The Dallas Cowboys have not had the start they wanted in the 2024 season. After losing 44-19 to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, they were humiliated by the Detroit Lions 47-9.
There seems to be an issue with the offense, and former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman has pointed out what he thinks it is. Aikman spoke to The Athletic’s Jon Machota, directing his criticism at the wide receivers.
According to Machota via 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman said:
“I think the routes are awful. They run terrible routes. This isn’t just a recent problem; I’ve felt this way for a while. CeeDee (Lamb) needs to get better at route running. As a quarterback, it’s difficult to play if you’re unsure where receivers will be consistently. That’s what I’m seeing. Guys come off the line lazily, and when they do run, it’s usually because they expect to get the ball, but if not, they don’t try as hard. It all connects. I’m not impressed.”
“I just watched the Baltimore Ravens because I’ll be covering them this week. Their receivers, along with teams like San Francisco and Green Bay, come off the ball aggressively. It’s tough to play QB when you don’t know how receivers will run their routes. I’m not speaking for Dak (Prescott); he might think the routes are great. But from a former QB’s view, they need to improve.”
Aikman criticized the Cowboys’ receivers but particularly focused on CeeDee Lamb, saying he needs to step up his route running. Interestingly, Lamb and Prescott were seen in a sideline exchange that went viral. Lamb clarified they weren’t arguing but discussing throwing “jump balls,” as Lamb excels in contested catches at 6-foot-2.
Regardless, Aikman implied Prescott struggles to be accurate because he doesn’t know where his receivers will be. While route adjustments are common, the playbook is designed to prevent miscommunication between quarterback and receiver. A missed route could lead to costly mistakes.
PAikman added that Prescott might be too supportive of his receivers, possibly allowing them to avoid responsibility for mistakes that Aikman noticed on film.
It’s hard to argue with Aikman given the Cowboys’ offensive struggles. In the last three games, Dallas has scored just 49 points, averaging about 16 points per game.
The Cowboys are usually known for their scoring, but there seems to be a disconnect between Prescott and his receivers. It could be poor route running, or it could be something else. Either way, Dallas looks like it could struggle to make the playoffs.
