Cowboys Break: Analyzing First 2 Games

edition All of the Break. We are live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the start at my crew, Nick, Amber and Dave with me. We only have a few more shows here before we get a little bit of a break before training camp. But we're already talking about training camp, so you guys get ready. There'll be lots of lots of story lines to follow throughout our time I knocks Art. This year, we'll be back to normal. I think Amber might be with us a little bit. Obviously.

Dave and Nick we're going to be. There's no other place that there they could be. But I got a lot to do. Love hearing that from my boss. Yeah, like nobody's told me anything. So that's great. I know we're getting past We're getting past COVID for the most part. Yeah. Still, yeah, it's still like obviously this is happening. It's like, yeah, well obviously unless unless something changes with regard to COVID. Looks like we might be back onto some normal things.

I know, I had a conversation about us having our normal spot at training camp. We don't have to be secluded in some trailer like we were last year, and so that's a that's a step in the right direction. I'm excited. It's just kind of funny to me, just because yesterday I had this conversation with you in a meeting about a training camp. You're like, well, I don't

know anything. We don't know yet, it's too early. And then he come on the air and you're like, well, it looks like it's going to be back to normal. It's like like we're talking about training they're having thing to do with the number of people that are going just has everything to do with we're gonna be there, we will be there. Cool. Well, either way, we've started seeing that here already. You know, we got access back to normal. You got open locker room, you go in there,

that hasn't happened in what three years? Years? Yes, it feels like, yeah, that was cool. I mean I was in locker room the other day this weekend, and I was kind of surprised that, you know, the guy would stand at his locker and there would be a lot of people around it and there's nobody had on masks, knowing that you know, well not not most people. Yeah, most people do not never sound but for the most part. Now, yeah, Well, speaking of which, let's talk a little bit about the

rookie minicamp. There were quite a few media people out here covering the Cowboys this weekend. Let's start first with just some general observations, because I know, sometimes when you see guys on draft day or when you've watched the film on them, you kind of have an opinion of them, and then you see them in person and you get a different opinion, whether that be just in their physical appearance or whether that be you know, seeing them run

around a little bit. Let's start first, Let's go around the table. Just give me one general observation of a guy you noticed that something stood out to you about him. Let's start with you, Nick, Well, I'm probably not a good person to start with here, because I don't it's so hard to evaluate this. We know this. So when we were able to, we were writing something on the side about picked two guys. I picked two guys and had nothing to do with him on the field. One

of them doesn't even practice, Damon Clark. But I really love what I saw from him as far as being engaged and not like he's not practicing, but he isn't doing as much as you possibly could do. He's standing behind there, he's looking and he's looking what the linebackers do. He's still taking the same steps he's trying to he's like inching to get back at there. For when it sounds like Britt Brown, there's obviously the director of rehabit and on the medical side, he likes himself. I mean

he likes him. He's like this kid, you know, and that's kind of hard to do for him, you know. But he's coming, he's ready to go. And I think whenever he does get get get back, I think he's gonna be like he's taking these mental reps. It's good. Yeah.

One of the things that I noticed just in for the most part in general, just their physique, physique, you know, the the body type that some of these guys they showed up here like with some good amount of muscles, and we see the difference between rookies and like year to the kind of like the changes that their body

go through. But like you talk about Tyler Smith, like he like he's a big guy and like his arm is huge and long, and it's like it's impressive like to me, because I feel like not every year with every rookies that come in that they look that way, that it just looks like they have more built to them. A guy that I really liked a lot. I didn't get to see him much on the field, but off the field is the receiver, he told her. He he I am a fan. He's such a cool dude. He's

very very nice. I loved him. I'm rooting for him all already. As soon as you get someone with such a good personality and just a good vibe, you instantly become a fan. So I'm looking forward to what he can do and then real quick another guy I did not get to meet him in person, but Nick did us a favors for for some almost cowboys. He got an interview, UM got him to speak, but currently he is the only kicker on the team, and that's Umbai

Jonathan gart I Bay okay, Jonathan gay No. But he's a Mexican descent, so obviously we're gonna be putting a lot of stuff out the summost part, but just just really cool to see. I haven't seen him kicking and stuff, and that surprises me that he's currently the only kicker on the team. And the fact that they cut how do you say his last name, nick, I'm scared to say the last name, Nagar. Yes, they cut him, so that was kind of I don't know, it just caught

me off guard. I didn't expect that to happen. I'm sure why exactly that happened. Say his name for me again, Gubb got by Gotti bay okay, but you can say it in English too, garbay I preferred like it was No, that's not it. It was a clerical move to fit somebody else on the roster, like they in all likelihood will bring Nagara back or somebody else, like they're they're not just going to handle the kicker job to Jonathan

um so, but he has a shot to absolutely. I mean I would call him a favorite right now, but like there will be another kicker at camp, even if he's not here right now. Um, I agree with what you said at the top A G I was, I feel dumb for how impressed I was by Tyler Smith because like he played left tackle at a high level in major college football, Like you have to be an athlete to do that. But I was pretty impressed by his athleticism, Like he hasn't played guards since he was

in high school. He didn't really play tackle at all, Like he spent all of rookie camp at a new position and yeah he and again like I hope people understand, like this isn't even like a training camp practice, like the rosters limited, You've only got like ten offensive linemen like you in a lot of spots. You don't even

have enough players to have a real practice. Like good luck evaluating the quarterbacks and receivers at those practices, because it was it was tough to watch, like two quarterbacks who weren't even signed, like they were tryout guys windy conditions. Just I learned nothing about actual football, But watching Tyler Smith, I was like, Okay, this guy's a lot more graceful of an athlete than I gave him credit for. Because you hear like six five three twenty five and you're like,

he's kind of a big, sloppy guy. Not really like he carries his weight really well for a guy that size, like he he looks about as fit as you could expect the guy that size to look with maybe the exception of Tyrn Smith, who's an alien. And I just I thought he moved around really well. I thought he looked natural. I thought, yeah, I was. I was impressed by just the little that I saw from him, you know, think to put it all in perspective. I heard this today.

This was a conversation that happened between scouts at the practice, literally at practice a practice the other day. You know, yeah, this this conversation happened, and so real quick, I'll just ask you, Dave, how do you think the quarterbacks looked? Bad? Okay, cool, so so real bad? So I was gonna. I was sorry. I was standing next to dry But anyways, they had, you know those little things that they put up with the holes where they throw the balls. Everything was amiss.

