IRVING, Texas -- Let me be the first to give Jerry Jones a hand clap. It doesn't happen often.

Feel free to join me.

If more assistants join Rob Ryan on the unemployment line this offseason, that would leave Jason Garrett as the next logical firing should the Cowboys fail again. AP Photo/Tom Uhlman

Jerry promised change the other day. He insisted that coaches and players would feel edgy this offseason.

We were all skeptical, as we should have been, given the owner's history. Well, he has delivered.

It turns out that Monday's firing of running backs coach Skip Peete was a harbinger. Jerry or Jason Garrett whacked defensive coordinator Rob Ryan on Tuesday, apparently because the Cowboys are about to implement the 4-3 defense.

The question now is whether Jerry and Jason will make it three-for-three Wednesday by firing another coach.

John Garrett. Bill Callahan. Jimmy Robinson. Wade Wilson. Matt Eberflus. Or someone else. Sadly, you could make a case for anyone on the staff getting dismissed after this season.

No one is safe. Not after consecutive 8-8 seasons. Not after the Cowboys have missed the playoffs in four of the past five seasons.

Not even Red J.

It's time for Garrett's process to produce tangible results next season. That means he must make the playoffs, or his tenure as head coach with the Cowboys is going to end after three seasons and eight games.

It ain't complicated.

If the defensive coordinator and a few other assistants lose their jobs this offseason, then there's only one more logical move to make if next season goes awry for whatever reason: Fire Garrett.

Some of y'all are mad it hasn't happened already. Understand, firing the coach is not always the right move.

After all, there's a reason the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions and Dallas have hired the most head coaches since 1997 (six) and are also the only teams in that span not to play in an NFC Championship Game.

The Cowboys' issues are systemic. Garrett remains the best option to succeed with this dysfunctional franchise, but 21-19 as a head coach is going to get him just one more year to prove he can get the job done.