Troy Aikman, a former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold harsh while discussing the offense’s early-season troubles. Aikman had harsh words for the present status of the Cowboys offence, just days after Dallas radio hosts were asked pointed questions regarding the team’s summer manoeuvres, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones became enraged. During his 12 seasons as a quarterback for the Cowboys (1989–2000), Aikman delivered some of his most pointed criticisms to the wide receivers on the club for executing “terrible” routes.
Aikman stated, “I think they run terrible routes,” on Thursday’s Dallas sports radio program 96.7 The Ticket. “And even after this year, I’ve considered that. I believe that CeeDee Lamb needs to get better at running routes. It’s difficult to play quarterback if you don’t know where players are going to be all the time. That’s what I observe. Guys are coming off the line of scrimmage looking lethargic. They run occasionally, and when they do, it’s typically because they think they’ll get the football on that play; otherwise, they stay put. And everything is connected. Its portion hasn’t impressed me.”
Aikman went on to say that he reviewed tape of other teams, such as the Baltimore Ravens, and that under Lamar Jackson, the wideouts for the Cowboys were nowhere near as successful as players like Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers. “It’s hard to play the (QB) position if you’re not certain how guys are going to run routes or where they’re going to be,” Aikman stated. Furthermore, I don’t speak for Dak (Prescott). “Hey, I think (their routes) are amazing,” Dak would remark. But from what I’m seeing as a former quarterback, it needs to improve significantly.”
The Cowboys have amassed 1,654 passing yards in six games this season, which is good for third-highest in the NFL. But the club hasn’t accomplished much; kicker Brandon Aubrey has scored almost half of the Cowboys’ points this season (around 49.2%). In order to match his total of 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns from the previous year, star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will need to step up the pace. He now has just 467 yards and two receiving scores. The Cowboys recently lost to the Detroit Lions 47-9 at home in an ugly blowout before their Week 7 bye. On the road, they will next take on the San Francisco 49ers on October 27.