The following. Here's a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. Cowboys, Let's go. Are you ready for a break? Yes? Are you ready for a break? Absolutely? Ready for a break? Yeah, And so much for that. It's time for The Break on Dallas Cowboys dot Com wall with Nick Eatman, David Hellman and bar Garcia and Derek Eagleton. It is Tuesday, December seventh,
twenty twenty one, season seventeen, episode number seventy three. Welcome to the latest edition of The Break, live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star. Got Nick and Dave here with me. Amber's out today, but we'll be talking some Cowboys football with you guys here on the Break. We got a lot of different topics we're gonna hit.
We also want to hear from you. You can call us eight eight eight eight five five two two nine seven again eight eight eight eight five five two two nine seven and we'll take your calls throughout the show. Let's start first with Jerry Jones and his time this morning with one h five dout three the fan. Really not anything that was that was terribly enlightening during that call, but there are a couple of things I thought were
worth discussing. He did mention he's asked specifically about about Dak and Dak's health and whether he's completely healthy, and we've talked about it on the show that we didn't necessarily think Dak was playing at his best. And Jerry said something that I thought was really interesting. And it always is a It's kind of a cautionary tell for me because it's easy when you see an errand throw
to always assume the quarterback is off. But I think what Jerry dial was remind all of us that the receivers in this instance, in a lot of these instances, it could be the receiver that's not in the right place. What were your thoughts about his comment. Yeah, I think that's that's the comment that's going to make the rounds in this round of the Jerry news cycle. I guess a lot of people, and I think the way that he worded it, I don't think you can disagree, like
kind of through the receivers under the bus. Like he didn't say the communication has been off, Dak and his receivers need to get on the same page. He was like, the receivers need to run he was. I think the direct quote is they need to run crisper routes, like they need to do a better job running routes being where Dak wants them to be. So again, it's not that's not a very balanced critique. That's putting a lot of blame on the receivers as opposed to the quarterback.
But I think we've been saying that for a few weeks. Is part of this whole thing is that the communication between Dak and his receivers has been off. Now maybe that's more on the receivers than Dak. Who really knows unless you're in those meetings, But I agree that's that they've been sloppy. The I mean, the perfect example that I've taught about a lot already as the fourth and two in New Orleans. Schemed it up as beautifully as
you could want. CD walks into the end zone if it's a complete pass, and for whatever reason, Dak and CD were not on the same page about where that ball was supposed to be, and that's kind of been emblematic of a lot of their struggles. I don't know, I mean, I don't know who's running the wrong route
or you know, the pass being right or wrong. I mean, I know that he's paid one hundred and forty million dollars or one hundred and sixty million dollars for DAK, So you know he's gonna he's gonna definitely defend DAK without a doubt there, and so you know, I I but who knows it? Like you said that play right there? I mean I look at it. I mean I put that on DAC. But but it could be he could CD could be completely in the wrong spot or didn't have it, didn't turn the right way. So you know,
it's hard to ever know that. That's why he's great. Sometimes gonna be tricky because you just don't know what the assignment is. I mean, we watch the games. We know Dak's not playing great. I mean not not as great as we've seen. We've seen him play better than well. I think that's the part where I start accounting the receiver every single time. Well, what I don't know is over these last three weeks, he's been dealing with receivers that are not his primary receivers in roles, maybe that
they aren't accustomed to being in. It's very different when you're the third guy. And now you're the second guy, or whatever the case might be there there is that to me sounds a lot more plausible then all of a sudden Dak has fallen off. It seems more plausible to me that maybe it is a it is a
communication issue. And as we know, if you watch the game, a lot of time, the ball comes out of quarterbacks hands as the receiver's making a cut, or before they even make the break sometimes, And and that to me, if the timing is off, if a guy is one or two yards different than where they're supposed to be, it's going to be an incompletion. That seems more plausible.
It's plausible to me, knowing what they're dealing with these last few weeks at receiver, than all of a sudden Dak's having this great season and then all of a sudden he's not. Yeah, I mean, all of these things are true. That's and it makes maybe it makes for boring radio, but that's what I always say, is that's what I always say, is like these it's it's more than just one thing or the other. And I kind
of laugh. There's an irony to the thought that like, well, Dad doesn't have his guys the starters are hurt, and that's totally true. I said this this morning. For all we talk about the pass rush and the guys that they haven't had available, Dak hasn't had his primary three receivers available for more than a game really this year, like right when Gallup was ready to come back. That's when Amari Cooper got COVID etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. But but then at the same time, why do we spend all
that time talking about the Dak yard. I mean that was the point, is that we've gotten time on task with everybody. Cedric Wilson and Noel Brown have been in the lab just as much as everybody else, So that feels like a convenient excuse to fall back on when things aren't going your way. Having said that, I do think I think there's something to that. I think it's I think it's both. Um. I've I've said this a
few times too. Go watch the New Orleans game. Go look at how many times Ceedee Lamb didn't seem like he knew what the call was or what the alignment was. I mean, that was that happened five times on Thursday night? Is that Dak or is that lamb. Maybe it's a little bit of both. Um so that I mean, I'll cross the board. I think they all just need to get on the same page. Yeah, I mean, this is I don't know if this happens every year about this, this little lull here or it's not a lull, but
it's like right here at the end of November. I mean, there's just there's some craziness to the schedules and everything. I mean, like if they were on the same page through everything that that happened, then they would never practice. You don't need to practice if you if you were just completely fine with the fact that you, oh, now you're virtual. Now you're not. Now you lose your head, coach, now you you you're doing this. Oh, Terrence Steel's the starter.
I mean, I was just writing the story on the offensive line and it's like, oh my god, like, what the hell's going on going on at right tackle? Well, it's been five games, but then Collins came back, but then he didn't start because then Terren Steele had six games and he was still playing well. But then Tyrean got hurt, so he slid over here. But then he came back and he took a Lyle's spot again, but then he had COVID and then he left, and now he's back, and now they're both gonna play. I mean
that's just one position. I mean that's happening a lot. And so there there nothing's been steady on the receivers from the old line for Dak's calf, Zeke's in and out. He's banged up. I mean, so I'm not it's not excuses. That's the fact. I just laid it all out there. If you call that excuse, that's fine. But this team hasn't you know, they're not like clicking on all cylinders. That that's one of the reasons why. Yeah, all right,
let's talk about the right tackle position. This is another thing that Jerry talked about when he was on with Sean and rj um. He said that this was interesting. They asked him a question, who's gonna start, bluntly, who's gonna start a right tackle? He said, well, both of them will play, and both of them will play a lot. And here was the part that was interesting to me.
