This Cowboys UDFA rookie making case to be featured in long-term plans reidhanson The Dallas Cowboys are masters in finding steals through nontraditional avenues. From Brandin Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin who were found in other professional leagues, to Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland who were found in the latter portions of the draft, to Tony Romo and Miles Austin who were signed as undrafted free agents, the Cowboys have a knack for finding treasure in the rarest of places. When Dallas signed undrafted tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford following the draft last spring, they were hoping they found their next big treasure. Standing almost 6-foot-7, 270-pounds, “big” might be an understatement. The rookie from Minnesota was in demand following the draft. Players his size don’t come around very often and to many scouts, Spann-Ford had a draftable grade. What transpired was a bidding war, with team pit against team in an auction the Cowboys are all too familiar with. As fate would have it, Dallas won, outbidding the competition by guaranteeing $225,000 and throwing in a signing bonus of another $20,000 for good measure. The sizable deal came with sizable expectations. In order to justify the costs, Spann-Ford would need to make the roster out of training camp, and he’d have to contribute in some way on game day. On a unit led by Pro Bowler Jake Ferguson and backed up former second rounder Luke Schoonmaker, getting snaps wasn’t going to be easy for the 24-year-old rookie. 12 games into his professional career Spann-Ford has found a way to be that contributor the Cowboys needed him to be. Not only has he logged 76 snaps on special teams, but he’s helped pick up the slack left by Ferguson’s injury absence on offense too. At 230 snaps and counting, Spann-Ford isn’t just craving out an offensive role in 2024 but he’s making the case for a bigger role in the future. A blocking specialist by nature, Spann-Ford is already the Cowboys’ top-rated blocker at the TE position. Blessed with the size of a left tackle, Spann-Ford has the potential to develop into an elite blocker one day, possibly giving the Cowboys a mismatch player to design plays around. Ferguson, reportedly close to coming back, will likely seize back his role as true TE1 the moment he’s cleared to play. And Schoonmaker, a player who has stepped up in Ferguson’s absence, will likely continue to be a player the Cowboys seek to develop. At face value this isn’t good news for Spann-Ford stockholders, but a deeper look shows Spann-Ford’s value and role remain intact. As a blocker, Spann-Ford’s numbers and screen time are never going to jump out at people. But for the offensive line nuts who love nothing more than watching a well-executed run scheme play out, Spann-Ford is must-see-TV. Not perfect, but starting to flash dominant characteristics, the Cowboys newest UDFA is a player on the rise who still fits plenty of TE2 roles and responsibilities. There will likely be a rotation at the TE position the rest of the way this season and the two backups will both demand opportunities. The Cowboys rarely use three TEs at the same time (1.3 percent) but that doesn’t mean three TEs won’t play each week. Spann-Ford is an exciting player who may be carving out a major role for the near future. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys vs. Bengals: Week 14 matchups to watch for the Dallas Cowboys
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images Monday night is going to be a test for the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys have a good chance of extending their win streak to three in a row after back-to-back victories against division rivals, but the Cincinnati Bengals aren’t a team to take lightly despite their 4-8 losing record. This is a team who could give the Cowboys all they can handle and more if they aren’t careful. Normally playing at home would give the Cowboys a slight advantage, but considering they’ve had only one victory so far this season at AT&T Stadium that may no longer be the case. They are also riding a two-game winning streak, so that should boost their confidence entering this Week 14 matchup as well. But again, Cincinnati shouldn’t be taken lightly. If the Cowboys want to extend their winning streak to three in a row they will need to win some key matchups this week against the Bengals. Today, we’re going to share with you three big matchups. RB Rico Dowdle vs. Bengals’ run defense Rico Dowdle is coming off the best game of his career where he rushed for 112 yards and one touchdown last week against the Giants and will be squaring off against another team that has struggled to stop the run in this Week 14 matchup with the Bengals. Cincinnati is giving up 128.2 rushing yards per game and allowing 4.34 yards per carry. If the Cowboys continue to commit to the running game and Dowdle continues to produce like he has the last couple of weeks, No. 23 could end up with his second consecutive 100-yard game. LT Tyler Guyton vs. DE Trey Hendrickson Whether it’s Tyler Guyton, Asim Richards, or Chuma Edoga starting at left tackle for the Cowboys this week, Cincinnati’s DE Trey Hendrickson is a nightmare matchup for them. Hendrickson is currently leading the league in quarterback sacks (11.5) and will look to add to that total against the carousel of blindside protectors Dallas has rolled out so far this year. Whoever ends up starting for the Cowboys will more than likely need some more help to contain the current sack leader, otherwise he could wreck the game by himself. Cowboys’ secondary vs. WR Ja’Marr Chase The Cowboys secondary has been decimated by injuries here recently and will be going up against the league’s leading receiver in both receiving yards (1,142) and touchdowns (13), Ja’Marr Chase. This definitely looks like a matchup that heavily favors the Bengals. Even if Dallas’ secondary was 100% healthy, Chase is the type of receiver who can sway the outcome of the game all by himself. To be undermanned against such a dynamic weapon will be something Mike Zimmer will have to accommodate for if Dallas wants to win.
