The Dallas Cowboys are still reeling from their humiliating 47-9 defeat to the Detroit Lions on October 13, marking the fifth-largest loss in the team’s history, all witnessed by owner and general manager Jerry Jones on his birthday.
Following their bye week, the Cowboys will face off against their rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. However, leading up to this game, a Cowboys legend publicly criticized the team’s current strategies, eliciting a response from a current player.
Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, who guided the team to three Super Bowl victories, criticized the offensive schemes and specifically pointed out CeeDee Lamb’s route-running. Aikman stated, “I think they run poor routes. I’ve felt this way for a while. CeeDee needs to enhance his route running. As a quarterback, it’s challenging to play effectively if you’re unsure where your receivers will be.”
He continued, “Sometimes they run, but usually it’s only when they expect to get the ball. Otherwise, they lack effort, and that’s concerning. It’s all interconnected, and I’m not impressed with that aspect.”
In response, Lamb acknowledged Aikman’s remarks, saying, “As a leader, I take this in. We need to improve. If someone says our routes are lazy, I’m determined to demonstrate otherwise each week. Personally, I view this as constructive criticism.”
Lamb added, “If we have the chance to control it, let’s put in the work to improve. I’m committed to hard work, so any critique about my performance motivates me to show that I am doing the right things.”
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy also addressed Aikman’s comments, stating, “They don’t hold any significance for me because I review all the footage, attend meetings, and participate in practices and games. I have a clear understanding of our situation. I disagree with Troy’s choice of words.”
The Cowboys will have the opportunity to prove Aikman wrong by performing well against the 49ers, who have eliminated them in the postseason for the past two years.
