Cowboys Break: Has Defense Regressed?

down the Lions defense today. But to start the show, when I get an update on these injured guys that we're out, Yes, you're they kind of see what's going on there today. What's the update for Lyle Collins is still absent from practice. Connor Williams is too, But we knew that Jeff Heath is doing rehab. I don't think he's gonna actually practice today. Amari Cooper was rehabbing and doing injured guy things. Didn't see him actually practicing, but

he was inside with everybody else. I'm not sure what that means for his participation level, but classic case of a guy who's trending toward getting ready. I'm tempted to think that that's just going to be the norm for him for the rest of the year. Michael Bennett's back from his excused absence whatever it was. Ah, yeah, all things considered. Oh, Zack Martin's back to all things considered. Not too shabby, too shabby. Jeff Heath what about CJ.

Goodwin back? He's pctice. Yeah, he returned. It was his ankle, not as back, but he's back now. Before the show, I asked some people on Twitter to send me some questions, So if you guys want to send some more hit us. At Cowboys Break I saw one of them, which I honestly have not thought of this this way, But you know, we keep asking and wondering, why are the Cowboys having

slow starts now? With having so many guys being out during practice time, you know, due to injuries and the lack of them being pressing and being able to participate. Could that be a reason why the Cowboys are having slow stars and maybe just takes them like a quarter

to kind of get back on track. I would buy that if they were going three and out and punning right off the bat, which just happened maybe at once or twice, but for the most part, they're driving the ball, they're getting down there, they're getting in position of you know, feel goal or maybe red zone, and then something messes up early in the game, a drop pass or a penalty or missfield goal or drop pass or poor decision to make the field goal attempt, you know that early

in the game, just from that from that yard line, from that yard line, I think there. I think somebody looked up to stat Maybe you may have heard this. It's like the first time someone's tried to field goal fifty five yards or more in the first drive of the game in like twelve years. I mean, it just doesn't happen a lot. I yeah, that reminds me of a stat I think our friend Bob Sturm had it something.

They're like, only only four or like, only eight field goals have been attempted from that range that early in the game, like ever, and four of them are Jason Garrett's decision. Yeah, early, I mean it's yeah, I don't want to paraphrase, but it's something like that. We believe

in our guys, believe in Brett Maher. I mean, you know what, believing Chris Jones that he's going to get the ball down to the eight yard line, fair catch, and believe in the defense for stopping him, and then you'll get the ball in midfield and let's do it again. That's what I would believe in. But whatever, where are you getting that? Like, where would you get that information

from that it's Garrett's decision. Out of those times, well, just how many field goals they're been And then they're like, well, if it says I guess, I mean the Cowboys with Jason Garrett as the coach. I mean, so I'll try to find it. It was. It blew my mind about the injuries affecting it, just because I think that they they've actually moved the ball pretty well. They they just

something's messing them up early in the game. They're not It's a it's a good thought, you know, because if we keep trying to find an answers, you know, the media keeps asking asking Jason Garrett. I mean they asked the players. No one really has an answer asked to why they're having these types of starts. I mean, the offense really hasn't been great. The defense got a couple of turnovers in the Philadelphia game, right, and then they were able to punch it in, but as far as

taking the ball driving it. But I would argue with you that you're, yeah, like they're not going three and out. Like I'm thinking about the Packers game right now. They looked great right up until that ball bounced off a Mari's hands. They got to the thirty nine the other night, and then Cobb dropped the pass that I thought was a pretty big drop in the game, and that on that third down against UM in the first drive Vikings game. Yeah,

I found it. By the way Pro Football Reference, four field goals attempted of over fifty three yards in the first three minutes of an NFL game since ninety four. It's happened four times in the last what is that twenty five years? All last or Sunday Night was the only time it's happened from a distance longer than fifty four yards. Of those four times, two of them are Jason Garrett, So it was the other kicker? Was it maher Or It doesn't say what year It doesn't. It

just says it's happened time since ninety four. It doesn't say what years those happen. How do you know it's Jason Karrett because I assume two of them were tempted by the Cowboys during Garrett's ten years head coach. Okay, I was just trying to see who the kicker was ten years. That's amazing. But you know, it's a trust. It's a trust in the defense to stop them, which they didn't. It's the trust and the kicker to make

it well. Another question, speaking of the defense. You know, we we've talked about the offense and the issues that they've had, but when you look at the defense, I see some people having concerns as to why is this defense not looking like they were looking last year. You know, you still have essentially somewhat of the same type of players. If anything, you've added talent on the Rocks. It's the same defense plus a couple of good players you'd help you.

