Red zone woes downplayed
FRISCO — The Cowboys are mindful of the one problem for their offense in the early portion of the season.
Yet during numerous discussions this week with coaches and players, little concern was voiced about the Cowboys’ low touchdown-conversion percentage in the red zone. If anything, those interviewed say it’s too early to discuss the issue because they’ve played only three games.
Questions about personnel being a possible reason for the problem also are dismissed. The Cowboys want it both ways. They want their fan base and the media to believe they’re not concerned about the red zone issues but they also acknowledge the problems.
Through all the denials, coach Mike Mccarthy revealed the truth with reporters this week.
“It’s a blinking light,” Mccarthy said Wednesday while also pointing out the team’s red zone success last season, particularly early. “As I told the team today, three games in, stats clearly don’t tell the story, but they give you the things you need to look at, and we have three blinking lights as a football team right now. Team penalties, red zone offense and run defense.”
Last season, the Cowboys led the NFL with a 71.4% red zone conversion rate. Dallas also scored 40 touchdowns, tied for third most in the NFL.
Three players, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalton Schultz and Noah Brown, scored 50% of those touchdowns.
All three of these players are employed elsewhere.
The 2023 replacements are lacking when it comes to scoring touchdowns in the red zone. While the Cowboys lead the NFL with 15 red zone attempts through three weeks, they rank 27th with a 40% conversion rate.
None of the receivers (Ceedee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup) has a touchdown. Not just in the red zone, but from anywhere on the field. Running back Tony Pollard has two touchdowns from the red zone, both coming in the blowout victory against the Giants in Week 1.
Last week, Pollard had eight attempts inside the red zone and came up empty,
including a stretch where he carried the ball five consecutive times on the last drive of the game that ended with a Dak Prescott interception.
The lack of an established red zone threat — Elliott scored 12 touchdowns in the area last season — is hurting the Cowboys as they enter Sunday’s game against New England.
Until the offense can produce in the red zone, a situation where teams that make deep playoff runs excel, it could be an albatross on their season.
“It’s hard to say concern,” Prescott said of the red zone struggles. “Obviously that’s our focus and attention, but when you have time, you can get better. You don’t think you can’t do that, we know we can do that and overcome these things.”
Unlike previous seasons, the Cowboys don’t have a big physical receiver like Keyshawn Johnson, Terrell Owens, Dez Bryant or Amari Cooper who can make contested catches on jump balls. Lamb, at 6-2, is a talented receiver who had five red zone scores last season.
Play calling also is a part of the equation. In the loss to Arizona, Lamb gained zero yards when taking a toss on a run play in the red zone. Why use a run play with Lamb, who started in motion, instead of a pass that could have had better results? Lamb said he appreciates being moved around the offense to create mismatches.
“We got to score, it’s no secret,” Lamb said. “We’ve been 3-11 (in the) last two games if I’m not mistaken. Let me touch the rock and we’ll get into the end zone.”
The tight ends are young. There is no Jason Witten among the bunch. Schultz had five red zone touchdowns last season for the Cowboys, but he’s now playing for the Texans.
The current tight ends have combined for five drops and 12 catches this season.
Pollard isn’t a physical back like Elliott. While Pollard leads the NFL in rushing attempts (62), the failures in the red zone carry more weight when considering what’s been missing with the offense.
The Cowboys are reaching the red zone area more than any other team but not finishing.