Cowboys Break: Bigger Void to Fill?

Life in the s WBC Mortgage Studios. At the start, Nick, give me a nineteen Uh, Keishan Keishawn Johnson, Keishaw Johnson now doing radio for a ESPN. I could have probably done other than that. Huh. There's a few. Yeah, I mean, I mean, but a Marii Cooper, the current guy. Yeah, Jet like bring it back. Yeah, I need I need a guy from back in the day, not a not a current guy. All right, let's we had a lot

to jump into today. We are, uh, coming off the Cowboys off, calling off the NFL's Week one of the season yesterday was full slate of games. It's actually nice to sit back and actually watch football all day on a Sunday because the Cowboys game was over. But we'll start getting you guys ready this week for a week number two. But today we're gonna kind of do a little bit more of unpacking what happened last week with the Cowboys. Um, I wanted to start first talking about

some some news items. Lyle Collins, we find out at the end of last week has now been suspended for five games, or at least that is what's being reported, for violating the substance abuse policy. Um, what's your Dallas do it right? Tackle? Well, sorry, you kind of glossed over. There's a lot going on with the Lyle Collins things more than just that. Now if he does miss five games, and he's gonna miss something that I want Dave, because I mean it's this is this has got about twelve

layers took. There's a lot happening here and so by the time I would imagine by the end of the day, there'll be some different things shaken out here. There's just a lot of dots to connect. Um, there's an appeal process here. Did the NFL jump the gun? Did they announce something that they should have? Is he even should he be suspended at all. I'm telling you that there's a lot happening here. Nick's trying to be nice. I think the Cowboys are pissed, and and I don't. I mean,

I don't. I don't have information for you that can get to the bottom of it. It's obviously a very murky situation. But this whole thing is weird, and you can the team's pissed. I'm sure Lyle is pissed. Um And I, yeah, I don't. I don't know the first about that, like whether or not the NFL jumped the gun, whether or not Lyle Collins needs to be suspended for five games, And yeah, I mean, I don't. Do you have you heard something new since Friday? Because I have no, not,

not really. But there's just like with anything in life, COVID is also factoring into this too, because just just with COVID that there's something about a COVID protocol that he could have been on that that changes. Again, we're supposed to know the information, and I apologize that we really don't. I don't know as much as I should. I'll tell you this, there are a lot of moving parts in this. Um. Let's just say that he is suspended because he got a game to play. NFL moves

on and he probably won't play. But I just know that this is probably not as much as the Zeke thing was back in twenty seventeen, where we're on off, on off, but it's got that kind of murkiness to it. I've asked a couple of people, and I've kind of got that stiff farm like, don't even don't even go there yet. There's just so much do we are supposed

to know these things? But this is a situation where I don't feel bad about not knowing, Like it's all it gets weird with with these like league team conflicts, you know. I mean, remember how much legal reading we had to do to even try to decipher the Zeke stuff. And nobody on either side wants to help you in this because it's a legal issue and all sorts of you know, weird stuff going on that they would probably

rather people aren't snooping into. So this is a situation where it's hard to get answers, but I am curious to see where it goes. Yeah, and so I guess what I'm going back to. The first what I'm taking from this is five games May may not happen. At this point, there's still just a lot up in the air, and I don't want to be in a final resolution

to whatever the issues are on both. But I don't want to give people like It's kind of like Zach with COVID, Like, well, Jerry said he might play yeah, Like I don't want to give people false hope, like well, David Nicks that it's gonna be less than five games, Like, I don't know that. And I know, if I know anything, the League is very stubborn and firm about like not going back when they're wrong, right, No, even they will go down with their ship in the in an effort

to not look wrong. They do it all the time. So you know, maybe they completely screwed Lyle Collins over. I don't know, Maybe Lyle screwed this up. I don't really know, but I have a hard time believing the league is they're gonna do everything in their power to

not backtrack on this. If I had to guess, yeah, And I think the reason why all that's important is that goes back to your question, because if it's just a straight five games in the story, five games, then then you make a different decision if it's maybe not, if it's maybe one, if it could be two, it could be back and forth. Now I think you have to Okay, well paint both those scials. Let's assume for a second five it's five games, as it's been reported.

