How does Schotty evolve in Year 2? – Patrik Walker, Nick Eatman & Tommy Yarrish, Dallascowboys.com
Can the second-year coach improve in his second act with the team?
No.8) How does Schotty evolve in Year 2?
Patrik: Two words: red zone. This is an offense that could’ve been unstoppable in Schottenheimer’s first season calling plays, but their wall of kryptonite was always waiting for them at around the 20-yard line. Can they run the ball with Javonte Williams? Yep. Can they work the field underneath with Jake Ferguson and the wideouts? Yep. Can they stretch the field with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens
and Ryan Flournoy? Yep. Can they punch it into the end zone after doing all of those things, once they get into the red zone? Last year, the answer was, more often than not, a resounding “no”. I’m sure Schotteheimer and Klayton Adams have studied those failings this offseason until they’re blue in the face, and if they can flip that switch for the offense in 2026 … whoa buddy.
Tommy: Getting the running backs more involved in the passing game. Red zone is a good answer too, but one thing that could help with that is getting the ball into the hands of guys like Javonte Williams, and if he earns his stripes this offseason, Jaydon Blue. Last season, Javonte Williams had the lowest number of receptions and receiving yards of his career outside of the season he got injured in Denver with 35 receptions for 137 yards. In the other three seasons outside of that, Williams had averaged around 47 receptions and 296 yards in the receiving game. That’s not a huge difference, but there is more to take advantage of there especially when so much attention will go to CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy and Jake Ferguson.
Additionally, we’ve talked a lot about the RB2 spot, and the Cowboys have been high on Jaydon Blue this offseason. At Texas, one of his specialties was creating big plays as a pass catcher (42 receptions, 368 yards and six touchdowns in his final collegiate season). What’s a way for the second-year back to get on the field and the 53-man roster? Finding ways to make those explosive plays in the passing game again. Now, the big thing with Blue is he’ll have to improve on his ball security and prove he can be effective between the tackles. That said, his ability in the receiving game is a difference maker.
3 main areas of concern for Cowboys heading to training camp – Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire
These things loom large over the Cowboys before they open training camp.
Training camp arrives at the end of the month for the Dallas Cowboys and the vibes around the team are good. There’s no drama surrounding the team, and no one has heard from owner Jerry Jones in quite some time. This is an unusual feeling for the Cowboys and their fans, who have grown accustomed to some sort of issue heading into camp. Without the outside noise, the concern for the team remains on the field, where, despite the positive vibes, there are still a few question marks. Here are three things that should worry the Cowboys as training camp approaches.
LB depth
This remains one of the positions where the Cowboys are thin and could use a bump in talent. No one is sure how veteran Rashan Gary or Donovan Ezeiruaku, coming off hip surgery, will be utilized in Christian Parker’s scheme, but if they are primarily being used at the line of scrimmage, the defense is short at linebacker. The two key players who will see most of the LB snaps are DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters, both of whom are capable options. Overshown has proven to be a player when healthy and many are calling for him to be a breakout star in Parker’s defense, while Winters looks like a smart acquisition for the team.
However, Overshown and Winters are similar players, and Dallas’ defense could use more of a thumper in the middle to help stop the run. Trading for Miami Dolphins All-Pro Jordyn Brooks or signing veteran Bobby Wagner would make sense for the Cowboys.The depth chart also shows second-year LB Shemar James and Justin Barron, who is better suited for a special teams role. Rookie Jaishawn Barham is in the mix as well, but his role and learning curve shouldn’t prevent the organization from adding another option. The Cowboys have versatility at the second level of their defense, but there are valid questions about the LB unit.
The Hunter Leupke hype train is coming off the rails – Shane Taylor, Inside the Star
What will be Hunter Luepke’s role?
