No way he survives this.If the Packers somehow win, does that spell the end for McCarthy?
What was up with Lamb and Dak today?told you since week three they were fucking frauds
they're both front running losers?What was up with Lamb and Dak today?
I would be the least justified firing in many years.... but it's going to happen.What now? They looked unready defensively and Dak made some critical errors to put it out of reach by halftime.
I don't see McCarthy surviving with the quality of HCs on the market right now.
How is it not justified? Pretty sure I could coach them to 10+ wins.I would be the least justified firing in many years.... but it's going to happen.
Why?I would be the least justified firing in many years.... but it's going to happen.
Pretty sure you couldn't. He's won more games than any of the guys before him in recent years, he took over playcalling from his young hotshot OC and the offense got much better. I'm not a huge McCarthy fan, but firing him after he put up the seasons he has because Dan Quinn's fraud defense gets shredded is a very quick trigger. Now maybe you replace him with BB and you argue that you need someone to get them over the hump in the playoffs you could sell I guess, but coaches usually don't get fired when they win 12 games back to back years and their side of the ball is good.How is it not justified? Pretty sure I could coach them to 10+ wins.
Not usually, no. The standards are different though. Everyone said the same thing when they hired him originally - that he wouldn’t get them over the hump.Pretty sure you couldn't. He's won more games than any of the guys before him in recent years, he took over playcalling from his young hotshot OC and the offense got much better. I'm not a huge McCarthy fan, but firing him after he put up the seasons he has because Dan Quinn's fraud defense gets shredded is a very quick trigger. Now maybe you replace him with BB and you argue that you need someone to get them over the hump in the playoffs you could sell I guess, but coaches usually don't get fired when they win 12 games back to back years and their side of the ball is good.
The team is also the first team in history to win 12 games three straight season and not make a Championship game.Pretty sure you couldn't. He's won more games than any of the guys before him in recent years, he took over playcalling from his young hotshot OC and the offense got much better. I'm not a huge McCarthy fan, but firing him after he put up the seasons he has because Dan Quinn's fraud defense gets shredded is a very quick trigger. Now maybe you replace him with BB and you argue that you need someone to get them over the hump in the playoffs you could sell I guess, but coaches usually don't get fired when they win 12 games back to back years and their side of the ball is good.
They were undefeated at home this year so why wasn't that a problem in any of those games?I thought Strahans comment about the atmosphere being more like a broadway play than a football game rang true. Nowhere else in the NFL is like Dallas, and that’s 100% on JJ.
What does the Jones family do that messes things up, especially in the playoffs? Is it just too much meddling or something else? This is really curious.Again nothing is going to change firing McCarthy - they can bring in Bill, Deion Sanders, whoever, til the Jones family is in their graves and no longer in control of the franchise, the head coach is just a scapegoat.
I think it's like a curse, like trading Lou GherigWhat does the Jones family do that messes things up, especially in the playoffs? Is it just too much meddling or something else? This is really curious.
The curse of Danny White?I think it's like a curse, like trading Lou Gherig
he's always in the locker room or contract negotiations or media telling all the players how great they are and wanting to be friends with them, so there's no fear from anybody. That's great when things are going well but when things starting going bad, none of them have the ability to turn the switch. All you see is deer in the headlights, which started tonight when the Packers took the opening kickoff instead of deferring and drove it right up their behinds.What does the Jones family do that messes things up, especially in the playoffs? Is it just too much meddling or something else? This is really curious.
Ah thanks.he's always in the locker room or contract negotiations or media telling all the players how great they are and wanting to be friends with them, so there's no fear from anybody. That's great when things are going well but when things starting going bad, none of them have the ability to turn the switch. All you see is deer in the headlights, which started tonight when the Packers took the opening kickoff instead of deferring and drove it right up their behinds.
