- 2 days ago
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer addresses the media at The Star to kick off Week 2 of Cowboys OTAs! Schotty dives deep into the QB2 and left tackle competitions, injury updates, the importance of special teams, and much more!
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00:00Right now, it's time to hear from Shottie.
00:02Seven on seven, then honestly, I like to do, because I don't think it's real football.
00:09Quarterbacks like to get, maybe not chased, but it's part of the game.
00:13But they're both doing good.
00:15We're rotating them evenly.
00:17The first week was Joe getting most of the twos and Sam mixing in,
00:22and this week it's the other way around.
00:23But it's going to be a fun competition,
00:25and I love how they're pushing each other to be great.
00:29Did Joe not do something enough for you to say, going into this year,
00:34he's my number two guy, or is it more about you want to create competition?
00:37Yeah, I think we're always trying to raise the level and improve the room any chance we get,
00:42and we've been very fortunate here, having some really great young men that are competitors
00:48filling those spots, but you're always looking to build as much depth as you can.
00:52A guy like Sam Howell, when you think about it, it's crazy.
00:55Sam Howell has more starts than Cooper Rush, which is because he started the one year
01:00at Washington, or I think the entire year.
01:02He's been exposed to a lot, been in a lot of different systems,
01:05which I think is great for all of us.
01:08Clarence Hill at DLS Cowboys, this little housekeeping to start off,
01:12who's not practicing for the wedding or whatever?
01:17I mean, there's lots going on, so I actually have my handy-dandy thing,
01:21because I knew you were going to ask me.
01:22Really, what we're dealing with, Duran's doing great, coming off the foot.
01:27Ezraku's excused today, he's doing great.
01:29He's dealing with something personal.
01:31Jonathan Mingo's got a groin strain.
01:33He'll be limited mocks and walkthroughs that you guys don't see.
01:37Jalen Thompson's dealing with a little minor pec strain, nothing crazy.
01:41And then I'll let you guys know, Matt Hennessey is having neck surgery today.
01:45He had a disc issue that showed up, and more than likely, no timetable,
01:50but more than likely probably a PUP guy for us.
01:53Is someone here or not?
01:54He's here.
01:55Yeah, he's here, yeah.
01:57I mean, you ain't got time for a honeymoon.
01:59I mean, the wedding's fine, but the honeymoon can wait a couple weeks, right?
02:02I think Dick is not here, right?
02:03No.
02:04Okay.
02:06You talked about competition, and certainly you talked about competition,
02:09back to quarterback.
02:10What does that look like, a left tackle?
02:12Is it open competition?
02:13Are they alternating reps like they're doing it back and quarterback,
02:19or is it Tyler Duluth?
02:20No, same thing.
02:22So week one was Tyler Guyton with the ones,
02:26and then week two actually started in phase two.
02:28So this week I think Tyler's back.
02:30Tyler Guyton's back with the ones this week.
02:32But it's been a full week.
02:34What we're trying to do this year is a little different.
02:35I think it's better.
02:37Again, as we evolve and grow,
02:39what I learn is let them do it for a week or a number of practices
02:43so you get a chance of, hey, he had a bad day, he had a good day.
02:46But you want to see it more consistently.
02:48So we're giving them really kind of three practices in a row
02:51to get those reps and to work with those guys.
02:53But it's an open competition.
02:55And, again, both those guys are fighting hard for it.
02:58They're both working really, really hard both on the classroom
03:01or in the classroom and off.
03:02And it should be a fun one.
03:05Are there any other position like that where you're purposely rotating?
03:09Is that you would say the backup running back?
03:11I don't know what you're going to tell you.
03:11Any other position like you're doing?
03:13Yeah, I mean, most of them where there's not a true established guy.
03:17You know, like we're excited.
03:18Let's talk about the running backs for a second.
03:19You know, Javante, obviously tremendous year last year.
03:23But we're really excited about the young guys with Jaden and Phil.
03:27Malik Davis, we know what he is.
