FRISCO, Texas – By means of the primary 4 years of the Mike McCarthy period, the Dallas Cowboys had been among the finest groups within the league in turnover ratio, ending amongst the highest six within the class over the past three years. However in 2024, Dallas has the third worst margin within the NFL at -8, and are struggling to transform on their alternatives.
“We executed takeaways at a better stage the final three years, however our alternatives are usually not far off of the final couple years,” McCarthy stated. “So we’re getting there, however we’re not changing.”
From 2021 by 2023, the Cowboys had been a mixed +34 within the turnover margin, a staple in Dallas’ id as a soccer staff. A part of the contributing issue to the adverse slide in 2024 has been Dak Prescott’s early struggles, who has thrown a number of interceptions in three straight video games, and 4 of the seven video games he is performed this season.
By way of whether or not or not defending the ball on offense or taking the ball away on protection is extra necessary, McCarthy’s stance is concentrated on the offensive facet of the ball.
“I believe it is greater on caring for it,” McCarthy stated. “Identical to something when you handle the soccer each single week, you are by no means going to lose the turnover ratio, at worst it might be zero-zero.”
Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is not significantly apprehensive about his veteran quarterback’s turnover struggles after changing into the best paid participant within the NFL, and famous that he feels Prescott will all the time carry extra optimistic than adverse to the desk for Dallas’ offense.
Dak’s going to make far more good choices than unhealthy choices…” Schottenheimer stated. “They are not all simply him, and so you bought to go play the sport.”
Every week, the Cowboys observe not solely the variety of turnovers that they’re able to generate, however the quantity of turnover alternatives that they’ve in a sport as effectively. McCarthy talked about earlier that the alternatives aren’t that far off from the final three years, however extra nonetheless want to come back Dallas’ method.
“The alternatives must go up, we are able to enhance there, as a result of as these alternatives go up, the takeaways go up.” McCarthy stated.
Defensively, Mike Zimmer’s unit has simply 4 interceptions and one fumble restoration by seven video games. He too felt that there have been alternatives to take the ball away in current video games, notably on Sunday night time towards the 49ers when DeMarvion Overshown sacked Brock Purdy from his blindside however could not power a strip sack. For the turnovers and turnover alternatives to be generated nevertheless, Zimmer and the Cowboys protection must make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable.
“You return and discuss turnovers and issues like that, effectively a whole lot of these issues come from strain on the quarterback,” Zimmer stated. “And we’ve not been getting a bunch of these.”
A big a part of that lack of cross rush has been the truth that the Cowboys have been with out their greatest cross rushers in current weeks, with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, and Marshawn Kneeland all injured. Issues will not get any simpler this coming Sunday when Dallas heads to Atlanta to play the Falcons and Kirk Cousins, a quarterback Zimmer could be very aware of from their time collectively at Minnesota.
“Very, very correct, takes excellent care of the soccer.” Zimmer stated of his former quarterback.
Cousins is the NFL’s third main passer by eight video games, throwing for two,106 yards in that span to go along with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Cousins has struggled towards Dallas in his 13 12 months profession, with a 2-9 report towards them. His 9 losses to Dallas are probably the most towards a single opponent within the league.