Jerry Jones‘ frustration with the Cowboys’ offense boiled over into public criticism of the team’s scheme under head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
“We’re designing bad plays, or we’re designing bad concepts,” Jones said, per Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS.
The Cowboys finished the 2023 season with the most points and fifth-most yards in the league. Their offense has taken a significant step back this year, ranking 20th in points per game (21.0) and 12th in yards per game (336.5), with an anemic running game producing just 77.2 rushing yards per game and two total touchdowns, both dead-last in the NFL. Dak Prescott is still fourth in the league with 267 passing yards per game, though his six interceptions are the third-most.
However, the Cowboys have not been efficient through the air or on the ground, ranking in the bottom 11 in both EPA/pass and EPA/rush, per NextGen Stats (subscription required). That has especially been an issue in the red zone, where Dallas has converted just six touchdowns on 16 total trips (37.5%), the second-lowest rate in the league.
McCarthy, of course, is the rare HC on a lame-duck contact. Jones cited the wild-card loss to the Packers as the reason why McCarthy is back without an extension. Bill Belichick rumors emerged at different points during the offseason, and this figures to be one of the teams the coaching legend-turned-omnipresent media figure monitors ahead of the 2025 coaching carousel.
The Cowboys declined to add high-level playmakers in free agency or the draft this offseason, re-signing Ezekiel Elliott instead of pursuing Derrick Henry, who leads the league in rushing for the Ravens. Jones was asked about Henry on 105.3 The Fan and shot down any ideas that the All-Pro could have helped the Cowboys’ offense.
“Derrick is having a career year. I don’t know if he’d be having a career year in our situation,” said Jones, via The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov. “We don’t run that type of offense at all.” Jones also blamed the salary cap for his inability to offer Henry a competitive contract, though his $8MM-per-year average was only the fifth-highest among running back free agent contracts signed this offseason.
Dallas most recently suffered a 47-9 embarrassment at the hands of the Lions, who held the Cowboys to just 251 total yards and a measly 3.9 yards per play while committing five turnovers. They travel to San Francisco in Week 8 to play the 49ers on Sunday, where a win will be paramount to keeping up with the Commanders and the Eagles in the NFC East.
