Schottenheimer Says Cowboys Expect More From DaRon Bland
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team expects more from cornerback DaRon Bland after a costly dropped interception against Tampa Bay…
A dropped interception left the Dallas Cowboys with one last chance to change the result against Tampa Bay. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team expects more from cornerback DaRon Bland after Dallas lost 24-16 at home.
Bland got a hand on a pass with Tampa Bay leading by eight in the final five minutes, but the ball slipped through. The Buccaneers went three-and-out, giving Dallas another possession. The Cowboys reached the Tampa Bay 24, then Dak Prescott’s pass bounced off Jake Ferguson’s hands and was intercepted by Alex Anzalone at the 12.
That was the final opening. Dallas finished the game without forcing a turnover, while Tampa Bay’s offense repeatedly found room on the ground.
“We expect him to make those plays. He expects himself to make those plays. He's made those plays a bunch around here, and you know, probably surprised because I have seen them make those plays so much,” Schottenheimer said at his post-game press conference.
The coach also said, “I'm going to look at everything,” referring to the stretch before Dallas plays again. The Cowboys had not planned to be 2-3 after five games, he said.
Brian Schottenheimer faces questions over Dallas’ defense
Bland’s missed chance came after a difficult night in coverage. A defensive holding penalty erased a 12-yard sack on third-and-5, extending Tampa Bay’s opening drive. The Buccaneers then moved 73 yards in 15 plays over 10 minutes, 58 seconds, and scored on Jalon Daniels’ 5-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Irving.
Dallas gave up another major gain after Prescott threw an interception in the third quarter. Bland fell in coverage, allowing Tez Johnson to make a 64-yard catch down the right seam. Irving finished that drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, putting Tampa Bay ahead 21-10.
The NFL’s count had Bland allowing three catches on five targets for 91 yards. He entered Thursday Night Football ranked #91 among qualifying cornerbacks with a 65.8 PFN Impact Score, according to the source report.
The loss raises a practical problem for Dallas: its offense can create a late opportunity, but the defense must give it more chances to recover when a play breaks down. Against Tampa Bay, Dallas allowed 241 rushing yards and forced no turnovers. The missed interception mattered, but it was part of a wider defensive failure that left little room for error late in the game.
Run defense compounds the Cowboys’ problems
Irving gained 165 yards on 21 carries, while Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards. Tampa Bay’s ground attack helped it control long stretches and keep pressure on a Cowboys defense that had trouble containing both the run and the pass.
Through five games, Dallas was allowing 168.8 rushing yards per game, the second-highest mark in franchise history after the 186.8 yards per game allowed in 1960. The Cowboys were also allowing an NFL-high 6.4 yards per play that season, according to the report.
The defense finished Week 5 with a PFN Defense Impact score of 72.1. Its season grade was 67.0, the second-worst mark, just ahead of the Detroit Lions.
Schottenheimer’s comments set an expectation for Bland, but the numbers point to a broader challenge for Dallas. The Cowboys allowed 241 rushing yards in the loss to Tampa Bay.
Source: si.com
