Cowboys Break: Division Math?

episode number seventy nine. Welcome to another edition of The Break, Live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star, talking Cowboys football with you for the next forty five minutes. A lot that we want to hit today. Where's big Picture Tuesday. But in addition to all the things we're gonna talk about, I want to make sure that we try to get some phone calls to day. I want to hear from the fans. We haven't had a chance to talk to them in a while. You guys, give

us a call. The numbers eight eight eight eight five five two two nine seven Again it is eight eight eight eight five five two two nine seven. How's everybody feel. Everyone's doing great? We're good. You speak for me now? Yeah? Okay, Yeah, you might have to speak. I got the sniffles, but other than that, I'm okay. You two. I got that too. It's I mean, it's been coming and going. It makes

me nervous. So we no. The weather fluctuates, like anytime there's a temperature drop of more than like five degrees or or raise whatever. I just well, there's been plenty of that. It messes with me. Not that anybody caressing to everyone listen. Yeah, everyone listening right now is Jay Cutler. You don't care, don't don't kill Hey, I'm here. I'm here. You know, nobody feels sorry for you. Jason Garrett says, I'm here. So here's where it's go about. Here's gonna

talk about today. We got a few things. I want to first talk about where the Cowboys stand in the end of the c East. I have a couple questions for you around that with regards to your the likelihood of certain things happening here over the next few weeks. Then I want to get into some statistics. I was looking at some different rate rankings where the Cowboys fall

in particular categories, some individuals, some team. But I want to get your feedback on some of these and how relevant they are to what we're seeing on the field. But let's start first with the division. Right now, the Cowboys are in second place. Redskins are at six and three, leading the division, have beaten the Cowboys head to head. Cowboys do get a chance to right that wrong here

on Thanksgiving Day. But the Cowboys are in second place at four and five, Phillies at four and five as well, and then you have the Giants, who get a win last night at two and seven. Over the next few weeks, there's gonna be a lot that's gonna happen. Because there's gonna be some teams playing each other within the division. They're also gonna be some really big games or teams

have to play very good teams outside the division. Washington next week plays Houston, Dallas plays at Atlanta, Philadelphia plays at New Orleans. All three of those games, in their own different ways, will be tough games. But here's what I want to do. I'm gonna tell you the next three games for each of these teams, and I want you to tell me the likelihood first of all, that Dallas wins is next three. And we're gonna do this

on a scale of one to five. Five being the most likely that they win two of the next three, and one being the least that they'll win the next Hate this why because we do a talk show, and the talk shows people want to hear your opinions, obviously, and I'm happy to give my opinion. But like what we just we just came off a stretch where they lost to a mediocre team at home and then beat the reigning champs on the road. So like, whatever I say is gonna be wrong, probably, but go ahead, not

to steal your thunder right. Awesome, My bad, I don't really understand it just yet because there was a lot and there's like all three teams in the vision next three games one to five when I don't know yet, but figured out, let's let's here we go, let's prot start over. Okay, this sounds crazy. This is awesome, Stuart, This is awesome, all right, Dallas. Next three games, they're playing at Atlanta, they're playing home against Watching, they're playing

home against New Orleans. What's the likelihood in your mind that they win two of the next three? Um, two, two, five, five being the most three three out of four And that's and see we've not seen out of this team. Nope. Yeah, yeah, two sounds good. Yeah if you wrote them down by games, would you change your opinion? Like if you had a did a matchup and you said likely that they went against Atlanta. See, yeah, I don't put that somewhere between

thirty and fifty percent. Yeah, still not great. You still don't think there's a highly highway and that Like I'm obviously look, I you know, you put a lot of work into planning these shows, and I admire that. I wasn't trying to crap on your idea, but like that is the whole. That's what I let off with yesterday after the game. It's like I don't know what to do with this team, and so like it's a joke,

but I sort of believe it. It's like going on the road and beating Philly impressively to me, suggests that they'll probably lose to Atlanta. Like that's just what we've come to expect from this team through ten weeks. I was telling day this after the show yesterday. A lot of tweets to me were like, man, if they just would have beaten Washington or beaten the Titans, They've beaten Titans. Look look where they would be that's not true because

