Cowboys Break: Grading Dak

number forty. Welcome to another edition of The Break. We're live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star. Got Nick, Dave and Amber here ready to talk some Cowboys football For the next forty five minutes. We will be joined momentarily by Bucky Brooks of NFL Network, as he does every windy and Thursday. Today, he will be talking to us about the New York Giant defense versus

the Cowboys offense. Before we get to Bucky, though, there was some injury updates that we got, some interesting injury updates that we got from coach McCarthy during his press conference this morning. Let's start first by talking about Layton Vanderish. Nick, give me an update on what coach McCarthy had to say. About where it Laton Vanderish in his return from an I mean from a collar boy collarbone injury. Well, I mean, he basically didn't rule out that he could play this week,

which I think is surprising to some. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean he said he would play. He just said they're going to work him into practice today. They're gonna see what he can do. We got to see him kind of run out there a little bit in the pads. I find it hard to believe. I know, you know, Dave and we've talked about this. I think you know, we find it hard to believe that he could be

ready to play, especially come back with one practice. But at least it's an encouraging sign that he's out there today. And you know, if you didn't play this week, it seems like it's it's sooner than later. Yeah, it does seem a bit strange. I mean, we talked about this yesterday on the show. When you talk about a collar bone injury, you talk about any broken bone. It's not like what you would have if you had to say,

a bumb hamstring, soft tissue injury. A lot of that has to do with how you feel and whether you think you can go or not. It's a whole different thing when you're talking about a bone because it's all about the bone healing. So it seems a little bit a little bit weird to he come back early from a bone healing unless his body's just made in a way where it healed the bones heal faster than opical. Now, I wouldn't think so, but but again, you just never know.

And the good news, I think the good news about all of this with regards to Layton is he's at least progressing right, and he's progressing in the right way, and so the hope is maybe in the next two weeks, maybe in the next three weeks, you get him back and he's fully healthy, hopefully and able to finish the season for the Cowboys. Let's also catch up on a couple of other injury updates. Let's talk about Tyren Smith.

I think, Dave, do you have an update on on what coach McCarthy had to say about all right, let's nick, I think he's having some technical difficulties. Let's talk a little bit about Tyren Smith um and I think I think Amber is there as well. But let's tough a little bit about it. Down here. Good, Okay, there you are Aber. Did you hear with coach coach McCarthy I can tell you about Tyren Smith. I do not. It

did not sound that great. I mean, Mike McCarthy said today that he's basically further back than at this time this week than he was last week. So that's not always good to hear. I mean, you would expect him to be further along, but you also have to take into consideration that this last weekend he did play a football game, as opposed to last week where he didn't

participate in a game. So I guess it's gonna depend on a day to day basis, I would assume, But I mean, as of right now, I think you just never know what's what can happen with Tyrn Smith. Yeah, it's it's it's really troubling, I think because as we've talked about, and this is not the first season, as we've talked about for the last several seasons, this is neck, this is back. When he's having these kinds of things

and the recurring injuries that are keeping him out of games. Um, it gets to a point where it's hard to really rely on the fact that he's going to be available to you. And now, Nick, we were talking about this upstairs, and you made a really great point. When you stop making Pro Bowls is when I stop worrying about having you on the team. But it's only just still making Pro Bowls, then all pros even maybe maybe you keep

him around. But I just I wonder, I wonder it's at what point the Cowboys get to a point where they're like, I'm I'm just we can't rely on him enough because this neck and back just doesn't seem to get right. Yeah, I mean I think it's I think this is where they are right now. And then, yes, you got to go through the draft next year and probably get a lot of defensive help, but you better look at that offensive tackle position. Yeah, you know at some point because you've got two guys now that are

banged up. You know, you've paid these guys l l N TYRN, but neither one of them are consistently in the lineup this year. Obviously Lyle's out for the whole season, so you know, it's it's you need to start addressing it. I think it's sooner than later with the fact that he's regressed at this point. How concerned are you about come this upcoming game if Tyrn can't play? And I think we got Dave back, I'll pose that question him.

