Ranking LA Rams McVay among NFL head coaches (32-28)

31st-ranked Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys

Head Coaching Record: 125-77-2 (.618)

Mike McCarthy was brought on as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from free agency. It seemed to be a perfect combination: a successful head coach from the past to a very talented team roster ready to win today. But to whoever thinks this way, prepare to be amply disappointed. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day and the problems that dropped the Dallas Cowboys to the pedestrian 8-8 in 2019 were not just the ineptness of their previous head coach, Jason Garrett.

When a team’s ownership and top brass haven’t a clue what is wrong with an NFL team, they cite a need for a “culture change”. That’s exactly the justification for moving on from former head coach Jason Garrett. McCarthy has been described as a man who learned from his own “crippling culture” at the Green Bay Packers, who promptly played to a 13-3 season after moving on from him. To prove his point, he retained offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to retain ownership of running the offense.

Good on paper storms will be brewing by midseason

The Cowboys have not been held accountable in the past. That is certainly an area the micro-management style of McCarthy excels at. Right now, the team is banking on a strong veteran quarterback, a very talented roster, and relying on McCarthy to whip everyone into shape. But it’s a race against time right now. I am unconvinced that “play-nice” McCarthy lasts, particularly with a team that expects Super Bowls to happen each and every year. How long before McCarthy will fall back into a need for more control? The first two-game losing streak? Sub-.500 by mid-season?

The Cowboys are an offensive focused team with an offensive focused head coach. But what of that defense? The Cowboys lost one of the games best cornerbacks in Byron Jones, and then followed that up by losing defensive end Robert Quinn to the Chicago Bears. Those losses hurt the Cowboys far more than anyone is talking about. So many believe that these Cowboys will be a dangerous team in the NFL Playoffs. I don’t see them getting there.