Flaco Guapo Media, Jim Sánchez founder
METLIFE STADIUM – The 2023 NFL season officially kicked-off this past Thursday, September 7 when the Detroit Lions upset the defending Super Bowl LXVV champion, Kansas City Chiefs, 21-20 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Now let's get to the season every “diehard” Cowboy fan has been waiting for is finally here. The Cowboys’ have a new offensive coordinator, a shiny offensive weapon at receiver, an explosive speed back. And one of the best corners in the business on defense.
The new receiver Brandon Cooks is a veteran speedster who can take the top off a defense, meaning the defensive secondary can't just sit on routes now as it has to respect Cooks' speed, not to mention Michael Gallup a speedy receiver himself. Gallup is one year removed from a torn ACL injury in 2022.
The new speed back is sixth-round pick, No. 212 overall, Kansas State Wildcats running back Deuce Vaughn. When Dallas goes out in free agency and trades their 5th round 2024 pick for former All-Pro, Indianapolis Colts' defensive cornerback, Stephon Gilmore to pair with Trevon Diggs, the defensive secondary just got even better.
That’s the good news. The bad news is the “Boys” still have at quarterback, “Step back” Dak Prescott. For the Cowboys to go anywhere beyond the first round of the playoffs, it is got be positive as in "Dak Attack" not "Step back" Prescott'smanaging the game. And by manage I don't mean play conservative, or simply hand the ball off. I mean play smart by not making criical mistakes when the game is on the line. Remember the two early inteceptions in the San Francisco 49ers 19.-12 playoff win?
The problem is since Prescott signed that $160 million dollar contract as if he were the fourth pick in the 2016 NFL draft, he was drafted in the fourth-round and plays like one.
On March 8, 2021, Prescott signed a 4 year, $160,000,000 contract with the Cowboys, including a $66,000,000 signing bonus, $126,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $40,000,000.
Dallas’ owner/ General Manager, Jerry Jones has not gotten a return on his investment. And whether Cowboy fans like it or not, the following is true. In Dallas, the quarterback and head coach are judged beyond just the wins and losses, but whether getting to the NFC championship game followed by a Super Bowl appearance. Which by the way has not happened fo the past 27 years when Dallas beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX on January 28, 1996.
Oh, as for that new offensive coordinator, it happens to be the head coach, Mike McCarthy, who has replaced Kellen “Wonder Boy” Moore offensive coordinator whose offense put up big-time numbers in the past four seasons. But in two straight playoff appearances, the Dallas offense led by Prescott and Moore’s play-calling sucked as in 19-12, and 23-17. I was never on board with Moore’s play-calling abilities. Those offensive numbers that led the league were misleading.
Before you “diehard” fans start defending, excusing, and explaining away reasons why this year’s Dallas, Cowboys’ season, its quarterback, Prescott, even OC, McCarthy is going to be totally different, I will agree with you all that it will be, or rather should be.
I will say there is a strong possibility as to why possibly this will be a totally different offensive unit, primarily because of McCarthy’s opportunity to call the plays. After all he did win a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers as its OC. Yea, I know, he had Aaron “bleeping” Rogers a future Hall-of-Famer as his quarterback.
But in order for that to happen it will be up to McCarthy's play-calling, Prescott's management of game, and a defense led by linebacker, Micah "11 from heaven" Parson stuffing an offense's run game down.
The one thing I heard McCarthy stress in the offseason was he wanted to lean on the ground game to rest his defense, I totally agree. I would rather have an offense which can close out a game with a pound the rock down the stretch of the fourth quarter and a well-rested defense, as opposed to throwing the ball to come from behind. I realize there will be times when Dallas will have to rely on Prescott to lead the offense with the pass. But not just for the sake of putting up offensive stats. Or because the OC got away from establishing the run before abandoning it early.
Now for the season opener between Cowboys vs New York Giants played at MetLife Stadium. On paper Dallas is favored and the better team overall. I will not pick against the Cowboys who are favored by -3.5. The final score will be Cowboys 23-Giants 17 with Parsons leading the defense with three sacks.