I normally don’t like to use the word “soft” in sports contexts but, man, the Cowboys are almost always mentally soft. McCarthy may be a scapegoat for broader problems but I don’t see the point of continuing the McCarthy/Dak combo. You have a coach who isn’t a great tactician combined with a QB who can’t seem to stop tripping over himself when it counts.he's always in the locker room or contract negotiations or media telling all the players how great they are and wanting to be friends with them, so there's no fear from anybody. That's great when things are going well but when things starting going bad, none of them have the ability to turn the switch. All you see is deer in the headlights, which started tonight when the Packers took the opening kickoff instead of deferring and drove it right up their behinds.
Because it’s less about home games and more about overall culture. I think what Strahan was getting at is that playing for the Cowboys is different than playing for any other team. For all other teams it’s almost all about playing football, but for Dallas it’s about the showtime component. So maybe not a problem vs the Little Sisters of the Poor, but in a big game they turtle up.They were undefeated at home this year so why wasn't that a problem in any of those games?
I think they run a bit of a GM by committee. Stephen is involved as well. And Will McClay?Jerry is the GM right? They’ve changed everything else. He’s the problem
All very good points. Jerry probably has to decide whether he'd rather continue "his way" and very likely continue to come up short, or bring in BB, take even more of a back seat, and have a much better chance of an SB. Basically, is winning the most important thing, or is running the organization a particular way the most important thing. I would not be surprised if he chose the latter and just decided he did not want to be anyone's Beta at this point in his life, results notwithstanding.Just getting into here for the first time since yesterday….here’s my thoughts…and some of these are in response to posts above:
1. Dak Prescott hasn’t done anything to stop his critics from getting louder. The dude literally had an MVP-caliber season but we said it back in the middle of the season that he will be judged by his playoff performances. He can shut up his critics with a good playoff run, but he keeps giving them fuel with these bad performances. He’s simply not having enough good/great playoff games to be considered an elite QB when discussing Super Bowl contenders. We’ve seen him have great playoff games before (TB last year, SEA in 2018, GB loss in 2016), but they are out-numbered by mediocre or bad performances.
2. Despite the above, more than 50% of yesterday’s loss is on the defense. That was an absolutely ghoulish performance by Dan Quinn and that unit. Why was Quinn running so much zone when the Cowboys played mostly man coverage all year? There were guys open that didn’t have a defender within 5-10 yards of him. Just pathetic. When the Cowboys offense started making a little noise, the defense never got stops to keep any momentum. They did absolutely nothing to even give the offense a chance to get back in it. It’s not hyperbole to call that possibly the worst Cowboys playoff defensive performance in franchise history.
3. Mike McCarthy….I honestly didn’t see anything in-game that was egregious other than maybe trying to run the ball a little too much early on, but that’s mostly nitpicking. The biggest glaring thing i saw was he just didn’t look like he had his team ready to play at all. I was actually starting to warm up to McCarthy after last years playoffs and the regular season this year. After his team came out utterly flat in the 2021 wildcard round at home against the 49ers and rightly skewered him for it, I was impressed how ready the team looked last year in the 2022 playoffs. Even in the loss to the 49ers last year, the Cowboys were ready to play that day. Yesterday, they looked like an even worse version of the 2021 team…totally lost and not ready to play a playoff game. I don’t know how he survives that type of performance. These are the games you’re judged on and the team walked out of the tunnel and into the field with about as much intensity as a preseason game against the Cardinals. I think he’s gone…but I’m not sure it will change much because….see below
4. Jerry Jones/GM discourse….for those who follow the Cowboys closely, it’s been an open secret that Jerry isn’t really the GM anymore. Really just in name only. Stephen Jones and Will McClay run player personnel mostly. You’d be hard pressed to find a team that has drafted better than Dallas over the past decade. There’s a reason they are constantly either in the playoffs or at least in contention. They have drafted and developed good talent. So what’s the issue? I still think Jerrah is an issue but not because of player personnel decisions…it’s because he refuses to hire an Alpha head coach who can change the culture into a disciplined team who is always ready to play. The last coach the Cowboys had who did that was Bill Parcells and then Jerry forced TO on him in 2006 (back when he was GM for real) and Parcells decided that was enough time in Dallas. In short, Jerry’s ego of needing to be the alpha male in the organization with zero competition has produced an undisciplined culture which has infected the team since Parcells left. The Cowboys typically lose big games because they play undisciplined football and/or not ready to play at the same speed as their opponents. Unless Jerry swallows his pride (like he briefly did for the Parcells hiring), I don’t see how things really change in terms of competing with the elite teams of the league.
