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Dallas Cowboys: How Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy co-exist and thrive

By Reid Hanson

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 15: Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore of the Dallas Cowboys talks with Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys on the sidelines as the Cowboys take on the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 15: Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore of the Dallas Cowboys talks with Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys on the sidelines as the Cowboys take on the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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If offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and offensive guru Mike McCarthy are to co-exist on the Dallas Cowboys, this is the optimal way

As of the time of this article, no final decision has been made regarding who the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator will be. According to NFL.com, the offer has been extended from Mike McCarthy to stay on. But Kellen Moore is also mulling an offer from the University of Washington.

As of late last night, NFL.com reported Moore is leaning towards staying with the Cowboys, therefore, we’ll operate under the assumption Moore will be McCarthy’s coordinator. While gathering the best minds seems like a good idea at face value, it’s been known to be a recipe for disaster in the NFL. Something about too many cooks in the kitchen…

That doesn’t mean a Moore/McCarthy marriage is destined to blow up either. Mutual respect, confidence, and a little good will can go a long way.

Mike McCarthy recently stated in an interview, he wants the offensive game-planner to also be the play-caller. And based on his previous work history in Green Bay, he’s more comfortable with personally doing both. So does that mean an unofficial demotion for Kellen Moore?

Well, yeah.

Moore called plays last season. Jason Garrett surely had major influence in game planning but it was Moore who pulled the trigger and called the plays. So going from that, to being a clear No. 2 in game plans and the backseat in play-calling is an unofficial demotion.

No one wants to be an offensive coordinator who doesn’t call plays. But it’s doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Based on reports out of Green Bay, Mike McCarthy likes grooming his assistants. He takes pride in it and actively works to delegate. He even handed the reigns of the offense (play-calling) over one year. It didn’t go great so he re-took control, but it proves he more than willing to entertain the thought.

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Much like Eric Bieniemy learns and grows behind Andy Reid, Kellen Moore can learn and grow behind Mike McCarthy. By keeping an open dialog with Kellen, McCarthy can make this a partnership more than just a chain of command.

Some of the things McCarthy has spoken of doing more of next season, are the things Kellen is already doing. Running multiples, using motion, and lots of play-action are things the Dallas Cowboys did frequently last year.  If McCarthy is willing to nurture Moore’s ideas, he may be able to take advantage of the man many call, “genius”.

Kellen Moore doesn’t have to call plays to make this work. He needs Mike McCarthy to respect him and to utilize him. It’s in everyone’s best interest for this to work. McCarthy wants to shed the “stale” label and Kellen wants to digest as much offensive philosophy as possible. Working together achieves both.

Next. What McCarthy's time with the Packers teaches us. dark

Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy aren’t an automatic match made in heaven. They’re going to have to work for it because their duties are sure to overlap more than either of them want. But if they handle this the right way, it could be beneficial for both, and optimal for the Dallas Cowboys

  • Published on 01/08/2020 at 17:01 PM
  • Last updated at 01/08/2020 at 13:53 PM
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