How concerned to you if he can't play this week against a John's team That we'll get into a little bit later. I think this if it's a little better than people given him credit for. But how much do you are you concerned this weekend? Yeah? I'm always concerned

when Tyrn can't play. I mean, I'm the guy that says, you know, people overreact because of the Chad screen game, but there's obviously still a difference between Tyron Smith and the undrafted free agents behind him, And you know, we've got a pretty large sample size that says Terrence Steals

not ready. So as good as I feel about Brandon Night, if Tyrant can't go, now you're talking about needing two tackles, And so now the conversation goes back to, like, is Zach Martin your best bet at right tackle if you need him to be there? Because I hate to say this because like, I'm sure he's a nice guy, but like I hate the thought of having to see Terrence Steele out there again. So yes, it's very concerning if Tyrant can't play. Yeah, I think we all are a

bit a bit worried. I would I would suggest at the idea that you have to throw Terrence Steele back out there. Maybe this weekend you can get by. But as you move throughout the season and you start seeing pass rushers, you know, like Myles Garrett, which I'm sure there will be some more of those that will be on the schedule as we keep going through the season,

you do get a little bit worried. And the hope is that the hope is that he's maybe a little bit worse off this week, but if they don't let him play this weekend, and maybe he's better prepared to maybe string some games together after that. But who knows at this point. Let's let's also get an update on a few other guys. We've got Anthony Brown, Dorn's Armstrong, and tower On Crawford. Uh, tell me where where they are as far as they're them coming back from from

injuries or now being added to the injury report. Nick, Well, I'll start with Anthony Brown. I mean, you know, we were surprised that he had a rib injury that he suffered in practice a few weeks ago. Three weeks now on the injury report. Um, he's he's he should be back. He's eligible to practice this week and that that twenty

one day window. I would imagine just by the them releasing Brandon carr Um that they need a spot, they have spots open on the roster, and they need cornerback help and I would imagine that he will slide into that role this week. And it sounds like from what coach McCarthy said that everything went according to plan yesterday.

He was able to take part in some part portions of practice and and so the I guess he's progressing in a way to where they feel like, you know, maybe he has the ability to maybe play this weekend. Talk to me about Dorn's arm strong. What a coach McCart they have to say about him, Dave, He actually that was like as encouraging as he's ever been about an injury guy. He bab. I mean, he just he came out of the game with the injury. He said, you know, he's very optimistic he'll be able to work

his way up. So you know, it sounds good on that front. Tyrone Crawford maybe limited today, as what he said, They'll see how he responds to the early part. It's it's interesting. I think I've said this a few times, but we're definitely still adjusting to the difference in the

schedules with practice. Like under Jason Garrett, you would like start on Wednesday and slowly ramp your way up to Friday, whereas here it almost I don't want to get they're afterthoughts, but like Thursday is the important day, Thursday is the long padded practice. Obviously, Friday is basically a walkthrough, and Wednesday like it. You know, if it even seems like it's in doubt, they're not going to make you go.

So it's just interesting to see a different coaching staffs active on you know, what days of the week are the most important, and for sure Thursday is that day for Mike McCarthy. That much is very obvious. You know, you mentioned Tyrone Crawford and I want to go around the table here and get your opinions on what you think of Tyrone Crawford's play so far through the early part of the season, because he's part of that defense

is to add a lot of problems. He is one of the veterans, and some call them one of the leaders of that defense. How have you how do you assess his play over these first few first four games, and but let's start with you, I would say, I mean, he's been okay, okay, and he's the type of guy that we see every year. He's not gonna be the guy that necessarily stands out on the defensive line. He's a guy that that's very flexible and you can kind

of plug him in there wherever you need him. But he's never gonna be the standout player, that aggressive player that gets all the time to the quarterback. I think so far this season, he the times that I've watched him specifically, I think he's been just okay. Obviously nothing impressive, but at the same time, nothing horrible to where I'm like, okay, you need to absolutely get Tyrone Crawford out of the lineup. So to me, he's just been okay. Nick, what are

your thoughts on Tyrone Crawford? What have you seen from him through fourhand? I haven't seen much of anything good or bad, you know, I mean I really can't remember, like, oh, great play by Crawford or what's Crawford doing? Like I haven't I haven't noticed it. And on this defense. That's not necessarily a bad thing. So I just haven't I can't say he's really stood out much. And but he,

you know, he needs to. I mean, he's he's he's one of the you know, he's one of the higher paid players on the team, and he's and he's also one of the leaders, you know, captain. He's been a captain before, so you know, he like everyone else, you know, and then it needs to step up and and play better. And I think they're having a tough time. We all know that they're having a tough time with this scheme.

