The Dallas Cowboys are off to a 2-1 start to their season and one where the lone defeat isn’t a terrible one. In a very narrow loss to the defending Super Bowl Champions and the GOAT, Tom Brady, you can live with those results in the very first game of the year for the Cowboys, the league as a whole, and especially considering how they’ve looked since.
There are also a few other things. It was Dak Prescott’s first game since he was injured last season against the Giants. It was Week 5 of last season that saw him go down with that gruesome lower-leg injury. However, almost a year or so removed from the injury, he’s back and just as good as he was, probably better.
Speaking of improvement though, the next compliment has to be thrown to the defense. Though only through three weeks of the year, meaning there is so much more football to be played and they still have a ton to prove, what they’ve shown thus far has been amazing, especially relative to last season.
Speaking of that defense, it brings up a thought about Dan Quinn. He may not be the best head man in the world, but his defenses always play with a certain type of fervor and intensity when he’s the coordinator.
Dallas Cowboys: About The Rest Of Leadership?
Again, it’s early on, but that move is looking like a home run for Jerry Jones and his Cowboys. That, though, is where the good tidings, so far, stop about the coaching.
Well, Kellen Moore, but we are trying to keep his name out of the news, SEO rankings, and everything else… because someone will, inevitably, pluck the creative young play-caller from Dallas’s grasp. It’s only bound to happen, as he’s been too darn good but yea, prolonging that event as long as possible would be preferred.
As far as the head man goes though, there are only raised eyebrows for him at the moment. Though the team has been good through three weeks and with a little help from the Chargers or officials in Week 2, depending on how you view it, has that been because of or in spite of head man, Mike McCarthy?
While there has been nothing definitive to point to on the side of saying “this move caused them to win a game”, as Quinn and Moore have definitely had those moments, there have been moments that could have caused the Cowboys to lose games.
Dallas Cowboys: Those Moments?
For example, there is this moment nearing the half of Monday night’s win over Philly. Though the Cowboys were up and in control, you never opportunity out there.
In this case and with the chance to get the ball back with a minute or so, likely 1:20 or greater before the half, you do what you can to get the ball back. Peyton Manning, calling the game on ESPN’s now-famous Manning-Cast, was visibly distraught at the move.
https://twitter.com/sinow/status/1442667533861994500?s=12
When you are playing football and you have a good team, you don’t play games not to lose them, you play games to win them. In moments like this and the moment leading to the game-winning field goal in last week’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, McCarthy is coaching like a guy that is trying not to lose the game.
When you are in control, you don’t concern yourself with the other team’s line of thinking. You do what you have to do in order to give yourself and your team the best chance at winning. Mike McCarthy’s clock management in the last two weeks has not reflected that. Hopefully, it’s not a bad omen of things to come.
The Cowboys look as though they have a chance to really do something special this season… the most special thing in pro football even if they can keep things together. However, if McCarthy continues to manage things as he has, that will be one of the things that end up costing them big-time.
Hopefully, he can get it together, although it has been an issue throughout much of his past. If he can, they could shake things up at a peak level in only the best of ways… meaning, playing in February even. If he proves to remain the same, well, that’s just it. It’ll be more of the same from the last 30 or so odd years.