Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Brian Schottenheimer is going to need to seriously fix the Dallas Cowboys run game. A long, long time ago in a galaxy not so far away, the Dallas Cowboys were good at running the football. Whether it was DeMarco Murray or Ezekiel Elliott, the offense featured a fierce rushing attack as “establishing the run” became one of Jason Garrett’s biggest mantras. From 2013 to 2021, the Cowboys finished in the top eight in rushing yards per attempt seven times. But somewhere along the line, the Cowboys run game lost its way. They have progressively gotten worse in three straight seasons, finishing in the bottom half all three years. Last year, the Cowboys finished 30th in the league in yards per attempt. Running the ball well is no longer their thing. Here is how the team has ranked over the last 10 years. On the surface, this doesn’t bode well for Brian Schottenheimer. As much as Mike McCarthy complained about the offense lacking balance under Kellen Moore’s play-calling, he and Schottenheimer made things even worse in the ground attack. Meanwhile, Moore is part of the Philadelphia Eagles top-rushing offense. While that’s a snapshot view of what’s been going on, there’s a lot more to unpack. For starters, McCarthy has been the team’s play-caller these past two seasons. It’s unclear how much control of the Cowboys rushing attack Schottenheimer had during this time. It’s also unclear how much of the team’s run struggles had to do with coaching or other factors. Let’s lay out some numbers. As we stated, the McCarthenheimer run game was yucky, culminating in one of the worst outputs we’ve seen from this team in a long time. But both McCarthy and Schottenheimer weren’t bad at this before arriving in Dallas. Did you know that McCarthy’s Green Bay Packers finished in the top seven in rushing yards per attempt during his last three seasons as their head coach? And Schottenheimer’s Seattle Seahawks finished in the top 10 in rushing yards per attempt his last three seasons where he was calling plays. There’s evidence to show that both coaches can be efficient running the ball, so why did they struggle so immensely with the Cowboys? A big part of it is the Cowboys didn’t have adequate resources to sustain a strong ground attack. Since showing up in Dallas, McCarthy has constantly had to deal with an offensive line that has gradually fallen apart. All three of the team’s All-Pro offensive linemen took turns fading. Travis Frederick retired the year McCarthy took over so immediately they had to find a new center. Tyron Smith struggled to stay healthy and every snap he played felt like he was playing on borrowed time. And even the great Zack Martin has shown that Father Time is undefeated as his play eventually wilted. While this slow remodel was necessary, it hasn’t been pretty. Don’t even look at all the players who logged snaps along the offensive line in 2020 because it’s wicked nasty. That season, the offensive line was manned by three rookies and a couple of low-cost free agents. Over time, resources have been added but getting them up to speed came with a price, and that price has been the team’s ground attack. This season alone featured a heavy dose of Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe, Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, and Asim Richards. All of these guys are 25 years or younger and have limited playing experience. That’s going to be a challenge. But it’s not just the offensive line that’s been the issue. The Cowboys only had one viable running back on the roster, Rico Dowdle. For whatever reason, the front office thought they could get by using Dowdle with a worn-out Ezekiel Elliott and an undersized Deuce Vaughn. The offensive line showed improvement and this group will get better with more continuity from their younger players, but the Cowboys must address their running back situation this offseason if they expect to right this ship. It doesn’t mean they should use their first-round pick on Ashton Jeanty. McCarthy had success running the ball with Aaron Jones (fifth round) and Schottenheimer had success with Chris Carson (seventh round). But it does mean they need to make some type of effort to get a couple of good options in the backfield or else they’ll continue to have problems. The Cowboys’ recent run-game struggles paint a pretty good picture of what not to do. And to be clear, McCarthenheimer deserves blame too. Why it took so long to use Dowdle more will be a mystery we might never fully understand. But the front office needs to do a better job helping their coaches. Hopefully, the team will have a better plan to help their new head coach get back to running the ball effectively and create better opportunities for Dak Prescott and this offense.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images 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.