They're not used to it, they haven't practiced it enough, and it's probably, in hindsight, wasn't the best idea to change it. But then again, think about when they when they come in here and changing the scheme. No one thought this was going to happen. But I think it's just been a circumstance that they probably need to play a different scheme, one that they're similar in playing. Dave, I mean, I mean other than Alden Smith, like, do you feel great about the way that any defender on

this team has played? Not great? And Aldon Smith like, I mean no, I mean the answers no, in my opinion, Um, I haven't. I'll be very honest with like, I haven't noticed Tyrone Crawford at all. And I mean that doesn't necessarily mean he's been bad, but you know, it's easy to forget because it's ancient history. But he's still at nine million dollars or your player. And I always like

he was. He's always good. He's the hustle play a guy like he's the guy who gets the sack when the quarterback is indecisive and the play draws out for like five or six seconds. Like he's always the guy who is making the long, extended hustle play. I haven't seen it so far this year. I mean, which, yeah, but that's everybody on the defense, Like literally nobody on the defense is playing up to what you would want.

So throw him in there with everybody else. I guess, all right, we're gonna take an early first break here, a couple of minutes early. We're gonna go ahead, get that out of the way, and then we're gonna come back. We got Bucky Brooks ready and he's gonna break down the Cowboys offense versus the Giants defense. We'll do that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and creep soda.

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ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Black skincare favorites plus a full size intense 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 since eighteen sixty five. Stetson hats are American maid with Pride right here in Texas and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Want

to show your Texas and Team pride too. You can by purchasing your own stetson, you can look just like how the flag guys do on field at every home game. Stetson hats the official crown of all self respecting Cowboys and your favorite football team. Get yours today at Shop Dallas Cowboys dot com or at Stetson dot com. It's funny as we travel places, often we find the places we want to travel aren't really places at all. They're people,

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support a great cause and look good doing it. Visit your Dallas Cowboys Pro shop or shop dot Dallas Cowboys dot com. Welcome back. It is the second segment of The Break Life from the s WBC Mortgage studios. At the start, got the normal guys here with us, Nick Dave, Amber, and we're joined right now by Bucky Brooks of NFL Network. Bucky, Welcome to the show Man, Hey, thanks so much for

having me on. Yep. We're gonna get into this Cowboys offense versus the New York Giant defense, and we'll start with I want to change the question a little bit. Usually we start the strongest and weak weakest assets of the team or the weakest parts of the team. I want to really focus in a little bit more on position groups or player. If you had to identify a position group or player on the defense that is the greatest and the weakest, what would that be. I mean,

I think it starts with them upfront. Leonard Williams is probably the best player that they have. He's a guy that was a top six selection, a guy who's super talented. He hasn't necessarily put up to kind of production that you respect from a guy that was to dead highly, but he certainly has the ability to flash some disruptive skills at the point of attack. I would say Factral is a guy that you also have to pay attention to.

Two years ago, twenty eighteen, he had ten and a half sacks, so he has the ability to get off the edge and make some things happen. And then in the abild of their defense, Blake Martinez who they signed from the Green Bay Packers, is a guy that can control the tackle tackle box. He's attacking machine. And when you look at this defense in general, I will say they may not be the most talented unit, but they play hard. And because they're able to play hard, they

can keep their offense in games. And that's what we saw a wee could go against the La Rams. But my question is about the Cowboys offense. We've seen that so far they've been able to score thirty plus point with exception of that first game against the Rams. Is that something that the Cowboys offense is able to kind of keep doing week by week. Oh yeah, the offense is. I mean, the offense is the biggest part, the best

part of the Boys team. Like they are the ones that they can never have a bad game because offensively they can overwhelm people even with the issues that may exist on the offensive lineed offensive tackle. The scale positions are a plus. Zekiel Elliott is an a plus two quarterback is playing at a plus level, and so they have the weaponry to put points up on the board. Now the key is can you put points up and

eventually learn how to control the game? Can kill him Moore begin to manage the game knowing that I can score at any point, but I'm gonna take a little air out of it to protect my defense. And so we'll see if they can kind of advance to that point. But offensively, yeah, they can score in anybody, Bucky, I'm hoping you can tell me about what I thought was one of the more interesting free agent signings in the offseason, which was James Bradberry. I mean, he's a pretty good

corner in Carolina. Like I always viewed him as like a third cornerbacks up package guy, but they gave him like pretty good money for a cornerback, and I'm just curious, how's he doing. Is he living up to that expectation and what does his role look like for this defense?

