Cowboys Break: Addition By Subtraction?

twenty twenty, Season sixteen, episode number fifty three. Welcome to the latest edition of The Break Worldlife from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. Got Nick David Amber with me and we're ready talk some Cowboys Cowboys football, if you guys for the next forty five minutes. We will be joined by Bucky Brooks in the second segment today. Well, he will help us start breaking down the Philadelphia Eagles

will talk about their offense versus the Cowboys defense. But before we get to that, we've got news related items we need to talk about. There are some personal changes happening. We alluded to that yesterday on the show based upon some of the comments that Jerry Jones gave in his interview on one one five Dot three The Fan and the first Domino falls yesterday with the Cowboys trading Everson Griffin. Dave talking to me about what the Cowboys got out

of this trade deal. So it's a conditional pick, which is the type of thing you hear in deals like this. It sounds like it can be as good as a fifth rounder or a sixth. And the thing is, we don't know what those parameters are. Maybe it's a certain number of games, and maybe he has to sit hit a certain number of threshold, you know, a threshold of snaps or sacks or games on the active roster. You know. I would imagine if the Lions cut him in three weeks,

you're probably not getting a round pick. So we'll have to see what that is. But they're gonna get a Day three pick in return. Amber whether it's a fifth or sixth round pick. Was it worth it? Is it worth that to to get rid of I guess a guy that's although he hasn't been great, I think this last game may have been the best game that he's played so far, not really seeing what he could become,

is it worth it? Well, if you don't really know that, it wasn't going to work out with him then then yeah, I mean, you can try to get whatever you can get it. It's better than anything then, you know, than just cutting him. But it makes me wonder, I mean, are the Cowboys really better right now? I don't know, it's a question mark. I'm I know we are gonna get to see probably more Bradley and I and Randy Gregory, but I wonder how they're gonna start developing with getting

more snaps on the field. I know that Nick and I hope he can talk about this. I know that we're certain things that that Nick has mentioned and as far as maybe his attitude and the things that he brings around the team, some things that we haven't been able to see Bud. Because Nick does travel with the team, he's getting a little better feel of what the dynamic is over there. So sorry, Nick, to put you on the spot, but I think that that's something that that's

also important. Yeah, I do, thank you for the said sorry. No, I mean, it's you know what, that's That's why I guess that's one of the reasons why I'm there. I mean, I mean that that that and I'm and I'm again I've said it. I'm very grateful to be on the trips and I miss you guys being there with with me. For sure. I do. I definitely do, trust me, um. But but yeah, there are some things that I don't

necessarily like to see. But that doesn't you know, you can't judge by people just by what they what they do and how they you know, walk around and all that. It's a different mentality when you're playing football. You know, these guys could be paralyzed at any snap, so to go through a game and all that, you know, we think they should be mad and upset and throwing things around and punching doors and stuff like that, but they don't act like that. And that's okay. He is, he's

in that other side. I mean he's he's this is eleven year career for him. So he was walking. I saw him after the game. It didn't look like that game bothered him, and that bothers fans because that game is still bothering some people that are listening right now. They're still mad, and it does. It didn't seem I could be wrong. He was very professional when he did his interview afterwards. He was he said, yes, I'll do it. A pr asked him he said, yeah, I'll go do it,

but he did. It doesn't seem like he really cared that much, and and and about some of the other things. I could be wrong there if I am, I'm sorry, But you know, if they say perception is reality, then the perception is is that you know this, this is how they were playing. Didn't bother him that much. I'm not sure that that that's why he was dealt, but you know, and I didn't like Mike McCarthy's press conference today.

He said he it's been excellent. I well, then why are you training away an excellent player if you're two and five? I don't understand that. So why can't you just say, you know, yeah, that's a dad don't the team captain thing because Xavier Woods said a comment he shouldn't have said, and he gets to be the captain. And then Everson Griffin, who clearly wasn't as happy, and he gets to be a captain too. I don't like that.

I don't like what McCarthy's doing with the captains. I don't think it's a good uh, you know, whatever, whatever he's doing. I don't think that that works. But all in all, I don't think they're better. I'm sorry, I'm rambling. I don't think they're better than they were, But that's not what it's about. I think that this is an

addition by subtraction. They wanted to get rid of him, Dave, do you think that they gave this enough time to see if he could play and fit here and be an option even for the future, because we know right now, again he hadn't played great and they're halfway through the season. It's not like that was gonna change a ton, But do you think they gave it enough time to see if maybe he was an as a player that they wanted to keep a few two years. I mean that

that's not really up to them, is it. I mean, he's a free agent at the end of the year, and anybody that wants him can sign him. Um it. You know, it's hard to it's hard to judge with the access that we have, but it didn't seem like it was a great fit. They dealt him before the halfway point of the season. Seems to suggest that it

wasn't a great fit. You know, I think I think he's still a good player, but for this team, you know, for you know, we talk about you know, Mike McCarthy is is still going to need to build this team in his image the way that he wants it. I think you're more likely to do that with draft picks than with thirty year old pass rushers who are way closer to the end of their career than the beginning.