What happens? What do you do it? Right tackle? And let me be let me be clear. I'm asking you, what do you nick and day? What would you do at right tack? I hate that answer because what I do it doesn't matter. No, it matters for the sake of a radio show and we're talking, we're supposed to give opinions. Tell me what you would do in the instance that this was a five game. If it was me, I would have gone to Zach Martin on Friday and said, I'm sorry, man, I know you don't want to do

this and it sucks like it's a bummer. We're one game into the season and we're already dealing with this. But if we're gonna not have LC for five weeks, i'd like you to I'd like you to start practicing it right tackle. Have we thought about maybe making him a manager? That was actually a good way to do it, Like come on seeing and sit down like it, I really need to. I'm just as unhappy about this, right. I know, I know that you're not gonna like this, but this is what we gotta do for the team.

Let's go together. We can get this done. That's what I would do. Yeah, I don't think the Cowboys will, at least not yet. I would start Terence Steal at right tackle and I would have Zach Martin at right guard. So I think that's what I would do. Why, um, And I think I'm looking at this matchup more than any of the matchups. Okay, I'm looking at this one. Um. I think he's probably better than Tiansecki from what I've seen. I don't I don't know. I could be wrong there.

I just haven't seen Insecki do a lot. He just seems kind of too big and lumbering and just doesn't seem like a wrong I would. I would. If we're not moving things around, I'd rather play Steal than yatsek Um. I'd like Steele with with Zack Martin. Um. I think he's got quick feet, quicker feet. I think he's gonna go out. He's gonna go against Bosa. I mean, obviously that would be a tough one, But I just, you know, I think that's what I would do because I want my all Pro guard to be an All Pro and

I want him at guard. If he's at right tackle, I don't know if he's an All Pro. I think he's good. You don't think when he played last year at that position, he played at that kind of level. I'm not ready to say that. I don't even know about that level. He didn't play really well. I mean,

I remember the Seattle game he winning there, he played well. Um, if this is just what I know what not watching a lot of the tape and film and all that, they have to decide, they have to they look at it and go steal or insecty whatever they decide, and then Zach Martin inside and also Zack Martin inside with Tyler Beiannest. Don't forget that aspect of it too. Zach next to Tyler. It also could help because he needs

some help too. Um, they have to decide what's better between that or McGovern staying where he has give him another good start there, and then sliding Zach Martin. Now, I mean they Joe Philbin's a really good offensive line coach, and the they'll they'll weigh all those pros and cons. I think it's close enough that we can debate about it. I think we all agreed that McGovern had a good

week last week. So how does this factor into the whole concept of getting your best five on the field, Because I think most would probably agree McGovern is a better guard than Steele is a tackle. Okay, that's I think that's the genesis of the argument. That's why people are talking about this is. Yeah, if if McGovern can go out there against Tampa's front and play as well as he did, then it stands the reason that he can hold his own in there as an every down starter.

And he did it for eight games last year, and for the most part, looked pretty good. And people are, for better or for worse, people are scarred by what they saw from the right tackle spot last year. And I mean that's a big part of it as well as just like I've seen this, oh, but I mean the whole like a lot of the stress from the tackles stems from that Atlanta game, which was four years ago at this no doubt, So I get it. You know,

I really like Connor McGovern. I think he's gonna be good, But I'm not willing to say that he played well last week. I think they protected the heck out of those offensive linemen in the middle because they didn't do anything with them. They went into the game plan saying, we're not even going to try. We're not trying. We're gonna go sideline to sideline. We're gonna play this way and if it gets down to the red zone, we'll take our chances in. And they really didn't win down there.

They had to throw it in so they to me, they were a very one dimensional offense. And if that's the way the offense is gonna be, that's what it's gonna be. But I think if you put Zach in there, that you're gonna have a better chance to be a little a little less one dimensional. That's why now I'm not saying that McGovern versus the Chargers won't be you know, maybe they can run the ball a little bit more, but they're going to have to figure out ways to

do that. Yeah, I mean, I do think that the the when you look at just how good Tampa is against the run, Yeah, I think that factors in, right, That's the big reason. Yeah, that's the big reason. That's way more reason, I think than mc govern being in there. I think they probably realize we're up against that kind of defense. And by the way, the strength of that defense is right up the middle. Why would we try to run against that brick wall with a lesser set

of players than just throwing the ball. But but all that being said, um, what do you guys think that the Cowboys will do? Because we talk about what you would do, what do you think the Cowboys will do in this instance? So again we're assuming it's five games. I think they're gonna roll with these swing tackles. I don't know who. I don't know if they know who, because I mean, if you think about the preseason, they

alternated Steel and Inseci all through it. They both played both sides of the line, they both got different opportunities, they both played deep into pretty much every preseason game. So you probably roll with the combination that you feel best about by Thursday, if I had to guess, But between those two guys, that's what I think they'll do. Mike McCarthy has been pretty straightforward about and really not wanting to do drastic things unless it absolutely has to happen.