I don't think they beat Philly. If you beat the Titans, that's not what this team is. And that's why everyone's frustrated because this team always stays in that they don't really get hot. At one year they did with Dak and Zekeez rookies. Most of the time though, they don't. So for them to build on that and beat Atlanta, that sounds great, But which come back and beat Washington in four days if they if they beat Atlanta, they're

gonna beat Washington. That's just irrational confidence they beat Atlanta or if they lose to Atlanta, if they beat Atlanta, like if then they're going to beat like if they if I will, I will believe at least to a degree, Like if they can win back to back road games against pretty good teams, and I don't care what the records say, Philly and Atlanta both have a lot of talent, Like if they can win those two games, even with the short turnaround on Thanksgiving, Like you can come home

and play Washington at home and beat But doesn't that fly in the face of what you were just saying from the standpoint of consistency. That's I don't think they're gonna beat Atlanta like that's anything. But if they do, if they prove me wrong again, then you kind of have to believe that that's some sort of late season momentum, don't you, especially if they play well necessarily, because it

could just be that same pattern. They did lose two there, and then they come back and win two, and then they get back to their same pattern, and that's why this team and this season is so frustrating. Well, the thing about it is, with your question of winning two out of three, is can they win the next two? I don't think anyone right now would would say that

the Cowboys or really anybody will beat the Saints. I mean that, yes, they can win, but we know that the Saints, it'll be half a home crowd for them, and they're just playing so well, and I don't think this defense will hold up against that. The defense is pretty good, but I think conventional wisdom says that. I do think it's interesting though, to note, and you and

I talked about this yesterday. We were talking to your office about just kind of how NFL seasons play out, and we've seen this Cowboys teams in situations like that where they go up against the behemoth and nobody expects that they can win, and somehow they find a way to do it. In this instance, this sets up the right kind of paradigm in my opinion, for that. You've got a Thanksgiving Day game, you got a short week, Um,

you've got the Cowboys at home. Maybe that maybe having half of a crowd at home that's not their own crowd, maybe that inspires them in a way. You know, there there are a lot of factors there that could could create an upset type environment. That's it's the NFL and that's the Cowboys too, And like it's crazy when you think about it. Maybe I've just been around this team

too long. But noon game on the road against an Atlanta team that has struggled at times, they just got rocked by the Browns, Like they're certainly not world beaters. And I'm sitting here like how are they gonna win this? And then play the Saints at home? And I'm like, yeah, they could win that game. It's prime time you get up for the big game. I mean, stuff like that

happens all the time. And that's unless you're you know, unless you're fortunate enough to be covering one of the three or four teams that is truly kicking butt this year. That's just the reality of the NFL. Okay, So then you got I said, the Cowboys have been consistently inconsistent. Yes, look at the Washington Redskoon Redskins, who are six and three. What do you think is the likelihood that they go that they win two of their next three? They've got

at Houston. I'm sorry, they're playing this week at home against Houston, then at Dallas, then at Philadelphia. I think this is a huge week and it goes back to it just across the league, the Eagles, I mean across the division. Excuse me. The Eagles have the Saints in the Superdome and the Redskins are playing the Texans, who are as hot as anybody in the league right now.

They won six in a row. So if the Cowboys can find a way to beat Atlanta, you're talking about making some serious Hey, because one of these somebody's losing. Either either the Eagles or the Redskins are both are probably losing this week. So this is big And I'm kind of dismissing the Eagles, are you sort of? Yeah, because not ready to do that. I would dismiss Washington before I dismissed the Eagles. Their schedule just seems like it's like they're four and five right now, and they

still have tougher games to play. Yeah, I don't know. The next five Yeah, next five at New Orleans, then home against the Giants, home against Washington, at Dallas at the Rams. I mean, now, three of those are against the division teams, right, and you can usually can come back and then Okay, I just I don't think New

Orleans tough, right, But I can't on that. I'm I'm not not quite as big as Mike crush on Aaron Rodgers, but I'm a big believer that Carson Wentz is very good, and as long as they have him, I can't rule them out as being part of the race. Washington if they if they win this game this week, if the Redskins win, I mean at home, they're gonna be in good shape. Now. I know I've said a couple of times, I don't think they're gonna run away with anything. I

really don't. I don't think they're very I don't think they're that good. Um, But if they keep stacking wins like that and beaten, you know, a team the Cowboys couldn't beat in Houston, and you know, and then it's gonna be interesting what happens when Philly plays Washington twice. But um, you know, I mean, of course, the sounding like Jason Garrett, I mean, the Cowboys can only control what they control here. They're just trying to have a

good Tuesday. And but you know, if you've got to I don't know if this is a must win, but it's up there as well because the Saints game is sitting right there and you've got to beat Washington, you know that. So when you're gonna make when you're gonna make up some ground, I think it starts this week against like you said, a team that got rocked by Cleveland. That's who you need to beat after you saw But I'll say this, and we talked about that that game.

