Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy recently shed light on the team’s approach to helping quarterback Dak Prescott regain his edge. After an impressive 2023 season with 36 touchdowns and over 4,500 passing yards, Prescott has struggled in 2024, throwing only 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions over seven games, with six interceptions in just the last three.
McCarthy emphasized that his system is structured around maximizing the quarterback’s success, a core coaching philosophy he’s refined over decades. “This system’s built on making the quarterback successful,” McCarthy stated. “The starting point is running the football.” However, the Cowboys have faced challenges in this area, ranking last in the league with a mere 74.1 rushing yards per game and only three rushing touchdowns all season.
McCarthy believes that balancing the offense with a productive running game will not only relieve some of the pressure on Prescott but also create better passing opportunities. “We need to get more production out of the run game, increase the action pass opportunities,” he explained, “and from that, take it to the next step—pass protection and the passing perimeter.”
A key strategy will be incorporating more play-action passes, which can open up explosive downfield plays by keeping defenses off-balance. McCarthy also highlighted the importance of precise route-running from receivers and a strong offensive line to support Prescott fully.
For McCarthy, maintaining Prescott’s focus on playing quarterback is crucial to his success. “If anything, I would guard against asking him to feel like he has to do more than he’s already doing,” he said. “He’s a great worker, super diligent, and we’ll get to where we need to get to.”
The Cowboys hope to see these adjustments take effect this Sunday as they look to halt a three-game losing streak against the Atlanta Falcons, with McCarthy and Prescott working together to turn the season around.