So yeah, I think they gave it plenty of I mean, you know this, this is going to be an uphill battle for this team to be, to be a playoff contender, to be anything like that. So I would rather get a draft pick than that he wants to hang around when this season is over with. Yeah, I agree, Dave. I think this was this was a piece that was one of the final pieces to go try to win a Super Bowl. And I mean, as funny as that sounds now, but that's exactly what this was. It was like, hey,

they got everything in place. The offense is great, they need a little bit more on defense. You know, Let's see if he can be what Robert Quinn was for

this defense. And you know, and then if that's not going to happen and it's not his fault, but it's not going to happen, then he's a progress stopper and Amber mentioned an I and Gregory that's what all the fans want to see, and and and McCarthy, you know, probably frustrated them by saying, oh, Dorin's Armstrong would be ahead of that, but Dorn's Armstrong is gonna get some some work in as well. Yeah, okay, Um, so that was they've Oh, that didn't mean to be like that

too exciting, My bad. Um, so they've they've already made the deal for Wheverson Griffin. There are reports out there, um that don Terry Poe and Darryl Worley have been told that they will essentially be traded or or or released here soon. Yeah. I think it's important really, and I know most fans might know this. It's important to know that this show, this show, we take this show

live right now at eleven thirty Central. It's important to know because you're you're gonna be driving tonight or whatever. They're not gonna be on the team. They're not and everyone's gonna know that, and they're like, what are they talking about. We take this show right now. The practice is going on, and I don't think they're there. And McCarthy would not would not answer the question and ask exactly so I think I think for there's smoke, there's

certainly fire here. But I asked that question or I bring that up because when you look at it, Nick, you and I were having this conversation before we went on the air. You look at the free agent that the cow free agents or just veteran signings that the Cowboys had this offseason, there are only three that I can recall that are still on this team. You got Alden Smith, Blake Bell and Greg's Airline that are still here, Gerald McCoy and Haha Clinton Dix didn't even make it

to the regular season, and Everson Griffin. You got don Terry Poe, and you got Darryl Worley who presumably won't make it halfway through the season. Does this say something and highlight maybe there's a problem with Dallas's philosophy and strategy when it comes to how they deal with free agents and how they deal with offseason veteran signings of players heading into their upcoming season. Let's start first with you,

Amber Well. I think this is something that we can be a little bit more judgmental on because one you're speaking about veteran guys, and two this is way before or not way before, but before really the pandemic actually fully hit us. So one. The Cowboys are great at bringing in talent when it comes to the draft. The scouting team I think do an amazing job, but I've never ever liked anything that they really do in free agency when it comes to veteran I feel that they're

always trying to save money. They're always trying to be a little too conservative, not really trying to bring someone that's like super impact for a big name guy. And to me from it, hopefully my memory is serving me wrong, but they haven't been that successful when it comes to free agency as far as the guys being really good for the team once they come in. So um, you

guys have hopefully better memory than me. But that's just how I see it, where they just don't don't really And I don't want to say try that hard, because I know they work really hard, but it just feels that I just wish they would be more extravagant when it comes to free agency. Dave, I don't even want them to be extravagant. I just want them to be competitive. Yeah, I mean, this isn't this isn't new. I think we've realized there was a flaw in their strategy for a

few years at this point. I think I think I officially, I officially jumped off the bandwagon of the way they do free agency when they wouldn't give Tyrn Matthew a one year, you know, eight million dollar deal when he was coming off an injury. And that's not that's not when he signed for big money with the Chiefs. That was when the Texans got him for pennies for the caliber a player that he is, and their unwillingness to get involved in that really turned me off. Um, I

get it. Free agency is dangerous. You don't want to all you don't want to be the team that's handing out the most money, and free agency it very rarely works. I think Stephen Jones is right about that. But you have to be able to strike a balance, and and they haven't. They haven't really been willing to do that. They preferred to bargain hunt. I do feel bad. You know, they gave Gerald McCoy a decent amount of money and