That's that's the baffling part about it. And you know, people pointed out it's you know, defensive consistency, especially in the NFL, it's hard to translate it from year to year. A lot of people are making a big deal of the fact that, you know, I think the Cowboys win eight and two in games decided by a possession or last last year, and it's oz and three, like that

type of stuff. Regression to the mean is a big thing in a league with this much parody, But it is still weird that a defense that is essentially the same, like Robert Quinn is the only major difference, has had so many lapses at like doing the basic stuff like tackling. Yeah. I don't have a great answer, you know, but you know, we did see it last year or two. When teams really focus on wanting to run the ball and move

you out of the way, they can do it. And the Colts did it, the Rams did it, and then you know this year, the Packers have done it. The Vikings did it. So there are some teams that have the ability to run the ball at will and it's it's Cowboys obviously haven't won any of those games, and they really haven't been that close. I guess the Vikings game was closed. The Vikings game was close, but for the most part, you know, when you when you run the ball like they have, and the Cowboys tried to

address it. They reached in the second round to take a defensive tackle that can't get on the field. That was a bad pick at this point. At this point, it has been a bad pick because he does not play and they need that position to play well. It's it's crazy that. I mean, that's nothing new. A guy drafted that high at a position where they're not stacked. Yeah,

isn't playing a role at all. And that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a bust, but it's disappointing right now, but that they need him to play well, like that they need the position. That's the one thing. It's like, well, they drafted him, but they got six other guys. Well they don't though, Well, do you think they were even expecting to have to need him this year? I think

they expect him to be ready to play. I think that's a factor when you draft the guy in the second round, like he is he going to come in and control? But you know, how do they make some decisions sometimes and it's like not necessarily for the year,

but for the next year. True. Yeah, no, I mean, and we've talked about this, we're kind of I guess we're getting off the plot of the current team, but like, yeah, it just it it stinks, for lack of a better term, of them being like, this is the guy who can do what we need him to do, and we got to get him now, regardless of whether or not we're reaching or whatever, Like we need him in the future. He can do what we want him to do in this scheme, and we got to get him right now,

even if it doesn't line up perfectly with our board. Like, that's what I think happened, And the fact that he can't even get a jersey on game day only seems to emphasize that. But I would bet that they're I don't know, I would hope that they're surprised that he can't even get into a uniform because he was drafted fifty eighth overall. Yeah, I mean, that's that shouldn't happen

now real quick? On going back to Jeff Heath and most likely wouldn't play this weekend I would assume, right, or maybe you just never know until Yeah, it's hard to say. I leaned toward thinking maybe not. But with Darien Thompson, I know we don't get to see much of the practice, but based on the very little die you've seen and heard, how is this looking like as far as him and his participation. I like Thompson. I think I like Thompson better than Heath to play in

these games out healthy or not. I think Thompson is a you know, he's playing for Heath, but he's a he's an active player, like he's having to play some strong safety now. He's always played free, but you see him in the backfield, you see him making some plays. I like him. I like him out there, and I don't think they're going to miss a whole lot there and you miss someone special teams. But I don't think the jump from Heath to Thompson is a big, big loss. No,

I mean it hasn't been to this point. I think Thompson's played really well. I heard a whisper. I guess this shouldn't be surprised. But keep an eye on Heath because if he's unavailable, that leaves you with essentially three safeties and only one real fallback option. It could be a scenario where they need Josh Jones to come up from the practice squad, maybe you know, hand special teams, all hands on deck type of situation. They brought him here.

He's been here for what like a month. Former second round pick of Green Bay. I know a lot of people have asked about him because he was I mean, he was the lofty draft choice. So that's something the Cowboys like to do. I don't know if that's going to happen, but if Heath really can't go, it's probably something they'll think about. All right, well, let's go ahead and take our first break, and when we come back, we'll dive into this lion's defense with the report that

Dave got for us. I'm Jay Novachik, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys back in the day. I was a 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 yard work 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

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give me an ass, give me it all? Oh, give me an ass, give me it all? What does that spell? So? So are we gonna win? Just? Okaying is not okay, whether it's cheerleaders or your wireless network. At and T is America's best wireless network. Best network based on GWS one score, September twenty nineteen. Back to the break, Oh, welcome back, guys. Now, let's talk about some Lions defense and what they got going on over there. Dave take it away. Okay, here's my thing, I you know I do.

