Brian Schottenheimer and his offense face mounting pressure following a 2-4 start to the season. The Dallas Cowboys have struggled, scoring fewer than 20 points in consecutive starts by Dak Prescott for the first time in seven seasons. As they aim to reclaim their position in the NFC East, the focus turns to George Pickens, who has been singled out for the team's 31st-ranked rushing offense.

Despite Pickens' impressive 1,429 receiving yards in 2025, his performance has dipped this season with only 428 yards, placing him outside the top 10. Schottenheimer has called on Pickens to elevate his game, emphasizing the importance of his contributions to the running game:

• Blocking safeties and corners during plays
• Adopting a team-first mindset similar to that of Javonte Williams

Schottenheimer acknowledged the criticism aimed at him regarding the offense's simplicity in 2026, where they rank second-to-last in motion rate (42.7%) and 28th in under-center rate (30.4%). He accepted accountability, stating, "We got to play better. I got to coach better," while maintaining confidence in his abilities and the team's potential.

To improve the running game, Schottenheimer plans to increase the number of runs called, suggesting that the team must avoid falling behind early in games. He noted that the Cowboys have spent the fifth-most time trailing in the NFL this season.

He concluded, "It starts with calling more runs... let these guys get into a groove," emphasizing the need for consistency and rhythm in their offensive strategy.