I would and did some research just now. You know last year's massacre game that changed the tide for both teams. You know how similar things are going into this game. I mean, first of all, that was played on November eleventh. This will be November eighteenth, very similar in the time of you know, of during the season they were four and they were five or four and four and the Cowboys were five and three, and so both after that

game they both went to five and four. I mean, so they're kind of like right there in terms of where things are. And then we know what happened, and then that kind of helped Atlanta go and they went two rounds deep, and you know what happened to the Cowboys. Wouldn't it just be poetic justice? To quote Kendrick Lamar, if this game got the Cowboys on track, like I said, you know, like I gotta take them a little more

seriously if they can go win this game. If they do, it would be the polar opposite of what happened last year. Although if that happens that week, go Charlton will get six sacks. First round pick hasn't really done what we think. He comes back this week whatever, going up against suit

who knows, and then he gets six sacks. Yeah. But the thing about it is if that happens last week will be the week that we look at to say it turned the tie, because that was the game that they first would have shown well maybe they are gonna be able to do this, and this would only be a continuation of that That's what they haven't been able to do so so far though this year is get on that kind of role where they turn one win

into two and into three and into four. To go back to the start of the segment, I think, if anything, what's gonna what's gonna shake this whole thing up? And you mentioned it is just the number of division games. So the Eagles play everybody in the division in a like a three week stretch, right New Washington in Dallas. Yeah, and then and so the Cowboys just played the Eagles, and they have Washington and then it's not on the immediate horizon, but another Eagles game is coming up pretty

soon too. And who the Redskins have. Redskins have Dallas, and then they have Philly the week after that, and then New York after that. So we got three in a row as well. We just listed like six division games. Divisions are gonna get tout here in the next four weeks. How many division games are there in a season three times six eighteen, So there's eighteen division games we're gonna

play like a third of them in a three week stretch. Yeah, So this thing is going to sort itself out, like by the by I'm by the time the Cowboys play the Eagles again December ninth, I think, yep, it's gonna be I think you have a good idea to look really clear. Yeah, and the crab, I mean, I know that that sounds far away, It's really not. And that's the other thing too. It's like these games are gonna start coming quick because Cowboys play three and eleven days

and I like the sun start over twenty. Yeah, it's gonna get wild here in the next three weeks. All right, let's take our first break. When we come back, I want to talk a little bit about some statistics that I noticed, especially when Layton Vander is interesting to me where he ranks in the NFL right now when it comes to tackles and when it comes to solo tackles. We'll talk about that when we come right back. This

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Dealer dot com slash football. Back to the Break, Welcome back into the second second of the Break life in the SWBC Morgat Studios at the Star. Let's talk a little bit about some of the statistics and where the Cowboys rank in some areas, both individually and as a team. Layton vander Esch, rookie linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys right now is ranked tenth in the NFL and tackles. That in itself is a huge feat for a rookie linebacker. But here was the more important thing and the part

that was way more startling to me. He's actually ranked second. He's tied for second in the league in solo tackles. What's sixty one? That to me is amazing that a rookie linebacker would have sixty one solo tackles and it would rank him second among his peers in the NFL. You think we're looking at a Pro Bowl year for lake vandersh who's first? Just FYI, Oh, if you don't have it, it's not a big deal. I just thought you might a Pro Bowl year. I don't know. I

don't know. I mean because I think that, you know, Jalen Smith will probably get some Pro Bowl um consideration consideration there, maybe ahead of him. So I don't know, if you know, you can both of them and they may cancel each other out. I don't know how that will go. But um, you know, I was actually thinking just the other day about defensive Rookie of the Year, you know, for him, possibility there and I don't I don't really know some of the other rookies that are

tearing it up. I mean, well, you have the safety out there in San Diego. James, the NFL's tackles leader, is also a rookie. Oh really, Darius Leonard's killing it. But think about this. Think about this for a second. Layton wasn't playing a whole tummy. He was not playing every down at the beginning of the season. I think this applies to his Pro Bowl status and his defensive Rookie of the Year status, which I said a month ago,

