Cowboys Break: Command Center

edition of The Break. We're alive from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star and we are presented by Middle of the Light, the only beer of the Dallas Cowboys, and man, this is becoming a normal thing. On Monday's Cowboys get another win. They win against the Washington Commanders this weekend, twenty five to ten. Now moved to three and one on the season, sitting in second place in

the division, and lots to be looking forward to. We will get into it a little later this week because now they get into a part of the schedule where these next two games we're gonna really see what they got and what they're working with this season. But certainly for what they've done right now. Very good for them to be sitting at a spot of three and one. All right, let's start first with stories of the game. Let's go around the table. Tell me what you think

was the story of this game. Nick, let's start with you. Man. I'd like to go third, because there's a lot of stories, but I mean, the biggest what's the biggest story of the game. The biggest story of the game is that the defense is just just annihilating nasty. They're nasty. That's what we've We've been talking about all year, and they are I mean, I said it in my column. You know, I don't think this has been but don't break I mean,

because they don't even been that much. They they are really really good and they are helping this offense, which offense has been okay, but they don't have to be that great because that's how good the defense it is. I think, to me, the story of this game is the fact that you ran the ball for two yards to carry and were managed to win this football game, you know, and I think that has a lot to do.

And you know, you know, you look at the it was really nice to see Michael Gallop out there playing again and it was really I think they've when you look at what Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy have done with this offense, I mean, I think they're doing everything they can. If you'd told me that, like I said, two yards of carried, that they were going to win this game, I would have said, no way, because that

then that would have put a lot of pressure. But like Cooper rushed for the most time, I don't think this was Cooper Rush's best games of the victories they've had. You know, there were times he was thrown off his back foot. I think there were some problems in the offensive line. I think Tyler Smith had some problems. I know that Beadish had some problems. Heck, even Zach Martin had some problems along the way. This was going to be a difficult game because of that front. But they

find a way. They just find a way. I'll see a huge play of the game. If this game was really really close, that tackle that your kicker made after the after the block extra point that saved you two points right there. You know, and you're thinking about in a game, you're like, man, this thing, it's like it's going to come down to the end, you know, they're gonna maybe make a play. You're gonna have to make a play. But you know, give credit to the guys

like Digs. You know, give a lot of credit to the kid coming in and playing in the nickel bland. You know, the way he was able to step up. It's just Nick's right. It's a It's one of those defenses you were kind of like going, yeah, okay, it's it's good. It's got a chance. But the way that they attack you in different ways. You could see the fear in and wins his eyes when he was throwing

balls in that in that football game. This isn't necessarily the story of the game, but I think that some credit should be given to Brent Moher and what he's been doing so far, because he's been keeping in games as well being able to it's gone to the point where now you're not necessarily holding your breath every time he's about to make a kick. So to this point,

he's done a great job. And he keeps you in there scoring three points at a time, but it adds up and then once the offense is finally able to get into the end zone, it adds up points for them. So I just wanted to give credit to him and what he's been doing, especially after last year and what we went through with the kick kicker position. Yeah, I think finally the Cowboys have a kicker that you don't look at every kick, including extra points in one der

are they gonna make this? Like you're getting comfortable. I know I'm getting comfortable. And the longer it is more comfortable, I seemed to get like, Oh, yeah, he's gonna kick this one. He's gonna make this one. But yeah, it's

a it's a really good situation. Brian, going back to what you said, I thought it was interesting because actually, you know, you grew up in obviously in football and from nineteenth and being a guy Nick, all of us kind of other than Amber, like you didn't grow up watching football, but from the time you grew up watch football, you always hear there are two things you gotta do in every in every game, you gotta run the ball, and you got to stop the run. Yeah, and the

Cowboys didn't either. Like the Cowboys in this game, they they only average two yards of carry, as you said, they allowed the Washington Commanders to average five point three yards per carry, and they still won by double digits. That to me is where I look at this game and I'm like, they're winning games that they that You would look at the numbers and you'd be like, how did they win a game like that? Yeah, in a in a situation where you would think that's what teams

need to be able to do against them. You gotta be able to run the ball because you're not gonna have much time to throw. And somehow even trying to run the ball and running the ball as effectively as Washington did, they still couldn't get more than ten points. Yeah, and I think that they always talk about Bill Parcells would say the hidden yards Washington's penalties killed them. Those were some huge, huge calls in that game because that made up for the lack of what your running game was.

I mean, they figured out, you know, especially in that second half, that you know what it's gonna be, okay if we max protected sing and throw the ball down the field and let them get tangled up with a cowboy receiver. But every time that the Commanders had a negative penalty on offense, it killed a drive for them. You know, whether it was a holding penalty, they had a thirteen yard run get called back because of a

holding penalty. So you know, you talk about the turnovers, you know, the interceptions they were able to get, and then the negative plays that because of the hidden yards with the penalties for the Commanders, that that more than made up for your lack of a running game in this one for sure. Yeah. And when you look at though, when't they really needed to run? I mean they there there was times where they obviously struggle for most of

the game. But you look at the first drive after Washington takes the lead seven to six, and now you're thinking, all right, this is gonna be this's gonna be a tough one. Because the Cowboys are one dimensional. They come out at the seventy five yard driving. Just here here are the running plays. Zeke for three, you know, and then it's Zeke for two, Zeke for six, Pollard for five, Pollard for four, Pollard for nine, Zeke for five. Touchdown.