03:29Izzy's a guy that, you know, we really like coming out of pit.
03:33So I would say really most positions that don't have an established,
03:37like a no-brainer guy, we're creating competition.
03:40And we're also moving pieces around.
03:41Like you're going to see Kobe Durant, you know, playing corner but playing nickel.
03:45You're going to see Caleb Downs playing safety, playing nickel.
03:48You're going to see, you know, Marist moving around doing different things.
03:52So we want to create competition.
03:55Now is the time to do it because, again,
03:57we're getting through the installs for the first time.
03:59And then when we get into training camp, it heats up a little bit more.
04:02Did you mention CD, by the way?
04:05CD?
04:06As part of that group?
04:07Yeah.
04:07Yeah, CD's not here today.
04:08Yeah, he had an excused absence.
04:14Hi.
04:14Hey, how you doing, buddy?
04:18A quick pick on this question.
04:19Yep.
04:19Obviously, he's not been around next week if he's here for the minicamp.
04:22Do you anticipate limiting his work just because you don't know where he's been
04:26or what he's been doing exactly?
04:27Yeah, we'll be smart.
04:28I have no questions he's working.
04:31But, you know, what you don't want to do is put a guy in here that you don't know
04:35exactly where he's at, Todd, because let's be honest,
04:37we don't truly know how much running he's doing.
04:39And he's obviously a great athlete.
04:41But we'll be smart.
04:42But there's plenty of things he can do from the mocks to the walkthroughs
04:45and get him back into the system.
04:47But, again, if we're cautious, it's just because we want to be cautious.
04:52It's not because we don't think he's not working.
04:54We think he's putting in the work and preparing to have a hell of a year.
04:57And then we've heard...
04:59There they are.
05:00They're fired up.
05:01Fun club.
05:01Yep, they're out there.
05:02We've heard a lot of coaches talk about a second-year jump for players.
05:06For you, what's a second-year jump as you go into your year two as head coach?
05:11I mean, it's obviously going to start with more wins,
05:15getting the culture to continue to grow.
05:18Like I said, I think in one of the deals this year,
05:21the culture has been really fun to create because you've got a lot of new faces.
05:24And we certainly weren't expecting as many changes on the defensive staff
05:29that we ended up making.
05:30But I'm excited about the culture.
05:33But at the end of the day, it's going to come down to wins and losses.
05:35I feel much more comfortable in year two.
05:37I think I've got my hands around more of the things that I want to.
05:43And I've also been able to really do an after-action report on myself
05:48and making little tweaks throughout and just much more comfortable.
05:53What are some of those things you've gotten your hands around more, do you think?
05:56Well, I mean, being more involved in the defense early on.
05:58That's a big one.
06:00Being more involved in special teams.
06:02Being really the head coach and in charge of all three phases
06:05and having a handle of that.
06:07I think the personnel side of it has been good for me to dive back into the 3-4 world
06:15and then shoot practice schedules, meetings.
06:18I'm a big guy on don't rinse or repeat and try to change things up.
06:22But we'll make some adjustments to some of the practice schedules we do for training camp
06:26and things like that, some of our daily schedule,
06:28and even the way we practice during the season.
06:30So all those things have come from me doing after-action reports on myself
06:35but also talking to some of my peers and asking them how they do it.
06:40Guys have been doing it for a number of years,
06:42and I've been fortunate to have some really good conversations with people.
06:47John Machado with The Athletic.
06:49Tyler Guyton mentioned last week Tyron Smith being around a little bit.
06:53What do you think that's done, and what do you think of stuff like that?
06:56Yeah, I love it.
06:57You know, I remember when Tyron announced his retirement talking to Tyler Guyton,
07:02and Tyler Guyton telling me, I didn't know this, but that that was his idol.
07:08You know, Tyler Guyton idolizes Tyron, and rightfully so.
07:12Incredible player.
07:14But, you know, I think the thing about Tyron is the understanding of fundamentals
07:19and techniques and what it takes to play offensive tackle at a high level.
