Brian Schottenheimer identifies two improvement priorities for Cowboys ahead of Cardinals preseason rematch

Dallas enters its second preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals later this week with a clear message from head coach Brian Schottenheimer: the Cowboys need to get better in two specific areas before the regular season begins to take shape. In an update released by the team, Schottenheimer outlined what he wants the coaching staff and players to focus on as they build continuity from one week of preseason work to the next.

The emphasis matters beyond this particular game because preseason snaps are treated as evaluation time, but also as a rehearsal for the standards Dallas expects when games count. In that framework, the coach’s choice of “two areas” indicates that he believes the team’s development can be measured quickly, not in broad strokes. The Cardinals look ahead of time like a familiar opponent with distinct personnel and game-planning challenges, which makes each improvement target more testable than it would be against a different matchup.

Schottenheimer’s remarks also set a tone for how Dallas intends to approach the next week of practice and game preparation. Rather than listing an exhaustive checklist, the head coach highlighted two priorities, which typically suggests the staff wants progress that shows up on the field in tangible ways: fewer missed assignments, better execution in moments that decide drives, and more consistent play across the same base concepts.

While Schottenheimer did not frame the update as a major structural overhaul, the timing is notable. The second preseason game is often the point where teams tighten their internal rotation plans and align more closely with how their lineups will function when the roster shrinks. That increases the pressure on players to demonstrate they can apply coaching points under game tempo, not only in practice settings.

For fans, the main takeaway is that the Cowboys are treating this matchup with Arizona as more than a continuation of exhibition work. The head coach’s two-part focus implies that he expects visible changes from the prior outing, and that those changes will be judged at game speed. If Dallas can show improved quality in the areas Schottenheimer called out, it would help the team carry forward a clearer identity going into the final phase of preseason evaluation.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, bring their own scheme adjustments and roster turnover habits that can expose weaknesses quickly. Preseason games are where teams often learn how well their plans hold up when the opponent plays with different personnel packages than the ones used in earlier weeks. That is why an opponent like Arizona can serve as a sharper measuring stick for Dallas’ targeted improvements.

The next step is simple: watch for the two areas Schottenheimer highlighted when the Cowboys take the field later this week. Whether it shows up through cleaner fundamentals, improved discipline, or better decision-making, the game functions as the first formal checkpoint of the preseason-to-regular-season transition for the coaching staff.

If the Cowboys deliver on the specific items Schottenheimer mentioned, that would suggest the team is trending in the direction of more reliable execution as roster decisions approach. If not, the second preseason matchup will likely intensify the urgency of those coaching priorities as Dallas turns toward final preseason weeks and the start of the regular season workload.