I was like, awesome for him. He's playing well. I really don't think he's got a shot at Rookie of the Year because you need a couple things like you need eyeballs, and you need stuff like interceptions, big play as well. He got the pick and he had his best game of the year on Sunday night when the whole world was watching, which he had probably the game changing play that won the game. I really and again, you know those things matter. We saw it with Dexter

Cokeley if you remember back then. I am not trying to slide him. I think the world of how he's playing, but the reality of the situation is Pro Bowl and oftentimes like end of Year Award things like that are their popularity contest. Like you people have to know your name because people who are watching all twenty two aren't

doing the voting. So the thing about linebackers in the Pro Bowl, linebackers really get screwed inside linebackers because there's really there's one spot for you because to start, because they play four to three the outset, you could maybe say outside linebackers, but those guys you're going up against pass rushers, pass rushers on three the name, and so it's really tough. Pro Bowl is going to be really tough for any of those guys because they're inside linebackers.

And Luke Keicklee I think is still sitting over there in Carolina and he's the name Keith Lee Wagner. It's gonna be forever. You couldn't get in there because er Lacker was there and a J. Hawk was good and Willis was good, and you couldn't even get in there. So now you got keick Lee you're name. And some others.

Having having said that, though Jalen Smith and Vanderesh both will have a shot, they keep the role going, like keep playing well and you're gonna have a shot because the Cowboys fan base knows who you are and that always matters. Um And then you know again, now he is now in the consciousness of people who don't follow the Cowboys closely, and that matters too. So get another pick or two. Keep having these eight, nine, ten, thirteen

tackle games. He'll at least be in the conversation and I won't be surprised at all if him and Jalen both make it. Now, maybe that's because somebody backed out with an injury or somebody made the Super Bowl, but it smells like alternates to me, which is good because that's still a Pro Bowl. That's still a Pro Bowl. If we really it doesn't count and get as there as if you make it, make it. Yeah, I'm saying you get in. Oh yeah, Yeah. We're saying the same

thing in different ways. Because you're saying an altern that doesn't get the call. I'm saying an alter that does get the call. But yeah, because the Cowboys of all you won't even find out if it's at yeah we we we somehow found out. A few years ago on Lyle Collins was an alternate as a Rickie at guard, but he never got the call that he never never got the call. So I mean not to change the topic drastically, but I mean Zach I would guess as

a Pro Bowl lock. Yes, you can't bet again Tyring Iron once you get that name recognition, like I wouldn't. He has not played at a Pro Bowl level consistently this year. He keeps playing like he's played these last two games, and he's right back in the mix of the one of the best in the league. I think Zach has a lot has Zack's a lock, Tyron has a chance. Zeke is probably a lock. I mean, you've got Zeke and Gurley in the NFC. Who else is

playing at that level? Kamara, yeahmar is playing and he did that for the first half reason he's the first four weeks without the other one. Yeah, Zeke's got some tough competition, but right now Zeke is second in the league and rushing. Yeah, I think he gets in because in Kamara, one of them will be in the Super I think, so, yeah, he's Zeke's going to the pro. Zeke,

Zach and Tyron on offense and then on defense. I would guess uh d law if he if he has a strong if he has a strong second half, he'll be in and then vander Esht and Jalen are probably your next best. Byron's having an amazing season when he doesn't doesn't have to, doesn't have Let me throw this out though, and I actually wanted to go to de Law next. But when you look at d law stats, he has six and a half sacks right now. That

ranks him seventeenth in the league. And when you're talking about defensive ends, oftentimes people look at who's leading in sacks. He's all the way down at seventeenth. Okay, do you think that matters from that end? How much do you think that complicates I know that we don't think it changes because he plays He is such a vital role when it comes to this defense and what he does

in the run game and everything else. But do you think that that number six and a half and if he at the end of the season is still ranks seventeenth, does that change the conversation as far as the negotiation of his contract is concerned when the offseason gets well, maybe, but you know, let's talk about from a Pro Bowl standpoint, that's not really that far off from a Pro Bowl And you think it is, but let's just say I don't know what that numbers. Let's just say half or

in the AFC half or in the NFC. Now you're sitting in at now he's seventh or eighth. Some of those guys could be defensive tackles so you know this, or linebackers, so they're kind of out of it too. So he really might not be that far off from a Pro Bowl to the point now as you're what you're talking about from a contract, and I think with him, it's kind of an eye test type thing too. Him.

