Why the Cowboys shouldn’t rent Brian Schottenheimer as head coach

Nobody is aware of the place the Dallas Cowboys will flip to to find their subsequent head coach proper now. They’ve been rumors about Deion Sanders; that they had an interview with Robert Saleh and a digital interview with Kellen Moore. It’s additionally laborious to rule out reopening talks with Mike McCarthy in the event that they genuinely have been not sure of what path to go after their negotiations broke down a number of weeks in the past.

That might be stunning, but uninspired. Nonetheless, what can be equally uninspiring is hiring Brian Schottenheimer for the place of head coach. Followers perceive that Jerry Jones’ method of doing enterprise isn’t like that of anybody else within the league. A constructive spin can be that he’s snug in his beliefs and strategies, however a destructive spin can be it’s terribly archaic for the trendy NFL.

Dropping McCarthy and spurning different coveted candidates to advertise from inside with Schottenheimer can be a horrible mistake. Right here’s why the Cowboys deciding on Schottenheimer would set them again.

The Outcomes

Ought to Dallas make the unpopular choice and rent Schottenheimer, it will be the primary time he’s occupied that position in his teaching profession. He’s the son of longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer. Like many others, Schottenheimer labored below his father in a number of stops whereas he developed his teaching expertise in a profession that spans nearly 25 years.

Nonetheless, you marvel why it’s taken so lengthy for him to have gotten a shot as an NFL head coach. While you have a look at his résumé and his outcomes, you perceive why. For a lot of his profession, he’s didn’t get probably the most out of quarterbacks, which is worse when his major operate as a place coach was quarterbacks. Right here’s a protracted record of the outcomes of his major beginning quarterbacks with him as both the quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator from 2001-2014.

After his time with the Rams, Schottenheimer spent one yr on the College of Georgia earlier than returning to the NFL. Positive, Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck had two good years below Schottenheimer, however that’s extra the anomaly over his lengthy teaching profession. The numbers aren’t good. The query that must be requested: If these are the outcomes he’s had and the offense took a nosedive final season, then why double down on this method with him because the chief of your workforce? His historical past suggests he’ll get pedestrian outcomes with good quarterbacks and won’t uplift unhealthy quarterbacks to be considerably satisfactory.

Him, however no Lunda Wells and Al Harris?

Lunda Wells has been wonderful in growing tight ends when given vital snaps to develop. Earlier than Wells arrived, Dalton Schultz was simply an afterthought. After Wells joined the Cowboys workers, Schultz tallied up 198 receptions and 1998 receiving yards from 2020-2022. Wells did it once more by making one other fourth-round right into a beneficial piece for the offense, Jake Ferguson, a former Professional Bowler.

Let’s additionally think about Al Harris. As a coach and participant, Harris has been across the NFL yearly aside from one since 1997; he spent a yr at Florida Atlantic. He understands the defensive again place properly and has overseen the event of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, who’ve been named all All-Professionals. While you have a look at Wells and Harris, you may inform they’re well-liked, but additionally, extra importantly, they’re revered and unafraid to be simple with their gamers. Regardless of his years of expertise, it’s laborious to gauge how the gamers really feel about Schottenheimer and whether or not his character is ready to maintain the workforce accountable. If the workforce insists on promotion from inside, why not, on the very least, interview Harris and Wells?

Can he repair the issues from final yr?

Over the past two seasons, the Cowboys offense has discovered itself in a rut relating to CeeDee Lamb. In 2023, there appeared to be a brick wall between Dak Prescott and Lamb till issues clicked within the second half of the season, however that shouldn’t have been an issue. It additionally occurred this yr, with Lamb disappearing for stretches at occasions throughout video games. Look across the NFL, it doesn’t appear really easy to remove premier receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. But, it’s been taking place in Dallas.

Final yr, Prescott additionally noticed his manufacturing take a downturn earlier than he in the end went on injured reserve, however the numbers weren’t wanting good. He threw eleven touchdowns versus eight interceptions. The Cowboys have been one of many worst pink zone offenses within the NFL in 2024 and solely higher than the lowly New York Giants. Dallas transformed simply 46% of their pink zone drives into touchdowns. The final two factors can be the utilization of KaVontae Turpin. Turpin is probably the most explosive offensive expertise the Cowboys have, however in some way, there’s no concerted effort to get him touches with regularity. Lastly, does Schottenheimer have the power to develop integral items on the roster, like Tyler Guyton, who will play a pivotal position within the workforce’s future?