So they did run the ball pretty well on that drive to to you know, go seventy five yards like that. Obviously it wasn't as consistent, but you know that I thought that drive was huge because they got in a touchdown to gallop and kind of got the momentum back on their favorite before halftime. You know, I felt that and you mentioned penalties just now, Brian, but I felt that this was one game that the penalties were in the Cowboys favor this time, and usual, it rarely ever

happens that way. Whether it's a wrong call or the right call, it just disciplined. It usually happens in the bad for the Cowboys, it goes against them, and this was the one game that watching them like, dang, okay, they got saved by that one. Yes, some were the right calls, but just regardless, it just worked out in Cowboys favor this time. And it was just a nice

break in that aspect because we rarely ever get that. Yeah, so let's give the Cowboys a little bit of credit for some of those because those penalties that that saved those interceptions. I mean, what's mugging is that? Okay, sure I can go for that. Okay, sorry, yeah, yeah, out a word in the press box that Derek was like, no, thank you, But they were mugging them up there, you know what I mean, they really were, and and and winning off the line. That's what Gallup you talked about.

Gallup really helped you know, Um, those those players, you know, and then on the flip side, the Cowboys secondary guys, we're covering them. You know. I thought we put Gallup as our player of the game, and we did it today on the website. Gallup a player of the game. But you know, for everything that he did and then the penalties he drew. But Trayvon Diggs was amazing. Yeah, yeah, that was he really, I can tell you McLaurin is pretty good about other corners. Hit don't want anything to

do with Dicks. Diggs has his number, and he has for three games. And and and Anthony Brown's doing pretty good, not not great, but as he was. But we talked about tackling. I thought they did a nice job when they got the ball out quick, they tackled. But I mean that interception that Diggs makes, like next time they cow always have issues at receiver, you know. I mean he's tracking the ball, yeah, I mean he isn't. And

that's where he's really good. I think that's where he's at his best too, because anytime you get him in a situation where he can just turn into a receiver. Yeah, And and that typically is when he's just running down field and he turns finds the ball, he tracks it, he's gonna make that get. Those are the kind of plays where I think he's at his very very best. And to me, like, I don't know why teams are

challenging him like nine riots. I wouldn't challenge him like that because he's he's gonna have a good shot at the ball. Keep challenging. But it works when you when you go up against their best receiver, because then, you know, I mean, can you imagine the press conference where they're like, well, why didn't they get you know, why did you get Keenan All on the ball today? Or why didn't you

get you know, A J. Brown the ball? It's like, well, you know Diggs, I mean, no, no offensive coordinator, they still got all. They're all arrogant enough. We're like we're we're gonna like our guy. You know, we like our guy one on one. I mean, yeah, I'll tell you what. And I know I was very critical last week of Gallimore. I thought this was one of his almost like he

heard you, Yeah it was. It was one of those games where you know, he played with physicality up front, and you know you're kind of saying, okay, and you wonder they're they're they're they're doing a decent job of playing the run in the middle, but you know, the stuff on the edge is going to be a problem

for them. I mean, they did a much better job in the second half defending the run on the edge, because all of a sudden, it was like, Okay, bar doesn't get blocked, Wilson doesn't get blocked, Diggs doesn't give ground, Vanderish doesn't get caught inside. There was there were some times where they were they looked like everybody was supposed to be where they were supposed to be fit. But then you get blocked, you know, and now now the

balls to the edge and it's a problem. Second half did a much better job of getting guys up the field and forcing the ball back inside and guys not being But Gallimore was a big part of what they were doing with the defensive line, the pressure that he was able to get the way he was able to play the run when the ball was to the inside. So you know, I got to be fair about that because he was not very good against the Giants on Monday night. He was really good against the Commander Shyster.

I think it's it has to be said too, like you know, he's Superman out there. I mean, there's no doubt Michael Parsons is a phenomenal player, maybe the best player in the NFL and defense. And we'll find out, you know, this week with the Rams coup and then you know Donald have something to say about that. But when you put Michael Parsons on the edge every time, I obviously the Washington's like, okay, listen. I mean you're a linebacker slash undersized defensive end, and yes you have power,

but we gotta run at you like that. And and he wasn't the best at it. I think they they cleaned it up. But you know that's one thing to kind of neutralize this is with with Parsons staying on the edge so much, and I sent in the second half, we saw him rush a little bit more from the flip side and the middle, but he stayed on that left side and they felt like they were running him. You know what I don't know, and I want to

ask somebody about this is you saw that happen. You saw it happened with him, You saw it happened with Fouler a couple of times. Yea, they went up field and what I don't know is are they coaching these guys go ahead and go up. Feel our linebackers are gonna feel that gaps the linebackers are getting blocked because I saw him, probably the linebackers aren't getting off their block.

