Cowboys Level/Counterpoint: How the Cowboys could also be tied to Mike McCarthy

The loss to the Cincinnati Bengals all however ended any risk of the Dallas Cowboys making the postseason. Any remaining eventualities for them entail issues so unbelievable it might be one of many best miracles in NFL historical past to be within the playoffs this season, and there isn’t going to be a Christmas miracle like that for Dallas.

Now they face the problem of what to do to attempt to flip issues round in 2025. It’s extensively anticipated that Jerry Jones will likely be on the lookout for a brand new head coach. Nonetheless, the identify so steadily linked to the job, Invoice Belichick, is now set to hitch the faculty ranks on the College of North Carolina. And Jones himself has left the door open, kind of, for Mike McCarthy to return. That could be a bit disturbing for a lot of and even most followers. However as Tom Ryle and David Howman focus on, there are some the reason why it could come about. And so they focus on quarterback Dak Prescott.

Tom: It’s a on condition that the Cowboys are tied to Dak Prescott together with his huge contract. That could be a Jerry choice, and he’s not about to confess that the group could also be caught in limbo with Prescott.

However that could be precisely the place they’re. After two main accidents to his legs, Prescott is now not the cellular quarterback who can evade sacks, lengthen performs, or tuck and run for an enormous acquire. His confidence in operating is gone. He has by no means been the very best pocket passer, however that’s what he could also be decreased to.

That is the situation going through any new head coach. The scale of Prescott’s cap hit, and that of CeeDee Lamb, means they’d see the group relying once more on the draft to rebuild a badly depleted roster. It’s not one thing that’s going to show round shortly.

Which means the very best the group might be able to do is preserve McCarthy, or take an actual gamble on a hungry assistant coach. And that may be a guess Jerry is just not prone to make.

David: We’ll have to only disagree on the evaluation of Prescott. He’s by no means been a lot of a operating risk within the NFL – his profession excessive was 357 dashing yards in 2017 – however his pocket passing is what makes him nice. Since 2019, the yr the place he actually mounted his footwork and began to ascend the leaderboard, Prescott is sixth amongst all quarterbacks in EPA/play and ninth in completion proportion over anticipated (CPOE).

We additionally noticed the very best model of Prescott only a yr in the past, which simply so occurred to be the primary yr with McCarthy calling performs. Issues seemed off this yr, however there have been a whole lot of exterior elements. Lamb’s holdout, Prescott’s personal contract scenario, main modifications on the offensive line, and the overall stress to carry out for McCarthy as a lame duck coach.

However we all know Prescott can thrive on this offense, which is one motive to maintain McCarthy. One other is that you simply don’t wish to put your quarterback – the longest tenured quarterback within the league, thoughts you – by means of a complete scheme change on the identical time that he’s recovering from a fairly grotesque harm. The rehab course of will likely be grueling sufficient. The Cowboys shouldn’t rock the boat any greater than they need to in the event that they wish to help their franchise quarterback.

Tom: I’ll demur on how vital his mobility is. We’ve seen him escape virtually sure sacks and make performs in previous seasons, however that was not almost as evident this yr. Additional, it isn’t the amount of dashing yards, it’s the effectiveness. Prescott used to show virtually sure losses into optimistic performs. Once more, that didn’t appear to be working for him almost as properly in 2024.

Now we have now to see how his rehab goes, and simply what he nonetheless has. I concern there will likely be a bit extra degrading in his bodily means. And, as you stated, because the longest tenured QB within the league, the miles are including up. Certain, another quarterbacks which have moved round are nonetheless taking part in at a excessive degree, however there may be additionally Aaron Rodgers, for instance, who simply doesn’t appear to have the magic he as soon as did. I’ll concede, nevertheless, that he would have wanted a whole lot of sorcery to guide that Jets roster to success.

However we do have some widespread floor. The group is sticking with Prescott, as a result of they haven’t any selection, and McCarthy could also be the best choice to maximise his potential. He has 5 seasons working together with his QB. Adjustments with a brand new head man and offensive coordinator, the latter a de facto position for McCarthy, would set issues again. Presumably so much.

And this group was nonetheless combating laborious for McCarthy final Monday. Had it not been for the bone-headed particular groups error by Amani Oruwariye, they’d very probably have gained that recreation. For all his faults, McCarthy nonetheless appears to have the religion of his gamers.

2025 is wanting like one thing of a rebuild for the Cowboys. Provided that, I’m unsure that giving McCarthy two or three extra years could be a foul factor. In spite of everything, Belichick appears to have taken the UNC job so he may hand it to his son, and that will not take too lengthy. In any case, there will likely be different candidates in different years if they’re wanted.

David: I’m completely happy to see folks coming round on this, because it’s what I’ve been saying all alongside. To not toot my very own horn, after all, I’d by no means do this.

McCarthy is preferred and revered by his gamers. That a lot is evident. Prescott, specifically, likes him an terrible lot. Quarterbacks aren’t all the time the very best choose of teaching hires – Baker Mayfield as soon as endorsed Freddie Kitchens – however Prescott has been round lengthy sufficient that if he’s vouching for his head coach/play-caller to stay round, we should always pay attention.

McCarthy has additionally confirmed able to reaching the postseason as a rule. For all of the discuss playoff success, he’s gained a playoff recreation extra lately than both Belichick or Mike Vrabel, one other fashionable candidate. And the truth is that successful a Super Bowl takes a little bit of luck. What number of video games have the Chiefs gained this yr by sheer dumb luck? Even a group on the verge of changing into the primary group in NFL historical past to three-peat wants some luck.

The Cowboys haven’t been fortunate within the playoffs but, however it’s a must to get there first. McCarthy does that. So, too, does Payments head coach Sean McDermott, who’s already clinched his sixth straight playoff look. He’s already matched the quantity of playoff appearances the franchise had in the complete span from 1992 to 2016.

McDermott has but to win a Tremendous Bowl and even attain the sport, and he’s solely been to the convention championship recreation as soon as. However the Payments haven’t even thought of firing him, as a result of they understand how laborious it’s to achieve the playoffs within the first place. All it takes is one fortunate yr for every little thing to go your approach come playoff time, however luck doesn’t matter in the event you’re not within the massive dance.

So right here’s to luck. Could you like the Cowboys as soon as once more in our lifetimes.