He said, you know, they if they decided to go with the big package to run, you know, we could we could maybe see you know, some of that and maybe start thinking, you know, is this kind of a replacement for what they were doing with McGovern now that they have Connor Williams in that role. We saw some of Connor Williams work back there in the backfield. It wasn't great. I think as he ran through the whole he kind of missed a guy or didn't even figure out where he was supposed to be going who were
supposed to block. If he had the ball, maybe he would have scored. I don't know, But that all being said, it does make me wonder if they say, hey, we got Steele and Lyle, they are both better options if you're gonna have an additional offensive lineman on the field, then putting Connor Williams out there, what do you guys think? Well, I think you know, Jerry has said this some things before about who's gonna start, and you could just tell
it didn't help. Then Mike McCarthy didn't really love it. Yeah, I think Mike McCarthy would rather him just say who was gonna start than to say that they might do both jumbo package out there and let him be the tied end. But you know, it's also about the matchups too. Now, Washington is kind of like the cow Boys. I mean, they've lost both of their defensive ends, but one might be well Sweat. Maybe I thought I saw somewhere the Sweat might be back sweet, but that was these were
fans talking, So I don't know if that's well. I mean, you know, that's a big deal because he's Reggie White when he plays against the Cowboys, like, honestly, he's a really like I know that that the other guy is like the all time you know, at whatever, But Manta Sweat if you watched him play, he's just as disruptive. He is a problem. He was a killer for the Cowboys, but not just against the Cowboys, just in general. He's
a really good player. You know. I asked Kellen Moore yesterday in the conference call, and he basically was just like, well, nothing from last year matters because nobody was playing in those games. You know, they didn't have like, oh, they didn't have Tying, they didn't have Zack Martin for all but one. They didn't have Zach Martin at guard he played one series of tackle. They didn't have Dak in any of those games. And then Washington has some different
group as well. But I mean, they're still playing really well Washington is so, Um, I just think it might be a matchup thing to put you know, Steele or Collins. I don't know who's gonna start, honestly. Um, you know, it sounded like the last time they were both healthy, Steel started right Kansas City. Yeah, but then Collins played pretty well against the against the Saints. And but it's not like you can't lose your job for being out for other reasons, Like that's how it happens, ended up
losing his job. So you know, it is what it is. Yeah, I mean, they're not that much better than each other if they were then. And Jerry said that, he said, there the same player, And I was like, that's an interesting He didn't say that. You don't think that's what he said. No, no, no, no, I thought that, And I was actually transgressed. I don't think he said that. What he said, they're the same player, whether they start
or they come into the difference. I thought you were saying that they're the same guy, like they're like he's great at a sixty three, he's no. But I'm saying the way you just said that, what's the difference between the two. Tell me the difference. I think what he was saying was they're both the same if they start or they don't, they both can come in and be the same player. Right, but that's what I'm saying. That means they can play to the same level. Does that
I mean that they're the same. Difference Okay, no, tell me, I mean I thought you were. He said, they're the same player. Now now obviously they are graded very similar, or that we wouldn't be in this situation. He said that, and he kind of paused, and then he kept talking. What he was saying was that both Steele and Collins played exactly the same, whether they start or they come in as a backup. Right, Okay, you're saying, okay, so
that's what he said. What's the difference between that? It doesn't matter if you and if the three of us are confused everyone else Okay. I've heard I've heard from people who weren't speaking on the record that they don't think the differences or if there is a difference, it's not appreciable. And to next point, we wouldn't be having this debate if they thought so. Yeah, they can't figure it out. But you know what with Tyron situation on the other side, he just sticked through it. I mean,
it's not like it's hurting really anything. I just I don't like it. Just well, I mean it we're it's like we're talking about two like when you got two bad quarterbacks and you're like, well, can we go back to like kind of I mean, Philly's trying to create a controversy up there, like well should Minshu keep going
and when maybe Hurts needs to come backs? Like, can't just make a decision it just and maybe maybe they've got some grand plan, like maybe they aren't confused at all, but like it just looks like they're afraid to make a decision to me, espect like at a position where all I've ever heard my whole life is that like best five, continuity is important, just stick with a guy and go. And that's not what they're doing. Yeah, thats
crazy part of that. They have the control, sure, but we just from week to week and you're right, Steele probably, I mean Steele would have started in New Orleans if he'd been healthy, So put him back in there or or or whatever, or don't I just what whatever, just make it. I'm honest, I'm tired I'm gonna I'm sitting in a g seat. I'm gonna say an age thing. I'm tired of talking about it. I don't I have lost the potential to care because I'm just over it.
I'm just like whatever, I'm bored. I'm bored by this weird tackle. He did say something else that I don't know if we believe, but he said that contract status doesn't matter about anything. The question I would think was more about it. It's about the running backs. Yeah, but it does come he come into play. He said, No, if this juncture in the season, you play the best guy. Now, I believe that I do too. I do too. So here's what I would do. Right tackle. I'm starting Lyle.
That's my guy. He's he's I think he's playing better now. I think that him and Zack Martin, they'll they'll be fine. Tyrn, I never know what's going on with him. Something happened with Tyran, the option would be steal. So Steal's the younger guy. Let him. He's going to do a swing tackle anyways. Now he plays a little bit of tight end.
He comes in if he something happens left tackle, he's the guy because if you make him at right tackle, and then something happened, Tyron, you gotta move everything around, and they've just said there's not that much of a difference. That being said, I'm keeping Lyle at right tackle and moving Terrence Steele whatever that's right. I'm I'm with you. If I said, if I said, we're going with you know,
we'll bring back Raw Petiti to play right tackle. At this point, you just seem like you'd be like whatever. Kurt Bohler's like, anybody just goes no. I think I think I like you. I like your plan. I do like your no. But I think the proofs in the pudding with regard to what he said about the contracts, because we wouldn't be having this debate about the tackles if if they really went with the contracts right. I don't think it's just about the contracts. I think they're
looking for the guys gonna give them best chance. That clause at this point in the year is really important though, and again that's what I said yesterday, is like, that's fine. Play the guy who thinks you're gonna gonna give you the best chance. But you can't deny that it presents you with decisions to make in the offseason, if you go with Steel over Collins. If let's just forget football for a second, let's just say this was gonna just be like four guys coming over here. There's just gonna
be a fistfight. Okay, It's just that's what it was. It's not a football game. Elsie's like one of my first five picks on the whole team. I'm taking LC. He's he's leading the way. Okay, he's the get off the bus guy. If we're in a fistfight. Um, playing against Washington with the way that they're playing and the way that they have to have this that will be almost buried if they don't win this game, that's gonna be a fist fight. And I want Elc out there.
Nothing against Terrence Steele. He might throw some hands too, He's got some good length and reach, but uh, I want We've heard them say it multiple times. He is the enforcer on this offensive enforce. So if if that's the case, then you're right, and that's this kind of game. This is the kind of player you want on the field. Let's get a phone call before we take our first pick. We got a call from Steven Mississippi. Steve, what up? I love the show, and I guess I'm a starstruck.
Nick said, Derek David, Man, you guys are killing it. I love the show, a great content day in and day out. Um, I said, I'm just little starstruck. I can't believe I'm talking to you guys. But h and we got we got a question for you when it's over. I got a question for you when you're doing with your question. All right, man, all right, well look my question, I guess is around really coaching. All right. So I just get the vibe there's a different chemistry with this
team this year. And I guess, um Nick and David, you guys are a little bit closer, you know the locker room, you know, with in the past. I guess with with Garrett. You know at this time of year, we're in a little rough patch right now. But I mean, going into this time of year, I just get the different I get a vibe that we're gonna we're gonna work through that. I mean with personnel, it seems like
we put the best players in the field. There's not you know, like a a loyalty factor that I felt like we had with Garrett, I just want to get your input. What what do you guys think um is going on there? Do you get the same feeling? Can we overcome some of those issues? I feel real good going into these league last five games. I just think we're gonna get some guys back, and I think we're gonna overcome some of the cities we've had been making a good playoff run. I want to get your thoughts
on that. And Nick, I'll take your question. Hey, you said you're from Mississippi. I mean is it is it the ReBs or is it state? Well, then then you'll probably get a better answer from date. Then you'll get a much better answer now than you would have maybe a few seconds ago. I can't thanks for they called to appreciate Steve, Thank appreciate it. Hey, yeah, Haile State. I mean I can't hold my grudges against the stranger. But yeah, good choice there, Hail State. We've talked about
this before. We that that dream scenario or not hypothetical where you're on this date with someone and she's like, oh yeah, I love old miss and you're like, oh gosh, it wouldn't it wouldn't. It wouldn't get to a date, it wouldn't get to a date. Check that out. You'd already have that figured out. That's an auto swipe left in the dating app. I'm not kidding. Y'all are laughing. I'm not like Bama Bama. I can make it work.
