This year is one wherein the Dallas Cowboys are going to either do or die. The team has not had this good a shot at making the Super Bowl since 1995. All the storylines surrounding the team do appear to satisfy a fortune. Despite the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend, they sit atop the NFC East, at least for now.
Not to send Cowboys fans into panic mode but one of Mike McCarthy‘s former players, James Jones , a top wideout who played under him when he was the coach for the Green Bay Packers, is not happy with what he’s been seeing from his former coach. Jones was a key part of the 2010 Packers team that won the Super Bowl and even though the Cowboys are 10-4 this season, he knows something that fans are not aware of.
The former wideout appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and described his former coach’s shenanigans on the sideline to be “concerning.” He went on to add,
Where’s the energy on the road? None. Players dead. Sideline dead. That’s them coming off the bus not ready to play. That’s coaching.
James Jones wants Mike McCarthy to instill a sense of confidence in his team by being vocal
The Cowboys were coming off a monumental victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. The victory was nothing short of a morale booster for them as the team beat its divisional rivals and managed to clinch the top spot in the NFC East. However, the game against the Buffalo Bills was a stark reality check for America’s team.
Sure, they came into the game riding high off their victory in the previous week, but within no time; they found themselves humbled. The 31-10 loss has to teach the Cowboys one thing, every week is a new week, and there is no such thing as carrying forward any momentum in the NFL.
James Jones believes that the Cowboys are a good team this season but man, Mike McCarthy, the same cannot be said about him, especially after the team’s loss earlier this week.
I can understand getting out-schemed and Buffalo is a good team but the Cowboys are going to have to go on the road in the playoffs and if they expect to win, they’ll have to bring their own energy. It’s something we haven’t seen them do yet this season. They were also flat against the Niners, and these are big-time games. They won’t be playing the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs. You can’t come out flat.
Jones’ criticism stems from the fact that the Cowboys have run through teams under .500 all year long. It is evident heading into these matchups that Dallas has the obvious edge and despite this; the team does not have that intimidating factor; the Cowboys do not go into their arena or opposing arenas and get the crowd going.
Especially in crucial games when the team is playing against San Francisco or any other top team in the league, Jones believes McCarthy has to get his players hyped up and confident enough to go out there and win. However, his lack of energy and momentum hurts the team’s morale.
America’s team is not going to face a subpar team come playoff time, they will play against a competent team and more importantly, the energy levels will need to be through the roof.