The Dallas Cowboys experienced their fifth-worst loss in team history, falling 47-9 to the Detroit Lions on October 13. The defeat has left the team in shock, especially since it occurred on the 82nd birthday of general manager and owner Jerry Jones, who watched the game from his suite at AT&T Stadium. The timing of the blowout added to the disappointment, and Jones didn’t hold back his frustration during a CBS Sports interview, where he criticized the team’s execution and play design.
Speaking on Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan, Jones expressed his concerns, stating, “We are either designing bad plays or bad concepts.” He acknowledged that while there are execution issues, the problems also stem from the overall game plan. Jones was careful to note that he still values the talent on the team, particularly the younger players, but recognized their inexperience leads to more mistakes compared to veterans. “I appreciate our youthful players, but they tend to make a few more mistakes than seasoned players,” Jones said, indicating that the team’s inconsistent performance is a key factor in their struggles.
Not long after Jones’ comments, head coach Mike McCarthy addressed the situation, responding to his boss’s concerns. While McCarthy admitted the team’s 3-3 record is not where they want to be, he defended the quality of the plays and concepts being used, disagreeing with Jones’ assessment. McCarthy emphasized that he regularly communicates with Jones and that they’ve already gone through a period of self-assessment to figure out what’s going wrong.
“I talk to Jerry frequently. We’ve had time to evaluate ourselves,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t focus on his comments, but I don’t believe our plays and concepts are poor.” Despite his confidence in the strategy, McCarthy assured that he would take another look, just to be sure. “I’ll go back and make sure,” he added. McCarthy also took full responsibility for the team’s struggles, acknowledging that they are not where they should be. “We’re not where we want to be, and I know I’m ultimately responsible for that,” he stated.
Reflecting on the Detroit game, McCarthy pointed out that the first play of the game had been rehearsed several times in practice, but a breakdown in communication led to the wrong call being made on the field, resulting in the expected negative outcome. “We simply need to tighten things up,” McCarthy concluded.
The Cowboys are now looking ahead to their next challenge, a showdown with the San Francisco 49ers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. As the team prepares to face one of their rivals, they are eager to correct their mistakes and get back on track.
The cowboys’ Mike McCarthy speaks out against the harsh criticism of Jerry Jones