So I don't know if it was that they're asking the defensive end to actually hold that edge in which is their fault, or they're saying, you guys are going to get up, feel our linebackers are gonna fail those gaps and the linebackers aren't getting fall here. Yeah, I'll tell you what, because there were a couple of times it looked like you'd like you're yelling at Vanderish like

got over there, get over there, get over there. But then you're watching like, okay, the the end is getting knocked wide, and now you're Vanderis is trying to like you know, they're trying to hold the gap to inside of him, so he's trying to kind of squeeze it. Now the balls bouncing, but you got this big gap and you don't have a safety coming down in there too.

So I mean, so one of the three is not Because I was saying, I'm sitting there, I'm sitting there like Layton, get over and then I'm like, no, wait a minute, he's squeezing. You know, they got the A gap taken care of. He's squeezing the b Oh my gosh, the end has got kicked way out of the sea. So now the space is so much that even if Vandrush were to get there, he can't cover. But I'll tell you what they're doing to Parsons now that that is going to be a problem for him is they're

cutting him. They're cutting him now and there, and they're gonna start and everybody's gonna start going at his knees. And because that's what they were doing on those screens no matter where he was, if he was the side of the screen, immediate cut block and so now not rushing,

hands down, hands down, protecting his knees. And so that was one of those times where I'm gonna I was watching the tape, I'm like, I counted three different times where sam Cosmi is chopping at his knees and he's not rushing or he's not I mean, he's playing off the block and then and then redirecting to the ball. But it but it, but you could tell he's like bro stay away from my knees, of course. And what another thing that does too, is that they throw it

over his head. He's not the tallest guy anyway, so now when he's going down, make sure you know his hands are down too to protect himself. That's an easy throw over. I think I saw that two games in a row. I've seen teams kind of throw over him like that. But combat, is there anything you can do. I mean, it's it's tough. I mean it's tough because you know, we saw what happened to Thibadeau with the Giants in the preseason. They did the same thing. They

chopped Armstrong coming across on a play, same situation. Armstrong is like spinning on one leg and you're like, you know, like oh look out. But yeah, he'll hurdle him. That's what he'll do. Well, it's he'll just jump over there to make a play and it'll be the play of the week. That's what'll happen. Well it, but it's something he's gonna have to deal with now because they're gonna get on a tape like Okay, how do you slow

him down? Take the ball at him, but also chop him while you're taking the ball at him as well well, And did you guys notice him like dealing with something not back. He something was off and you could tell this was And it wasn't even towards the end of the game. It was early second quarter. He was just like the snap was gonna happen and he wasn't even ready just yet. He just looked like you know when you're a little just drained of some sort. He was still.

I mean he was still, but he just looked like juice style for that game. Something was wrong with him. I don't know if it was more physically rather than he just looked tired. And maybe it was that short week coming out. But he plays a lot of snaps. Yeah, he plays a lot of snaps, you know. I mean you talk about those defensive linemen that get the rotate. He didn't get the rotate. Yeah, And when they and when they and when they don't have him out there,

we're all like, where is he? Where? Why? Christy give me a report? So you know, you're I need to go to the bathroom now, I mean, like, what's going on? Yeah, it's a good time. And one thing I do worry about for him is he's getting a lot more attention from from offenses. He's getting those double teams, he's getting those chips, he's getting like people going at his knees.

I do wonder if at some point it's going to wear him down a little bit and they're gonna the cowboys are gonna have to think about how do we manage his time so he doesn't get worn down to the point because like you said, he's not the biggest guy, certainly not to be playing another thing that he needs

to work on. And this isn't pick on Mica Day or anything like that, but he needs to realize that that this is successful, like like, And it's a tough balance because you want the lion to stay hungry all the time. But you know, they're teasing him in the locker room because he didn't get a sack, and it's almost like, are you is it that big a deal to get a sack that he had when he missed? Yeah? Are you going to play out of your game now? Like?

They got to be happy about this. He needs to be happy, and I hope he is, but I get the sense that even he gets frustrated because he didn't get a sack and all that. But the way he's sound in the locker room last night, it did make me seem like he had perspective. That's like the way he was talking was like man our unit, and he was talking a lot about the scoring. Yeah, I think the way he's looking at it is the right way.

I hope so. And they playfully teased with him and whatever pokes the bear or whatever gets him going, that's fine. But like you know, he's a huge part of this. He is he creates all of this stuff for the other guy. I don't practice him a couple of days during the week, maybe a day during the week, I mean, whatever day you determine that he could take off and just stand there and watch all day and heal up.

