Calif. — As the joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams came to an end on Aug. 11 in Woodland Hills, California, an interesting scene took place
With the Rams walking to their locker room after the two-hour practice, the Cowboys lined up on the goal line ready for some 20-yard sprints. More than one of the Rams shook their head or made some under-the-breath comments about it, almost glad they did not have to do something that is associated more with college or high school workouts.
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown went up to quarterback Dak Prescott after practice and asked if they were going to run their sprints.
I’m like, ‘Yeah, if ya’ll want to run
“I’m like, ‘Yeah, if ya’ll want to run. … I know we got it in us over here,'” Prescott said. “Yeah, just like a normal practice. Let’s go get a run in, get better.”
So for an extra 10 minutes or so, all of the healthy players ran a series of sprints before taking off their pads and heading to the buses for the 45-minute bus ride back to Oxnard.
It was actually the second straight practice the players asked to run the sprints. On Aug. 9, which was Family Day, coach Brian Schottenheimer had the players line up like normal and brought the group together, calling off the conditioning — until the players requested to run the sprints like normal, even if it was Family Day at camp with wives, girlfriends, children, moms and dads in attendance.
We got the right guys, Schottenheimer said
“We got the right guys,” Schottenheimer said. “The leadership of this football team are some of our best players, and historically that means you’re going to have a lot of success.”
August sprints may or may not impact September through January wins, although Schottenheimer told his players in the offseason that he wanted to have the best conditioned team in the league.
But the fact that the players continued to do the sprints even when not required indicates a willingness of the group to work for the greater good.
In his second year, Schottenheimer, with the recommendations
In his second year, Schottenheimer, with the recommendations of his coordinators, put together an 11-player leadership council. In his first season, Schottenheimer wanted a “one voice” approach — his — although he would often meet with players to get the pulse of what the locker room was feeling.
The 11 players on the 2026 leadership council are Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, Jake Ferguson, Javonte Williams, Bryan Anger, Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, and Jalen Thompson.
The council meets about every two weeks to discuss things that have happened and what might happen down the road. They each have a subset of players with whom they speak to get a feel for the locker room. From there, they give Schottenheimer ideas, feedback and suggestions.
“At the end of the day, it’s their council,” Schottenheimer said. “It’s not mine.”
Prescott was a given, of course
Prescott was a given, of course. He has been this team’s de facto leader almost since he arrived in 2016. But Clark carries a big voice on the council. Acquired a week before the season last year in the Micah Parsons trade, the defensive tackle did not want to “step on anybody’s toes” when he arrived. He led more by doing than talking.
“Everybody’s embracing everybody,” Clark said. “I think it’s just how you go about your business every day, how you lead the team, doing what you’re doing.”
In recent years when leadership was talked about with the Cowboys, it was almost entirely about Prescott. His personality transcends the locker room, speaking with undrafted free agents as much as he speaks with stars like Lamb and George Pickens.
While on the council, Prescott views himself as one of the 11.
That was purposeful
“That was purposeful. I couldn’t be the, whatever you want to call it, the chief leader in there because I’m going to speak up. I’m going to talk,” Prescott said. “I know what I know, and I’m not going to be hesitant to say it, but we need other guys to take that lead. And Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary and Tyler Smith have been those guys to step up and they’re doing a hell of a job.”
Schottenheimer knows Prescott will always have a voice, but he is glad the responsibility is being shared.
“I want those guys to speak up, and so it’s really cool that those guys step up before Dak has to say things,” Schottenheimer said.
The burden of leadership has not worn down
The burden of leadership has not worn down Prescott, but he is happy others are more involved.
“When you’ve got guys like we do on that council, veteran guys, for me, it’s good to have guys on different teams,” Prescott said. “I know what I know. And sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s a bad thing. And so you’ve got other guys that can come in and say, ‘This is a way that we’ve done it,’ or ‘I’ve had it like this in the past.’ And not necessarily those are the right ways, but it gives you a different perspective, gives you a way to look at different solutions to get to things.”
Prescott’s voice still carries a lot of weight. Clark, entering his 11th season, said he constantly learns from Prescott.
Dak’s done so much for this organization,
“Dak’s done so much for this organization, but just taking a little off of Dak, I mean, he’s a total pro and does things the right way all the time,” Clark said. “I think he’s pretty happy he’s got a bunch of guys behind him that’s on the same type of time that he’s on.”
Some of the other choices were of note. Of the four defensive players — Quinnen Williams, Clark, Gary and Thompson — none were with the team at this time a year ago.
When the Cowboys signed Williams to a three-year contract extension worth $105.9 million on Aug. 10, one of the first things executive vice president Stephen Jones mentioned was his leadership.
We didn’t have a lot of leadership
“We didn’t have a lot of leadership on defense for the last couple of years,” Jones said. “Now to have him and Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary, I think has really picked it up over there in terms of culture and the leadership.”
Booker is entering his second year and is only 22. He was a captain at Alabama. He was a captain at IMG Academy. During his rookie season, Schottenheimer encouraged Booker to speak up more.
“That means a lot, first and foremost, to be seen as a leader by so many great men on this team and all my coaches,” Booker said. “It really means a lot. It’s truly a blessing, and that’s something that I’m very proud of and I’m going to have to live up to the standard, too.”
There is a mix of personality among
There is a mix of personality among the group. Clark and Williams are more reserved. Ferguson is more outgoing. Smith learned from Zack Martin and Tyron Smith that when you speak is as important as how much you speak. Williams is more introverted.
Schottenheimer admits he can run “hot and cold a lot” and wanted a group that would complement his style.
“Kenny Clark, he is a man of few words, but I would follow that guy anywhere. I really would,” Schottenheimer said. “And so Kenny’s got to be himself. If you look at our leadership council, I would say that a lot of the guys on the council aren’t jumping around going upbeat like I am. I mean, Quinnen’s not that way. [Smith] isn’t that way. But they’re all what? They’re all leading the way that they are. Jalen Thompson, Javonte Williams. I would follow Javonte Williams anywhere. Why? Because his heart’s in the right spot. He loves football. He loves his teammates. He wants to win.”
Ultimately that’s what matters most, but the council
Ultimately that’s what matters most, but the council can help steer the direction when adversity hits in a way that coaches cannot.
“There’s a saying that the best team police themselves,” Ferguson said. “It’s one thing to have a coach or have somebody saying it, but when you got a guy who cares enough, a brother who cares enough to tell you and hold you accountable … that’s how you create that strong brotherhood. And that’s all we’re trying to do.”
Source: www.espn.com