You know, it's interesting about the Gallop situation as well, you know, Gallop out maybe three to five weeks something like that. We'll get to that second. Yeah. But but but but I think if factors in here, because if you do play steel or Inseci, what do you think's also going to happen? Tight end tight end chip and then get Zeke in there with that pass pro again, So that might change a little bit of having three receivers

as much out there anyways. I mean, the Gallup might not have played as much as they wanted him to anyways, just because you might have to go a little with two tight ends or keep tight ends in. So I mean, obviously, Cedric Wilson's gonna play, and he's gonna play a lot. Noah Brown, don't forget. Noah Brown's gonna get back and play, and I think he will help this team a lot.

I've I've sort of changed my thought a little bit, and I know I'm jumping ahead on your rundown, but I just I think these things kind of matter because it's a domino effect. We got to help the right tackle, We're gonna have to or if we don't help the right tackle, we have to help inside blocking in there. And then and then how does that affect with receivers we have, and of course they're one big receiver down.

I want to I want to throw this out there too, And I think it's an underrated You're talking about things being connected. This is an underrated aspect of the whole thing as well. And I just said that I would probably want to move Zach to tackle. But one argument for why you probably don't, or if you don't want to do that, an argument in your favor, I think, is the quarterback. Honestly, Dak Prescott is good enough at this point in his career that I trust him to

make things work. I trust him to get the ball out quickly. I trust him to make the protection, you know, call the protections to help out whoever needs it the most. He knows where the ball needs to go. He's also athletic, he can extend plays. I know their record wasn't good, but the line was a shambles for the first five weeks of the season last year, and they played functional football,

you know. I mean it got down to the last throw of the game against Seattle in Week three and that was when Zach was playing guard and they had to do all heard tackle I mean, they had to do all this crazy stuff. I think Tyrant Tyrant was in and out of the lineup. Like Week two against the Falcons, I don't believe they had either one of them right, And they only had Tyrant against the Browns.

And again, I get it. They didn't win all these games, but they were moving the ball, they were scoring points like the offense was doing things. And so I think that is something to consider, is that a quarterback of Dak's caliber, it doesn't all need to be perfect the way it did when he was a rookie or in twenty seventeen or even probably twenty eighteen. I think I trust him so much more to make it work with

less than I did even two years. I've I've heard Romo say this, if there was a wink a week link on the offensive line, make it be the right tackle, because I can see that. I can figure it out. I could see him come in and I could you know, of course he could see the left tackles coming to him. I don't know, but he could do that. But I mean, and and I think I think Dak is even better than that and better than than Romo when it comes

to eluding that kind of stuff stronger. So I mean, I also, I think I'm going to reiterate that about him in the right guard. I think he helps, and I think he'll help be Odish on this side. I think he'll help the right tackle. So I think I would probably keep it and then go with my best guy on the right tackle. And I just think from an athletic standpoint athleticism, I think it's steel. But you know, let's also remember that the Cowboys might have thought this

was coming, you know, because suspensions. Don't they sneak up on fans. They shouldn't sneak up on the Cowboys. Maybe this one did. But you know, they do have three backup tackles on the roster, one of them being Josh Ball. But they have three, and that's that's kind of heavy. Yeah, I might have been a reason for this. I talked to somebody Friday. I was like eventful afternoon. Han. They were like, well, you know these we have advanced notice of these things. I mean, it sucks, but it's not.

It wasn't like me who was sitting here waiting for the press conference, playing crossword puzzles and all of a sudden, I'm like, oh, Lyle's gone like it's not quite the same for people on the inside. I guess all right, we're gonna take our first break when we come back. We got to talk about Michael Gallup and what the Cowboys are gonna do at wide receiver. Now it looks like he'll be out for multiple weeks, or do that when we come back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio.

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Studios at the Star, we talked about Lyle Collins. Now we got to talk about Michael Gallut. That news also came out on Friday. He was injured in the Tampa Bay game. Sounds like he's gonna be out for multiple weeks? Do we know exactly how long? Whereas it just kind of right now he's going to be out multiple weeks, definitely won't be playing this game. And the early prognosis

was three to five. But ye, maybe they were kg about the Lyle thing, like nobody wanted to talk about anything like that on Friday, Like Mike McCarthy didn't really give us much of an updated timeline on that. Yeah, but that, I mean, it was three to five is what I've heard, and I haven't heard anything different yet, So yeah, I mean, you obviously you can't go off what players tell you. I've been burned by that in the past, and you can't go off of basically what

they're looking like. Mike looked fine leaving, like we were down in the tunnel waiting for a post game and they're all filing back into the locker room, and he didn't look like he was limping. He seemed like he was in good spirits, which you're right, because I saw that and I was like, Okay, he's fine. And then Friday morning it was like three to five weeks, right, So I have a hard time thinking, like five week injury.