Cowboys news: Dak Prescott talks about Mike McCarthy’s future in Dallas
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images The latest news around the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott shares his hope for Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys future – Jori Epstein, Yahoo! Sports The Dallas Cowboys quarterback stood on a pedestal for Mike McCarthy and voiced his desire to see the coach return in 2025. Five guaranteed games remain on Mike McCarthy’s contract. Dak Prescott hopes the Dallas Cowboys keep his head coach for more. The Cowboys quarterback can’t meaningfully impact his team’s performance as he recovers from season-ending surgery to repair his hamstring tear. That bothers him. “Your coach seems like he’s playing on his last contract and [I’m] almost feeling helpless like I can’t help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports during a Tuesday afternoon Zoom call. “Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can.” In nine seasons with the Cowboys, Prescott has played for two head coaches. He leans on his experience watching Jason Garrett coach the final year of his deal in 2019 to manage this season. Prescott said he was glad to hear team owner and general manager Jerry Jones say last week that it’s “not crazy” to consider McCarthy returning for a sixth season and beyond. “I believe in him wholeheartedly,” Prescott said, speaking in partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods. “I don’t want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it. “But I wholeheartedly believe in him.” Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker turning the corner for the Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Maybe there’s hope for the Cowboys’ 2023 draft class to exceed our current expectations. “[Mazi is] getting better and better and better at it, and he has the criteria,” said owner and general manager Jerry Jones to 105.3 The Fan. “He is an outstanding athlete for his size. Rare, rare athlete. All of that is there. He’s established what he can do with his strength. Arguably, he’s as strong as anyone we’ve had around here since Larry Allen. “That’s strong. Just pure strength. It’s Sampson-type strength. It sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s not. He’s becoming and learning how to be a pro.” Smith has strung together multiple games now wherein he’s put his stamp on the outcome of a contest, both as a run-stopper and as a pass rusher, e.g., his shared sack with Micah Parsons against Drew Lock on Thanksgiving, and the fact the Giants averaged five more yards per run when he was not on the field. And as for Schoonmaker, having started the last two outings due to Jake Ferguson suffering a concussion in Week 11, his ability as a blocker is being put on full display but so is his ability to be a pass catcher; and his uptick in production actually stretches back to the matchup against the Houston Texans. Schoonmaker has delivered a combined 144 receiving yards to go along with a receiving touchdown on 14 catches, averaging a 73 percent catch rate over that span while averaging 11.4 yards per catch. For contrast, he had only 56 total yards and zero touchdowns in the previous nine games. “I just really wanna compliment Luke for all of the extra time he’s put in,” said head coach Mike McCarthy. “He’s some mistakes early, but there’s not a day when he’s not in here early — seven o’clock with his position coaches — and there’s not a day when he’s not staying afterwards. It’s refreshing when you see guys put in the extra time and get rewarded on gameday with their production. Cowboys get encouraging injury updates on Jake Ferguson, Trevon Diggs – Randy Gurzi, Dallas Cowboys on SI.com Trevon Diggs and Jake Ferguson being available Monday night would be huge for Dallas’ chances to win. Injuries have been a problem for the Dallas Cowboys throughout the season but they’re slowly getting healthier. While they won’t have Dak Prescott back this year, they’ve seen Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland return to full health. The defense took a step forward with those two at 100 percent, and the offense benefited from the return of Brandin Cooks in Week 13. Now, both sides of the ball might get another boost against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14. Head coach Mike McCarthy said they’re hopeful the 10 days between games will lead to tight end Jake Ferguson returning after he missed the past two games with a concussion. He added that cornerback Trevon Diggs is progressing as he battles a groin injury. Diggs hasn’t played since Week 11, when the Cowboys lost to the Houston Texans 34-10. When he finally steps on the field, it will be the first time Dallas has had him and Bland together this season. Make no msitake, getting Ferguson back will be a huge boost for the offense, but there’s been a silver-lining with Ferguson sidelined. 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker has improved drastically, shedding his bust label in the process. What Cowboys must do to keep their slim playoff hopes alive – Jon Machota, The Athetic The Cowboys have a slim chance to make the postseason, but if they do these five things, the impossible may just happen. 2. More big plays The defense needs to continue getting big plays from its stars. That was the case against the Giants as Parsons looked like his old self rushing the passer and LB DeMarvion Overshown had maybe the play of the season for Dallas when he tipped a screen pass to himself and returned it for a pick six. That was also the case in Dallas’ win the week before at Washington. The Cowboys might not snap their losing streak without KaVontae Turpin’s 99-yard kickoff return
Cowboys Headlines: Prescott weighs in on McCarthy’s future, Jerry Jones shares Rowdy’s sordid past
