Legend Rick Gosselin talks Cowboys, Jimmy, Jerry, McCarthy and more
By John Herndon
Dak Prescott
Q: I keep reading or hearing people talk about how the league has become a passing league. Fans believe throwing the ball 45 times a game is the receipt for victory. I disagree myself. What are your thoughts on this?
A: There were 94 300-yard passing games last season. Patrick Mahomes was 9-1 when he threw for 300+ in a game. The rest of the NFL passers posted a combined 36-47-1 record in their 300-yard games. Aerial football does not guarantee success.
Q: This leads into Dak Prescott. Do you believe the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff have to the realization what kind of quarterback they have?
A: I always believed the less Tony Romo threw, the more I liked him. I also feel that way about Dak Prescott. I’d prefer Prescott throwing 28-30 times per game instead of 38-40. The strength of this team is its defense.
The Cowboys led the NFL in takeaways and finished third in sacks. Play to the strength of your defense. Run the ball more and do a better job of controlling the clock. When the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl under Jimmy Johnson, they led the NFL in defense with that unit playing just 26 minutes a game.
A fresh, rested defense is an effective defense. The 2022 Dallas defense was on the field more than 30 minutes per game last season. Dak isn’t Patrick Mahomes. He isn’t Joe Burrow. He’s not Tom Brady or Drew Brees. Don’t ask him to be. Balance the offense and give your defense a chance to win a championship.
Q: Do you believe the Dallas Cowboys are trending in the right direction? I have always thought the west coast offense would benefit Dak Prescott even before Mike McCarthy was hired.
A: When you win 12 games in consecutive seasons you are trending in the right direction. It’s easier to see a championship from the top of the mountain than the bottom. McCarthy was hired for his offensive expertise. With him calling the plays for the first time, we’ll see his expertise on display.
This should be the best chance for the Cowboys to win a championship since his arrival.