I just you know now what it feel like when you woke up will be the difference, right, right, And it was kind of initially like an ankle sprain, but then it's now it's a calf sprain. And you know that's or calf's strain what I'm saying, But I mean that that's that's a different injury. So we'll see how they happen. It is. Nick knows all about cass. Like Dick and Ling, we talked about it. It's almost an outside joke now it's been talked about it. I hurt

my calf, it still hurts two years later. Let's not compare me to any NFL athlete because I'm not an athlete and they are. But it does factor in your evaluation of injury. I'll tell you the difference. Though. Michael Gallup's not going to be a dumb ass and run on it three days later. He's not going to do that. He's NFL guys a different breed. Burt Brown is going to make your ass on the training table that right there is the reason why he won't. All right, So

tell me how do cowboys adjust to this? What do they need to do in his absence? And you started talking about this little league. But what do you need to do here? Well, I think you know, Cedric Wilson has been ready for it. I mean he's got more reps with Dack than probably anybody. He's a he's a he's a member of the back yard, you know club. So he goes out there and um does that, and I think he's I think he's got a good rapport with him. We saw it in a couple of games

last year or too, so I think Noah Brown will help. Also, I've kind of done a one eighty on my thoughts on Noah Brown. He's impressed me to the point where because I think he's playing like a big bodied receiver. They tried to do it tight end stuff with him. Now he's a big body receiver. He plays that way. He made some contested catches. I would. I agree with you. I love the Dack yard is a thing. By the way. I love that. It's a feast. What an outstand. I

didn't come up with that. Somebody did it. That was amazing. That's that's a really good thing yard football. I agree with you, Noah is playing more like a big bodied receiver. But I saw um, you know, they were talking about Jarwin's miss block on the option play on the goal line, and Zeke's mom on Twitter was like, I know, I know a guy who could probably make that block. And I was like, I see what she did there? Did

she spell it that way? Yeah? I know a guy n o a h a guy that could pull that off. And I was like, good, I like that, don absolutely yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah. But I mean we that's some clever writing. I know a guy. Wow, that's that's that's something you would say, thank you, that's high praise. You would do that, you would do that. But um, she's a good follow. She's a really good finn. I don't want to downplay. It sucks if Mike's going to be out.

He's a very good player and that sucks. But this is a situation where I'm like, well, this is why you kept these guys. This is why you weren't trying to shed salary and keep Simi Fehoko, Like, yeah, Cedric Wilson probably has caught more balls from Dak Prescott than anybody on this team. If I had to guess, Noah's been here forever. They know the offense. Cedric's got some inside outside flexibility the big thing for me, Like, if I'm thinking about it, I'm like, Okay, Cedric's probably first

man up. Do you want him in the slot more with CD outside or do you want CD outside you know? Or do you want to move Cedric outside and keep Ceding in the slot. Probably do a little bit of both. But I'm just I'm not I'm not worried about that at all. Like that is an injury that you should be able to absorb. That's why you kept two veteran arguably quote unquote overpriced receivers on the roster. Again, did Dak Prescott's at a level where he's still got CD

in Amari? So just fill that in with what you got and I think they should be fine. So let me go. I was just going back to that that thought about Noah Brown out there on that play. Noah Brown is a much better person to have out there because because he's a receiver, I mean not yes, he's changes how the defense is gonna mess right now because you could be right on him. They could be pressed on Jarwin and then get buy him for the block.