I mean, he's certainly not living up today altation because the money that he's making, he should be a number one corner that it's a classic case and we see it and we'll see it in Washington, Like guys have a tendency to fall in love with the players that they picked. David Gettiman picked James Barbery in Carolina. They used a pretty high pick on him. He certainly has size, he has length, he has speed, but he by no

means is a lockdown corner. He can play in zone and do some of those things, and he's fine when you kind of cover him up and let him play off and do that. But to think that he is going to shadow and chase and track one to top receivers, no, I think this could be a week for him. That could be very challenging because each of the Cowboys receivers brings about a different set of challenges, and if you don't have a complete toolbox, you can find yourself twisted

around like a top. Bucky helped me on the grade A plus because I didn't get a lot of these when I was in school, maybe like six ever, Oh you didn't, Yeah, like from like kindergartens. Okay, A plus to me, A plus means the best you can do. Can't get really any better than that? Can that man get better than this? Yeah? I mean, like I mean you said a plus level, I don't think. I just don't think a quarterback with a one in three record, who if the Browns could catch the football he'd have

four interceptions last week. Is he Yeah, he's putting up a lot of yarts, But is he playing the best that he could play? I mean, I think given the circumstances, I am surprised at how effective he's been able to play.

Because remember Nick, when when you watch him, he draws back every time knowing that the edges are unprotected, and so as a quarterback, he never he never can get fully he never can get fully comfortable knowing that I can keep my eyes down the field, that I can hang on my number one option a little longer because

I know that I have that comfort zone. If we look at where he is being basically how he came in the twenty sixteen where he was the game manager, to what he is now, I would say this, and I know it's gonna get a lot of pushback, but he is on the maturation in the track that Russell Wilson was on. Russell Wilson came in the league as a game manager, and he has eventually become the playmaker.

At some point, this Dallas Cowboys offense will eventually the ball to Dak Prescott and they will say, go win it. He's almost to that point he needs some other stuff around him in terms of the defense or whatever. But what he has been able to do to keep this team in game with a defense that can't stop anyone is nothing short of remarkable. So I believe he is playing at a high level. And the yards of the yards,

they are empty calories. But man, to put up something that's on pace for sixty seven hundred yards like that is ridiculous production from a quarterback. And even though the turnovers are not what I like, when you're throwing sixty times a game, you're going to have some of those turnovers kind of pop up. I think Dave and I are both just screaming preach in our minds right now because we just love stop. Well, but what are sixty

seven hundred yards? Like? What? What is that? Well, honestly, again, is that an NFL record? No? No, is that a pace? He's yeah, he's he's he's on pace to tell you, sixty seven hundred. So you got say he's face out four wins, four and twelve. Yeah. But but that's why I think the point is, and I think this is what Bucky's saying. I think the point is that no matter what you say about the record what he is doing, and people can talk about these these yards that don't

matter because it's in games when they're way behind. Not every quarterback that gets behind can do what he's done to get his team back in position to possibly win those games. So I think you have to put it all in context. And when you put it all in context, I think he's playing at a phenomenal level like that. You guys are just giving the extra the slash. I'm saying a minus. I I'm not saying. I'm not saying

like he's a C. He's played. He's played even he can't even get to an A for you you like minus. They're one in three right now, they're one in three, and and if he could play a little bit better than the first half as well, he's they're one of the reasons they're down. I don't think that's true. I don't think of that last game he was the problem. Even in the first half. He was playing really well

in the first half. I think I think the turnovers and what killed them, and particularly the turnover that you got from your running back who's not supposed to do that. He's not. Yeah, he's he doesn't think he's not in the A level. Becau Zeke is not in. We'll take this conversation off. I don't want to take I don't want to take you. I don't want to take any of your classes. I know that I don't want to take any I don't know if you like. We may have given a couple of grades away, but I don't

want to take any of those. Professor, all right, that was good. That was a good gig at his own school. If you caught right, you know, I got it. I got it. I got a question for you here. I was looking at this defense and the numbers are pretty interesting because I think everybody's looking at the New York Giants and saying, and this team is horrible, But when you start really diving in and looking at how their

defense is played. Right now, they have the sixth best PAC defense, only giving up two hundred twenty three yards per game. They have the tenth best rush defense on giving up one hundred and seven yards per game. So I have a two part question for you. First, is their past defense good enough to slow down what is a very potent Dallas offense or at least passing game? And then number two, which would be easier to exploit this week for the Dallas offense, going against that run

defense or going against that pass defense. You know, they've done a really good job of just kind of playing sound. They know they have some talent deficiencies, and so what they've done is they've kind of covered themselves up. They played I want to say, ben but don't break, but they just played very solid defense. Not a lot of risks, not a lot of crazy things that you'll see from this team. They wait for you to beat yourself. That's