I do the Draft show in the offseason. It's a pet project of mine. So I'm pretty familiar with the guys that come into the league. So first thing I do when I go down, you know, when I look at an opponent, I just I write their roster out. I look at who they got, and I'm sitting here, I'm like, okay, yeah, Damon Harrison remember, you know, remember

him from the Giants. Trey Flowers, big money free agent from the from the Pats, a Shaan Robinson, big nasty nose tackle from Alabama, Jared Davis first round pick out of Florida, Gilani Tava, Dane Brugler's favorite player in last year's draft. I'm like, yeah, these guys are talented, man, this is this is good. And then you watch them play and you look at what they've done this year and you're like, oh, it's uh, that sounds kind of familiar. It doesn't look as good on paper as it should. Yeah,

but okay, we're so hard on the Cowboys defense. They're still pretty good. Yeah, these guys aren't really Um, they're thirtieth in the league in total defense, twenty fourth in scoring, so they buckle down when they need to a little bit. Twenty fourth US. I mean they're thirtieth in defense, twenty eighth against the past, twenty sixth against the run, twenty fourth in scoring. Like so they're a little better at holding people out of the end zone than they are

everywhere else. It's pretty terrible. They are defense terrible. They're not good. Um, they're ninth. They have nineteen sacks on the year. That's twenty six in the league. They don't get a lot of takeaways either. Um. Their best dude to take him the ball away, Quandre Diggs as a seahawk. Now he might have seen him the other night getting a takeaway. Is their best player probably Darius Slay cornerback. He's really good. Um, that's something to watch. I wonder

if he'll travel with Amari Cooper. He's a really talented, confident press man corner. He's man to man a lot. He gets up on his guy, he bullies him. Um, which is impressive because like he's not he's not this huge dude, but but he's he's good at playing press technique. Um. I mean, Trey Flowers is good and I don't he's got five sacks. I don't think that's terrible. Uh again, you know, going back to that Green Bay game, he should have had like two more that got waved off

by flags. Um oh and Justin Coleman. I'm curious to see what they do. He's a he's kind of a BADASSU They he's their slot corner. They got him out of Seattle. Uh. He's playing really well, but they traded Digs away, So I'm curious to see how much he plays outside versus inside. But he's he's having a really nice season. He's got ten pass breakups. Um playing really well.

You know, going back to what you said about Sleigh moving and following Cooper, you know, I used to think that was kind of like a bad thing for the Cowboys, But I don't like it, Like, I don't think that's something that that the Lions should do, or really any team travel somebody. No, because I think Gallop is probably just as good. Gallop is probably better than a second corner. Yeah, so so therefore I don't think he'd be better than Slagh. So I don't know. I just look at it like,

I still Cooper can win. No, that's that's the classic. I mean, that's what you need a number two receiver who's good enough to make a team pay for doing that type of thing. And like I said, I don't know if they will. That's fine with me though, Like I'll I like Michael Gallops chances against most number two corners. One thing, if you thought Slagh or Zavian Howard or whoever the corner was would shut down Cooper, but I

don't think he can. I don't think so. Who would you say would be the toughest matchup here for the Cowboys, like across the defense, across yeah defense versus Cowboys offense. I mean Snacks Snacks Snacks has given them fits for years. And he's still a good player. He's not, I mean, he has an dropped off drastically. I watched two games and I thought he looked good. Um, And that's one thing about Travis Frederick that you wonder about is the strength.

You know, he's yeah, yeah, the recognition is fine. But they said with this, in with with the illness that he had last year, um, strength would be an issue for him. So and I think we've seen that at times, and they they're adding you know, Sophilo obviously that'll help with some strength. Yeah, but you know, Zach Martin's got a back injury, much like the much like the Giants.

