- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 120,435
By Calvin Watkins
7:22 PM on Jan 7, 2020
FRISCO — Mike McCarthy will officially be introduced as the Cowboys head coach Wednesday.
The 3 p.m. news conference will take place at The Star, his new workplace for at least five years, or so he hopes. McCarthy paid his dues to become a head coach with the Packers and earned respect among his peers and players and the people who matter most in these situations: NFL owners.
McCarthy is here because Jason Garrett couldn’t push the Cowboys to the next level in the postseason. There is talent on this roster, at least on offense, and the defense has some tests with so many free agents and changes to the coaching staff.
No job is perfect, but it seems McCarthy is the perfect man to deal with some of the issues the Cowboys face in 2020.
Before McCarthy talks to Cowboys Nation, we look at three challenging issues he must address.
The coaching staff
It appears McCarthy will hire Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator. Nolan is a veteran coach who has split time between a 3-4 and 4-3 defense.
McCarthy used a 3-4 for the majority of his 13 years with the Packers. It would appear the Cowboys have the personnel to maintain a 4-3 defense with Nolan as the defensive coordinator.
Nolan will replace Rod Marinelli and Kris Richard, a pair who ran the defense that didn’t get enough turnovers and finished ninth overall in 2019.
The other major decision will come on the offense. McCarthy is a strong offensive-minded coach, and you want him calling the plays. Yet, the Cowboys offense finished first with Kellen Moore as the play-caller in 2019. Moore has thought about leaving the Cowboys to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Washington. According to a source, Moore is leaning toward remaining with the Cowboys.
Moore is another young offensive mind who can learn the West Coast offense under McCarthy. With Moore staying along with quarterbacks coach Jon Kitna, it should do wonders for quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott and Elliott
The two best weapons on offense (nothing against Amari Cooper, but he slumped toward the end of 2019) are Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. All Prescott has known is Jason Garrett, Scott Linehan and Kellen Moore.
Now McCarthy will have to develop a relationship with Prescott. Both men have easygoing personalities that would indicate this shouldn’t be an issue. McCarthy likes to push players to succeed, and Prescott has said he wants that in his coach.
McCarthy has no problem giving his quarterbacks the freedom to implement things in the game plan and make the necessary changes to forge success. So Prescott and McCarthy should have a good marriage.
Now Elliott. McCarthy isn’t noted for his running games, yet that might be more about what he had than what he wanted to do.
Eddie Lacy rushed for more than 1,000 yards in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Lacy earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2013 with 1,178 rushing yards. Yet, in McCarthy’s final three seasons with the Packers, his teams had among the lowest rushing attempts in the NFL.
But as one source said of McCarthy, “He didn’t have Zeke.”
So one would believe he’s going to throw and run with Elliott. You can also add Tony Pollard to this mix. Pollard was a forgotten man too often with Moore as the play caller. That won’t happen with McCarthy.
Jerry Jones vortex
As the head coach of the Packers, McCarthy didn’t have to worry about his general manager, Ted Thompson, doing weekly radio interviews or talking after games for the bulk of those years.
McCarthy also didn’t deal with an owner directly. The Packers are run by a board of directors and, whether it was Bob Harlan or Mark Murphy as the CEO, there was no need to worry about an owner voicing his displeasure with a loss.
Welcome to Dallas, Mike.
Jerry Jones does a twice-a-week radio interview, speaks with reporters after nearly every game, win or lose, and is the most highly visible owner in sports.
McCarthy grew frustrated with the lack of movement at times by Thompson when it came to the roster. Jones makes moves if necessary. He’s not afraid to do that and gives his head coach a voice to seek talent. Jones said a major reason he doesn’t want a GM is because having a middle man between him and the coach is a waste of time.
McCarthy should thrive in the fact he can go directly to Jones or executive vice president Stephen Jones or Will McClay, the vice president in charge of personnel, for roster moves. McCarthy is smart enough to know how the Cowboys work, and if he’s cool with it, he should be fine.