He's still making plays, He's making significant plays, and he has become a leader, which I have so much respect for the way he's handled this year. And I'm not talking about what's going on in Pittsburgh because I don't know that. I just know what's happening here. He's like, yes, I'm signing this franchise deal, I'm gonna play. And not only that, he hasn't acted like a guy that's on a one year deal. He's acted like he is the

leader of this defense. Came up with a nickname for him, and all that I can't, I can't I speak volumes for what he's done there, and I think the Cowboys have seen it too. I have a couple thoughts there one and I haven't looked at the stats. I should. I'm surprised that he's so far down. Nick makes a good point. Maybe it's linebackers or defensive tackles, because what he's on pace for, Like if he's got six and

a half now, he's on pace for twelve. He only had only he had fourteen and a half last year and was second in the league. So that, I mean, so many guys are on a better pace than him. That's kind of surprising. Um the other so, I still think he'll make the Pro Bowl if he has a strong second half. Shame on the Cowboys if the stack tally, I mean obvious, like that'll come into play, like because because negotiations are negotiation, sure, but shame on them if

they're like, oh, I don't know, he's not good. There's many sacks because like, turn on the tape, and nobody should be watching the tape more so than the guy's charged with signing. I mean, how many Brian writes about it every week. The guy's amazing and run defense. He takes on double teams and opens things up for other guys anytime somebody has a tackle for loss of uh case the fourth down stuff. Jordan Lewis and Jalen Smith, they had that opening because DeMarcus Lawrence just mauled the

right half of the line. Uh stuff like that, and he's still getting sacks. His shoulders definitely bothering him regardless. And yeah, I mean the character stuff like he is the leader of this defense he has. I could go on for an hour about how much I think the Cowboys need to resign him and how much he deserves it.

So if you want to quibble about sack totals when it comes to like the guaranteed language, sure, but if he only has nine sacks this year and the Cowboys think that's a good reason to try not to resign him, shame on them big time. You know, yesterday we talked about the five plays. Don't forget about these five and I kind of got put on the spot and I forgot some of them. I just remembered one because we talked about run defense. Eagles had first and ten on

the eleven yard line, down thirteen to three. They're trying to drive get back in this. I'm sorry. Yeah, it was a first and ten on the eleven and we always talk about how tough that is to score when you get down there, first down, three yard loss because DeMarcus Lawrence shot in the gap there and made the huge play that put them back on the fourteen. They tried some hitching pitch and didn't get it and ended up kicking a field goal. I mean, that was a

really big play. But but Lawrence, his run stopping ability is so underrated, and just like it was for Dware, Dware was a good run stopper. I think the Marcus Lawrence is as well, and that's what makes him such a well rounded player. All right, let's take a call real quick. We have a call from Travis in California. Travis, what up? Oh no, this is Logan. He Logan, okay, Logan are you That's okay? And I just wanted to

say how much I appreciate you guys. You know, I'm on the road all day for work, so I listened to you guys a lot than I really appreciate it. But basically what I wanted to say was, I think the one thing that this team is missing on, especially on the offensive line, is Ronald Leary. I think he

was like he was just that guy. I mean, I've seen him in two thousand and sixteen, two and fourteen, two thousand and fifteen, I don't know, he wasn't there two thousand and fifteen, Sorry, but I seen him to take on blockers with one hand and another block he blocked another guy with another hand, and it's like they just missed that big body guy. And I think that's what Big seventy six did for them in this last game.

And I think, honestly right now, to win these next games, I think they need to leave I don't know how to pronounce his name, lou so, Yeah, I think they need to leave him in there. And I think that would just be really good for the offensive line because I think that interior needs to be big and strong, and I think it needs to stay that way. And I think Connor Williams needs another offseason to to just get some some strength training in there. All right, thanks

for the call. I don't think I could disagree with anything that he just said. I agree. Let me throw out a stat real quick. I noticed this stat when I was doing some research this morning this year the Cowboys, and this was gauging Cowboys level of success on short yardage on the left, up the middle, and to the right. Okay, and listen to these numbers. Eighty seven percent of the time when they run up the middle on second I'm sorry, a third or fourth and two or shorter, they have

converted eighty seven percent of the time. When they run up the middle, all right, When they run to the right, they've converted seventy one percent of the time. When they run to the left, they've only converted fifty percent of the time. That's a pretty big indictment on especially knowing that you've got and all pro there a tackle, the fact that going to your left on short yardage when you really just need to power ahead and try to pick up yards, they are only fifty percent on short yardage.

