The secrets behind George Pickens’ monster game vs. Packers shows Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer’s genius
The Dallas Cowboys have something special on George Pickens and they know how to use him.
George Pickens had such a big game for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night that two days later, Jerry Jones was talking to the media about the team having enough cap space to extend him down the road.
With 132 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a game where the Cowboys were without CeeDee Lamb, Pickens showed he can be more than just a No. 2 receiver. Like he and Lamb said in the offseason, he can be a “co-one” for the offense.
Pickens, however, did not achieve his monster game without help. Upon further review, head coach and playcaller Brian Schottenheimer did a great job getting his player in a position to win. Let’s break it down.
Film proves Brian Schottenheimer cooked with George Pickens
The first thing that stands out right away from Pickens’ big day is how little he had to deal with double coverage. That was by design. Take Dak Prescott’s deep shot to Pickens late in the second quarter to set the team’s first touchdown of the day. Pickens makes a grab that will have Madden adjustors sliding his spectacular catch rating all the way to 99 but it wouldn’t have worked against a two-high coverage.
The thing is Schottenheimer makes it hard for the Packers to even get into such a look. The shot is taken on a first down with the Cowboys lined up in 21 personnel (two running backs, one tight end), inviting the Packers defense to stack the box against Javonte Williams.
There’s a sideline clip of CeeDee Lamb predicting the touchdown as soon as the Packers CB presses Pickens in the look above, proving Schottenheimer and Prescott had planned for it to happen. Further proving this intention, in total, six of Pickens’ eight catches happened on first down. Talk about helping your players not have to play hero ball.
Another of Pickens’ catches happened on a play action bootleg concept (this time from 12 personnel), helping him find open space and be hit by Prescott. Dak’s first overtime pass was a hitch to Pickens thrown on first down again from 21 personnel.
In Pickens’ second touchdown of the day, Schottenheimer’s play-calling isolates his best receiver while setting the passing strength to the opposite side with a trips look (including TE Jake Ferguson). The look keeps Green Bay from bracketing Dak’s favorite target of the game.
Pickens deserves most of the credit, though
Now, though Schottenheimer’s play calling was on point, Pickens still deserves most of the credit. He was on fire on Sunday. Not only because he was making highlight grabs like the first one we broke down in this post but because of his effort, too. After facing criticism for his route running when he wasn’t the primary target earlier in the season, Pickens put all of that to bed on Sunday.
On a gotta-have-it fourth down, Pickens was one of two backside receivers. Prescott works back to him on a rushed throw after pressure keeps him from throwing it to the first read and Pickens is able to catch the low pass.
Overall, Pickens is having a great start to his Cowboys career in every way imaginable. And it’s great to see Schottenheimer already knows how to maximize him.
Dallas Cowboys News
Brian Schottenheimer says what many would be scared to say about Dak Prescott following Cowboys’ tie to the Packers
Glad he said it.
