The Brian Shottenheimer leadership council isn’t some new idea for the Dallas Cowboys. Jason Garrett used season captains, and Mike McCarthy worked with rotating captains and a leadership group of his own.
According to Todd Archer, Schottenheimer’s council includes Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, Jake Ferguson, Javonte Williams, Bryan Anger, Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, and Jalen Thompson.
I looked at this list and could see a head coach saying who gets to influence the inside of the locker room. Some of these names are established Cowboys, while others are newer voices who Schottenheimer clearly wants to step up and bring some fresh takes to the team.
Considering where the old routines of this organization kept taking the team, I’m fine with having new players such as Jalen Thompson and Rashan Gary bringing a new perspective.
Brian Schottenheimer Wants New Voices in the Room
Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, and Jake Ferguson are easy choices. They are big-time players who’ve earned respect from Cowboys players. The new names are what I think give this council its weight.
Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, and Javonte Williams bring a wealth of experience from outside the walls of The Star. I like that these guys weren’t a part of every playoff failure, coaching change, or late-season meltdown that follows this team.
I also don’t want the opinions of these veteran players to just blend in with the rest of the team. I want them to express their wants and concerns about the team take the role of being on the council as an honor.
These are the kind of guys who will speak up when practice gets sloppy and effort drops. Dallas has never had a problem finding players who are willing to explain a loss, but a problem with players letting issues hang around longer than they should.
Schottenheimer seems to be willing to let outside voices challenge the old habits instead of asking them to wait their turn.
Tyler Booker Is Growing Into a Bigger Role
Tyler Booker being included on this list tells me how quickly his standing in the room has grown.
He’s only entering his second season, and Schottenheimer already sees him as someone who can help lead the team. Most young offensive linemen at this point are still trying to establish themselves, but Booker has earned more than just a starting role on this team.
Tyler Booker must have shown both veteran players and coaches enough for them to believe in him as a leader. It could be work habits, personality, a combination of both, or that he’s a massive human being who no one wants to mess with. I’m good with any of those.
If history tells us anything, the Cowboys have usually been better when the offensive line has players willing to set the tone instead of just doing their job.
Tyler Smith has grown into that type of player and now Tyler Booker seems to be following in his footsteps.
Dak Prescott Shouldn’t Carry the Whole Locker Room
Dak will still answer for just about everything because that comes with the territory of being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
When Dallas wins, he gets the spotlight, and when the season falls apart, he gets the spotlight whether it belongs to him or not. I’ve never understood why he should be expected to manage every problem behind closed doors.
This council gives him help.
CeeDee Lamb can get the receivers, Smith and Booker have the offensive line, Ferguson’s got the tight ends, and Javonte Williams handles the running backs. I think that covers just about everything on offense.
Bryan Anger leading the special teams makes sense because he’s a veteran player who’s been around and is a respected voice in that group.
On defense, Schottenheimer has handed the responsibilities to Williams, Clark, Gary, Thompson before that group has played together. Is it a gamble, maybe? I prefer this to waiting until October just to find out nobody wants to take charge.
The Council Will Matter Most When Dallas Gets Tested
I don’t want to call this proof of a culture change. We as Cowboys fans have heard too many times about fresh energy, accountability, and how different everything feels. Do any of those sound familiar?
It’s easy to say that stuff in July.
The council will earn its value after a blown lead, rough practice, or a few bad losses. That is when the old noise we are used to hearing starts creeping back into press conferences and after-game interviews.
That is the time when somebody on the council has to step up and challenge a teammate or two, settle frustrations, and stop one bad week from turning into a season-long problem.
The leadership council isn’t anything new or earth-shattering, but the mix of people holding the responsibility is what makes this version different to me.
Now Dallas has to show whether changing the voices can change the ending to the season.
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