Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams is looking like a very exciting addition to the coaching staff already.
He comes from an Arizona Cardinals offense that ran the ball in very different ways than what we’re used to seeing from Dallas, which suggests we could see a very different approach from Brian Schottenheimer’s staff. Adams’ recent comments about the offense take that a step further.
When Adams talked to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since being hired and he highlighted the one thing he’ll ask from his players on offense. The former OL coach was asked what he wants from his linemen and his answer was something that’s been missing in Dallas for years.
“The same thing that I want from every player on offense, and that is to create violence in the game—be aggressive, run, hit,” Adams told reporters. “I think that every decision that we make schematically needs to lean that direction. So, if there’s gray area, what is going to allow these guys to play more free, run and hit, and be violent?”Oh, boy. That’s exciting to hear now, isn’t it? Think about the Cowboys rushing offense going back to the Scott Linehan days. For the most part, it’s been a heavy dose of inside zone and nothing too fancy. Maybe there have been some exceptions here and there but Dallas hasn’t been among the NFL teams that run a diverse scheme on the ground.
In Arizona, Adams was exactly that under OC Drew Petzing. The Cardinals ran counter the second-most times in the league last season. The Cowboys were 30th. No NFL team used more pulling blockers than Arizona, which helped them become one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
When Adams says he wants his offensive players to “create violence” there’s no better way to do that than running counter, which is a run scheme involving “misdirection and demolition.”
The misdirection takes place in the backfield as the running back and quarterback both make it seem like the run is going one way before the ballcarrier cuts back. The demolition comes in the blockers, where usually two players are pulling from the backside to block playside defenders. Adams was part of an offense that was fantastic and versatile when using counter.
The best part is the Cowboys have the players to make it work. Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Guyton, and Terence Steele are all dangerous when getting in open space. Even Brock Hoffman, who replaced an injured Zack Martin midseason in 2024, has the demeanor to play violent football.
A lot has been made about re-signing Rico Dowdle and about potentially drafting Ashton Jeanty at No. 12 overall. And while having a solid running back room will go a long way, the biggest hope for a revamped rushing offense is Adams’ ideas permeating in Schottenheimer’s play-calling.