But if you, if you try that, Deck could change it and say wait a second, he thinks this corner, thinks is gonna be a run. I got Noah, I can no one could beat this guy. So yes, I think no one could do a much better job. I think we all could. I mean, somebody can get a hand on the guy, you know what I mean. And this isn't the first time we've seen Jarwin miss in the open fil that's not his thing. Blocking is These

tight ends aren't the greatest blockers. Yeah, we know that, and but I think we were always kind of worried about the defensive end approach, like they're not going to be very good if they get overpowered. But we're seeing them struggle more with corners and safeties knifing their way in space. So um, that's why I think Noah Brown would have been better there. This isn't it's not a crazy stat line, but Cedric caught all three of his targets for twenty four yards the other night. He blew

up against Seattle when they needed him. I'm I wish Michael Gallup was healthy, but I am not sweating this the way that I'm sweating not having Lyle Collins. The one thing I would I would ask if you ask about that, I agree with you that I think both those backup receivers can step in and fill inadequately. The one role I'm still wondering who's gonna take is the guy that's gonna stretch the field. Michael Gallup seems to be the guy that stretches the field for this offense.

He's the guy that tends to get back deep and get those those big balls. I'm not sure if there's another person we've seen him are do it some I don't think that's really CD's game. So who's going to really stretch to feel here? I'll bet you ten dollars. CD could do it if you gave him the chance. He just hasn't needed to now. I mean he can. He can go I mean we saw him all through training camp. He can go up and snatch the ball yea. Like he's great at it. It just hasn't been something

that they've asked him to do. Amar's not He's not the type to like box out, you know, but he gets open with his route running like no. I mean, both of those guys can do that, Like Michael Gallup is good at that, but it's he and it sounds like I'm talking trash, like I don't think he possesses this elite skill set that nobody else on this roster can do. He just he just plays the role. By that, Yeah, he plays the role. But I think either one of

those other two can do that if I fast two. Yeah, I think Amari's has been one of the better deep threats on the team. I mean, he really can stretch the field. We saw it in that catch against Atlanta last year. We saw it against Washington on Thanksgiving. I mean, he can get by the defense. It doesn't look like it.

You know, he's moving there. That's it. Never Amari's those long balls to him, it never looks as crazy because Mike usually goes up and kind of does his Dez thing, and CD's kind of got some of that to him as well. Amar's just a step and a half behind.

I mean, Amari reminds me a lot of and I know he's played eighteen years and he's Hall of Famer and all that, but he reminds me a lot of Larry Fitzgerald and the fact that his route running is so good and and maybe not the fastest, but but he gets it done, and he's getting it done for a long time now. He's maybe not as durable, and if he plays that long, that'll be amazing. But I mean it's just it's never really flashy until you look at the stats and you're like, wow, that's pretty amazing. Yeah.

I mean I thought, you know, I said before about that that that fumble that Dak had and he lost the fumble and he picked it up and threw it tomar. But I you know, Amari was where he needed to be too. I mean, Amari down at the goal line is a really really good route runner. We saw it his first game. Was it his first game against the Titans when he came in, We saw that touchdown. I mean,

we just he is. He can be really good. So if they're not going to run the ball, if they can't run the ball, at least you got a guy down there that can win those quick in bone booth type plays. Ye. All right, we're gonna take our final break when we come back, We're gonna talk a little bit about this team's identity. We've been watching Dak Prescott do some pretty amazing things going back to last year, and the question for these guys is has the identity

of this team changed? Are they now a passing team? Firmly and no longer a team that relies on the run. We'll talk about that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. Hi, I'm Click Tullison with you not at agg in Turf before you can park yourself in front of the game, Park yourself in a John Dear and power through your chores. Our land Run package is a ten twenty five R twenty five horsepower tractor with a loader, rotary cutter and a box

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Before there was a draft, you could size up a cowboy by three simple factors, the crease at his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude a man. Stetson didn't just protect him from what life 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 to you at Stetson dot com. Slash Cowboys Back to the Break bringing some Cowboys game day energy from the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Dancers or drum lines to your next event. For appearance and performance details, visit Dallas Cowboys dot com. Slash d c r B Welcome Backfinal segment of the breaklock in s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. Let's talk a little team identity. This team, from the time that they drafted Zeke Elliott was a team that I think we all

will I would say I certainly thought. I would assume you guys thought was a run first team that they were built around the offensive line and the running back. I think over the last year, going back to the game's last season that Dak played before he was hurt, and then what we saw in Week one against Tampa Bay, to me, it has become a parent that this is a team that is a passing team. The past sets up the run. They rely on the past far more than they rely on the run. Do you guys agree

with that sentiment? I think I made that switch in twenty nineteen. Honestly, I mean that's when I really and maybe you know down the back half of twenty eighteen, that's I mean, when Amari Cooper got here, a switch flipped, and I think Amari was a big part in jump starting that because Dak absolutely needed a receiver of that caliber.