7:22 PM on Jan 7, 2020
FRISCO — Mike McCarthy will officially be introduced as the Cowboys head coach Wednesday.
The 3 p.m. news conference will take place at The Star, his new workplace for at least five years, or so he hopes. McCarthy paid his dues to become a head coach with the Packers and earned respect among his peers and players and the people who matter most in these situations: NFL owners.
McCarthy is here because Jason Garrett couldn’t push the Cowboys to the next level in the postseason. There is talent on this roster, at least on offense, and the defense has some tests with so many free agents and changes to the coaching staff.
No job is perfect, but it seems McCarthy is the perfect man to deal with some of the issues the Cowboys face in 2020.
Before McCarthy talks to Cowboys Nation, we look at three challenging issues he must address.
The coaching staff
It appears McCarthy will hire Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator. Nolan is a veteran coach who has split time between a 3-4 and 4-3 defense.
McCarthy used a 3-4 for the majority of his 13 years with the Packers. It would appear the Cowboys have the personnel to maintain a 4-3 defense with Nolan as the defensive coordinator.
Nolan will replace Rod Marinelli and Kris Richard, a pair who ran the defense that didn’t get enough turnovers and finished ninth overall in 2019.
The other major decision will come on the offense. McCarthy is a strong offensive-minded coach, and you want him calling the plays. Yet, the Cowboys offense finished first with Kellen Moore as the play-caller in 2019. Moore has thought about leaving the Cowboys to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Washington. According to a source, Moore is leaning toward remaining with the Cowboys.
Moore is another young offensive mind who can learn the West Coast offense under McCarthy. With Moore staying along with quarterbacks coach Jon Kitna, it should do wonders for quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott and Elliott
The two best weapons on offense (nothing against Amari Cooper, but he slumped toward the end of 2019) are Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. All Prescott has known is Jason Garrett, Scott Linehan and Kellen Moore.
Now McCarthy will have to develop a relationship with Prescott. Both men have easygoing personalities that would indicate this shouldn’t be an issue. McCarthy likes to push players to succeed, and Prescott has said he wants that in his coach.
McCarthy has no problem giving his quarterbacks the freedom to implement things in the game plan and make the necessary changes to forge success. So Prescott and McCarthy should have a good marriage.
Now Elliott. McCarthy isn’t noted for his running games, yet that might be more about what he had than what he wanted to do.
Eddie Lacy rushed for more than 1,000 yards in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Lacy earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2013 with 1,178 rushing yards. Yet, in McCarthy’s final three seasons with the Packers, his teams had among the lowest rushing attempts in the NFL.
But as one source said of McCarthy, “He didn’t have Zeke.”
So one would believe he’s going to throw and run with Elliott. You can also add Tony Pollard to this mix. Pollard was a forgotten man too often with Moore as the play caller. That won’t happen with McCarthy.
Jerry Jones vortex
As the head coach of the Packers, McCarthy didn’t have to worry about his general manager, Ted Thompson, doing weekly radio interviews or talking after games for the bulk of those years.
McCarthy also didn’t deal with an owner directly. The Packers are run by a board of directors and, whether it was Bob Harlan or Mark Murphy as the CEO, there was no need to worry about an owner voicing his displeasure with a loss.
Welcome to Dallas, Mike.
Jerry Jones does a twice-a-week radio interview, speaks with reporters after nearly every game, win or lose, and is the most highly visible owner in sports.
McCarthy grew frustrated with the lack of movement at times by Thompson when it came to the roster. Jones makes moves if necessary. He’s not afraid to do that and gives his head coach a voice to seek talent. Jones said a major reason he doesn’t want a GM is because having a middle man between him and the coach is a waste of time.
McCarthy should thrive in the fact he can go directly to Jones or executive vice president Stephen Jones or Will McClay, the vice president in charge of personnel, for roster moves. McCarthy is smart enough to know how the Cowboys work, and if he’s cool with it, he should be fine.
