Brian Schottenheimer said he wants leaders. His initial draft class reflects it
From the very beginning of Brian Schottenheimer’s tenure as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys back in January, the first-year head coach was clear about the type of player he was seeking for his team.
“We’re looking for world-class competitors,” he said in his introductory press conference. “Guys that want to compete every day to be the best versions of themselves. We are looking for people with relentless work ethic.”
That line of thinking manifested itself in the draft process from the jump, and it resulted in the Cowboys selecting multiple team captains at power programs to continue to cultivate a culture built around leadership and work ethic, in Schottenheimer’s words.
“We certainly wanted guys that had leadership,” Schottenheimer said. “Character does matter, and it’s not the only thing, but we feel like we’ve got some incredible football players. But they’re also going to be influencers in the locker room. They’re going to be guys that practice hard. They’re going to be guys that play the right play style. They play to the whistle. They’re going to give us what we want, which is four quarters and beyond.”
As rookie minicamp concluded on Saturday afternoon, multiple rookies spoke on how their leadership styles have translated to the field in just two sessions in front of coaches.
“Just to be a leader of this group, I take a lot of pride in that,” first-round pick Tyler Booker said. “I’m just a natural-born leader, so my fellow rookies, I’m excited to continue to grow and learn with them like we did today.”
While Booker is the face of the class, the intention of cultivating a leadership group within the rookie class extends down to the day three picks as well.
“I’m a guy that leads by example,” fifth-round pick Shemar James said. “I’m a guy that likes to relate to his teammates before he judges them. I would like to know you before I can judge you when you’re slacking on the field. I feel like that’s the best way to lead somebody, knowing them personally off the field, so you can make them give you that 110-percent on the field.”
Despite being a day three selection, running back Jaydon Blue has an opportunity to take over a starting role going into the season. That opportunity isn’t lost on him.
“I’m a very vocal guy,” he said. “Just to get a chance to be around my teammates, helping out whenever they need me, just doing the little things.”
In just two days, Schottenheimer has been pleased with his first-ever rookie class as a head coach.
“You see a level of maturity,” he said. “You see a level of professionalism. We haven’t had any issues with guys being late. There’s an intentionality about this group.”
“This group, from my interaction with them, has been very, very positive and impressive with the type of character and human beings they are.”
