Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, Jess Haynie, Tom Ryle, RJ Ochoa, and Sean Martin.
Despite a tough 24-20 loss to the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles, Brian Schottenheimer’s first outing as head coach injected new life into the Cowboys’ offense and provided plenty of optimistic takeaways. Schottenheimer implemented a modernized offensive scheme, featuring motion on 42% of snaps, heavy use of play-action, and dynamic motions. These added layers helped keep the offense moving, avoiding any three-and-outs and maintaining an 81.5% drive success rate.
Schottenheimer’s clock and situational management earned high marks—a well-timed timeout late in the half and a smart choice to let the play clock wind toward the two-minute warning late in the game. The team looked lively, well-prepared and competitive, even against a championship-caliber opponent.
Tom: B+, and it is tempting to up that. He had the team ready to play, particularly on offense. It is only one game, but already the harsh criticisms of his hire are looking a bit overbaked. Get a couple of wins next and we may be seeing him discussed in completely different terms.
Jess: Straight up “A.” The team was ready to go just a week removed from a franchise-altering, locker room-rocking trade. Other than dropped passes, execution looked good. The lack of penalties against Dallas felt miraculous. We’ll see how it goes as opponents get more tape on the Schottenheimer-Adams offense, but Schotty put respect on his name.
RJ: Schotty was fantastic in a lot of ways. I know we are tired of talking about Micah Parsons, but that he was able to have the team ready and focused amid all of the drama was really impressive as far as his head coach duties are concerned. As an offensive play-caller he was the right kind of aggressive and had the team ready to go immediately. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that the weather delay really messed with a lot of that (on the Eagles side as well) so I am very pleased with everything that we saw.
Howman: A+ in my book. The offense was everything we’ve been wanting in terms of scheme and tendencies, with the only thing stopping them being the hands of Miles Sanders and CeeDee Lamb. I also loved the flawless execution of the offense right before halftime, getting the ball set in time to spike it and kick the field goal. Schottenheimer had this team prepared very well for situational football.
Sean: I feel like an old head saying you have to win the game to grade anywhere in the “A’s”, so I will join Tom giving Schottenheimer a B+ for week one. The team was able to ramp up the intensity from the preseason to the hostile road environment and execute a solid gameplan for four quarters. Honestly, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Dallas was dialed in on the football side of things. The Parsons trade quickly made a lot of us forget all of the other on-field stuff that was discussed the full offseason before, mainly getting players that fit the new schemes these coaches wanted. The early returns on this were better than expected at the Eagles, so proper credit to Schottenheimer all-around.
How critical will the tight end duo of Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker be in exploring seams against the Giants this week?
Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker are poised to be vital operational pieces in Dallas’ offense when they face the Giants. With uncertainty at quarterback for New York and leaks in their protection unit, seams and intermediate zones figure to be fertile ground, making the tight ends central to the game plan.
Ferguson’s commanding presence and ability to operate as a seam threat, and often the quarterback’s safety valve, makes him extremely critical to the Cowboys’ passing game against the Giants. With Schoonmaker offering added matchup versatility and blocking prowess, they form a complementary duo that can stress the Giants’ defense on multiple fronts.
Tom: I’m not sure this is really a critical item. This is the Giants after all. They couldn’t muster a touchdown against the admittedly superior Commanders. I’m not saying we should be tabulating fetal chickens, but I think things like the pass rush will have more to do with whether this one goes into the win column. And I picked my number one thing in the next answer.
Jess: It’d be great to see both of them have more productive games, but the biggest thing I want from them is sound run blocking. It’d be nice to see Dallas come out and really establish their ground game against New York. There are signs that it can be good with Javonte Wiliams in the lead role, and perhaps exciting if Jaydon Blue debuts in style. We’re feeling good about the passing game after Philly, now let’s bring balance to the offensive force.
RJ: I’m with Tom and Jess in that I don’t think this is of high importance. While the Cowboys have a strong history of success against the Giants this game is the difference between 1-1 and 0-2. The top priority is emerging with a win and I think if there is one catalyst on offense it will be a ready-to-make-amends CeeDee Lamb over anything else.
Howman: My evergreen piece of life advice is to find someone who loves you the way Dak Prescott loves throwing tight window passes to tight ends down the seam. Thursday night showed it doesn’t matter if it’s Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, or Brevyn Spann-Ford; Prescott will fire that thing in there. Against a weak Giants secondary, that adds just one more dimension they have to defend against, and I expect a big game from Ferguson.
Sean: It may have been CeeDee Lamb’s drops and body language afterwards that became a lasting image from the week one loss, but don’t discount Dak Prescott’s disappointment in not throwing the seam ball to Jake Ferguson with more air on it for a touchdown. Like Howman said, that is a throw he loves to make, and it sure seems Schotty is going to give QB1 opportunities to do so. I also agree with Jess and RJ that the bigger theme of the game against the Giants will be what Lamb and the receivers do, as well as Williams on the ground, but the Giants have been weak at linebacker forever and Ferguson feels due for a big play. Doing it in the home opener would be exciting, and he was second in targets behind only Lamb in week one.
