FRISCO, Texas – On a coaching staff, it never hurts to have an extra set of eyes. Brian Schottenheimer added an experienced set in Ken Dorsey to his staff as a passing game specialist, and he's ready to bring what he's learned to the table in Dallas.
"Anytime you come into a new situation and anew group of coaches… you should try to bring your past experiences, your value, another set of eyes within the realm of what we want to do systematically, and I think Schotty's laid that out very clearly to everybody." Dorsey said.
"There's a very clear direction, a very clear vision, it's black and white, there's no grey, and when you have that as a coach, it's very easy for you to say 'Okay, here's how I can help.'"
Dorsey spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and was previously in the same role for two seasons with the Buffalo Bills. In this role, he'll focus more on constructing the offense as a whole and chip in with help wherever he can.
"I'm helping out with the offense in general, I'll be able to go where needed in terms of helping out position groups and things like that," Dorsey explained. "I'm going to be able to help a lot with tying the pass game with the run game and some off the pass concepts and things like that, but it's I think more of a big picture role more so than a specific one lane type deal."
When it comes to what the offense will look like schematically, Dorsey echoed the same sentiments that Schottenheimer and the rest of the staff have as well – the Cowboys are focused on using the ground game to set up everything else.
"We're going to be a team that's going to run the football and be able to utilize that as a strength for us and then utilize our guys and be able to adjust our system based off of our guys' strengths." Dorsey said.
One of the key pieces of the puzzle will be maximizing Dak Prescott when he returns for the 2025 season and beyond. Dorsey has coached high level quarterbacks like 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen in the past, and was complimentary of what Prescott has been able to do in his nine NFL seasons.
"He's got a tremendous skill set, he can make all the throws that you can ask for…" Dorsey said of Prescott. "He's got tremendous experience in this league. For a quarterback position, the more reps you get in a game, the more you're reacting instead of thinking, it's just a natural reaction, you can play faster and faster and faster."
In order to get him playing faster, Dorsey knows that he and the Cowboys offensive staff will have to continue to make Prescott feel comfortable. With that comes the need to add players whether it be through the draft or free agency to help that cause, and he's of the belief that the offensive scheme should focus more on adjusting to players rather than players adjusting to the scheme.
"You don't want to pass up on good players that can help you win because he doesn't fit this or that," Dorsey said. "If we can adjust and utilize the players we have and utilize them in that way, and then whenever we add those pieces to be able to utilize and maximize them."
Dorsey has admired the Cowboys and their roster from afar, and is looking forward to now being able to work alongside Schottenheimer and his staff in Dallas in the hopes of building something special like those that have come before them.
"It's an exciting group from the outside looking in, and I think that's why it's such an appealing job," Dorsey said. "And then obviously it being one of the most premier franchises in the league, to be able to coach here and coach in [AT&T] Stadium and coach in this facility walking the footsteps of some of the great people who have been here, that's very exciting."
