The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season was, to put it bluntly, a disaster. A lackluster campaign marked by a “blow-it-up” philosophy, minimal offseason investment, and a brutal wave of injuries left the team limping to the finish line. The numbers don’t lie: a porous defense that surrendered 137.1 rushing yards per game (29th in the league) and an offense that struggled to find its rhythm painted a grim picture. But as the page turns to 2025, with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer at the helm, there’s a flicker of hope in Dallas—provided they can fix one glaring issue.
A New Dawn, But an Old Problem
Schottenheimer, stepping into his first head-coaching role, inherits a team with undeniable potential. The Athletic’s Jacob Robinson sees a path to redemption: “A healthier roster, improved offensive line, and the deep threat of Pickens are all positives for an offense that could get to the next level.” Add to that the potential return of defensive guru Matt Eberflus, who could restore the Cowboys’ defense to its former glory, and the expected record-setting extension for star Micah Parsons, and you’ve got the makings of a contender. But there’s a catch—one factor that could derail it all: the run game.
The Cowboys’ ground attack has been the Achilles’ heel of this team for too long. Last year’s duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle failed to inspire, and while the 2025 running back room—Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, Deuce Vaughn, and Phil Mafah—looks promising on paper, the gridiron is where it matters. Without a reliable run game, even the most optimistic projections for Dallas’ offense fall flat.
The Key to Unlocking “Scary Good”
Enter Klayton Adams and Conor Riley, the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively. Both come with proven track records of building dominant run games, and their hires signal Dallas’ intent to finally address this persistent weakness. If they can mold this revamped running back corps and a bolstered offensive line into a cohesive unit, the Cowboys’ offense could transform from middling to menacing.
A strong run game would do more than just balance the offense—it would open up the passing game, giving deep threat Pickens more opportunities to stretch defenses thin. It would ease the pressure on Schottenheimer’s play-calling and allow the team to control the clock, keeping Eberflus’ defense fresh. The pieces are there, but as Robinson notes, “even if everything goes right, they’ll still need a run game.”
The Stakes Are High
The Cowboys stand at a crossroads. The talent is evident, the coaching staff is upgraded, and the optimism is palpable. But stats don’t lie—without a ground game that commands respect, Dallas risks another season of unfulfilled potential. If Adams and Riley can deliver, 2025 could see the Cowboys’ offense become the “scary good” force fans have been waiting for. If not, it’s back to the drawing board for a franchise that’s tired of coming up short.