Cowboys Break: Best 5 Linemen?

episode number thirty three. Welcome to another edition of The Break, Real Life from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star Guy Amber at the Star Days at his home, and we got a good forty five minutes of Cowboys to talk here with you guys to day. It's Tuesday, so it's Big Picture Day. And I had one whole set of things that we were going to talk about today, and then Jerry got on the radio and completely change that.

So we got a lot of stuff that we're gonna talk about here, at least in the first segment, maybe into the second segment that came from Jerry's interview this morning with our partner Station one or five out three the fan here locally, and then a little later in the show we're gonna follow up on some stuff we wanted to get to yesterday, some performance reviews, a couple of players that we didn't get a chance to talk about specifically that I want us to dive into a

little bit, and then we'll get into the final segment. We'll get some fan questions from you guys. Hopefully you guys ask some questions or some comments about some different things around this team that I can then post to this group to be able to answer. So let's talk about Jerry. He's on the fan this morning, and there were a few things he talked about that I thought stood out. Let's start first with the one that's that's more tactical. He was talking about Lyle Collins and his injury,

and he said, we don't know. I don't know, the doctors don't know. We're trying to work through some structure issues. So structure issues. The longer you go, the less optimistic you get, sounding more and more And we heard the same thing from from coach McCarthy yesterday, sounding more and more like surgery is an option here. What did you hear from from Jerry and what are you thinking right now with regards to where Lyle stands, We'll go with you, Dave.

What I'm thinking is that I'm pretty worried about Lyle Collins's long term availability. How could you not be based on what you've been here in the last twenty four or so hours. I think it starts with yesterday, which I don't know if this counts, is behind the scenes, but you just kind of learn how to read between the lines once you've done this job for a long enough time. And Todd Archer from ESPN asks the question, is surgery something you're considering for Lyle Collins basically out

of nowhere? Which Todd Archer's very good at his job, And when somebody who's very good at their job asks a question like that, it's probably because he's gotten an inkling from one direction or another that maybe that's something that the Cowboys are considering. And Mike McCarthy didn't shoot it down at all. He said it's something they have to weigh. Jerry Jones said the same thing. He actually, he said, we don't know. The doctors don't know, I

don't know. You know, we're playing it by year. The longer this goes, the less optimistic you get. So it's a hip problem. That's about as much as anybody's been willing to say. And I'm hoping for the best. But when you, you know, you piece all this stuff together, it certainly doesn't sound like Lyle Collins's return is imminent and if he does need to have surgery, then it'll probably be much later in the season, if at all.

So um, I'm just kind of discouraged by the thought that, you know, he was so good last year and it might be a pretty hefty amount of time before we see him play again. Nick, how maik of a problem? Do you see this as if Lyle should have to have surgery and is out for a protected of a prolonged period of time for the offensive line, ye, like, well, for the team, you have to yeah, yeah, it's it's it's a problem. But because of the fact that he hasn't been there and you know they if hiring can

come back. Now, you just got one offensive lineman that you have or tackle that you have to you know, figure out. And I think you're seeing some options here. You know, it could be Zack Martin now you know, which means you need you still need a guard, or could be a Brandon Knight on the right side, or

maybe Terrence Steele, whatever. But I feel better about it because you just like, you got to figure out one guy to try to replace it, and maybe that guy is Zach Martin, which means then you need a guard, you know, and maybe that's Looney or McGovern or maybe you go get one or whatever. But I'm just saying I feel better about it because you're you're forced to see these options and they've been okay, they haven't been great. But if it's Zack Martin and Tyren Smith is your tackles,

I think you can figure out the insight. Amber you agree or do you think this is a bigger problem? It's a big problem, A problem, A problem. I was trying to specify bigger problem. I mean, obviously it's a big problem. But I think that the somewhat advantage kind of going back into something that Nick mentioned, was the fact that they've known this since the start of training camp, that they have issues with Lyle Collins' health, so they've been able to at least kind of somewhat prepare for it.

What worries me, even though I think Dak Prescott has been doing a really, really good job, it worries me the fact that he has to deal with something like that throughout for the rest of the season. I mean, that is a lot of pressure that your quarterback is having to get and having to figure out. Also, if they're not able to improve and solidify the offensive line, I wonder how much it's going to start affecting Ezekiel

Elliott's game. And we know how important it is for the Cowboys to utilize they can run the ball because at the end of the day, I mean, most games they've wanted when Zeke has a good game. So it's it's tough for the Cowboys. But hopefully after what they were able to see from tape from last game, they're able to create a better combination to prepare for future games day. Do you know where this all came from?