A couple of things about those stats. Now, the middle is obviously meddles out because in my opinion, because a lot of that is back up the middle. But you gotta factor that in from the standpoint of do that more often. Yeah, if you know that, that's a gimme true, do it more often. But go ahead. Now, the Cowboys are like most teams, they play right handed. Where they're

tight end is on the right side. A lot, so I think they you know, they try to do that more, but you're still talking about percentages, which you know that's that's kind of alarming. I don't think they do it as much, but even when they do, that's probably why it's at fifty percent. And you wouldn't think tyring is the weak link there. So that's that's good to know. And I and I saw a lot of sweeps there with him Suipilo. As strong as he is, he's still

kind of pretty mobile as well. I agree with what the caller said. I think that they will do that, and I agree that Ron Leary has been I think I was one that was like, I would resign here the president of his family. I really will I because I like that strength. I think it's as good as Lyell Collins has become. I think his rookie year, they struggled there just to get that push. When Leary came back, it changed as he helped too, But for the most part, but I do like Sue a Philo, they don't want

to hurt Connor Williams's confidence in any way. But I guarantee if they run the ball well again in Atlanta, I don't think you're gonna be seen to change. Well that and I said this yesterday, but I think it's I think it's huge. Like if Connor Williams was ready to go today and you had to make this call, that gives me pause. But I really don't think you have to be I'll be surprised if Connor is ready to come off of a knee procedure in ten days.

So I say, give Sue a Philo another go, and if it looks as great as it did last week, then you've got yourself a trend and you're, you know, sorry, Connor hand theory, it's you know, he's not a top ten pick. He's the second round pick. And I don't think you're hurting anybody. Another fun little fact I get this shouldn't surprise me. We talked about yesterday. Xavier Suahilo's thirty third overall pick very much falls in line with

what the Cowboys have done over the years. You know, bring in a talented guy, see if we can, especially on the offensive line. Jonathan Cooper comes to mind. He's not a two year deal. So this year and next year, if this works out, then you've got yourself some fantastic depth going into next season, because obviously Connor Williams is going to be a part of this thing going forward. But it's a nice problem to have. What do you think, Sue of Philo's other position would be. Let's say he

is a backup, is he just a guard? Is he just like or did you think he's got some center? I have no idea if he has any flex? But what about Connor Williams. It's center, I don't have to work on it and needs to eat like nine thousand cheeseburgers. Well he's got does he's playing? I think he's like for guard, and I think it's center. You kind of want to guide us. You gotta be like unmovable to

play center, don't you. I mean, I don't know. Yeah, there's some centers that have been small here particularly that have been okay him, it seems like he has his center's build. To me, now he's gonna have to work on technique and then that changes everything. He hasn't been doing that. Yeah, he's been. He was a tackle the Saints. The Saints worked him out at center at his pro day. Really, yeah, he's I believe. I believe we talked about him possibly

having the flex to play all five positions. It doesn't you know, Zach Martin is the same way. But Zach Martin is way way better than everybody. So I don't know, but I like where your head's at because again, you know, I don't even like talking about it because it's such an unfortunate situation. But you gotta have at least a thought on what your contingency plans are at center for next year. If if Travis Frederick doesn't recover the way you want him to, doubt, all right, looks like our

final break. When we come back, we'll talk a little bit more about some of these stats. Also, you guys give us a call. The numbers eight eight eight eight five five two two nine, and we want to get some fan calls again, it's eight eight eight eight five five two two ninety seven. We'll be right back. This is the break. While the player can look good on paper, it's one he's out on the field that you really