Old miss. I'm sorry, I'm out. I'm not doing all right. Um, you know we can talk about that off the air, Okay. I love a great story there. Um. You know. To answer the question, I mean, it's it's not an easy answer. You know, those are one of those things that it's chemistry. It's up there with leadership and things like that's hard to kind of see and qualify. But I'll say this based off of last year. I mean, it's chemistry as a fac you know, COVID is affecting all kinds of chemistry.
I mean, it's been really tough, and especially when you're trying to establish a coaching staff and a team and all of this things. Some teams did it better, and you know, first year coaches did it better than they did last year. I get it, but I agree that it does seem a little bit different. It does, and I think it's more of the players, I really do. I think it's the leadership and the players, and I think the guys really buy in. It's hard to have leadership.
I'll say this a set of thousand times. You can have guys that get up there and talk and speak and all that, they better be damned good players. If they're not, then it doesn't hold anything. And I think they've got them. And I think the thing about that is when you look at and you I don't know most of you guys have probably watched Sounds of the Sideline as a piece we do every week where you get a chance to see and hear what players are
saying on the sideline during games. And one of the interesting things about that is I've noticed that as the season goes on, if the offense is on the field and the defense is on the sideline, when the offensive guy makes a play, the defensive guys are like, oh, that dude's just a beast, Like they believe that. When the other unit is on the field, like you have the offensive guys talking about Mica and they're like, oh
my god. So when you have really good players across your team, then I think it breeds a certain level of confidence, not just in your own abilities, but in the abilities of the rest of your team, so that you know, hey, if we have a little mistake, our defense can pick us up on defense. If we can get them the ball, they're gonna go score. Like. That's what I think the chemistry is is they believe in one another. They know they got players, they know they're good.
It's just a matter of them then going out and actually executing it. Yeah, and on time. I agree with all of that. The chemistry stuff falls by the wayside when you're not winning games, Like you go back to the sixth game win stream. This team is special, man, and they do have that type of bond, but we're not talking about that when they're trade and wins and losses because we're trying to figure out why they're not playing well anymore. But I don't think that stuff went away.
I think yes, I think all of the good players on this team, or the vast majority of them at least bring something intangible, whether you want to talk about Dak or what Amari does as as more of a quiet leader but still a leader, Parsons the enthusiasm that he's injected into this team. And then on top of that, I mean, I think about twenty nineteen. Remember they started three and zero and just were never able to recapture that. But later on we were like, well, maybe that was
fool's goal. Those three teams that they beat sucked. I don't feel that way about that. Like the body of work is much more impressive. They've won eight games, they've got one really really looking impressed of win, which would be New England. Yeah, we didn't think it was at the time. I don't think it was that not at all, but it got they played under They like they underwhelmed to have to go into overtime against the team. Oh, by the way, Jamar Chase, Yeah, you can win Rickie
of the Year, is it Jamar Chase? Yeah? Throwing three pass Yeah, And I get it that his fault. Talk to this coach about that. If he could throw better, he probably would tell him where the win was. Like, I get it, No, I understand that, But I think Belichick would just wanted to have some fun. I think he was trolling Sean McDermot. I mean, they're just gonna stay kid brother forever. You guys watch that whole game,
because I could get past that time. I was like, I watched Peyton Manning and Eli Man, Yeah, I had it on and yes, still last night, but anyway, no, they were it was a good last night. Keep to Lee lit it up in the third quarter, and Joe Buck was funny too. I have to say yeah, and Letterman, I mean, I guess that's so. But I'm just not
a I'm not a big I don't know. I honestly I like them better than I like the No, I guess I just if we're being honest, Eli could take the night off and I'll just listen to Peyton give his thoughts about it because he's He's incredible. Now. I think Eli is the funniest part because I don't love how I love how he trolls. Peyton plays into it, like Eli has bought into this whole thing, and I think it works. It does respect him for it. It
does work. And I like Eli Manning like I'm not one of these cowboy people that hates Eli Manning, but I just love the way Peyton is type A and a perfectionist and one of the best to ever do what he did, and it pisses him off to watch people screw it up, and it's just so funny it is, which is also why Eli is so funny too, because Elis is kind of like, okay, set down to say it's all right, Like he has the exact opposite person the game, the game deciding play. Buffalo's got fourth and
whatever on like the twenty five. If they, I mean, they score, they probably win. If they don't pick up the first down, it's over. And Peyton called it. He said what they were gonna do. He's like, all right, you're looking for a post over the middle here. You gotta bail out of the pocket, like you need to get but he's like, you gotta get back enough to have time to get the throw because they're coming. It's zero coverage. He lays it out beautifully. That's exactly what
the Bills do. Alan does like an eight step drop and it's a double post and they just he throws it behind the guy and the Pats bat it down and Peyton looked like he was about to lose his mind, but because he knew exactly what to do and they still couldn't get it. But he actually called it. On third down, he said, you better get something short here to make fourth down manageable. And they did it. They threw some almost hail mary to the end zone, which Josh Allen is a great athlete by the way, to
get out of that. But he's basically saying, hey, you gotta play a shot ahead here. You gotta get something here. Don't fourth and fourteen from the nineteen ain't gonna work. You gotta get seven eight yard. That's where Beasley's got to do a little bit more. And to be quite honest, they got to use him more. Talking about just them on that cat. If they had one guest throughout the entire thing and the rest of it was Jess, Peyton and Eli talking about the game, I would probably in
a lot more. Sometimes the guest, In my opion, it just kind of derails it a bit, just because if the guest is really entertaining, then with the delay, it's just it's kind of all over the place. I'd rather just listen to Peyton. You know, you ever see them just go over the over the guests. It's basically like and Peyton does it. He just goes right over the guests. He's like, uh, you know, like the double zone coverage here, Eli, you know, like right, you know, He's just like, all right,
you're out of this one letterman. We're talking ball and that's that's why I love him, because he just he's he wants he's so dialed into a game that really he has no stakes and that he doesn't have time to like ask Letterman about his career. So the guests that are best, so the guests that's just gonna fit into that, like Sean Lynch, like give me a drop me an f bomb. So I didn't like everyone else did. But I didn't like that because he was just he
just was peppering with questions. It's like, I get it, you're prepared, it's awesome, but blah blah. But I thought Eli I said the funniest thing last night about all these designed runs and quarterback runs. He goes, I had two runs my whole career quarterback sneak and kneel down. Like that was only two, right, real, since we got off the rails that I wanted to finish. I just wanted to finish it. Now he's gonna be killing all
of us and break right, go ahead. Real. Just the point I wanted to make is twenty nineteen, they beat Nobody of consequence and then just traded, and every time they played a good team they looked terrible. You know, they didn't score a touchdown in New England. They couldn't score a touchdown against Philly. I just think the body of work is so much better this year. Like they played Tampa to the brink, even though they looked bad