Because I don't know. It may just be me, but it seemed like coming into training camp, I had no idea that Lyle was dealing with anything, and obviously, win the offseason, you wouldn't think that you're doing things that create these kinds of issues. But do you know where this all came from and how they end up in this position where surgery is even a part of the conversation.

It's a really, it's really frustrating. And the short answer is I don't, but I have a feeling that I would if I was able to wander around the facility and bump into trainers and coaches and orr. But whoever the heck else might have or or or I mean or honestly, Lyle, he really, I mean, obviously he went to LSU. He's a very nice guy. He is one of my closest connections on the team. Yeah, I could probably talk to him himself if I was able to

go into the locker room. So it's frustrating, although I do, I do want to point out, you know, he comes, he comes to camp, he's out. Mike McCarthy downplays the heck out of it, which like, that's nothing new. Teams

lie about this type of stuff all the time. But what makes it, what I guess what makes it frustrating is when you downplay it like that, then people take you at your word and all of a sudden, now it's you know, you assume it's not a big problem, so when it turns into a big problem, it always feels like the player gets the blame. I've seen a ton of people talking trash about Lyle Collins for being like out of shape, like like this is all happening because he came to camp out of shape, And let's

be clear, he honestly could have. Lyle Collins might have come to camp out of shape, but you don't miss a month of the season and maybe need surgery as a pro athlete because you didn't take your conditioning seriously enough. That's ridiculous. If all Lyle Collins was was out of shape, you just play your way back in over time. I highly doubt you would even go on injured reserve. So

it's just frustrating that. I understand that teams want to be careful with the details, but you create you know, when you don't give out information, people fill in the gaps on their own and it turns into a convoluted story, which just makes it frustrating. Yeah, real quick, Nick, what's the likelihood on Tymas Smith? You didn't mention him a little bit earlier. What are we hearing as far as his return and the likelihood that he may be ready

this week? I would guess that he plays this week if I had to guess, I wasn't getting that feeling last week. Now I did see him warm up a little bit on the field, and you know, I think he could have played maybe right then. I mean, like if it's a playoff game. You know, That's what I heard twice was during you know, on Sunday, I heard it's a long season. So it's like, Okay, well, you don't want to foursome here in week three, but it's

still a long season. But if you lose to the Browns and you're one in three, this could be a really long season. So I think, you know, at some point you gotta say, you know, you gotta get out

there and play. And I can't imagine if he could have played two weeks ago, probably could have played last week, I would imagine he plays this week all right, Which, if Flyle's gonna be outward extended period of time, like you said earlier, I think it's even more important that the Cowboys can get tiring back because then you're just

dealing with one tackle position rather than two. Well, I'm curious who plays right tackle though, like who plays I personally, I have actually thought that Brandon Knight played has played really well for what he's been given. Yeah, and so I would love to see him be the guy that they put over at right tackle and let's just see where it goes from there. And I think you've been better than Steele. Yeah, I mean it could be Steel if if you know, if he was just sick, if

that's all it was, well, that's what they're saying. It didn't look like that to me. But obviously I'm not on the sideline, and I certainly wasn't there Saturday night where they say he wasn't when he started not feeling well. So, um, you know, ye who knows. I just think that you've got to figure out is Night or Steel a better option at at tackle or the guard that plays in there because you move, you know, Zach Martin out there.

And here's another thing you have to wait is if I mean Zach Martin's a ninety nine player right ninety eight? Was Madden ratings like ninety nine? Okay, ninety nine? But is he at ninety nine at right tackle? Me look pretty good to me. He looked good to me too. I'm just saying, but what if he's a you know, what if he's an eighty eight? What if he's okay? Yeah, are you what are you sacrificing there? Because you know, well, I think then what you have to figure out is

is whoever would have been at right tackle? Are they a sixty? And is that guard that would have been moved? You know what I'm saying, Like, that's where you got to realize. I think right now you're looking for your five best and put your five best on the field. Yeah, I you know, I said almost said this yesterday. We don't have time. But Tony Rami used to always say to the right tackle, don't hold the guy because I

can see him and I will make him miss. So if he's coming through, don't you don't have to hold him. I'll make sure he gets away from me. I mean, dak Is that's sort of the same way Amber asked yesterday, what's one position that you could maybe be okay with? I think it is right tackle because you see that guy coming if he gets free. All right, let's move on to another topic that Jerry hit. This one was

