Cowboys: Mike McCarthy explains controversial red zone approach vs Cardinals
When Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy took on play-calling duties ahead of the 2023 NFL regular season, he talked about the competitiveness that it involved as the biggest reason why he was excited about the change. Sunday's painful loss was a reminder of the bad that comes with the responsibility of carrying the playsheet […]
When Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy took on play-calling duties ahead of the 2023 NFL regular season, he talked about the competitiveness that it involved as the biggest reason why he was excited about the change.
Sunday's painful loss was a reminder of the bad that comes with the responsibility of carrying the playsheet and being the shot-caller: Scrutinity hits a whole other level when you're relaying the calls to the quarterback.
After another underwhelming red zone performance, McCarthy was asked about the Cowboys' red zone struggles. During the game, it was evident the team insisted too much on the run game when near the end zone, a controversial approach from an offense featuring CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup.
"We (didn't) execute in obviously the way we want to, I've got to do a better job, that starts with me," McCarthy told reporters postgame. "They were playing us really high in coverage, that's why we were committing to the run."
McCarthy is under the microscope in this area specifically considering Kellen Moore's offense last year led the NFL inside the 20-yard line. Regardless of the opponent playing "really high" coverage, the Cowboys need to come up with better answers when trying to punch it in for six.
"I felt a lot of the times we had to go the length of the field, we backed off in some (penalties) but we need to do a better job in the red zone," McCarthy added.
The Cowboys went 1-of-5 in the red zone for the day and it's now officially a trend as they rank 27th in the season in red zone TD scoring percentage (40%). How much benefit of the doubt the unit deserves having played three backup offensive linemen is up for debate. But the truth is that play-calling disappointed beyond the war in the trenches.
"Obviously, we’re disappointed," said the Cowboys coach after the loss. "But this is part of the journey. We need to grow from this experience."
Where they need to grow the most, offensively, is in this particular area. Up next are the Bill Belichick-coached New England Patriots, who boast one of the best defenses in the league. It's a timely challenge for a Cowboys offense trying to figure out how to score six instead of three.
Featured image via Dallas Cowboys' YouTube