how they play defense. They want you to you're not going to have a ten or eleven play drive without a mistake, and they capitalize on those things. I think when you look at them personnel wise, they don't have anyone that can consistently put pressure on the passer. They don't have an a level pass rusher on the front. And so if I'm the Dallas Cowboys, I'm thinking this is a game to really put the game plan in place,

meaning jump out on them fourteen quick points. So I think you probably see them more aggressive the first quarter with the pass because if they can get points up on them offensively, the Giants haven't been able to score points, so I think you may see a more aggressive passing game early and then get to Zeke and run the game out. But now I think they come out passing. I think they have shown that when they go up tempo, nohaddle play at a quick rate, Dak Prescott can deal,

and he's been dealing at a high rate. So I think they come out passing with the mindset that we still have to get to the run at some point to slow and control the game down bucking. The word effort has been used to watch this week and regards to the Cowboys, But let me put that on the

Giants side. When you look at a Giants team that has lost all games so far this season, when they're going to Week five, does the defense would you expect the defense to have just a better effort to just be more competitive at this point or maybe the other way around, where maybe they're not trying to ass hard because of you know, mentally it weighs on you when you have so many losses and not able to get a win for your team. Yeah, that's certainly. Guys do

get discouraged when you have a series of losses. But let's flipping around and let's talk about the Giants. And how they look at the Cowboys. They're looking at the Cowboys as a one in three team. They're looking at the Cowboys where this team gave up three hundred rushing yards, so the offense has a little more energy because they feel like, hey man, maybe we can just run the ball.

Devantae Freeman is thinking I could have a hundred yard game against this front because they had a tough time with a bunch of non notable guys picking up yards. So then the defense will have energy, saying this may be the game for us to get back on track, even though they're talented. What Joe Judge is gonna stand in front of the team and say is this is a team that doesn't play horde. If we play harder

than them, they may co left. They may fall prey to the number of turnovers and mistakes that they've had that have undermined their opportunity to win games. So they're going to play hard and they're going to try and put the pressure on the Cowboys to play a clean game because the Cowboys haven't done that. They're saying that if we play hord over sustained period of time, that

Cowboys would gift wrapped us a couple of opportunities. This kind of goes back to what the point Derek was making, which is that their statistics are pretty impressive for an own four team. I can't help but notice two of those games or against Mitch Drubisky and Nick Mullins. So forgive me if I'm not impressed. But but having said that, you know, they held Jared Goff pretty well in check last week, and I'm just curious what they did to

keep his numbers down. I think, you know, he was only averaging like six yards per attempt, finished with two hundred yards, so clearly whatever they were doing seemed to work. Look, they're committed to taking the deep ball away. Look, winning international football is pretty simple. It's take the ball away, eliminate the big plays, don't let the ball fly over the top of the defense, make people drive the length of the field because the odds suggest that you can't

do it. You can't stream together that mini plays, control the running game, make people one dimensional, and then you can dictate the terms. What the Giants do is they really follow to that. They don't allow you to really have the big plays over top, so they don't play a little soft. They'll give you all those nickel and dons.

They'll let the quarterback take the check down because they're betting that the quarterback will not consistently take the checkdown because all of these twenty to thirty million dollars quarterbacks, they want to show off their big arm. They want to get the big play. That's kind of how their wire and that's what the Giants are doing. So they're

going to challenge Dak Prescott in a different way. They're going to challenge him, can you are you content taking these five and six yard passes down the field if we take away the big play and make you nickeling Dammond down the field and throw ten passes to Zeke or ten passes the dam shows. Are you willing to be that patient and discipline? And if you are, they'll say, okay, you can score points, but if not, you're going to force it up to feel and they're banking that they

can get a turnover all for that, Bucky. If the Cowboys offensive line looks like Brandon KNIGHTE Connor Williams, be honest, Zach Martin, Terrence Steele, do they do? The Giants have a big advantage there. I mean, I think they feel good about that because the edges. The edges are always

the thing when you put bad things on tape. When Terrence Steal is having problem with speed, when Brandon Knite has had some issues, when Connor Williams is being isolated in one on one situations and been pressured, they feel hopeful.