doing it. They were in that Chiefs game in the fourth quarter, so you played close against both Super Bowl teams. They've blown out a lot of current wild card content. I mean they comfortably beat the Saints, they destroyed the Falcons, they destroyed the Eagles. Are these good teams, No, but they're teams that are in the playoff race. Like these are not the Giants, Dolphins and whatever that other team was from twenty I mean they beat up on some of the worst teams in the league at the beginning
of that year, washing there we go. I just don't think that's what this season is. I think if you look at the body of work, I trust that they're a pretty good team and having a chance to get healthier and take some time off, I think they will play much better down the stretch. Not saying they go five and no, but I think they're going to play much better football these last five after the break. I have a point on something else, I think that we're not we never talked about, but I think a reason
for the pretty good leadership. All right, we're gonna take our first break. Comeback. We'll get that message from Nick. We'll do it when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com right At ATNC, everyone new and existing customers get our best deals on every smartphone. Why because you deserve it for turning your living room into your office and your gym. We're teaching. Grandma had a video call and teaching her again. It's the button on
your left, Nana, Okay, your other laughs. It's not complicated. Everyone deserves something new. So ATNC is given everyone new and existing customers are best deals with every unlimited plan on every smartphone, even the latest ones. A ten team, A temporaries, low date speace at the network is spasic. Restrictions and exceptions may apply. Hi, I'm Clint Tillison with man. I'm Jay Novachek, and we're both with Nag and Turf,
the official tractor provider of the Dallas Cowboys. So if you need a tractor to bail some hay, a'm more to cut some grass, or a gator to get some chores done, Get a John Deer at unantagin Turf and then let's get to work. Hey Jay, that's my line, well not today. Get to work with a John Deere tractor package that's just right for you in your budget. Visit unantaginturf dot com. Before there was a draft, you
could size up a cowboy by three simple factors. The crease in his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude a man. Stetson didn't just protect him from what life threw at him, It projected a rugged, unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American, made with pride. Right here in Texas, there's still the unofficial crowd of all self respecting cowboys, and Stetson is proud to be
on the field with America's team. Find a retailer nearest to you at Stetson dot com slash Cowboys New Doctor Peppoozio Sugar. You deserve it. I do deserve that. You deserve decadent flavor without sugar, and a day at the beach without sand getting everywhere, and a relaxing bath that your children don't interrupt. I deserve all that. It's really just a visual metaphor for doctor Pepper zero sugar. Everything you want, nothing you don't a visual metaphor on the radio.
I do deserve that Doctor Pepper zero sugar. The zero you deserve is finally get back to the Break. Every Friday and Saturday at six pm through December eighteenth, you can join the Dallas Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza at the Star. Vision and parking are free. From more information visit the Star District dot com. Welcome back to second segment with the Break Clock inst WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. Actually, if you get a chance to get out there for
that event, it is a really cool event. Nothing gets you more in the Christmas spirit than something like that. They got all kinds of really cool things that are going on with music and dancing, and it's just a really really great show. Great opportunity to take the kids out, get the kids out of house to do something fun. So check that out Friday or Saturdays through December. Was at December twenty Just think what was last thro right? Okay, Nick, you had a point you were going to make just
before we went to break. What is your point? Out correct? Could be funny stories gets auto corrected to steroids, I might go, awesome, don't do that. No, that a little bit different. Um, I would think I typed stories way more than I type the words steroids. But maybe maybe not. I was gonna talk about the fact that you know the chemistry. And we always say when we get coaches in here that are all he's been a head coach,
he's been a head coach. They've got three that are head that have been head coaches, Philbin, John Fossil and of course Dan Quinn, and then Ben McAdoo is more of a consultant. He's obviously been a head coach for a little bit. So those guys right there, I think what we forget sometimes is did you qu and here say did not same? Tan Quinta, Yeah, Quin. So those four, you know, it's more than just having like, you know, knowledge on all the positions. But when you're a head coach,
you've got to be a coach of everybody. And I hear Dan Quinn talk about the offense sometimes, I hear Kellen Moore talk about the defense. I hear John Fossil talk about all aspects of it. And I think when when you see you know these guys are they're getting coach that way they're talking, you know, defensive backs, they're talking about the offense because it's not a competition like that. We saw it at training camp that they're not they're
competing at camp, but they are an absolute team. And I think when you have head coaches that have I mean assistant coaches who have been head coaches and kind of get that whole team aspect about this thing helps us. Then I think it leads to that. So I don't want to I don't want to say that that's just the players. The coaches help as well with that. Yeah,
you know, to that same point. Um, I think the other thing you have to notice is that this team competes hard against one another when you have offense versus defense. We saw it in one of the videos we put up earlier this year of when Diggs was was up against I think Amario and they were going hard at each other and throughout training camp did we thought we did, but but even during training camp we saw when when Diggs and uh and and CD were going at each
other pretty hard. It is a sign of to me of good chemistry when you can go at each other really really really hard and after the play is over you dap each other up, like there's still that connection that, Yeah, we're going at each other really hard and I'm gonna beat you, I'm gonna talk bad to you, but you still my brother, like we still our teammates, and I still want you want the best. And that's not always what you see. Sometimes you can get frayed. Uh, you
know feelings with that kind of stuff. They got the right kind of chemistry, right kind of guys to be able to do that. Where else does that happen too? Where else in life do you argue with people NonStop? And at the end of the day, family family, Yeah, that's what That's what it is. And that's what family is.
I mean, if you if you you can argue with it, but that doesn't change whatever anything, right and so and and and some of the best battles in the history of sports have probably been in the backyard with older brothers, you know, that kind of stuff. So the day, it's family, and I think that they've created that they've created a family atmosphere here. I think the ultimate sign of good chemistry is just implicitly trusting that the other phases of the team are not going to let you down. And
like they're not going to say that. Yeah, but again, like you know, Amari Cooper goes against Diggs every day and sees what he offers, and then during these games you see Parsons doing what he's doing. The defense getting what are they at, like twenty takeaways now with five games left to play or whatever it is, reliably doing that, reliably holding opponents to manageable point totals. The defense knows
what the offense can do. And even for we talked about this yesterday, for all the flak we gave the special teams the first four or five weeks of the season, they're holding their own in a big way right now. I mean the contributions they're getting. Tony Pollard got them back in that Raiders game with his kick return. So I think when you just trust that you don't have to do it yourself. I think you're not gonna go say that. But everybody's like, yeah, these guys got my back.
