CFZ Mike McCarthy’s Pre-season Strategy: Its a Long Season. Plan accordingly

[Bobhaze]

Although I disagree, I understand why many Cowboys fans want to see starters play at least a qtr during the pre-season. Some teams do it. However, more and more teams’ coaches like Mike McCarthy choose not to risk injury to the largest portion of cap space in meaningless ps games.

Like it or not, Big Mac seems to have a clear pre-season strategy- play the long game. He may be thinking of January in August because the NFL season is a physical and mental drain. (Obviously this is just my opinion of what I think Mike McCarthy is thinking) So here is a quick summary of what I believe is guiding his thinking:

• It’s a long season with 17 regular season games and hopefully 3-4 more playoff games. It makes no sense (to me) to rush anything in ps and even more sense to not risk injury to a starter for a series or two in a game that doesn’t count toward playoff contention.
• Pre-season games do not use game planning or reveal more than 5-10% of the playbook. If getting starters in so they can “work on the offense” for timing reasons makes little sense when you aren’t going to run much of that offense in a ps game anyway.
• PS games are mainly for roster decisions.
• As mentioned earlier, I think Big Mac is thinking about the health and psyche of his team in January as much as he is for August. It’s a draining experience to play 17 NFL regular season games followed by what you hope is several playoff games. Keeping guys fresh - especially vets who have nothing to prove in TC makes a lot of sense.

Again, this is my speculation. Obviously I have no inside info. But I do believe this is what is driving McCarthy and his staff this summer leading up to the start of a very long grind- think long term, not short. With back to back 12 win seasons and a playoff win last year, I would think McCarthy has earned some trust with how he gets his teams prepared for a season.

 

[Gambit]

Although I disagree, I understand why many Cowboys fans want to see starters play at least a qtr during the pre-season. Some teams do it. However, more and more teams’ coaches like Mike McCarthy choose not to risk injury to the largest portion of cap space in meaningless ps games.

Like it or not, Big Mac seems to have a clear pre-season strategy- play the long game. He may be thinking of January in August because the NFL season is a physical and mental drain. (Obviously this is just my opinion of what I think Mike McCarthy is thinking) So here is a quick summary of what I believe is guiding his thinking:

• It’s a long season with 17 regular season games and hopefully 3-4 more playoff games. It makes no sense (to me) to rush anything in ps and even more sense to not risk injury to a starter for a series or two in a game that doesn’t count toward playoff contention.
• Pre-season games do not use game planning or reveal more than 5-10% of the playbook. If getting starters in so they can “work on the offense” for timing reasons makes little sense when you aren’t going to run much of that offense in a ps game anyway.
• PS games are mainly for roster decisions.
• As mentioned earlier, I think Big Mac is thinking about the health and psyche of his team in January as much as he is for August. It’s a draining experience to play 17 NFL regular season games followed by what you hope is several playoff games. Keeping guys fresh - especially vets who have nothing to prove in TC makes a lot of sense.

Again, this is my speculation. Obviously I have no inside info. But I do believe this is what is driving McCarthy and his staff this summer leading up to the start of a very long grind- think long term, not short. With back to back 12 win seasons and a playoff win last year, I would think McCarthy has earned some trust with how he gets his teams prepared for a season.

And specifically for our team, we have a very young roster and are counting on a lot of young players to start, play significant roles or be able to step in due to injury, especially the OL.

Players like TJ Bass, Asim Richards, Matt Waletzko need every rep they can get in preseason to develop.

I like the philosophy of MM for preseason games here.

 

[Bobhaze]

And specifically for our team, we have a very young roster and are counting on a lot of young players to start, play significant roles or be able to step in due to injury, especially the OL.

Players like TJ Bass, Asim Richards, Matt Waletzko need every rep they can get in preseason to develop.

I like the philosophy of MM for preseason games here.

I like the philosophy too. With a 17 game season now and with the critical need to keep the guys who are taking up the most cap space fresh and as injury free as possible, it makes a lot of sense to me.

The NFL has changed a lot since the days of training camp being used to get players in shape. With the year round training these guys do, TC and PS games to me seem more about making final roster decisions and getting ready to start the regular season with as many fresh and healthy bodies as possible.

 

[Rockport]

Although I disagree, I understand why many Cowboys fans want to see starters play at least a qtr during the pre-season. Some teams do it. However, more and more teams’ coaches like Mike McCarthy choose not to risk injury to the largest portion of cap space in meaningless ps games.