Which component between offensive line, running backs, or defensive backfield, will be the deciding factor in controlling the game’s tempo?
The offensive line stands out as the group most likely to control the tempo. A strong line dictates pace by setting up both the ground game and the play-action rhythm Schottenheimer has been eager to emphasize. If the front five can consistently win at the line of scrimmage, Javonte Williams and the running back corps can churn out efficient early-down gains, keeping the Cowboys in manageable situations and preventing the Giants’ pass rush from dictating terms. That steadiness up front doesn’t just open lanes, it gives Dak Prescott time to let routes develop and keeps the offense on schedule.
The other units matter, Dallas’s running backs provide punch and versatility, and the defensive backfield has the potential to tilt momentum with takeaways, but neither can impose tempo quite like the offensive line. Sustained drives built on physical trench play drain the clock, wear down defenders, and force New York to adjust defensively, all while allowing the Cowboys to dictate matchups and pace.
Tom: Offensive line. Part of that is my innate preference for building the roster from the inside out. Then there is the need to protect Dak Prescott and open holes for the run game. They did pretty well in the first area against the Eagles, with no sacks allowed. The second item was a bit less successful, and they need to muster more than 119 yards on the ground in my opinion. However, I was a bit pleased to see Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders serving as a bit of a two-headed attack. Now let’s get Jaydon Blue in the mix and see how it goes.
Jess: Have to agree with Tom here, especially as it dovetails with my point about the run game. If the o-line is strong, it mitigates two of New York’s’ key assets in Dexter Lawrence and Abdul Carter. Give Williams and Blue (hopefully) lanes to run and keep Dak Prescott’s pocket clean, and this should be a long day for the G-Men.
RJ: I’ll zig a little here and say the running backs. Things started off well last week but really broke with the Sanders fumble. If Jaydon Blue is active then that could go a long way towards providing a spark for the position long-term. That is what I really want to see.
Howman: I’ll take the secondary here. Russell Wilson didn’t look great last week, but he’s an experienced quarterback and has a legit weapon in Malik Nabers that could pose problems for these defensive backs if they’re not up to the task.
Sean: I’m also going to chalk one up for the defense here and say the secondary. The Giants seemed like they were over-excited to finally have a competent quarterback in week one with Wilson against the Commanders, and to my surprise really lined up in a lot of spread formations to let him air it out. The results were of course not pretty, but if this approach continues and easy completions are there underneath, the Cowboys may not get the type of ball possession they’re seeking in this game. Getting on the board with the first takeaway of the season for Matt Eberflus’ defense would go a very long way.
Rapid Fire Round
Over/under 3 sacks for the Cowboys’ defense
Tom: I’ll take the over.
Jess: Push. Three exactly.
RJ: I’ll push as well.
Howman: Russell Wilson loves taking sacks, so I’ll smash the over.
Sean: Over by one, let’s see four sacks.
Does the Cowboys secondary snag an interception this week?
Tom: Russell Wilson came close to throwing one in their loss, so I’ll say yes.
Jess: Yes. If Dallas’ offense does what we think it can, Wilson’s going to have to throw a lot.
RJ: Absolutely.
Howman: I think not. Whatever you think of Wilson, he’s never been a turnover machine.
Sean: Yes, and for a bonus I say it comes from a linebacker.
Who scores the first touchdown for Dallas?
Tom: An angry CeeDee Lamb.
Jess: Going to stick with our new goal-line man, Javonte Williams.
RJ: I’ll stick with the manifestation up top and go Jake Ferguson.
Howman: George Pickens putting some poor defensive back on a poster.
Sean: Hunter Luepke. Why not?
Dak Prescott passing yards: over/under 275 against the Giants?
Tom: I’m hoping a much more potent running game leads to the under here.
Jess: Also going under, but not by much. Hope it’s due to offensive balance.
RJ: Under. I think the Cowboys want to get in, be efficient and get out.
Howman: Over, just because that secondary is leaky.
Sean: Under, but he outplays Wilson to win the game anyway. All that matters.
Which rookie makes the bigger impact: Donovan Ezeiruaku or Jay Toia?
Tom: Because of what it could mean going forward, I’m pulling for Toia.
Jess: This week, hope it’s Ezeiruaku. He was close a few times on Hurts, and should get more opportunities now.
RJ: I’ll go Donovan.
Howman: Ezeiruaku is a dude, and he’s due for some big plays.
Sean: I’ll go Toia, think the game stays close enough for long enough for NY to run it and test him. Hope he makes some plays.
Giants points scored — over/under 20.5
Tom: Again, I want the under with a strong defensive showing by Matt Eberflus’ group.
Jess: The under feels safer, but rivalry games often defy logic.
Howman: Under for sure.
Sean: I think the Cowboys are in a great place picking up this scheme under Eberflus. Under.
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