a little small name your five best guys. Okay, she messes up your home outlook, you know, your whole outline. But it's okay. No, it's okay. That's great. That's actually a really great question. What we'll go around the table. I'll start your top five. No, no, no no, no, give your five. Don't just give one, It'll give you five. Give me your five. Five. Well, then Amber starts Amber, you're up. Oh, okay, you ask the question. It's true. True. I mean we keep talking about wanting to have the

five guys on the field and shuffling around. Accordingly, I think that obviously, so like Martin, Joe Looney, Ullo, Connor Williams, he's still in the mix and there, I guess, regardless of the way he's been playing, which quite frankly, I expected him to be doing better this year. But then Brandon Knight, you have that. And honestly I did not hate what um oh my god, I forgot his name,

Yaddish Beaddish. I did not hate what he did. I think that if they give him more practice there and I saw him get a lot of help from Joe Looney as far as being Joe Looney was still from what I saw in the game, he was still being the one who was communicating everything. So I think if there is a combination there of helping each other out, I would say, for me, I would like to see that combo again, right, Nick, I will say this be Idish was saying after the game that he was able

to do the calls. I'm sure Looney helped a lot, you know, just with lining up and all that, but it is good. It is always important for the center to do that. So he was able to do that at least. Um. I think you forgot Tyrn Smith or or not. So I would play I think if playing this game, I would play tying it left. Um, I'd keep Connor in there left guard. I would start um be Idish and I would play Zach and then um Night. So you think Looney would be the guy that would

be out for you. Yeah, he's a he's a three way back up. I mean, he's a guard, guard, center, backup. It's valuable to take, even though that's not as a big deal anymore, Dave, because you have to take eight linemen anyways to the game. So having all these versatile players, I mean, it's nice to have, but you know you can have at least eight. You have to have eight, Dave. Uh. Yeah, I mean I think what the coaches would probably do is just plug Night or steal at right tackle and

try to keep the continuity everywhere else. I think, you know, Mike McCarthy would probably trying to keep as many guys in place as possible, but if it doesn't look pretty, I definitely think Tyler Biadas should be in there. And then you have the choice of, you know, are you sending Looney to the bench or are you moving Looney to left guard for Connor Williams, Because I mean, if you had to identify the two problem spots, it's it's

probably those two. I mean, you can talk about tackle all day, but we know why they're struggling, whereas you know Connor and Joe or the day one starters. So I'm not ready to pull the plug on it yet, but if they don't, if they do continue to struggle, I would put Beatish at center and then either Looney at left guard or um or excuse me, or keep Looney at center and move somebody else to left guard. Either way like the Connor and Joe or the two

spots that give me problems. Yeah, I'm completely with you. I think the issues that I saw last week that obviously the tackles had a couple of plays here and there, but I was expecting that from them and I think they managed that relatively well. I'm a little more concerned about the left guard and the center position. So I would take Tiring, I would take Zach Martin, I would take Beyond as yet center. I would make Night my

right tackle. And then, to be honest with you, you give me any one of the three Looney, Williams or McGovern at left guard, I would like to see them personally. Give McGovern a shot. Let's see what he can do, because I don't think those other two guys have necessarily done so great to where you're like, well, we can't can't get better there. So again, maybe they're seeing something else in practice where they're like, hey, McGovern's just not ready.

He's not as good as these other guys, and maybe that is a big problem. But I you know, again, my two problem guys really have been Looney and Williams. I was expecting a lot more from those two quicks. We got a mail back question this point. I don't know how to Dave answered it, but it was like, why is mcgoverned getting any looks? And I was like, well, he's getting looks right and not for us, but but he's not doing anything with it, you know obviously in practice.

So I mean it's not like so you'd rather have someone with zero experience and take Kyle, a veteran guy. Yeah, but if the veteran's not playing very well, the veteran doesn't really matter, you know. I mean the look at cam Irving. Cam Irving had experience, and they decided this year, going into the season, this was before he got hurt, they were like, we'd rather go with the guy has zero experience than put him out there. So, but I don't think experience is always necessarily the with the game.

