“Discipline or Bust! Schottenheimer Slams Cowboys’ Pre-Snap Penalties: ‘We’re Not Accepting That!’”

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t just lose a preseason game to the Los Angeles Rams — they lost 83 yards to penalty flags, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer isn’t letting anyone off the hook. The first-year head coach is making it crystal clear: No more excuses, and no more sloppy mistakes.

“Six pre-snap penalties on offense? That’s just unacceptable,” Schottenheimer blasted Monday. “It’s awful. And it’s not going to be tolerated. We will not allow that to happen again. If we aren’t disciplined, that falls on me as the head coach and on the coaching staff.”

It wasn’t just the penalties themselves—11 total flags—from CeeDee Lamb’s

unsportsmanlike conduct to Asim Richards’ back-to-back illegal formations. What stings even more is that many of those penalties came in the red zone. Two, maybe three, by Schottenheimer’s count. And anyone who’s watched football knows: there’s no quicker way to kill a scoring opportunity than turning 1st-and-goal into 1st-and-15.

That’s why Schottenheimer isn’t just talking the talk. He’s ready to make some tough calls, and that means benching players who commit repeat penalties, no matter how talented or how high they’re ranked on the depth chart.

“If you’re going to commit pre-snap penalties, we won’t play you. Period.” Schottenheimer’s message couldn’t be clearer. “Why would we put ourselves at a disadvantage and hand the opponent five free yards? We’re not doing that.”

This isn’t just a coach being frustrated; this is Schottenheimer setting the tone for the entire season. Discipline isn’t a suggestion—it’s a non-negotiable standard.

But Schottenheimer didn’t stop there. He made it abundantly clear that discipline doesn’t solely fall on the players. “My job, and the coaches’ job, is to make sure these players understand why discipline is so critical. Why should we give up free yards? Why?”

It’s an old-school approach, but it’s one the Cowboys might desperately need. Under Mike McCarthy last season, penalties were a serious issue, and while this is only preseason, Schottenheimer isn’t wasting any time. He’s already treating penalties like the drive-killing, game-costing mistakes they are. This isn’t just a preseason issue; it’s a problem that could define their season if it’s not addressed now.

The message is loud and clear: If you can’t get it right in the basics, like lining up properly, then you don’t belong on this team. It’s a no-nonsense approach that could be just what the Cowboys need to set them apart from other teams.

As Schottenheimer continues to send his message loud and clear, the question remains: Will the Cowboys finally break their bad habits and start playing with the discipline that Schottenheimer demands? Or will this preseason serve as another warning sign of what could go wrong if the Cowboys don’t clean up their act?

Stay tuned — the Cowboys are on a mission to turn this thing around, and Schottenheimer isn’t backing down.

(438) Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams Game Highlights | 2025 Preseason Week 1 – YouTube