They can get off the field and get us back out there, or get the ball for the offense, or we know that they're going to score twenty seven points. We're good. As you know. We know that in the back from I I think that is the ultimate thing that helps chemistry is just that trust. All right, looks like a phone call. We got robbed out in Vegas. Rob What up? Hey, guys, how you been Hey? You to hear from you. It's been a minute. I don't think we've talked to you since there's been a football
team in Vegas. Wow. Okay, And that was a tough Thanksgiving. I had a deal with Ooh, I bet sorry about that. You know, it's funny how this team is now. The defense is blue collar and the offense is white collar. And I, as a fan, and I'm sure other fans you know, when Dak got hurt last year and he came back, my biggest concern was was he going to change his playing style? And he has, and that's hurting
this team because I love Dak. You know, every year he's gotten better throwing the ball, but he's still not Brady or Aaron Rodgers. But when you combine his legs, that's what makes him, in my eyes, a top five quarterback. But I noticed he you know, there's no more read option. They don't. They don't even have that in the offense
at all. And down by the goal line that was almost unstoppable when he would just keep it, they don't use that, and I just I'm just afraid that unless he starts playing more reckless, which I know we say, well, we don't want him to be reckless. We don't want him to take those hits because he may get hurt. But you know, I don't look at it like that because at the end of the day, if he doesn't play like that, we're not going to beat the Green
Bays or the Tampa Bays. So what's the difference, Because to me, it's all about winning a Super Bowl. I want to see him. I just I just want to see Dak a little more reckless. And it just I think it gets this offense really going. I mean his stide. I think when he runs over thirty yards, I think they only lost one game. Okay, we thanks you for a call. You know something that's interesting about that point. And actually Jerry was talking about this morning on one
or five out through the Fan. He was talking about the offense and kind of how the play calling is going. One thing he said that I thought was really interesting was he said, you know, we've got stuff that we put into the offense, or we put into our playbook back in training camp that we specifically were holding until this part of the year, until December, until January, because you want your offense to kind of evolve over time. You don't want to be doing the same things you
were doing in September in December. And it made me wonder there for a second. Although this question was not necessarily about Dak, it made me wonder if they were, like, you know, we want to mitigate the risk with Dak, and mitigating a risk means September, October, November, we're going to be very judicious and how we use him. And in the run game December, January, that's what we might see a little bit more of that. Now that all remains to be seen, who knows what they're gonna do.
What do you guys think, First of all, from the standpoint of what Rob is talking about of Dak taking himself or them taking Dak out of the running game, and then number two about the possibility of maybe that being something that they use more as they go down the stretch. You want to go first. Not wrong, He's
not wrong. We talked about it yesterday. He's not wrong, But I mean, it's it's a very it's a slippery slope for sure, when you're dealing with you know, this franchise quarterback who got hurt last year and the season was pretty much over after that happened. It was gonna be an uphill battle anyways, and they just couldn't do it without him. And so he it's a you know, he's got to make business decisions, that's what it is. It's and and sometimes he'll r he's making or you
think the teams, I think he makes them. I think we see them. I think we see him. It's not because some of his best runs aren't necessarily supposed to be runs, but he's making them. I don't think he's running, don't You don't think someone is telling him, we don't want you to run on as much? Like That's what I'm trying to figure out, is do you think this is where what's that perfe doing in the Falcons game when he just ran over someone to get to the
fortieth point? You know what I mean? Like that that person's not not telling him to do that, that that person told him after the game, don't do that again. Yeah, he was like I had to show him. But you know what I'm saying, so yeah, even if they tell him, you're right, Yeah, that's still gonna do what he thinks. He gain enough things where he does what he what he does. I just he's got to be he even said it now season, I got to be smart about it.
And that's what we're seeing, and it's it's not I mean, I sort of agree with Rob that he to be dack. To be what he is, he's gonna have to play reckless and you can't worry about it, even though I still worry about it. When I see him running on that side of the field, I was like, oh, I don't like that. And so if I'm thinking about it and it didn't affect me, he probably is to Here's the funny thing. I looked this up while y'all have been talking. Sorry, no, no, it helped me get my
numbers right, okay, And but it's it's funny. It makes it sound like, and I know that's not what y'all mean, but like this whole conversation makes it sound like Lamar Jackson has suddenly decided to stop running. Dak's average in twenty nineteen, the last year he was healthy, he carried the ball three point two times per game for about seventeen yards. That's what we're talking about, three scrambles for
two first downs a game. Right now, he's averaging two point seven a game for eight yards, so roughly the same amount of attempts for about half the yardage. But that's what I love about football, is seventeen yards a game. Two of those three runs could be for crucial first downs, or especially in the red zone where the field is so condensed, if you pull the ball and get two yards and give yourself four new downs, you just greatly increase your chance of scoring in goal situation. Get a
touch well. And the other funny thing is so Dak scored six touchdowns a year his first three years. His best year as a runner ever was twenty seventeen, and I don't think it's a coincidence that's that's when he had the worst receiving core of his career. Absolutely, you know, guys that couldn't get open, and he's got to improvise a lot more. But in twenty nineteen he only had three touchdowns. Well, he'd have three touchdowns right now if he hadn't, in my opinion, gotten robbed of two QB
sneaks earlier. In the season. So again, that's what makes football so funny, is if two other players go the wrong way, you're like, or the right way. Excuse me, He's like, damn, he's run thirty two times for ninety five yards and three touchdowns. That ain't bad for a guy that's trying to do less. So I don't think it's drastic, but I do think there needs to be more an element of that. I mean, in theory, I agree with Rob and Nick. I just don't think it's
as drastic as that. I think there needs to be two more occasions per game where he's willing to tuck and get six yards and slide or whatever. I don't think you need to reinvent the wheel. Here again, we're talking about the difference between seventeen yards a game and eight yards. Again, like, it's not this drastic thing, but I do think they need to be more mindful of that. So while Day was talking, I did a little ago
research helping each other. Yeah, here we go, and how many times in his career do you think he's rushed for six times or more, six attempts or more. I bet it would be a lot less than most people thinking, what do you think. I mean, because I was six rushes in a game, maybe three, I don't know, three games in his career. I don't think that's a normal thing. Six six rushes seems like okay, I was gonna I was gonna say, twelve eighteen. I'm a little low. He
rushes that. I didn't realize he rushed that many times in a game. I mean, you know, and he's played how many of those game in that season twenty seventeen. I say, I'm thinking that's probably most of them. You know, it's fun. I bet that number because he haven't done at all season this eighteen twenty one, and this is the year eighteen twenty one, sixteen, sixteen, sixteen, eighteen, nineteen, sixteen, seventeen, seventeen, seventeen, eighteen, eighteen, eighteen, eighteen,
nineteen twenty. That's his eighteen games where he's had where he's had six rushes or more. Sounds like eighteen and sixteen with a two per dominant years record for fourteen and four. And when it's seven or more, it's like seven six and zero seven. No, So I mean that's those numbers can be a little misleading. I get it, but I mean, you know, that's when he's running, when he's doing his thing. You know, it's it's it's probably it's better. Um. And only one of those games he
runs nine times in twenty twenty one. Yeah, but again like that, that goes to your point of, that goes to your point of it can be misleading. He ran nine times for six yards in that game. I mean, it's not like he was gashing the Eagles. And also, you know, I also wonder how many times? How is that possible? Because if it's a run, and it's if it's a run and he gets sacked, Betty, I bet he had one scramble for no. I bet he had one for like eighteen yards, and then that offset a
bunch of one and two yard losses. If I had to guess, I'd have to go back and look, all right, well, I mean, I don't know. I just I feel like when it comes down to running, I think the smarter thing when you've got receivers and running backs and tight ends the caliber of the ones on this team, I think the smart thing is to say, Dak, let your skill guys do the work. But that doesn't mean you
shouldn't find opportunities. I just think and I would I really want to see what happens in December and January. If in December and January we start seeing a little bit more of that did. I think that was a very smart move not to do it early in the season. That gives you one other wrinkle you can add in in the time of the year when you really need to do something a little different to mix it up.