On the last important thing, he gave up a huge sack at the end of the game. I'm not sure cam Irving wood or would not have done that. That's what I'm saying. And my point is he might have. And so I think you're kind of trying to weigh is the experience gonna be beneficial if the guy really is not that good, you know, I mean, experience doesn't always mean that they're that they're better. Yeah, all right,

we're gonna take our first break. When we come back, We're going to continue with a couple other topics that Jerry hit and and then we'll get into a little bit of performance reviews from the game as well. That when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor Ba cream Soda. Is he a Newcombonut's music to my ears? Okay, Doctor Times, music

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It is a second segment of the Break Life from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the start, we're talking about Jerry Jones and his comments this morning on one h five out three the fan here locally in Dallas. And let's move on to the second topic. This topic is one that I think everybody wants to talk about, which is a safety position. And he was asked about the safety position and asked specifically about Earl Thomas, and Jerry's response was, I think the fair question is do

I want us to play better? And the answers yes, Do I see that we've got a path to getting better without doing something that is out of our control, which is acquiring a player? This is not necessarily in our control at all. The circumstances or the demands might be something that you don't want to do, all right, So here's the questions I have for you guys coming out of that first thing he mentioned was that the path for them getting better was with the guys that

they have. You guys, agree or disagree with that comment. Let's start first with you, Dave. I think I already said yesterday I don't agree, so so no, I mean, I mean, and you know, Jerry, honestly, I think the first five questions of his interview today were about the DBS. I mean he you know, people are always saying to hold people accountable. I mean he got hammered about it for ten to twelve solid minutes, whether it's about signing somebody like Earl Thomas or why do you think the

DBS can get better? He talked a lot about you know, basically said like, given more time, these guys can pick up the scheme better and use their instincts to be in better position. And I guess my rebuttal to that is what's your margin for error? I mean, because you're you're one and two, and you know the Browns aren't the best team in the NFL, but they're definitely talented.

Like this is, this isn't gonna be easy. I know that the schedule lets up a little bit here with you know, New York and Washington and maybe even Philly on the horizon, but the Browns aren't part of that. So what you could be at one and three if you have two or three more coverage busts? And I just I just wonder what the margin for error is?

That's my line of thinking. Amber. Um Well, I keep thinking that I need to stop stressing out about this whole subject because if they're not stressing out, why should I be stressing out about it? So there's that. As far as Jerry's comments go, I think that one thing that we always hear them say is if they want a play or if they want someone, they're gonna get it. So I really don't know what goes on behind doors and what's really happening as to why they they really

aren't talking about bringing in a guy for help. But as far as the group of guys that they currently have, I see it being really tough to make drastic changes changes as far as drastic improvement in the middle of the season. I remember when I did the whole documentary on Connor Williams and I was talking about him, and then way they went through the whole coaching the position coach what was his name forgot that got fired and they changed the online coach Colombo yep, yeah, Paul Alexander,

yeah yeah. Well, when I'm talking to Connor Williams about that period, I remember him talking about how difficult it is to change and make drastic improvement in the middle of the season. So how much change can you actually see when these guys are having to prepare week by week for the next oppintent. How much are these guys able to personally each guys get the help that they specifically need as far as improving their game on the field and all that communication. So I just don't see

it changing in a short term. I think it's going to take a longer period for us to see something good enough for us to say, Okay, they really are making this happen. Ye, Nick, I kind of forgot what the what is your questioning? Should you do you agree or disagree that that they can actually just get better with the guys that they have without having to bring

someone else in. No, I don't. I don't know if they're going to get better at safety that means that the pass rush is going to get better to help them. I just don't think those guys are going to just magically get better. But I will say the second question he asked about he answered about Old Thomas. I think it's interesting as well, because he says there are ways you can get better. There are prices you pay to get to an acquire talent, there are progress stoppers if

you have a different plan. So it almost sounds like he's calling Earl Thomas or one of those veterans a progress stopper, but I mean, whose progress are stopping? Donovan Wilson. I mean, I don't understand whose progress for stopping. But I think Amber said it right. If they wanted Earl Timents, they would have gotten him. They don't. They don't want him.

