Different schemes demand different types of players. A spread offense might demand linemen who can pass protect in insolation and receivers who run disciplined routes. An outside-zone running scheme demands strong tackle play on the edge and patient one-cut running from ball carriers.
New Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s expected offensive scheme has similar positional demands. Based on comments made from him at the time of his hire, a scheme and its various positional demands can be derived.
“I’m a big believer of cut splits," Schottenheimer explained. “I’m a big believer in shifts and motions to distort things. We’re going to do a great job of marrying our runs and our passes and make those look the same.”
Schottenheimer describes an offense that lines in tight personnel. With receivers positioned inside on the edge of the box they can be active participants in run blocking and also get the opportunity for a 180-degree release on routes downfield, similar to a slot WR or tight end. In many ways it's the anti-spread offense because even in 11-personnel it will be asked to play in tight formations.
The duality of the WR role means these Dallas WRs need to block. Schottenheimer said he wanted to marry the runs and passes to look the same. As such, he can’t swap personnel based on areas of expertise or it will tip the offense’s hand as to what type of play they’re calling. Tight ends and running backs all have similar demands.
What Schottenheimer described isn’t unlike what Kyle Shanahan has been doing in San Francisco. The 49ers have had elite run blockers at WR, TE and fullback. Those same players are also deadly weapons downfield as pass catchers. The two phases of the game are equally as important for these players because deception is the name of the game.
In the 2025 NFL draft the Cowboys need to focus on WRs who can block as well as they can catch. Since blocking is often a matter of willingness rather than inherent ability, interviews will be critical to finding the right guy for the job.
The TE class happens to be a good one this year. The Cowboys don’t have an immediate need at TE, but they aren’t worry free at the position either. Jake Ferguson is coming off a historically poor season and needs to rebound in this his contract year. He has the chops to be a strong run-blocker as illustrated in his days at Wisconsin, Dallas just need to make it a priority with him. If they look to the draft to fill a need at TE, look for a balanced prospect to be the choice.
The Cowboys happen to be one of the few teams in the NFL who employ a fullback. Hunter Luepke looks like a player just begging for greater utilization and he may get his wish in this scheme. If he’s used anything like Kyle Juszczyk he could see an enormous uptick in snaps.
The Cowboys want to line up in the same personnel, in the same formations, with the same motions and cues, and then run very different types of plays. In order to effectively do this, they need ...