I don't want to see Dak carrying the ball six or more times a game unless it's some weird circumstance, to be honest with you, but this goes back to and I always try to listen to what he says because you can kind of parse out some kernels of truth if you go between the QB speak. And he
said it after the Saints game. He's like, that's probably me being a little bit greedy, And he was talking about one specific play, but I think it pertains to a lot of their issues and the things that you can He was talking about rating within the flow of the offense, taking it play by play, perfect example, and I'm not talking about one specific play, but you see this in football all the time. Josh Allen did it last night. You break contain the play is kind of
breaking down. You bolt to the sideline, guys in pursuit, but you're athletic enough to get the corner on him. Do you take your three or four yards and take it to third and six? Or do you try to fire to ceedee lamb bolting towards the sideline and get eighteen right there? Dat can make that play. I'm not he can make that play, and he should have trust in himself. But maybe the smarter, more efficient play is
like third and six. And then We've got so many other concepts that are easier to get, and I think that element's been missing from this offense. I think a lot of times over the last month, I think they've been trying to dial up the touchdown play every time they snap the ball. And it's awesome when it works, but it's tough to do that on a consistent basis in the NFL. And that's an interesting thing because even when you see it open, sometimes you see I think
I can fit it in there. Yeah. Just the percentage chance of completing a play, though, is lesser in a situation where you might want to take the lesser don't have to complete the Play's that's why when they say, fifty fifty balls. I mean Derek Carr throwing it up on Anthony Brown. It wasn't a fifty fifty, it was an eighty twenty. That you're gonna get the ball there, regardless of if the catch or not the flag might
be there. So that's why I do think they well maybe, but I do think they need to they need to throw the ball up a little bit more because we're seeing that happen a lot, a lot. It's just tough to well, but you know something, I don't know, and we're gonna get way off the tracks here, but I don't know if we're seeing out a lot in every game. We saw it a lot in the game where the
Cowboys played the Raiders. We were just I was just watching a game yesterday or Sunday where the exactly it was a very similar play to what happened in the Cowboys Raiders game, and there was no call, Like literally, you saw the guy tugging the jersey. Yeah, you see the guy tugging the jersey, and you're like, that would have been a call that week. And that's my whole problem with all of the ref If you're gonna do something consistently every time the same way, then hey, it
is what it is. But when you got such drastic differences between in this game, it's a penalty in this game, it's not. And I know it's different different referees, but it's just it's just really frustrating as a fan to watch that pay But I'm gonna say one more thing. You don't I don't know if I even agree with with with you saying Jerry saying we're holding some plays back and all that. The only thing I can think of is, Okay, what if Seattle's doing that? Every team
is doing that. I think, well, what if Seattle's like Russ, We're not gonna call all the plays right now, We're gonna wait till the end of the season. And he's like cool, Now, I'm three and eight like no. But but I think I think you're missing the point. I think the point is when you look at the offense, I think it is an evolving thing over the season. There's some things you do early in the season. As
it progresses, you know, teams are game planning you. It's like your idea of the flea flicker, right, you do it because you're setting up other things. So my point is like, there are things you do early in the season that are setting up things for later in the season, and you don't want to show those things until you get later in the season because that gives you something that that you know teams are going to be keying on that you now can take it manage. That's the point.
Better not be better than what I've been running, because I mean, I mean, I'm saying, don't save all the good stuff to the end. If the end doesn't mean it's not better stuff. It's just different stuff. It's just things that you can do to take advantage of other things that you've been doing earlier. I think, Okay, I agree with you, but I mean I don't think. I don't think they got some golden play that they're like, we're not running this until the super Bowl. Like that's
a bad idea. I don't think that's the point of Okay, I think I just don't. Maybe I don't understand that this is such a hypothetical argument as well. Yeah, it's about who saves money and who doesn't. I mean, you know what I mean, just like to spend it now? I got it, you know what I mean, I got the money you'll go with it as opposed to you know, I mean, it's just that just seems weird to me to just kind of wait till later in the season
when you don't know how the season's gonna go. Yeah, But I also I think the teams that do really well they have the ability to keep building on that. If you're three and eight, then you're emptying. You're emptying
because the stuff that worked earlier isn't working. So guess what, You've already You've already done all that stuff because you're trying to figure out how to get a win right with the amount, with the amount that Mike McCarthy talks about self scouting and being aware of your own tendencies. And I would like to think, but I also trust that Kellen Moore is going to keep an eye on that, and the Cowboys offense is going to look basically the
same what we've always seen. But it's about throwing in wrinkles, right and if you can find ways to take advantage of that. This is just an easy example. Dak hasn't run QB keeper off an option read all year. If you think that that's there for you against one specific look where one team's really crashing on it, then you should do it. Not to say you're going to start running read option in every game, but it gets It's like Man Mantes Sweat is so aggressive, he's had so
much success doing that, crashing inside on this play. That's how you find a twenty five yard game for dak and with minimal risks. It's stuff like that, and yeah, I would like to think we'll see maybe not that exact scenario, but those types of things where you can build on your own tendencies to take advantage of people. All Right, we're gonna take our final break. We're gonna come back. We're gonna get some more phone calls. We
got Nigel Hold on the line. We'll get to him as soon as we get back to Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. I want to use what the pros use. How about the official men's skincare brand or the Dallas Cowboys Jack Black. Right now, you can get to Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites for just ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Black skincare favorites, plus a full sized and
tense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code word Team JB. That's get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys, the Jack Black Starter ten Bucks free shipping. At ATNC, everyone new and existing customers get our best deals on every smartphone. Why because you deserve it for turning your living room into your office and your gym. We're teaching. Grandma had a video call and teaching her again. It's the button
on your left Nana, Okay, your other laughs. It's not complicated. Everyone deserves something new. So ATNC has given everyone new and existing customers are best deals with every unlimited plan on every smartphone, even the latest one eighteen. Team A temporaries leadas Beach at the Networks. Spec restrictions and acceptance may apply. Hi, I'm Clint Tillison with man. I'm Jay Novachek, and we're both with Unturf, the official tractor provider of
the Dallas Cowboys. So if you need a tractor to bail some hay, a'm more to cut some grass, or a gator to get some chores done, get a John Deer at unantagin Turf and then let's get to work. Hey Jay, that's my line. Well not today get to work with a John Deere tractor package that's just right
for you in your budget. Visit unantaginturf dot com. Before there was a draft, you could size up a cowboy by three simple factors, the crease at his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude a man. Stetson didn't just protect him from what life throw at him, It projected a rugged, unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American, made with pride. Right here in Texas. There's still the unofficial crowd of all self respecting cowboys, and Stetson is
proud to be on the field with America's team. Find a retailer you're as jewitt Stetson dot com slash Cowboys Back to the Break. This holiday season, visit the Star to get your photo with Santa I, presented by a monument Reality Santa Claus will be at his Cowboys theme cottage and a Star District across from Ascension on the Star Boulevard from November twenty sixth through December twenty fourth.
This just slows me down from more information and to book now, visit the Star District dot com slash Shanta welcome back. I'm not one of these days I'm just gonna sing this song. I'm I'm gonna sing one of these reads one of these days. You know, I want to see how that goes. Do it now? No, wait, I'll wait a little bit and work on it. Yeah, it's probably the best day to do it, though, what did you don't want to have to see that young lady sitting across shell. Yeah, she'll spit and she'll be
like terrible. Yeah, all right, and it will be It'll be terrible. I'm seeing one of these reads. But all night. We're in our final segment of the break Leaf and s WBC Mortgage Studios. At the start, we haven't gotten through half of our rundown for today because you guys talk so much. But one of these days you'll believe me, like, we'll be fine. Well, I went Today's office yesterday. I was like, man, Derek, Derek, dude, where we can talk
about Dave has an office. Good point, Dave, you don't call its cubicle and off the office and Dave's corner the room. I don't if Dave could close his door, which he can't, Dave's He's the perfect person for it because it's it's like, I mean, what if we turn my office into like the break room and we all sitting there together, Chris, is this recording? I'm good? Yeah, you want that. I think you would hate that? Turn into the break room your office? Yeah cool, we'd all
work in there every day. I would together to see your reaction on that. Why you project this easy going demeanor on the show, Like if eight people just showed up in your office, your eyes would talk out. No, no, no not. I'm saying, if we all knew this is what we're gonna do, we're just gonna make this out. You just don't just just don't have a quiet place where you can ever. And I know you're not. If I spent the days with the day with you guys, i'd be I'd be happy with you. No, you wouldn't.