I not once did see the ball going through the hole. But sorry to that does mess up the point actually, but but the point was in this particular conversation. I think it was Tolbert or I don't know, one of the one of the receivers, but they're they're watching him and he's on the outside. You know, he's split out wide. He runs ten yards hard cut to the outside, boom, goes to the sideline, and everyone's like, man, that was

that was nice? Well he looks looks smooth in his cut on that ball comes thrown right behind, way behind him, and you know, terrible throw. Probably day. Everybody's like this guy sucks or whatever, and so these scouts are like, yeah, that was that was That was a good cut there by the receiver. Bad throw. And then other scout that kind of knows the plays a little bit was like, yeah, you ran in the wrong route. You read in the wrong route. It's supposed to be a stop. It's supposed

to be a ten yards stopped turn around. The ball probably would have been there, would have been nice, and we might have been like, hey, that's nice throw. Whatever. But like the point to all that is is you don't know what they're doing out there. They might look like they're going they're going the right way, but they're not. So it's hard to evaluate anybody because of the rookies. Not only are going up against other rookies, but they

don't know anything. None of them know anything. Yeah, the quarterbacks did look bad, but yeah, but no, but like there's a little bit of everything. Yeah, like these guys have never practiced together. I'm sure not all the receivers

knew what they were doing. Like literally, I was mainly I spent most of the two days looking at Tyler Smith and Matt will Let's go, because they were playing left guard and left tackle, and I was like, okay, well, at the very least I can s get an idea for how these guys move and how they communicate with each other, because everything else is just a free for

all of bad throws, bad routes. The wind was really bad on Friday, to the point that it was like carrying balls out of bounds that were Yeah, it just everything about it was and everybody, you know, everybody gets all excited, and I get it because it's the first time we've been able to watch something resembling practice. But it's not that you know, so you mentioned will LESCo.

Tell me what you guys saw from from him? I mean, obviously both he and Tyler Smith were work in there at guard and tackle, what do you see there saw nothing on the other side of him. I mean he blocks everything, like as far as like just he's six eight, he's he's absolutely massive. So there's no like there will all be any of this, Like who is that wilesco Of course it's here because he's the one that like urban like you just noticed him among the crowd of giants.

He's the giant and the giants. Yeah, but you know, I think so he's got that and you knew that just by looking at the paper and looking at the size. But like I think, you know, from a feat standpoint, I mean, he seems like he moves pretty pretty well for a guy that's carrying that much size. Yeah. Again, I'm not gonna say that one didn't surprise me because we saw all the stuff about his athletic testing and how he's one of the most athletic tackles to test

in the last thirty years. But he looks like, yeah, like he moves really well. Again, when I hear six eight offensive tackle, I'm like, okay, Like if you remember our good buddy Dan Skipper love Dan, but like this big dude, or you're like Oh he's huge, and you're like, you got the size, but it's it's tough for you to kick out there and get get in the way of some of these guys. But I thought, I thought, well, let's go moved really gracefully for a guy who's six eight.

Not to again not to say like he was perfect. I think Sam Williams beat him a few times. I thought. Another big takeaway I had was like Mike McCarthy was he said himself, He was like, yeah, Sam Williams like he got cleaning in the backfield like two or three times. It's just a weird thing to hear a coach say, because that's the type of stuff we say, you know, like, oh he he won that rep. He beat him on

that rep. Like coaches don't usually get into that publicly, but McCarthy, especially at this day, Yeah you're talking about McCarthy was like, yeah, he got cleaning in the backfield like two or three times on Friday. Yeah. This this this draft class is going to be defined by two things. Ken Tyler Smith, you know, like be a great starter somewhere, whether it be the guard or tackle. You know, if

he's going to be that. And Ken Sam Williams. Just just stay on the field and don't don't get in trouble, don't you know, just just mature a little bit. And I think he knows that and everyone knows that because I think athletically he's got it. You could just tell by some of the drills, by some of those things. He's got it. And he always had. He had it at Old Miss. It was just some of the other things that dropped him to the second round. But if he can, they can figure that out for him. So

I guess we're calling him Sam. Now we're not calling him. He's gone himself Sam, which is yeah, okay, so back to Sam. I'm all over no no, no, no, no, hi No, that is a him thing. Okay. He said call me D And then I think he was like, Oh, it's weird that a bunch of strangers I've never met, or calling me by a name that my that's reserved

for like my people, which I totally get. Like, you know, if somebody like if if you call me like by a cute nickname and I don't know you like that, I'm like, oh yeah, right, tiny tiny gym or that that became the people's name for you. I was gonna tiny gym. I didn't really have a choice. But like, you know, if you call me like Davy and you're not my mom or my girlfriend, like, don't call me Davy. Yeah. Uh so yeah, I feel right. Yeah, it's like me

calling Nick Nikki like that just doesn't work. Yeah, I hate that, but uh so, yeah, I think I call you that what I want to. I think Sam was like someone else in our group named Nikki called this confusion. Okay, that's is that the reason why we're gonna get away from them? So yeah, he said, you can call me Sam. We've we've we've talked about him, We've talked about Tobered a little bit. One guy we haven't talked about that. I wanted to get some initial impressions on was tight

end Jake Ferguson. What'd you guys see there anything interesting on the field off the field. I just think he needs to start coming up on him today. Yeah, Rob And basically you know him being number forty eight and Daryl Johnston was a was a great blocker, you know, a fullback, and that's what that's one of the things that they want to see if this guy can do that's why they drafted him, and I think, I gotta

go read the story. But apparently it's been it's been pressed upon him that number forty eight means you better block, and I think, well, somebody was like, okay, don't mess it up. Don't mess up the number. I don't remember what it was. If I was Jake Ferguson, I'd be like, okay, cool, Like I'm not going to be forty eight when the rosters cut down anyway, Like I'll wear it until September first. But who in their right mind wants to be forty eight if they're not a fullback, Like I'm moving into

eighty the minute it becomes available or whatever. Anyway. Two, I don't know about that. I just uh, he's coming from Wisconsin. I think he's definitely he has the know how in the willingness to do it. That's not what I'm saying. But honestly, my main impression, like a lot of tight ends coming out of college, I'm like, you need some protein shakes and some time in the weight room, buddy. I just it is what it is. He's like two

forty five to forty eight something like that. It's just like I said, I'm not questioning his ability, but like that's something with rookies, especially at those types of positions, where it's like you will look he will look like

a different player this time next year. I'm sure. I mean, what tight end has ever come in his first year and it's been like this guy's stud It's really it's really tough to do, especially the Cowboys haven't drafted a first round tight end since I don't know David la Fleur. I mean, and he even you know he did, he wasn't that that great. Obviously got hurt, but like Witten took some time. Schultz, I mean we said it on

this show. We didn't think he would be on the team. Yeah, we were all like Jarwin needed a lot of development. If you're good enough to come in and ball as a tight end immediately, you're usually a top twenty pick. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's an outlier somewhere, but we've talked about it before. Even Travis Kelson needed a year where he really didn't do anything for the Chiefs as a rookie, which is even more remarkable how good Kyle

Pitts was this year, which is just how good he is. TJ. Hockinson Kyle Pitts, Like those guys go high, and Kyle Pitts wasn't drafted for his blocking ability. That's the thing. You're you're asking more of a guy when you're looking for that person to be able to help block in the game, Like you need those muscles and strength, Like you can't be just trying to run escape catch a ball. Like now you're looking for someone ask the power to push guys around and hold them down. So that's gonna

be I don't. I mean, we'll see if that happens this year, but it's gonna be a challenge. I still think Sprinkle is gonna have, you know, a chance to stick around because Buddy's really doing what he does just I mean, and it's not great. I mean, he's they're trying to get better than from that, but you still need a true blocking tight end. Yeah, I'm sprinkling throw Sean mcun in there too, because he's a similar player to Ferguson, but he's this will be his third NFL season.

