Cowboys 'Best Shot' At Super Bowl? Mike McCarthy's New Job; Here's Why

Mike McCarthy is now the offensive play-caller but despite the many detractors, "Big Mike," has the credentials to take Dallas to the pinnacle of the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is the offensive play-caller, and for some, there are doubts if "Big Mike" can replicate what top assistant Kellen Moore did in the club's high-octane offense.

In truth, McCarthy might not have to do exactly that, as the Cowboys plan will still call for them to put up points, of course ... while at the same time hoping to be more "buttoned-up'' in some ways.

Last season was one riddled with mistakes from Dak Prescott, receivers not running the right routes, and miscommunication. All of which led to Dak - working through that broken thumb, by the way - throwing a league-leading interception total of 15.

But now, with McCarthy in charge of the offense? There is a slight change in philosophy. And not everyone is a harsh critic of the boss. Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com, for one, doesn't understand the doubt that hangs over the Cowboys' new play-caller.

"The Cowboys' head coach made a bold decision when he parted ways with Moore (now with the Chargers), but it's not like McCarthy doesn't have his own set of credentials," Chadiha writes. "McCarthy spent 13 seasons as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, calling plays for all but one of those years. The Packers also finished among the top five scoring teams in the league seven times during that stretch.''

That's a point we've made often here; by what measure has McCarthy been anything but successful in the dual role he's now taking on? With Prescott asked to do a lot last season under Moore, there is a concerted effort to in some cases allow Dak to manage the offense instead of having to play lights-out (and at a "light up the scoreboard'' level) to win football games under McCarthy.

The "Texas Coast" Offense, as Prescott called it, is engineered to make life easier for Dak and, in turn, make the offense run smoother than in previous years. 

With a focus on quick, crisp passing to allow Dallas' playmakers to get out in space and do their thing, Dak will be asked to do less than in previous seasons and it gives the Cowboys a real shot at the NFC title and the Super Bowl.

"The safe bet here is that McCarthy looks a lot smarter when this year ends, and his team will have its best shot at challenging for the NFC crown," Chadiha writes.

McCarthy has been here before and has called plays en route to winning a Super Bowl while in Green Bay. We've long argued that since arriving in Dallas, McCarthy has been the best play-caller in the building. Now he gets his chance to prove he should have been doing it since Day 1 ... And it could result in the Cowboys seriously challenging for the NFC Championship Game and more.

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