They've they've looked into it, they know it, and the player you see with the All Pros and the Pro Bowls and all that stuff, they don't think he's that player. And again, like I said before, I don't believe that they think he is healthy, so they don't want him. Let me ask you this question. Do you guys think that at other times in their career, Let's go back to last season, that Darian Thompson and Xavier Woods played

better than they're playing right now. I guess. I mean, I just just we didn't see him, these guys just running through them like that. I mean, we just didn't see the I mean, it's also I guess, a different a different scheme. And that's that's kind of the reason why I'm asking the question. Is if we think that they've been better in their career here than what we're seeing right now, it does maybe suggest that maybe there's an issue here with communication, with scheme, with them figuring

out their role in certain situations. Maybe again, one thing that we know kind of as a big picture thing is the story on the defense that they ran last year was that it's a much more simplified defense. They kind of, you know, kind of played this a pretty simple scheme. This year, the idea is that it's not

as simple as scheme. If that's all true, then maybe there is some credence to the fact that that these guys aren't playing up to their best because they're not as prepared or and I want to don't want to say it like that, because that makes it seem like they're not working hard. They're just not communicating and doing their jobs as well because they are having issues kind of fitting into this game and understanding what their roles are on each and every play. Can you guys buy

into that at all? Couple thoughts One one, Yes, I do, like I understand given all of the circumstances, they probably just don't have it completely nailed down to where this scheme is. Muscle memory Number one. Yes, I think Xavier Woods has played better at times during his career than he is right now. Darian Thompson. I don't think there was ever a large enough sample size to know how good he was. I think, you know, he spots started three times because of injuries last year. I don't remember

him being awful. I don't remember him being great. The other thing, they had an all pro cornerback who they didn't have to worry about his side of the field nearly as often as they probably do now with Treyvon Diggs a rookie and a grab bag of journeyman veterans trying to handle the rest of it. So he might not get interceptions. But I think Byron Jones probably made these guys lives easier in the past, and that's not

something you can forget about either. It does feel like to me, though they're putting they're kind of leaving Digs out there on an island quite a bit, like there have been times we've seen him over these last two weeks especially, well, they've left him out there with some really good receivers and he didn't have help. He was out there just kind of having to figure it out. So I don't know that they necessarily are too worried

about throwing him out there. They seem to be very comfortable with throwing him out there in the same way they did with Bob, results not yielding the same results. No, I no, I get that. But your point, at your point was that the safety didn't have as much to worry about. Well, it doesn't seem like they're worrying about that too much either, because they're still leaving Digs on an island at at least a part of the game. He We're seeing him out there by himself and not

really having that safety help. Yeah, I just think, you know, I think that the cornerback position is affecting safety. I really believe that. But I also think that, you know, maybe this coaching staff, with how good they are, how good they've been as far as you know, veteran coaches that have been there, as some of these guys have been head coaches, I think they came in here and they thought, you know, they'd have a plan and everything

would be great. But there's a reason why they have all these OTAs in the mini camps and all that stuff. In the version, there's no way of virtual meeting, you know, it is the same as just being in here, just like a virtual you know, podcast isn't the same when everyone's in here, and so that has to be factor in. I mean, I I don't know. I have to go look. Is there is there a new coaching staff out there, first year coach that is they're doing, that's doing really

well this year. I don't know. There might be, but I just think the continuity of staffs and schemes and systems is probably helping teams through this you know, weird time. And that's not an excuse, it's just reality. It's you. You're implementing a new scheme. Yeah, there's gonna be more bust than their word before. Yeah, all right, we're gonna take our final break. When we come back, I want to jump into some of the performance reviews or a couple of guys I want to point out from this weekend.

Get your opinions on how you think they played and why. Have a couple of questions for you guys on those topics. We'll be right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. Since eighteen sixty five. Stetson Hats are American maid with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Want to show your Texas and Team Pride two. You can by purchasing your own Stetson, you can look just like how the

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free shipping. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor Baban cream Soda. Is he a Newcombonut's music to My Ears? Okay, Doctor Times, Music to my Ears and mouth New Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Deli's just do Bad. Back to the Break, DC, you get the ultimate fan experience for the ultimate Cowboys fan. It's Dallas Cowboys United, presented by Global Life. Starting at

just twenty dollars. Visit Dallas Cowboys dot com slash United DC. You welcome back. We're in the final segment of The Break live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. Let's do some performance reviews. We're gonna talk about a few players from Sunday's game and some of the things that they did. And I have some questions for you on those guys. We did talk about Dak yesterday obviously and what he was able to do in that game.

He was thirty five or fifty seven, sixty five percent completion rate, four hundred and seventy two passing yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, a ninety three point six passer rating by all accounts, really really great day. He gets tons of credit obviously for out playing, outstanding outstandingly throughout the game.