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Today back to the break Welcome back. It is the final segment of the Break Life the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star Wenna get some calls. Eight eight eight eight five five two two ninety seven is the number. But before we do that, Dick tell us a little bit about Tommy John. Well, Tommy John, it's we talk about adjustment all the time. The Cowboys, I thought, made

a good adjustment to finally win a road game. And the thing about Tommy John is they pride themselves on not having to adjust, not having to sit there and be uncomfortable and have to twitch around. Halftime adjustment. No, no halftime adjustment for them, because they have the best underwear you're ever going to feel. You don't even know you've got anything on. That's what's so great about it. Tommy John dot Com Forward slash Cowboys, You're gonna get

your first twenty percent. You're twenty percent off of your first order, Tommy John. All right, go check that out. All right, let's get back to it. We got a call from Adam in Atlanta. Adam, what up? Hey guy? That's what you doing? Good? Good? Got your tickets? I do. I'm going Sunday, but love, I'm doing the Star tours Q and A was making on Saturday to meet you. Guys are possible. Dave will not be there. He'll be out partying, but the rest of us may drop all

depends what LSU's doing. We're only we're playing Rice, so we got that kind of fan though. You're gonna be last year, sure, but not as intently. Yeah what toll last year's team. So hopefully it'll be a little better turnout than that was a massacre. Yeah, fear of not letting you forget all right, first thing, Tommy John's best thing has ever happened in my wardrobe? Yeah, saying we did not pay him to say that you did not. And the second thing, I have a question after watching

that game. Great win on Sunday night, but after watching that, one thing I've noticed, and I went back to look at the all twenty two, is that I don't see receivers coming back for the ball when Dack's in a scramble drill. And I'll see other teams around the league perfect that especially Green Bay. Is that something that they're not coaching in Dallas. I mean, I just you know, he's out scrambled, and you just want to see these receivers come up for the ball and give him a chance,

you know, help the quarterback. I don't know, I feel like that's all Alan Hearns does. So, I mean, are you saying that in a backhand accunt of well? I mean I feel like a lot of his catches are like that. I mean there's kind of coming back there. I haven't really noticed that, but but that Cole Beasley is another guy that has been really good at that

over the years. I mean, I'll be shocked if they're not doing it though, right, I mean every team that's you learned that when you first start playing football as a receiver. I would be shocked if they're not. If they don't know what to do in a scrambled drill like you work on that. That's a part of just being a receiver. I would like to go back and look at the I have not watched any all twenty two from this game. I'd like to look at it. I mean, he's probably right, maybe there's a scenario where

they could have or didn't. I don't know, but just as a general as a general theme for the season, I think I think they are. Cooper was going on the scramble drill. He was going to the house. He looked like it might have been successful, but I would have liked to see him make that through. That's the other thing that you know. There was a scramble play in that game. I'm not gonna name names, but somebody in the press box with me was like beside himself

because I think it. I didn't name names, and I'm not I will neither confirm nor deny um. I think it was. Beasley was scrambling in the middle of the field and dak is like five feet from the sideline, and somebody was just beside him or herself that he didn't throw. I was like, that's not how football works, Like just because the guy's alone and the play's broken down, like DA would have had to throw that across his body, moving against his motion through the middle of the field,

like odds are. There's also what coaches tell you never to do because you can't see that guy. That's kind of odds are coming across. That ball's going to the house if you throw it, which so I don't know. I think his name was Adam. I don't know what plays talking about. Probably wasn't that one. But a lot of times, just because a guy looks like he's got some space in a situation like that doesn't mean it's a smart throw boy. I wonder who you're talking about.

I'm not, I'm not, I got no names. Doesn't this you know? No snitches get stitches. Yeah, I'm not trying to put people on the streets. All right, let's get back into some of these stats. He was another one I thought was kind of interesting. Cowboys right now are ranged twenty ninth in the league. That's a really, really

big number. They'd give it up thirty two. Do you think that maybe that's the cause for the regression and that I think you guys thinking that Dak has had this year, do you think it's more because of the fact that he's getting so much pressure, he's being sacked so much that he's not being able to make the right reads all the time and get the ball where it needs to go. I hope, I hope you're I'm not sure your microphone's working, so I'm just going to

relay it for and he I can't hear you. Yeah, but Derek's asking us on the off chance that you can't hear him, Derek's asking that the Cowboys alone has given up twenty nine sacks to this point in the season. And do we think that that plays a role in his seeming regression, which absolutely I do. Yeah, Um, I absolutely think that past protection, especially when this team hasn't had a lead, has definitely been an issue. Um. You know, it's like NASCAR, It's like a pit crew. It is

like Kent's the goat, he's the MVP. Um No, you're good. Um I I do. I agree with that. I mean, I think it has been it's too much. It's way too much. Twenty nine. He took thirty two his entire rookie year, and I think only it was something it was like thirty five for all of last year. Like for all we talked about the problems last year, it still wasn't that bad. So I do think and it's an issue. Love him to death. Lyle Collins has has not had an awesome season in pass Pro. I think