So as a defense coordinated what you want to do is you want to maybe kick those guys out a little wide, put them on speed tracks so they can kind of run around the edge, and see if Terrence Steele and Brandon the night if they can kick, slide and stay in front of those guys, because that's been the biggest issue, So it's not necessary. The personnel is. Can you test the weak points of the Cowboys offensive line and see if those guys can hold up over

seventy five plays. That's really what's about. It's not about the advantage. Is let's get those guys isolated. Let's see if they can hold up even against c B level players. Are they good enough just to hold up if we can isolate them and work one on one against those guys, but we let you go. I think the Cowboys wins, but I think this game is gonna be tougher than most people realize because the Giants are playing harder than the Giants will walk into the game knowing that they

have a chance. And oh, by the way, Jason Garrett is going to make this a very personal thing for him, even though they not score double dishes in the past two games, he is going to empty the buckets to try and go after that. And also because he knows the personnel, he is going to try and find ways to isolate guys that he knows. So he may try and find a way to get Jordan Lewis one oh one. He may try and find a way to get some of the other guys in bad predicaments to see if

they can score points. I think the Cowboys win, but I do think this game will be a closer game than most with imagine. All right, great, we appreciate you joining us, Bucky. We'll be back with you next week when we start getting ready for the next game. We're gonna take our final break when we come back, we'll talk a little bit more about Cowboys versus Giants that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot

Com Radio since eighteen sixty five. Stetson Hats are American maid with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Want to show your Texas and Team pride two you can by purchasing your own Stetson. You can look just like how the flag guys do on field at every home game. Stetson hats the official crown of all self respecting Cowboys and your favorite football team. Get yours today at Shop

Dallas Cowboys dot com or at Stetson dot com. I'm Jay Nobachek, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys back in the day. How was the guy who always got the tough yards and that's why I run with John Deer today. In fact, I have a John Deer three zero twenty five E tractor that can handle any yardwork I need to do, even the tough yards way out back. So if you have one acre or a thousand, John Deer has the equipment that's just right for you. Visit a John Deer dealer today and run with us. We

are the official tractor provider of your Dallas Cowboys. 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. We're back in the tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor Batman and cream Soda. Is he a new combone? That's music to my ears? Okay, doctor music to my ears and mouth? New Doctor Pepper

and Cream Soda. Delas back to the break. As part of the NFL Fan of the Year contest, we're launching a search for one extraordinary Cowboys fan who is a positive influence and inspires others through their love of the game as an NFL dot Com slash Fan of the Year. To learn more and nominate today, you know, any fans of the year, you know what came to my mind? Our own William Boykins. Maybe we should nominate him or a very hand of the year. I'm saying, I think

William is a he would be a great representative. Hey to do the work that he does. He's still wearing his Hot Boys cap. I don't know, good question. He is a fan and I think there's been a recall on those. I think they said, hey, bring them all. They're missing in action, kind of missing here. All right,

let's let's get back in. You know. Actually I had a whole list of things I was going to ask you guys, but I actually want to go back a little bit because we did get into an interesting conversation as Nick decided that um he needed to question the grading scale of one bucket for the Twitter time. Prescott and I thought it was interesting though, Nick, I saw your will starting when he first said A plus, and I knew where you were going with it. But and

I get your point. Obviously, saying he's an A plus means that he is playing the absolute best he can possibly play, And so I get you. I understand it. There are probably some areas, not probably, there are definitely

some areas where he could improve. But I think when the point that Bucky made not agree with and I want to get the thoughts from from Dave and Amber on this, But you know, I think at the end of the day, you look at how he's performed, and I think bass step on all those things, all those things that he's having to deal with right now. I just have a hard time thinking anybody would have done a much better job than what he has done through

these games. Now, at the end of the game, there have been a couple of times when the offense just couldn't get there to be able to tie the game or take a lead, and so some of that you you kind of put back on him. But all that being said, I think he is right up there at least an A, if not an A plus. Amber, what do you think I do give him an A if we have to grade him. I think he's had a

really good year so far. I mean, when you when you look at the development compared to year by year and the growth, I think this year he really made a big growth compared to previous years. But at the end of the day, when you start comparing him to or not comparing him, but saying that maybe he's on the same path as a guy like Russell Wilson. He's not necessarily quite there for me just yet. Maybe he

will be. But when you look at those key plays, and I'm not trying to put it all on Dak, but two of the last plays of the past two games, I believe it was where he threw what was it an interception trying to get into the end zone to possibly tie the game. I mean, those are the key moments when you do want your quarterback to be able to make those plays. And again, I'm not putting it all on him. Obviously there are other components and elements

that go into play here. But just overall, I think he's a name guy, but I'm still missing that plus sign there, which hopefully he's on the right path. I just that's all I'm gonna say. Dave saying Dak Prescott like picking apart Dak Prescott's grade. It's like he's like the kid in class where he busted the curve, like everybody else in the class got like a C, A D or in F and Dak is over here with like a low A. He's got like he's got like a ninety one out of a hundred, and the teachers like, well,

I know you can do better. And meanwhile, like everybody else in the class is posting like sixties and seventies, Like what are we doing? Why are we nitpicking this guy? And I mean, no, he hasn't been perfect, but I feel very comfortable saying they're only There are only probably three quarterbacks in the league playing better football than him right now, and that would be Mahomes, Russell and Rogers.