Like it or not, Big Mac seems to have a clear pre-season strategy- play the long game. He may be thinking of January in August because the NFL season is a physical and mental drain. (Obviously this is just my opinion of what I think Mike McCarthy is thinking) So here is a quick summary of what I believe is guiding his thinking:

• It’s a long season with 17 regular season games and hopefully 3-4 more playoff games. It makes no sense (to me) to rush anything in ps and even more sense to not risk injury to a starter for a series or two in a game that doesn’t count toward playoff contention.
• Pre-season games do not use game planning or reveal more than 5-10% of the playbook. If getting starters in so they can “work on the offense” for timing reasons makes little sense when you aren’t going to run much of that offense in a ps game anyway.
• PS games are mainly for roster decisions.
• As mentioned earlier, I think Big Mac is thinking about the health and psyche of his team in January as much as he is for August. It’s a draining experience to play 17 NFL regular season games followed by what you hope is several playoff games. Keeping guys fresh - especially vets who have nothing to prove in TC makes a lot of sense.

Again, this is my speculation. Obviously I have no inside info. But I do believe this is what is driving McCarthy and his staff this summer leading up to the start of a very long grind- think long term, not short. With back to back 12 win seasons and a playoff win last year, I would think McCarthy has earned some trust with how he gets his teams prepared for a season.

There’s no reason for any starters to play in the preseason especially with 17 games now. College has no preseason and they do just fine. With the hard salary cap it’s a no brainer. Gear up for opening week.

 

[Havic]

Tbh I think dak needs some reps in an actual preseason game, even if it’s just for 1-2 series.

 

[JayFord]

either which way we do it there will be people calling Mike an idiot

 

[Hadenough]

Gee what a wonderful idea McCarthy has. Now how about pulling key starters like Pollard, Parsons, Lamb, both Smiths and Martin when they are up by 4 scores in the 4th quarter.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Tbh I think dak needs some reps in an actual preseason game, even if it’s just for 1-2 series.

Over 70 percent of the offense is still the same, and even if Dak plays a preseason series or two he'll be going up against a vanilla defense. Not much to be gained or lost by him not playing this month.

 

[rags747]

Andy Reid says Hi!

 

[offlimits]

Tbh I think dak needs some reps in an actual preseason game, even if it’s just for 1-2 series.

I agree with you. Remember how poor Dak was in that first game and subsequently broke his thumb? Won't happen. NFL teams use the preseason now to evaluate back-ups.

 

[Bobhaze]

I agree with you. Remember how poor Dak was in that first game and subsequently broke his thumb? Won't happen. NFL teams use the preseason now to evaluate back-ups.

Dak did have a bad game on opening night last year against the Bucs. However, in the 2021 season opener, (after missing 3/4 of the 2020 season with a broken leg) and with zero preseason action, he threw for 400 yds and 3 TDs in 31-29 loss to the Bucs. Greg Zuerleine missed an XP that night and a chip shot FG.

In other words, you have two examples of Dak without PS action playing well and poorly. So it’s no guarantee either way.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Although I disagree, I understand why many Cowboys fans want to see starters play at least a qtr during the pre-season. Some teams do it. However, more and more teams’ coaches like Mike McCarthy choose not to risk injury to the largest portion of cap space in meaningless ps games.

Like it or not, Big Mac seems to have a clear pre-season strategy- play the long game. He may be thinking of January in August because the NFL season is a physical and mental drain. (Obviously this is just my opinion of what I think Mike McCarthy is thinking) So here is a quick summary of what I believe is guiding his thinking:

• It’s a long season with 17 regular season games and hopefully 3-4 more playoff games. It makes no sense (to me) to rush anything in ps and even more sense to not risk injury to a starter for a series or two in a game that doesn’t count toward playoff contention.
• Pre-season games do not use game planning or reveal more than 5-10% of the playbook. If getting starters in so they can “work on the offense” for timing reasons makes little sense when you aren’t going to run much of that offense in a ps game anyway.
• PS games are mainly for roster decisions.
• As mentioned earlier, I think Big Mac is thinking about the health and psyche of his team in January as much as he is for August. It’s a draining experience to play 17 NFL regular season games followed by what you hope is several playoff games. Keeping guys fresh - especially vets who have nothing to prove in TC makes a lot of sense.