that could have been a really good signing. It's it's crappy luck for them that they didn't get anything out of him. But for the most part, you know, Aldon Smith has been a revelation, but like, if that's your strategy to fix your pass rush, that never sat well with me. Is like banking on a long shot. Is

this great strategy? Or you know the other guys like haha, Clinton Dix was a big name because he was a first round pick, but plenty of people questioned whether he was actually an upgrade or we can take this thing back. You know, Alan Hearns and Deonte Thompson being your big signings to help replace Dez Bryant. I'm not sure about that one. You know, we can talk about the problems with swing tackle, which is an issue with how many injuries that they've had at the tackle position over the

last four years. I think you've got to be willing to spend a little bit more money. And this isn't this isn't new. You know, we can go down the list of yeah, you know, bring up the Chiefs again. Think about the additions they've made in free agency to shore up their team. Think about you know, the Eagles. A big chunk of how they built that Super Bowl team in twenty seventeen was with smart free agent signings.

So you got to be able to do both. You got to draft well, but you have to identify things that you're willing to spend money on. And I don't think the Cowboys have done a good enough job of that. Nick with all the big money that they're spending to go to what Day's talking about, all the big money that they're having to spend on some of the veteran guys that they are keeping on the team, do they have the money in free agency to be able to be as free as I think we all are requesting

that they be. We're all wanting them to spend a little bit more money. But do they have the money when they're having to keep these other guys big money? Not really, I mean, and that's and the Dave said it, and I mean Amber said it too. They that's not been their philosophy. Their their philosophy has been to try to build through the draft. I think through the free agency they're trying to patch holes and so uh and and and like like we've all said, bargain hunt, you know,

try you know, and what get what you pay for? Yeah, you know, I mean you know where you want to shop, if you want to shop there, good luck, you know, they might get something but don't be surprised when it doesn't work out. And you know, I think we all kind of fell into that. I know I did. I thought this was going to be, you know, much better signings. But I mean their questions were out there why Carolina

was so bad on defense last year? And Gerald McCoy and Dan Terry Pope were sitting right in the middle of that of that line. So uh, you know. But but I'll say this, I had somebody tell me, and this is scary. Daryl Worley was the highest graded cornerback they had last year when they raided the cornerbacks for the he played for the Raiders, and then all the cornerbacks that they had on the team, Daryl Whorley was

the highest graded player that they had. Wait, he was when you had all the quarterbacks, all the cornerbacks on the Dallas team. Yeah, and then Daryl Whorley he had the highest grade from line from Jordan Lewis Cheetah and the guys from the Cowboys and then also yeah, wow, but he he might have been. That just goes to show where where they are. And because he hasn't played well here, let's let's be clear, he has not played

well here. Don Terry Poe has not played well here, So I don't I don't think these are situations where you're talking about guys that came in here and they played pretty good, but it was just a bad team. Like they were a part, they were a big part of the problem. Did Worley make a play? I mean, like Worley did be on the team. Yeah, it's good a few of those. Did he that's my line? Thank you? You set me up? Did with your line? Did he? I mean, did Poe do anything other than I mean,

he must have done on the goal line stand? Poe did his job. He had to. You're the nose tackle and they ran a quarterb any nose tackle when they do a quarterback sneak and they don't score. The nose tackle did his job. He must have done something. I got you. Yeah, but he I mean, he had headlines for other reasons and that and that's that's fine. That's that's that's just the only headline he had, is what I'm saying. Man, I think that's irrelevant to the what

he did on the field. Like he just did not perform on the field. And I think it was very very apparent that he didn't perform on the field. So I don't think anyone right now is looking at these guys as, hey, well, maybe you should give it a little more time, particularly Whirling and Poe. I think that you already seeing it because their time on the field was actually declining because they just knew they were a liability for them. We're gonna go and take our first break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Bucky Brooks of NFL Network. He'll talk to us about the Philadelphia offense versus the Dallas defense till then we'll be right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. We're back in the tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and Creep Soda. Let's listen Doctor Baba cream sodas he a new Combonut's music to my Ears? Okay, Doctor back time pans Music's my ears and mouths, New

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We're joined by Bucky Brooks of NFL Network, and Bucky, I think you caught a little bit of the conversation we had there in the last segment where we were talking about the Cowboys philosophy when it comes to free agent signings and veteran signings in the offseason, and I thought you had an interesting perspective. Tell us a little bit about what you think could be going on here and why Dallas has had such bad luck, particularly this

year with some of these guys that they signed. Free agents are always tough because what you're doing is you're looking at another team's player and a player playing in another scheme and trying to project how he would play in your scheme and how he would fit. You also have to figure out what is his locker room demeanor, like, what's his football character life in terms of blending it. In this year, there was so much flux in terms of the offseason program. So you have Mike Nolan and