But over time he has grown and evolved, and that's going back to my point about the offensive line, Like he is now a quarterback that has that type of command over the offense that it would be silly to not have the offense run through him. Yeah, I mean a lot of it has been personnel. That that's you mean, look at the receivers that were here when when Dak when you thought that statement, when Zeke was running the way he was running, the line was blocking. I mean,

the receivers weren't. That wasn't the best position group on the team. But it's over time. You know, they hit on a third round pick with Gallup. I mean, he's been a really good third round pick, and then, like you said, they traded for Amari and then they just said, we cannot pass on Cede Lamb even though doesn't make the most sense, it does if we can, you know, if they can work together, and so then that's helped Dak grow and an offensive line hasn't been the same

though too. Offensive line isn't as good as they've been. They haven't been as dominant in the run game. So I think there's just been a shift. Well there's been a shift in the sport of football too. And like, and I love analytics, I'm not good enough at math to really understand them the way that I would prefer. You know, like there's some people that are just like, well, this point three eight EPA means this. I'm like, I

want to understand this better. But you can look at all of these charts and realize, like this is a passing leak, and the difference in pat like your success rate passing and what throwing the ball can do for you. It's it's it's there's no denying it. And even teams like Tennessee, for example, who have this amazing running back and everybody's afraid of Derrick Henry, they make their bread off of play action. Like people are so afraid of

Derrick Henry, they use that to their advantage. Ryan Tannehill has had a career renaissance since he got there because he throws off of the threat he throws off the threat of the run. So even teams like that, you need to be throwing the ball to really be tapping into your offense as well as you should. And I commend the Cowboys for realizing that. I commend Kellen Moore.

Is that a winning strategy for this team? Though? Because if you go back to last year, they were three or four losses in those first four games that Dak started and played throughout the game. They lost the first game to this season, and the only game that they won in the last last year and this year with Dak doing this was against Atlanta where they had to come back from this what we thought was an insurmountable lead that they'd given up and win by a point.

So is this a winning strategy for Dallas? Now? I know this can be a winning strategy around the league. We've seen other teams do it. My question is really is Dak good enough and is the rest of the team around him the other things that have to work the way that they have to work for this strategy to be successful. Debt for Dallas, I'll throw in the caveat that. I mean, in the NFL, you need to be able to run the football in certain times and

it would certainly be nice. Hopefully against lesser competition than Tampa Bay, you can have some second half leads that allow you to use Ezekiel Elliott. Not that you need to, but yeah, I mean that is that's very beneficial. Like there's all there's an argument on social media all the time where it's like, well, when Zeke runs twenty five times, they win this amount of time. Why why do they win so often when Zeke touches the ball twenty five times Because they have a lead and you get to

lean on the opposition. That is a valuable thing and I don't want them to get away from it completely. But time and time again, we you know, teams show that you can absolutely win being that skewed toward the pass. I know it's not fair to compare anybody to Patrick Mahomes, but they do it all the time. And for that matter, the reason the Cowboys had such a crappy record, in my opinion last year, it was turnover differential more than anything.

I mean, they were in those holes because they were turning the ball over two and three times in the first quarter every week. Outside of Pat Mahomes. You brought up an interesting point. Outside of a Mahomes. Obviously, he's the best quarterback in the league. I think Dak is up there and probably top five quarterbacks in the league. But putting that aside, what else does Kansas City have that Maybe Dallas doesn't have track speed, a tight end

that's a big receiver. I mean they have mismatched problems. What they have they have? I mean they have Tyreek Hill, who can just go and then they how do you how do you try to I mean that one two punch is so dynamic because if you're gonna try to cover Travis Kelsey, you have to you have to get some kind of safety or corner help. Well, then what are you doing over here with Tyreek Hill? I mean, like,

and that's that's just an amazing one two combination. Those guys are just amazing and and and then you got you got a great quarterback there. Does Dallas do a similar thing from a matchup standpoint, Not necessarily from the standpoint of two guys that are that dynamic, but from a standpoint they have so many different parts that are hard matchups that maybe they create that same sort of

matchup problem for the team. Have some matchup problems but because they have it more in numbers yet, right, But but nothing that's just you know, I've said this before. They don't have anybody that's that's in that top five of their position other than guard, and now we're maybe moving him to dackle, which I don't think he'd be a top five tackle. I don't think. I don't want to. I don't want to doubt him. I don't want to

bet again. I don't want to bet against them. But I mean, thirty two teams decided that he was a guard, so I mean, I think he can play it, but I think there's a reason they could be special at guard, and he has been. I just don't so. But Kansas City has a top five receiver, they've got the number one quarterback, the number one tied in, so they got it. They got some special things going on that The Cowboys have some good pieces, but they don't have elite pieces.