Let me have a few of those days, listen, I mean you can, you know, hey, just watch what we're trying to do here. But he's so involved in all the scheme packages. You know, it's like, Okay, they're gonna line him up with Tank on that side too, and then Fouler on that. I mean, they're going they create things for mismatches. So if he doesn't practice, are they able to work on you know, It's it's kind of

like Amari Cooper. When Amari Cooper didn't practice, do you confidently call a play that he doesn't practice, you know, I mean, well, Maria is good enough, you should be able to run the play. Well, no, that's why you practice. So you run the play if it's a combination routes and you know, things like that. So you just gotta find time for him. You just gotta say, listen, broke away from the game today. Just stay away from the game because they are they're they're now taking offenses, are

desperate playing against him. They're desperate to try and do anything they can to stop him from reckons shop. All right, we're gonna take our first break. We're gonna come back, going to dive a little more into the offense. There were a couple of different performances we need to talk about. We'll bry back Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. Todd thought it would be secure to jog and the cheetah Savannah. Todd believed the big cat repellent he bought online was reliable.

And now Todd is trying to be faster than this cheetah that can run eighty miles per hour. But the good news is Todd has at and T five G. It is fast, reliable, and secure, and he learned the best thing to do is stop running and toss her the backpack with the beef stew at and T five G fast reliable, secure, It's not complicated. Five G requires compatible plan and device. Five G may not be available in your area. See att dot com slash five G

for you for details. So what do you call a group of grown men and women with their faces painted silver and blue who get together every week to share a three hour own ritual of jumping, sinking, and toasting Miller lite and ten gallon hats while yelling, how about them cowboys? You call it Miller Time in Dallas. Here's to the cowboys. Here's to the original light beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Twenty twenty one, Miller Brewing Company

for Orts, Texas. Want to use what the pros use? How about the official men's skincare brand of 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 Black skincare favorites, plus a full sized and tense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code word team JB. That's Get

Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys. The Jack Black starter ten bucks free shipping. When you build, you start with the foundation, and homeownership is a foundation of a stable future. The Bank of America Community homeo nship commitment has helped over thirty four thousand people lay the ground work so far with up to ten thousand dollars. So it's your down payment or three percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. The satisfaction of owning your own place can

become a reality. Visit Bank of America dot com slash homeowner to learn more. What would you like the power to do? Bank of America an a equal housing lender credit in collateral. Let's hope to approval restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Back to the Break, whether you're watching from home or charing in the stands Esseler lenses, We'll let you see every exciting playbook an appointment. Your local experts find the perfect lens for you. Seemore

Dum Welcome back. It is the second segment of the breaklock in s WBC Mortgage Studios. At the Star, we're discussing the Cowboys win over the Washington Commanders. They win twenty five to ten. This segment is brought to you by blockchain dot Com. All right, let's talk about the offense. Cooper Rush yesterday was fifteen to twenty seven, fifty six percent completion rate, two hundred and twenty three yards, two touchdowns,

no interception, to one oh seven point five rating. He becomes the first quarterback in club history to win his first four games as a starter. Pretty impressive. What was it? What do you think is the key to his success so far? Well, I mean he's he's taking care of the ball. Statistically, he had a couple of interceptions, but you know, I mean, he doesn't need to be thrown off his back foot. I can tell you that he was. He did a couple of that. But but I mean,

he makes smart decisions. And also he's a good deep ball thrower. And and I thought that in Brian and I talked about this or after the game, is that this is where McCarthy comes into play. Yeah, because McCarthy studies officials. He knows what crews call, and he threw the ball deep a lot knowing that that good things were going to happen. Either you catch it. It's not fifty fifty that the ball gets down there. It's it's more seventy thirty you catch it or PI or whatever.

Good things happen. He's a good thrower. And not only on that stat about the first quarterback in Cowboys history, first quarterback in NFL history to have whin his first four starts and the quarterback rating him ninety above every time. So yeah, the defense is helping him, but he's also making smart decisions where he's having a good quarterback ratings as well. Yeah, it's you know, Nick's right about that.

I mean, you have to study these officials. You have to understand if crews are going to call pis excessively, and this was a crew that was going in. You knew that this was a This usually was a When you look at these officials, there's certain things that you can kind of tag them with. And I applaud McCarthy and those guys for being able to say, hey, Max protection, let's see if these guys can hold up. And once they kind of figured out two that Michael Gallup was

going to be able to have the separation felt comfortable running. Hey, by all means, send him on the nine routes, send him on the go. See if you get tied up. I mean they sent Ceedee Lamb down one time on a You know, it was really a good play by the corner from the commanders. But that's what you gotta do. You got to take some shots down the field, and you know you're going to get a thirty eight yard pin. I mean, hey, a thirty eight yard penalty is just

as good as a thirty eight yard run. You know, as long as they give you the yards and give you the fuel position, why not play to that strength. So that's where I think Cooper rushed. Those are really good. But I was really surprised on the one past row in the game that Noah Brown didn't adjust well enough on it. You know, I thought maybe that was an opportunity for a big play, but just didn't adjust well enough to it. But by all means, learn about these

officials trying to take advantage of the situation. Yeah, some of those deep throw I'm watching again, I'm like, beautiful, that was beautiful, what a beautiful bass. But credit to the line, the old line. I think they've been giving him, making him what I'm not gonna say, they're making him what he is. They're just allowing him to process things and make those throws like he's not constantly under pressure, He's not constantly having to get outside the pocket and

run for his life. So again, I think the old line has been doing a great job and helping him out in being able to carry this team along while Dak is out. So yes, I love everything that I've been seen with Cooper Rush, but after yesterday it made me wonder. I'm hum with what the old line is doing.