Dak Prescott shares his hope for Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys future :: Yahoo Sports Link Prescott says he believes in his head coach “whole-heartedly” and thinks McCarthy “deserves a chance” to stay in Dallas beyond this season with a new contract. The quarterback admitted to “feeling almost helpless” that, because of his injury, he can’t do anything on the field to help solidify McCarthy’s future with the Cowboys, but he explained that his plan is to “control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can.” What Jerry Jones said about ‘genuine’ Mike McCarthy, Cowboys’ 2023 playoff carryover :: Dallas Morning News Link McCarthy’s seat isn’t nearly as hot now as it was just a few weeks ago. Jones praised his head coach’s “quality of character” and “quality of football character” during the recent five-game losing streak. He also suggested the team’s rough start in 2024 may have carried over from the devastating playoff loss to Green Bay… eight months prior. Cowboys’ Dak Prescott reveals targeted return date from injury, why he’s going to bat for Mike McCarthy, more :: CBS Sports Link Prescott got behind the wheel of a car on Tuesday, the first time he’s been able to drive since his hamstring surgery. It’s one step in the rehab process, one he calls “a small victory.” Next will be getting rid of the crutches, he says. His ultimate goal? “To start OTAs and start the offseason no restrictions, full go.” Prescott called 2024, which began with a playoff loss and then a months-long contract negotiation that played out publicly, “definitely one of the toughest” of his NFL career. Why Jerry Jones remains confident in first-round picks Tyler Guyton and Mazi Smith :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The team’s two most recent first-round selections haven’t been instant superstars. But remember that Guyton had just 14 college starts at Oklahoma. Jones, for one, still sees big things in store for him: “He has the right attitude and he’s smart,” the owner said. “I’m not concerned about his future at all.” As for second-year man Smith, Jones recalled something Tom Landry once said: “Don’t ever give up on a defensive lineman, the big guys, until you’ve seen them for three years,” Jones said. “Because they can really evolve and be a different player after three years.” Cowboys 53-man roster vs Bengals in Week 14: Three key defensive decisions to come :: Cowboys Wire Link There’s a chance DeMarcus Lawrence has his 21-day practice window opened; he could see the field again as early as this week. That would mean moving Josh Butler to injured reserve; Juanyeh Thomas could go, too. Cornerback Kemon Hall has used up all his gameday elevations and would need a roster move by the club to be called up again. Big Picture: Storylines for Cowboys-Bengals :: The Mothership Link Don’t let the 4-8 record fool you; Joe Burrow is having a monster year at quarterback for Cincinnati and will provide the Dallas defense with a huge challenge. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins make up the best WR tandem in the league when healthy. Monday’s game could produce a ton of points, but keep an eye out for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. The Cowboys staff will likely remind officials of his tendency to commit false starts. Former 4th-round pick a pleasant surprise for Cowboys after free-agency signing :: Cowboys Wire Link The signing of Carl Lawson came only after a season-ending injury to Sam Williams, and it didn’t make many waves when it happened. But Lawson has carved out a nice role for himself on the 2024 defense and is seeing consistent reps despite the recent return of Marshawn Kneeland. With DeMarcus Lawrence also coming back imminently, it will be interesting to see where Lawson fits in the rotation and how he does with limited chances. He could just parlay his one-year emergency deal into a longer-term gig in Dallas. 49ers Kyle Shanahan enters ‘Cowboys candidates to replace Mike McCarthy’ rankings :: Cowboys Wire Link The 49ers ditching Shanahan after one poor season? There’s a portion of their fanbase that wants it. The possibility alone puts him on this watchlist of possible candidates if the Cowboys make a move at the top. Paying what Shanahan would require seems like a long shot even if he’s available. Several of his pupils (and pupils’ pupils) are already on the list, though, like Texans OC Bobby Slowik and Dolphins OC Frank Smith. Leighton Vander Esch dad tried to strangle ex-Cowboys star’s mom … cops say :: TMZ Link A troubling story involving the father of the popular former Cowboys linebacker. Darwin Vander Esch was arrested Saturday in Idaho for felony attempted strangulation of his wife Sandy. Darwin allegedly pushed Sandy to the ground during the altercation as well, and then took her phone as she attempted to call for emergency services. Darwin denied getting physical, but one police officer noted “visible red marks” on Sandy’s throat. Leighton has not commented publicly on the matter. Jerry Jones discusses unruly history of mascot Rowdy: ‘I’ll talk to Rowdy’ :: WFAA Link Most Cowboys fans have a hate-hate relationship with the team’s cartoonish mascot. Lately, the main knock is that his No. 00 jersey is prohibiting DeMarvion Overshown from wearing the No. 0 he made famous at Texas. But on Tuesday, Jones told some off-color stories about Rowdy that might just endear him to the faithful, including one about the local media finding the “Rowdy Wagon” parked outside a strip club. When the human actor then manning the costume was summoned for a lecture from Jones about the bad publicity, he solemnly pledged with a straight face, “I’ll talk to Rowdy about it.” Austin Ekeler details memory loss, neck pain in first interview since Week 12 concussion :: The Athletic Link The Washington running back offered a stark reminder about the enormous risk today’s players take on when they step onto the football field, detailing some of the
The case for Brian Flores to coach the Cowboys in 2025
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images Brian Flores is a name to consider for 2025. The Cowboys have won two straight, which is enough to get Jerry Jones talking about potentially handing out a contract extension for embattled head coach Mike McCarthy. Still, the odds are extremely high that the team is looking for a new coach in about a month’s time. There are plenty of candidates that could be in the running, but just as there was a strong case to be made for the Cowboys betting on Dan Campbell the last time the Cowboys were hiring, there is a very compelling case to be made for hiring Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Defensive scheme vs the NFC The standard in Dallas is winning a Super Bowl, but you can’t do that without getting out of the NFC first. The Eagles, 49ers, and Lions currently stand out as the Cowboys’ top boogeymen when thinking about reaching the Super Bowl, and all three pose unique challenges offensively. Flores has quietly put up a great track