FRISCO — Brian Schottenheimer faces many questions heading into the offseason and what will be his first year as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This will be his first opportunity as a head coach, so there are obstacles that come with the nature of that reality.
But there are also unique circumstances in how he earned this position. Schottenheimer takes over Mike McCarthy’s head coaching and play calling duties after serving as the offensive coordinator a season ago.
Along with McCarthy, almost the entire coaching staff departed from last year’s team with Schottenheimer being one of the few remnants. So what about Schottenheimer will ensure Cowboys fans that things will be different at The Star in 2025?
Fans are ready to embrace change specifically on the offensive side where the Cowboys lacked an identity in 2024. Schottenheimer presented some of his new ideas a few weeks ago at his introductory press conference, but perhaps the most convincing case has been made by his new offensive coordinator.
Klayton Adams spoke to reporters for the first time since taking his post, using a five-word message to convey his vision for a more physical Dallas offense.
“The same thing that I want from every player on offense… create violence in the game,” Adams said. “Be aggressive, run, hit, I think that every decision that we make schematically needs to lean that direction. So if there’s a gray area, what is going to allow these guys to play more free and run and hit and be violent?”
Adams will play a key role in the team’s offensive game planning week to week rather than conducting the action on the field. But that does not mean Schottenheimer will not share this vision on having a more physical offensive attack.
The Cowboys have become very pass reliant in recent years, understandably so with Dak Prescott under center and CeeDee Lamb lined up outside. The toughness up front, however, and the dominance in the run game has disappeared from the other successful Cowboys teams of the modern era.
Clearly, Dallas wants to get back to some semblance of those groups while maintaining the elements that have helped them win games with Prescott.
There is a long road ahead to construct that team and mold that culture. The Cowboys’ stable of running backs could be bare when free agency begins if Rico Dowdle signs elsewhere and this offensive line has much to prove heading into 2025.
A big free agency and draft season are in order for the Cowboys to cultivate a team worthy of contention. But if Adams’ vision translates into action next season, look for Dallas to be more “violent” than they have in years.
