How does McCarthy make the Cowboys better?

Jumbo075

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The biggest question for Cowboys fans is why Jerry insisted on hiring an offensive minded coach in Mike McCarthy for a team that already has the #1 offense in the NFL. It's like he just doesn't understand how important defense is. Is Mike Nolan the answer on defense? Really?

The Cowboys, under both Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells, fielded the #1 defense in the NFL. Both of them understand what it takes to build a championship team - excellent defense. I am not sanguine about the hire of Mike McCarthy. It is highly unlikely he will materially improve the team over the level of offensive performance that Garrett had in his tenure in Dallas.

Over the 13 years that Jason Garrett presided as either Offensive Coordinator and/or Head Coach in Dallas, the Cowboys' offense ranked 4th in total offensive production (367 ypg), and 6th in offensive points per game (24.3 ppg). Having a productive offense in both yards and scoring was not a problem for the Cowboys under Garrett. (Those who are counting on Garrett to fall on his face in New York are likely to be surprised and disappointed.)

The issue for Garrett as Head Coach is he could never consistently field a good defense. When push came to shove, and when nut-cutting time came in the playoffs, Dallas consistently fielded an impotent defense.

Mike McCarthy had the exact same problem in Green Bay. With the exception of the one year the Packers made it to the Super Bowl as the 6th seed in the NFC playoffs, and upset the Steelers, McCarthy fielded top offensive teams, but consistently poor defenses. Even with All-world Aaron Rodgers, the Packers haven't been able to get back to the big game in a decade.

So, I'm wondering if Mike McCarthy is Fool's Gold for Cowboys fans. How is he not EXACTLY what the Cowboys just got rid of?

As for Garrett, he will not be responsible for the defense for the Giants. If Joe Judge can field a good defense, chances are very high the Giants will be very good very soon. If not, then they will become a carbon copy of what the Cowboys have been over the last 13 seasons. I suppose that for Garrett haters, at least some Cowboys fans can cheer for the Giants to be mediocre. But how does that help the rest of us fans who want another Super Bowl trophy in Dallas?

P.S. I waited two weeks to post this, but the more I think about it, the more I don't like this decision. Jerry is just repeating the mistake he made with Garrett. That's my gut feel. I hope I'm wrong.
 
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Keithfansince5

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Hard to argue the logic. The Packers are not a team known for defense. Kinda pedestrian defenses at that. I am hoping that McCarthy helps the Cowboys with at the minimum in game management areas. If everything else is equal, MM has to be better at managing game situations than Garrett. Garrett might be the worst all time lol. That alone equals 2 games a year in the win column than before. Other than that, not sure really. Neither are good at ST's either.

I posted this in another thread, Dallas hasn't sniffed a SB in 25 years, what makes us think they will in the next 25?
 

ksadler1

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The biggest question for Cowboys fans is why Jerry insisted on hiring an offensive minded coach in Mike McCarthy for a team that already has the #1 offense in the NFL. It's like he just doesn't understand how important defense is. Is Mike Nolan the answer on defense? Really?

When your #1 offense can't score, is it really a #1 offense? Being #1 in yards means nothing if you can't outscore the other team. That stat is very misleading. I'd rather be last in yards gained and 1st in scoring...
 

Jumbo075

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When your #1 offense can't score, is it really a #1 offense? Being #1 in yards means nothing if you can't outscore the other team. That stat is very misleading. I'd rather be last in yards gained and 1st in scoring...

The problem with your argument is that the Cowboys ranked 6th in the NFL in scoring this season at 27.1 ppg, in addition to 1st in yards per game. Offense wasn't the issue.
 

Bachman05

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Completely logical how a offensive minded coach wouldn't know how the defense works or vise versa foe a defensive minded coach , San Fran defense looks pretty good for a offensive minded HC
 

Nav22

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I said it’d be a terrible hire before we hired him. I hope I’m wrong but I doubt it.

He’s not known as a great game manager. He’s an offensive coach whose defenses are usually garbage.

He wasn’t smart enough to make Aaron Jones the lead back and he went 11-16-1 in his last 2 years with Green Bay (a team that just won 13 games and reached the NFC title game with a rookie coach).

I really, really hope I’m wrong about this guy.
 

Howboutdemcowboys31

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By not being Jason Garrett first and foremost.

By assembling a really good staff.

By bringing in a new system that benefits Dak WCO.

By being a QB whisperer.

By having actual big game playoff experience and a Super Bowl ring giving him credit with the players

By being able to fill in at guard or 1 tech if all the actual players get hurt
 

xwalker

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The biggest question for Cowboys fans is why Jerry insisted on hiring an offensive minded coach in Mike McCarthy for a team that already has the #1 offense in the NFL. It's like he just doesn't understand how important defense is. Is Mike Nolan the answer on defense? Really?

The Cowboys, under both Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells, fielded the #1 defense in the NFL. Both of them understand what it takes to build a championship team - excellent defense. I am not sanguine about the hire of Mike McCarthy. It is highly unlikely he will materially improve the team over the level of offensive performance that Garrett had in his tenure in Dallas.

