Dallas is sitting at a rough 2-4 start, and the heat is definitely on Brian Schottenheimer and his offense. They’ve dropped under 20 points in consecutive Dak Prescott starts, a first in seven seasons, and it’s clear they need to turn things around to compete for the NFC East crown. What’s even wilder is that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer isn’t just taking the blame himself, he’s now directly challenging star receiver George Pickens to step up in a completely different part of the game.
Pickens’ Impact on the Run Game, Explained
Look, George Pickens put up massive numbers in 2025, racking up 1,429 receiving yards, which was third in the entire NFL. This season, he’s got 428 yards, putting him outside the top 10. But Schottenheimer isn’t worried about the targets right now. He’s honed in on something else entirely. “I think GP is one of those guys where I don’t ever see him really affected in terms of the emotion of does he get the ball? Does he not get the ball? These guys play a lot of snaps,” Schottenheimer said. “He needs to understand that he impacts us in the running game as well. He’s got to do the same thing in the run game, picking up safeties and blocking corners, just like Javonte [Williams] does, picking up blitzes so he can catch balls. That’s part of the team-first mindset, and GP does understand that. When he’s going, they’re going to play soft inside. When he’s not going, the safeties get pretty good runs at our backs. And that’s got to improve.” This isn’t just about catching footballs anymore, it’s about being a complete player, especially when your team’s rushing offense is ranked 31st in the league. When Pickens isn’t hitting those blocks, safeties are free to run at the backs, and that’s crushing the run game.
Schottenheimer Takes Accountability, But The Numbers Are Ugly
Schottenheimer didn’t shy away from the criticism coming his way. “I think some of it is deserved,” he admitted. “We got to play better. I got to coach better.” He leaned on his experience, with his dad coaching for over 20 years, stating he knows this is “part of the job description.” He’s got “strong shoulders” and believes in himself as a “great coach” and in what this team is capable of. However, the offensive tendencies under his watch in Year 2 are alarming. Dallas ranks 31st in the NFL in motion rate at 42.7 percent, a significant drop from 13th (56.6 percent) in 2025. They’re 28th in under-center rate (30.4 percent, down from 11th at 38.4 percent) and 20th in play-action rate (24.2 percent, down from 9th at 28.2 percent). On the flip side, their shotgun rate has jumped to 5th in the league at 69.6 percent, and their run rate is dead last at 32.5 percent, a sharp fall from 24th in 2025. While their tempo remains among the fastest, the lack of diversity in play-calling is making this offense too simplistic, just as critics are saying.
Fixing The Run Game And Looking Ahead
So, what’s the plan to fix this 31st-ranked rushing offense? Schottenheimer wants to call more runs, specifically for Javonte Williams, to get him into a rhythm. But there’s a huge catch: they can’t fall behind early. That’s a massive challenge when Dallas has already spent the fifth-most time trailing in the league this season, clocking in at 3 hours, 23 minutes, and 30 seconds. The Cowboys are 2-4 and battling to compete for their division title. Things need to change, and fast, if they want to turn this season around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply