Big questions for McCarthy's Dallas debut
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy explained the adrenaline rush from the head of a dining room table at Harry & Izzy's steakhouse in Indianapolis.
“I missed the energy of getting up in the morning,” McCarthy told a handful of Dallas reporters Feb. 26 during the NFL scouting combine. “Where you wake up and your mind is flying 100 miles an hour. And you just want to get going on the next project.
“That's what excites me every day.”
McCarthy's f i rst si x months as Cowboys coach have already thrown him curveballs — chiefly, a global pandemic — that nearly 13 years in Green Bay didn't. But he's waded through free agency and a seemingly strong NFL draft to arrive at virtual offseason activities. The Cowboys' stockpile of weapons, especially on offense, only augment the sky-high expectations to which McCarthy arrived. Dallas hasn't made it to an NFC championship game, much less a Super Bowl, in 24 years. Will that change in the McCarthy era?
Here are four questions for the Cowboys to answer in his first season:
1. Can Dallas step up in big games?
McCarthy didn't waste time reminding Cowboys rookies what they are playing for.
“Everything we do will be tied into winning those key games,” he told them during their virtual orientation. “We'll prepare for a 20-game season.”
Winning key games is an area in which the Cowboys fell short last year. The team flopped at New Orleans, New England and Philadelphia in 2019, unable to score more than 10 points despite averaging 27.1 through the season. Eight times they trailed at halftime — and all eight times they lost.
“At critical times, critical games we didn't meet the mark,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “Across the board, we had top players that didn't step up.”
It will be McCarthy's job to improve a team that's made the playoffs every other season in recent years to one that can contend perennially — and advance past the divisional round. McCarthy already anticipates shootouts will be necessary to achieve that goal, a reality that further materialized when the Cowboys drafted Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb with the 17th overall selection rather than shoring up a secondary with the playmaker it's long lacked. The talent is on the roster. Now it's time for McCarthy's staff to scheme and prepare players to maximize their potential.
2. What does CeeDee Lamb mean for the Cowboys' run game?
Three-time Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott is under contract through 2027 with an extension averaging $15 million a year. Even so, the Cowboys added Lamb to a receiver room that already featured a pair of 1,000-yard pass-catchers in Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. McCarthy said his staff is thrilled at the surplus of playmakers.
“It's really just which way you emphasize,” McCarthy said. “(Offensive coordinator) Kellen Moore has had a lot of fun… on a few new wrinkles we're looking to work.”
The receiver boon may come at the right time for the Cowboys offensive line, which has been Dallas' strongest position group most of the last half-decade. Its dominance was importance, CBS color analyst and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo once said. “You need to figure out what your strength is, how you're going to win football games and what's the formula,” Romo said.
With five-time Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick's retirement and seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith's injuries piling up in recent years, the Cowboys line should still be very good but perhaps not as elite as it has been. Dallas' receivers, then, might be the team's most i mposing group. Cooper, Gallup and Lamb all have demonstrated the ability to threaten as individuals. Now, it will be time to scheme that effectively together to play off each other — while still making use of Elliott.
3. Will Dak Prescott take the next step in 2020?
The Cowboys pinpoint McCarthy's history with quarterback development, most recently with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, as one of the top reasons they gave him the job.
“He's a quarterback guru,” Prescott said. “He's an offensive guru.”
Dallas hopes McCarthy wil l bui l d upon what Prescott, who will turn 27 in July, has already accomplished in four seasons. Contract negotiations for a long-term extension will continue in the lead-up to the July 15 deadline, but the Cowboys say they aren't worried about his availability either way.
“When we're ready to play,” Jones said, “he'll be there.”
Prescott hasn't missed a start since Dallas drafted him in the 2016, posting a 40-24 career record so far. In 2019, Prescott delivered his best statistical season yet: 65.1% completion rate, 4,902 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The numbers reflect a Cowboys offense favoring the passing game more than it had in Prescott's first three years, in part because Dallas trailed often. Even so, the throws and chemistry Prescott showcased should give Moore and McCarthy confidence to utilize him creatively in the passing game. They should also capitalize on the many receiving threats to give Prescott better latitude with the runpass option and quarterback keepers.
4. Will this defense finally create turnovers?
The Cowboys tied for the league low with seven interceptions last season. Both scheme and talent will need to revamp to find better results in 2020.
Dallas hopes to find more scheme flexibility under defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and more positional flexibility from players, including rookies Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson II. Each is listed as a corner and created turnovers in college. Diggs, the brother of Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, believes his own past at receiver gives him a leg up in creating turnovers.
“I feel like that's one of my strengths,” he said after the Cowboys selected him in the second round out of Alabama. “I don't want pass breakups. I want interceptions.”