Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett didn't get the jobs in Denver or Detroit, but he is among five finalists for the head-coaching job in St. Louis. Garrett interviewed with the Rams on Jan. 14. A final decision is expected soon. If Garrett leaves, look for Ray Sherman to be promoted to offensive coordinator.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Tony Romo. Backups -- Brooks Bollinger, Brad Johnson.

The luster is wearing off of Romo's rising star. Not only did he miss three games with an injury, but he also continued a nasty penchant for weekly turnovers. But most troubling is his struggles in December and January. Romo had nine turnovers in three December losses. It was a mistake to keep the aging Johnson as backup quarterback, one that likely cost the Cowboys a trip to the playoffs. Johnson lost two of three games in place of the injured Romo and never showed the arm strength or the decision-making ability to give the Cowboys a chance to win with him in the lineup.

RUNNING BACK: Starters -- Marion Barber, FB Deon Anderson. Backups -- Felix Jones, Tashard Choice.

Barber finally got his chance to be a full-time starter, but the man formally known as the closer suffered a dislocated toe and was unable to be a factor at the end of the season when the Cowboys needed him most. Jones flashed ability early but was put on injured reserve because of a sprained big toe. Choice was the forgotten man on draft day when he was picked in the fourth round, but he carried the load down the stretch and proved to be a keeper for years to come. The Cowboys have a nice three-headed monster at running back for the future, and Choice might be the best every-down threat of the group.

WIDE RECEIVER: Starters -- Terrell Owens, Roy Williams. Backups -- Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback, Sam Hurd.

Owens had his worst season since 1999 in a year when he wasn't suspended. The question the Cowboys must decide is whether it was Owens or was it the overall struggles of the offense. Bottom line is that Owens will be 36 next season. Although he is still strong and fast, his technique and route-running are slipping. He always had questionable hands. Those all played roles in his subpar performance. Williams was acquired during the bye week for three draft picks and never made an impact. Crayton also saw his numbers slip from last year. Austin showed flashes that he can be a deep threat for the future, but he had trouble staying healthy.

TIGHT END: Starter -- Jason Witten. Backups -- Martellus Bennett, Tony Curtis.

Witten had another Pro Bowl season and again proved why he is en route to being the best tight end in Cowboys history. Beyond the numbers, Witten showed toughness playing through shoulder, rib and ankle injuries to endear himself to the organization and the fans. Bennett has the size and athleticism to be an impact player at tight end. He showed flashes of his potential during the year. However, he has poor body language and a questionable work ethic, raising concerns about him ever living up to his full potential.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- RT Marc Colombo, RG Leonard Davis, C Andre Gurode, LG Kyle Kosier, LT Flozell Adams. Backups -- Pat McQuistan, Doug Free, Montrae Holland, Corey Procter.

Davis and Gurode played well enough to earn return trips to the Pro Bowl. Colombo was solid, earning a four-year contract extension. Adams, however, took a step backwards in 2008 -- after he was given a lucrative contract extension in the offseason. Adams' play was affected by the absence of Kosier, who missed the majority of the season with a foot fracture. Holland and Proctor filled in at guard, but the drop-off in play and impact on line continuity and chemistry was stark.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LE Marcus Spears, NT Jay Ratliff, RE Chris Canty. Backups -- NT Tank Johnson, DE Jason Hatcher, DE Stephen Bowen.

Ratliff is arguably the team's second-best defensive player behind DeMarcus Ware. He had a phenomenal season and was named to the Pro Bowl. However, Johnson did not produce as expected as the backup nose tackle and likely will not be back. Spears was solid at end, as was Canty, although neither made a lot of impact plays. Canty is a free agent and could find more money elsewhere.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- OLB Greg Ellis, ILB Bradie James, ILB Zach Thomas, OLB DeMarcus Ware. Backups -- Anthony Spencer, Kevin Burnett, Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers.

Ware was runner-up for the league's defensive player of the year honors, as he led the NFL in sacks. He will soon be locked up to the richest contract in Cowboys history, if not NFL history. Ellis had a drop-off from his Pro Bowl campaign of 2007, and backup Spencer remains a work in progress. James also had a career year and should have made the Pro Bowl. He led the team in tackles and had 6.5 sacks. Thomas was solid but admitted he was uncomfortable playing out of position. He might look for work elsewhere in 2009.

SECONDARY: Starters -- CB Terence Newman, CB Anthony Henry, FS Ken Hamlin, SS Roy Williams. Backups -- CB Adam "Pacman" Jones, CB Orlando Scandrick, CB Mike Jenkins, CB Alan Ball, S Keith Davis, S Pat Watkins, S Courtney Brown.

A rash of injuries and a suspension for Jones kept this unit from reaching its potential. Newman showed Pro Bowl form late in the season but missed six games with a hernia. Williams was lost for the season in October with a broken arm. His backup, Watkins, was eventually lost for the season, causing Henry to fill in at safety on passing downs. Davis proved to be solid as a run-stuffing safety and could be re-signed to reprise that role again. Williams, however, may be gone, as his play now is well below his salary-cap number. Jones didn't give the Cowboys the impact they expected, and he will not be back. His off-the-field drama was too much considering the lack of playmaking skills he showed. Scandrick was a pleasant surprise and will be a keeper. The Cowboys have high hopes for Jenkins, although he did not have the impact they expected for a first-round pick.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Nick Folk, LS L.P. Ladouceur, P Sam Paulescu, PR Pacman Jones, KR Miles Austin. Injured reserve -- P Mat McBriar.

Folk didn't have a sophomore slump and was solid on field goals and extra points. The Cowboys had a huge drop off in punting when McBriar was lost for the season and was replaced by Paulescu. Jones was a huge disappointment on punt returns, and Austin was injured too much to have an impact on kickoff returns. The Cowboys got a spark from RB Felix Jones on kickoff returns before he was placed on injured reserve with a sprained big toe.