Cowboys mailbag: Questions on C.J. Goodwin, Mike McCarthy and running back by committee
Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get right into it.
“Do you think CJ Goodwin makes the team this year?”
(@Sammutjustin24 on Twitter)
Mike: Goodwin’s position and role on this team this year is definitely in jeopardy. The new kickoff rules make that aspect of Goodwin’s job somewhat of an unknown right now. The only thing that’s worth pointing out is we’ve been here before with Goodwin saying he may not make the final cut, but he still manages to hang around and be a helpful piece on special teams.
Dana: This is actually a question I have been pondering quite a bit after the NFL changed the kickoff rules. As everyone knows, Goodwin has made a name for himself on special teams and that alone has earned him a spot on this roster for the past few years. It’s really too soon to tell what the differences will be with the new changes to the kickoff rule, but will his talents still be as valuable as they once were?
With shifting rules and younger guys coming in who may be able to contribute in other areas outside of special teams, Goodwin might not be as safe as he used to be. That said, I do believe that if he is able to prove in the preseason that he is just as valuable on special teams as he once was, we should see his spot on the final roster.
“How do you feel about Mike McCarthy’s play calling? What will Mike Zimmer bring to the table for the defense?”
(@_bubz_88 on Twitter)
Mike: It’s not perfect is one way to put it. But on the other hand, last year was Mike McCarthy’s first year taking the reins and calling the plays on offense. That led to Dak having a career season and the Cowboys offense finishing the regular season first in total points scored and fifth in total yards per game.
But there are times that leave you scratching your head and hopefully McCarthy has learned some of those lessons. If there’s any major frustration, it’s calling running plays when it’s second-and-ten. Let’s try mixing things up and try something different this year.
Dana: Mike McCarthy’s play-calling and his “Texas Coast” offense contributed to Dak Prescott throwing the most passing touchdowns in the league and CeeDee Lamb catching the most passes in the league. The Cowboys were also the highest scoring team in the NFL last season. It is hard to argue that McCarthy’s play-calling didn’t have an effect on those accolades. However, the one main criticism would be in the running game. While they could have benefited by improved individual efforts from the RBs and the run blockers, the scheme and play-calling could definitely use some improvement. Being less predictable about when the offense is going to run the ball would be a great place to start.
The one thing that has stood out when looking at Mike Zimmer’s defenses is the discipline. He is a no-nonsense coach that focuses a lot on the fundamentals. Penalties should occur less often in a Zimmer-led defense. And for a team that is plagued with penalties, it should be a big focus this year. He has also been very vocal about the priority of stopping the run. Our own David Howman wrote an excellent article breaking down the Zimmer defense and the importance of stopping the run. Again, for a team that had a glaring weakness in stopping the run last season, Zimmer might be just what the doctor ordered.
“Will McCarthy see our Week 9 game?”
(@fredflunk on Twitter)
Mike: It’s very seldom the Cowboys will cut a head coach half way through the season. Wade Phillips was the most recent head coach to get sacked halfway through a season, and that took one of the worst starts to a Cowboys season in franchise history. If you think back to Jason Garrett and the amount of times fans expected to see him walking, only to get extended, that serves a reminder on how much Jerry Jones and company will be overly patient with their head coaches and allow them to redeem themselves. Whether that’s a good or a bad thing is another matter.
Dana: It is very rare that a coach for the Dallas Cowboys gets canned in the middle of a season. The Cowboys would have to have a complete meltdown in the first half of the season in order for something like that to happen. With McCarthy’s track record, especially since joining the Cowboys, that seems very unlikely. His teams have gotten to the playoffs three years in a row now, and the 2024 team should be in the fight to see the playoffs again. I expect to see McCarthy to coach the full 2024 season. Whether he will be here in 2025 or not, that is a different story that greatly depends on what happens in the postseason.
“Who might emerge as the lead running back or might we see a rushing attack by committee this season?”
(@MrEd315 on Twitter)
Mike: As it stands right now on the cusp of entering training camp, this running back backfield is Rico Dowdle’s to own and be the lead back. He has plenty of competition and as good as Dowdle is we still don’t know how well he can play when all the pressure is on him as the starter.
That being said, this team is looking to go by committee this year at the position and it’s a tactic that has served many Super Bowl winning teams well (looking at you New England).
Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns will be a bad way to determine how this offense will look at running back as they play a team that’s great at generating pressure, and Dallas will be looking to start two rookie offensive linemen. It will make the snap count for the running backs look off that particular week. But by Week 4 we should get a handle on the offensive plan for the running backs and what player is doing what role in this committee.
Dana: McCarthy has come out and talked about the running back by committee approach that they are taking this season. We should see a pretty even distribution among the top RBs in the group with the others sprinkled in. That said, there will probably be a RB that stands out among the rest that will see a little more carries than the others. I expect to see Rico Dowdle take on that role.