Brian Schottenheimer dismisses the need for a basic scheme despite glaring communication breakdowns, placing the burden of execution on a struggling defense ahead of the Commanders clash.
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to host the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium in Week 2, attention is on the defense and Christian Parker.
With the unit looking as bad, if not worse, than it did last year, the big theme coming out of Week 1 was poor communication- again, something that plagued this defense last year. Many are at a loss already.
How can there be so many times, after an entire offseason, when communication is such a big issue?
We know that under Matt Eberflus last season, the Cowboys had to simplify things for the players. It was too much, so strip it back and focus on the scheme's fundamentals so players better understand what's being asked of them.
And for Brian Schottenheimer, when asked about whether or not simplifying the defense ahead of the Washington clash is in the mind of the staff, he gave a rather startling answer.
"We're aware for all contingencies, I hope it's really loud, our fans, they give us a huge advantage, so crowd noise is a big thing, it [communication] becomes a lot of non-verbal," Schottenheimer said.
"So, I think it's more of that than simplifying. I don't think we went into the last game with an overly complicated plan. I just think at the end of the day, it was not our best day of operating and executing across the board. In terms of simplifying, I don't think that's necessary."
Wait, hold up, Schotty.
So, the defense didn't go into Week 1 with an overly complicated defensive plan, yet it wasn't their best day of operating and executing it?
If the defensive plan/scheme wasn't that complicated, then how come so many players had trouble communicating and getting things right?
That is a little alarming.
Now, it is only one game, so we aren't throwing the baby out with the bath water, but after a full offseason and ample time to prepare for the Giants, the defensive plan wasn't hard to understand, yet the players struggled to execute it.
So, there is no need to simplify the plan; according to Schottenheimer, it all just comes down to execution.
Let's see if Parker's defense can do a better job this week. Otherwise, Schottenheimer and his staff might have no choice but to simplify it.