You just you have an advantage of a knowing what you're doing and being he has spent that time in the program. So yeah, I'll be curious because like the ideal scenario is that Ferguson is good enough to grab the backup job right away. But that's a lot easier said than done. And if Tyler Smith is the guard, which sounds like you will be. And I know this isn't a great plan, but like winn in doubt, I mean, Connor McGovern can still provide some jumbo packages for them.

They can still do that. I actually liked when they did that last Yeah, I thought he's pretty good in that kind of role. I like it too. I just think that it obviously, I mean, there's not a lot of versatility out of it because it's not like you know, like this tight end's gonna go out for a pass or you know. So that's but you should be able to just line up and run the ball and say stop us. That's that's what you that's what you hope

you can get back to. You tell me, you tell me, you give me a stronger guard, and I put McGovern and let's say I line them up in the backfield as they were doing a lot last year in those in those goal line type packages, short yards type packages. I feel really good about that. I'll run behind that. Give me, give me you should be able to pick up third and one in that kind of scenario, I would I would like to think so, man, Yeah, you

would think so, right. Teen million dollars running back running behind a three hundred pound and fullback and three hundred and thirty pound guard, you would think you right. And if you can't, we got some bigger problems here. Real quick, before we go to break, I do want to talk about undrafted free agents. I read the other day someone was saying that this might be one of the better undrafted free agent classes the Cowboys have had in a while.

Give me just one guy, one guy that you guys think may have stood out, or that at least you're keeping your eye on as an undrafted free agent type player. If you don't go first, you could be. But let you go first. No, go first? No, I got a few, got it. I'm a dork. That's curious. I'm curious who said that. Honestly, I haven't really heard that. I don't know who was. I can't remember where I read it.

I read it somewhere, it was an article somewhere. I mean, well, you know, obviously it's a it goes into the will see category. But every time I looked up, yes, the other day watching stuff and stuff that I just caught my eye. It was forty one that that was the guy Marquis Bell, and that's the guy the Cowboys gave the most money too, Safety Safety, Florida, A and M. And you know, I am again. It was it was just you know, just T shirts and shorts out there.

But I thought he did all right. He's long and they gave him. They gave him a two hundred thousand dollars contract. And I don't I think his guarant has an undrafted Wow, we got ten and I know it's eighteen nineteen years ago, but right, I mean that's impressive. I don't that's not all guaranteed like the guarant but the guarantee was still still substantial. Like I'll bet you twenty bucks right now he's on the practice squad if

he doesn't make the fifty three, like cutting him. Yeah, I cut into getting I don't know, he's not playing that game again. Dave. Dave says it. Dave's right, says it all time. Everybody's got one of those. We no, we always say there's no way you get him in the practice squad. And not only does he does he get cut and not claim But then the Cowboys don't

even keep him. I don't think they've ever lost a guy that we were stressed about them losing time that I know, Danny Amon Doola, like I know, it's happened, but in my time, years ago too, in my time, I don't remember it happening. Dola made back to the practice squad. He oh, he signed elsewhere later right all year and then the Eagles thought that when they made the playoffs and the Cowboys didn't, that they could sign

him and put him on the playoffs. That didn't really work that way, but either way, he never came back to the cow Yeah. I think safety Bell was the one. I remember. He actually played the first game against Houston with us. Do you remember the opener? Remember talking another safety name Bell, Jason Bell? Jason was he was a special teams guy. Did he go? He ended up playing for Houston, right, yeah, a first game and he had like a big special teams and he actually played against

his first game just killed us. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember, that's all. I think Bell is the right answer. Um, I get gheta By shouldn't even count because he's a kicker like he I mean, of course he's going to have it, because I mean, I know it's my job. But unfortunately, all my attention did go to the kicker, and just because of his background, So the kickers. The kickers probably the right answer, because he's the only guy on this list that has a chance to start at

his position. But um, these centers, Yeah, the centers are really interesting. Again, like the Cowboys just refused to believe that that they need another one for whatever reason. I don't know. Farniac's working at it, that's what we keep hearing. But I mean, Alec Lendstrom was widely seen. I saw grades varying on him from fourth to sixth round. I mean, it's a guy that a lot of people expected to

get drafted coming out of what's Boston College. And then I don't know as as much about James MP from BYU. He's also a center. But like, probably the best two centers that didn't get drafted are both here right now, So if one of them has a good camp, that makes a lot of sense. And then I was impressed, isn't the right word, But like I just noticed a couple of the corners, Isaac Taylor Stewart out of Southern cow and Quandre Mosley out of Kentucky. They're just they're

dan Quinn DB's. Like they've got thirty three thirty four inch arms something like that, and like you could just see them. They were poking at balls that a shorter guy wouldn't have been able to get to. And I was like, yeah, that you look like dbs that dan Quinn would want to keep around and develop. And so maybe that means practice squad. But those are two guys that I noticed. Maybe I'm dyslexic. But also forty one and number fourteen UM stood out a lot from Indiana

receiver Hi Fry Focal. He seemed to catch a lot of passes UM in the Saturday practice. So again, yeah, receivers. Receivers are good names to know because they're only James not gonna have a ton of them at training camp with this current makeup of the roster. Yeah, who else stood out? He's not a rookie? Is that t J. Vasher from Texas Tech last year? He was on the injured reserve all last year. He's like six six, and I mean he's just he's that big. I didn't realize

he was that he's enormous. He's huge, and he probably weighs less than me despite being a foot taller than me, which he can working on, Like he could probably dunk on a twelve foot goal. He could probably would. He could probably dunk on a twelve foot goal. He could probably go clean your shot clock for you if you if you needed that. I mean he can jump that. That's the skill set the place for some places dy