07:24When you've got some young players like, you know, Tyler Guyton, Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton,
07:30why wouldn't you want a guy that's still in the area, still loves the Cowboys to come and be around?
07:35It's a win-win for us, and any chance Tyron gets to be here, we want him to be around.
07:42And then, obviously, a lot of receivers on your roster right now.
07:46What do you look for when you look at maybe that bottom of what's going to make the 53,
07:51like a fifth, sixth receiver?
07:52Special teams, man.
07:54As you guys know, when you get through those first, you know, first three guys,
07:58four and five have to have special teams value.
08:02Be bragging about a couple guys now, but, like, you know, Ryan Florner, I really think, is taking the next
08:07step.
08:08I think he's got a chance to be a terrific receiver in this league,
08:10but he's shown up for us on special teams in a big way.
08:14You know, MVS, Valdez-Scanley's doing an awesome job.
08:19He has to play special teams.
08:20He knows that.
08:21He hasn't done that a whole lot, so we've talked to him about that.
08:24He's got the speed to be a gunner.
08:27But, really, when you get through that first, you know, 40, low 40 number, you know,
08:32those last 10, 9, 8 roster spots is going to come down to special teams,
08:37and, you know, I think that's a big, big part of it.
08:41Nick Harris, Colbert Star-Telegram, what's been the biggest either change
08:44or thing you're trying to develop on the most on the offensive side of the ball
08:47coming out of those after-action reports, and specifically here in the OTA minicamp setting?
08:51How are you all trying to manifest that?
08:53Yeah, you know, in terms of the offense, the evolution,
08:56it's just basically look at what we did last year and build complements off of it, Nick,
09:00you know, knowing that everyone that we play early, the Giants, the Commanders,
09:03you know, they're going to be studying the entire year.
09:05That's what we all do.
09:06And so, you know, how do we complement some of the things
09:09that we did really, really well?
09:11That's a big part of it.
09:13You know, you'll see a big emphasis on ball security for us.
09:16You know, again, I say it, I think, every time I'm up here,
09:19and it's because it disgusts me, minus 9.
09:23It's awful.
09:24And, you know, just, you know, we've got to protect the football better on offense.
09:28We've got to take it away on defense.
09:29But that's an area where we need to make a big jump.
09:32And, you know, so last year we really didn't spend a lot of time
09:36doing ball security circuits.
09:37So are you going to repeat history?
09:40No.
09:40You're going to do something about it.
09:41And so I think, you know, Clayton, Derek Foster, the offensive staff, L-Dub,
09:47they've done a great job of coming up with different ball security circuits
09:50where we're teaching guys not only how to protect the football, head, body, tail,
09:54you know, clasp it in traffic, but getting the ball in the outside arm,
09:59it's basic fundamentals, like where you see a guy carrying the ball in the outside arm
10:06versus the inside arm.
10:07And when it's in the outside arm, it's nearer to the sideline, it's protected.
10:10If it's in the inside arm, it's more vulnerable.
10:12And so there's things like that that we're doing a deep dive into getting fixed.
10:16In a couple of year or two guys, Phil Moffitt's the vulnerable.
10:19Have you seen the development of those two guys?
10:21Yeah.
10:21Phil's right there in the thick of the battle to work behind Javante Williams along with Jaden.
10:27Both those guys are very good players, both young.
10:30I think Phil's body, when you see him out there, he looks great.
10:33He's done a really good job of just, you know, getting his body where it needs to be going into
10:37year two.
10:38Last year, he had the shoulders that he was, you know, a little bit limited with some of the training
10:42he could do.
10:42And for Vaughn, it's really been just kind of diving in with CP and Derek Ansley and the secondary guys
10:48and learning the techniques.
10:50And the biggest thing we're doing with Vaughn right now is trying to, you know,
10:53get him to where he's trusting his speed, his ability to make up, his ability to use his hands.
10:58And he can't just be a press corner.
11:01He's very good at press.
