3 changes the Cowboys need to make immediately to get back on track
By Randy Gurzi
![Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4800,h_2700,x_0,y_233/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/129/01hcjg94wy7356e3z67w.jpg)
2. Let Dak take chances
There was a lot of focus last year on the number of interceptions Dak Prescott threw, and for good reason. Despite missing five games, he still led the league with 15 picks.
That played into the departure of Kellen Moore — who they will face this week with the Los Angeles Chargers. Mike McCarthy took over the play-calling duties after Moore left and so far, it's been underwhelming.
Prescott enters this week with 1,061 yards and just five touchdowns while playing some ultra-conservative football. He did get picked off three times against the 49ers, so now has four on the season which is less per game than he had in 2022. The problem is, the offense has become so simplistic that it's holding them back. Chris Simms recently went all-in on their "attack," focusing on the lack ouf routes being deployed.
Man, the Cowboys offense is just so basic too much of the time. Slant! Hitch! Go!
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) October 12, 2023
They absolutely cannot stay with teams like the 49ers or Eagles running stuff like this over and over ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/T8Vxxw3XDw
While it made sense to try and limit the turnovers, the dink-and-dunk offense is far from a suitable alternative. With deep threats such as CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and even KaVontae Turpin, it feels almost criminal to keep everything in the short-to-intermediate range each and every week.
That's why the most important thing they can do is actually open up this offense. If McCarthy wants to unlock this team's potential, and make a run in the NFC East, he's going to have to let Dak be Dak. That comes with the good and the bad.
Sure, Prescott throwing too many picks might have been frustrating but at least the offense was feared — and could score in a hurry. This year, their plan of putting a muzzle on the franchise quarterback clearly isn't working.