like that right well. And I mean if you haven't seen the highlight catch that he made against Old miss in I don't know what year, that was probably nineteen eighteen. I mean, ridiculous catch was the number he actually he said the other day he lost in the SP for that best play of the year to the Miami Patriots game where they were throwing the ball back and the hail Mary lateral play. Yeah, and they beat Gonk at the end zone. That one the SP for best play

like runner up. He was nominated t J Basher one handed catch. All I'm saying is is that he does bring a skill set they don't haven't received, or somebody that can just go up and elevatet size. They don't size that kind of size he's but he's got to learn how to how to play. He's be around. He hasn't practiced too. I mean when you're on ir all, you're you don't practice. So he has been been here, he just hasn't. He's another guy that's like he's always

in the building. He's always here. Um Like I said that, I mean I would be scared for him if he got hit over the middle by an NFL safety like he I mean he is rail thin. So but yeah, he's He's very intriguing to watch just because it's a rare skill set. Yeah, and he jumped over a tackle. Dum me remember that? Yes, he did jump. Yeah. Oh just wait till training. Can we have something We don't have something? Oh, we have something that works for that.

So anytime you're watching Mickey Spagnola on the on the mic, just be ready because he might just come and jump over him. Oh yeah, is that what we're doing we're talking about? It was funny, is that, Like Shannon, We were talking about it, and Shannon was like, yeah, we got to get Mickey to do that. You know, like he's gonna do that to Mickey. It's like he could do that to you, we could do that to me. They run this by legal and HR and everybody else.

I haven't run it by anybody yet, but let's have that discussion on all think he's gonna touch anybody, Just think he's just gonna he's just gonna hurdle people. All right, let's take our first break. When we come back, we're gonna talk a little schedule release. There was some interesting things in this schedule. I'm interested to hear these guys opinions on what they think came out of the release of the Cowboys schedule. And in our final segment, we got a little ce. No, we haven't done that in

a while. Andrew's got some questions lined up for us. Let's go to break. We'll be right back Dallas, Cowboys dot Com Radio. At ATNC, everyone new and existing customers get our best deals on every smartphone. Why because you deserve it. We're 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 eighteen Team A temporaries lodated specs at the network. Specific strichens and exceptions may apply. 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 the Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Clack 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.

The Cowboys Way, where sixteen Hall of Famers and five championships shows us what success looks like. Where turkey is always the second best part of Thanksgiving Day, Where we are all defined by one single thing, the star, Where we as fans know it's our job to keep the tradition going. Bank of America is proud to be the official bank of the Dallas Cowboys and to support the quest of living life. The Cowboys Way copyright twenty twenty.

Bank of America Corporation. 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 through 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 you at Stetson dot com. Slash Cowboys back to the brink all right, whether you're watching the game from the home, from your home or it stands Esseler Lenses is the best place to watch every exciting playbook an appointment your local Esseler experts find the imperfect Esseler lens for you. Seemour Dumour Esler Welcome Back is the second segment of the break. We are alive from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the start, and we got to do a

little talk on the schedule. Release Cowboys find out I guess the timing of when they're playing everyone, They knew all their opponents, but we did get the schedule from the NFL was released that job on the video, Oh man,

the team. I gotta start with the social team because they came up with a phenomenal idea and then people like Ben Fallon and UH and Drew Ferguson and Connor like all these guys that work in are that you guys that are listening right now probably have never heard of, but they are the guys that are doing that are creating a lot of the content you see across our channels. They all did just a phenomenal job with this project. And UH and I couldn't have been happier with the video.

It was really well done and I love the fact that it kept true to stephen A and also kept true to us right, So it was It was a fun video. If you haven't seen it, you can go check it out on any of our channels. But it was fun video. It really one of the most creative things that we've done. And I thought it was I

thought it was out standing. And whether you know, he's nails on the chalkboard for a lot of people, you know, just listening to him and whatever, But you know, I have a little bit more respect for him for what you know, able to do it, and you know, and kind of poke fun at the whole situation, because you know, if you don't know, it's definitely a bit. It reminds me of something out of WrestleMania, for sure, but I

mean he's stuck to it. It was good. One of the things I like about in sports in general is when people can take a step back and have a little fun with it, because I think we all have a tendency sometimes to get a little too serious about sports, but it is still sports. It still is entertainment. So I kind of like when people can take a step back have a little fun, even if they poke a little fun at themselves. And I think that's a fun thing that flip in the middle of the thing to

go from like pretty good Dallas to New York. I mean that was pretty good, pretty good, all right, Um, So let's talk about the schedule least. I want to go around the table and I want you guys used to give me two things. One best thing about the schedule, two worst thing about the schedule. Let's start with you, Dave. The best thing about the best thing about the schedule. Worst thing about schedule? Ah geez. I'm well, I'll start. I'll start with, sorry, I didn't do that on purpose.

What is the best thing about the schedule? I'll start like, I'm not trying to make it sound like the NFL screwed the Cowboys, because I think this is a manageable schedule. But it's so much easier to look for the things that look hard than the things that look manageable. Yeah, Nick, I mean go ahead, if you got something. Yeah, I mean the best thing about the schedule. Now, we'll see, we'll see what it's like to get there. Um. But you know, if you're not dying by Thanksgiving, then I

think it's time to roll. I mean, like, I mean, Giants at home, Colts at home, Houston at home, at Jacksonville, Philly at home. I mean, you gotta win those five games. Yeah you could. I mean you probably won't go five and no, that's not the way the NFL's works, but you should. You should be able to go four and one, five and oh regardless if what what things look like there, that's a that's a really they should be favored in every game from Thanksgiving on. I mean, as you can't

predict the future at Tennessee. But yeah, Indian Tennessee, you're probably the two with it. You might not be favored, but you know, Tennessee. We sorry, I'm I cut you off twice. I'm sorry, but um, I mean for all the talking we do about the Cowboys taking a step back, Like the Titans are a lesser team than they were last year. They have lost, they've lost a decent amount of production, and Ryan Tannehill probably his worst season since he got there last year. So I'm just saying, like,

I'm not convinced that that's a better team. You can't count on Iman's saying with Cowboys anybody. But you can't just say, oh, well they have Derrick Henry, well will they on December twenty ninth, because I mean that's what he does, is he runs the ball and runs the ball hard, and you just can't count on. You just don't know for sure that you'll have it. And I

guess that's that's probably why it's a wonderful point. Like on paper here in May, they should be favored in their last seven games, but like it's hard to even formulate an opinion about Nomber in December NFL games. I mean, how many times have we joked like, man in the spring, this looked like a sexy matchup, and instead we're watching Matt Castle go against whoever. The other teams trotting out

because their guy's hurt. So it's hard. But yeah, that's I mean, the back end of the schedule looks very forgiving, Like once you get done with that back to back road trip to Green Bay in Minnesota, everything else after that looks super manageable. It is interesting that they are giving them two different short weeks. Instead of doing the back to back thursdays they're playing, they're going Thursday or Sunday to Thursday and then Saturday to Thursday. So two

different short weeks in the same month. Like that sounds nerve wracking to me. Mike McCarthy, he sort of seemed like he liked it. I don't maybe because they get the Saturday games so they have a little extra time. I don't know. For me, the big thing is, like you know, people love to people love to talk about like das record against playoff teams, and they're actually is

good when they play the good team as well. We don't have to wait very long to find out because I mean it's a good bet, especially that early in the season. Good bet Tampa, Cincinnati in La are all gonna have you know, they will be at full strength. And that's three of the last four Super Bowl teams that you have to play in the first six weeks of the season. So pretty good, pretty good measuring stick opportunity there right at the very beginning. Ye Amber, best thing.