11:02But we're also going to ask him to do some other things in this system
11:04and something that, you know, he really probably hasn't done before.
11:08So a lot of time on the grass and in the meeting rooms working on some of those skill sets.
11:12And then, you know, once we get going in pads, just we want to see Vaughn turn it loose.
11:18Tommy Arsh, DallasCowboys.com.
11:20From when you guys got Joe Milton last year to this point and watching him play in the preseason
11:25and the regular season, where have you seen him progress the most?
11:30I would probably say understanding our protections.
11:33You know, some of the things we do from a protectional standpoint is different than he did,
11:38certainly in college, but even in New England in terms of solving problems
11:43and some of our referred to as trouble series versus certain blitz looks and blitz pickups.
11:49And I think he's grown tremendously.
11:51And I think that's the main thing a quarterback needs to understand is protection
11:54because if you don't know when you're protected or when you're not, that's a problem.
11:58And so especially with the way the game's being played now with all the simulated pressures
12:02and you see defenses doing a lot more.
12:05They're dropping known defensive linemen out.
12:08And so the number count or changing the math is real.
12:12But that's been one of the biggest things.
12:14The other thing I would say, because he's such a good athlete,
12:16that he's adapted to now is his training of the footwork.
12:20And then Kobe Durant last year played a lot of outside.
12:23What does an ideal role for him look like in his defense?
12:26Do you want him out there?
12:27He can play the slot two.
12:28Are you mixing and matching?
12:29What would the ideal thing look for him?
12:30Yeah, again, I think it's too early to say that.
12:33I mean, I've been studying the league a little bit.
12:35And, for example, I've been watching some teams that have played the Rams.
12:41They're early opponents that played them last year and studying.
12:45And the one thing that Kobe shows up on is obviously incredible ball skills.
12:49You know, a couple of interceptions against Seattle that I remember.
12:53Excellent tackler.
12:54But he's good at both.
12:55You know, and what I love about him is the command, the way he communicates as elite.
13:00And I think the guy's a damn good football player that we're really,
13:04really excited about to find whatever that role is.
13:06I think the versatility is what makes him so exciting.
13:10Hey.
13:11Hey, Bluffberg.
13:12Cowboys Raider Network, 105.3 The Fan.
13:14So, Brian, obviously you had Christian Parker in the room.
13:17Played against him two times last year.
13:20I'm assuming you've sat down with him and have his views on how they attacked you
13:25and what he saw last year.
13:28How beneficial has that been for you?
13:31And anything enlightening about what he talked about in terms of how they approached your offense?
13:36Yeah.
13:37You know, CP and I talk basically every day about different things.
13:40And usually when, you know, he and I are two of the later guys here.
13:44So, when the day kind of unwinds and we're finishing up,
13:47I'll go and sit for, you know, sometimes 20, 30, 40 minutes.
13:50And we'll just talk about different things, how the day went,
13:52what were some of the changes maybe that they made after the practice film,
13:55if I don't get in there for the practice film, babe.
13:58But, yeah, we've talked about all that.
14:00You know, we've talked about how they attacked us, how they played us, how Vic sees us.
14:05You know, I'm not going to tell you all the things that we've discussed.
14:11But, you know, again, CP is way more than just a, you know, he gets tagged with a moniker of
14:16Vic,
14:17but he's way more than just a Vic Fangio disciple, and he loves Vic.
14:21And Vic is, to me, is one of the best, if not the best in the league right now.
14:26But CP's knowledge of football in general is a great asset to our staff and our football team.
14:33Brad.
14:34Brad Sham, Cowboys Radio, 105.3 The Fan.
14:36And when you're talking about the turnover margin, are you, don't say both,
14:44are you more concerned with improving the way you protect the ball,
14:54or improving the rate at which you took it away?
14:58Well, if you're not going to let me say what I want to say,
15:02I'm going to start with if you don't give it up, then you're not going to lose the turnover battle.
15:06Right.
15:07So if we don't turn the ball over, it's going to be zeros.
15:09Right.