record against them, most notably against 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Flores’ career has seen really great results against a wide variety of coaches who use the Shanahan style offense, which is currently run by 10 of the 16 teams in the conference. Flores has been particularly great against Shanahan directly. As the Dolphins head coach, he beat San Francisco 43-17 in 2020, which saw the 49ers’ second-worst EPA/play of any game that year. Last season, as the Vikings defensive coordinator, Flores’ defense held the 49ers to their third-worst EPA/play of the year en route to a 22-17 victory. He did it again this year, with the Vikings winning 23-17 and (as of right now) holding them to their third-worst EPA/play of the year. Flores’ scheme is unlike any other in the league right now, which is what’s helped him have so much success. The longtime Patriots coach holds Bill Belichick as the philosophical foundation of his scheme, one that relies heavily on blitzing and tight man coverage. But Flores has tweaked his scheme with the Vikings, a result of brainstorming sessions with Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi during Flores’ season with the Steelers. Flores has incorporated several of Narduzzi’s time-tested concepts into his own scheme, particularly the use of hot blitzes from six-man fronts and a newfound reliance on quarters coverage, which has taken the league by storm as of late. That’s helped his scheme become an animal all of its own, and confuse just about every quarterback and coordinator along the way. The Cowboys could certainly use some of that on defense, especially if they have any hope of being able to contend with the high-powered offenses that stand in their way to a Super Bowl appearance. More than anything, arming a coach like Flores with a weapon like Micah Parsons may legitimately break the NFL. Outperforming expectations When Flores was first hired by the Dolphins in 2019, it was almost immediately reported that the team intended to tank that season in order to draft Tua Tagovailoa. Flores would later claim as much in his ongoing lawsuit against the NFL, and the moves Miami made – swapping Ryan Tannehill for Ryan Fitzpatrick, trading left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and setting an NFL record for most player transactions during the season – certainly backed up this theory. As such, the Dolphins started the year with extremely low expectations. Most betting lines had them winning between two and three games all year. Despite that, the team won five games, including their final two games of the year. Not just that, but Miami was 9-7 against the spread, a general indicator that they were punching well above their weight. The next season saw Flores’ Dolphins blossom into a genuine playoff contender, though they ultimately missed the postseason despite going 10-6. Even then, the Dolphins were 11-5 against the spread. A year later, they were 9-7-1 against the spread and finished the year with a 9-8 record despite Tagovailoa missing several games with an injury. Record against the spread isn’t perfect, but it does offer a fairly solid gauge of how often teams play better or worse than the betting markets expect. The fact that Flores was able to go 29-20-1 against the spread reflects a general ability to overperform expectations. His Dolphins teams also overperformed their season-long win total projections each year by at least a game. That ability to get the best out of his players – players like Xavien Howard, DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki, Emmanuel Ogbah, Myles Gaskin, Jevon Holland, and Jakeem Grant all had career years under Flores and have struggled to replicate that success since – is a key ingredient necessary in the next head coach of the Cowboys, given the cautious manner in which this front office operates. Offensive scheme connections The biggest question around Flores becoming a head coach will center around his offensive coordinator hire. He had a different coordinator each season in Miami, and the offense never really rounded into form under his time there. That said, Flores has spent the past two seasons in Minnesota running the defense, working alongside head coach Kevin O’Connell, who calls offensive plays. O’Connell hails from the Sean McVay tree, working under him in Los Angeles before coming to Minnesota. As Flores’ name gains traction for various head coaching openings, so too is the belief that Flores has a list of coordinator candidates with ties to either O’Connell or McVay. A few names that could potentially be on that list include current Vikings quarterback coach and Dallas native Josh McCown, current Bears interim offensive coordinator and interim head coach Thomas Brown, Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase, and Rams pass game coordinator Nick Caley. In particular, Caley worked with Flores in New England before and has fielded several offers in the past for coordinator roles, but turned them down. Flores may not exclusively look to hire from the McVay tree but his
49ers Kyle Shanahan enters ‘Cowboys candidates to replace Mike McCarthy’ rankings
The rumbles are getting stronger. In reality, everyone knows that fan sentiment is largely irrelevant when it comes to decision making by stable organizations. Still, the growing cries from San Francisco 49ers fans who are tired of disappointment in the big game now have an even more disappointing regular season to use as ammunition. After their second-consecutive 25-point defeat dropped them to 5-7 on the season, Kyle Shanahan’s head is being called for from a minority, but vocal section of the 49ers fanbase. Trust and believe, if the 49ers ever made this move, the team he could register as part owner of would hope on the opportunity in a heartbeat. So for that reason, it wouldn’t be fair not to include Shanahan on the watchlist of potential replacements for when the Dallas Cowboys part ways with Mike McCarthy come January. While Jerry Jones has indicated he isn’t all-in on moving away from McCarthy and a two-game winning streak has returned the Cowboys to the way-zoomed-out view of the playoff picture, there will almost assuredly be a new coach on the sideline in 2025. Here’s a look at our weekly rankings of who should be considered. Honorable Mentions: Liam Coen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Lincoln Riley, USC, HC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Adam