ব্রায়ান স্কোটেনহেইমার এবং সিডি ল্যাম্বের সাথে কীভাবে ডাক প্রেসকটের এমভিপি-স্তরের রসায়ন কাউবয়দের উত্থানে ইন্ধন যোগায়
FRISCO, টেক্সাস -- The Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1) showcased their best offensive performance of 2025 in just 7 weeks under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The 44-22 victory over the Washington Chiefs was a cause for celebration. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns, completing 30 of his passes. Running back Javonte Williams rushed for 116 yards and a score on 19 carries. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb added 110 yards and five touchdowns, while fellow wide receiver George Pickens contributed 82 yards on four receptions, and tight end Jake Ferguson hauled in two touchdown catches. Over the seven weeks, Dallas leads the NFL in total offense (390.6 yards per game) and ranks second in scoring (31.7 points).Naturally, after the game, Schottenheimer was asked about how powerful the offense was with all its players healthy. However, his focus shifted to how he could be a better play-caller for Prescott. “Dak is playing really well. I’m not trying to make a big deal about how great he’s playing, but that’s what we expect from Dak, and what you see with the weapons these guys have is unbelievable,” Schottenheimer said. “He took a lot of hits today, and I don’t like that. I probably have to get a few more completions in the second half because he’s calling plays very well. I think I got a little aggressive. I was getting annoyed with the penalties and (focusing) on a lot of high shots.”
While Prescott’s 3% sack rate is the second-lowest in the NFL, he was hit four times on Sunday, marking the third-highest amount in a single game this season. This put some heat on Prescott, but the two talked about the game, helping him shake off the major hits as the game progressed.
Accountability Spurs Rare Consistency
Schottenheimer’s willingness to hold himself accountable – both publicly and directly to his quarterback – has gone a long way. Prescott has thrown at least three touchdowns without an interception in each of his last four games, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history. The sole stretch belongs to Russell Wilson (five games in 2015). Prescott now shares a spot with Drew Brees (2019), Aaron Rodgers (2014), Peyton Manning (2013-14), Tom Brady (2007) and Wilson.
“Yeah, I appreciate the accountability and honestly, that’s just a good coach,” Prescott said Thursday. “That’s a good reader and a temperature gauge, I guess you could say. The temperature is not always necessarily right sometimes maybe he gets a little over-excited about this or that, and that’s just a coach picking his players and knowing when to comfort them. I got you. I got you. I had a moment this game last season, and it’s just that. That’s what I appreciate most clearly.”
Their trust didn’t materialize overnight. Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys as a consultant in 2022, initially working for then-defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. When Kellen Moore left the field in 2023, head coach Mike McCarthy took over play-calling duties and promoted Schottenheimer’s relationship with him. “Dak can show me more of my true personality, and he also shows his. It’s part of building the relationship. We’re still laughing and shaking our heads sometimes,” Sttotenheimer said. “As I said, I called a bunch of shots last game, and he gets the crap kicked out of him. That’s right, isn’t it? So we may have these disagreements, but he was a coordinator for over two years before that.”
The Prescott-Schottenheimer partnership for the Dallas quarterback is leading the 20VP20+NFL in sitting atop the leaderboard in 2020 (tied for seventh-best). Prescott was the 2023 NFL MVP runner-up in his final season when he led the league with 36 passing touchdowns. This year, he’s in the league’s top five in each of the major categories:
- Passing touchdowns: 16 (second)
- Completion percentage: 71.4 (fourth)
- Completions: 185 (first)
- Explosive passes (25-plus yards): 19 (first)
- EPA per game
“It just makes you feel good, as a ‘Team,'” Prescott said. “It’s just communication throughout the week about what we’re looking for and how we’re trying to attack them.”
From every level. Why this protection? Why run this play? What’s this running plan? (Schottenheimer) allows you to get out there and really understand why.
“When you do that, it makes you feel better. You feel good about throwing the ball, playing clean football and understanding, ‘Hey, they got better at this. Let’s move on.’ It’s just great communication.”
CeeDee Lamb adds another voice to the block conversation. That line of communication is kept open and direct to Prescott only. Lamb built an appreciation for a head coach who is open to listening to his advice as well. Schottenheimer certainly doesn’t object to Lamb dialing up plays mid-play as he did on No. 88’s 74-yard catch-and-run touchdowns against the Chiefs on Sunday.
“Scotty, you give us a chance, I’m sure it’s going to happen. We talk a lot on the sidelines and we just look at each other in the eye because sometimes he can’t see what we see. So let’s shout him out for that and expose ourselves and have a different POV than a quarterback who has an amazing lineup in front of him. Scotty’s trusting us.” Lamb said he has learned to communicate more effectively with his head coach, which he believes has only helped strengthen their bond.
“To be able to communicate, and I think there is a way to communicate in a role and not really be so frustrated on the ground that you’re not getting the goal you want. Or the game is not your way. But as far as getting your message across to him, it’s just going up and talking. Boys just have a tendency. Guys do it. Then what do those sideline conversations between Prescott, Lamb, and Schottenheimer sound like? It is the proverbial lip behind the curtain.
“Shout out to Scotty for honestly listening, and not just listening but asking those people, ‘Hey, bring me what you’re seeing. Compare what you think. We’re going to adjust and attack,’ Prescott said. “There are a lot of adjustments in our games. For CeeDee, it is an experience. It’s the experience, and the confidence in your own game and the understanding that you’ve seen all these different looks, they can play you in so many ways. So when you get out there, you’re able to tell the coordinator with confidence, ‘Hey, if you give me this path it’s going to be.’ Or maybe, ‘Hey, maybe if you give GP (George Pickens) or close off the road because of the way they are playing, I think it will work.
“A lot of the compositions have been made or at least discussed on the sidelines and have been more dynamic than before. That’s a credit to CeeDee. They all accept it, they believe what they say. I guarantee them from the film studio and the feeling.”
The Next Test: Cowboys’ Heavy Flow Conditions
The Broncos’ dominant defense will be specifically challenged by the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (5-2) and a stout defense. Denver ranks in the top five in nearly every key category:
- Scoring defense: 18.1 points per game (fourth in defense)
- Total defense: Turnovers (273). Lose (first)
- QB pressure rate: 44.9% (first)
- Sacks: 34 (first)
- Completion percentage allowed: 55.9% (first)
Broncos stars include reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II and Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bonitto, whose eight are third in the NFL.
“It’s something like a game. Whether we (Dallas offense and Denver defense) are both first or not, you’re playing for elite competition,” Prescott said. “It’s an amazing environment where the fans are going to be great. It’s going to test our communication, the nonverbal part. Yeah, very excited. It’s going to be great.”
Chemistry
প্রকাশিত: 2025-10-24 21:38:00
উৎস: www.cbssports.com