Worst thing about schedule, I mean, I don't know if best thing. I would say the most exciting thing for me is exactly seeing how it starts out the season. Those two teams to start back to bad. You're starting with the bang, and like it's gonna say a lot I say this, but we know how different it looks like teams look from the beginning of the season to the second half of the season. So it's tough, but

it's just gonna be a big challenge. And I think that if they just run right through them, Tampa Bay and Inincinnati, it's gonna be what well they run through them. I mean we'll be talking about a parade. I mean, that's what happens. Literal, that's down. Get ready about the

opposing team, Oh, run through the cap. Hold on, I got my I got a lot of we'll be starting off, Yeah, that's that's my that's my concern because I don't know how prepared they're gonna be for the beginning of the season to start off against teams with that kind of level and with so many questions that we currently have so many young talents that the Cowboys are just completely betting on. I mean, do you talk about all the

rookies and second year guys. That's gonna be hard to start the season that way and not really allow them to get more than just those preseason games, to be playing an NFL level game with all the veteran guys together. So it's just gonna be big challenge and the good thing or like, I don't underestimate anybody. The only thing that I'm like, oh, okay, that's kind of a break

are the Giants. That's the only team that every year I'm just gonna, like, you know, be nice to have if Blake Jarwin was here again, you know, he always balls out in those kind of games again against the Giants. But other than that, I am not saying anything else about nobody manageable teams or not or whatever. I've seen

it happen. I buy into it. The Cowboys might win a game and then they face off somebody else towards the end of the season, that they're at a high level and that we see the reality of where the Cowboys really are at that time. So I'm not falling

for it this year. I'm just gonna let it happen, see how it starts out, and see what each team can bring, because we've seen it, I think enough times now where the Cowboys can be the worst enemies, like they themselves, make the mistakes and just go out and perform at a level that they should against the team that they should be. So we'll see. I hear a lot of people saying the opponents can be manageable this season, and Dave just kind of went through all of them.

But there's no telling. It's a it's a wonderful point. I mean, all you can do. I mean I can look at this schedule and I can talk myself into The only teams that I can't really talk myself into having a decent year are Chicago and Houston. I just I don't I don't see a path to either of those teams being very good. Everybody else you never know, man, I've I've brought this up on Detroit's got the makings of a pretty decent roster. Jacksonville they've done a ton

to help Trevor Lawrence. New York. I wouldn't bet on New York being good, but maybe Daniel Jones finally puts it together again. I wouldn't bet on that, but crazier things have happened. That's I mean, I've made this point a million times since the schedule came out of Like if nobody, not even me, mister Lsu would have been like Bengals, that's a tough one. That's the super Bowl runner up. Yeah, Like this time last year you're like, Okay, the Bengals are sort of getting right, but like that's

a game you should win. And now a year later you're like, man, basically, what we how we look at Jacksonville at this point like they got some talent, but maybe they haven't really been a problem for anybody. They picked fifth in the draft last year. So yeah, I mean, Amber, you're totally right. Totally, You're totally right, But that both there's two sides to that, you know, and and and you could make an argument that Tampa and Cincinnati, and

you know, at Green Bay. I think if Aaron Rodgers is there and everything that goes into that, that's obviously going to be a challenge. But you know, I love it when people say, like, well, they'll probably start out oh and two. I'm like, I mean, I don't see that at all. They could, but I think there'll be a better chance that they start out two and oh than they start out oh too. Really, why better chance? Just listen to the statement there's a better chance that

they start doing oh than oh and two? Why well, I mean Vegas will tell you that because they'll be favored in probably both games. They won't be Yeah, yeah, I don't think they'll be favored in those games. You don't think they'll be favored at home. They'll be favorite at home against Cincinnati. Maybe I don't think they'll be favorite at home against Tampa Bay. I don't know. I don't know why they know. And here's nothing Tampa Bay.

I mean, the wheels were falling off at the end of the year last year, and then he and then he retires and then he comes back, and I'm sure that they'll be fine, But like they have their problem, they have their issues too. I mean they got shut out and I nothing at home to the Saints, Like at the end of the year. The end of the year, they were struggling a little bit. They were beat to hell too. I mean they lost a lot of players, like heading down that stretch just saying yeah, I mean,

and that's that's fine. I just I think be favored in both those games. And Cincinnati did lose seven games last year. So I mean they got, they got hot, they got they won these their defenses better than people think their kicker. I mean, they made they won these close games. You got to give them credit for that. But you know, I don't think that it's automatic that

they're world beaters. Now. Well, you know how I look at it, or like how I feel with it is last year, and I remember you're making the point like you feel that they would have won the game against Tampa had they had Sack Martin in the game, they would have had a better chance to finish off. And they were very, very competitive, and that's how they started out the season. Now it's more than a matter than

just missing missing a veteran guy like sak Martin. It's like you got so many different pieces in the in the roster in the offense, even on defense, Like it just looks different now and you just don't have any clue of how it's all gonna come together as one. Is the passing game gonna be working out with the receivers that you've got, is the running game even gonna get going with the old line that you're creating now.

So it went for me, it went from last year maybe having a Mason piece to get you there to beat a team like Tampa, to now having so many unknowns to where yes, they could possibly go out there impress all of us, But I don't. I just I can't see them being favorites. I think they will be. I mean, I think they'll be the favorite in that game, maybe if by one or two. But I mean because just probably also have something to do with what happens

in week one, right for both those teams. Whatever happens a week one, I'll probably effect what that line is in week two. I just don't see him being I don't I mean, I don't see him losing two home games in a row like that, especially both of them, well one of them at night. Yeah, I just I don't know. It's it would be it's it's the Cowboys. They'll start one and one. Yeah, figure out a way to get one. Yeah. DraftKings actually has the odds out if you guys want them. What are the odds for

those two games? Right? So, right now Tampa is favorite by two and a half, and then the Cincinnati game is actually a pick them. Okay, sounds about right. That sounds about right. Yeah, that sounds about right. And then whatever happened week happens week one will affect that line for week two. I would think so, I certainly think, oh and two, it's possible. I would be Yeah, they'll just they'll be one and one like they always are.

