Blogging The Boys
If anyone has ever played the game of Jenga before, they know that it’s a game about skill, patience, and making sure you don’t pull the wrong piece because the whole tower could come crashing down. Some blocks are more important than others in keeping things together.
When it comes to the 2026 Cowboys, there are a few people who could be key to the team’s success and potential problems on the field. Will wins and losses come down to how many punts Bryan Anger can land in the opponent’s 20-yard line? Probably not. What about the new addition of Rashan Gary and making sure the Cowboys’ defense can get to the quarterback more than they did last year? There’s some pressure there.
Here are the five “Jenga pieces” for the Cowboys this season, where if all goes well, things should be great. But if there are a few slip-ups, it could lead to another losing season.
Brian Schottenheimer, the head coach, has exceeded the initial expectations that came with his hire. Many were skeptical of the hire as head coach and assumed the Cowboys would be a lot worse on offense in 2025. To his credit, he helped orchestrate a top-ten unit with Dak Prescott having a career season. He even managed to get the best out of George Pickens when everyone else thought it wouldn’t work. But that defense.
All of the focus has been on fixing the defense this offseason, and rightfully so. However, it shouldn’t be a foregone conclusion that the offense will repeat its success. The best offensive play-callers, like Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, and Ben Johnson, evolve their game plans each season to keep defenses guessing.
Hopefully, an elevation of certain players on offense will allow Schottenheimer to be more flexible. Jaydon Blue has had a great start to his second season, getting praise from those who cover the team. The backup running back spot will be important to keep Javonte Williams fresh. Ryan Flournoy is poised for a bigger role with the departure of Jalen Tolbert and has looked good in minicamp. He’s also getting more reps in the slot, which will allow all three of the top receivers to be moved around.
If the offense stumbles in any way, that puts more pressure on the defense to be at their best. With a first-time coordinator teaching a new system, that could be a recipe for disaster. Having a healthy Prescott commanding the offense and George Pickens with CeeDee Lamb should help cover any issues, but making sure the offense evolves in some way will be important.
Where would the Cowboys’ pass rushers rank among other teams’ units in the NFL? Their interior players look really good with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Glass half full: The Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021 with Aaron Donald as their leader in sacks with 12.5. Leonard Floyd and an...