I think this is better. This is better than the Giants, I think, But like in terms of rushing the passer, okay, and you have Trey Flowers, um, but there's not there's not much else in the way of guys that are like getting a lot of push to the point that they use their Sam linebacker Devon Kannard a lot coming

off the edge. So that's something tight ends should probably be watching for um Witten or Jarwin like I would, He's gonna be trying to add pressure a lot because they don't get a lot of push with just their front four nineteen sacks twenty sixth in the league. So I like Dak's odds to have a pretty clean pocket. The linebacker play like Jared Davis was a first round pick out of Florida. I remember liking him a decent amount and him and then, like I said, Gilani Tavai,

he's a rookie. They don't. It doesn't seem like they're playing great. I was actually reading up on it from Detroit writers. Like, again, Davis is their big first round pick. He's supposed to kind of be the center of their defense. And they reduced his role in this loss to the Bears last week, like he played fewer snaps. They gave play calling duties to a rookie over him. I was like, that's probably not what you want in your first round pick.

So he gets, he gets washed out of plays, blockers get to him, he gets you know, he gets picked up a lot and doesn't get move in the right direction fast enough to make a lot of tackles. Dalvin Cook killed them the same way. It looked a lot like watching the Cowboys game. Honestly, when they played the Vikings a month ago and they lost forty two to thirty, Kirk Cousins had all day. Play action worked really great. That's I got halfway through the tape against the Bears

and I was like, why am I watching this? Like Mitch Drubisky sucks for lack of a better word, like I'm not getting a good indication of what they're capable of. Because they were playing great against the Bears. I was like, Oh, this is a pretty good defense. And I was like, they're playing Trubisky, Dave, why don't you go watch him against a better quarterback? And I did, and it wasn't very good to your point, So I mentioned Justin Coleman,

he's their slot guy. He can play outside. But if he doesn't, they got a veteran corner by the name of Rashaan Melvin, and he is a liability. He can't You're gonna say he's good, No, he can't cover. He I mean, he was getting picked on. It didn't matter if it was theeln or digs. They put him on Kyle Rudolph a couple of times and it was it went how you might expect, just getting bullied off the ball. So fine, what number twenty nine, twenty nine in your programs?

If if Darius Slay wants to travel with Cooper, find whoever twenty nine's got, and I like that matchup a lot. They they're they're susceptible over the middle of the field, That's what I wrote, because their linebackers don't cover well. Tavai is like a big, bulky mic guy, like he's he's good. I mean, he's a good player, but he coverages in his strong suit. And then Jared Davis just

doesn't look super impressive. So whether that's Randall Cobb, whether you want to look I mean, I know we've kind of been talking down on it, but Jason Witten, I think he can get open against these guys that should be there the middle of the field and the cornerbacks that aren't Darius Slay. I feel good about that. It

was twelve years ago, I believe. But two thousand and seven Head a lot fifteen catches in a game up there he really Detroit, Yeah, and the game winner in the final seconds of the game to win the NFC. So it was kind of a big game. But a lot has changed in twelve years. But I do know that he had about fifteen catches that day. We don't talk about it a lot. Maybe we I don't know, but we talked about it Uncover four. I was like, this is a fun series, like the games are usually

really Yeah, Cowboys Detroit, like it came. It was a walk off field goal last year they beat there but in sixteen, but it was still a fun game. Dez had the trick passed to Witten. There it is on the screen. There you go that. I mean, the playoff game was an instant classic. The romo to Terrence and DeMarcus Lawrence kind of showed up out of nowhere. Uh yeah, these are just really yeah. This is the thirteen, this is the Megatron game, you know, three hundred and twenty nine.

I think I wish they had to play in this game where um callin Johnson goes about ninety yards with the ball and this is all late in the game. This is early in the game. He had like a catch where he went like ninety yards and Jeff Heath caught him. Like I know, people think, wow, he's white safety. He's not gonna write he fetched Calvin Johnson, which is he's not known for being a track guy. But anybody on this team will tell you Jeff Heath is very

very fast, very fast. Maybe not today was he's doing No, No, probably not today. He's got stitches in his knee. But I don't think of it as a rivalry. But like more often than not, it's very entertaining when these teams play. I think it'll I think this particular game will. Probably your age is helping you there because you're you're not old enough to go back to the early two thousand oh sure crap going on there. Of course, two thousand and the end the two thousand and one season, that

was the year of nine to eleven. Yeah, and I believe it was that game that got pushed back to the week I guess, or I think it was the Detroit game they got moved to the very end of the season. So they go in and they play that game and they're one in fifteen or one fourteen. I'm looking the subway and the Cowboys are five and ten and they go and play the last game of the Superdome season the Silverdome. Yeah, and it's terrible. They lost to the team. Score. Um, this I don't know. Yeah,