How much blame do you guys to him for coming up short in that final play Let's start with you, nick Um, the final play of the final drive, not being able to actually get his team across the finish line to finish that game. I mean, yeah, I mean he's on him. I mean he's he's he's the quarterback. I mean, he's the one that, uh, you know, he gets the loss. You know, so that's that's the way that it goes. I think he you know, I think

he played well throughout the game. I mean, given the circumstances, I think he played really well. But you know, as I've said before, I just think they're trying. He's they're putting too much on him. He doesn't need to be I don't think he's a quarterback that should be throwing at fifty seven times. I mean, I don't know if any quarterback really is, but I don't think that's really his game. Um, and if being really honest, I mean, as great as he's playing that, Seattle's Seattle is letting

him do it. I mean it's very clear they don't. They'll let Dak, you know, get his yards and get all that. At the end of the day, they're gonna make him one dimensional as long as they stop Zeke. That was their focus. They stopped Zeke and they were able to win. So, um, you know, Dak's still gonna get his money and all this stuff. But I mean there are teams out there that are saying, we'll let Dak beat this. We're not gonna let Zeke be this amber.

How much blame do you give Dak Um. I know there are a lot of people blaming him a lot, but me personally, I think he's been he's been playing well, and you don't play football is not a solo game. You need a whole team to play football. So he's just he's not the only one out there. I just the way I see it, I don't think this should have gotten to those last six seconds of the game and for him to make that throw and miss and

get it intercepted. Yes, he made mistakes, but at the end of the day, it is a collective effort from everyone, and he's been doing his part. I think, so everyone else just needs to step it up as well and give him some help. He's carrying a lot of weight I think this year, Dave. I just, I mean, all right, let's start with what the question actually was. I mean, obviously you prefer he makes that much on him for

trying to pull something out of nothing. Twenty nine of thirty two quarterbacks in this league gets sacked on that play and the game ends. Dak was he was trying to make something out of nothing. Yeah, he probably could have scrambled, gotten some yards and gotten out of bounds. He probably could have thrown it away. But I've never played quarterback at any kind of level, let alone the NFL. You're probably more focused with looking downfield to see if you have a throw than looking at the clock to

see just how much time you have. So I don't blame him there. The interception before halftime was a backbreaker, especially because he had a Mari, he had the throw he just waited too long. And not only does that give Seattle a chance to score right before halftime time, but it just it kills your ability to score about four halftime and it takes away the impact of being able to try to score on the first drive of the third quarter. I thought, like, you can't screw that

throw up and you're gonna throw picks. Absolutely, but that was just it was horrendous timing on Dak's part. As for everything else, I loved it because I've seen I've seen the Cowboys stubbornly try to run Zeke into a brick wall when the pass is working. It was the Vikings game last year. Coaching staff was obsessed with trying to put the game in Zeke's hands and that didn't work either, even though Dak was throwing the ball all

over the field. So if you're gonna pay a quarterback that kind of money, he has to be able to put the team on his back in that situation, and that's what Dak did. I think they get run out of that building on Sunday if Dak doesn't throw for three hundred yards in the second half and basically say all right, the running game's not working. I got this and it didn't work out. That doesn't mean Dak played poorly.

I thought. I thought he was great. And I hope the coaching staff keeps that same because they're probably gonna need it, because I do agree on Nick with one thing, which is that opponents are still going to commit to stopping Zeke because if you don't, then you just make it even easier. So Dak's probably gonna have to do that a few more times, and I hope the coaching staff is receptive to letting him do it. Yeah, I would just go back to that drive to reiterate what

you're saying, Dave. I'd go back to that drive. I can't remember what the score was, but it was at the point in the game. I remember I said to you guys, I was like, this must be the end, because I don't think they're coming back on a Seattle team like they did at Atlanta. And Cowboys get the ball and literally in three plays, bop bop, touchdown, and that's where I was like, Okay, this is a little

different offense. This offense has the ability to quick strike you, and they can get back into games really quickly and score points really quickly. So I think that's all about Dack. You know where I think Dack and the offense can be better. And if you look at some of the other quarterbacks that they have success is I think I have to go look at the stats, but I just don't see a lot of one yard touchdown passes, two

yard touchdown passes. I mean, I know they have Zeke, they try to they go jumbo tight ends and antswan woods and all that, but I mean you look at Russell Wilson throwing touchdowns to Tyler Lockett for one yard, I mean still being able to spread out your offense and trusting the quarterback to make those plays and all that.

