Marcus Spears and Sam Acho debate who's under more pressure this year, between Mike McCarthy or Dak Prescott. (1:45).
FRISCO (Texas) -- Mike McCarthy finally feels at home.
After spending the 2020 season in Green Bay Wisconsin, the coach's family moved into a house near the Dallas Cowboys practice facility. McCarthy was living in a condo close to The Star in Frisco. His two daughters will attend a local private school. His stepson is a freshman in Dallas at SMU.
McCarthy stated, "This is an exciting time for us as families." We are looking forward to this new chapter in our lives. It feels like I'm married now. I can talk to my wife."
McCarthy wishes that last year didn't happen in many ways. His second season with the Cowboys begins Thursday against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) Few NFL coaches need a fresh start like McCarthy.
Is he still that coach who won his Lombardi Trophy at AT&T Stadium Dallas, four NFC Championship Game appearances and earned a playoff slot nine times in his 13-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers? Is he the coach with a losing record of 17-26-1 in three previous seasons, including a Dallas finish of 6-10 in 2020?
"The privilege to have that pressure is something very special. McCarthy stated that pressure is a privilege. "You have to take a step back, because I was away from it for a whole year. It was gone. That was the part I didn't get. It was that feeling of angst in your stomach. With respect, I mean this: Everyone has a job and a purpose in life: We're all trying rob the same train. The NFL is amazing.
"Whether it's nine years or three, I believe that the NFL is what it is. Although it's difficult and makes you appreciate the things that you have done, I believe it helps you to see the areas you need to improve in order to get there. You can't go wrong if you have a solid plan. That's what I use to sleep well at night.
McCarthy was fired in 2018 after starting 4-7-1 and four games in 2018. He said that there was a "naivety to it" which left a huge dent in his time in Green Bay.
McCarthy spent his year off with the Packers, and before he was hired by the Cowboys on January 2020, studying football. He also created a library of binders that he used to keep track of every game he coached.
There were five NFL coaches whose first seasons were in 2020, and they all faced similar coronavirus-pandemic-related hurdles -- no offseason program, limited training camp. Only Kevin Stefanski, the Cleveland Browns' coach, had a winning record (11.5). Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team coach, made the playoffs but won the NFC East with an impressive 7-9 record.
The Cowboys were terrible defensively when the season began and couldn't stop turning the ball over in offensive play. Dak Prescott suffered a terrible compound fracture and dislocation in Week 5.
After Week 11, when the Cowboys won a win on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, their brightest moment was overshadowed by their darkest hour, which saw the passing of Markus Paul, strength and conditioning coach, in the Dallas weight room.
McCarthy was heard telling his players "F--- last Year" during training camp on HBO's series "Hard Knocks."
The Cowboys of Coach Mike McCarthy, who were 6-10 last season and are now starting the 2021 regular season at Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Associated Press
McCarthy's perception is not always McCarthy's reality
McCarthy believed perception was real, even though his father Joe, a Pittsburgh firefighter and police officer, said so. Mike believed that if you work hard and do the right things, everything will take care of themselves.
The 57-year old coach is part of a franchise built on perception. Forbes reports that the Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise at $6.5 billion. Dallas has yet to win a Super Bowl and is one of only three NFC teams that have not appeared in a conference championship game since 1995. The other two are Washington and Detroit.
McCarthy stated, "Now that I have the opportunity to visit here, where [I understand] perceptions are important, I'm still me." "Jerry Jones didn't hire me to help him market his football team. I would dress better. I would be more careful with my verbs. Yes, I am capable. But I am more aware of [the perception]. It's all about winning. I know how to win. That is what I believe in."
Jerry Jones, Cowboys general manager and owner Jerry Jones, says McCarthy's last season's results and circumstances are fuel.
Jerry Jones stated that McCarthy showed a lot of resolve early on in camp. McCarthy took the dose last year like a man, and took all responsibility that you can give him. He did it in a manner that said we are going to work harder, to improve.
McCarthy was able to make more impressions with NFL Films, which followed every move of the team for "Hard Knocks." McCarthy admitted that it was difficult to be himself when there were cameras everywhere, as he believes his job to "protect the locker rooms." Ellen, his mother, was critical of him for using some vulgar words in a few episodes.
McCarthy is still attached to the offensive side of the ball, even though Kellen Moore is Cowboys' playcaller. During 11-on-11 drills, McCarthy was never more than a few steps from Moore or the quarterbacks. Coach Sean McVay scurried between Oxnard fields to observe Matt Stafford, the Rams' quarterback, throw passes. He also kept an eye on Aaron Donald, the defensive star, and his team.
