Everything Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said after the team’s 33-17 win over the Cleveland Brown s on Sunday:
Can you discuss the thorough nature of this opener and the game you played across the board:
”Excellent win. Especially going on the road and coming up here to a great football environment. You feel good about your prep coming into it. I thought we started the first half - I thought we played well. We did the little things. The second half was sloppy. Good win. Any time you win by three scores. And you have a lot to correct, so that’s where we’re at. We talked about being a better road team and we got off to a good start.”
Did the news breaking about Cowboys QB Dak Prescott’s contract have an impact going into the game and what does it mean to be done with that?
”Definitely [happy to be done with that]. Just so happy, so proud of Dak for getting that contract done. It’s obviously very exciting for us as an organization. That’s a big move to lock up your quarterback of the future for that many years. The timing was different. I think he handled it like you would think he would. We meet fifteen minutes after he arrives at the stadium so we had a normal meeting, probably spent three or four minutes congratulating him on the contract. It’s something that you make sure you celebrate for the individual. I thought he was locked in today. I thought he was normal in his approach and so-forth. That’s the way he does everything.”
Did you worry about the team being distracted by the contract talks going into the season?
“We have a little bit of experience with distractions so we’re working through those and building off our history. No, I think it’s just like anything. We all understand there is a personal side to this, but professionally, I thought the team as a whole did a good job of coming into this. It looked like September football out there. As a coach, the sloppiness and some of those things that happened in the second half, you have to do better than that. But yes, I thought the team really practiced this week very well. If you just go by the mathematics and things we used for comparables, they really had an excellent week compared to prior years. We’ll just stay true to our process and stay after it. We’ll have a lot to clean up tomorrow,but I’m just very happy for the guys. They put the work in and the preparation and came here to get this win.
”What impressed you most about your defensive effort?
“I just thought that they set the tone with the production. Holding Cleveland to three points and just giving us opportunity after opportunity with the field position. Takeaways, all those things. I thought they got off to a nice start. We were gassed there at the end, so that’s something that we’ll take a look at for rotations and things like that. You have to go get that firstone in. It was a little unbalanced in the second half, so we’re going to learn from that.”
Did Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb play about as much as you thought he was going to play?
“Yes, that was the plan. I thought (Cowboys WR Coach) Robert Prince did a good job holding to the plan and I think that’s CeeDee’s standard — he wants to play and he needs to play. I thought we hit the target.”
It’s the first time Cowboys LB Eric Kendrick had two picks in a game since he played you guys in 2016
.“Oh thanks. He’s such an exceptional player and just seeing it from the other side. His instincts, awareness, and understanding of the defense has been impactful since he arrived here. I think he showed today what he means to us.”
How important was it to get the return from Cowboys WR Kevontae Turpin to start the second half?
“Definitely (important). I mean, you see it every day. He’s so dynamic with the ball in his hand. To come up here to an outdoor stadium where you’re hoping to get some opportunities. Just the way our team plays. We play with such great energy and connection. Turpin is an established threat and weapon in his speed too, so I was just happy to see him get the opportunity. Once he hits that crease, he is the best finisher I’ve seen in his space.”
Do you have any updates on Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson?
“I do not. I don’t know if you’ll see him in there, but he’s moving around well. We just have to go through all the testing and we’ll get that completed tomorrow. But he’s in good spirits.”
You had the rotation of linebackers through most of camp, and today DeMarvion Overshown played a lot next to Eric Kendricks. Why was the one to play the most today and what were your first impressions of him?
“I think the first impression was very good. Just like anything, you game plan, and there are personnel groups you want to stay with. It was really good from the defensive aspect - everybody got to play out there. I thought that was important.”
Is that how you thought Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott and the running back by committee was going to go, and do you think you have enough there?
“I think there’s more to it than how I thought it would go. You mention production in the run game? Yeah, I think there’s more to it than just the guy carrying the ball, so the plan was to have a one-two combination with both Zeke and (Cowboys RB) Rico (Dowdle). I would have liked to get (Cowboys RB) Deuce (Vaughn) the ball more. I didn’t really care for how we played in the second half particularly on third down. It was a pressure fest, and it’s great work for us to get it live like that. I think we’ll be better. I would have definitely liked to get the whole running back group more carried today. The numbers were pretty good at halftime. I don’t recall what they were, but that’s kind of the course I would like to stay on.”
Two rookies in the offensive line - Cowboys T Tyler Guytin gave up one sack and had one penalty - but first impressions of him and Cowboys C Cooper Beebe?
“I think the biggest thing is, the best compliment you can give a rookie in his first start, is when you don’t have to adjust anything for them. We didn’t have to get out of our game plan by any means, so I thought they did a nice job first time out the gate.”
What about the play that you thought was a fourth down, and they changed it to third down?
“I think they have something called poll reports? Let me know how it goes. I just think it was obviously miscommunication there. Both teams thought it was fourth down. The explanation was that the chain gang didn’t have it right.
”If you had known it was first down, would you have challenged it as the mark looked short?
“Possibly, but I think everything thought it was short. We played the down that way. If you just look at the play and the play selection on both sides of the ball, the defense that was called and the play that was called, that was a fourth down play.”
You had 5-6 sacks, and the way DeMarvion Overshown played, what about that impact?
“I think the pressure was excellent, I think clearly, he’s dynamic, particularly at extending plays, so you can see where they were a little bit gassed there at the end. That’s something we need to learn from, but I thought that was a big impact. AndD-Mo flew all over the place. It’s just great to have him back out there healthy.”
Were you disappointed Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey didn’t get to try the 66-yarder?
“Definitely. Especially because he hit it, too. I just got a little nervous when they put the returner back there on the 71 or72.”
Do you think the play clock should have been restarted there?
“Well, just with the transition of it. We were set. They were substituting. I think there’s a human nature component to it where you hold up for the snap. But at the end of the day, we’re responsible for the clock. It’s unfortunate because it was an excellent kick by Brandon.”
It looked like it was good from 71, 72.
“I don’t know. I know it went through the uprights. So you’re saying I should have went for it? Okay, give it to me, don’t give me a day off or I’d be disappointed in you.”
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