Don’t think they have much of an option here. You bring back Dak with hopefully a HC that can get more from him come playoff time. McCarthy hasn’t done a bad job. In fact, he’s done a very good regular season job. This year’s team had a higher point differential than any of the Cowboys’ SB winning teams. But his playoff struggles are real. I’d only swap him out for a clear upgrade like Belichick. Don’t really think Vrabel moves the needle enough.The Cowboys have not only coach drama to deal with but a real reckoning with Dak as he has a $59.4 mil cap hit next year. That means they're either going to have to give him the biggest contract in NFL history (coming off another playoff disaster), cut him and spread the dead money over two years post 6-1 or let him play with that hit and have to dress a bunch of grocery baggers and janitors.
And that's really going to be why McCarthy doesn't survive IMHO....the sell on McCarthy was he can win in the playoffs. It's been the opposite with a 1-3 record. He may have survived if the team showed up on Sunday but still lost....but the team didn't show up in a huge game. They had all the stars lining up for a deep playoff run when Philly collapsed and Dallas snagged the 2 seed....guaranteeing they wouldn't have to face the 49ers until the NFCCG....so to not show up against a 7 seed known for their bad defense is unforgivable.The last two times there was a single losing home team in the wild card round of NFL Playoffs it was your Dallas Cowboys! (2022 & 2024).
This is a great post and, truth be told, I actually think what you are describing the team needs is what Belichick is best at: imposing a culture of accountability across an organization. Even more than his coaching prowess and preparation, Bill has an incredibly unique ability in this way.Just getting into here for the first time since yesterday….here’s my thoughts…and some of these are in response to posts above:
1. Dak Prescott hasn’t done anything to stop his critics from getting louder. The dude literally had an MVP-caliber season but we said it back in the middle of the season that he will be judged by his playoff performances. He can shut up his critics with a good playoff run, but he keeps giving them fuel with these bad performances. He’s simply not having enough good/great playoff games to be considered an elite QB when discussing Super Bowl contenders. We’ve seen him have great playoff games before (TB last year, SEA in 2018, GB loss in 2016), but they are out-numbered by mediocre or bad performances.
2. Despite the above, more than 50% of yesterday’s loss is on the defense. That was an absolutely ghoulish performance by Dan Quinn and that unit. Why was Quinn running so much zone when the Cowboys played mostly man coverage all year? There were guys open that didn’t have a defender within 5-10 yards of him. Just pathetic. When the Cowboys offense started making a little noise, the defense never got stops to keep any momentum. They did absolutely nothing to even give the offense a chance to get back in it. It’s not hyperbole to call that possibly the worst Cowboys playoff defensive performance in franchise history.