And you're taught. I mean, you're talking about two guys that are definitely going on the Hall of Fame and one that most likely will unless he retires tomorrow. Josh Allen deserves a mention, but that's a very small sample size. Dak's balling, and honestly, he's the only reason why you're even in the position that you're in, which is that you've had a chance to win all of these games. It would be ugly if he was playing on the level of like twenty sixteen or seventeen. It would be

gross how bad this team would look. And know, people say, you get like, oh, Dak needs a ton of talent around him to succeed. He does have great receivers, you know what, he doesn't have the offensive line that he's been used to having. He's I mean, it's just isn't what it what it was that his tackle protection isn't great. Connor Williams is fine, but hasn't lived up to the hype. He's got a rookie center at this point to make all of that work. With the issues in protection that

he's had. I think he's been outstanding ball. Really. The main thing that I would nitpick, it's not even the interceptions, because the one at the end of the Cleveland game you are gonna win anyway. That went out the window. With the Odell play, and then the Seattle one, you're just trying to make a play out of a broken situation. The only thing that I would really nitpick Dak for is he's got he's got to cut out the fumbles, and some of that's on his protection, but some of

that's on him if he can clean that up. I think the sky's the limit. Nick, you choose to uh, well, no, I think both of them were right. I mean they are right, and he's definitely right about the ninety you know one and everyone else is in the sixties. Um. But but you know what I thought Amber was going when she said the last two games I don't know about that last interception because it took like a Hercules

type play just to get get there. Um the interception before the half though, was was that was a game changing moment there for the Cowboys and that one, and Dave said the fumble another game changing play. But that's what happens when the ball's in your hand every time, and the fumble wasn't. I just still don't put the

fumble on him. Okay, no, I mean you're right, the interception absolutely, but the fumble, I don't put it in the last interception against Cleveland if you go back and look at it, nineteen didn't help him there at Nineteen said after the game that he thought that he put that quit. He quit the route on that one. So uh, he's playing out of his mind. The part that's that's the real issue here. Is he an A plus? No, he's not. He's an A minus. He has to be an A plus to get by with the defense and

special teams. That's what I wrote after the game. Dave, rob both we all talked about it in the press box. Their offense isn't perfect and they have to be because of what's around him. I can get give it that all right, Let's want one other topic. I want hit before we end the show. That was a quote yesterday from Xavier Woods. He had some time with the media yesterday and it's getting a lot of play. I'm gonna read the quote to you and I want to get your response on how you take it and what your

thoughts are. He said, And this was about effort. He said. The effort has been good on certain plays some guys, I mean me included, there may be a lack, but overall, the effort is there. We're in the NFL. You don't expect guys to go full speed for seventy plays. That's not possible. But we're going to push as hard as we can. I mean, you know, you don't expect the backside corner to go make a play on the opposite

side the whole time. That's just not possible. To be honest, you guys agree with that, that comment from Xavier Woods. Let's start first with you, Dave. Yeah, this is this is tricky. I mean, as Xavier was saying it, I was like, this isn't gonna go well for him, Like this isn't it's it's just not And it's one of those perception things because I I know what he meant, and Joe Thomas actually said something similar, which is basically like, yeah, no, if you cut on the tape, you can see the loafs.

You know, we talked about Rod Marinelli and the loafs. He's like, there, there are occasions where you might see loaves, but overall, as a defense, the effort is there. And then Xavier compounds it by saying, you know you're not You're not going to give one hundred percent. And I think what he meant by that was simply like nobody is gunning all out in every moment of every play during a game. I mean, like you all over the league you can see that. That's true and all. Honestly,