Dak's getting there though. At quarterback, he just he just is. But they've got to they've got to show that. You know, the defense is going to have to help him as well. I think at the well, it sucks that Michael Gallup has now hurt for a few weeks. But the some the sum of all the parts, I think. I mean, Travis Kelsey's the best tight end in the league. Tyree Hill, I mean, did you see did you see him yesterday?

He does it every week. Yeah, But I think if everybody sum of all the parts is on Dallas, I'll put it up there against Kansas City all day. They Yeah, they don't have something as freaky special as Tyreek Hill, but I mean they got three guys that are going to get open against almost anybody. And that's you're asking me this and that. I think that's why I was so excited on Friday is they played unbalanced football quote

unquote in the traditional way. I would still argue again, you can create hidden rushing yards, like a third of Dack's pass attempts were basically rushes when you think about screens and stuff like that. But they were as unbalanced as we've seen them in forever, and they came right down to the wire against one of the best defenses in the NFL. That and that is incredibly impressive to me that by the third quarter Tampa Bay had to know exactly what was coming and they still couldn't stop

him reliably. Obviously, Dallas lost the game. We get that, but they were almost fifty percent on third downs. They scored twenty nine points the red zone. Not good enough. That's got to be better. But that is such an encouraging thing to see against such a stout defense, in my opinion. But let me let me play devil's advocate here, because when you look at a team where they got four takeaways, they won the turnover a battle by plus three.

They also one time of possession by huge amount. I think it was thirty four twenty seven to twenty five thirty three. Typically, when you see a game with those two stats like that, you should win. You should win, You should so are you? I know we all came out of that game on Friday Field and like, okay, man, they really played some good football against the Super Bowl champs. But when you look at those kind of numbers, it makes you say they really should have won that game

going away. You would think when you see those numbers like that, are you at all concerned about the fact that they may have put out their very best game and that wasn't enough. That's the Cleveland Browns how they feel today. But I mean the Cleveland yeah talking about are probably one of the best three teams in the NFL. And then the brown You know, you could tell if you watch that Chiefs Browns game, that was the Browns were like, we are here to make a statement. This

is the team we know we've got to beat. From the very beginning, they were like, I mean, they got went for two on the first possession, they were throwing haymaker after haymaker. They lost it. Yeah, and it sucks. It's I mean, this is a tough league. Yeah. And those two teams, those are the top two teams. They played in the super Bowl. And so you know, for us to sit here in Week two and say, okay, well doesn't look like the Cowboys are better than the

super Bowl champs right now? Well, okay, we didn't need a game to see that. We didn't think that was the case. You know, but you know, you have to bounce back. You have to bounce back and show it here. I've said it numerous years and I'll say it again. That's why week two is so important. You've got to go out there. You've got to establish yourself. You can't be in that OZ and two hole. And if you

look at what they're doing on social media. The Chargers, you don't want to get you don't want to take an l to them and what they've got working in over there, because if they're gonna do that to Washington, just think what they'll do to the Cowboys. They their social team was probably brainstorming for our game in June.

M guessing they got some options. That's you're so right even know what I'm talking about what they did, Okay, but I'm seeing some of those stuff they I mean, they know, yeah, as you said that, I was like, I'm gonna go look at it, but I can pretty much guess that they did something pretty oh yeah, yeah, and it was the Washington It's funny because in the big picture, well, I mean, they can afford to start

O in two. Honestly, in my opinion, when you look at you know, after that, you go Eagles, Panthers, Giants, Patriots like those are all flawed teams. You do obviously, you need to win as many games as you can, but they could climb out of O and two in my opinion. But it's just it's just it's about consistency, and that has been probably the most maddening thing about this team for the entire time that I've covered it

is they're schizophrenic. You never know what you're gonna get, and it would be it would be so cowboys for them to go out there against you know, and the Chargers are good team. Don't get me like this is this is they are a very good team. This is not a gimmey game. That's not what I'm saying. But we feel great about how they played against Tampa. It would be very cowboys for them to play like crap. I don't just mean lose, I mean play like crap against LA And I hope that doesn't happen, but you

can't say it would surprise you. You You look at the defense and I talked about the four takeaways. They also stopped the run, which is another thing that you put in their category as far as something that that seems to be an improvement. The passing game, though they the defense had some some issues. Obviously, again you're talking about one of the top three maybe passing offenses in the NFL. That all being said, how concerned are you with what they gave up in the passing game against the Tampa

