McCarthy: Turnovers are our biggest Hindrance

[WillieBeamen]

Just one of my pet peeves. The Cowboys haven't scored on their first drive in 7 games. But for some reason McCarthy always wants the ball first. So automatically we are giving out opponent one extra possession per game. Next thing you know, the 2nd half starts and Cowboys defense is on the field and typically give up points. It's just so frustrating.

front-runner qb

 

[CCBoy]

Turn overs are due to loss of focus and leadership not instilling habits that eliminate many turn-overs due to lazy and forgotten skills to reduce them.

Whatever the Cowboys have tried at running back, nothing has worked so far. This last week, they elevated Dalvin Cook from the practice squad and he rushed for 12 yards on six carries. Whether it's Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle or even Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke, the Cowboys haven't found anywhere to run. They not only rank last in rushing for 74.1 yards per game. They only have eight running plays of 10 yards or more with Rico Dowdle's 13-yard run being the longest.

What the Cowboys are missing in running the ball, they're not making up for in stopping the run. The team ranks 31st in the league, allowing 154.6 yards per game, including 223 to the 49ers, who were missing Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason left the game injured. But it didn't matter as the 49ers were able to run out the clock when they needed to in the final minutes.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/big-picture-10-storylines-for-cowboys-falcons

This is with the off season. In battle, no one asks for mother may I or a continuous that was my fault.

No, This is now on leadership. Coach, you handle on the carpet.

 

[stinkface]

Change the single word "Turnovers" to "Talent", and you have a 100 percent true statement from Big Mike. Wish he had the stones to change the word. He is already a dead coach walking.

 

[Cboyfan4ever]

He once was a Big Game Player, he's digressing. And it may be because he has only ONE legitimate threat on offense and an offensive line he doesn't trust to block, and he's no longer mobile enough to escape.

Doesn't change the fact that the coach stinks too.

Multiple things can be true at the same time.

Dak has NEVER been a big game player!!!

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Was his scheme, playcalling, and play design awful last year too?

And also, was it awful on those two scoring drives that ended in touchdowns to Ceedee?

Serious question

You know it's not a serious question.

 

[Cboyfan4ever]

Sounds like hes sending a direct shot at a particular somebody

Our biggest hindrance:
1a. Dak
1b. Jerruh and son

 

[phildadon86]

Was his scheme, playcalling, and play design awful last year too?

And also, was it awful on those two scoring drives that ended in touchdowns to Ceedee?

Serious question

Serious answer.

You are missing a huge part. Last 3 seasons this team had a semblance of a running game. When you take that away and make a team one dimensional it will make any scheme look bad. The problem is McCarthy hasnt changed the scheme to suit the lack of a run game. Using motion, pre snap reads, etc. So its the definition of round peg square hole.

On top of that. You have a QB who is playing like hot garbage, who has 2 viable targets to throw to and no run game to take the pressure off and this is what you have. An anemic offense, a defense that regardless of injuries is on the field way too much, and a clueless coach on the sideline with no more years left on his contract who probably doesnt really care about anything but collecting his cheques.

And the last TD drive to CD was garbage time so does it matter?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Yes ac....we are all aware its not just dak.

 

[Creeper]

His team has given up over 180 yards rushing in 4 of 7 games, including 2 games of over 220 yards, all 4 were losses, and he cites turnovers as their biggest problem?

I won't argue that Dak's INTs have hurt the Cowboys. They have, and most of them were awful decisions or awful throws. Of course that has to improve. But if my defense was allowing most teams to run through my defense like a locomotive through a gaggle of geese, I think I would be more concerned about my defense. Great, we held the Giants to 26 rushing yards. Lets rest on those laurels. The Cowboys are 2nd worst in pts per game allowed, and tied for worst in rushing yards per game allowed.

In the meantime, they are last in rush yards on offense and last in yards per rush attempt.

Sure, the turnover ratio is awful at -8 3rd worst in the league, but that is a symptom of a much bigger problem.

But I guess the issue is this team has so many problems maybe it is hard to find just 1 to focus on.

 

[Proof]

So Dak was MVP, but it had nothing to do with McCarthy’s play calling? Now MM sucks?

Lamb was targeted over 180 times last year. Lamb was the actual MVP of the offense. Teams now just shadow Lamb, cause goofy behind center can’t find any other WRs, because he stares his first read down.. teams are doing what the Packers did in the playoffs….