You don't think No, I would love that. Fans, if you're listening right now, don't believe in relies. I don't believe in this. I would enjoy hanging out with you guys all day. No, we're gonna go in there and we're gonna smoke a cigarette or whatever. Who's the same thing all smoking is both of y'all are kind of similar. Like when y'all want to come out and socialize, it's everybody's happy and there can be all the noise in the world. But when y'all are trying to focus on something,
it'd better be quiet as a church and the office. Everybody, though, isn't that kind of everybody that happens. I just close my door because I have calls and I'm loud. I close. I'm tired of hearing it. Yeah, I'm extremely loud, and I know that that bothers everybody else. When I get loud on a phone call. I don't know what I really I feed off of other people's energy. Like I like to watch football at bars. I like for there to be a little bit of background noise in the office. Yeah,
you said that. Remember when we were in Kansas City. You said that kind of surprising what we were. We were like, um, we worked together in Kansas City. We were kind of after the game, we didn't go, we didn't fight, Yeah, Charter after the game, and so we were like, we're in lobby, and I mean there's this like group of people that just weren't leaving the hotel. I mean, it was just they're playing the football and
what it thrown around. It was like a family of thirty, you know, and it was kind of like, you know, wait, they're playing football in the lot. How they were kids playing you know. I don't know what was going on. We were waiting for seven ubers or I don't know, but and I said something, you know, and Dave, and Dave was like, h I like it. I like the background noise. I'm just like, okay. After the Charger game, I was. I was the last person that stayed after
the Charger game. I took a red eye, so I got back to the hotel after the game at like probably five thirty, and I was like, okay, my flight's not till midnight. I got all the time in the world to kill. I put my laptop just like it is right now at the hotel bar, ordered a burger and a beverage and I sat there and watched the games and worked for two and a half hours. Is great. So came up, chatted with a few people. I think Clarence Hill was there. We kind of walked about the game.
I just yeah, I don't know. I like other people's energy gives me energy. If I'm just left to my own devices, probably fall asleep something. We were in Kansas City to tell a story. People say they like to hear stories. We were in Kansas City Tuesdays, just the Tuesday's the No Structure show. So we're in Kansas City watching the like the Chargers and the Steelers, I believe, And you know, in the hotel lounge bars wasn't really a bar. It was more like a lounge area and
a lobby. And we're there and we were talking to some people and there were there were a few guys here. They were like ready to have some fun and they were kind of they were in I think they had been in Jerry Sweet because it was sort of some Arkansas ties. They were there and Jerry sweeterler in the day and they were going to stay for the Arkansas basketball games. And they were kind of, you know, having fun.
And then you know, Jab and I are sitting there watching the game and then this guy comes up to us and goes, do you guys do pictures? Like we're like pictures as take them? Yeah, yeah sure, And he's like I love what you guys do and all that, and these other guys are just like, you know, they're they're trying to be we were in Churish for you blah by you know, cool, awesome, that's that's great. And then they look over and they're like what is going on here? Like who are y'all? Like we stood up?
This guy's wife takes the picture. He's like, I'm so, you know, I love what you guys do, which we really appreciate that absolutely, but this guy, these two guys over here did not know how to handle that. Yeah, they thought they were the most important people. Yeah, but they ever come out to you guys and getting the incomfortable like who are you guys? Yeah, that's that's maybe the first time that's ever happened, because you like, I mean, I'm not out getting stopped every day of my life.
But if I'm in a Cowboys atmosphere, like if I'm at the team hotel or at a game, I'm used to that, Like that's common training and yeah, training camp definitely. Um So normally when I'm in that setting, it makes sense people are like, oh, you're somehow affiliated with the team or whatever. So no, that doesn't happen to me. But what it happens when you're not in the inviting down, when people kind of looking at like, I are you,
like somebody I should know. I have friends that listen to this show and they'll tell you, like it'll happen to me, like out at bars or at one time. I hope I hope this guy's listening because it was hilarious. Like this was before COVID, but like we were all hopping in an uber. We were going a brunch in the off season and the car pulls up and I just I like sitting up front, So I just naturally go to get in the front seat of this guy's car and he's like, yeah, Dave, sit up here with me.
We're gonna talk about the Cowboys. Freak out. I not really, I say the Cowboys. Y, yeah, I was. I was like, oh, hey, what's up? And like I had some friends that had never seen that happen before, and they gave me grief about it for the rest of the day. They're just like,
who the hell are you? Like we knew, which we did, but yeah, I mean, nothing's better than than getting pulled over in the cop just basically leaning into your window for about fifteen minutes talking to you about you know who, what they should do with the running game and whatever. Cars will like going eighty miles, but you know he's on the right side, just like talking whatever, and it's like, all right, slow down, see you later, Okay, as long
as that doesn't even in a ticket. Oh it didn't know. It's just like cool all day. But but I'll say this too, And I know we're way off in the weeds here. It's fine. I do an extra fifty. I do love it when that happens. Yeah, And it's not for the reason you would kind of think, because it is kind of embarrassing. It is. It is a little bit very It's embarrassing because you just know that you're not you know, like a training camp and I sign this and you're hey, can I get a picture? And
you feel weird. It's feels awkward. But I will tell you what why I do like it. It's because, you guys, know, my moods can kind of go up and down a little bit. Just tad, Yeah, don't even start a pot
and cattle over there, you don't start. But anyways, my moods can't go up and down when I see when when I hear that, it is a reality check of what we're doing and why we're doing it and the fans that are out there, and it kind of brings you back like you got a really good job whatever, whatever you're worried about, whatever the issue is, it'll be all right. It always will be all right. It's a
huge reality check for me. It's like, wow, this is this is a big deal, you know what I mean, Like we I'd have twenty five followers on Twitter if I didn't work for the Cowboys. I think he's got the same opinions, right, but you know what I'm saying, and and and and we don't and we know why we have what we have. And I mean, I mean I don't have balloons for a hundred thousand, but not my faulty talk about embarrassing. That's embarrassing. That embarrassed that
kind of day. It stood up there for four days. No, I'm scared. I was like, no, that's that's but that's yeah. I remember when you started, like you switched Twitter accounts. You don't have any followers and zero. Yeah, he tweets a little bit like he'll spend to say if to say that's Clarence, but he gets out there, he'll spend some time out there. You did he'll spend some time out there, all right, real quick before we in the show, we do have to get a call from Nigel. He's
been holding Yeah. As the world turns, right, how you doing, man, I'm great man. As the world turns with Nick's life, Man, you're killing me anyway. I don't watch that. I got a couple of things. I got a session and my clients are waiting. But I've been waiting patiently because Nick super califragilistic XPILA. That's me, man, I'm the guy who did that. Anyways, Um, you brought it up there, so I heard him saying he wants to sing, and you know, if you need help with that, I'll bring in connecting.
