What's The 1 Major Cowboys Problem Brian Schottenheimer's 'Culture' Can't Fix?

The Dallas Cowboys under first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer have burdened themselves with a host of problems since he took over for Mike McCarthy a year-and-a-half ago.

Most of us granted and assumed there would be growing pains during the process. But there was still a thought that Schottenheimer and his loudly stated desire to create the "best culture in sports" would be just effective enough to help push this seemingly talented Cowboys roster toward something it hasn't even sniffed in three decades ...

True playoff success.

Maybe an NFC Championship appearance.

Or, did you dare dream ... A Super Bowl?

But since the likeable "players' coach'' Schottenheimer has taken over, the Cowboys - with a total record of 11-14-1 - haven't looked anything like a genuine playoff team.

The blame for that? Many think its thanks mainly to the defensive ineptitude.

But there is another category the "Schottenheimer culture'' and the "locker-room brotherhood'' haven't been able to upgrade: The Cowboys being one of the most undisciplined teams in all football.

All the time.

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In a too-tight win against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Dallas racked up a whopping 14 penalties, taking its tally to 74 on the year, making it the third-worst total in football.

Schottenheimer was asked if it’s fair to say the team was "undisciplined'' in Sunday's win.

“I would say that word is accurate,'' he confirmed. It was undisciplined. It needs to be better.”

And, Schotty, who is responsible for that?

“All of us,'' he replied.

Now, regular readers know where we're going with this: last season, under Schottenheimer, the Cowboys had an NFL-worst 133 penalties.

Through nine games, Dallas has already racked up 74 penalties. 

Currently averaging eight penalties a game, if that holds for the remainder of the season, the Cowboys will finish with 138 penalties, five more than when they led the league last year. 

That's a huge problem. And an embarrassing one.

We've always believed that penalties are largely a discipline issue, which is a direct reflection on the head coach.

But there can be other factors here.

What if our steadfast belief that the Cowboys' foundation is build not on any locker-room culture or any coaching culture but rather on an atmosphere created by owner Jerry Jones is really the core problem?

You know, "#53 Brands'' and "Sometimes Jerry's Cowboys seem like a marketing company that plays football on the side''?

And/or, what if the Cowboys have a nasty habit of not only failing to teach discipline to their players, but of also acquiring players with low FBIQ's? (That is, "football IQs.'')

How else to explain two of the oddest NFL penalties of the year, classy running back Javonte Williams' foolish early-season taunting flag and, at Indy, fan-fave linebacker DeMarvion Overshown being whistled after his celebratory sprint down the field while in street clothes?

Both guys felt obliged to issue apologies to their teammates and to the fan base. Twice in a half-season?!

To put a fine point on it: What if the Cowboys roster is simply chock full of dumb guys?

In McCarthy's final two years in Dallas (2023, 2024), the Cowboys finished with the third-most (115) and fourth-most (128) penalties in football, so all of this irresponsible goofiness is hardly anything new.

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But to circle back, it does make us wonder why the Cowboys are perennially such an undisciplined team.

The Cowboys (presently 4-5 with the powerful Niners coming to town in Sunday) aren't going to change owners. They aren't going to cut 53 dumbos.

What's left?

The head coach preached "culture change'' since being appointed. The standard was announced. His team has fallen hilariously short of that standard.

And again, that falls at the feet of Schottenheimer.

Think about this for a moment: Dallas has been one of the most undisciplined teams in football for four straight seasons.

Since 2021, just once have the Cowboys not finished among the top four in committed penalties in the NFL.

That's not just "undisciplined''; that's also "uncanny.''

And in the parity-driven NFL, where games are won and lost "in the margins''?

It's no wonder this coach's "culture'' is as much of a loser as his football team itself.