Stenovich, Green Bay Packers OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart | Last Week: Honorable Mention Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore | Last Week: 11 Sep 26, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (right) laughs with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports One name that is rarely discussed but probably should be is the former heir apparent Kellen Moore. Moore was Jason Garrett 2.0; brought in to the coaching staff as a wunderkind who the Jones family thought a lot of. He carried over as offensive coordinator from Garrett to McCarthy. Being shown the door in 2023 after a playoff failure as McCarthy vowed taking back over play calling would take the offense to a new level. It did, for a year, before bottoming out in 2024, even before all of the injuries hit. Meanwhile Moore attached himself to Brandon Staley’s sinking ship in L.A. for a year, but has revitalized his reputation thanks to Saquon Barkley’s arrival in Phiadelphia. The Eagles are sitting at 10-2 with an offense that is focusing on running to set up the pass. Minnesota VIkings DC Brian Flores | Last Week: 10 Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Will Flores get another shot at a head coach gig? He was dumped by the Dolphins in their owner’s “I’m rich I can do what I want” attempt to lure Sean Payton and Tom Brady to South Beach. The revelation about trying to have a coach to tank games may have pulled the curtain back on the innerworkings of the league, but it likely didn’t do Flores much favor. What has though, is the job he’s done righting the ship in Minnesota with their defense. Former NFL head coach Mike Vrabel | Last Week: 9 Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel reacts to a Titans penalty against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Vrabel was fired by owner Amy Adams Strunk Monday after having two losing seasons back-to-back. Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who was able to achieve strong levels of success in Tennessee with a veteran QB who wasn’t well regarded (Ryan Tannehill) prior to their time together. Known as a disciplinarian, pairing him with Dak Prescott would require finding the next big thing as offensive coordinator. With Brian Daboll on his way out in New York, this feels like a great combination. Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick | Last Week: 8 Sep 30, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline as they take on the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports For better or worse, the clubhouse leader. Belichick is a huge Prescott fan, Jerry Jones is a huge supporter of retreads and it would be interesting to see if given a competent front office… oh wait. Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith | Last Week: 7 Nov 2, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith at press conference at the PSD Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Grabbing from a fruitful tree is always a wise idea, and snatching Smith from under Mike McDaniel as part of the Kyle Shanahan limb system seems like a wise call. Dallas rarely uses motion at the snap and isn’t particularly good at it; and that’s literally the forte of Smith. Doesn’t currently have play-calling duties though, which could be seen as a knock. Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik | Last Week: 6 Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik on the sideline during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Slowik is immensely intriguing for several reasons. He just auditioned in front of Jones on Monday night and carved up a 77-yard opening play touchdown to announce his arrival. Slowik’s stock fell over the last month as CJ Stroud has struggled to shine without his top receiving targets. Slowik is from the Shanahan coaching tree that has had ridiculous success at
Dak Prescott believes Mike McCarthy deserves another chance with Cowboys ‘on his terms’
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Dak Prescott has advocated for Mike McCarthy to return in 2025. There are five weeks left in this NFL season. Time really does fly. At the moment it is still possible that the Dallas Cowboys are playing beyond that, but there is obviously a lot that would go into them reaching the playoffs at this point in time. Consensus is that when the regular season finishes, so will they. Whenever this season does come to a close for the Cowboys they are going to be faced with an important decision relative to the franchise: Who is going to be the head coach? We have talked ad nauseam for almost a full year now about Mike McCarthy and his future, and it is important to note that the reason this is the case is because the Cowboys specifically chose to charge into this season with him in the final year of his contract, knowing full well the elephant in the room that it would create. Lessons about last offseason’s entirety can be learned without having to fully re-litigate it, but for what it is worth there is one person who has voiced an opinion on the future head coach and it is the one who is currently signed with the team on the biggest contract in NFL history. Dak Prescott wants Mike McCarthy back, believes he deserves a chance ‘on his terms’ We can say right now that you would be hard pressed to find anyone associated with the Dallas Cowboys who would say that they want someone other than Mike McCarthy to be the head coach in 2025. Advocating for him can be a nice thing, but it does fall into the literalness of “what else do you expect them to say?” type of thing. Now that we have established this, it is certainly worth noting that Dak Prescott sat down with Yahoo Sports and publicly endorsed Mike McCarthy as the head coach of the Cowboys. “Your coach seems like he’s playing on his last contract and [I’m] almost feeling helpless like I can’t help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports during a Tuesday afternoon Zoom call. “Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can.” … “I believe in him wholeheartedly,” Prescott said, speaking in partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods. “I don’t want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it. “But I wholeheartedly believe in him.” The subject of Dak Prescott can be a divisive one, but something that should be included in any kind of thought with this whole subject