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Mike McCarthy spoke at the 2020 NFL Combine and discussed all things Cowboys as they prepare their roster for the upcoming season. The Cowboys will report for voluntary workouts starting on April 6th. Here’s what Coach McCarthy had to say.
Coach McCarthy wants you to know that Dak Prescott is their quarterback, without question.
Is Dak Prescott the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback?
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) February 26, 2020
Mike McCarthy: “Definitely.” pic.twitter.com/YYHie656iP
Q: Is Dak Prescott the Cowboys franchise quarterback?
Mike McCarthy: Dak Prescott? Definitely. It’s exactly where we want to be with Dak. I think what’s he’s done speaks for itself. Dak is in a business situation right now, I’ve gone through this with a number of my players in the past, and like anything it’s time to be patient and let the business people work out the business matter.
Coach believes that Prescott can take them to a championship.
“Defenses get you to the championship. Quarterbacks win the championship. I believe Dak is the one to do that.”#Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy on Dak Prescott
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) February 26, 2020
In the clip below you can hear McCarthy talk more about Prescott and how he views him, as well his comments about defense getting you to championships and quarterbacks winning them.
Mike McCarthy on why Dak Prescott can win a Super Bowl.
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) February 26, 2020
Very interesting comment on the defensive side of it pic.twitter.com/zOFLXU5ssE
The Cowboys will keep most of the terminology on offense.
Mike McCarthy says Cowboys offense will keep most of its language and looks. Keep letting Dak be Dak, as long as that contract gets done... pic.twitter.com/7MjjBZpAkY
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 26, 2020
But, McCarthy is not saying that he will never call plays again.
Mike McCarthy on why he softened stance that he’d never not call plays again: “I have a new job. I get to start over and take those ‘never again’ statements back. ... I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.” Wanted to keep current offense in place, given success before arrival.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) February 26, 2020
McCarthy had this to say about the offense and how things will work.
#Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy on this offense:
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) February 26, 2020
“The design of how we put things together will be different, but it’s important to keep some things together.”
Goes on to say he trusts Kellen Moore and believes in his creativity to recalibrate the offense.
He also had some interesting comments on running backs, ones that will please fans who want to see more of Tony Pollard.
McCarthy highlights two-back offenses as a trend in today’s NFL. Mentions San Francisco with how they used their backfield. https://t.co/MwzZAqJWSF
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) February 26, 2020
As you would expect a coach to say, McCarthy wants to re-sign as many of the current free agents as the team can.
Mike McCarthy says he wants to get as many of the Cowboys free agents back as they can and see what else they can add#NFLCombine
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) February 26, 2020
He was specifically asked about Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb.
Mike McCarthy on free agent WRs Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb: “The goal is to have both those guys. ... I was very impressed with (Cobb’s) video” last season in first year with Cowboys.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) February 26, 2020
Coach discussed his thoughts on building the Cowboys roster in an extended video clip below.
Mike McCarthy on the Cowboys’ roster needs pic.twitter.com/GQxL7CeoHR
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 26, 2020
Special teams is also a focus, McCarthy understands that.
“When you make the commitment to special teams, your roster needs to reflect that. It’s a focus of ours.” - Mike McCarthy on upgrading the special teams unit.
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) February 26, 2020
Analytics? Did you say analytics? Yes, coach discusses that briefly along with Stephen Jones and Will McClay.
Mike McCarthy on his role with Stephen Jones and Will McClay, bringing up the analytics side of it as well pic.twitter.com/3KEnhKDWNo
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) February 26, 2020