As is typically the case whenever a player or coach takes on his former team, the question of information sharing came up this week for Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams preparing to face the Arizona Cardinals.
Adams spent the past two years on Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon’s staff as the offensive line coach. He played a key role in Arizona’s run game and landed the OC job in Dallas under first year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
The Cowboys are one of three teams averaging 30 or more points per game along with the Colts and Lions.
In regards to sharing information about the Cardinals for this week’s game, Adams said he will help where he can but tampered the impact that would have.
“Anytime you have the ability to help your team, you do, but I’d also add that once a player’s been around long enough, the book is written,” Adams told reporters, specifically in regards to Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
“To be honest with you, there’s probably not as much of that as you would think, just because guys are gonna go in with their plan. It’s not the type of thing where when we’re playing the Jets, we’re spending 25 hours with Aaron Whitecotton asking every little detail. We’ve gotta figure out what we do well. … Of course, I’ll help with anything that I can help with, but at the end of the day, they’re gonna plan it the way they feel fits their defense.”
Adams elaborated that since the Cowboys and Cardinals have not faced many common opponents, he has not really watched Arizona’s offense this season.
Gannon has known Adams for a long time, as they were assistant coaches together in Indianapolis from 2019-20 before reuniting in Arizona. Gannon addressed the familiarity questions on Thursday.
“He was in our building for two years … when you put together a plan, what does he like to do, what were some of his adjustments when we’d practice versus each other, talking with him and knowing him a long time, what he believes in, all that stuff,” Gannon told reporters. “At the end of the day, they have different players, they have different schemes. We have different players, different schemes.”
Adams had never been an offensive coordinator before, but he helped orchestrate Arizona’s top-three run game from 2023-24 with James Conner leading the charge.
When he left, Adams felt the Cardinals were headed in the right direction.
“It felt like the two years that I was there, I had a very positive feeling things were moving upward and I think that they probably still feel that way,” Adams said.
He said it took him by surprise a bit how quickly he landed an offensive coordinator role, saying he was “full-bore” on improving the Cardinals in Year 3.
Dallas has been a team of extremes this season with the No. 2 total offense (384.1 yards per game), top passing offense (263.8) and second-worst scoring defense (31.3). Dak Prescott is third in passing yards, while George Pickens is third in receiving.
The Cowboys are 3-4-1 this year having scored 37 or more points four times while also allowing that many on three occasions.
They, like the Cardinals, have three fewer wins than their division leader, the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles, adding a sense of desperation for the primetime matchup with teams looking to avoid falling further behind.
The Cardinals enter Monday riding a five-game losing streak with each loss by one score.
Adams said he is very much looking forward to seeing Gannon.
“I was very happy to try to help him win a championship at his first head coaching opportunity, he’s a good friend,” Adams said.