Nailing down one definitive issue for the Dallas Cowboys in a disappointing 3-3 start seems a tad reductive. After an MVP-caliber 2023 campaign, Dak Prescott is having one of the worst seasons of his career. The Dallas defense is allowing an astonishing 28 points per game. And irrational, childish owner Jerry Jones, once again faced with the prospect of building a top-heavy team for which he paid way too much money, is lashing out.
But if there is one underlying Cowboys issue too few people are talking about, it’s probably the Dallas receivers’ consistently sluggish approach to their job.
At least, according to Cowboys legend (and ESPN’s lead NFL color analyst) Troy Aikman.
In a Dallas morning sports radio appearance on 96.7 The Ticket on Thursday, Aikman claimed that Cowboys receivers — including All-Pro CeeDee Lamb — have been letting Prescott and the rest of the offense down. How? Aikman believes that the Cowboys’ main playmakers are running “terrible routes” and have even been “lazy” while running off the line of scrimmage at the snap.
Per Aikman, this sort of approach lends itself to bad, losing habits and helps explain why the Cowboys have looked so especially uninspired:
Former Cowboys QB Troy Aikman on @dfwticket on Dallas' wide receivers: "I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes. And I've thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running. As a quarterback, if you're not…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 17, 2024
The hapless Cowboys aside, Aikman mentioned something else that I thought was rather interesting. To tear the Dallas receivers down, Aikman used the Baltimore Ravens — a team once famous for forcing Lamar Jackson to put on a red cape just to see any semblance of success — as a leading example to follow. Most of it, per Aikman, is, in general, a foundational approach to running hard and crisp routes by guys like Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
That means a lot to me.
I mean … we’ve come so far, haven’t we? No wonder it feels like Jackson is on track for a second consecutive MVP award. He’s finally getting consistent help, and he can shine even more when he doesn’t have to do it all! Who would’ve thought quarterbacks need consistent support to be special? (Everyone.)
Take notes, Cowboys receivers. Be more like the Ravens. Be the receiver your quarterback needs you to be. And hey, if/when that happens, maybe one day your guy will play like an MVP again like Jackson.