Cotter Williams has been part of that. Tyrant Smith has slipped a little bit. I think Jason Witten is a big part of that too. I think when you have and even Dez Bryant, because what de was was doing was was a guy that you kind of trusted on fifty fifty balls. Now, he didn't have a good season last year, but he did the year before. Jason Witten, same thing. Who's you the guy that you kind of bail out and throw it to and they're not open,

they're not there, and therefore you're taking more sacks. I think it's a combination of a lot of things, but I wouldn't rule out that those those guys that were always you know, trustworthy for the quarterbacks aren't there, and then he's still trying to figure out who's this tied end and he can dump it off to. I will also say too, is I don't want to say stats lie because getting your quarterback sacked is ever good. But what I mean he got sacked four times on Sunday,

it didn't really disrupt the flow of the offense. So you know, as Dak with some of that is you know Dak extending plays that he shouldn't or you know, fighting when he doesn't need to, or maybe running into pressure. I think, you know, Michael Bennett murdered him. You could call out play calling for that one, just you know, a first down bootleg. It's kind of a tendency of theirs and it's a thing that can get taken advantage of. So I don't want to put it all on the

offensive line. And also I think it's encouraging that they took four sacks in that game and we're still able to have a really good offensive night, which has not been the case in so many games. To talk a little bit about, well two things. Number one about the sacks. He took a sack after Zeke's hurdle. Then they kind of went backwards. He ran a couple of plays and then didn't get ended up taking a sack and you're like, oh, you can't take a sack there. Well, go back to

the Tennessee game when he's forcing into Mary Cooper. You would love for him to take a sack there and you still have a chance to get three points out on the board. But that's that play Michael Bennett made that almost you know, took his head off. That's a big play when you're thinking about big picture, because what Philadelphia was saying is we we will let you do

a play action there. I'm not worried about the defensive end going in because I got Fletcher Cox, I got a loading note in there and not a They will make the plays. Not worried about that. That's fine. So when you do a play action, you're there, you make the play. But a lot of times when there is a run, and then we saw that later in the game, they're trusting their tackles and linebackers to go make the play and they're not, you know, forcing themselves down into

the play. That's where they start running the ball. So you can do that and sometimes you're gonna win. But as we saw later in the game, they didn't win when those guys got blocked. They didn't have the extra help. All right, real quick, we got a couple seconds here. Let's go to a call real fast from Rick and Missouri. Rick. What up? Yeah, just real quickly. Happy with the Mary Cooper. He's made a huge impact on the game overall. I think, not just stats, but it is good to see the

stats work. But one thing I wanted to ask about was on officiating. These downfield blocks before the pass is made is driving me nuts. It happened against the Cowboys. I remember a game against with the Steelers on their key touchdown drive at the end of the game, particularly against the Eagles, the center in a light possession and the Eagles scored on the center was like five years the yards downfield, engaged in a block on the linebacker and then you see the ball pass through the screen

to the receiver. It's nuts, they're not calling it. I do not understand the inconsistency of that rule. I really don't. I mean that there's times I've seen it called. The Cowboys had one earlier this year where they had a guy blocking way down the field already. Don't I don't really understand the rule there on when you can do that and block before the ball thrown and when you can't. I agree with you. I'm a little bit perplexed on

that one. I mean, you see pick plays every single Sunday around the NFL if you watch football, Yeah, it happens in every game. It happens on both So you just about the picks. I'm talking about those wide receiver bubble screens when they're already blocking the guy and the I just I don't really know it. Yeah, it's a that's a bank bank play. It's probably tough for the and crews call it differently as we saw. There's some crew would have come in here and probably called twenty

penalties in the game. Instead they only called five. And is the block egregious enough or noticeable enough? You know that in the flow of the game. Yeah, I mean that's it's it's a tough play, inconsistent across the board. All right, we appreciate you guys join us. We're back tomorrow. We'll have more. We'll get into a little bit of talk on the upcoming game. Cowboys face the I'm trying to draw a blank on there. Where they playing this soon.

I'm sorry, Atlanta, Atlanta. We'll get into Atlanta. We'll talk about Atlanta's offense tomorrow. Best part of their team. Dave will give us a scouting import till then for Nick even Dave helm and I'm Derek Hilton. 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 Show.