Notable headlines surrounding America’s team.
With interviews underway, Brian Schottenheimer’s Cowboys coaching staff is taking shape – Calvin Watkins, DMN
Watkins with the rundown of the key names we know so far.
Many reports had the Cowboys expected to interview Bears secondary coach Andre Curtis for their defensive coordinator position. The team will also interview former Bears coach Matt Eberflus for the same slot this upcoming week. And ESPN reported on Sunday that the Cowboys have requested to interview Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow for the defensive coordinator position.
Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger will interview for the Cowboys offensive coordinator role.
A pair of assistant special team coaches, Chris Banjo (Broncos) and Carlos Polk (Bears), will interview for the vacant special teams coordinator post.
Once the coordinators are hired, the team will move forward in hiring position coaches. A name of interest is Bears interim offensive coordinator Chris Beatty as a possible wide receivers coach.
Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys: 5 priorities as he begins big new role – Saad Youssuf, The Athletic
Figuring out his staff is an obvious priority, but Schotty’s ability to get the front office to give him the players he needs my be the one most critical to his long-term success.
1. Build the coaching staff
This is Schottenheimer’s most important thing. He is a first-time NFL head coach and hasn’t had to deal with most that comes in that role in his two-plus decades as an assistant coach and coordinator. Even more comes with the role when you’re the head coach of the Cowboys. All of that will be much easier to navigate if there’s a quality staff in place.
Mike McCarthy is one of Schottenheimer’s mentors and his approach to a coaching staff structure is a good place to start. McCarthy was more offensively-inclined, so he always made sure the defensive coordinator was experienced, preferably someone who had been a head coach. Matt Eberflus is a frontrunner for that role and would check those boxes.
Plus, there are multiple position coaches on offense and defense. Schottenheimer needs to ensure that those hires match up with his vision and message.
3. Hash out personnel preferences with front office
Schottenheimer needs to identify the roster’s most glaring holes. Obviously, there are players locked into roles due to contract status and the fact remains that Dallas’ front office doesn’t seem too intent on changing its lackadaisical approach to free agency. Still, the front office does take the coach’s opinion into serious consideration when adding players through free agency or the draft. It’s important for Schottenheimer to ensure that the communication is on point as the calendar enters the player evaluation phase — from draft prospects or veterans who could be options when free agency begins in less than two months.
Report: Cowboys Eying Cardinals Coach as OC – Donnie Druin, SI.com
Another name to add to the mix.
Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams is reportedly a name to watch for the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator position, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
“The Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as their head coach on Friday, and Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams is a name to watch for offensive coordinator in Dallas,” Jones reported ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
Check out our tracker for all the interviews, rumors and news about Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff.
Jerry Jones has specific reasons for choosing Brian Schottenheimer- Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star
Good to know, Jerry.
He has hired yet another “yes” man to patrol the sidelines, and he has his reasons for doing so.
The Upper Hand
As I mentioned above, Jerry and Stephen Jones value business over all. To them, the Dallas Cowboys are a for-profit business and the bottom line is king, no matter how it affects the product on the field.
That’s why they choose coaches like Brian Schottenheimer. They choose selfish comfort over a coach who would be best for the team. Instead of a coach who can challenge people to change the way things have been for 30 years, they choose a coach who will do whatever they say.
Schottenheimer didn’t draw interest from any other teams, so he didn’t have a strong leg to stand on when negotiating the terms of the deal. If he doesn’t call plays, the Cowboys can just blame his coordinators when the team doesn’t perform well.
On top of controlling all aspects of the contract, they also don’t have to pay him as much as other coaches are making. They use his inexperience as a reason to warrant less than market value.
NFL Mock Draft: 3-round Cowboys projection after hiring Brian Schottenheimer- Rucker Haringey, FanSided
Unfortunately, it’s mock draft season.
Round 1, Pick 12: OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
Admittedly, fan reaction in Dallas will be ugly if they pass on Jeanty in favor of Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 12 overall pick. The reality is that the Cowboys need to find a replacement for free agent Zack Martin at right guard if they want to run the ball effectively next season.
Banks Jr. played left tackle during his collegiate career at Texas but he profiles as a player who will kick inside at the next level. He has good hand strength and agile feet which help him stymie opposing pass rushers at the point of attack. The Cowboys will be more interested in the speed he shows on pulls and second-level blocks as traits that can help unlock their ground game.
Some fans might question the value of taking a guard with such a premium pick but Banks Jr. can be an immediate starter for the Cowboys. Getting that kind of certainty at a position of need makes taking a guard at 12 a smart move by Jerry Jones and his front office.