is that he has shown a remarkable ability over his career to be very aware of his status as the quarterback for America’s Team. He is extremely cautious with what he says because he knows the attention that it generates. This is why it was so strange, to reference one example, when he publicly leaned into fans throwing debris at officials following the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers (the first one). My point here is that he does not get caught saying something that he does not feel comfortable reaching the public sphere. Given this context, it is certainly notable that Prescott not only advocated for McCarthy, but that he specifically went as far as saying that Mike deserves a chance to coach the team “on his terms.” If you want to see the inflection which which Dak said it, and the pause for how he gathered his thoughts right before, you can go to the 1:05 mark of this clip. Prescott is specifically asked what he wants fans to know about his belief in McCarthy for further context. The Cowboys are 5-7 in final year of Mike McCarthy’s contract. Also: Dak wants Mike to return. https://t.co/UJgJAahO75 pic.twitter.com/8az1yztMYz — Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 3, 2024 Again, we do not need to re-hash the offseason, but it is not exactly a secret that it was a disaster for the Cowboys. It is not hyperbole to say that it set the head coach, Mike McCarthy clearly, up rather poorly. To reiterate again here, strapping him to the rocket and forcing him to blast off in a contract year was the ultimate ingredient to yield chaos and while the team has some good vibes going with a two-game winning streak right now (tied for their longest of the year) that is exactly what happened. Predictably. It is hard to imagine there is any accomplishable thing that McCarthy’s Cowboys could do across the rest of this season that would automatically warrant an extension. You can argue that if he wasn’t worth one following three consecutive 12-5 seasons, admittedly with an all-time bad playoff loss on top of it all, back in January that this season has only pushed him in the other direction. But perhaps there is some sense of guilt (lol) among the front office to the point where they feel like they have the right guy in place and just need to actually, oh I don’t know, do their jobs themselves so that he can be set up better. It seems Dak Prescott may somewhat agree.
The Cowboys’ defense is improving, faces big test on MNF against the Bengals
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Joe Burrow is going to be a tall test for the Cowboys defense. The Dallas Cowboys are now on a two-game winning streak after defeating two division rivals in the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants. The Cowboys were finally able to stack a few wins together after five straight losses largely due to improvements on the defensive side of the ball. The defense has done a great job keeping the team in it these past few games, holding the opposing offenses to 10 points or less each in the first three quarters of play. There is room for improvement in the fourth quarter to shut these games out, of course, but they’ve done enough to support this Cooper Rush-led offense. One of the major reasons for this improvement is a healthy Micah Parsons. Having a player like Parsons on the field is a surefire way to improve the defense. Looking at his individual stats, he contributed two sacks against the Commanders and 1.5 against the Giants. Now that teams are needing to focus on Parsons again, opportunities are opening for the players around him as well. As a whole, the defense logged four sacks against Washington and six against New York. For reference, the last time the Cowboys were able to get six sacks in a game was the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. A lot of different players are stepping up along with Parsons. Players like DeMarvion Overshown, Eric Kendricks, Osa Odighizuwa, Carl Lawson, Josh Butler, Mazi Smith and Donovan Wilson have each had their turn contributing to the sack count the past two games. It’s not just sacks either. The Cowboys defense is finally generating turnovers at a higher rate. Just a few weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys were at the bottom of the league when it came to turnover ratio. During that five-game losing streak, the Cowboys had 14 turnovers with only four takeaways. These past two games, however, they were able to protect the ball with only one turnover while generating five takeaways. While the Cowboys defense has been improving this season, they will have to face one of the toughest challenges on Monday Night Football when they welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to AT&T Stadium. Now at 4-8, the Bengals’ record may be deceiving. Seven of their losses were lost by one score or less. If the wind had blown just a little bit in a different direction, this Bengals team could be looking at a much better record. In these losses, the Cincinnati offense has been doing their part to win football games with their defense coming up a bit short. In fact, the Bengals have the number one passing offense in the NFL when it comes to total passing yards and passing yards per game. They are also top five in total points scored and points per game. Those stats look a little daunting when considering that the Cowboys defense ranks 29th in total points allowed and points allowed per game. This game might be the biggest test yet for the Cowboys’ defense, but they may have a few things working in their favor. After this mini bye week, there is a longshot possibility that DeMarcus Lawrence may return to the defensive line this week, bolstering the pass rush alongside Parsons. Trevon Diggs is another name that has a chance to play on Monday and if so, it would be the very first time in over a year that Diggs and DaRon Bland will be on the field together, something every fan has been anxiously anticipating for weeks. There is no doubt the defense will have their work cut out for them against Joe Burrow’s high-flying offense that will look much different than the Drew Lock-led offense they faced on Thanksgiving. But if the defense is able to hold up their end of the deal, the Cowboys’ offense might have a shot at getting ahead against the Bengals’ defense. The Cowboys could have a real chance at earning their second home win of the season and third win in a row.