Mike McCarthy, those guys coming in. Mike Nolan telling the personnel department, here's what I like. These are my ideal traits that I wanted certain positions the Cowboys listening to him and then going and trying to shop to find guys to fit. And the thing that the personnel department didn't have, they didn't have any film. They hadn't seen that scheme play out in real life, so they didn't really see what kind of players can make that scheme

come to life. And so you take some chances on some guys and then you get him here and it doesn't necessarily work out, be it because of the football character or the playing ability. For whatever reason, it didn't work out, But I kind of applaud them, because I feel like now was the time that you have to pull the plug on this because it wasn't going any where. And if you're Mike McCarthy and you're going to put your stamp on this team, the best way to do

it is to do it with the young guys. You gotta give those young guys an opportunity to play because you still have a chance to change their habits. You can change the habits. Have ever seen Griffin, Daryl Worley, and don Arry Pole. They are what they are as players and as people. All Right, So let's go ahead and jump into the conversation around the Cowboys and the Eagles. So they were focusing on the Eagles offense versus the Dallas defense. Talk to me about the what is the

greatest strength of this Philadelphia offense? Obviously, I know that Carson Wentz is the really the guy that it's kind of based on right now because they've had so many injuries at the skill positions. But outside of him and kind of using what he does well, who is that next player or position that you think provides a strength for this Philadelphia offense. It's funny, man, because I feel like the conversation has been the same every time I

come on. Particularly we were talking about nfcast teams. They're a team that they don't really have marquee players. Zach Ertz right now is on i R. He's unavailable, Dallas Goddard maybe he comes back, whatever he's been injured. They really have been able to do it with practice squad guys that have been elevated. So Travis Fogum is someone that they have found and he has been the leader receiver for them. Two hundred and fifty seven yards three touchdowns.

His totals since Week four are the third most International Football League. Greg Ward has pitched in and fully made the conversion from being a quarterback to being a standout slide receiver. He has three touchdowns. Outside of that, I mean, it's a hodgepig of people that just kind of come in and out of the game. Boston Scott, Jason Crum, a bunch of different guys that are making contributions, and Carson Wentz is kind of making it go. But I'm gonna be honest with you, he has not played at

a high level. It is a bit of a Jucklin Hyde scenario. When you get him, he'll play good. In the first quarter, He'll disappeared the second and third quarter, then Rea here in the fourth quarter and play great, and that has been good enough to get them close to the winner circle sometimes. So you know, it's one of those games where I don't know where the production is going to come from the Eagles, but they just kind of find a way to get it done, and

they've been playing better of late. Lucky, when things aren't going too great in your own team, you tend to start looking at opponents and kind of look at the things that they're doing, and they're starting to be successful at I think that with the Eagles, you can argue that, yeah, they haven't been a great team at all this season, but I feel that they are starting to trend upwards

and doing some things a little bit better. What would be an area that you would say that you've seen some good improvement throughout this season and how were they able to do that? I think the best thing that they have done is they've tried as much as they can to continue to innovate to give their quarterback the best chance to succeed. I would say that Carson Wentz has really been struggling. Obviously, you look at the number

of turnovers that he's had. He is not playing to the level of expectation for a franchise quarterback, much less someone that was taken second. Overall, they have added more tempo to this offense. They tried to go faster. He appears to play better when they're operating at a quick because it simplifies things not only for the offense but for the defense. But the best thing that they can do is to get him to kind of play within himself.

He has a tendency to make these hero plays and these crazy throws, to going across the field and doing those things, and that's when the turnovers are coming. He also has tried to be something that he's not. He has tried to fancy himself as a traditional drop back passer, and his game is not such where he can do that. He has to lean into his athleticism. He has to run, he has to get on the move and make some plays outside the pocket for him to fully maximize his talents.

He said, not good enough just to stand in the pocket and deal that. That has not been the strength of his game. Bucky, I'm gonna I'm gonna take a page out of Knicks playbook, Like, at this point I care a lot less about what the Eagles are doing than I've like then obviously what we're seeing from the stats defense, I'm curious in your mind. Let's just assume you know, Everson Griffin's already gone. I think Daryl Worley and Dontari Pope won't be long for the roster either.

If you take those three guys off this defense and put three younger guys, like even if they're not as experienced or maybe not as talented right now, like, can this defense be a little bit sounder with just young guys doing what they're asked to be doing? Like? Can I find some optimism there? I don't know, but help me. Yeah?