But yeah, there you go, buddy. Um offensive line, Phil Callahan, Man, I think we were at our peak when we had him. I'm kind of bummed his garden. It seems everywhere he's gone, he's he's been so successful. And what I'm not seeing is the tenacity man in our offensive line. I'm not seeing the push are tight end zone holding blocks. I'd like you to touch on that and the other thing
before I gotta go. I love you, guys, but what in God's name are we doing putting Ziegel on an empty backfield out as a wide receiver when we all know Tony Pollard is a beast out there. Thanks, guys, love you. Let's kick the you know what out of the WWFT than appreciate the call. I'm really happy and we can get to the offensive line. But I'm really happy he brought that up. And because we can talk
about Dak and the receivers and the offensive line. Kelly Moore is part of this too, And oh my god, I was so pissed off when they lined Zeke up out wide on a third down and threw him a slam it. Yeah, and he like Zeke, he has shown his hands this year. Still, what are we doing? Yeah? There's literally three Pro Bowl caliber receivers on this team and another two that I would still I would want
Malik Turner doing that before Zeke Elliott. That drove me nuts. Well, in all fairness, you do have to point out the fact that when you get Dak I mean, I'm sorry, when you get Zeke out there running that slant, his matchup is going to be better. He's probably going to have a linebacker, which is a better matchup than a wide receiver. Who would have a defensive back, So that does matter a bit. I think the point that that um Nigel was making, I think that's a valid point.
Who do you want running that slant between yes Zeke and I mean Pollard? Pollard a one hundred times out of a hundred. He played some receiver in college. I still don't care. By the way, you don't came about the match. I don't when was this play? Was fourth quarter? It was? I remember it. I remember it vividly because when it happened, I was like, that's what like it was.
It was during that stretch. I felt like there was a stretch there and yeah, like that's part of the thing fans don't see too, is like we gotta get down to the field. And also in the new nice stadiums, there's a TV on every wall where you can kind of keep track of everything. The dome. We were watching on Derek's phone in the tunnels while we were trying to get out to the field. I know this is your home city, but that's a dump. It's a dun't It is now the if not the worst, then the
second worst stadium in the league. I mean it holds a special place in my heart. Yeah, yeah, FedEx is my least favorite. Yeah, and that's probably because I have a nostalgic tide of the Dome, but it's not a nice building and do the same thing to me. Yeah, remember when Sex don't like hosted the Super Bowl? Though I don't know, I don't at least this play. And
it's also about the atmosphere. And by the way, you got you got the city right, that's the part that makes New Orleans always always when you can actually aways say hate about that, you gotta get down there and you can't miss especially you know, for us, we got to interview guys right after the game. But like you always fraid you're gonna miss that. And one time I did miss the game changing play. One time it was the Cowboys and Giants. I forgot the year twenty fifteen.
Two times I got another one for you. Oh man, maybe but it was but I just remember the Cowboys were down seven, they drove, they scored with about three minutes to go, tied the game. We were about to go on the field. I was like, I'm gonna go to the restroom right real quick. All I'm gonna do is miss the kickoff. And you just hear this crowd and you're like, this doesn't seem like a thirty yard return. It's still going. It seems like, you know, I get out.
I was like Dwayne Harris just went on hundred the Giants game. The Giants game. I'm like, okay, and that's I missed it. What was what was another player in Texas Stadium, Santana Moss. We both were going in the elevator, elevator and missed that. The Cowboys were up fourteen, three, thirteen, thirteen, nothing, nothing, and then right back to back he goes bam, big play, touchdown, Bam, big play touchdown, and we I think we missed both of them. I know we missed one, but we may
have missed both of those. And we got down the field and like what they're they're they're losing, and it just like you know, when you're in that elevator, you never know what's gonna happen. When did when did that happen? I can't find it. What the the Washington game, No, No, the zeke in completion, I don't know. I remember I
remember play vividly. I don't remember what I was part of the game it was in I just remember I remember watching it and thinking that's an odd call, Mickey, and I was like, oh, anyway, he loves to tell Rob things in the middle of the game, Like he just passes you and just tells Rob something that happened. And Rob's like, okay, yeah, that looks like okay me and me and we have a good relationship. But that's
his guy. The offensive line, I mean, I that's what he was asking about, and I think we have touched on it. It is not the same, is I Mean, I don't know if Bill Callahan would be the answer. And he's always been good wherever he's been, but um, he's got a job too, so I mean, like that's it worked out for him. But you're right, I mean it's not the same. These guys are not you know, there's not as aggressive. What was the other was another caller that said this, it's a blue collar defense and
a white collar and white collar offense. And that's part of what's going on with the offensive line, which is it's frustrating because they were mauling people. I mean, they were running for two hundred yards a game for a solid month. I mean that's not white collar to me. But over the last over the last couple of games. You think maybe it's the fact that you mean talk about the offensive line coach not being there, like literally, you got your you got another coach having to come
over and and coach the offensive line. And by the way, as you said, it's not so much the preparation, it is the end game adjustments. So those things. If you're not adjusting to what the other team is doing throughout the game as well, then you would expect they're not going to be as good as they've maybe been earlier. And someone told me this just just the other day, that the Saints are the worst team you could face when you don't have your offensive line just the way
they play on there that front and very good up front. Yeah, I mean Kellen Moore said that yesterday. He was like, the Saints have been great against the run for years at this point, I mean, from maybe marking around the time Cam Jordan got there. They've just been awesome at it more often than not. So I mean, that's worth considering. But this is a problem that stems for five weeks now, Like I don't just like, I mean, they didn't even run the ball that well against Atlanta, did they am I, Well,
they didn't have to. Well, I know, but not really. I mean, Zeke's numbers have good, they've been, they've been having some they've been they've been not as productive in the run game. For five weeks. I don't think he's had a one hundred yard game and like eight weeks since maybe the Giants, Yeah, the Giants game, I think, which it's injuries. I don't. I don't have a great answer, but it's it kind of goes back to what we
were saying about Dak and the receivers. You think there's just little snapshots like the one that's in my head right now is I can't believe this happened to somebody of Tyron Smith's caliber. But like he fires off into a double team to help Connor McGovern out and just lets the end run free and the play gets blown up, and Tyron Smith was like, yeah, I just can't make errors like that. It's like, yeah, I'm not used to
seeing you make errors like that. And so on top of the injuries, on top of not having as much consistency or talent as they did back when Bill Callahan was here, just whole thing's off sync, Like the whole the whole. They're just like three degrees west of where they need to be. Just everybody on the offense, they better figure it out. It's time of the year when you need to figure it out. They gotta figure out because if you go into the playoffs without a running game,
you're gonna have a hard time against these teams. You got this, I could be setting myself up for colossal disappointment because in my head, I'm between the injuries and then the chance to just sort of breathe, And I do think this is important. Like during that stretch where you're playing three games in twelve days, like you're onto the next opponent before that game's even done, you're not mixing a lot. Yeah, given five or six days to sort of breathe and self scout and reassess. I'm really
hoping that fixes it. And if it doesn't, I'm all out of answers. If they go up to Washington and don't eat, I mean, winning and losing is one thing, but if they don't even look like the offense that we've gotten used to, then I don't know what to say. Yeah, all right, we appreciate you guys. Jonas. We went a little long today, but it was worth it. Some good stories.
We'll sate you guys. You're gonna move back Tomorrow we'll start getting into the next game Cowboys versus Washington football team. To then for Nick Even at Dave Helmet. I am 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.