Cowboys 53-man roster vs Bengals in Week 14: Three key defensive decisions to come
The Dallas Cowboys have somehow managed to win two games in a row, pushing off the obituary to their 2024 season for a little while longer. Now with a record of 5-7, the Cowboys are still several games out of the final playoff spot, but further distancing themselves from a draft position that gives them a winner’s shot at selecting an impact player next April. Now stuck in the gooey middle of the NFL hierarchy, the Cowboys have five games remaining to fully define who they are. Proceeding without a franchise quarterback can be freeing in a way. Dak Prescott regularly saved the team from themselves and now with him on IR the defense is starting to step up as they put themselves back together. Week 14’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals will be another opportunity to prove that. There are expected to be several roster decisions this week. Most notably, there’s a chance that DE DeMarcus Lawrence has his practice window opened. The team will move at least one secondary player, Josh Butler, to IR and potentially Juanyeh Thomas as well. The former is done for the year, the latter for a few weeks. For now, here’s a look at the 53-man roster, the practice squad member’s remaining elevation eligibility, and the Reserved/Injured list entering Week 14. No. 1 WR Jalen Tolbert Jul 27, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Jalen Tolbert (18) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 2 CB Jourdan Lewis Sep 25, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports No. 3 WR Brandin Cooks Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 5 Punter Bryan Anger Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger (5) prepares for the game against the Giants, at MetLife Stadium. Sunday, September 10, 2023 No. 6 Safety Donovan Wilson Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: — No. 7 CB Trevon Diggs Apr 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs talks to a member of the Mavericks staff during the second quarter of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the LA Clippers during game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports No. 9 WR Kavontae Turpin LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 04: NFL player KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys attends the NFL Pro Bowl Weekend Celebrity All-Star Game 2023 benefiting the charity D Up On Cancer at the Cox Pavilion on February 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) No. 10 QB Cooper Rush Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: DNP No. 11 DE Micah Parsons Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson (11) warms up during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports No. 13 LB DeMarvion Overshown Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (35) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 15 RB Ezekiel Elliott Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) on the field during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 17 Kicker Brandon Aubrey Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) watches his field goal in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 18 LB Damone Clark : Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 19 QB Trey Lance EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Trey Lance #15 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) No. 23 RB Rico Dowdle ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) No. 24 Safety Israel Mukuamu Aug 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) walks off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 26 CB DaRon Bland Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) eats a turkey leg after the Cowboys victory over the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Bland was returned to the 53-man roster in Week 9. No. 28 Safety Malik Hooker Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (28) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 29 CB C.J. Goodwin Jan 16, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive back C.J. Goodwin (29) catches a pass for a first down on a fake punt in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 30 Safety Juanyeh Thomas Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) during pregame warm ups against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports No. 31 CB Josh Butler Aug 1, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Josh Butler (40) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge playing fields. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports No. 35 LB Marist Liufau No. 40 FB Hunter Luepke Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys draft 2025: Top-10 prospect rankings for each position