15:10So I would say that.
15:11And, again, I just, you know, we proved it last year, Brad, that, you know,
15:15we could go four straight games without a turnover.
15:17And there was too many multiple turnover games on offense.
15:20We were sloppy.
15:21We were careless with the ball, you know, mostly as ball carriers.
15:26A couple of them were on really third and long, like, situation where we're checking the ball down.
15:31We're going to probably punt.
15:32And, you know, we end up losing possession of the ball.
15:35So since you won't let me say what I want to say, I'm going to say, you know, securing the
15:39ball.
15:40Okay.
15:40And following up on that, I don't know the statistic.
15:44I don't know if you had the fewest PBUs in the league last year.
15:47But if you didn't, you were pretty close.
15:50How much intrinsically does the new way you're going to be playing defense address that?
15:56Yeah, well, I'll just say this, and it's OTAs, and you're limited with what you can do.
16:01But I'm thrilled about where our pass defense is right now.
16:04The flexibility, the versatility of flipping the clouds and changing that up and the disguise.
16:11You know, last year certainly wasn't good enough in the back half.
16:16It wasn't just coaches.
16:18It wasn't just players.
16:18It was all of us.
16:20And so, but where we stand today, four installs in going into five.
16:27If you look at this style of defense historically, they've always been in the top ten or so,
16:32if not higher in pass defense.
16:34And there's a reason for that.
16:37Joe.
16:39Joe Hoyt, Dallas Farm News.
16:41Jayden Blue was pretty candid at the end of last year about the learning curve to be professional
16:44and how he wanted to improve that going into year two.
16:46Obviously, the offseason is a big kind of checkmarker for that as well.
16:49How did he kind of approach that, and what have you seen so far from him in terms of that?
16:54I think he's doing great.
16:55You know, he came back with a different look than, you know, what he had his rookie year.
17:01I think, you know, most rookies have to figure it out.
17:05I thought, you know, he and I had a very candid conversation.
17:09You know, Joe at the exit interviews, you know, we just kind of put it all out there.
17:14You know, put all cards on the table.
17:16You know, he didn't like being inactive, and I was very honest with my opinion of why he was inactive.
17:21And so we had some really great conversations, and he took that and he, you know, ingested it, took it
17:31in,
17:31and he's come back with a great look on his face and a great work ethic.
17:36And intelligence is off the charts.
17:40I mean, the guy is football brilliant.
17:42He really is.
17:44And obviously, you see the speed and explosiveness.
17:46He's going to be a huge part of what we want to do, but he's got to continue to do
17:50his part,
17:51which he's doing great right now.
17:53So I would say night and day from where he was last year.
17:57And then P.J. Locke spent some time with Caleb Downs after practice.
17:59He said they've been doing that every single day.
18:01In terms of what you were hoping to get with P.J. Locke,
18:03how much was the leadership veteran kind of experience compiling a part of that?
18:06Yeah, it was a big part of it.
18:08CP had him in Denver.
18:10Knew more about him than I did.
18:13I will say this, you know, I've shared with you guys,
18:16I've been taking, you know, eight, nine, ten guys to dinner most Tuesdays.
18:20And one of the nights that we went that P.J. was there,
18:24listening to him talk to the rookies and explain his story and his journey,
18:28you know, from Pittsburgh to undrafted,
18:30all the different things that he had to deal with to not thinking,
18:33shoot, am I ever going to make in this league and all those things.
18:35And the insight that he brings to this locker room is, I think, invaluable.
18:41And having the insight is one thing, but being willing to share it and talk.
18:46As much as I literally called Brian Wansley the next morning and said,
18:49hey, you need to have P.J. Locke talk to the rookies.
18:51Because I think there was three or four rookies there that night.
18:54But I was like, they all need to hear his story and what he's about.
18:57And he's just a terrific young man.
19:01There you go.
19:02Brian Schottheimer right here on The Fan,
19:04giving you injury updates, play rotations, and dinner schedule.
19:09Brian Schottheimer.
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