FRISCO ― Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has discovered a good problem about calling plays this season. He’ll find himself happily in a dilemma. He believes plays should be called with players in mind, but sometimes he’ll realize that a play would work out well with two options in mind.
It comes with the territory of having CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
“That’s real,” Schottenheimer said.
So is another dilemma the Cowboys are finding themselves in.
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Pickens has surpassed the expectations the Cowboys had for him when they traded multiple draft picks to the Steelers for him. His 908 yards receiving through his first 10 games with the Cowboys is the most of any player during that initial span with the franchise. It’s also second-most in the league this season.
Pickens has also blended in as a co-star along Lamb, and took on more of a starring role when Lamb was injured. Together, they’ve provided problems for Schottenheimer as a play-caller ― in a positive way ― and problems for opposing defenses looking to slow them down.
“Those two guys, I just love their relationship, man, Schottenheimer said. “I love the firepower that they give us.”
So much so that the Cowboys are now exploring the possibility of keeping it together long term. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said for over a month that the Cowboys are interested in a potential long-term future with Pickens, though conversations with Pickens or his representation haven’t begun. Pickens is on an expiring contract.
Based on the performance he’s had since he arrived in Dallas ― even despite back-to-back games with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a disciplinary action from Schottenheimer that kept he and Lamb from playing in the opening series on Monday ― Pickens figures to command a lot of money on the open market.
Jones reiterated the interest in keeping Pickens around after this season during an interview on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM).
Schottenheimer was asked about his stance on potentially keeping Pickens after this season. Pickens may put Schottenheimer in a positive conundrum, as a play-caller, but there’s no dilemma in his mind when it came to answering that question.
“Sign me up,” Schottenheimer said.
“I’m very in favor of George having a long-term future with us.”
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