Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer teases personnel changes, and it’s already clear where they should start
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said changes are coming to the team after a 1-2 start. Here are three potential ones.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer made no attempt to hide the reality of his team when talking to the media following a disheartening loss to the Chicago Bears last Sunday. It’s time for changes, even if it’s only Week 4.
“We will make changes,” Schottenheimer said on Monday. “Some might be scheme, some might be personnel.”
In this article, we’re focusing on personnel. Below are three groups of players whose starting roles should clearly be put up for grabs moving forward. Players who haven’t done enough to be guaranteed starters right now. The Cowboys need to shake things up, and these would be potential ways to do it before it’s too late.
Trevon Diggs or Kaiir Elam
Neither of these two has played well three weeks into the season. Both outside cornerbacks for the Cowboys have missed assignments, missed tackles, or have gotten routed up. Elam’s case is particularly questionable, as his career in Buffalo didn’t pan out after being picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. Dallas hoped to be the team where Elam bounced back, but his best, consistent football stayed in Oxnard, California, in training camp.
And though Diggs is making $8 million in salary this year, the Cowboys are likely to move on next offseason, anyway. If the coaching staff believes Diggs will be better once he’s healthier, I understand playing him. But it’s time for his starting role to be available for anyone who plays better in practice.
Now, do the Cowboys have a backup to replace either? Probably not right now. But DaRon Bland has a chance to return in Week 4. Should he be playing at nickel just because Diggs and Elam man the outside? I think not. Bland and one of Diggs/Elam outside with Reddy Steward at nickel could be the best three-cornerback combo the Cowboys can field.
And hey, rookie Shavon Revel Jr. is eligible to return next week. I don’t know what the right answer is at cornerback, but I know the Cowboys need to kick off competition at the position.
Tyler Guyton or Terence Steele
This is a trickier one, at least when it comes to left tackle Tyler Guyton. He’s a second-year former first-round pick who’s shown improvement. How do you bench him? Keep in mind, Dallas saw him as someone to develop over the years. And he has shown improvement in some areas.
But Guyton and right tackle Terence Steele have been inconsistent in pass protection. Guyton ranks 68th in pass blocking grade, per PFF (out of 71 eligible tackles). Steele isn’t much better at 53rd. That would be a problem for any team, but for a Cowboys squad that almost exclusively relies on the passing game to keep them in games, it could be a season-ender.
Second-year offensive tackle Nate Thomas has seemingly earned trust from the coaching staff. It wouldn’t be the biggest of surprises if he gets the nod over one of his teammates soon.
Linebacker needs competition everywhere
The Cowboys’ pass rush can’t get home, and the secondary doesn’t hold up in the backend. But it’s also time for Matt Eberflus to reevaluate how he looks at the linebacker room. Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray have become the starters at the position, but missed tackles, poor angles, and late reactions are all over the film. Damone Clark has also been inconsistent.
The problem? I don’t know if the Cowboys have someone better. But it’s time to play Marist Liufau more to figure out if he’s an upgrade or not.
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