I think Dak would be able. And I don't mean to start that whole conversation right now again, but I just it makes me wonder and think about you know, Dak would be able to play a lot better than what we saw that first game of the of the season. And I think he would be able to because I think a lot of people the comments that you see is that, oh, Dak is not going to be able to do what Cooper Rush is doing but with yeah,

which is insane. But I think you plug in Dak a healthy Dak full unhealthy with his thumb and everything, I think he would be able to give you what Cooper Rush has been giving you and the help that Kellen Moore has been able to create for the quarterback position. Yeah, I think you're gonna this will be a big, big test for Cooper Rush this week because I've been told it's unrealistic that Dak is going to play this week. So look for Cooper Rush to go to as you

guys load up and go to Southern California. It S been a good matchup for him. You know, when we get into when we start to talk about the defenses and the things that he'll have to do, you know, they're gonna have to put up some points in this football game, I believe. You know, I haven't seen a whole lot. We'll see the Rams play tonight against the forty nine ers, will you know, get an idea about that.

But yeah, this is going to be probably the stiffest test that he will have when it comes to he's going to have to play in this game because you are playing against you know, they did a nice job against Cincinnati that was a Super Bowl team. Well here's the team that won the Super Bowl. So go find a way to win this game. But you're gonna get Cooper Rush this week. It's what you're gonna do, and we'll see if he can, if he can pull it off.

You say that you're gonna get Cooper Rush, like you're gonna get like he is what he is this week, Like you're gonna no, you're gonna get him to play quarterback this week? Oh it's yeah, Dak, Yeah, it's you know, a post game I was told he was unrealistic that Dak was going to play this week, And that makes me wonder, you know, unrealistic, Like, no, no chance he's gonna play in seven days, so days, like like if you're if you're absolutely not on seven days, I mean,

fourteen seems like a stretch. Well, I think the lock could happen in fourteen days. Like. The reason why I think it's unreally, in my opinion, the reason why I think it's unrealistic for this week is because he really hasn't practice. He really hasn't been doing much from the

standpoint of actually throwing the ball. Um. So I think though this week, let's say, for example, he does towards the end of this week, he's actually out there and throwing and they're like yeah, yeah, exactly, and they're like, Okay, it's starting to so by then then you give him a week of practice next week, ye, then maybe he is. I'm just saying like, right now, it doesn't sound like he's done any of that to this point, so it seems unrealistic that he can do I never heard the

word close. You know, I never heard the word close. I mean it was I was asking because I thought Jerry in the postgame, did I think he did a good job of not really selling it, like you know, he kind of was very noncammital about it. But you know, and you guys live here in this building, you talk to people as well. You know. The one thing that I was told was like, no, it's it's not a realistic situation this week. Because of the things we talked about,

the practice, the grip strengthen, all those things. I feel that had they've been losing, you would be here next week. Yeah, you'll be hearing the word close. Do we have time to ask a question? Yeah? Sure, I was gonna ask because a lot of I feel that a lot of the times that we're watching the games, on their offense, they get the ball moving, they're moving the moving, then they just completely hit a wall as they approached the red zone. So what would you point out the biggest

problem as to why that is happening. Well, I'm honestly, when you in this game, I mean, you can't run the football, like it's even harder to run down there in the red zone, So you got to you gotta take your deep shots. And that's why it always did. That's why I always say first and goal in the ten. It's the toughest, toughest to score because deep ball is out of the out of the equation obviously, unless you

want to throw it the rowdy. So I mean, like it's right there, you've got to you've got to play in We've got to be able to push them back, and they couldn't push anyone back. So I thought they did a pretty good job down in there. I mean, but because it's hard to run at the fifty, it's definitely hard to run inside the twenty. Yeah, Monday night we talked about and Nick brought it up in our show on Tuesday, was about how they got against the Giants. They got down there and ran the ball what three

straight time? And they ran it in I think what happened the touchdown when you go back and you watch, you're all twenty two. The touchdown you're gonna see to Gallop was a really good design because what they were able to do was and this is where I know I've been critical of Kellen Moore because you see guys like Sean McVay with the rams. He will get Cooper cup on linebackers and you're now you're like you're running against a linebacker and down there, and that that's what happened.

