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Brian Schottenheimer report card: Out-coached again in another loss
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- Brian Schottenheimer report card: Out-coached again in another loss
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images | Getty Images
Do you remember when you were a kid and your parents always hounded you about how much better of a student you would be if you just applied yourself? No… just me?
Well, for what feels like the 100th time this season, Brian Schottenheimer brought home a failing report card to his disappointed parents, and his lack of ability to properly understand how to attack his opponent based on tape is very concerning.
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Even after putting up 30 points in the Cowboys 33-30 loss, Schottenheimer (along with Christian Parker) was the clear problem for the Cowboys. Whether it's failed challenges, ultra-conservativeness, questionable fourth-down play calls, extreme lack of creativity, or the stubbornness to establish the run, the Cowboys offense is consistently put on hard-mode week in-and-week out.
The first half was filled with inefficient runs, setting the Cowboys up behind the chains and trying to convert on third-and-longs way too much. After torching the Philadelphia Eagles on the ground in week seven, the Cowboys were dedicated to replicating their running game success against the Cardinals, and they finished the game with 39 carriers for 93 yards (2.4 yards per carry).
With the running game hurting them a ton in this game, the Cowboys relied on Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Ryan Flournoy to carry the load. The only problem was the passing concepts looked eerily similar to how it did in Weeks 1-6. Very little motion, few bunch sets, and basic, static route concepts that make things extremely difficult for anyone to create separation in the passing game.
With the run game setting them back, and the lack of modern day passing concepts making things very easy to defend, the Cowboys found themselves stalling out in the second half and blowing a two-possession lead with just four minutes to go in the game.
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The main concern with Schottenheimer (outside of everything else we've already touched on) is his inability to close games out as a play-caller. For his entire tenure at the head coach and play-caller for the Cowboys, Schottenheimer has called the game was too passive. His inability to understand how poor his defense has been for a year-and-a-half now has cost this football team wins.
For a coach who has a $60-million dollar quarterback, two highly paid wide receivers, and an offensive line loaded with highly paid players and first-round picks, Schottenheimer puts more faith in his defense and special teams than he does his talented and highly-paid offense.
The end of the first half field goal attempt was the first of many signs of this throughout the game. With 11-seconds left in the first half and a timeout in his back pocket, Schottenheimer elected to run the football for a minimal gain and send out Brandon Aubrey for a 61-yard field goal attempt.
Aubrey, who has struggled mightily with the longer field goal attempts so far this season, missed the field goal, and the Cowboys carried a 14-3 game into half. Why not try to gain 10-15 yards with a timeout in your back pocket and the entire field at your disposal?
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The next drive that had a heavy weight on his grade was the Cowboys second to last drive in the fourth quarter. With the ball on the Cardinals 20-yard line up three points, the Cowboys ran Javonte Williams up the middle for no gain to get the Cardinals to burn their last time out, which was the right call.
The next play call perfectly encases all of Schottenheimer's warts as a play-caller. With the two-minute warning looming, the Cowboys were in a perfect position to go for the jugular. Instead, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens standing on the sideline, Schottenheimer dialed up a slow developing play-action pass with everyone on the field and in the stadium knowing the Cowboys shouldand wouldbe passing.
The result? An L.J. Collier sack losing six yards. On 3rd-and-16, Schottenheimer did what he often does in less than ideal down and distances, runs Williams straight into a brickwall for a minimal gain. Brandon Aubrey came on to give the Cowboys a six-point lead with a minute to go and no timeouts for the Cardinals. In most instances, that's enough to win the football game, but the Cowboys defense had other plans, as they often have in 2026.
The decision to run play-action with Lamb and Pickens on the sideline, with a chance to ice the game was absolutely mind-boggling. Schottenheimer commented on his choice of personnel, pointing to a similar package earlier in the game on the Ryan Flournoy touchdown pass in the second quarter.
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I would certainly hope Schottenheimer understands the difference between a 3rd-and-1 in the first quarter of a 7-0 game and potentially the last play from scrimmage when the defense is forced to play aggressive to create negative plays from the offense, but who really knows right now.
Play-Calling
F
Fourth-Down Decisions
C
I loved Schottenheimer's decision to go for the fourth down on the opening drive of the game, but absolutely hated the play call and formation that got stuffed.
Timeout Usage
F
Team Preparation
F
It was all pretty ugly, yet again.
What grade would you give to Brian Schottenheimer on Sunday?