Absolutely so. One of my best friends is a former cowboy Dennis Thurman, who played under Tom Landry guys, and he says that one thing that he always took from coach Landry is there's no difference between a guy who won't do it and a guy who can do it. The guys who were there before, they weren't doing what was being asked to them, so you better serve to put in the young guys and let them have a crack act. Also, we've been waiting for six or seven

weeks for someone to be the sacrificial lamb. Someone has to get cut. So everyone understands that there's a certain standard of an expectation what players should be doing. So now that you remove three guys, you can best believe that the locker room understands that, oh, we at an earthen level. And so I think with the young guys, I think you have a chance to if you're Mike Nolan to be a little more, you can teach them.

You can have a bigger impression on them, a bigger impact on the way that they fight, and that in itself they help them. I think what you want to look for may not show up in the win column. Like Nolan Mike McCarthy have to do, is you have to focus on what's one area that we can prove on this week, whether that's running to the ball or not letting the ball overhead. Let's focus on that and if we can slowly piece of these things over a three or four week period, the defense will eventually begin

to play better and maybe the wins will come. If you can just focus on clear up some of the little issues supposed to try and take on how can we fix the entire defense? What's the road line look like right now? I know that they're tackles I mean Cowboys two tackles out, but I think they've also had two tackles out, maybe not together, but it feels like that they're really banged up as well. A mess. It

is a mess. Two teams that are really struggling. The former rugby fair Jordan I'm allowed to has been starting left tackle and he is certainly talented. Inexperience that has hurt them. They cut recently cut Jamal Brown, and they put in a rookie who was struggling inside the guard. And so Carson Wentz has been sacked twenty eight times, tied for the most in the league. The office line is vulnerable, and so all the issues that we can talk about offensively for the Cowboys, we can spit right

back at the Eagles. The challenge will be which defensive coordinator takes advantage of the vulnerabilities of the offensive line. We've seen Jim Schwartz for the Eagles dollars up. Will Mike Nolan have confidence in the back end to press and push the envelope and say, hey, we're gonna come after Carson went when he's been under pressure, he is really melted and will under pressure. The Cowboys have to

find a way to create pressure. On that note, Bucky, when you look at the fact that Wins has been sacked twenty eight times, is this the kind of game when you look at what you've seen and I actually personally think that Tank Lawrence has actually played a little better the last few weeks. Is this a game that

becomes somewhat of it? And I know it's gonna sound really crazy, so everyone's gonna laugh, but kind of a get right game for the Cowboys pass rush because you know, again, it maybe differencing an offensive line that might just be beat up as the one that they've been practicing against all these weeks. You know, I'm domistic that it is. But then I was outmis last week that why football team's offense was so bad that that would be the get right game, and they ran for twenty yards. And

so the first thing that has to happen. Dallas has to know that Philadelphias are going to try and run the football at them because they put bad film on the They've seen teams that can't run like Washington. The Giants have a level of success from the football. The first thing they're gonna do it They're gonna to defense see if they can they can stop the run. If they can stop the run, then tack Lawrence and Aldi Smith and those guys would have an opportunity to hunt.

The priority has to be we have to run. We have to force the Eagles to be dimensional. If you can make the Eagles one pension you can get after Carson Wentz, and Carson Wentz will give the ball away,

but the Stars were stopping the run. Well, adding to that question, and be honest with this, how confident are you on the voice defense ability to whether they end up stacking Carson Wentz and then recovering the ball or trying to get their hands on a back throw that he throws in their How comes they are you that the Cowboys stefense can actually get their hands on that ball. Oh, I'm not confident. I'm not real confident right now because I haven't I haven't seen. But but what I'm doing

is I'm trying to be faithful. I'm trying to have enough faith that at some point the players are good enough to get it done. But I do believe we can talk about Mike Nolan simplifying and those things. I think this has kind of been a wake up call for everybody because when you start removing players, I think everyone understands where they're sitting. And for Mike Nolan, this is a huge challenge because how do you get a group of guys to believe in your scheme when they

haven't seen a lot of success early on? Where does that come from? And so he has to figure out which guys are his leaders, which guys can convey his message. He has to convince those guys first and hope that they can convince their teammates that and we have to play as one. But right now, no, I'm not very optimistic or confident, but I'm hoping over the course of the game, you get a couple of good plays to happen,

and then maybe it spreads like wildfire. I want to ask you about Jalen Rager, but we don't know if he's going to play. I think I read he's coming back to practice this week, but not a guarantee to play. But I do remember the other rookie, John high Tower, has got a pretty good reputation for being a deep ball guy and made a really great play in the Giants game last week. So am I right to think that he's who I need to be worried about getting