He got Gallop on Holcomb the linebacker by by design, by formation, and now all of a sudden, Holcomb's you know, inside leverage is you know, great, but outside leverage is terrible. And that's where you know, you watch the ball. I mean, the route goes inside and then breaks and now you've got the quarterback rolling in the pocket and he's able

to make that throw. You need more of that, you need, you know, you talk about running the football and then better design of how to get your guys in situations where okay, we're gonna spread you out a little bit and we're gonna make sure that your linebackers covering our wide receiver and then trying to stay in position to do that. More of that would be great in my book. You know that that would be the the that would

be the fix that I saw that he had yesterday. Yeah, I'm glad you called that out because we give Kellen a lot of flak. I think there a lot of people do for not scheming things up to get his playmakers in position to make plays. That was a really good example of that kind where he did. And another one who coming out of the third quarter going into the fourth quarter, I mean they set there, it's basically a time out. They come right out of that the

first play. They schemed it up where Schultz and he got to give Schultz credit because he yeh down the field right and the scene took the safety with him. Guess what one on one to CD lamb. I mean that that was obviously called and he got the inside.

So it was perfectly you got Nick's right there because Curl the safety is he's He's so focused on Schultz running vertically that it kept it gave enough space to allow CD to run and then the corner on their side was too wide, so there was that natural scene where he was able to throw the ball. Well designed play. Yeah, all right, let's talk about the running game. Let's talk about Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard. Yesterday, Zeke was nineteen carries for forty nine yards a two point six average.

Pollard eight carries for six yards point eight average. Why didn't the running game work yesterday? Was the biggest problem? Jonathan Allen is your biggest problem? J Allen was a pain and the what and both those guys were I mean that was they were as good as we've seen them before. I mean that that was a mean day. Yeah did but no, no, he's he'll fit in. He'll fit in good with that team. I mean, you know

that that was just an unfortunate thing. Cowboys wanted him, but it just that they have injuries and we have injuries. You've got to figure out how to how to get around it, and you had to try to steal it practice squad spot and Washington needed help. Good good move for them, But I thought that they just couldn't run the ball as well. Because they didn't, they didn't win the physical battles um And I think that's kind of

what what we see with Pollard and Zeke. Yeah, Pollard's great on the outside and he can do all that stuff, but running him in the middle like that. It's tough sledding and we didn't even average a yard. So you know, this is why they He'll have better days, I mean for sure, and Zeke will too. But this is kind of why, you know, the thunder and lightning situation is what it is, because you gotta get some tough running. I thought Zeke ran okay, but his stats don't really

look good. They struggled because McGovern was playing in the game and coming back from the ends hurt to me. He wasn't moving very well, not look good to me. He struggled. He struggled with his movement and struggled with his power and couldn't sustain anybody. They struggled a little bit with with Beyondish at center. Zack Martin actually had a couple of them where he was he lost a little bit of his uh you know, the you know, being able to stick onto his guy. They just couldn't.

And there was a couple of times too where guys like Steele was in good position and the guy went backdoor on him and now he's trying to adjust back and then there's really no place for the ball to cut and then there's the tackle right there. They they

played it really well. They were. There were time they had an eight man box one time and Dallas ran it inside and I'm like going, okay, well, Coop, it's eight men in the box you've got You're not gonna be able to block all these guys, and they still ran the ball. That was one of those things where I think he would have checked out if he If he today, when he gets to watch his film, he's

gonna go, oh damn, what was I doing. I mean it was four down and four behind, and they were not gonna let you run the ball in that particular play. But again, once you know, you look at Zeke the third one, he continues to have the success doing that. That to me but also too real quick and I know I'm talking a lot here, I'm sorry, But the thing about it is they put Farniac in the backfield. That's now. Farniac ran a route one time on a play, on a play that went to Noah Brown for a

big catch. He ran a route, but but Ferguson stayed in and blocked the tight end, which was hilarious. You see Ferguson's like blocking on the end, and then here's Farniac running a route like you know, he's like up the fuel kind of like that throwing the ball and the ball goes over the top. But that's the kind

I mean, it's crazy. I want to see that. Yeah, it's it's it's you can watch to play, but it's it's funny to me that that you put the fullback in there, and it's it's just a telegraph we're gonna run the ball. Yeah we're gonna run. But that one time they threw the pass and you know, able to make a play out. But it was funny to see. I didn't stay in and offensive lineman go out and run the route. Peter Peters looked forty a couple of times. He looked forty in that game. He sure did, ye

sure it did. Did. He looked more forty than he looked like at nine time pro bowler. But of course I know he's playing guard and it's not his position that he's used to play in. But it was tough, It was not It was not the best. I still

wonder how this whole thing's going to shake out. McGovern you know healthy, and you know it's just Aaron Donald coming up this week, so I think they could figure it out figuring the fact that they only gave up one sack, because I agree with you guys, I don't think the offensive offensive line played particularly well, but they

ended up only giving up one sack. I do think Cooper Rush, as he's done since he's been in there, he's really good at getting the ball out, so I think it doesn't expose him as much as maybe you'll see from other quarterbacks. But all things being considered, this was not a great game for the offen to me. To me and the way I see it, to me, they played a well game as far as the passing game.

