Was Mike McCarthy holding Dak back to entertain his game plan?

[Chocolate Lab]

I do think there was a plan not to "hold Dak back," but to be conservative to eliminate the interception problem/narrative. That's the kind of thing that can wreck a QB and his confidence if it continues too long.

Some of that was probably Dak himself also, because he knew the same thing and heard the criticism all offseason.

After several games of low INTs where the problem seemed to be solved, probably both he and the OC expanded things.

 

[starfan1]

In recent years we've seen the Rams, Bucs and Chiefs (twice) all win the Super Bowl relying on the QB's arm, so so running game and good defense. It's just a matter of the QB being good enough and the defense being good enough. Right now we look like we have both those elements.. but obviously need to see it over the long haul and in the playoffs to be sure.

My biggest concern with this TEAM is the Oline and run defense. Neither is chopped liver but we dont tend to be a dominant force with either of them. Our center and RT worries me against quality DL and the run defense even though we havent allowed a 100 yard rusher we have looked vulernable there. In all 3 losses the other team rushed for over 100 yards

In the games we have won they have not. I think that is largely because in all but the charger game the game out out of hand pretty early and teams were forced to pass. And then it just steamrolled on them. of course we know Kellen Moore and his tendencies so that could explain that charger game

Dak is plenty good enough if the other pieces come to play. Id like to se our red zone issues get better. as of late its improved some I hope it continues


*Edit* I forgot the carolina game that we won they rushed for over 100 as well.

 

[Gambit]

and we don't learn after our mistakes, because we did it twice and failed twice. I guess we like burning our hands.

Curious, was the exact same play ran out of the set both times, or, were there 2 separate plays from same look ran?

 

[conner01]

Does is seem like, post 49ers, they just threw away the original game plan and just let Dak play? Early on, it looks like the plan was to run, "dink and dunk," control the TOP and let Defense dictate the outcome. It just appears they seemed to unleash Dak and just said "to hell with it". Thoughts?

Some of it may be explained by early season oline issues. Some may just be he seen it wasn’t working and adjusted

 

[nightrain]

Multiple receivers in the same area. It's the KM offense.

 

[pansophy]

Does is seem like, post 49ers, they just threw away the original game plan and just let Dak play? Early on, it looks like the plan was to run, "dink and dunk," control the TOP and let Defense dictate the outcome. It just appears they seemed to unleash Dak and just said "to hell with it". Thoughts?

People keep forgetting that they still haven’t installed the full offense. McCarthy made comments about it a few weeks back that they didn’t even have 7 step drops installed at all. So we should see the offense continue to improve.

 

[Brax]

That's not going to change though. Level of competition will change yes but there's no defensive juggernauts left on the schedule. i j

You’re correct but there is competent offenses

 

[Captain-Crash]

So Mike lied and now is just running Moore's offense. wow, that's some Garrett crap.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You’re correct but there is competent offenses

Oh for sure. But Dak can’t play defense lol.

 

[DuceizBak]

They defi

No my thoughts are they just played weak teams and Philly who they always play well against.

They definitely changed the offense and became more aggressive and used more motions.
This isn't conjecture or barber shop talk, it's backed by film and numbers.

 

[Brax]

Dak is 23-25 against teams with winning records. So according to you, all those teams were bad teams with winning records??

Nice stat that’s done at the end of a season not record when played. He’s a beast against the low end but pressure games seem to change the dynamic. What’s this year’s day to this point? Keep playing the Panthers Giants patriots and all is well. He needs to show up against high level teams.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Dak is 23-25 against teams with winning records. So according to you, all those teams were bad teams with winning records??

Correction: the Dallas Cowboys are 23-25 in games Dak has started against teams with winning records.

I mean if you are going to blame Dak for the losses, shouldn't the team that supposedly carries him to wins also be at fault for defeats?

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Nice stat that’s done at the end of a season not record when played. He’s a beast against the low end but pressure games seem to change the dynamic. What’s this year’s day to this point? Keep playing the Panthers Giants patriots and all is well. He needs to show up against high level teams.

Exactly. The Cowboys beat a good team early in the year that suffers a ton of injuries and finishes with a losing record; and that is supposed to somehow diminish the credibility of the win?

 

[Brax]

Oh for sure. But Dak can’t play defense lol.

No but if you can’t keep up with the competition offensive it’s a problem and that unfortunately seems to happen at the worst time. Kinda funny every player is a jag, OL sucks defense sucks when they lose but win and it’s super Dak carried the team. The level of competition is a factor in games and folks want the D to get turnovers score points while the O is going 3 and out and disappear for more than half the game. Like I said wait till it’s all over then honest evaluation can be done. Past history says Dallas is a great against the low end teams but has real problems with pressure games. I put a lot of the problems on the past HCs.

 

[Xeven]

After Dak’s premier season Jason Garret ruined him. Dak is best when he plays like Mahomes and is mobile. Garret put Dak in a box. They should create plays were Dak scrambles right after the snap which would throw the whole rush scheme of the opponent. Obviously not every play.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

No but if you can’t keep up with the competition offensive it’s a problem and that unfortunately seems to happen at the worst time. Kinda funny every player is a jag, OL sucks defense sucks when they lose but win and it’s super Dak carried the team. The level of competition is a factor in games and folks want the D to get turnovers score points while the O is going 3 and out and disappear for more than half the game. Like I said wait till it’s all over then honest evaluation can be done. Past history says Dallas is a great against the low end teams but has real problems with pressure games. I put a lot of the problems on the past HCs.

Well I know for me I keep the same energy. I want the offense to play at a high level regardless of competition. I expect my defense and special teams to do the same. But for some reason...when the defense and special teams doesn't show up against good competition they get a pass. Even though they bully the lesser competition.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

After Dak’s premier season Jason Garret ruined him. Dak is best when he plays like Mahomes and is mobile. Garret put Dak in a box.

I just go back to 2017 against the Falcons....and how you sit there and watch your second year quarterback get destroyed by one man...Adrian Clayburn. A man who if i'm not mistaken had one functioning arm.

 

[OGSixshooter]

By the by, WHAT IN THE HADES ARE WE DOING RUNNING A WILDCAT? I'm sorry Dak is a gimpy QB at this stage...you don't want him exposed. Secondly, our traditional run game needs all the reps and practice it can get...and we somehow ask people who are not using to handling snaps to run gimmick plays ON THE ROAD?

This smacks of McCarthy to me. He LOVED this stuff in GB. This is why Rodgers would roll his eyes at McCarthy. Look bruh...if you want to be useful, help our young TEs learn the nuance of running routes to open up plays for other receivers. Work on the timing and footwork of our QB/WRs on timing plays. But THIS ain't it.

 

[glimmerman]

If they get in an important game and use the wildcat again then MM has to go. Other than Dowdle keeping it himself for 1/2 yard it was useless. He had a chance to flip it to a crossing player the second time which may have worked but didn’t do it. Or throw it. Get rid of it. I think they are letting Dak call some plays. Or change the plays.

 

[noshame]

Oh Lord
Let's revisit this in 5 weeks.