Over the 13 years that Jason Garrett presided as either Offensive Coordinator and/or Head Coach in Dallas, the Cowboys' offense ranked 4th in total offensive production (367 ypg), and 6th in offensive points per game (24.3 ppg). Having a productive offense in both yards and scoring was not a problem for the Cowboys under Garrett. (Those who are counting on Garrett to fall on his face in New York are likely to be surprised and disappointed.)

The issue for Garrett as Head Coach is he could never consistently field a good defense. When push came to shove, and when nut-cutting time came in the playoffs, Dallas consistently fielded an impotent defense.

Mike McCarthy had the exact same problem in Green Bay. With the exception of the one year the Packers made it to the Super Bowl as the 6th seed in the NFC playoffs, and upset the Steelers, McCarthy fielded top offensive teams, but consistently poor defenses. Even with All-world Aaron Rodgers, the Packers haven't been able to get back to the big game in a decade.

So, I'm wondering if Mike McCarthy is Fool's Gold for Cowboys fans. How is he not EXACTLY what the Cowboys just got rid of?

As for Garrett, he will not be responsible for the defense for the Giants. If Joe Judge can field a good defense, chances are very high the Giants will be very good very soon. If not, then they will become a carbon copy of what the Cowboys have been over the last 13 seasons. I suppose that for Garrett haters, at least some Cowboys fans can cheer for the Giants to be mediocre. But how does that help the rest of us fans who want another Super Bowl trophy in Dallas?

P.S. I waited two weeks to post this, but the more I think about it, the more I don't like this decision. Jerry is just repeating the mistake he made with Garrett. That's my gut feel. I hope I'm wrong.

The Cowboys were 4th in 2001.

Parcells 1st year was 2003 and he kept Zimmer and Zimmer's 4-3 that year. They were #1 that year.

As they moved more towards Parcells defense they got worse in terms of ranking.

4th 2001
18th 2002

1st 2003 Parcells with Zimmer's defense.
16th 2004
10th 2005
13th 2006
 

Cowboysheelsreds053

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When your #1 offense can't score, is it really a #1 offense? Being #1 in yards means nothing if you can't outscore the other team. That stat is very misleading. I'd rather be last in yards gained and 1st in scoring...

NO and the Pats games, they were not the top O, if so we would have won those games handily because the D did there part.
 

JW82

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If you really think we had the best offense in football OR do not realize how much better of a coach we finally have you should be banned from watching sports, assuming you ever have, permanently...
 

kskboys

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I said it’d be a terrible hire before we hired him. I hope I’m wrong but I doubt it.

He’s not known as a great game manager. He’s an offensive coach whose defenses are usually garbage.

He wasn’t smart enough to make Aaron Jones the lead back and he went 11-16-1 in his last 2 years with Green Bay (a team that just won 13 games and reached the NFC title game with a rookie coach).

I really, really hope I’m wrong about this guy.
Aaron Jones had some injury issues and wasn't ready to be the lead back.

Kinda makes me wonder about the veracity of everything you say.
 

charron

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He doesn't.

The overall coaching staff is better. Jerry deciding to finally allow the coach to hire his own staff. Maybe Garrett failed to demand this or maybe Jerry saw the error in his ways and had to make a change.
 

Nav22

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Aaron Jones had some injury issues and wasn't ready to be the lead back.

Kinda makes me wonder about the veracity of everything you say.
He “wasn’t ready” because you say so. Okay.

Magically ready the second McCarthy gets canned and the new coach, you know, gives him the opportunity!
:laugh:
 

Aven8

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Efficiency is what you are missing and dominance. Throw in predictability and conservatism. Wake up.
 

Jumbo075

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I would genuinely have preferred Urban Meyer. He proved to be a championship coach at multiple stops. I just don't believe in McCarthy. He had both Favre and Rodgers, and made 1 SB in 13 seasons, and that season, he backed into the playoffs as the 6th seed, and got lucky.

My biggest objection to getting rid of Garrett is I just didn't believe Jerry was going to hire someone better. I don't think McCarthy is better than Garrett. Meyer is better. And at least his teams knew how to play defense.

I didn't like Lincoln Riley or Matt Rhule for the same reason - their teams in the Big 12 don't play defense. Guys, I'm just not seeing how McCarthy is an improvement. Yeah, he doesn't clap...but surely everyone realizes that is a petty reason to hate Garrett.

In the end, I was tired of Garrett in Dallas, too. But I think my concerns about Jerry doing the same ol' thing have proven to come true. Yes, McCarthy is the shiny new Christmas present, so some think that this year's beany baby is better than last year's Cabbage Patch Doll. I think both of them, Garrett and McCarthy, are a couple of Pet Rocks.

Honestly, Marvin Lewis would have been a better choice than McCarthy. At least Lewis knows defense. And I don't even like Marvin Lewis.
 
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