One thing about an NFL locker room is that they can sense when something is authentic and when something is being forced, and for Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, he has the players picking up what he's putting down.
With a key emphasis on relationships and creating a culture that is built on the entire franchise adhering to a certain standard, while also having great energy and vibes at practice and in the meeting rooms, you will be hard-pressed to find anyone that has been down at ground level with Schotty, say anything negative about what he's building.
And now comes Cowboys' COO Stephen Jones with his thoughts on Schotty's energy and vibes at OTA practice.
“Oh, I love it,” Jones said with a smile. “The biggest thing of all is between him and his staff, it's authentic. You see the energy, it's natural, it's rubbing off on the players. You see Dak out there getting involved and having a lot of fun with it.
"That's the thing about this game, people started playing because they love it and you want to make it fun and you want the energy levels high and I think Coach Schottenheimer is getting that done and getting it done in a way that the players embrace it and want to be a part of it.”
One word stands out there. Authentic.
Says our Cowboys insider Mike Fisher: "That's his favorite word, it seems. 'Authentic.' He's committed to it ... and it seems like the players can sense that.''
This is who Schottenheimer is. And he vowed in his introductory press conference that he wouldn't change who he is now that he sits in the big chair, and it's clear that players and staff alike are gravitating towards Brian the coach, as well as Brian the person.
And that, my friends, is a big deal.
There is a real connection. A real relationship is being built between Schottenheimer and his players. It's not forced; it's authentic.
There is change happening at The Star, and the overriding thought from what has transpired both on and off the field, regarding what Schottenheimer is doing, is that this is who the head coach is.
And it's clear that whatever Schottenheimer is doing, this locker room is responding, and responding in a resounding way.