3. Mike McCarthy….I honestly didn’t see anything in-game that was egregious other than maybe trying to run the ball a little too much early on, but that’s mostly nitpicking. The biggest glaring thing i saw was he just didn’t look like he had his team ready to play at all. I was actually starting to warm up to McCarthy after last years playoffs and the regular season this year. After his team came out utterly flat in the 2021 wildcard round at home against the 49ers and rightly skewered him for it, I was impressed how ready the team looked last year in the 2022 playoffs. Even in the loss to the 49ers last year, the Cowboys were ready to play that day. Yesterday, they looked like an even worse version of the 2021 team…totally lost and not ready to play a playoff game. I don’t know how he survives that type of performance. These are the games you’re judged on and the team walked out of the tunnel and into the field with about as much intensity as a preseason game against the Cardinals. I think he’s gone…but I’m not sure it will change much because….see below
4. Jerry Jones/GM discourse….for those who follow the Cowboys closely, it’s been an open secret that Jerry isn’t really the GM anymore. Really just in name only. Stephen Jones and Will McClay run player personnel mostly. You’d be hard pressed to find a team that has drafted better than Dallas over the past decade. There’s a reason they are constantly either in the playoffs or at least in contention. They have drafted and developed good talent. So what’s the issue? I still think Jerrah is an issue but not because of player personnel decisions…it’s because he refuses to hire an Alpha head coach who can change the culture into a disciplined team who is always ready to play. The last coach the Cowboys had who did that was Bill Parcells and then Jerry forced TO on him in 2006 (back when he was GM for real) and Parcells decided that was enough time in Dallas. In short, Jerry’s ego of needing to be the alpha male in the organization with zero competition has produced an undisciplined culture which has infected the team since Parcells left. The Cowboys typically lose big games because they play undisciplined football and/or not ready to play at the same speed as their opponents. Unless Jerry swallows his pride (like he briefly did for the Parcells hiring), I don’t see how things really change in terms of competing with the elite teams of the league.
This is a great post and, truth be told, I actually think what you are describing the team needs is what Belichick is best at: imposing a culture of accountability across an organization. Even more than his coaching prowess and preparation, Bill has an incredibly unique ability in this way.
I think the issue is 100% whether Jerry can cede that control— he will always want the best and flashiest talent—and I see no reason to believe he can.
Yeah I'd be shocked if BB accepted a Dallas HC job, but I'd certainly embrace it if he wanted to coach for a few seasons in Dallas. Best case scenario is maybe someone like Jim Harbaugh....he would be good for the discipline side which is what this team has sorely been missing and he's the type who might get the most out of Dak in the big moment. I think Mike Vrabel would be a good fit too, but he's prob not coming here either for the same reasons BB wouldn't.If the Jerry can't get BB, does he pivot to the Harbs?
yes. Parson has a 5th year option on the end and they have a ton of long term cap room, shouldn't be tough to arrange the salaries to make it work (if they choose to).Coaching aside, is it going to be possible for Dallas to extend Dak, Lamb & Parson all this offseason? I think that all three are only signed through 2024...
Dak's got a $60m cap hit so they're going to have to do something there.Coaching aside, is it going to be possible for Dallas to extend Dak, Lamb & Parson all this offseason? I think that all three are only signed through 2024...
Okay, so probably Lamb & Dak now and Parson's this time next year. They really do have a ton of cap space available...yes. Parson has a 5th year option on the end and they have a ton of long term cap room, shouldn't be tough to arrange the salaries to make it work (if they choose to).
of course one reason they have a ton of space is a lot of holes to fill, but yeah their cap is in pretty good shape to lock up the key pieces and fill around thatOkay, so probably Lamb & Dak now and Parson's this time next year. They really do have a ton of cap space available...
Carroll had final say on personnel decisions in Seattle. He might not have the same need for full control as BB but his arrangement with Schneider gave him a lot of power.You know who'd be an interesting fit in Dallas ... Pete Carroll. A "name" coach who has won a Super Bowl, has never demonstrated a need to have final say, and has shown an ability to motivate.
Won't happen, but it'd be interesting.
Of course, maybe McCarthy stays.
McClay has done a really good job with personnel which is the primary reason I find it hard to imagine BB going there.My guess is they extend Dak and CeeDee...and wait for Micah after next season.
They could theoretically wait until next year for CeeDee too, but they have to extend Dak now because otherwise he's a 59M hit next year. They aren't swallowing that. But I don't think they'd want to risk a holdout with CeeDee if they went into 2024 with just the one year remaining so that's why I think they'll get both of them done.
The Cowboys are in a pretty good situation for the cap with the excellent drafts they have had recently, but that doesn't mean they can be reckless. If they play their cards right, they should have a solid 3-4 year window to get over the hump here.