The run game, that was a whole different thing. They could not run the ball, and this this is why this win makes it that much more impressive to me, because sometimes we see when they do not have that kind of balance where they can't run the ball, they end up losing the game. And for example, at the tight ends position, Dalton Schultz did not have a good game. He didn't but even then, like he was doing, it

was not a good day for him. So keeping that in mind, and just the very few weapons that Cooper Rush and Kellen Moore had to work with last night, and they got away with the wind got too touchdowns, So to me that that was impressive. And this is the only reason why I keep giving the old line so much credit is the fact that you didn't see Cooper Rush just having to run for his life all night. They were just giving him time. And yes, Cooper Rush,

credit to him too. His legs, his feet, he can run, he can figure out where to go, So to me, that's a win in that aspect. I think that we'll see how they improve in the running game. But when you get away with without the running game working point

eight average for Tony Pollard, that's pretty embarrassing. Yeah, But I think I think the thing to consider here, and I think it's kind of how they're going I think it's how they're gonna play football is you look at the total number of carries relative to the sole number of passes. They're right there about fifty fifties twenty nine rushes. Two of those rushes were rushed and so those are

probably not called runs. So you look at about twenty seven twenty seven, right, you're looking at about a fifty fifty split between run pass and by the way, I think that's how they think they're gonna have to play football right now. Because of the fact that they've got

such a great defense. I think they look at it and say, hey, we need to keep the other team off balance, which means it even sometimes, as you say, Brian, you might have an eight man box, we're still going to run it off because for us, as we saw earlier this season, like you don't want to leave your defense out there too much, so you have to take the time you have to sometimes you have to run

into bad situations. But the point is you're going to run the ball, and we're gonna trust the fact that, as I was saying to you Nick in the press box, like a punt is not a bad thing with this kind of defense. Sometimes you take a few plays, you'll take some time off the clock. You punt the ball, let your defense do his job. I'll tell you what, When you punt the ball to your own twenty eight and don't give up points, you got a pretty damn

good defense, really good, yeah, exactly right. Yeah. And then when the putter messes it up. I mean the putter has been hit it like fifty two, fifty six, fifty eight yards. He punts one twenty two, and you're like going, this is not good, and then you don't give up points. That shows you got a pretty good And they went

for a field goal. I mean they went for a fourth down because they they had to, but still, I mean they got down there to the nine good sack on third down to push it back forth and fifteen. I mean it's like they said, I mean it's been but don't break. But they're not been in a whole lot and it's it's really impressive. And you know that's what we said after they played Brady and Burrow. It's like, Okay, now you get Daniel Jones and you and you get

wins and they've taken advantage of that. Now it's Stafford and Hurts, so you know, yeah, but it steps up. All right, we're gonna take our final break. We're gonna come back. We're gonna have these guys tell us who they think are the players of the game, each of them. We'll give you one. We'll be right back to Dallas Cowboys dot Com. Are you the season is finally here.

For months we've been gearing up to win. Now it's time for the team that performs on any field, United Egg and turf with John Deer zero turns for mowing, compact tractors for loading, many excavators for digging, Gator utility vehicles for hauling, implements for grading, hay tools for bailing. United Agg and Turf for winning the official LaGG and Turf equipment supplier of the Dallas Cowboys. Visit United Egginturf dot com for more. Todd thought it would be secure

to jog in the cheatah Savannah. Todd believed the big Cat repellent he bought online was reliable, and now Todd is trying to be faster than this cheetah that can run eighty miles per hour. But the good news is Todd has at and T five G is fast, reliable, and secure, and he learned the best thing to do is stop running and toss her the backpack with the beef stew At and T five G Fast, reliable, secure, It's not complicated. Five G requires compatible plan and device.

Five G may not be available in your area. See att dot com slash five G for you for details. Sweet, did you get to work on time? Yeah, but I just realized it's Sunday, Little sweets his head on home. Doctor Pepper's on its way, So sweet. Maybe there's nothing better. I bet you've probably done something investitionistic in NFTE, and I don't even know what that is. It's a nonfunctable

token something. When you build, you start with the foundation, and home ownership is a foundation of a stable future. The Bank of America Community Homeownership commitment has helped over thirty four thousand people lay the ground work so far with up to ten thousand dollars. So it's you're down pay or three percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. The satisfaction of owning your own place can become a reality. Visit Bank of America dot com slash almoner to learn more.

What would you like the power to do? Bank of America Ana Equal Housing lender credit in collaterals, Sophy too approval restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend back to the break. Get a chance to get some single game tickets. Limited tickets stuff for the remaining home games of the twenty twenty two Dallas Cowboys season and AT and T Stadium are available now. Visit Dallas Cowbys dot com, slash tickets or SeatGeek dot com, the official

ticketing provider of AT and T Stadium. Welcome Back, final segment of The Break Life from s WBC Mortgage Studios. At the start, we are presented by Miller Lite, the only beer of the Dallas Cowboys. Let's jump into players of the game. Let's go around the table. Everybody give me one amber. Let's start with you. To me is Michael Gallup. He's a guy that you know, didn't have

a training camp. He was out for a really long time and he got in here and even though I know the kind of talent he has, it is one of those things that you always have some kind of doubt on how quickly they can be impactful inside in the game. And even when he didn't have the ball, he was he was drawing penalties, he was helping. That way that touched them, to me, was so impressive. And the way that Cooper Rush was able to get the ball to him and he was able to catch it.