And BTW, Dak started last season horribly and finished last season horribly.

teams tried to shadow lamb last year as well and it didn't work. goofy staring him down wasn't an issue then? led the league in tds, but cant find other receivers? everyone on the team is struggling, but it's dak?

 

[cowboyec]

on the field...yes.
over all...our GM.

 

[Bagman]

He's right, the turnovers have been costly. Dak has to own those.

And also true is how bad McCarthy's playcalling, play designs, and decisions have been. Winning the toss and taking the ball, and then coming out with vanilla plays and never scoring an opening drive TD is just silly. Hec, McCarthy had 2 weeks to prepare for San Francisco and the team had opening drive "miscommunications". Come on, man!!!



Dead. Coach. Walking. McCarthy's three 12-win seasons bought him a 1-year extension ...and this is likely going to be the last coaching job he ever has.

Yes, the QB is playing awful, but the coach is winning us any games either. When was the last time an offensive play was run and you acknowledged, "Now THAT was a great play call"? When was the last time McCarthy designed a play that confused the defense and got a player wide-open downfield?

Im still waiting for the first time

 

[Mr_437]

Dak has horrible, and McCarthy has been terrible calling plays and helping his offense. Dude is the playcaller and is a part this dumpster juice offense, not just Dak. However, who knows what Jerry has demanded that may hinder the coach.

 

[Sheepherder]

Our biggest hindrance:
1a. Dak
1b. Jerruh and son

Really! Who overpaid Dak?

 

[SwagSurfer]

After watching the All 22, The biggest hindrance is the antiquated offensive and defensive scheme we run. No run game, no weapon outside of Lamb. We rely on him and 4 to play hero ball too much and when teams take them away, we look to guys like Brooks, tolbert or turpin to show up and most of the time they don't. I won't mention Ferguson because our HC who loves TEs doesn't use him properly.

 

[jazzcat22]

Is he talking about the lack of generating turnovers or the Cowboys turning the ball over?

Probably both. But I think he meant more on the offense.

 

[mardwin]

Finally, someone is calling out Dak.

 

[WillieBeamen]

teams tried to shadow lamb last year as well and it didn't work. goofy staring him down wasn't an issue then? led the league in tds, but cant find other receivers? everyone on the team is struggling, but it's dak?

Proof stop it man lol


The offense looks exactly like it did last season vs Buffalo, SF, and GB.

When Dak plays poorly, its scheme, ol, and no run game.

When he plays well, its him overcoming the crappy scheme

So if its the latter, why isnt he doing that now, fresh off a $240m contract extension?

 

[CowboysRule]

Dak Prescott has been a finalist for the NFL MVP award multiple times, in 2016 and 2023. He was 2nd last year, losing to Lamar Jackson.

In 2023, Dak was a collective 410 of 590 for 4,516 yards...with 36 TDs and 9 interceptions. He even had a 92-yard pass play. That's a really good year.

And this was with a lame offensive coordinator and a bunch of slow starts (as McCarthy never comes out in the first few drives with anything creative or exploitive of the defense's weakness).

Sure, he had some bad moments last season, all QBs do. And yes, he stunk it up early against Green Bay. He played poorly in that game, and in a few others. But overall, a really good, almost-MVP year.

This year, the offensive roster is worse. And he's forcing things, often to CeeDee...so he's not playing well. We all know that. And he knows that.

But Dak's poor play is not the only thing holding this team back this season.

Please please please stop bringing up that he was 2nd in MVP voting last year. He had one singular vote, nowhere near almost MVP, otherwise Lamar was the unanimous MVP. The 92-yard pass play was just due to the fact that the defender covering Lamb fell down and he was wide open. Not like Dak did anything particularly spectacular. And yes, he played terrible in the play-off game, putting a lot of pressure on our defense with his turnovers. He only padded his stats after the game was out of reach. He's laser focused on CD this year which helps explain his turnovers. I think it's due to the fact that he still, in year 9, can't read a defense. So it really doesn't matter if you had prime Megatron on the other side. 1st read gets the ball. And yeah, he's a statue in the pocket. He was never really fast but now he looks like he's running at Payton Manning speed.

 

[jazzcat22]

Other than CeeDee's fumble. Who else on offense has any turnovers. Does Dak have all of them the than CeeDee's?