While it’s wise to avoid hyperbole after beating a previously 0-4 team, there’s no denying that this Cowboys offense is looking better than expected. While there are many components to that, we have to point to the coaches, three in particular, who have their side of the ball performing regardless of the circumstances and assumed challenges. Brian Schottenheimer, offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, and offensive line coach Conor Riley all deserve game balls after how Dallas handled its business against the New York Jets.
Yes, it was the Jets. We know. But this is the NFL, and going on the road with only one starting offensive lineman isn’t supposed to look like that. You’re not supposed to have 180 total rushing yards, or only give up one sack. You’re not supposed to have zero turnovers. And you’re definitely not supposed to do them when your franchise WR is also out with injury.
Going into this year, nobody would’ve believed that an offense led by Dak Prescott and Javonte Williams would be capable of this, regardless of the opponent. But Prescott turned in another near-perfect performance with four touchdowns, no picks, and a 127.4 passer rating. Williams posted a career-high 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns, one by land and one by air. And again, this was all with no CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, or Tyler Guyton on the field.
That’s why, as much as Prescott and Williams deserve their flowers and will get them this week, we’re pointing to the coaches here. Schottenheimer has these guys focused and fighting. No o-line starters but Terence Steele? No problem. Not sure about your defense going into New York? The offense is ready to take on the challenge. The spirit of this team is a reflection of its head coach, and the Cowboys are showing heart like we rarely, if ever, saw during the last regime.
But even where there’s plenty of will, you still have to find the right way. And that’s where the partnership of Schottenheimer as playcaller and Adams as the OC deserves so much credit. They’ve found the right system to get the most out of Prescott, who has never looked more comfortable, confident, and in command at any point in his career. Let’s not forget to also shout out Steve Shimko, another new arrival as QB coach, and the work he’s done to help get Prescott to this level.
Don’t forget, the QB room also had to adapt to the departure of Cooper Rush. Prescott’s primary backup for seven of the last nine years, Rush was considered like another assistant coach in how he assisted with game preparation. While Joe Milton and Will Grier are likely covering some of that ground, a lot of credit goes to Shimko, Adams, and Schottenheimer for how they’ve only made Prescott better despite all of the changes.
The quarterback play wouldn’t be so good, though, if not for how the offense line is performing. It’s one thing when you have three first-round picks out there, not to mention a third-round steal in Beebe and a veteran in Terence Steele. But when all of those guys are gone but Steele, and yet you don’t really notice much drop-off, we have to talk about Conor Riley’s work.
In his first NFL coaching job, spending about two decades in the college ranks, the former Kansas State offensive coordinator is quickly proving he belongs in the big leagues. The improved run game and solid pass protection we’d already seen this year was laudable. But last Sunday, Riley’s stock went up dramatically.
While Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass have been here a little while, it’s still a new offense for them. Hakeem Adeniji was a bargain-bin free agent this past spring, and Nathan Thomas was a 2024 seventh-rounder who spent last season stashed away on injured reserve. But you wouldn’t know that Thomas, not Tyler Guyton, was the former first-round pick based on that game. The entire unit performed to a point that you never really missed any of the starters.
Sure, a Tyler Smith is still capable of things that a guy like Adeniji isn’t. But the key when backups are playing, particularly, on the offensive line, is mitigating liabilities. For at least this week, Riley and Adams did that in exceptional fashion.
Again, it’s easy to try to dismiss so much of this because of the opponent. But that was basically a preseason offensive line out there, and yet it was the Jets who looked like they weren’t ready for a real game. That’s coaching, baby.
We’ll see how things go in Charlotte next Sunday, and in even tougher games to come. But this last game was a big step forward in building confidence in one part Brian Schottenheimer’s staff.
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