you do, Yes, you do. Twenty to fourteen. Oh damn, Typically I don't. This is bad radio. But like Nick has the this uncanny ability to like remember the score and the date. It was fifteen to ten, fifteen to ten. Well, I do know that Dave Campo did not come back. He had vertigo. He did that day. The next The next year, we played the Lions up there, and I can promise you the score was nine to seven. They

lost that game. It was terrible. They boot him at Smith because he just broke the record, and they see it. The Lions fans thought it should have been Barry Sanders's record. And there's been some crappy games in this series, but lately it's been pretty good. Yeah, nine to seven, you're right, okay, I mean more often than not fifteen to ten. That bothers me. I should have got that. It's okay, we'll remember next time. Now, more often than not in in

my experience, this has been a really entertaining series. I feel like it it won't It probably won't be this week because I mean, the Lions will probably have Driscoll. It's I think it's going to be a clunky performance. We don't trust the Cowboys to play for complete quarters so anyway, but there are plays to be made against this defense, mainly because they don't rush the passer well

and I don't like the majority of their secondary. Well, let's go ahead and take our final break, and then when we come back, we'll answer some of the questions that you guys have been sending us through Twitter. At Cowboys break ready, Okay, give it all? So are we gonna win? Just? Okaying is not okay, whether it's cheerleaders or your wireless network. AT and T is America's best wireless network. Best network based on GWS one score, September

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the Trooper soft coolers at auterbox dot com. Whether you're into being a part of this or more into something like this, Sea Geek has the tickets to the events you love. It's the easiest way to find, buy and sell tickets. Plus, with their deal score technology, they'll recommend the best seats in the house at the best value. So the next time you're craving this, download the Sea Geek app and let's go seek kay Cowboys Nation. This season, when the Cowboys win, you get to experience the sweet

taste of victory. Because if the Cowboys win the next day, Duncan is offering a free medium hot or iced coffee. So don't just celebrate the Cowboys success from the sidelines, head to Duncan and treat yourself to real victory because this season, Cowboys fans aren't only winning on game day, they're winning the next day too, with a free medium coffee. Cowboys Nation runs on Duncan. Excludes coldbrew. Limit one for guests. Participation may vary limited time offer back to the break Presidents.

I mean, that's just it's here. It feels like it's dumming. Don't it sounds so cheery about it? Jeez, Dallas Cowboys, Well, I can't do its third annual Christmas at the Star President positioned by Albertson's and Tom Thumb. Then you saw the have you seen the Christmas tree out there? I mean it's alright, yeah, they put it up today. I think it's like how how tall would you say? It would be freaking twenty something feet? It's like at least twenty five feet tall. It gets like three stories tall.

It ain't like forty I mean think. I mean, I'm Bradley is seven seven. I'm thinking how many times would he? Well, maybe you're right, maybe twenty five thirty. I don't think it's quite as big as like the Rockefeller Tree in New York City, but it's close. But it's sitting out there on the plaza and it'll be the centerpiece of this awesome show that they've got November twenty second through the December twenty first, every Friday Saturday night. It's really

awesome out there, presented by Albertson's and Tom Thumb. Get an opportunity to take a picture with Santa Claus. It's a good family event. For more information, go to the Star in Frisco dot com. Okay, thank you, Nick. So Dave talked about the possibility of Dak having a clean pocket and the Cowboys old line being able to kind of keep it clean for him. I see several people asking why has Dak not rent with the ball, guying

outside of the pocket more and use his feet. Do you think that maybe in this game that could be a possibility where we can start seeing him run with the ball a little more. They need to if they play the percentages like they say they do. There's some stats out there that when he runs the ball three or four times a game. I think it's four times a game. They've only lost once, so I mean they I think that they do better when he's actually there

a reason why they have kind of stopped from that. Eric, Yeah, there a reason why. You're fifteen, said, I just thought of Terry. Um. First of all, I want to throw a caveat out there. Dak used his feet like a mofo the other night. He bailed himself out of so many situations. Don't worry about it. He bailed himself out of so many situations. Now designed carries and runs absolutely Um. It doesn't make any sense to me that you would lean so heavily on on read option and never have

the quarterback keep the ball. Especially not only is he demonstrated, you know, athleticism and the ability to pick it up, but he's he's willing too. Like he I don't want to go as far as to say he looks for contact, but actually yeah, he kind of does. I mean he's he's a big tough dude. He's not afraid of tacklers. And I know you don't want to get your quarterback hurt. But he can handle it a handful of times per game.

