Dallas Cowboys 2022 preseason round-up: Training camp, Dak Prescott, Mike McCarthy…

Mike McCarthy under pressure

The Dallas Cowboys start their training camp on Wednesday, and it’s time for coach Mike McCarthy to prove himself.

The Cowboys have been on a Super Bowl drought for 26 years with several different coaches, none of whom can seem to get them deep into the post season. McCarthy was signed to a five-year deal with the Cowboys, but started in the pandemic year and with an injured Dak Prescott. This year, he’s got a healthy team and a chance to turn things around. They ended the season 12-5, ending with a disappointing loss to the 49ers in the wild card round of the playoffs. Since then, all eyes have been on McCarthy and all gossip has been about his job safety (or lack thereof). Owner Jerry Jones has voiced his support of McCarthy and his belief that he can take the Cowboys to a Super Bowl, but Jerry Jones says a lot of things. As soon as Sean Payton left the Saints, it made it all the more questionable, as the Cowboys have a past relationship with Payton. But McCarthy HAS taken a team to a Super Bowl before. The question is, can he do it again, and if so, then when?

“The reality of it is from 1993 to 2010, it took that long to be part of a Super Bowl champion,” said McCarthy. “It’s just so difficult to win a championship and so the everyday urgency is always there for me. That’s why the time to step away with your family is so important to charge your battery. Yeah, I’m excited. I’m ready to go. Frankly, I can’t wait to get to Oxnard and get started.”

Dak Prescott also under pressure

Other than McCarthy, the quarterback has to be feeling the pressure a bit, too. Prescott has yet to lead his team to an NFC Championship game, but they have had several playoff losses since he started with them. Prescott is obviously a talented player, but like their former QB Tony Romo, he’s got little to show for it. And that is something some people won’t forgive easily. EPSN’s Robert Griffin III named Prescott as one of five QBs who simply have to make it to a Super Bowl this season.

But come on…the chances of that happening for the Cowboys this year are quite slim. They have made a few positive changes and Dak is in good shape, but their defense and WR depth chart are still uncertain. A Super Bowl run may be a a big ask, but Dak is under pressure to at least make it to the post season and last more than one game.

Where does Prescott rank on the top tier QB list?

Speaking of Prescott, The Athletic’s survey has the Cowboys’ quarterback ranked number 11 in Tier 2 of their Top Tier quarterbacks, which is not idea, but competition is ripe. Prescott has also had injuries to deal with the last few seasons, so it’s possible that played some part. He’s been stuck in Tier 2 status in this survey for several years now, and it seems to be the same thing every year - he plays well, but it’s not enough to make the difference for the team, which is basically what Tier 1′s requirement is.

“I don’t think there is a major flaw in his game, but I’m not sure if he has like truly hit that upper echelon,” a defensive coach said. “I think he is a very healthy 2, a 2-plus. He has never really made that leap. I have a lot of respect for Kellen (Moore), think he does a good job. It just seems like every time they have their chance to really put it together and elevate it, they fall short, so I don’t know.”

Cowboys swap jerseys with Real Madrid

The Real Madrid soccer team is on their US preseason tour at the moment and were practicing at UCLA. So some of the Cowboys decided to pay them a visit, too since they’re in California for training camp in Oxnard. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb met with Real Madrid players David Alaba, Thibaut Courtois, and Luka Madrid to exchange jerseys and play a little bit of football (both the American and European kind).

Real Madrid will play Club America on Tuesday night, and the Cowboys will start their preseason on August 13 against the Denver Broncos.