So to me, he was player of the game because not only what he did in that game, but what he was able to put on film for the next opponent coming up. He's gonna bring some attention to him and he's gonna keep making an impact on the offense and helping the other guys around him as well durn Bland. Like durn Bland found out he was going to start five maybe five minutes before they go to warm up. They go at, they get back from warm and he

comes in. They walk in say, you're starting nickel corner today. Oh, okay, I guarantee you. Durn Bland did not get a lot of work this week playing nickel corner, which Jordan lewis out there, and they didn't practice a whole hell of a lot either. To be honest, what happened with Jordan do we know? I know you're growing? And did it happen in pregame? Pre game? So all of a sudden they come in they tell the kid he's going to start.

He did a great job in that football game. That is not easy to play that that corner spot, especially with the receivers that they have over there at the Commanders. And then he gets the interception, great read. They're playing zone. He's right where he needs to be. He sees that what Carson Wentz is gonna do. He drives on the ball, gets in front. You know, the some of the initial runs that were run at him in the first half, he kind of struggled with a little bit second half.

He was far better playing in that game. Hats off to him, helmet stick or whatever you want to give him for how he played in that football game. But two got two here us both? Well, Um, you know, i'd like to say Diggs because I thought Diggs played a great game and really kind of shut down their best player. But you know, as Brian said, when you average two yards to carry, and I mean this thing is supposed to keep a float here with Cooper Rush because they got help him out. You gotta run the ball,

you gotta played good defense. They couldn't run the ball, yet they win a game by two scores. My my MVP of the game is Cooper Rush. Uh. He's four in a row of as a starter three this year and he's just kind of finding his rhythm. Offense is getting better. But they were really one dimensional and he had they had to pass the ball through it and they were able to do it. So, uh, to me, it's it was Cooper Rush. You give us your second?

Well Diggs, I said, Jaker was one that I really would like to say Diggs, but and I thought he played great, But I it's it's Cooper for me. Yeah, I'm excited to see what dan Quinn does with Donovan Wilson and Curse both. Yeah, and you know now now

how you yeah, and exactly how do you get these played? Well? Yeah, how do you get these guys on the field, especially guys that can tackle, you know, and you're gonna need that if people are gonna start trying to run the ball on you, You're gonna need guys that make plays. Wilson's physical, Curse physical. They don't miss Hooker played pretty well, sure, says played great. Well, I'll tell you what the one play that went down they but we thought him have

been intercept you each about Wilson. They're playing four across at the sticks and the ball's going deep, and who's running from the hash you know to get the on the cover John McLarin down the field. It's it's Wilson. So not only was he just like a physical player down, he was a deep player back and made a huge play in that game. Because your players game my players. Maher Amber Amber started the show talking about him. He

had kicks of fifty three, twenty eight, twenty nine. Really, if you look at a great tackle in the open field, it's absolute points absolutely. And if you look at the first quarter of the season, outside of say Michael Parsons, I don't know that you could say that there's any player has been more consistent during the first quarter of the season and made a difference for this team than Brett Maher. He has been really, really good for them.

Has scored a ton of kicks and may kicks that are fifty plus, Like we're talking about some really tough kicks that most kickers in the league would struggle to have the percentage that he does, and he's been making those kicks. I think he has been phenomenal. I think it's the first time they had a kickoff return against him. He'd had he'd put every ball out of the end zone and then they brought one back on him yesterday. But up until then, through four games, I mean, he's

been putting every balls into great football. Yeah. I got asked this on the radio the day on one of five three the fan and I said, the question was, is which player has been the most surprising this year? I through four games? Is it? Is it Cooper Rush Maher or Tyler Smith? And and you know I in order or you know I put I put Cooper rush. I mean I would I wouldn't expected this, but I mean they're all great, great choices there. I mean, all three of those guys. Well, you think about what we

were back in Ox and Ard. The thought was watching this is going to be a problem this year. It is going to be a significant problem. And then when they may kind of changes and all that, then you're like, okay, we'll kind of back to where we were a couple of years ago. Like I don't I don't know if that's going to be better. But the guy has been fun. I don't know, he's played really good, getting good football. We'll see. The thing about it is you bring back

Maher and you're like, okay, you couldn't scout better. You couldn't. You couldn't you. Why do you have to bring back somebody that we've already seen get sent away. Yeah, And sometimes you send them away and they come back and they work out better. But that was the one where I was like, I was proud of them for making the decision that the kicking game was not good enough.

They could have just sat there and ranting with those guys and been Okay, hey, we're not weirdly like our guys Yeah, but to bring back Maher and have him to have success, you have to give him credit for that. All right, appreciate you guys, Johnis. We'll back tomorrow. We'll do a big picture look around the NFC and really around the NFC East. All of a sudden, NFC East isn't looking pretty good. We'll talk about that tomorrow for NICKI. Even Brian brought us and Amber Garcia. I am Derek Eagleson.

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.