The Dallas Cowboys finally gave their offense something to feel good about with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but Brian Schottenheimer's handling of George Pickens has become a debate of its own.
After publicly questioning the receiver's blocking effort, Schottenheimer used Pickens less extensively in the following game.
The decision leaves Dallas with a tough question. Did Schottenheimer find a better formula for the offense, or made it easier for opponents to predict what comes next?
Schottenheimer publicly criticized Pickens after Dallas' Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers, saying the receiver needed to contribute more when the team ran the ball.
The coach pointed to blocking responsibilities against safeties and cornerbacks, arguing that Pickens' effort could affect the running backs' opportunities.
"He needs to understand that he impacts us in the running game as well," Schottenheimer said. "You know, he's got to do the same thing in the run game – picking up safeties and blocking corners – just like Javonte does, picking up blitzes so he can catch balls.
"That's part of the team-first mindset, and GP does understand that. And you know when he's going, they're going to play soft inside. When he's not going, the safety gets pretty good runs at our backs."
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The decision to air the criticism publicly drew backlash, especially with the Cowboys struggling offensively.
Pickens' role changed in the following game against Philadelphia. After playing 69 snaps against Green Bay, he logged 41 against the Eagles, including just 13 run snaps. Ryan Flournoy recorded 28 run snaps, while CeeDee Lamb had 27, according to NFL analyst Bobby Belt.
Dallas used more multiple-tight-end formations and a fullback, and the adjustment helped Javonte Williams rush for 155 yards on 25 carries in a 38-21 win.
Still, the reduced workload did not sit well with everyone.
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Fantasy football analyst William Spencer III criticized the decision, writing , "A big mistake by Schotty. Plus, with all due respect, that's not why you brought Pickens in. He's there to catch footballs. Yes, he can block on run plays and should. But taking him off the field hurts your team."
Pickens remained productive despite the reduced playing time, catching four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.
His performance gave Dallas a glimpse of what he can offer as a receiver, even as Schottenheimer prioritizes certain changes to improve the ground game. He ranks 20th on PFN NFL WR Impact list with a 79.8 impact score.
Another fan questioned the coach's decision to criticize Pickens while other areas of the team remained under scrutiny, posting , "Brian Schottenheimer is the last mf on this team that needs to call ANYBODY OUT. Literally have the worst defense in the league. Nobody wants to hear about some f****** run blocking when everyone can see his talent being wasted"
The snap counts also raised concerns about whether Dallas had made its plans too easy to read.
One user wrote , "If Bobby knows this then damn sure DCs do."
There may be another explanation for Pickens' reduced presence late in the game. A fan noted , "It seemed like Pickens was shaken up after a play late in the game, didn't see him much on the field for those final couple of drives when they were running the ball a ton."
Others worried about the consequences for Dallas' future game plans. One fan warned , "Teams will definitely notice this trend and load up on the run. Not great."
Another added , "So Schotty telegraphing for future teams cool cool."
Dallas' adjustment worked against Philadelphia, but the debate over Pickens' role is unlikely to disappear.
With 485 receiving yards and two touchdowns through seven games, he remains a significant part of the offense, leaving Schottenheimer to balance his blocking expectations with the receiver's value in the passing game.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