I mean that's why, you know, when you look at this, there's there's about two or three games that are like really really big swing games. You know at the Giants is a big one because if they are probably going to be one and one, you gotta go up there

and you gotta take care of business there. I see that Minnesota game on November twentieth, you know, after Green Bay you're about to go three straight home games and Thanksgiving and all that, Like that's a really big game, you know, just to kind of see where you stand there so Minnesota Giants. I mean, there's others, but those are the ones that I could see where this whole thing could kind of swing based off of them. Maybe at Philly. That's the other thing. I mean, their track

record against the division with Dak speaks for itself. I mean, I'll take that. I think you I still think, well, that kind of goes with what I'm gonna say. I still think they're probably the favorites to win the division, but man, that gap looks a lot closer than it did. Like, I mean, no, I don't think the world of Jalen Hurts, but the Eagles have put a heck of a good

roster around him. Giants, I still don't. I don't believe in Daniel Jones, so I don't think they're very good, but they clearly have upgraded the talent on their team. I don't trust Carson Wentz either, but like he had it other than the meltdown in Jacksonville, he had a pretty nice season for the Colts. Like he's capable. He's capable of. I think he threre like twenty six touchdowns and seven picks, Like he was fine. And if there's a good team around him, like Washington should be good

enough to try to make some noise. Like again, I still like Dallas's chances, but like they're not be shocked if they swept the division like they did last year they went six and oh right, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I just I don't. I don't expect that this year. I think it's more like three or four of this year. Yeah in the division. Yeah, I agree. All right, let's go and take our final break. We come back. We got a game of see a No, we'll do that

when we come right back. Dallas Cowboys dot Com are you hi? I'm Clint Tillison with man, I'm Jay Novachek, and we're both with Turf, the official tractor provider of the Dallas Cowboys. So if you need a tractor to bail some hey, I'm more to cut some grass or a gator to get some chores done, get a John Deer at Unitedagin 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 Unitedaginturf dot Com. The Cowboys Way. We're sixteen Hall of Famers and five championships shows us what success looks like. Where turkey is always the second best part of Thanksgiving Day, where we are all defined by one single thing, the star, where we as fans know it's our job to keep the tradition going. Bank of America is proud to be the official bank of the Dallas Cowboys and to support the quest of

living life the Cowboys Way. Copyright twenty twenty Bank of America Corporation. 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. AT and T may temporarily slow dated speach at the network. Specific restrictions and exceptions may apply. New Doctor Peppers zero sugar. You deserve it. I do deserve that. You deserve decadent flavor without sugar and a day at the beach without Sam getting every week where

and a relaxing bath that your children don't interrupt. I deserve all that. It's just a visual metaphor for Doctor Peppers zero sugar. Everything you want, nothing you don't, a visual metaphor on the radio. I do deserve that Doctor Peppers zero sugar. The zero you deserve is finally here. Back to the break Cowboys Nation. The ninth annual Reliant Home Run Derby is back at Writer's Field in Frisco

on June seventh at six thirty pm. Come see your favorite Cowboys players swing for the fences to raise money for the Salvation Army. Free admission to all see you there. Visit Dallas Cowboys dot com, slash fans slash for just just go to the website and I tweeted it out, so just you go, all right, Nick, Yeah, got frustrated with that doing everything. Just so you know, here's some of the players that are going to be out there.

Dak Zeke, zach Um CD tyrn Leyton, Trey Von Diggs, Micah, Jordan, Anthony Brown, like they got they got all the top line guys. It seems like that are gonna be out there taking part in this thing. So what you said that, Mica Jordan Jordan, Yeah, it should be a great event. If you have kids, it's a really great event. So you have opportunity to go out there. You can take pictures, kids can take pictures with rowdy DCC will be out

there doing pictures. They got the drum line out there, dancers like it's gonna be like a big event for just for kids and for families to be able to have some fun. I was out actually out at that ballpark last week for another event. It's a really cool seven. It's a really cool place. So if you haven't been out there, go check it out. It'll be a cool event to take part in. Coming up here on the seventh of June. Was the seventh, ninth, ninth, I'm sorry,

ninth of June. All right, let's jump back. No, you're right, June seventh, June seventh, that's what I thought. It was. The ninth June seven, June seventh is when you got to check that out, all right, Amber, Let's get get a little c No, all right, let's see how many questions we can get through. Sam Williams is a starter at defensive end Week one against Tampa Bay No, no, no, all right, that's easy, Okay. Nothing about him. I don't

think it's necessarily about him. It's just he's a rookie. Like, yeah, it is about him. He's he's a rookie and not ready to be a starter. About him, well, what I mean by that is doesn't mean he's not going to be a good player. Sure, it just means right now, he's a rookie and they got for a week one, they got guys they trust more to put out there, all right, based on the new editions like Williams Clark Ridgeway, will our defense do better against the run? M I think?

I think so. I mean, like you would hope to have some improvement there. I mean, who did they lose Randy greg Green, Kean O'Neill, Urban, Urban, Who who they lost halfway through the sea? A whole lot. Anyways, I don't think you were looking at guys that were stopping the run match anywhere, So I don't I see, just improved and they should be improved that Neville Galimore didn't

play most of the season. He's a big body in there that I think, you know, I think if he's back and oh, Digiza, I mean he will be back. I'm saying if he plays a lot with I think they have a chance to be better. I would imagine to be better more than the worse were they Like,

were they atrocious? I'm sorry for not remembering this off the top might have some games where they were like man, what they're just Yeah, No, they definitely had I mean the San Francisco overall, but I think there were games where you just kind of like, man, this digger they were. They were middle of the pack on the season, and they got picked on a few times. I'll say, see just better. Just yeah. I think that was mainly the

area of improvement. I would say that we were kind of discussing when you look at the defense, When you looked at the defense overall last year and everything, that they got better at the run games like stopping the run was the main area where they kind of did show their weakness. Yeah, but I mean they were atrocious in twenty though. I mean they were thirty first. So yeah, I guess the reason I'm being like reluctant is I don't see like a huge jump, But I don't think

they'll be worse. I mean, if you have Neville healthy, Osa taking another step, adding some veteran guys having to Marcus Lawrence healthy for more of the year. People can roll their eyes at his ability and run defense all they want, but it's real. Um, yeah, I think they'll be better, all right, Micah Parsons. Will he have a sophomore slump year? No? I will hate will be a slump? I hate the phrasing yeah, because the bar is so high, Like,

will it be a slump? If he has eighty tackles and eight sacks with an interception like that sounds pretty great year to me. I mean, I'd be shocked if he beats his rookie sack total just because that's a freaking that's a high barb Um. No, he's not gonna slump in the sense that we're I'll be shocked if we're sitting here in December, like, man, where's that? Where's the Mica from twenty one? Like where what happened to

this guy? Like he will be a good player. He might not statistically match what he did last year, but oh well, he's going to go into every game this year unlike every game last year with teams saying number one person we got to deal with is Michael Parsons.

