Cowboys take a big step toward a game-changing hire that could make buying into Brian Schottenheimer much easier (Update: Hire is done)
UPDATE: Since the publishing of this article, Klayton Adams has been hired as Cowboys offensive coordinator. The content in the article is still valuable as I dive into why it was the right move to make. Even though Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer will be the one calling the plays, getting the offensive coordinator hire […]
UPDATE: Since the publishing of this article, Klayton Adams has been hired as Cowboys offensive coordinator. The content in the article is still valuable as I dive into why it was the right move to make.
Even though Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer will be the one calling the plays, getting the offensive coordinator hire right will be huge in determining how serious Schottenheimer is about copying what works around the league and making it his own.
That's why out of the three known candidates for the job, there's an obvious choice to make and things are fortunately trending in that direction: The Cowboys are interviewing Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams for the second time on Friday, this time an in-person interview. Adams is considered the favorite for the job, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
Adams would be the kind of hire that could make it much easier to hop on board of the Schottenheimer era. Let's dive into why.
You see, there are two things we know about the Schottenheimer offense that will be deployed in Dallas: The run game will be a priority and it will try to emulate what's working around the league.
"I spoke a little bit about my exposure in Seattle and Pete Carroll pushing me and asking me to look at some of the things that they're doing, I'm not a Kyle Shanahan guy, not a Sean McVay guy, I'm a Brian Schottenheimer guy, but I was open to learning and looking at different things," the Cowboys head coach told NFL Network's Jane Slater. "What was so cool about Pete, he said 'look at some of the things they're doing and don't rinse and repeat, make them ours."
Though the McVay and Shanahan coaching trees get all of the hype, deservedly so, Adams is part of a Cardinals offense (coordinated by Drew Petzing) with an efficient and explosive running game and his offensive line plays a big role in it.
Klayton Adams would bring the spice the Cowboys have missed
Let's be candid: The Cowboys' running game has been bland for years now.
Since the Scott Linehan days, the team hasn't done much other than relying on inside zone. They have other pitches but refuse to use them more than a few times per game. Seeing a pulling lineman in Dallas is almost an event. You straighten up and point to the TV like Leonardo DiCaprio on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Adams could provide the spice the Cowboys rushing offense needs.
The 41-year-old coach is part of an offense that used pulling blockers at an NFL-high mark last year, per Sports Info Solutions. The Cowboys were 22nd. The Cardinals ran the second-most counter attempts in the league, the Cowboys were 30th. In other words, Adams could spark true change in the way Dallas runs the football, which has grown significantly stale.
And when I say the Cardinals ran a lot of counter, I mean it: They did so from just about any formation and personnel grouping, as the video below shows some diagrams of Arizona running counter.
Arizona did a great job leaning into motion and condensed splits, two things Schottenheimer mentioned he wanted for his offense on his introductory press conference.
And better yet, all of it worked for the Cardinals, as their rushing offense ranked 6th in EPA/attempt and 8th in success rate. Their 5.3 yards per attempt ranked second in the league only behind the Baltimore Ravens. Pro Football Focus graded them as the 10th best running offense (and Adams' unit was fourth in pass protection, too).
The Cardinals were not only efficient down to down, but they generated explosive plays, something the Cowboys have failed to do consistently through the ground. Per Sports Info Solutions' explosive play rate, the Cardinals were the second most explosive rushing offense in the league.
The Cowboys have framed the Schottenheimer hiring as a perfect mix of continuity and change. Landing Adams would mean change for the running game and boy, the team needs it badly. So far, it seems like there's a strong coaching staff being built in The Star.
Even if it doesn't justify a lackluster coaching search, it's tough to deny they're getting a promising group together. Adams would be a great addition.