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images We are tracking everything you need to know about head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s staff with the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys officially hired Brian Schottenheimer to be the 10th head coach in franchise history on Friday night. Monday morning will be the press conference to introduce Schottenheimer to the world, but many Cowboys fans have been preparing for this reality for the past week now. Schotty has been the team’s offensive coordinator for the last two seasons and on the staff for the last three in general, but running a team is a very different thing. Time will tell who joins his staff and whether or not the group includes the likes of Jason Witten, DeMarco Murray and/or Tashard Choice as rumors have suggested. Whoever ultimately outfits the staff, we will be tracking it all with updates in this post. A reminder that the most recent updates will be placed at the very top. Last Updated: Sunday, January 26th at 7:25pm ET Staff Rumors, Reports and Information The Cowboys reportedly requested to interview Miami outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow regarding the team’s defensive coordinator position. It was reported on Sunday that Mike Zimmer will not be back with the team in 2025. The Cowboys will reportedly interview Carlos Polk for the special teams coordinator position. Dallas requested an interview with Atlanta tight ends coach Kevin Koger for their offensive coordinator role. On Sunday it was reported by ESPN that the Cowboys interviewed Andre Curtis, the secondary coach for the Chicago Bears, for their defensive coordinator position. The Cowboys are reportedly set to interview Denver Broncos special teams staffer Chris Banjo for their special teams coordinator position. Specifically, Banjo has been Denver’s assistant special teams coach for the past two years. NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported that Jason Witten may not be a part of the staff after all. There was some confusion on whether or not Eberflus had officially been hired, but it was noted late Friday night that he was only a candidate. Matt Eberflus is a name to watch for a potential defensive coordinator hire. There had previously been speculation that this could go to Robert Saleh, but he is headed back to the San Francisco 49ers.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images It is safe to say that most Dallas Cowboys fans will be rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon and did so against the Washington Commanders. Watching it was not very fun in any sort of way for Dallas Cowboys fans as the winning Eagles punched their ticket to Super Bowl LIX. If you are anything like me you knew that whoever won that game… you were going to be rooting for the AFC-winning team whoever it was between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Philadelphia and Washington are bitter rivals of the Cowboys, so imagining either one of them lifting the Lombardi Trophy is among the worst possible outcomes. After a thriller of a game, the Chiefs are headed to their fourth Super Bowl in six years and third straight. The artists formerly known as the Dallas Texans are back in the big game. Super Bowl LIX will mark the 7th time that Cowboys fans have had to watch a division rival play for it all since Dallas last did so themselves: Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens defeat New York Giants Super Bowl XXXXIX: New England Patriots defeat Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants defeat New England Patriots Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants defeat New England Patriots Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles defeat New England Patriots Super Bowl LVII: Kansas City Chiefs defeat Philadelphia Eagles If you were rooting against the NFC East teams in each of these games, as you should have been, then you are an even .500 to date. It is time for the proverbial rubber match, so to speak. I’ve long held the belief that there is no wrong way to be a fan and therefore what you choose to do and how you choose to root is ultimately up to you. Maybe you have a reason for rooting for an NFC East team in the past or the Eagles in the present. Everyone’s fan journey is different. But as far as my two cents are concerned there is absolutely no world in which I want to see any NFC East team win it all. Funny enough, odds are you have rooted for the Chiefs in each of their three Super Bowl victories to date as they have faced the San Francisco 49ers twice and obviously the Eagles once. If they are victorious again, for what would be a historic three straight titles, they will have won all four of their championships against San Francisco and Philadelphia. Go Chiefs.

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images Enjoy the AFC Championship playoff game The AFC Championship game features the Bills and the Chiefs. This is an open thread for game chat.

