The Dallas Cowboys had a bye last week, giving head coach Mike McCarthy some time to reflect on comments made by former quarterback Troy Aikman regarding the team’s receivers. Aikman, during a recent radio appearance, didn’t hold back, stating that the wideouts “run terrible routes” and are “lazy coming off the line of scrimmage.”
McCarthy, who finally had the chance to address Aikman’s criticisms on Monday, made it clear that he disagrees with the Hall of Famer’s assessment of the receiver group. “They don’t carry any weight with me,” McCarthy said. “I watch all the tape, I get to go to the meetings, I’m at practice, I’m part of the games. So I have a clear understanding of what and where. Troy’s statement in particular, I don’t agree with the word selection. There is definitely need for improvement in every position, not just one position that he commented on.”
Despite Aikman’s comments, the Cowboys have the second-most passing yards per game in the league. This is partly due to the fact that they have thrown the second-most passes in the league, trying to compensate for their struggling rushing attack, which currently ranks as the worst in the NFL. However, despite putting up impressive passing numbers, Dallas is sitting at a 3-3 record with two blowout losses at home.
The focus in Dallas should be on improving their overall performance rather than getting caught up in debates over word choices and criticisms from outside sources. It’s clear that there is work to be done in all areas of the team, not just at the wide receiver position.
In the end, as McCarthy pointed out, what matters most is what happens on the field. The Cowboys need to focus on making the necessary improvements to turn their season around and get back on track towards their goal of competing for a playoff spot.
