'Bullies!' Will Coach Mike McCarthy Cowboys Offense Be More Physical?

The Dallas Cowboys have gone through some changes this offseason with an emphasis on being more intentional with how they approach the offensive side of the game.

The Dallas Cowboys exited the NFL playoffs two seasons ago after having been "out-physicalled'' by the San Francisco 49ers. To the credit of coach Mike McCarthy, he recognized that immediately. And in the following NFL Draft, as reportedly by our Mike Fisher, he essentially demanded that Dallas change some of its philosophy in order to add bigger bodies in the trenches in order to avoid, as Fish has put it, "getting bullied.''

Fast-forward to 2023. Dallas will look different on offense under McCarthy in part due to him taking over the play-calling as he installs "West Coast Offense'' elements into his scheme, in what quarterback Dak Prescott has labeled the "Texas Coast Offense."

Former NFL quarterback David Carr is working to help fans envision some of the hoped-for outcome. ... and we'll handle the rest.

"This is great for the Dallas Cowboys going forward," Carr said on NFL Total Access. "They're going to be less wide-open and sporadic and just try and score as many points as possible. They're going to be more intentional, and I love that because that's what we've asked for, right? 

"It's going to be downhill running game; it's going to be Tony Pollard, there's going to be a fullback in the game. That tells me that will be more play-action pass, not gimmick guys up, but utilize that run game and going to come off it with the play-action pass and try to hit shots down the field."

With an emphasis on running the ball with the likes of Pollard, Ronald Jones, Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn, the Cowboys are looking to be more physical. And how do they do that, really? More big bodies - with guys like last year's No. 1 pick Tyler Smith and this year's No. 2 pick Luke Schoonmaker. In short ... Become the "bullies.''

The defense under Dan Quinn has quickly established itself as one of the top units in the NFL. That's happened with the addition of some big-bodied bullies, too, with this year's No. 1 pick Mazi Smith and the re-signing of Johnathan Hankins. 

Carr feels that there is a concerted effort from the offense to match what the defense brings to the table.

​"I think it's [the offense] going to be more physical to match the defense," Carr said. "The defense has gotten there already. They're ready to play at the next level with San Francisco and some of these teams; now the offense just has to catch up."

How to do that? A new offense? Sure, that's the plan. Some old-fashioned bullying? Yes, that's the plan as well.

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