The Dallas Cowboys haven’t met expectations in 2020 with a putrid 4-9 record. As expected, the rumblings of whether or not head coach Mike McCarthy is the man for the job of fixing the issues have started to surface.
Those sentiments aren’t shared by owner Jerry Jones. In a Tuesday morning appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones stated that it was ridiculous to speculate that McCarthy wouldn’t be back in 2021.
“Not one time have I been in any discussion, had any dream, or given a thought to anything but Mike McCarthy being our head coach next year, and being our coach of the future,” Jones said. “How in the hell something like that could get going in a conversation with Stephen (Jones) or anybody else about whether McCarthy is going to be the coach or not is ridiculous.”
These comments echoed what Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said on Monday about McCarthy’s future with the organization.
“There will be absolutely no change with coach McCarthy,” Jones said on the K&C Masterpiece. “I am surprised someone would question these unprecedented situations that everybody’s been in. On top of that, no one’s making excuses, but we’ve had some challenges in the injury category. If you look at his track record, and his pedigree, he’s consistently won year-in-and-year out. We have the utmost confidence this ship is going to be righted quickly. Mike’s going to be the leader of this group. He’s, certainly, a great head coach. I think we’re going to see that going forward. He’s accomplished a lot, and he’s going to accomplish a lot more before it’s all said and done.”
The Jones’ feelings about McCarthy aren’t far-fetched when considering everything he’s had to deal with in his first season in Dallas. The coronavirus pandemic wiped out much of the normal protocol that comes with preparing for an NFL season and put McCarthy and the Cowboys revamped coaching staff at a big disadvantage entering 2020.
The biggest detriment to McCarthy’s inaugural season in Dallas has been injuries. On the offensive side of the ball, he’s lost quarterback Dak Prescott and tight end Blake Jarwin for the season. Tyron Smith and La’el Collins were also lost for the year with neck and hip ailments. Fourth-round rookie center Tyler Biadasz and veteran Joe Looney have spent time on the shelf, leading to the Cowboys putting a plethora of offensive line combinations on the field which has included undrafted free agents Terence Steele and Brandon Knight getting significant snaps.
It’s been just as frustrating on the defensive side of the ball, on all three levels. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was signed during free agency to help bolster the Cowboy’s interior defensive line but suffered a ruptured quadriceps in August and was eventually waived. Linebackers Sean Lee and Leighton Vander Esch have missed significant time although both have been on the field for the Cowboys since their Week 8 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The secondary had been the area most affected in 2020 on the injury front defensively. Cornerbacks Trevon Diggs, Chidobe Awuzie, and Anthony Brown have spent time on the sidelines with injuries. Also, second-year safety Donovan Wilson is currently dealing with a groin issue.
Even though McCarthy is an accomplished NFL head coach, having this amount of injuries is a lot to endure in one season. It appears McCarthy will get a Mulligan for 2020, to use a golf reference, and will hopefully lead the Cowboys back to the playoffs in 2021, considering their chances of doing so this season are all but over.
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