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images Who is your favorite draft prospect so far? College football is coming up to Bowl Season, that means in scouting terms this is when the hard work begins. Before draft season starts we give you a top-10 ranking for each position for the 2025 NFL Draft. Each position ranking has an overall ranking (in brackets). QUARTERBACK Sheduer Sander, Colorado (4) Cam Ward, Miami (11) Jalen Milroe, Alabama (17) Carson Beck, Georgia (23) Quinn Ewers, Texas (34) Garrett Nussmeier (40) Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (49) Drew Allar, Penn State (58) Riley Leonard, Notre Dame (63) Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (83) People have their own take on Sanders and whether he’s deserving of the top spot at the quarterback position. As scouts it’s about ranking talent, the off-field issues or character questions are on the front office to decide. RUNNING BACK Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (18) Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (26) Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (32) Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State (42) TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (46) Phil Mafa, Clemson (52) R.J. Harvey, UCF (76) Nick Singleton, Penn State (80) Raheim Sanders, South Carolina (84) Jo’Quavious Marks, USC (92) This position is a rags to riches from last year to this season. The top talent on the board is insane in comparison to last season, but the position is also super deep. Day 2 is the sweet spot for this position group. WIDE RECEIVER Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (6) Luther Burden, Missouri (9) Isaiah Bond, Texas (14) Evan Stewart, Oregon (21) Isaiah Bond, Texas (30) Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State (36) Tre Harris, Ole Miss (50) Jalen Royals, Utah State (67) Elic Ayomanor, Stanford (72) Kyren Lacy, LSU (79) This year’s wide receiver class is good, it’s not as good as some have been in previous years. TIGHT END Colston Loveland, Michigan (20) Tyler Warren, Penn State (57) Gunnar Helm, Texas (60) Mason Taylor, LSU (68) Harold Fannin Jr, Bowling Green (71) Jack Velling, Michigan State (74) Terrance Ferguson, Oregon (91) Jake Briningstool, Michigan State (94) Oronde Gadsten, Syracuse (96) Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame (100) The tight end position left everyone in a state of relaxed expectation over the last few years, this year does not look the case. If it weren’t for one or two players, this position would have left a lot to be desired. OFFENSIVE LINE Kelvin Banks, Texas (3) Will Campbell, LSU (22) Cameron Williams, Texas (28) Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota (33) Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona (37) Josh Simmons, Ohio State (39) Tyler Booker, Alabama (54) Emery Jones, LSU (65) Wyatt Millum, West Virginia (73) Donovan Jackson, Ohio State (75) Last season the offensive tackle talent was phenomenal and will be tough to beat in terms of depth. Tackle talent looks good and this year, even the guards have a healthy crop. Some of the players ranked outside the top 32 could very easily jump right in and make this another successful offensive line draft. INSIDE DEFENSIVE LINE Mason Graham, Michigan (8) Walter Nolan, Ole Miss (10) Kenneth Grant, Michigan (29) Deone Walker, Kentucky (34) Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (41) Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M (43) Derrick Harmon, Oregon (51) Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati (59) T.J. Sanders, South Carolina (62) Jordan Burch, Oregon (85) There was a lack of enthusiasm about the inside defensive line last year, have no fear of that this year. It’s got some interesting talent at the top with potential breakouts as the draft process gets rolling. EDGE DEFENDERS James Pearce Jr, Tennessee (2) Abdul Carter, Penn State (13) Mykel Williams, Georgia (15) Nic Scourton, Texas A&M (18) Princely Umanamielen, Ole Miss (24) JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State (31) Landon Jackson, Arkansas (47) L.T. Overton, Alabama (66) Jack Sawyer, Ohio State (86) Mike Green, Marshall (90) Pass rusher talent in a draft class is always a good measuring stick for an entire draft class, so this year should be a solid class. There is a plethora of pass-rush talent and a couple that will raise some eyebrows as people begin to dig deep on them. LINEBACKER Jalon Walker, Georgia (16) Jihaad Campbell, Alabama (44) Harold Perkins Jr, LSU (48) Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma (55) Barrett Carter, Clemson (61) Lander Barton, Utah (69) Deontae Lawson, Alabama (87) Jaishawn Barham, Michigan (95) Jeffery Bassa, Oregon (98) Jay Higgins, Iowa (99) This year’s linebackers exhibit a certain “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” quality (not that it’s any different from previous years). Among them, we have excellent tacklers and some skilled pass rushers. However, identifying players who excel in both areas remains challenging CORNERBACK Travis Hunter, Colorado (1) Will Johnson, Michigan (5) Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (7) Tacario Davis, Arizona (25) Shavon Revel Jr, East Carolina (27) Denzel Burke, Ohio State (38) Trey Amos, Ole Miss (70) Jahdae Barron, Texas (78) Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky (81) Daylen Everette, Georgia (93) Some want to put Hunter in the wide receiver position, and that’s fine. Either way he remains the top prospect in this year’s draft and if he plays two-way in the NFL that wouldn’t at all be shocking. SAFETY Malaki Starks, Georgia (12) Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (45) Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina (53) Kevin Winston Jr, Penn State (56) Rod Moore, Michigan (64) Malachi Moore, Alabama (77) Sebastian Castro, Iowa (82) Keon Sabb, Alabama (87) Andrew Mukuba, Texas (89) Kamari Ramsey, USC (97) Last year’s draft had serious safety deficiencies but this year it looks improved. Not by much, but improvement is always good.