And that's are we blaming him absolutely not? Well? I mean well, I mean mates, and if it's an RPO. If he has the option, then it's on him and maybe he's not seeing that look or maybe but that's the thing is like I think somebody, very tongue in cheek, was like, Oh, he doesn't want to he doesn't want to take those hits because he's like, if you know anything about Dak, do you buy that. I don't buy that at all. He's a competitor. I just wonder if there are if it's sort of his option or or

are they not getting the looks? And I mean I can imagine clearly him saying that, like I'm not getting the looks, like do you do you want me to keep it on a defensive end that's staying home and and I you know, I'm getting tackled for minus two. No, And I haven't looked at it closely enough to know what the looks were. But there are ways too, There are ways to scheme that stuff. I mean, where has

the quarterback drawin? We love that play? Yeah, we love that play and I don't remember the last time they ran it. It seems like a perfect call for the red zone, honestly, and it usually works when they do that in the red zone. It's the epitome of hidden yardage because Dak could finish a game with three carries for it doesn't even have to be like a forty

two yarder like he did against Washington. He finished with three carries for nine yards and two of those three picked up You know, if you get nine yards and two of those carries are for eight so two carries of four yards, you pick up two different third and shorts and that is the difference between winning and losing sometimes. So yeah, they need to do it more. I don't know why that was only the fourth time in his career he didn't carry the ball at all, and it

probably just shouldn't happen. He's too useful as a runner. Again, I'm not asking him to do a fifteen times a game, but it's very useful. Now, on a different topic, we know that Dyke is still looking for a contract, and we know that Amari Cooper is still looking for a contract. With what has been going on injury wise in regards to a Mari Cooper in his leg and his foot, Does this change anything as far as what you're thinking

about his future here with the Cowboys. No, No, I canna do it in like six different octaves, that one, that one baritone. No, he's why because he's awesome. He's missed. He's your first round draft pick this year. He missed one game, right, and by doing that, when they did that, you knew that that they're gonna make this work. Remember keeping in mind that he himself and Mari has said that he has battled with this foot thing. I forget the name of the planet. Yes, he has battled with

that through his career. Was not battling his toes. His toes are good. That's he barely practiced last week and came out and made like four of the most absurd plays of the season in one night. And it must, like I know, we talked about it at the time, he must have been in a ton of pain to leave that Jets game the way he did, because he's fought through so much stuff and it hasn't even seemed to bother him. I mean the Jets game, he played three snaps and sat down. But other than that has

he just been a non factor. And like in I think he had like a forty maybe he had like forty yards against Washington, but he still caught a touchdown. He's been awesome all year. You know, while fighting through all this stuff. Don't know what's going on with a

Dack contract. I can't give you that one. There's a little bit more going on with Cooper as far as his agents and the you probably heard this too, like the agency that is going on there, Like I think that they're splitting up and they're you know, his Israel agent is starting a different firm, and so this is a lot of stuff happening there that it slows the process, yeah, a little bit. And I don't think Cooper's in a big hurry. He's just not. But I think that one's

going to happen. But I don't really know what's holding up the Dack thing. I mean, I think we kind of mean numbers. I mean, yeah, guaranteed. I think guaranteed money. I've said it on him before. I think the guaranteed money that is that Goff and Wentz have is way higher than DAK because of that's the money that they got when they when they were drafted. And so they put out a report over the weekend that was like, you know, no progress was made during the bye week,

which means DAK is heading for the franchise tag. And I have heard nothing that suggests that that's true. I mean, obviously, if it gets to that point, that's what you would do. But I've i haven't heard anything that gives me the indication that, like, well, you know, talks are done. We're not like we're gonna have to tag him. I haven't heard that at all. Jerry Jones addressed it on the

radio this week. He was like, the reporter that put that out doesn't know what he's talking about, because I'm the only person in the world that's privy to all those details. It's weird, how like, considering that they would have to franchise both of those guys or either one of those guys, I should say, and there's some wiggle room there because the transition tag is out there and franchise tag. Point being it's mid November and those guys

