAYLOR: Wade is in charge of the defense, which played a good game. They didn't sack Aaron Rodgers enough, but they really gave up only one drive all game. I'd blame the offense for the other 10 points they allowed. Wade has done a good job this year. One game doesn't change that.

Q: The whole makeup of this team is disturbing. They have a bunch of guys who want to get paid big money but who don't have what it takes to get the job done when given the opportunity. In my eyes, this team, as has been the case for the last few years, doesn't play hard all the time. They think they can just show up and win. They think they are better than they really are. This team has a fragile makeup whether they admit it or not. No true leaders, no toughness. Save for the different final score against the Packers on Sunday, the Cowboys' offense got manhandled in the second half almost like they got manhandled against the Eagles in Philly at the end of last season. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see this team getting it together.

Glenn Guillory, Baytown, Texas

TAYLOR: And you guys call me negative. It's one game. One loss to a solid team. It's not the end of the world. Too many times fans after a loss, fans say the Cowboys weren't hungry enough. Or they weren't focused. Or they didn't play hard enough. None of that happened against Green Bay. Just because you play poorly doesn't mean you didn't try or give effort. Sometimes, it means you just lost. Again, this is a good team – not a great team. It's going to lose again this season.

Q: You're kidding right? How about they have an overload of talent at running back and tight end but don't use them in a way to have any consistency. Jason Garrett just needs to find a way to get the best players involved in the game long term. There is no rhythm being established when no one player gets the ball consistently. I would say Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Martellus Bennett have star potential, but if the ball only comes your way three or four times a game, then there is not much they can do to show that.

Edward B. Humphrey Jr., TSgt, USAF

Andrews AFB, Md.

TAYLOR: You actually make my point for me. There's only one ball, and when you're trying to give everyone a chance to touch the ball, you can lose sight of the big picture because no one gets it enough to find a rhythm. It's a bigger issue in the running game than the passing game.

Q: In the last 3-4 games, it looks like Bobby Carpenter is making some plays that he hasn't in the past. He actually looks stronger than before and definitely more confident. Am I imagining this or is he starting to actually play up to his potential a bit?

Eddie Arnold

TAYLOR: I don't know what his potential is. I would say he's never going to play to his first-round pedigree. But I would say Wade Phillips is figuring out how to get the most from his ability. He's a solid contributor in the nickel, and they're giving him an opportunity to rush the passer. He's still not the force he needs to be on special teams, but at least he's not the complete bust he was during his first three seasons. He has a role now and he's playing better.

Q: Is it just me or do Cowboys wide receivers have difficulty getting consistent separation from defensive backs when running their pass routes?

Timothy Stearns

TAYLOR: They do. That's why, right now, there's no true No. 1 receiver on the roster. Miles Austin is working his way toward that, but he still has much work to do. He went six quarters with just one catch. You can't do that when you're the lead dog. He has the potential to get there, but it remains a work in progress.

Q: Tony Romo can't be allowed to take such beatings in the future or he will be out.

Frank Hracs, Toronto

TAYLOR: In theory, you're right. The Packers sacked him five times, but he didn't get hit that much otherwise. He wasn't abused in the pocket, and it's his responsibility to identify the blitzers whether they're linebackers or safeties. That's twice this year a defensive back has forced a fumble on a sack that ultimately resulted in points for the opposition. Dallas lost both games.