What has already been an interesting off-season for the Dallas Cowboys, some news that fans might have yet to catch or pay much attention to is the recent moves they have made on the coaching staff.
Per multiple sources, Jeff Blasko has moved from assistant offensive line coach to run game coordinator/running backs coach; Scott Tolzien will now be the quarterbacks’ coach; Scott McCurley will re-take the linebacker job, and Cannon Matthews will be the assistant defensive backs coach.
The Cowboys also hired quality control/defensive assistant Pete Ohnegian Friday afternoon.
Cowboys coaching staff updates, per multiple sources: Jeff Blasko has moved from assistant OL coach to run game coordinator/RBs coach; Scott Tolzien will be quarterbacks coach; Scott McCurley will re-take the LB spot; Cannon Matthews will be the assistant defensive backs coach.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 22, 2023
I will be the first to tell you I know very little about any of these coaches, and I know Mike McCarthy kept the guys he wanted on the staff after others departed for different teams.
We already know Dallas hired Brian Schottenheimer as the new offensive coordinator after they relieved Kellen Moore of that job. The Cowboys also lost the likes of Joe Philbin, Leon Lett, Skip Peete, and George Edwards.
As I’ve noted plenty of times this month, this season is all on McCarthy. He has complete control of how this team runs and whether they will succeed in 2023. It’s not a matter of if this team will make the playoffs because they will, and it will be a matter of if he can do enough with the to help of these guys to reach a conference final or a Super Bowl.
The two biggest ones in my opinion are Blasko and Tolzien. That is really because they are the only guys I have ever heard of.
JEFF BLASKO
Blasko had been the Cowboys’ assistant offensive line coach since McCarthy was hired as head coach in 2020. Blasko worked under McCarthy with the Packers from 2016-2018, the last two as Green Bay’s assistant offensive line coach.
As we can see, McCarthy is keeping the guys he has been close with and has a relationship with whom he’s had success over the years. Blasko started his coaching career at the collegiate before moving to the NFL.
SCOTT TOLZIEN
Tolzien replaces Doug Nussmeier, whose contract wasn’t renewed and now is in the same role with the Chargers. He spent three seasons as an offensive assistant with the Cowboys.
Another guy who has a connection to McCarthy. He played for him in Green Bay, serving as a backup quarterback for the Packers from 2013-15. Tolzien made two starts and appeared in four other games with the team.
He last played in the NFL in 2017 with the Colts and then spent time with the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football a year ago.
Those two guys are the only ones I had heard of; that is a little background on who they are.
Dallas Cowboys coaching staff over the last 5 years: pic.twitter.com/SKUf5h9xlG
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 24, 2023
It will be hard to evaluate these coaches because we may only see them once or twice during a game on the sidelines. The only way to know if they are doing a good enough job will be the play on the field from their respective groups.
All the chips are in McCarthy’s corner this season, and if the Cowboys don’t perform, things may get ugly next off-season.