are unsigned, and I'm not super worried about it. I'm really not, because, like they are playing like badasses, they both want to be here. But there is a trickle down effect and it might go to Byron Jones or sure everybody else. Of course, that you can't franchise because you're gonna have to hold it for these guys, and maybe you know, what's your what you can only franchise one right, what's your confidence percentage that Dak and Amari are going to get long term deals here? Nine? Yeah,

that's yeah, no, less than like ninety eight percent. So I don't really know what the hold up is. I don't really know when it's going to happen. But Byron Jones being here next year, that's like forty eight for me. Does it change if the head coach changes as far as to be like long, oh, I need a new quarterback, I need a different quarterback or something like that. I

know that's a that's a good question. It is a good question, but that won't be your head coach, Like Jerry's gonna make sure to get somebody that can work with that's dack line, which well everything Dak has shown through nine games, like if you can't work with him, yeah, which most of the people listening to this show don't

like the current head coach. Can you imagine if you sit down with the guy and he says, you know, first thing I would do is I'd probably want to draft the quarterback and I would say thank you for coming. It's been This is a very impressive presentation that you gave us the doors that way. Okay, most of the people listening to this don't think the current coaching staff is getting the most out of Dak. Would you say?

That's fair to say? Yeah? Yeah, so, and he's still playing like a beast, Like if he's got a few less interceptions or a few more wins, he's in the MVP conversation. So any coach you would hire should be able to work with him. I don't think it's that big of an ass. I don't know about that that statement you just made it. I kind of was like, oh, yeah, yeah, but okay, but when you say it again, the current

staff is not getting the most out of Dak. I mean, I said, most of the people listening to the show think though, okay, and that's what do you think about that? I mean, a fourth round pick compared story pick, he's come in here, he's been the franchise quarterback for four years. I think they're getting a lot out of it. They're getting a ton out of him, I think. And actually, to be fair to what I just said, like, I think John Kittena has done wonders for Dak. I think

he's been fantastic. I guess my point just being little things like the fact that he didn't have a carry in that game, or some of the play calling. It. I mean it, you know, thinking back to the New Orleans game, thinking back to the insistent on running on first and long situations all the time, I think I think he could even still be better. Yeah, I guess

is my point fair. I just but I didn't want to throw out there that we don't think this staff is has done good job with him, because you know, now everybody was wrong just having maximized his abilities and his potential. You know, we did see we did see a growth when Kidnap came in here, and that translated to what Dak has been able to do so far.

But I think, like Dave said, placing him in the right situation and not just him, when you talk about the talent in general in the offense and making sure you're calling plays that are suitable for your guys and trying to be more creative, you know, you keep talking about creativity and placing these guys in a better position rather than keep banging on and doing the same thing

over and over. If if they were to hire a new coach and a candidate were to say like, well, we'll have to change quarterbacks like that, go away, get out of it. That's no go, move on, push on as what they say. And I don't think that would be this case for Cooper either. I mean, I think any coach that wants to coach the Cowboys you'll be just fine with. You're gonna have to deal with a lot more, most of it off the field, things that you have to just be okay with, you'll be fine

with Cooper and dak as your pasure. We're really thinking we need a wide receiver, Like why would we want a guy who can play all three positions and does something insane twice at game. I can't wait to see what happens when he has healthy feet and legs and knees, because it's been battling something every game and it's you

wouldn't know it. The Raiders are playing pretty well, so I'm not ready to completely call John Gruden an idiot, but I like, what about Amari Cooper makes you think like, well, we can't get it done with this guy. I don't know, I don't know what happened there that doubt well, he proved them wrong. He said that he wanted to make sure he wanted to prove that the Cowboys were right by now. He always like he's always really taken the high road about that, Like he never talks about proving

people wrong. He's just like, I want to prove that they the Cowboys made a good game. Now the Raiders are going to be okay. They have a winning record, I believe, and keep getting five and four or five and four. They're alive in the AFC wild Card and they're gonna get picks. I mean the three this year, but they're gonna probably get more. I mean they still have one from the Mac trade. Yeah, no, I mean

they'll have some. They appear to be in pretty good shape because I also got the third easiest schedule in the NFL for the rest of the year. Well, the AFC is if the Cowboys were in the AFC, the narrative would be so much different. Or I mean, like where the Jets are you mean, like in that division? I don't know, but the Jets are in the Age. Yeah, they lost to a bad Jets team. I'm just saying I can't stack up the stack up the AFC in the NFC and tell me which field you'd rather be

