FRISCO, Texas — The Cowboys led the league in offense during their 12-5 campaign last season.
No player caught more touchdowns than wide receiver Amari Cooper’s eight, the four-time Pro Bowler contributing 865 yards to the productive attack.
Still, the Cowboys traded Cooper and what would have been a $22 million salary cap hit to Cleveland last month. They lost production as well as an experienced, veteran route runner in the process.
How can the offense begin to compensate?
Allow tight end Dalton Schultz, who tied Cooper with eight receiving touchdowns, to explain.
“There’s a lot of room for everybody on our offense to grow in terms of football IQ,” Schultz told local reporters by phone Monday. “Understanding not only what the call is and what your responsibility is but why Kellen is trying to call the call and where those concepts fit in in the game flow. … Understanding more than just what’s on the surface level of these concepts, and maybe the ultimate goal of what we’re trying to accomplish by running or calling certain plays out of certain situations.
“There’s definitely a lot of room to grow there.”
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FILE – Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (86) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the New York Giants during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Undoubtedly, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore deserves a share of credit for the attack that averaged 407 yards and 31.2 points per game. But the Cowboys failed to sustain the balanced run-pass attack they won six straight with earlier in the year. Run fits became muddier, routes less precise. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy felt his team didn’t properly adjust to defenses’ increase in schematic variety.
Blowouts against overmatched division opponents…