Again, this is my speculation. Obviously I have no inside info. But I do believe this is what is driving McCarthy and his staff this summer leading up to the start of a very long grind- think long term, not short. With back to back 12 win seasons and a playoff win last year, I would think McCarthy has earned some trust with how he gets his teams prepared for a season.

What is 1 qtr going to do? Fans want to see it for their own selfish entertainment purposes.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Other teams do it differently than us. We sure do have the receipts the last few decades to back up this plan of ours as the right way.

 

[john van brocklin]

Although I disagree, I understand why many Cowboys fans want to see starters play at least a qtr during the pre-season. Some teams do it. However, more and more teams’ coaches like Mike McCarthy choose not to risk injury to the largest portion of cap space in meaningless ps games.

Like it or not, Big Mac seems to have a clear pre-season strategy- play the long game. He may be thinking of January in August because the NFL season is a physical and mental drain. (Obviously this is just my opinion of what I think Mike McCarthy is thinking) So here is a quick summary of what I believe is guiding his thinking:

• It’s a long season with 17 regular season games and hopefully 3-4 more playoff games. It makes no sense (to me) to rush anything in ps and even more sense to not risk injury to a starter for a series or two in a game that doesn’t count toward playoff contention.
• Pre-season games do not use game planning or reveal more than 5-10% of the playbook. If getting starters in so they can “work on the offense” for timing reasons makes little sense when you aren’t going to run much of that offense in a ps game anyway.
• PS games are mainly for roster decisions.
• As mentioned earlier, I think Big Mac is thinking about the health and psyche of his team in January as much as he is for August. It’s a draining experience to play 17 NFL regular season games followed by what you hope is several playoff games. Keeping guys fresh - especially vets who have nothing to prove in TC makes a lot of sense.

Again, this is my speculation. Obviously I have no inside info. But I do believe this is what is driving McCarthy and his staff this summer leading up to the start of a very long grind- think long term, not short. With back to back 12 win seasons and a playoff win last year, I would think McCarthy has earned some trust with how he gets his teams prepared for a season.

I think it's an excellent plan of action!

 

[Rayman70]

its a general statement he made. Its like saying water is wet. Of course its a long season. Always is. Its about staying healthier than the next team. Health and getting hot at the right time.

 

[Rayman70]

I will say this and its a fact. McCarthy has rings. That matters, at least with me. I have a level of trust with him. I think he has a ring or 2 while he was with the Niners then Green Bay as HC.

 

[817Gill]

Other teams do it differently than us. We sure do have the receipts the last few decades to back up this plan of ours as the right way.

We haven’t done this for two decades, Romo literally got hurt in the preseason with starters playing. Other teams also don’t play starters too, like the SB winning Rams.

This is a McCarthy thing. You know, the guy who goes 12-5 whenever his QB plays 12+ games. I think he’s got this preseason thing figured out.

Don’t try to tell me playoff losses have anything to do with preseason either.

 

[Diehardblues]

This must be the worst 3-4 weeks in this forum. Preseason …

Some fans obviously don’t have a clue.

 

[Bobhaze]

its a general statement he made. Its like saying water is wet. Of course its a long season. Always is. Its about staying healthier than the next team. Health and getting hot at the right time.

I don’t think most of us who have never played a down of NFL football can appreciate how hard playing 17 regular season games is on these guys’ bodies. Every week it’s like trying to recover from multiple car crashes.

Which is one of many reasons I believe sitting the starters in pre-season makes the most sense. Sure some people think playing a qtr or half is good for the starters. But the way the league is now, with the salary cap, 17 game season, Thurs night games, etc, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to subject your best players to playing in a meaningless game at the risk of an injury.

It’s not soft- it’s smart.

 

[CCBoy]

either which way we do it there will be people calling Mike an idiot

One could argue the additions of Brandin Cooks and Deuce Vaughn, plus a more featured role for Tony Pollard would net more points than the previous two years.

As loaded with talent and explosiveness that the offense is, the defense might have more firepower, and certainly more attitude.

The overall tone of this team has changed, and we have the defense to thank for it.

https://insidethestar.com/cowboys-offense-provides-flash-but-defense-sets-the-tone/

This is what Coach McCarthy is hiding from the rest of the NFL and the Giants will have to see for real in the first game of this season and a baptism of fire for everyone else!

Personally I'm hoping that the Dallas defense starts out every game and sets the tone for the rest of the game!!


Cowboys defense putting NFL on notice: 'We ain't taking s--- from nobody'