competing against I get it so well. Since we're in the coaching topic, let's go ahead and switch it to the defense side of things. People keep asking back and forth, Chris R. Shar Rot, Mary Nelly, what is the dynamic there? Why have we again? You can't compare one team from last year to this necessarly, but there's still a comparison there due to the fact of the same kind of group of people. How do you think that there has been a difference there between that relationship and who has

a bigger voice in the room now this year? I don't think so, not really. I think that there's a good understanding of that. UM. I know this is the first year that Chris Richard has kind of taken over as the voice to the media. To you know that that's happened this year. This year with the it'll happen here in about thirty minutes when the coordinators talk, and I think that's a sign of how good their relationship is. Rod Marinelli, He's he's been the DC in a variety

of places forever. He's given more interviews than you could count. He was the head coach of a team and Troy Detroit Yeah sixteen, Yeah, he had to deal with that during an O and sixteen season. He knows that Chris Rochard wants to be a head coach and that you need that type of experience like he's having. Chris Rashard talked to the media as training like you need this if if you're going to take that step. I think it's a good sign of the friendly and you know,

respectful nature of their relationship. I don't think there's any trauma there at all. I think, I mean, the defense is just so hard to figure out because their their stats suggest that they're they're one of the best against the run, against the past, not giving up a lot of points. But it hasn't been enough. It hasn't been

enough to get up five and four records. But that's the funny thing, is like, and you know, we've had this conversation too, Like at the end of the day, they're still not like horrendous, you know, Like, I mean you can watch the Lions, like the Cowboys aren't thirtieth in the league. They're not bad. But it's the nature of this thing that when you lose games, you know, Chris Chris Roshard was the most popular man in Cowboy Nation.

All of last year, like and and a lot of people still do of him, and I still think he's a good coach. But when things aren't going well, you're like, well, something must have changed. He sucks now, like he must him and Rod must hate each other or you know whatever, or yeah, you just look for reasons or it's just the nature of the NFL. I mean, Jalen Smith is this is his second year, last year as a linebacker, and it was the first for Layton Vanders. They're going

to get better. And Byron Jones first year as a corner makes All Pro second team. He's gonna get better. Cheeto is gonna get better that they got Robert Quinn. They're gonna get better. And that's that's what hasn't happened. They're not bad. They're just not better than what they were last year. And you all the signs pointed that they would be and should be, but they're just not clearly better. They're just kind of but not your phone not even charging, it's just it's holding its charge. It's

just not up to That's so great. I love that. That's what it is like when you, like you plug your phone in for fifteen minutes and you'd come back expecting it to be twenty thirty percent higher and you're like, what the hell, it only bumped up. Yeah, it's not that's sitting. Maybe had a backcourt and he stopped charging for like a second, and now you're down to thirteen percent. I'm just saying, like, even when you compared to last year,

they're they're not playing bad, but it's just not. The plays are not as explosive as they were, Like the expectation was elite. They are root. We're going to keep the phone analogy what this whole team is done. You know when it's crazy when when you have a charger that's like it's on, but it doesn't. Yeah, the mechanisms working, Yeah, like it is charging if you hold it like this. But yeah, that's what the team is. It's like we

should you should do what podcasting? That's great, that's I love that, And now there's nothing to further it even more, like there's nothing more frustrating. Then when you're like, well, if I've been the charger this way, I get some juice and if I don't, then hate that. You're just it's the worst, Like what you're doing. You're like, I'm just charging with from like, well, maybe you know, it's it's November fifteenth and it's windy outside, so maybe they'll

play better. But they're not Newton Blue Jersey saying Nate said, it's the blue jersey's fault that they lost the other night. I cannot believe. What do you say though, So you know, he's like, we don't wear blue with the crib. I cannot believe that a pro Bowl player blamed a loss on the jersey. Eight Speaking of Nate, they're coming up here. Yeah, they're coming up next hanging with the boys, so make sure to stay put and join them. They always have

a fun time over there, so that's always a fun show. Now, that is all the time we have for today. Is there something else you want to say? They I just I love that analogy so much. Like the Cowboys are a faulty cell phone. That's exactly what they are. That's pretty bad. Given all the money that they make, you should be able to buy a good working charger. Anyways, Thank you so much for Nickiman, David Hellman, remember your sea. This has been the break on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio.

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