News - NFC Insights: Cowboys' Struggles, Jones' Leadership, and Coaching Resilience

The Dallas Cowboys are facing a season marked by challenges, most notably the ongoing foot injury of star cornerback DaRon Bland. Despite this, owner Jerry Jones remains confident in his decision to secure Bland with a four-year, $90 million contract in August, affirming his belief in Bland's exceptional performance and potential recovery, stating: 'He’s been everything you could ask… He’s thumbs up.' (Source: Jon Machota) The praise from Jones extends to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who is navigating his inaugural year with poise under pressure. Jones describes Schottenheimer's performance as 'outstanding,' appreciating the technical soundness and fresh philosophy he brings to the team: 'He’s had an outstanding year… He’s technically as sound as you can draw up. We really like his philosophy of how to play football. We’ve had some adversity this year, he’s met it head on… Bottom line is, I’m very pleased with his first year as coach. He’s the busiest guy in town. Not only is he calling the plays, but at the same time, he’s had the kind of challenges that you can’t draw up, relative to the team, relative to individual issues on the team, relative to some of the setbacks that we’ve had. He’s had it all… Boy, he’s made progress, and we’ve got a great future ahead.' (Machota) Demonstrating accountability, Jones openly admits his role in the team's shortcomings this season: 'There’s no question. There’s no manning up or anything. I know exactly who is ultimately responsible. I’ve always had that because I’ve always had the responsibility. I take it real seriously. And more importantly, there is accountability in a very, very big way. I’ve got to live with when we’re out of money and we want to sign a player and we don’t have any money left under the (salary) cap. I have to live with that.' (Machota) In terms of strategy, Schottenheimer is optimistic about Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus’ transition to the coaches’ booth during games, a move proposed to enhance their defense's adaptability and effectiveness: 'It will help our defense adjust faster,' remarked Schottenheimer. (Source: Todd Archer)