So he's got to adjust to that, which means his numbers probably won't be the same as as well last year because he's going to be the target, which is why, and that alone is why wouldn't you say, you know, people think he should rush all the time or where

he should be coming from. You know, I think it gives more value to be able to play linebacker and rush from different spots because you can say that all you want to, but that's exactly what you want your quarterback to do it every single snap is to find him, look for him and try to figure out man. Maybe we adjust things, and now that means that instead of doing you know, we do what we do. No, you're not, you're doing what number eleven is wanting you to do.

Or you can push him into bad situations by making them adjust to you and where you are. And so they have to choose. They have to say, either we're going to do this that puts us out of disadvantage to be able to stop Mica, or we're gonna just let MIKEA do his thing. And that's where you know, you can really put teams in bad situations. You know, I think I think there's a there's a chance that. I mean, he could have even a better year, you know, but it's going to be hard with the numbers, but

he can he can have. Yeah. I wonder if I bet the Cowboys would gladly take fewer sacks from Micah if it means that Dante Fowler is getting a one on one with a lesser player as often as possible, you know, Like that's how you up the numbers for everybody else. And yeah, like that's what makes him so valuable and that's why when they drafted him, I was like, if he's more than just an off ball linebacker, I like to pick a lot more than I do right now.

And that's if if if you're playing a Rashaan Slater or like some tackle that can take anybody away, then you just move them, like you don't have to beat your head against the wall. With a player like Micah Parsons. You move him to maximize his impact. So I would be very impressed if he statistically tops what he did last year. But he's going to be the focal point and the reason why the defense is successful. Yeah, and without being said, definitely not a slump year. No, Like

he's not he's gonna have a great year. I would be surprised if he doesn't. Um, Well, the Cowboys be using Paulder more this season. Show me, yeah, No, I'm gonna say no, show me, did I see it? I'm not gonna buy it. Done. I'm done. Maybe if they do this or that and the other, like maybe you can get twn touches in the game. No, just do it. I don't care. Can he can he be the punt returner?

I talked about that. I think we answered in the mail bag the other day, Like is he like I know there are different skills between a kick returner and punt returner. Does he have that that thing that punt returners have. I don't know, He's never done it. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to say. Do you think he has that kind of he's got juice when the ball is in his hands. I know that. I just I would tell him to like spend the summer with the jugs machine because like we know they don't we CD's

not going to do it as much. I'm sure he will still return some punts, but like he's not gonna be their primary guy because that was a way to get him touches when he was the third receivers, like, well, this is six extra touches a game for a guy that might struggle. Otherwise, that's not gonna be an issue anymore. He's number one, so he doesn't need to be doing all that and quick, who's the next guy in line behind him? They like. McCarthy even said that during rookie camp.

He was like, all options are on the table, and I was like, I don't love the sound of that, Like I don't love the thought that you don't really have a guy you feel good about. That's I don't like that. I mean, the thing about punt returns to me is like you just don't know until you get them back there if they can do it, because it is I mean, you gotta be fearless and a bit crazy to be a punt returner because the guys are coming at you a lot faster, they're on top of

you a lot quicker. You gotta make a split second decision sometimes on whether you're gonna fair catch it or whether you're gonna take off with it. There's a lot that goes in there, and when you're kicking, you got a little more time to kind of feel what's going on, and worst case scenario, you let it go through the end zone, right, And so it's just I think it's a little it's it's a lot different mentally for the

guy that's going to be returning a punt. Worst case scenario because you not as you not getting over there in time at the eighteen yard line to get it, so you just let it go and then it rolls to the two. That's the worst I mean, that's right. Yeah, Tony has displayed some questionable judgment at times as the kick return. If he's got that, I don't know. I'm not I'm not saying he would be like an all pro, but he's got juice and he's got the ability to

make people miss. And if he can do it, that's a way to get him four or six more touches a game that they refuse to give him as a running back. I'm just trying a problem solve here. If they don't want to listen to me, that's fine. Hey, do you think there's any shot whatsoever that Cede Lamb is returning puns this ship? I wouldn't do it. I got asked this the other day. I wouldn't do it.

Not because of him being the starter. I don't think he's that great at it, Like I mean, when has he just been like so dynamic It's like, oh my god, CD back there, like, don't kick it to him. I mean like if I'm Miami Dolphins, I mean Tyreek Hill is doing it. I mean, yeah, he's your number one receiver, but he's doing it. Or you know, Deshaun Jackson did it. Those guys they're awesome and they can play their position.

But I just don't think CD is worth the risk because I don't I haven't seen him just be that dynamic. He's okay, but he's not like watch out, you know, don't go to the bathroom because they're about to punt the CD. Do you think about like Chekelon Diggs, No, no, you don't want to see it, or no, you don't think he'd be good at it. I think he'd be great at it. I don't want to see it. I don't want the like that. I mean, and I've I'm

in favor of receivers doing it. If they're good at it, you typically have other receivers that can fill in if you're if you get hurt, like a a lockdown franchise cornerback and it's hard to come by. I just don't love the idea of like risking that um don't say it, well, no, I want to you. I know Deon did it. I know, I know it's been thirty years since Dion was in his crime. Like, it's a different, different other cornerback. I'm trying to think of another cornerback in the league that's

done it. There's there's a lot of guys that that do it like that, Like from a cornerbacks then point cd average ten yards per tempt. He also he only had three more returns than Cedric last year. My answer is that I bet he'll do it, but it won't be a day of weekly occurrence. That's just my guess. But I don't know who it's gonna be. I mean, who's your sure handed guy that's like, okay, put him back there. This is not the balls at midfield. It's not gonna be reporting if he can Tilbur do it.

Has cop Tilber Dunner in college what McCarthy McCarthy asked, this might not have been his fault, just I mean, they don't have a punt returner. McCarthy made every skill player field a field kicks and punts during rookie camp. He's basically like, let's just see how all these guys look trapped and catching the balls. Tilbert's rep got caught up in the wind and it just landed like eight yards to the to the right of him, like he just he mistracted or lost where it was in the sun.

