Dallas Cowboys need Mike McCarthy to step up in 2022
If the Dallas Cowboys are going to truly compete for a Super Bowl in 2022, they need Mike McCarthy to be introspective.
Mike McCarthy is not a bad coach. But he’s a coach under siege, and rightfully so.
After going 12-5 in his second year with the Dallas Cowboys and winning the NFC East, his team lost in a clunker in the Wild Card round to the San Francisco 49ers, 23-17. The defeat was punctuated by 14 penalties — after Dallas led the NFL in penalties during the regular season — and a quarterback draw with 14 seconds and no timeouts remaining, leading to time running out.
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In the ensuing days, speculation has run wild about whether McCarthy should keep his job. Or whether one of his much-ballyhooed coordinators in Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn would be a better fit for the position. While it’s clear Dallas doesn’t intend to replace McCarthy, that won’t stop the flood of justified criticism pouring in.
On Wednesday, McCarthy was asked about his ability to lead Dallas deep into the playoffs, and if there’s reason to believe he can do so. McCarthy responded bluntly. Per ESPN:
“I understand what goes on here every day, I know how to win, I know how to win in this league. I know how to win playoff games, I know how to win a championship. So I have great confidence in that. What we’ve built here in two seasons, I feel very good about, and I think with that you just stay true to that. The hard part is the personal. We all have kids, so that’s the part that I don’t like. I would hope people are respectful to that.”
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While it’s true McCarthy has a strong resume, he also has significant holes in it. The Pennsylvania native was blessed with Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre during his 13 years with the Green Bay Packers. He only reached one Super Bowl, winning a title in 2010. McCarthy went to a pair of NFC title games afterwards, but fell short on both occasions.
Yes, McCarthy has a ring, but that means little in Dallas. The Cowboys are going to lose talent this winter, making the coach’s job that much more difficult.
Come next summer, the Cowboys need to figure out ways to improve on the margins with the expected talent drain ahead. If they can’t, the chatter around McCarthy will only grow louder.
