When Mike McCarthy first came to Dallas it was seen as an instant boost for the Cowboys offense. In addition to have coached three of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, McCarthy was regarded as a guru of the famous West Coast offense. The West Coast offense, or WCO, is an offensive attack conceived by Bill Walsh in Cincinnati in the 1970s, popularized in San Francisco in the 1980s, and eventually canonized by the many branches of the Walsh coaching tree in the years since.
McCarthy, hailing from that very Walsh coaching tree, was set to bring the WCO offense to the Cowboys. It was said he would merge his famous attack with the preexisting Air Coryell offense being run by holdover Kellen Moore. For years there was comprise between the two brands, but after Moore was allowed to seek other outside opportunities in 2023, it’s been the McCarthy show in Dallas.
With McCarthy alone at the helm things have predictably moved in the direction of passing. The WCO is an offense designed to move away from the run-heavy approach of yesteryear. It replaces many of the runs typically associated with the Air Coryell and replaces them with short horizontal passes in space. When game situations and box counts call for it, there are still runs, but the short passing game essentially takes the place of the running game. Given all that, it’s not surprising to see the Cowboys passing at a rate over expected these days
It’s neither a secret nor surprising to see the Cowboys struggling to rush the ball in 2024. Not only did they piece together a running back group with retreads and complementary players, but they replaced two-fifths of the offensive line with rookies. Through two games the Cowboys’ leading rusher has just 56 yards with the most efficient rusher averaging just 3.7 yards/carry. It’s so bleak the No. 3 RB, Deuce Vaughn is actually leading the unit in missed tackles forced and in yards after contact/attempt.
As a team the Cowboys are rushing the ball with a success rate (SR) of just 37 percent this season. That means on 63 percent of rushing attempts the Cowboys were in better shape before the play than they were after the play. Specifically, Ezekiel Elliott is contributing a 31.3% SR while Rico Dowdle is averaging 46.7% SR. If there’s ever been a time to truly embrace the WCO it’s now.
More high percentage short passes on early downs could effectively replace a portion of the Cowboys’ rushing attempts. Granted, receivers Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and KaVonate Turpin aren’t exactly begging for more opportunities with the ball, but since they’re ascending players who offer a little more juice in space, they are options worth exploring.
The Cowboys are in a tough spot right now. They don’t want to become so one dimensional they are predictable, but they also don’t want to keep doing something that clearly isn’t working all in the name of balance.
The WCO is just another tool on McCarthy’s toolbelt. The Cowboys are already more pass-heavy than most NFL teams, so this isn’t a call for wild changes but rather a continued shift.
Early downs especially should shift away from the running game since far too often they lead to obvious passing situations on third down. These third-down passing situations typically call for Dak Prescott to spend more time in the pocket since the ball needs to get beyond the sticks. That means more pressure on Terence Steele and Tyler Guyton to maintain blocks on the edge which is not something anyone wants.
The Cowboys don’t need wholesale changes on offense, but they need some changes. It might be time for McCarthy to go full West Coast offense on this Cowboys team.
Related articles
- Are Elliott and Dowdle playing the roles they were expected to in 2024?
- McCarthy’s seat is getting warmer
- The Cowboys are in a very predictable situation in 2024
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