Cowboys mailbag: Questions on the Dak and CeeDee connection, and the locker room vibe
Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get9 right into it.
“Something that’s not seemed right for me this season is the Dak and CeeDee Lamb connection. Is there any issues between them off the field?
(@Riley Bragginton on Facebook)
Mike: As soon as this question came in it was sent up the chain to staff over in Dallas. The answer was simple, don’t worry. The media tried to spin a narrative and make out there’s some sort of friction between the two players but the messages that came back from staff inside the building say that the pair are close and there are no issues between them. Some creases do exists on the field based on the fact Lamb wasn’t in camp, but you can already see with each game the chemistry is reforming.
Dana: The Dak & CeeDee issues are strictly on the field and hopefully it is just a matter of getting on the same page after Lamb missed all of training camp. The live broadcast inferred that there was some tension between them after Prescott threw the ball to Lamb’s back shoulder resulting in an INT. However, Lamb and Prescott have refuted those claims, noting that Lamb was just saying “Jump balls 4, Jump balls. I got you”.
After Prescott signed his new extension, Lamb confirmed in an interview with Kay Adams that it was really important that they stayed together. They have got a really good relationship, it’s just a matter of getting on the same page on Sundays.
With Prescott being clutch at the end when it mattered, how do the Cowboys move forward from today?
(@The Worlds Team on Twitter)
Mike: This offense has always had problems getting off to a good start. Going forward it would be nice to see Mike McCarthy get the offense into a rhythm early, and that means some easy play calls with high rates of success. That will settle the offense early and give them confidence which will pay off as the game develops.
Dana: There was a lot of good that came from the last-minute win in Pittsburgh that this Cowboys team can take advantage of moving forward. For one, Rico Dowdle seemed to find his footing in the running game. He was able to force some missed tackles and get some chunk plays, helping the team in those long drives in the second half. Jalen Tolbert also stepped up to announce himself as another threat on offense outside of Lamb and Jake Ferguson. Defenses will now need to put more focus on Dowdle in the running game and Tolbert in the passing game, potentially freeing Lamb from so many double teams. The offense should open up even more if they are able to build off of those two payers stepping up.
Does anybody have any idea what’s going on in the locker room?
(@JerryDon6 on Twitter)
Mike: Locker room dynamics is something that has fans asking questions. The problem is these questions get asked after major losses like against New Orleans and Baltimore. For anyone who’s been in a locker room on a team after a major loss know it’s never a good place to be and there’s plenty of finger pointing and pessimism. The only real way to get a negative locker room back into good spirits is to get a hard fought victory, like the one against Pittsburgh. Get wins, locker room becomes happier, a happier locker room helps get more wins.
Dana: When things are not going perfectly on the field, a lot of people tend to go looking for the problem inside the locker room, even if there isn’t one. I believe that is the case here. This team is full of competitors who care about winning games and when things are not all coming up roses, tough conversations need to be had between teammates. Good teammates know how to address those issues together and move forward.