Bay Buccaneers. I mean concerning because we knew that the secondary, especially the cornerback position is not one of the strengths um Tampa Bay obviously with a great receiving corps and the best quarterback to play. So yeah, I mean it was. It was not a favorable matchup. They once they won their sheriff times, but I mean they were beaten like like they expected. I mean, like we expected that to be. I mean, I don't want to sit there and say Anthony Brown needs to be bench I mean number one

for who I mean. And then well, that is the question. Like there are a lot of fans out there, and again I'm not saying that this is the right answer, but there are fans out there. They are like, you invested in a second round and a third round pick. The second round is not healthy. I got that. But Kelvin, Joseph Nashean Wright, those are guys you invested second and third round picks in. Should you be at least putting

them out there and letting them start to learn? Is that better than what you got right now from Anthony Brown? Absolutely not. It isn't. It isn't better. I mean, Trayvon digs it, I get it. He had to learn on the flight. He was the best by the way, Yeah, he was the best option. I don't think Nishan Wright is ready for that. Anthony Brown is a solid player. He just he is. He's a solid corner that he's virtual,

he can kind of go inside outside. No one's thinking he's gonna, you know, wondering when he's going in the Ring of honor. No one's wondering about that. He's not going to be a Pro Bowl player. That's not what he is. He's he's a solid guy. And to assume that there's just so many guys that are better on the street or better on this team is just not here. Maybe Joseph when he gets healthy, your best was healthy, he wouldn't be playing over Anthony Brown. He hasn't shown that.

And that's I agree with everything you just said about Ab. The brutal reality is he's also you know, he's probably gonna get circled by the opposing offense and game plan meetings. They're like, this is a matchup that we feel good about. It is what it is. I mean, yeah, would be circled twice. That's we did this in the preseason. Everybody was clamoring for Kelvin and he went and he had like an awful first series against Arizona and he got he got a he got flagged and then he got

bombed on like the next play. Nashan Right, I'm so impressed with what he's done. I don't I don't see that going well, especially a long strider like him going against somebody like Antonio Brown. Come on, yeah, stop stop and it is what it is. I just I feel like I said it all through the spring, as soon

as Horn and Certan went off the board. This is the reality that you were signing up for, is we're going to be in a holding pattern and our best, our best hope is that Kelvin Joseph, much like Treyvon Diggs last year, sort of starts putting it together as the season goes and maybe in the latter half of the year he can be a viable option. But to think that he ordn Sean Wright is going to come in and be better than somebody that's been in the

league for five years right away, it's delusional. I'm sorry, but you have. The point is you got to give them time to get there. They may be long term better prospects, they're not there yet. I will say that. And on the flip side. I think something to feel good about. Treyvon Diggs played really really well. I and I, you know, hopefully really I need game Pass to have all twenty two up this week. They say somebody reported, let me report yesterday. You say that, Yeah, I don't

know how much he traveled with Mike Evans. I don't know if it was every snap, but he was on him a lot. And Mike Mike Evans did not have the jack, which you can say, well, yeah, why you're gonna throw up Mike Evans if Antonio Brown's always open, but not every team they play is gonna have three studs. You know, you get into some matchups with more normal

receiving corps. Maybe it's not as gross as it looked on third starters have one really good one they do and he Mike Williams no Ena all okay, I thought you were being serious. I was like, well, Keenan Allen Williams I think led him yesterday. Did he not leave? Mike Williams is there, He's their first round pick. I think receiving he's good too. Yeah, yeah, I need college I need a college name for those guys like that.

Mike Williams. I feel like Mike Williams in the league, and I would have said, I do think the Chargers have the Chargers have two really And but the reason I kind of balked is because I do think Keenan Allen is probably the most criminally underrated player in the league. Like no buddy, nobody knows about Yeah. So also when you play in with the Chargers, like sometimes it's hard

to get that kind of profile. I'll tell you what, if it's Monday, if I can go the whole week with calling them just LA and Chargers like, it'll be a win. And on me too, because I've heard it last week. I've heard I've heard San Diego twice on our other shows. It's just I think I said it last week. I think I sit all right. We'll appreciate you guys joining us. We will be back tomorrow. We'll give you guys a big picture look around the NFL. See what's going on in the NFC East. That's pretty

interesting coming off week one. We'll do all that tomorrow. Until then. For Nick Eatman, Dave helm and I'm Derek Eagleton. This has been the Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.