I think if the Cowboys got a little bit more dynamic in that play calling, where play actions and things like that that are open and throw the ball a little bit more, then it would open up runs even more. I don't know why they commit so much to the jumbo packages and all that. Are you talking about justin red zone, situational line and red zone I think that you know, you see other quarterbacks throw it more. Now Dak also runs runs it more, so that that's a

weapon that they don't have. But I think if they tried a little bit more passing and just run base offense out of the one or two yard line, I still think it would have opened up things for Zeke. And I think it would open I mean the receivers, you still have better matchups out there. But do you think that's been a problem area for them running or getting in the end zone when they're around the one or two yard line. I mean, I think I think

red zone probably red zone issues have been Yeah. I think I think they do have problems that running And because they tried to go they think that because te is next to your name, that means you're a good blocker, and that's not the case. That's not the case. That they go these jumbo tight ends and jumbo packages strength on strength, and that doesn't work. And so it took every inch they could just get the ball in the other day Sunday, Okay, let's move walk to the next one.

We were talking about Zeke. He had fourteen carries for thirty four yards two point four average, not great for him, one touchdown, but he had six receptions and here's the interesting party had twelve targets for twenty four yards. Cowboys were very clearly they thought they saw something coming into the game where they thought they could take advantage of the Seahawks defense with screens and that kind of stuff, and quite frankly, it just did not work. Seattle bottled

it up the whole day. What do you think was going wrong there? Was that an issue of that deep It is just really really good. Do you think the Cowboys are having a hard time blocking it up? What do you think went wrong there? Let's start first with you, Dave defense. Credit the defense if you want to. I think the cow or the Seahawks have one of the smartest, best, most experienced linebacker cores in the NFL, and that's that's

who stopped screens more often than not. Throw Jamal Adams in there before he got hurt, and you've got three guys who are really great at diagnosing that and getting guys on the ground. Bobby Wagner, kJ right, Jamal Adams. So maybe they saw something montap but Seattle self scouted and figured it out because that wasn't happening. And then the one time they really did draw it up the right way, Zeke dropped it. You know, Zeke dropped one.

I don't remember right now when it was, but he had open field in front of him, it's at least twelve, if not twenty or more yards and just dropped it. I think PFF gave him three drops on the day. It could be as many as five. It's just a brutal day for Ezekiel La. And one complaint for the coaching staff is they were still trying that stuff deep into the game, and I'm like, come on, guys, you got favorable matchups on the outside all day. Enough with

this stuff. All right, we're gonna I want to get to a couple other players. We're gonna jump to the next player, Amber. I want to ask you about Sergric Wilson, who was five or seven targets. He had five perceptions,

seven targets, one hundred and seven yards, two touchdowns. And I told David as we were watching the game, it was nice to see a guy that we talked about glowingly during training camp actually show up, because usually when you talk about a guy during training CAVI, it seems like, for whatever reason, regular season gets here and you don't

hear from him again. But he showed up and showed up in a really, really big way, I did notice that the Cowboys were using a lot more ten personnel in this game than they had been in previous weeks, which is one running back, no tight ends, four wide receivers. Amber. My question is for you, do you want to see more of that? And maybe you know, take Scholts off the field, which, by the way, this is no slide on Sholtz. I think he's been as good as they

could have expected when they lost Lake Darwin. But do you want to see more of this ten person now? Were you getting four wide receivers involved? I don't know why you're asking me that question, because I think you know my answer. I am not. I mean to be fair credit to Schultz. He did a nice job, but but I am still not fully convinced. So yes, when they get a chance to do that, go for it. I am not in love with the tight end position right now, so I'm all love for it. And Cedric

Wilson completely impressed me. It wasn't necessarily a surprise because we've seen what he has and the talent that he has, but it was a surprise to see him play as much as he did and be able to perform the way that he did. As far as taking an advantage of those opportunities, because sometimes we get very used to seeing just you know, Michael Gallup, Amari Cooper and now

see the lamp. So the fact that that the Cowboys were able to provide him more opportunities even after he made the two thumbs up for that, go for it, all right, Nick, We'll go to the final question with you. Aldon Smith had four tackles, three sacks, four quarterback hits, one pass defense. Obviously, right now he's leading the NFL in sacks, but I think the Cowboys are getting far more production than they even could have imagined when they made the signing from a guy that hadn't played in

