Mike McCarthy is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This is usually a critical time for the top coach walking the sidelines for America’s Team. So, is McCarthy on borrowed time?
The Cowboys have been starved for success in the shape of a Super Bowl title for almost three decades. That is way too long for a franchise that has so much pulling power and let’s face it, a history of winning. But at present that is all it is. History. That needs to change, and quickly if McCarthy is to keep his job. History also dictates that owner Jerry Jones is quick to wield the axe if things are not going the way he foresees,
Mike McCarthy Might Be On Borrowed Time in Dallas
Illustrious History
Without going over too much old ground. Jones famously ditched the only Head Coach that the franchise had, Tom Landry, when he took over the club in 1989. What followed was a period of euphoria. Newly installed Jimmy Johnson won two Lombardi Trophies, before stepping away and handing the reigns over to Barry Switzer. He won another title with a team that was starting to show signs of aging and disharmony.
When Switzer was shown the door, a handful of coaches came and went. Chan Gailey had two seasons with playoff appearances but no deep run. Dave Campo had three years with no playoffs, and then Jones managed to acquire Bill Parcells who managed to change the tide but could not bring home the big one after four seasons. Wade Phillps inherited a talented group of players, but again in four years failed to assemble a team that could get a real legitimate shot.
Then most recently the Cowboys were more lenient with their time when Jason Garrett had a decade in charge, with an 85-67, treading water record. Guiding the team to three NFC East titles and the same number of playoff berths just wasn’t good enough.
The Clock Is Ticking
Mike McCarthy was out of coaching completely when the axe was wielded on Garrett. After an extensive interview process, he was the most logical choice for Jerry Jones. The former Green Bay Packers man, McCarthy, had won a Super Bowl, he knew the NFC, and there was no nasty buyout clause from previous contracts. Now, though the pressure is on.
The team is being built around some outstanding players, that is something the Cowboys have always had though. It’s how they are put together that makes the difference. Mike McCarthy has a Cowboys record of 30-20 record so far, and two playoff runs that have been ended by nemesis San Francisco 49ers. The time feels like it’s now or never. The fourth season is often a critical one for Cowboys coaches. With McCarthy taking on playcalling duties after relieving Kellen Moore from the Offensive Coordinator role in January, this could well be the tipping point.
Playcaller
Calling the plays is not new for the 59-year-old coach. And he recently spoke to USA Today about this. “At the end of the day, in my younger years, it would have been a lot harder. But I’ve been at this a long time. My focus was always to support Kellen. There wasn’t a thing that we’re doing this year that was suggestive of him.” This bodes well, but as good as taking things forward with a team that was only second to the title-winning Kansas City Chiefs in points scoring. Yet they still failed to get the job done, is it wise?
Something that owner Jones was quick to pick up on. “I think you have to have the experience of it not working, and then turning around and having enough confidence to try it again when right behind it is another element of risk, even though the last one bit you.” He told USA Today. Could this be setting Mike McCarthy up for a big fall though? It isn’t a case of ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’ as teams always aim to improve. If the Cowboys employ a very similar playbook to previous seasons with Moore at the helm, then surely they will get bit once again when it matters.
Now or Never
All being well and the roster stays largely injury-free the Cowboys will win more games than they lose. At least on paper. As we know football isn’t won on paper, and the anomalies that get thrown each gameday need the right adjustments in play. This is also something that the Cowboys in recent times have seemed to lack, a coherent Plan B.
Mike McCarthy will have to be ultra savvy with his playcalling, as the clock is ticking for a franchise that needs to win a title again, or at the very least a deep run in the postseason.
Main Photo: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