I don't know what happened, but yeah, they had hit the ground like it wasn't even close to him. And I was like, did you did you lose it? Like you didn't even really look like you knew where it was. Yeah, maybe maybe he's better at it. But it was just funny that because everybody's gonna watch when the third round pick receiver, Like nobody cares about the tight end that's doing everything on the team when Tilber. When Tilbert came up for his rep, it was like, all right, let's

see what you go. Okay, all right, who's up next? Yeah? Um, maybe though maybe he could all Right, all right, all right, I think we have time for one more. I'll let you guys choose and send my easy question or a spicy one. Spicy Okay, this is the last season we have with Mike McCarthy, den Quinn and kill him more. That's oh all three. Oh. All I have to say is no, no, I mean, see, there's an easy way out of it. You know, you could say, you know, there's no there's no no way, no way all three

of them are coaching here in twenty twenty three. There's no way because if it if it goes well to the point where Mike McCarthy stays, and that means those other two have done their job and they're going to probably go get head coaching jobs because they were on the doorstep of doing it last year. If it doesn't go real well at all, then it could be o

for three. But I mean there's a better chance of over three than a three three for three, Yeah, there's I yes, there's way better chance that none of them are here next year than all of them, I think, because yeah, if I mean maybe and maybe not so much Kellen Moore, I don't know, but like it's the it's the upset of the decade that dan Quinn stayed right, like Jerry had to dig into the pocketbook and some other awkward things happened along the way, and I just

if the defense is good again this year, especially with another you know, you got another high profile draft pick and Sam Williams to work with, like, there's no way they can keep him out. I think if this team does exactly what they did last year, that I think Jerry willman mix it up. I think Jerry will make some changes if I do exactly what they did last year, which means if they get to the playoffs and they lose a round one, I think, so you get beyond that.

Now it's the scenario you guys were talking about. Then it's a situation where those other two guys become more of a commodity on the open market to be able to go and be head coach. How bad does he need to get for you too? For something I had to happen mid season type of change. Let me let me show you something right here. November thirteenth, Nick knows this well. Middle of the season, you go to Green Bay. I'm just saying, like, you gotta you gotta rough first

part of the first part of the season. I tell you, I tell you the one to look at there is October twenty third. It's it's home against Detroit. Because if the first six games have not gone well, those six games are going to be tough. I mean two, the two easy ones are both division games in the middle. So um, let's say it's two and four. Let's say it's worse than that. Yeah, and then you lose to Detroit. Okay, well then now you got problem. So so so then what

would happen is de being on what? Really? I would say maybe it's Chicago because you're about to go into a bye two. Like Jerry makes the statement on the fan twice that does us, Well, what's going on after the Detroit and then we head into the Bears game and there's all this speculation and then that goes bad. Ye, then that's where you get. Then everybody's bye week and then the website like that's that's exactly what happened. That's exactly what happened. Don't say that. Don't mess up my

bye week exactly what? Wait? How is Wade the only mid season firing of the Jerry era? Could he wait to the Yes, that's to answer all the head coach. That's what I mean. No, no, no, I'm talking about head coach, not Paul. Yeah, that was it. The bottom, the bottom would have to truly drop out, like you would have to legit legitimately be out of the playoff race by Halloween. I think for that to happen. But you know, that's one of the things that I don't

like about the schedule. And I was, uh, you know, when I asked that first question about what you like and what you don't like about the schedule, one of the things that I immediately noticed was not only how tough it is the beginning of the season, but that actually lines up when Dallas will be We know they will be shorthanded, we know they won't have their probably second receiver for at least those first couple of games, and so when you start talking about Nick, when you

were talking about they'll probably be favorite in those two games, I'm like, man, I don't know. Like I was hoping that they would actually backload the schedule. Give me some easy games at the beginning of the season when I'm a little shorthanded, and then let me work into getting those guys ready, and by the end of the season, maybe I'm ready to face Tampa Bay Cincinnati in the rams. That's where I'm a little bit concerned about. This was a year that you were hoping for a Giant's opener. Yes,

absolutely absolutely. Yeah. I mean it's funny because that's what I go back to, is like I don't think the team is better on paper. I've said it a million times, Like I don't think they're better than they were last year, and I think the expectation is somehow even higher, Like I don't think yeah, like one and done ain't gonna make anybody happy, including the owner. But they're not better than they were last year or so buckle up like that.

Just it's gonna be an interesting season with When you consider that, it's like, well, we kind of gave you less to work with, but we want you to do more with it. Have fun. It's a weird spot to be. Yeah, it comes down to that question about Micah Parsons and the sophomore slump. If he if he had a sophomore someth that's that's terrible. If he's about what he was,

then you know, then we'll see what happens. But if he takes a next step, if he if he's if he's better, which he could be, because this guy, he says he loves football, he studies it all the time. I mean, he wants to get better. He's really hungry at it. I think he's becoming more of a leader. If he takes a next step in that direction and he's way better than what he was, then I mean you have a chance. I mean you're gonna be in every game. And speaking of being better, that's actually where

I expect him to grow this year. I expect him to come in the here what I want. I should say what I wanted him to come in here and make this entire defense better because of his attitude. We've seen how throughout the history of the NFL there are certain players that have an ability because of not only their play, but also how they hold other people accountable,

to make the entire defense better around them. I think he's one of those kind of players that if he can be that that type of voice, where he can be that alpha that's like holding people accountable and making sure everybody's playing up to a certain standard, playing up to his standard. I think that's where you can see this defense now make a big jump. Because we all know it's hard. Dave. Think you just tweeted this earlier today about how hard it is to replicate a good

defensive season. That's not an easy thing to do to sustain that, but I do think if they have any hope of doing that, it's going to come from Michael Parsons making everybody better. Well. Jerry also thinks that they're gonna get Micah like production from this draft class too, So okay, maybe we'll be sitting here talking about the news. I don't think anybody was expecting what came from from Mica to come from Mica. Not to say he wouldn't be a good player, but I don't think anybody expected

what they got. So let's let's see, you know, let's see where that goes. Like they've said, buckle up, buckle up for this ride, because it's gonna be bumpy. It's gonna be fun as usual, like when you're in the roller coaster and the guy comes by and pushes the bar down and you're like, it's been a little loose. Can you can you come tightest thing for me? I

don't know if how I feel about that. This thing does a loop the loop, right, Like, can you come secure this a little tighter for me and still move it a little? That's how I feel right now. All right, appreciate you guys, join us. We'll be back next week. We'll talk more until then for Nick Eaton, Dave Helmt, amber Garcia. I'm Derek Eaelton. 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 m M