I don't think it's realistic. When you talk about the amount of energy you have to exert. The only way you could do that is if it was like hockey and you rotated these guys and shifts, but nobody does that. All of this is to say, you still can't say that, man, You just can't after that game, even if you're right, and even if I appreciate your honesty, it's just a really bad look after a game like that to try to justify it. You just kind of have to keep

it to yourself. So I know what he was trying to say, but that's just not the moment to say it. Amber what are your thoughts. I agree with everything that they've said, and I get perfectly what he was trying to say with that common but it's just I guess it's the choice of words. You know, after that game, you don't go out and say it and say and phrase it that way. There are better ways to say, like you, look, man, yes, we need to try harder

and just say something different. And we all understand that these are NFL players. We all understand that it's not an easy job. It is tiring, and it's a lot harder than he looks from us watching from the stands or at home or anything like that. But at the same time, I think it's the lack of maybe fully taking accountability of it and rather trying to use it excuse It's like, yes, we get it. Realistically, there is absolutely no way you give an hundred percent effort on

every single play of a three hour game. So to me, I get the way he meant it. I don't think he was trying to say it in a bad way to like justify things. But at the same time, I think he could have used a better choice of words and rephrase that better and just take a little bit more of accountability. Yeah, I think they're they're exactly right.

And uh, I agree with Xavier Woods. I mean, yeah, you don't give one hundred percent effort at the end of the game because you don't have one hundred percent. I mean, Derek, you're a runner. I mean, you know, the first the first mile is probably you could go more than you could at the very end. I mean, you just don't have it in your tank? Is it tonight tomorrow? Whenever the Lakers play, watch watch the Lebron

James at the end of the game. There's there's gonna be a possession or two where he sits over in the corner on an offense. It's just I don't have it right now. Somebody else dribble. Shoot, I don't have it right here to going and give that. So that's what he's saying. Um, you know, and we we kill these guys for not being boring sometimes and all that, and then when they say and they're being on this,

then they get crucified for it. As well, I'll say this, I wish Jalen Smith wouldn't have jumped on the pole and grabbed the guy's face mask when he didn't have to, when the guy was already tackled. That changed the entire game. So yeah, that would have been a nice you've got him tackled. That's good second fifteen instead of first down. Let's change the whole game. Yeah, you know what it reminded me of. And Nick, you'll remember this. You were

sitting there in that press conference. It was Tony Romo after that I think it was the Eagles game. Yes, and and he says, you know, if this is the worst after they lost, if this is the worst thing that ever happens to me, I will still have had a good life. And yes, okay, you're right, there are a lot of things that could be much worse about your life, but it's probably not the right time to say it, like yeah, you just don't have to say that in those words. In that moment. Everybody knows this.

I mean everyone that's up here. They go on the games and the trips, and maybe not this year, but we're gonna get back to that. And if the fans knew just that the players don't carry their emotions like they do all week long. They're pissed off. Trust me, it ends in about an hour, maybe two. I don't know by the time we get on the I mean there's some guys that depend It depends, it depends on

the game. But yes, you're right, generally speaking, generally speaking, though you know, sometimes you do wonder you do check your stats when you're writing your story on the plane, You're like, they did lose this game, right, Like maybe, And I say that, I'm not saying that they're wrong. They've got it in perspective. I thought Dave made a fantastic point two days ago when you said every single play they could not walk. Again, think about that's a

job for them. You might get paralyzed on this. I mean hate if that happens, but it happens. So after the end of the game and they're healthy and they're feeling good and you know, not feeling so good. Yeah, but but walking, Yeah, maybe they have a different perspective than some fans do. Would be like, you should be doing this. You shouldn't be trying to do your own brand. You should be trying to do this. You shouldn't be playing golf on and off that you shouldn't do all this,

you should be you know, it's not realistic. Yeah. And the other part to it too, and this is something I kind of came around for myself with is I think sometimes when you when you're competing, you kind of want to take yourself out of the moment because if you lost, it can be all consuming. And what we don't see is, yeah, we might see after the game and the lock, where we might see on the plane whatever.

What we don't see is when they get home that night and then they have to sit with themselves and they're like man lo that you know, and then it really eats at you. When you with your your teammates, you can kind of deflect and you can kind of have a little fun and kind of for a moment almost forget about it because you know it's coming back, and you know when they get home and by themselves,

it's gonna be there. Because they're competitors. You don't make it to the NFL if you aren't a hyper competitive person. You can't make it in the NFL if you're not a hyper competitive person. So I just think I think we got to put all of that into perspective. All right, we appreciate you guys joining us. We'll back tomorrow. We're gonna tell you guys what to expect the Sunday Cowboys versus Giants. Still then, for Nick Eaton, Dave helm and Amber Garcia, I am Derek Eagleton. This has been the

Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.