behind the defense this week? Well, I mean, I think you have to be worried about everybody, because I don't think it's even I think it's anybody. I think the main thing is just trying to get the young guys to do exactly what has asked to him. And you know, whether it's Trevon Diggs or anybody they put Anthony Brown, whoever's playing outside, I think the number one priority for the past defense, Let's keep the ball in front of

the defense. Don't let the ball flow over the head because big plays of what gets you beat in this league, like the seventy yard bombs, to just letting it go completely over your head, that has been the biggest problem. If you keep the ball in front of Yeah, they nfitely diamond down the field and you can find a way to get a stop in the red zone. Sure

they get threes, but they don't get sevens. But when you give up the bombs, it's demoralizing and I just think for a team that is already teetering on the brink from a confident standpoint, just the big plays just absolutely crushed him. And so regardless of whether it's Greg Ward or Travis Folgum who was really emerged, or John hog Tower, the Cowboys have to focus on keeping the ball in front of the defense, make them drive the length of the film. Don't get them any cheats. All right,

here's my dilemma, Bucky. You talked about confidential. Also we're also talking about guys from you know, the future. You're getting these young guys ready to play. So Cheeto comes back this week, Chito Woozier, What are you doing with Trevon Diggs? Do you want to do you want to put him on nickel? Do you want to bench him? Do you want to maybe hurt his confidence? I mean, I mean you can't. You got to stop the big plays. But how are you handling him back in the mix?

And maybe Anthony Brown or what are you doing at corner? If you're the Cowboys right now, right now, all hands on deck. So I would put Cheetah in him. Cheetah as ready and available to play, because what I need I need guys who can take the information that's been given in meetings and executed. Dix has struggled and he's given up a ton of big plays. And even though I want to build him up because he is the future,

right now, I got to solve the bleeding. And if Cheeto knows exactly what to do, if he can keep the ball in front, if he can tackle and make some plays, I'm gonna go with the veterans, Anthony Brown and Cheeto, and I'll try and work Digs in. But we've seen too many instances of Digs just falling asleep at the wheel, not knowing exactly what to do when it comes to some of the matchups. Are we in man, are we in zone? Stopping his feet giving up big plays?

I can't. If I'm Mike Nolan, I gotta go with the guys that I trust, and I would trust Cheetah over Digs right now. All right, before we let you go, Bucky, I had a bigger, bigger picture question just from the standpoint of the Eagles Carson Winch. She go back to his rookie year, he was on pace to be a real candidate. I thought or League MVP and was playing

outstanding football. From that to where he is now, it's a simple question what happened to him, you know, Like so he was really reckless in terms of how he played, and going all the way back to North Dakota State, he's always battled a series of injuries, Like he always had something that he's dealing with. Well when he goes into the league, because of his style of play, because he lives on the edge, he doesn't really understand or

know how to slide. He takes a lot of shots, and he also doesn't know when the play is over. And because he extends plays and he plays in such a reckless style, he kind of exposes himself to me. When he was coming out, he was a version of Cam Newton in terms of like how rugged and physical that he played, the way that they used him in

North Dakota State. He has continued to do that, but he's done that and hurt himself acl bad concussions, risks a lot of injuries, and that has really impacted his game. And so now he's a bit true trigger shot into pocket. He doesn't really want to deal with that, and so it impacts his game. But he's not good enough to play as a status passer. And so I think the funny thing is when you hear this, and without even

inserting the dad conversation, I'm inserted. But I think when you look at Dak and you look at Carson Wentz, Dak has been a much better player, more consistent player throughout his time. And I just think because a draft status, Carson Wentz has always gotten tony because outside of that one great year, he has not played at that level that you would expect a guy that was taking second overall to play. Hey, that's good stuff, Bucky. We appreciate it.

We're gonna go to our final break. We'll be back tomorrow with Bucky when he's gonna talk a little bit more about this Philadelphia defense versus a Cowboys offense. But we're gonna take a break right now. We'll come back. We have some more to talk about, some more news type stuff we'll talk about with the Cowboys that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. Sam's eighteen sixty five. Stetson Hats are American maid with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson's proud to on

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available daily. Visit at and T stadium dot com for details. Trying not a bit, trying not to sneeze. Please don't do that. I can't sneeze in this world anymore. To sneeze at least, don't do that. We're in an enclosed room and I really don't want us all right, Glass, I got here. It's like being at the Star scheme. All right, well let's go, let's let's get back into this.