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images 2025 is likely going to be a big year for Caelen Carson. The Dallas Cowboys lost All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs after two games in 2023, but they got an insane season from DaRon Bland as he led the NFL with nine interceptions and set a record with five touchdown returns, and also veteran Stephon Gilmore had a solid year. However, with Gilmore not returning, the Cowboys needed to prioritize getting a cornerback, and they took Caelen Carson in the fifth round out of Wake Forest. He came into the league with a reputation for being a physical corner that was sticky in coverage and would fight wide receivers through routes. After showing flashes of that during the offseason program, Carson would be put into the starting lineup due to Bland being on injured reserve with a foot issue. Against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener, Carson did give up a touchdown to Jerry Juedy. However, he only allowed a completion percentage of 55% on nine targets, and he also added two pass breakups and four tackles (all solo). Over the next two games, some of the flaws in his game began to show as he would get beat off the line while also getting confused by double moves. That’s expected at some point with a rookie, though. Unfortunately, Carson would suffer a shoulder injury in Week 3 versus the Baltimore Ravens and would sit out the next five games. Carson made his return in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. However, it would be a continuation of his struggles over the next few games. In fact, after Week 10, Carson had given up 16 receptions on 19 targets over a four-game span, meaning he was turning into a liability. Then disaster struck as Carson’s lingering shoulder injury caused him to have season-ending surgery. He would miss the final seven games. As Carson looks to his second year, the first thing is to stay healthy. Missing 11 games as a rookie isn’t ideal at all. Then, when adding in the fact that he struggled over his last several outings, there’s certainly aspects of his game that he has to get corrected. The Cowboys need for him to find the solutions rather quickly for a few reasons. Diggs missed the final month of the 2024 campaign as he suffered an injury to his left knee, which required chondral tissue graft surgery. His recovery time could go into training camp or beyond, which would handicap the Cowboys at cornerback. Bland is going into a contract year, and he just came off an injury. So, the Cowboys may choose to let him play out his deal in 2025. Then, there’s Jourdan Lewis, who is set to be a free agent, which makes his future in Dallas uncertain. There’s also the factor that Dallas doesn’t do a lot in free agency, so the likelihood of adding talent in that way is minimal to nonexistent. The Cowboys should draft another cornerback, but there’s no telling how long that player will take to develop if that’s the case. This means Carson will likely be relied upon a lot early and often next season, which will require his leaning process to speed up.

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images What players do you expect to break out in 2025? Next season is full of unknowns as we sit early in the offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. Who’s the next head coach? What players are coming back? Who will the team draft or bring in during free agency? And those questions are just the tip of the iceberg. Here are five breakout candidates poised for a big year next season with the way the roster currently looks. If anything this will help stir some optimism into fans at this uncertain time. Sam Williams The Ole Miss defensive standout was ready to have a big season last year, but unfortunately an early injury ended all hopes for Williams. The good news is that he is extremely positive and upbeat about his recovery, and ready to take the bull by horns. With inspiration coming from his family, Williams is ready to get back to it and show everyone that his fast get-off and hot motor is far from cooling. Williams could take a lead defensive end role, so expect big things. Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Marshawn Kneeland Kneeland had a pretty conservative rookie year, but with so many potential departures on the defensive line, Kneeland is set to take a heavy workload this year. DeMarcus Lawrence, Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson are all set to hit free agency. This means Kneeland is potentially in line to grab a defensive end position. Along with Sam Williams and Micah Parsons, he should at minimum be in a rotation at the defensive end spots that, hopefully leading to a rise in production. Jalen Tolbert As of right now there’s no wide receiver in the WR2 spot with Brandin Cooks hitting the free market, so that means Tolbert is currently ready to see a breakout year. The team has no shortage of WR3’s on the roster but Tolbert is the leader of that pack. We saw a great run of production toward the end of the season from Tolbert as he scored three touchdowns in the last four games, and in the final game against Washington he was two yards short of breaking the 100-yard mark in a single game. The only thing hindering Tolbert from a possible breakout next year is the likelihood of the team drafting a receiver early in the draft. But if we see the team pass on receiver in the first two rounds of the draft, that means the coaches feel confident Tolbert can be the breakout WR2 we’re talking about right now. Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Marist Liufau The rookie linebacker had a great latter-half of the season which should leave Cowboys fans optimistic about the future of the linebacker position in Dallas. DeMarvion Overshown was an outstanding talent and was a real force for most of the year. While Overhsown was a missile attacking quarterbacks, Liufau was quietly developing and waiting patently for his chance. His chance came, and with each passing week Liufau started playing more confidently and more consistently, becoming a huge defensive playmaker. His speed and lateral mobility is a great foundation for his sophomore season where he’s set to take on a bigger snap share. Josh Butler The Cowboys were set as huge underdogs against Washington in Week 12. What Vegas and the oddsmakers weren’t counting on was Josh Butler coming in to start opposite DaRon Bland and dominate the game. There are massive questions on what the cornerback position will look like next year, one of those questions is how soon can Josh Butler return from his ACL injury he suffered in late November. The good news is Butler is under contract this season, so as soon as he can get back into training and back on the field we should expect a return to the mini breakout he had in the back half of the 2024 season. Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images