Cowboys are sending mixed signals on Dak Prescott, Mike McCarthy
Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones took to the record to talk about quarterback Dak Prescott and head coach Mike McCarthy.
Jones was emphatic that the team should have a plan to extend Prescott.
But he also made it clear that the status quo in Dallas has not been enough, via ESPN:
"“I just think it’s some of it’s the fundamentals, how you block it, how you coordinate and marry the run game to the pass game, what your pass game is philosophically, what your run game is philosophically,” Jones said. “… I think people will notice. Now, we’ve been a good offensive football team. That’s the scary part. But we just hadn’t been able to make the plays when it got right down to it in the playoffs.”"
On Mike McCarthy, here’s what he had to say:
"“Obviously he’s the head coach of this football team, and he made a compelling argument that making him the playcaller was going to help us,” Jones said. “I mean that’s part of the coaching, be one click better. He feels good about it. He’s had a lot of success as a playcaller. And he’s observed for three years. I think he’s been a super leader in that aspect in terms of having the respect for Kellen and the offensive group working with Dak, that that was the better way of doing it. I think he believes now, although they believe in a lot of things the same, there’s that 15-20% that they don’t. And I think that Mike just thinks that they’ll do more with the way he wants to do it [and] that we’ll be a better offensive football team.”"
The ESPN article notes that it might take some willingness from Prescott to add a needed weapon to get the job done. If the Cowboys restructure Prescott’s contract this year they can create $22 million of cap space, per ESPN.
Jones, while complimentary of Prescott’s abilities and work ethic, also did make sure to point out the obvious: Prescott hasn’t been a major winner in the playoffs. Prescott is 2-4 in his career in the postseason.