Troy Aikman’s comments “don’t carry weight” with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
Last week Aikman, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Dallas who calls “Monday Night Football” games for ESPN, told regional radio station 96.7 FM The Ticket that wide receivers running lazy or inconsistent routes are hurting the offense and quarterback Dak Prescott.
“I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes,” Aikman said. “And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running. As a quarterback, if you’re not certain where guys are going to be consistently, it’s hard to play the position. That’s what I see. I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it. “
McCarthy said Monday morning as the Cowboys (3-3) return from their bye week that Aikman is wrong.
“They don’t carry any weight with me, because I watch all the tape, I get to go to the meetings, I’m at practice, I’m part of the games,” McCarthy said. “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.”
The Cowboys went into the open week on the schedule licking their wounds due to injuries and a blowout loss at home to the Detroit Lions in Week 6.
Questions and criticism about work ethic are off-base, according to McCarthy.
“(The team’s) work ethic is high,” McCarthy said, noting GPS readings used to measure effort and intensity are higher this season than the past two seasons.
“The effort and energy is there. But the details and attention needs to go up. That’s going to be a big part of the message (to players at practice on Monday).”
McCarthy said pass rusher Micah Parsons is improving but his status for practice and Week 8 are not yet clear. Parsons is dealing with a high ankle sprain and missed the past two games.
Winless at home this season, the Cowboys are headed to San Francisco (3-4) this week for a Sunday night game with the 49ers. The Kansas City Chiefs provided a blueprint for beating the 49ers on Sunday, coming out of their Week 6 bye to take down San Francisco 28-18. The Chiefs intercepted Brock Purdy three times.
The 49ers have won three consecutive games against the Cowboys, most recently a 42-10 decision last October when Purdy threw four TD passes (three to tight end George Kittle).