We got some injury updates. There are quite a few guys that are that we need to catch up on as far as where they are from an injury standpoint, Dave, why don't you run through these forests. I'll give you a name. You tell me what you're hearing as far as where they are and their trek to to come back to play. They'll start with Andy Dalton. Uh, Andy Dalton in meetings, not practicing. I don't feel optimistic about that.

But if if he's able to go, I mean, if he's able to get into practice I'm gonna go out on a limb and say I won't be until Saturday, which is that's that's their Friday practice day. So um, not optimistic, but he is in meetings, so that's good. And at this point, is the expectation that you got Bend Nucci or is this a possibility? Maybe it'll it'll be Ben, It'll be Ben or Andy? Okay, d Yeah, how you guys feel about that? I tell you what.

We'll wait. Savings not great, mob, we'll talk about that tomorrow. We're talking about the Cowboys offense. Um, all right, so talking to me about Zack Martin. Zack Martin is expected to practice today. I think he will play on Sunday night. All right, good, h Let's talk about Joe Looney. He's practicing. I'm gonna back. He's practicing. Yeah, message on that from the PR staff that he is returning. Okay, good. So it looks like Joe Zach might be back this week.

That gives you two offensive linemen that have some experience that you could kind of study some things with. I do too, Like, that's that's great. That's that's good for an offensive line struggle in meaning meaning go ahead, Amber No. Based on what I heard from Mike McCarthy earlier today in his press conference, him saying that Joe Joe is

kind of close to returning. But if it's practicing, I mean, is this like a practice hole he's practicing too, maybe return this weekend or he's just coming back to practice. In general, I think it's probably premature to think he's gonna play in this game. Not saying it's impossible, but you know, something to keep an eye on. I'm not ready to say that he's definitely gonna play on Sunday though, but just positive that he's coming back to practice. It's

really great. And actually McCarthy had an interesting quote. You know, he's obviously not going to give too much away, but he was asked, you know, with Zach back and maybe Joe coming back, can you maybe kick Zach out to tackle try different combinations? And he was basically like, we we don't have you know, we don't have the set five.

We don't you know, he's big on continuity, but he's like, we don't have five guys at the five respective positions that we feel concrete about, so we're gonna work as many combinations as we can. So hopefully hopefully having Zach at the very least will allow them to maybe get creative with plugging this thing up. All right, let's move on to cheet Obey Owoozier. What's the status with him.

McCarthy basically was like, yeah, I think he's got a good shot to play, which you know, coaches hate saying stuff like that, but he's supposed to do something today. And McCarthy was like, yeah, like, our goal is to have him ready for Sunday nights, so that more so,

maybe even more so than zach Man. Maybe not more than Zach, but I think it would be huge to have Cheeto out there, just somebody who can competently handle his side of the field, because you might not think the world of Cheeto, but we've never seen him struggle with letting guys get behind him by five six yards. On a regular basis, he leads the team and interceptions, right, does he sure does? Oh god, there's only been one so and how many games does he mean? I mean,

is that stat I still saw it? Does Dak still leading the NFL pass? I don't think so? I think I don't think no, not anymore. Last week he was before last week's games, he was, Yeah, well Cheeto still leads to teham and interceptions. Yeah. I thought it was, well, they might being like this week and they might be like this weekend with that because with Carson Wentz and him maybe throwing some interceptions. I mean, you can get a cheetah get his hands on that ball. Yeah. So

I got to see that to believe it. But I like your optim talking about you know, you know, I'll jump in on this, Dave Sean Lee, you know, he was McCarthy was talking about him getting back to practice and all that saying the normal coach speak, and I thought he kind of just slipped in and said, you know, I think he has a good chance to play Sunday night,

which I don't. I wasn't expecting that. I wasn't expecting him to come back to play, but you know, it would be it would be ironic if he did, because I'm pretty sure that's where you have the surgery in Philadelphia. I mean, if you think, I think that's where where all all those sporttorney surgeries are always done. To see in Philadelphia, So it would be interesting if he comes back, he plays, and they certainly need him. That's day. That's what I think. I think he sounds like he could play.

You agree, Um, I mean, I agree with what you said about McCarthy. Uh, you know, I'm always reluctant to on Wednesday be like, yeah, he's definitely gonna play, but I think he's got a shot. He definitely has a shot. There's one other topic I wanted to hit before we end the show. Um let's talking about special teams and

the punting situation. The Cowboys did sign a punter earlier this week, Hunter Niswander, and they said in the in in a press conference that they this player has always been, has been on their radars, guy they wanted to sign. They thought it's a good idea to have a guy that can both kick and punt that they would have

on their practice squad. My question for you guys is should that be the case or should he really be here for the purpose of taking Chris Jones's job, Because you look at Chris Jones over the last two years, his punting has not been great. I'll throw some numbers at you. This year, he has ranked twenty ninth in the league in yards per punt at forty three point one. His longest fifty four, and that's thirty first in the league.