five years. That all being said, I'm gonna take you to the other side. How concerned are you that Griffin and Lawrence together combined only had three tackles and one quarterback hit during next Yeah, it's concerning because the way they tried to play that game. That's why you have to play it with Russell Wilson, is that you have those four guys have to get home and they really

weren't at all. And you know that that's something I don't think the secondary we're talking about a lot with the secondary is you don't how many times in that game they were covering for four or five six seconds. I mean that I think is the biggest issue. And so and some of those sacks were actually coverage. Se the guys on the back end, we're doing a better jobs, I think. You know, d Laws is, Uh, he's banged up because he didn't even finish the game. Um, that's

what McCarthy said that yesterday. Griffin still, you know, he said it himself. I mean he's trying to work himself back into shape. I mean or not shape, but I mean work himself, you know. And with the new scheme and all this stuff. It's still early in the season, but you know, you can we can say that all day about how early it is. But but the games are counting on the standings, I mean they counts. What do you think is the issue there, Dave and Amber?

I love you guys, jump in here. What do you think is the biggest issue with regards to the Cowboys pass rush? Right now? I'll start with you, Dave, Geezum, the biggest issue with the Cowboys pass rush? Is it a hot take to say that, Like, I don't think that they were terrible on Sunday, Like, am I stupid for saying that? Well? Alton Smith, obviously, I mean very very well, but I guess let's let me let me limit that down. Do you think you're getting enough pass

rush productivity from guys like Tank and Griffin? And if not, why clearly not? I mean, obviously I do, like I think, especially if he's dealing with a knee injury. I thought DeMarcus Lawrence, and I guess, let me stop myself because he's on a twenty million dollars salary, so you can always ask for more. But this was the best of his three games. I thought he was active, thought he was disruptive. He helped Alvin Smith on a couple of those sacks. Obviously you want more. The guy doesn't have

a sack through three games. But I was encouraged. And again, you know, the unique mobility of this quarterback makes it even tougher to gauge of pass rush in Everson. You know, Everson Griffin laid it out pretty eloquently. It's always cool when NFL players actually speak about it as you know, well he did. It was week two. Now it's week three of a new season, and a new scheme without having a real training camp. It's it's an excuse and like said, like the games counting the standings, but I

do believe that. I think it was Also it was Gerald McCoy love having him on Twitter too. He basically said, you're not going to see the team that it will eventually become until about week five. Like week five is when it sort of comes together into the product that you're going to see pushing into November and December. And that's during a regular NFL season, let alone this one. So I do buy it. I do buy it. But at the same time, I don't blame anybody for not

wanting to hear it. Because the games count. It doesn't matter that you didn't have a training camp. What do you think, Abra? I agree, But I mean you're about to head into week four, so at one point that has to stop being the excuse as far as like, oh, you didn't have a training camp together. It takes time to build the whole dynamic between the lines, so at

one point you get to get past that. I do agree with Dave in the fact that I think they did play better this past weekend, just in the you were able to see Russell Wilson not have complete comfort. He did get some pressure, so there was some disruption there. It's not necessarily at the level that we all expected

to see it. And thank god they do have Alderman Smith, which I don't think anyone really I mean, we thought he was gonna be a good player, but I don't think we thought that he was going to have such a great impact as he's had so far. So what exactly is the problem or the solution here? I'm sorry, but I don't really have an answer. I don't really know what the what the real problem is there? Yeah, and I guess if anybody did, they'd probably figure it

out and they would get it corrected. This is one of those things where I think Day's answer is probably the best I've heard so far, as that you know, it's just might take some time, and if they're still doing these things and this is the production when you get to mid season, then guess what, this is what you probably can't rely on for the rest of the year, right, and that it's just a weird year. It's just a weird year. What about Randy Gregory, I mean, what if

he comes back the way Aldon Smith came back. Well. The difference is when Alden Smith left, Aldon Smith was probably one of the best, if not the best, pass rusher in the NFL. I don't think Gregory ever got there before he left. So he's coming back on a little different trajector. He comes back as a guy that can get six sacks, you know, like he did last when he was when he left him he was a productive player. He was he was a you know, a penalty problem at times. So we'll see if good penalties.

We don't need any more of that. Sure, we get plenty of those right now. All right, we appreciate you guys. Join us. We're back tomorrow. Tomorrow we're gonna get into Cowboys versus Browns. We're gonna have a Bucky joining us as usual. He'll talk about that Browns offense versus the Cowboys defense. Toll Then for Nick Eatman, Dave Hellman, Ambergarcia. 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.