Joe Whitt Jr. was McCarthy's assistant coach for 11 years in Green Bay. McCarthy said that McCarthy is more engaged in Dallas meetings than he was in Green Bay.
play 2:13 Tannenbaum won't listen to McCarthy excuses Mike Tannenbaum, Dan Graziano and the Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy discuss his job security and how it affects his family.
Mike is Mike. Whitt stated that this is his 12th year of working for him. He has a plan, an organization, of how he wants the team look. Whitt stated, "We are creating a culture that wins, just like we did up north." He believes in this culture and how he presents it to players and coaches. It's very similar from when I joined him in Green Bay. Then, I think in year three or four, we won Super Bowl. We can hopefully speed up the process and get it done in this area.
McCarthy's relationships with players have changed this year as they now have a more traditional offseason, training camp and season. Most of their interactions are no longer over Zoom.
"He's a man's guy, you understand what I mean?" Zack Martin, Cowboys right-guard, said. He wants to talk football but he is one of the guys. He's a good friend to many of the players and it's great to be able sit down and have that conversation.
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Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas running back, says that his relationship with his coach is more personal than it seems.
McCarthy's perception of McCarthy is not helped by the Packers' recent success over the past two seasons. Green Bay's Coach Matt LaFleur has led his teams to back-to-back 13-3 seasons and reached the conference championship in both of them. It's also helped that Aaron Rodgers (who had a 13-year-long relationship with McCarthy) is healthy and playing at the MVP level.
McCarthy stated that "They've done an amazing job -- and I'm certainly not trying to take credit for it -- but I believe they've done an incredible job of building on what was there." "I met Brian Gutekunst, the Packers GM, at Ohio State. It was my first encounter with him since leaving there. We were discussing personnel, and I said that I thought you had done a great job in addressing the pass rush situation two years too late.
Although there was some sarcasm about the "two years too soon", there may have been some truth to it. Ted Thompson, Packers general manager under McCarthy, didn't believe in free agency spending. The Packers spent $183million on four free agents in 2019: pass-rushers Za’Darius Smith (premier), safety Adrian Amos, and guard Billy Turner.
McCarthy stated, "I feel like making excuses." It's facts.
Play 1:48 Deion has high hopes for Dak Prescott, the Cowboys Deion Bernier joins First Take as he lays out his expectations of Dak Prescott, the Cowboys and this season.
Change for the Better
In the success or failure of NFL teams, excuses and facts can often be used in tandem. These are the facts that led to the Cowboys' third-place finish in the NFC East.
After losing Prescott, three other quarterbacks (Andy Dalton and Ben DiNucci) took his place.
Due to injuries, eight different combinations of offensive lines were used and 13 different configurations were used during games.
A defensive plan designed by Mike Nolan, but not suitable for the players, was unable to be implemented due to lack of practice.
McCarthy continues to be denied a "normal" season and normal circumstances. Prescott was injured in the right shoulder, and he missed nine practices this preseason. He also did not participate in any preseason games. In August, Prescott was one of six players on the COVID-19 roster. Quinn was not available as the team's defensive coordinator and was unable to play in two preseason games.
McCarthy stated, "This is the climate that we are in."
Questions about McCarthy are not raised by Jerry Jones or Stephen Jones, executive vice president. They can look beyond last year and see it not as a trend but a one-off. They were incredibly patient with Jason Garrett, McCarthy's predecessor who lasted nine seasons, and won two playoff games.
Although it is impossible to predict how patient McCarthy will be with the Joneses, there are some who wonder if McCarthy is in a win-win situation in Year 2.
Marcus Spears, an ESPN analyst and Cowboys first-round draft pick in 2005, stated that McCarthy is under pressure. "There must be pressure, especially since the Dak contract was signed. Add him to the list for coaches who will be heading to the cemetery if he doesn’t.
As this season begins, the Joneses won't hear from any dissenters.
Stephen Jones stated during training camp that "this guy is a proven leader." He didn't win one Super Bowl title. He was a four-time champion. He won every year and kept the Packers in contention to win the championship. He's a great guy. He is a special guy because of the way he interacts with our team.
McCarthy is able to change perceptions from the outside.
McCarthy stated, "At the end-of-the day, I'm responsible for training the team to win championships." McCarthy said, "And I'm not going to lose my eyes on that."
