From Stoutland University to Adam’s Academy, Cowboys to benefit from a seismic shift in the trenches

The coaching staff of the Philadelphia Eagles took a big hit last week when Jeff Stoutland announced he would no longer be sticking around as the team’s offensive line coach. After 13 seasons, the man who turned the Eagles’ offensive front into a factory of All-Pros has departed, leaving a huge void in the trenches that nobody seems to be making much of a fuss about. But this kind of feels like a big deal.

Stoutland’s résumé in Philly is quite impressive, helping the team take home two Super Bowl titles and producing a grand total of 27 Pro Bowl selections among his linemen. Those selections are spread across seven different players, with Jason Kelce (7), Lane Johnson (6), and Jason Peters (4) being the most notable. Under his watch, the Eagles’ offensive line consistently ranked in the top five of nearly every advanced metric and became the most stable and feared group in the NFL. His units allowed the lowest pressure rate over a five-year span, making life very comfortable for any quarterback standing behind them. He even hacked the quarterback sneak to the point that the NFL had to put things to a vote to determine if the “tush push” was a fair football play.

The Eagles will miss Stoutland greatly. His biggest strength was his developmental track record, famously transforming Jordan Mailata from a rugby player who had never worn a helmet into an All-Pro left tackle. Class was always in session, and repeated technical refinement was the key to acing his tests. With “Stoutland University” shutting down in Philly, the Eagles must figure out a new way to educate their offensive linemen.

Before Stoutland created the beasts of the east, Bill Callahan was widely considered the premier offensive line mind in the division. During his tenure in Washington, Callahan served as the assistant head coach and offensive line lead from 2015 to 2019, where he managed to keep a rotating door of quarterbacks upright. In 2016, his squad allowed just twenty-three sacks all season, ranking fourth in the league, and gave Washington a rare sense of stability.

Dallas fans should be all too familiar with Callahan, as he served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator and line coach from 2012 to 2014. He helped develop Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin, forming the nucleus of the Great Wall of Dallas 2.0. In 2014, his line paved the way for DeMarco Murray to rush for a franchise-record 1,845 yards, proving that a Callahan-led unit could move a mountain and open the floodgates for a top-notch rushing attack. After building a fortress in Dallas, he headed to D.C. to spread the love.

The strength of Callahan as a coach has always been his teaching aspect of the game and his high-level work ethic. Precision leverage is required, as was the motivation behind the invention of a blocking sled that only moves if his guys hit it in the right spot. His understanding of leverage and angles made him a physics professor for 300-pound pupils. He preaches attention to detail, with an emphasis on getting their hands and feet in the right place. Discipline and fundamentals are a must if you expect to graduate from Callahan College.

With Callahan and Stoutland no longer coaching in the NFC East, Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams has emerged as the most promising offensive line mind in the division. In his first year with the Cowboys, Adams oversaw an incredible resurgence of the Dallas front, helping the unit finish the year top 10 in rushing yards per attempt after finishing third-worst the year prior. Under his watch, the team became legit protectors despite dealing with numerous injuries along the offensive line.

Adams’ teachings emphasize violence in the trenches. His run schemes maximize leverage and put his guys in favorable spots on the field. His run designs are creative, offering multiple schemes and the flexibility to go from gap to zone-based, depending on what works best for any given week. It’s all about the details, and he gets the most from his players. Whether it’s with the Cowboys, the Arizona Cardinals, or the Indianapolis Colts before that, he is notorious for keeping the pressure off his quarterback.

The departure of Stoutland from Philadelphia marks the end of an era, but it also signals a clear passing of the torch to Klayton Adams in Dallas. With a young, rising-talent unit, the coaching staff has already proven they are on the up and up. The Cowboys now boast a strong offensive line coaching staff, and it seems the balance of power has finally migrated back to Texas, with the advanced teachings having now shifted from Stoutland University to Adam’s Academy.