The Dallas Cowboys suffered another painful setback, falling to the Arizona Cardinals in overtime on Sunday. The defeat raised further questions about head coach Brian Schottenheimer‘s coaching staff and the team’s inability to deliver when it mattered most. However, veteran linebacker Von Miller was not ready to put the blame on the coaches.
Speaking after the game, Miller offered a strong defense of Schottenheimer and his coaching staff. He argued that the team’s disappointing performance was not a reflection of how well the coaches prepared the players.
According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Miller used an analogy involving his own experience as a father to explain why he believes the coaching staff should not be held responsible for what happened on the field.
“I’m a parent. I got three kids. Sometimes you raise your kids a certain way and you teach them lessons. You expect them to act a certain way when they go out.
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“And sometimes the kids just go out there and do things that are not a reflection of who you are as a parent. And I use that reference for our coaching staff. We have amazing coaches that keep us prepared, ready to go mentally, physically, emotionally. They breathe life into us, and just for whatever reason, that’s the product.
“The product that went out there is not a reflection of our coaching staff. This is pro sports. This is not parenting. So at the end of the day, the buck has to stop somewhere. Somebody’s going to get the blame.
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“But my opinion, this is just me, I don’t know nothing about football. I only played 16 years. We’ve got great coaches. We’ve got a great coaching staff. And that’s not a reflection of how they coach us and get us ready every week.”
Von Miller believes the Cowboys’ players must take responsibility
While Miller acknowledged that somebody would eventually have to take responsibility for the Cowboys’ disappointing performance, he made it clear that he did not believe the coaching staff deserved the criticism.
His comparison suggested that coaches can prepare players, provide instructions and put them in positions to succeed. But they cannot control what happens once the players step onto the field.
That distinction is particularly important after an overtime defeat. The Cowboys’ coaching decisions will inevitably face scrutiny, but Miller believes the players must also answer for their execution.
The veteran linebacker did not explicitly identify any teammate or position group as responsible. Instead, he stood behind Schottenheimer and his staff while acknowledging that accountability is unavoidable in professional football.
Cowboys face growing questions after another disappointing result
Dallas cannot afford to ignore the concerns emerging from another frustrating performance.
Schottenheimer and his coaching staff will face questions about their preparation and decisions, while the players must also examine their execution in crucial situations.
Miller has made his position clear. He believes the coaching staff is doing its job, and the product on the field does not necessarily reflect the work being done behind the scenes.
Whether the rest of the Cowboys’ locker room shares that assessment remains to be seen.