Last year his average yards per punt was forty one point six and he was thirty first in the league at that and as long was thirty long was fifty eight, and he was thirty second at that the last two years. And you can go back even farther than and see he's regularly in the bottom at least bottom third of the league. Isn't at a point where the Cowboys really need to replace him because they're just not getting anything

from him. From the standpoint of punts. Let's start first with you Amber, Well, this is something like you said, we've kind of been talking about about it and been wondering with like a question mark on there. And Fassil he did when he first was hiring and asked about the punter position. I mean, he did mentioned the injury that Chris was dealing with last year and kind of played through it or whatever. But this is something that

I don't think it's injury related. Clearly, his efforts on the on the field have started to decline, and I think that the way that the fact that they said, oh, this is a player that has been in a radar, it's just a nice way to put it. Honestly, that's just them being nice and kind with that. But we should find out pretty soon if we start seeing that guy on the field. Plane Nick, well, yeah, they got to get better at the punning. I mean Chris Jones

gets to also. I mean you think about this year where he's ranks twenty ninth, and I mean he's played four home games, is that right? I mean four home games and then it's at Seattle and at the rant. I mean, whether it's not been an issue kind of was in this game but thirty two yard punt I mean in the second quarter was the one where I mean that you had to get field positioned and that

punts is not it's just not there. I mean, I just don't think he's got that boom on the ball like he like he did when he when he first got here. And he's been a great punter for a long time. He's been a good punter. He's sorry, Jason, he's been a good punter for a long time. But um, but when Dame Bailey left, that's when old buddy left. Well well true, true, well when we started we started there. It could be a back injury. But I mean, what one of the two, I mean, it could be both,

could be both. If if we see what's his name, miss Winder, miss Winder, if we see him holding for kickoff for field goals, that's a hint that yeah, that's that's where you know, because that's one thing you know Chris Jones does. But also, I'm sorry, Dave, but their point is is correct too when you get to the road games, because if they don't have a backup, I mean, you do need that. I think that's maybe they just

did not forget to do that. Or something that you gotta have a backup you get on the road and something were to happen to test positive, somebody tests, you gotta have, you know, that's nice to have right now. They're not really in games where you know, kicking is really a actor at this point. But but I get your point. Yeah, that's true. Your point again, you don't want you. I just am I am I the only one that like, I mean, I don't know. I think

they're lying, honestly. That's that's my that's my takeaway is maybe they're not ready to cut Chris Jones right now, but they're like, oh, like we thought it might be a good idea to have a guy already ready. Well, you didn't think it was a good idea for training

camp or the first seven weeks of the season. Like literally, when they found out they had to cut their roster to eighty for training camp, the extra specialists were the first to go, Like they were the first guys that they got rid of, like, oh, we don't we don't have room for that, we don't need that on our roster during training camp, and then seven weeks of the season, you know, didn't it wasn't a good enough idea that you did it any of these other weeks and now

after a month and a half of Chris Jones being pedestrian too, you know bad now it's a good idea, Like I that, No, that's that's not the case. They're like, you know, we might have to do something about this, and we should get the guy we like in here before somebody else does like that. That's what I think is happening. Yeah, I suspect they did the same thing

I did after that thirty two yard punt. They probably are like on the headsets like, hey man on Monday, we might need to see if what we can find out there, because this might be an opportunity for us to move on. Yeah. Yeah, I just think you know, a team like this that struggles as bad as they do in so many areas, that's an area that, as much as anything could help you right now, that's an

area that could help you. It could actually create situations where maybe you can flip the field because your offense isn't really moving the ball at all, and you have an opportunity to not give the opposing offense great field position in stay of thirty two yard punt gives them the ball at the forty Like, that's the kind of situation that you just really can't afford on a team that's just bad in so many other areas. All Right, we appreciate you guys joining us. We'll be back tomorrow.

We'll be ready to we'll be outside. Actually, tomorrow gotta be interesting because all four of us will be in the same location for a show for the first time in what seven eight months. It'll be really nice to be somewhere we can all just have a conversation in Dave's own isn't acting up and it'll just be It'll be a wonderful show. It will be cold, so Amber, make sure you were about five layers. But we will have a great time, and we'll hope you guys will

join us. Till then. For Nick Eaton, Dave helm and Amber Garcia, I'm Derek Eagleton. This has been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.