Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer takes blame: ‘The buck stops with me’

Brian Schottenheimer isn't blaming anyone else for the Dallas Cowboys' defensive problems last season. Not even the coach who was running the unit.

When asked about the dramatic turnover on defense, Schottenheimer pushed back on the idea that former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was solely responsible.

Brian Schottenheimer takes responsibility for Cowboys defense

The question came after a reporter pointed out just how different the Cowboys' defense looks compared with a year ago.

According to the reporter, 15 players who were part of Dallas' final defensive group last season aren't currently on NFL rosters. Schottenheimer didn't want to get caught up in the exact number, but he didn't dispute the larger point.

Dallas needed to get better.

That could have given Schottenheimer an easy opportunity to point toward Eberflus. Instead, he put the responsibility on himself.

“I didn't for one second think it was solely Matt Eberflus,” Schottenheimer said. “If anything, I put it all on me. It was all me. The buck stops with me as a head coach.”

That's a significant admission considering how aggressively Dallas has changed its defense since last season.

Schottenheimer said the Cowboys became much more specific about what they wanted from their defensive coordinator and, just as importantly, what type of personnel fit the scheme.

The result is a roster he believes looks considerably different.

“You put them right there, last year's roster, this year's roster, anybody, even yourself, could see the difference,” Schottenheimer said.

He later called the difference “remarkable.”