Mike McCarthy: Free pass or fail?

Posted By on December 1, 2020

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy looks on from the sidelines in a blowout loss to Washington. *Photo by Joe Glorioso All-Pro Reels https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeglo/

When Mike McCarthy was hired as the new Dallas Cowboys head coach there were mixed reviews from fans. Some were thrilled because Jerry hired a “made man” who won a Super Bowl in his own building. Others were furious hoping to land a young offensive college mind such as Lincoln Riley, a living legend such as Urban Meyer, or even a reunion with former Bill Parcells pupil Sean Payton. Most of us however had mixed emotions. We knew that it was long overdue that the team had to move on from Jason Garrett but we were apprehensive about a coach who only won 1 Super Bowl in Green Bay with back to back Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Moreover, we were concerned that since Mike McCarthy was fired from Green Bay his former team led by Aaron Rodgers, had gone 13-3 and made it to the NFC championship game. Still, most were in agreement that the hiring of Mike McCarthy was a definite upgrade for the Dallas Cowboys head coach position.

After hiring Mike McCarthy, expectations for 2020 started to swell following a strong draft, a promising group of free agent signings, and some inspiring press conferences. In fact, even I had tasted the Mike McCarthy koolaid and was overcome with positive vibes as evidenced by my preseason prediction for the Dallas Cowboys. It should be noted that I am not known for being overly optimistic so this was a departure from my usual norm. Needless to say, the Dallas Cowboys 2020 season has likely not met or exceeded the expectations of even the most hopeless of Cowboys fans. Dead last in the most pathetic division in the history of the NFL is a new low for an entire generation of Cowboys fans. Now the biggest question for this season is: How high of a draft pick will the team end up with? What went wrong and how much is Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy to blame?

Well, Mike McCarthy is the head coach. Whether it is fair or not the responsibility falls squarely on his shoulders. Barring a miracle, the Cowboys will fail to win this division and make the playoffs and that constitutes a failed season regardless of circumstances beyond Mike McCarthy’s control. However there were circumstances. I am not referring to the shortened training camp, lack of preseason, and the obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. No, those are common among all NFL teams and cannot be used as a viable excuse. I am referring to the injuries. Here is a list of significant injuries and losses the Dallas Cowboys have had to endure this season:

Not only have there been a large amount of injuries but they have been significant ones. Multiple starters and several of the best players on the team. In fact the single most important player on the team, the starting quarterback! The offensive line that has lined up most of the year is a shell of the once mighty Great Wall of Dallas. At Quarterback, the Cowboys had to start and 7th rounder Ben DiNucci one game and after that failed miserably had to sign Garrett Gilbert off the street to start another. The injuries have played a large part in the Cowboys struggles but good teams are supposed to overcome injuries and find a way to win. The 2020 Dallas Cowboys have failed to do that.

Many of the issues the 2020 Dallas Cowboys have had to endure are not injury related. For example; Historically bad defense, poor special teams play, an embarrassingly bad turnover ratio, an underwhelming free agent class, bad roster management, and some very questionable play calls. These issues are a directly related to Mike McCarthy. The defensive coaching staff and special teams staff were all his hires. The free agent additions such as Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley, and Everson Griffen were guys this staff brought in and they were all failures. The decision to play Terrance Steele at right tackle despite his struggles. The decision to play Darian Thompson and Daryl Worley at safety ahead of a guy like Donovan Wilson who has seemingly emerged as a legitimate safety. The reluctance to move Zack Martin to guard and start Connor McGovern until nearly half way through the season despite evidence that such a move would be successful are all indictments on Mike McCarthy and his staff. Then there is the questionable play calls in the recent loss to Washington. The decision to pass on 4th and inches in the Cowboys own territory instead of punting or a high a percentage QB sneak. Also the fake punt on 4th and 10 on the Cowboys 25 yard line and the subsequent panic by Cedrick Wilson once it was evident the Washington football team was not fooled at all by the play design. Those were two very irresponsible and reckless decisions that directly contributed to what ended up being a blowout loss. At the time those decisions were made the game was close and both blunders resulted in Washington scores. As if those mistakes were not bad enough, even with the gift of hindsight McCarthy doubled down in his press conference claiming that the fake punt was in fact a good play call. He went on to say that “you wont get anywhere if you’re thinking about negatives all the time”. He refused to acknowledge that he was outsmarted by Ron Rivera‘s team there and that he should not have made that decision. Perhaps he was just trying to take the pressure off of his special teams coach John Fassel but those comments do give fans the impression that he may be inclined to repeat his mistakes instead of learn from them. These are all reasons for Dallas Cowboys fans to be highly critical of Mike McCarthy.

READ MORE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY SIDE OF MIKE MCCARTHY

It is fair to say that Mike McCarthy deserves some criticism but he also deserves some credit as well. The sheer number of significant injuries and the timing of them have been overwhelming for the Cowboys. Still despite looking like a team that had quit early on in the season, they managed to show somewhat of a fight in recent weeks. Inspired efforts against the Eagles and Steelers with 3rd and 4th string quarterbacks were then followed up by an inspirational win against the Vikings. In fact, the team came out swinging against Washington on Thanksgiving but the loss of their new starting tackles on the opening drive, just as the offensive line was beginning to show some consistency, was a devastating blow that took the wind out of the Cowboys sails. If McCarthy can rally the troops once again after that devastating loss and missed opportunity and they finish the season strong, he will indeed by deserving of high praise. Nevertheless, if the Cowboys end up right where they are now, in dead last in the NFC East, then Mike McCarthy will have earned his fair share of the blame.

Truth be told, the 2020 season is a write off for the Cowboys. No matter how bad their final record is this season, Mike McCarthy deserves an opportunity to come back and coach in 2021. Hopefully with a full offseason to prepare and a healthy roster we fans will be able to fairly evaluate the new Dallas Cowboys head coach. Mike McCarthy certainly deserves another chance but that is by no means a free pass. If significant improvement isn’t shown in 2021 and he continues to make mistakes that cost his team as he has at times this season, then there is no need to see any further evidence and the Cowboys should swiftly move on.

*Photo by Joe Glorioso All-Pro Reels https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode

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  • Cowboys Coffee Talk is an editorial blog that I aim to use as a platform to share my opinions about the Dallas cowboys past and present. I invite you to please read, enjoy and feel free to share your opinions as well.

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This article has 4 Comments

  2. Please Fire Mike McCarthy .He was supposed to Bring in Experience and Change. He is a Has Been flop. Please don’t put us through another season of this. I remember his Interview with Jones and the Press. How he bragged on beating Cowboys, I knew he was a has been.

  3. I have been a Fan For 49 years. This is the first time I have an opinion. “Fire Mike McCarthy” He was supposed to have Experience and Ability. He is just washed up. I am watching the game. He looks confused and dazed. I Remember his Press interview. He popped off and Bragged about beating the Cowboys. I knew he was a Pompous HasBeen.

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