2023-24 NFL Season: The Dallas Cowboys Will Miss The Playoffs
We did The Lead Word episode the other day on the NFC East. Hot take alert! The NFC is terrible and I still have the Cowboys missing the playoffs.
Every year we get multiple surprises in the NFL. Teams go from worst to first all the time. On the flip side, we also have the team who implodes out of nowhere. This is exactly what happened to the Rams a season ago. I’m putting the warning out there now. The Cowboys could easily miss the playoffs and a real nightmare scenario exists.
For starters, I don’t love the fact that Mike McCarthy is in charge of calling plays now. Dallas was 4th in points per game in 2022 and first in that same category in 2021. I have a hard time believing things get better without Kellen Moore calling the plays. In reality, it’s far more likely the offense takes a step back.
Dak Prescott hasn’t had the best training camp. Word on the street is McCarthy is asking him to be more of an ad liber like Aaron Rodgers was in Green Bay. Good luck with that…
I also wouldn’t underestimate the loss of Ezekiel Elliott. Part of the reason why Tony Pollard is so efficient is the fact that Zeke did all of the dirty work. Ronald Jones is suspended, Rico Dowdle stinks, and Deuce Vaughn is 5-foot-5. Asking Pollard to carry the team on his back is a big ask.
This team also feels like they’re one CeeDee Lamb injury away from implosion. Lamb is great, don’t get me wrong. Still, there are a lot of questions outside of him. Dallas still misses Amari Cooper whether they want to admit it or not. Dak’s numbers took a hit when Cooper left. Now you’re asking Brandin Cooks to fill those shoes after he was acquired via trade. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this but Dallas will be Cooks’ 5th different team. There is a reason why teams keep getting rid of this guy. Michael Gallup is never healthy and Jalen Tolbert is still unproven.
Dalton Schultz is also gone. The tight end room has plenty of question marks. Can Jake Ferguson really just go out and replace him?
Do you see how many question marks we’ve piled up and we haven’t even gotten past the skill guys?
We know Tyron Smith is going to get hurt at some point. That always happens. Terence Steele stinks. Tyler Smith is actually going to pan out but this offensive line is a far cry from what it used to be.
I think there is a chance the offense really takes a major, major, major step back. If that happens, I’m not convinced the defense can just carry. Micah Parsons is a Hall of Famer, but he can’t do it by himself. I’m not convinced the defensive tackle spot has been taken care of. Both of the former LSU guys Jabrill Cox and Damone Clark are going to have to be hits at linebacker (very possible, but haven’t seen it yet).
More than anything, this is a vote of confidence against Mike McCarthy. He’s as mediocre of a coach as it gets. The longer he’s there, the worse the team gets. I wish the Cowboys luck having McCarthy dial up the plays this year. I can’t see how it goes well.
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