For the last handful of years, we have been begging the Dallas Cowboys offense to figure out how to use Hunter Luepke more and more, and yet every single year, we get the same results. Since the Cowboys signed him as a free agent in 2023, it seems like we talk about him every offseason about how he should be more involved and what they should try to do with him and the list goes on and on. Over the last two seasons, in 2024 and 2025, he has had a total of 28 rushing attempts for a total of 109 yards and one touchdown. His only score on the ground came as a rookie in 2023, and he has not found the end zone on the ground since then. As a pass catcher, he has a total of 28 grabs for 238 yards and one touchdown, which came last year.
Hype Is Gone
I think the best thing for all of us is to just allow him to be a fullback and not try and force him into something that he is not. In 2024, Luepke managed to play just 30 percent of the offensive snaps and 37 percent on special teams. Under Schottenheimer last season, Luepke played 21 percent of the offensive snaps (221) and 50 percent on special teams (240). On 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys insider Bobby Belt gave his takeaways from Matt Bowen’s ESPN article on how Dallas is the best team running 11 personnel, and one was that he doesn’t understand the hype about Luepke.
“I made jokes about this before, but it’s 100 percent something I don’t want to see, and I talk it up every year, and I get really frustrated about, and that is we [the Cowboys] got to figure out how to get Hunter Luepke more involved,” Belt said. “We got to get Luepke on the field more. Here is the issue that I have. This team clearly loves him both on and off the field, and they gave him a contract. On 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys insider Bobby Belt gave his takeaways from Matt Bowen’s ESPN article on how Dallas is the best team running 11 personnel, and one was that he doesn’t understand the hype about Luepke.
“I made jokes about this before, but it’s 100 percent something I don’t want to see, and I talk it up every year, and I get really frustrated about, and that is we [the Cowboys] got to figure out how to get Hunter Luepke more involved,” Belt said. “We got to get Luepke on the field more. Here is the issue that I have. This team clearly loves him both on and off the field, and they gave him a contract.
Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: DT Kenny Clark – Jess Haynie, Blogging the Boys
The Cowboys other Pro Bowl interior defensive lineman.
Like a slew of rookies, Kenny Clark will participate in his first Cowboys training camp later this month. But entering his 11th season, he’s already one of the team’s veteran leaders and an important piece on a transforming defense.
Background
Years in NFL: 10
Acquired by: Trade (2025)Dak Prescott is the last man standing from the Cowboys’ 2016 draft class, but he’s got a couple of new teammates who were part of the greater group. Clark, along with Jonathan Bullard, were both taken ahead of Prescott that weekend, and Clark didn’t have to wait long as a first-round pick, 27th overall, by the Packers. Clark was a rarity among NFL rookies, being just 20 years old when he was drafted. As a rookie, Clark got a couple of starts but was mostly a rotation player. He became a full-time starter in 2017 and remained one ever since, a fixture in Green Bay’s defensive front for eight seasons. Though more of a run stuffer and nose tackle, he consistently put up 4-6 sacks throughout most of his time with the Packers, with a career high of 7.5 sacks in 2023. That season was the third, and last time, Clark went to the Pro Bowl.
Late last August, Clark was uprooted from Green Bay as part of their trade with Dallas for Micah Parsons. A week later, he was a starting DT against the Eagles. The Cowboys had gone with smaller, quicker DTs for a long time, so Clark brought a very different feel to the front line. He started all 17 games, being joined midseason by Quinnen Williams, as Dallas started a defensive renovation that has continued on through the current offseason.
Despite the overall issues on the Cowboys’ defense last year, Clark was one of the few guys to keep his head above water. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 38th-best interior lineman, which isn’t bad considering most Dallas defenders were among the league’s worst at their positions. Hopefully, Clark will look even better with less chaos and more effective coaching around him in 2026.
Contract Status
Years Left: 2
2026 Cap Hit: $12.7 millionLast March, the Cowboys restructured Clark’s deal to clear about $11 million in cap space. Though he only turns 31 in October, Clark has a lot of mileage from his long career in the trenches. Still, the contract change means he’s almost assuredly here through the end of the the contract after the 2027 season.
Daily discussion question: What is your favorite trade that the Cowboys have made in the last 5 years?
