Cowboys Break: How Good Is LA's Defense?

The Break. I'm Derek Eagleton. We're joined by our normal cast here. We're in the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star. How's everybody feeling this morning? Hello, Derek, good, I feel good? Good. Amber. No, I don't know why you say no. I'm not going to ever stop that. You know that we've been doing this for a long time. Every once in a while, I'm gonna say, Nick, everyone is once a year. That's not true. I called you Nikki the other day and you actually were okay with you, Like, Hey, what's up?

So Nikki eats Nikki? It's really Nick e right, Yeah, it's true, Nick, It's accurate. Okay, I'm doing swell. Thank you very good. One's fine. All right, let's jump in. Let's talk football. How are you doing? You know, that's the first time anybody's ever done it? Right, We don't spend it back to you. Thank you. I'm feeling fine. I don't care for whatever that's worth. I really did. Yeah. Right, that's that's new and novel and different. All right, let's talk.

Let's talk about the Cowboys. Let's get first into a little bit news on DeMarcus Lawrence. Yesterday we heard found out that he was a named Defensive Player of the Week after his really good game last week versus the Cardinals. And then today we find out nick Defensive Player of the Month, Defensive Player of the month. They just keep rolling in these awards. Don't you just see you're one step away from Defensive Player of the year, are you? I think he's a few steps away from defensive player

of the year. I mean weeks, months, year. Okay? You are you? Is that what you're thinking is going to happen? Like? Is that your hot take of the day. I mean he's on paced, you know, for thirty five sacks in the year, so the record is only twenty three twenty six. So yeah, twenty six. Yeah, he's on face for that. No, I don't. I don't know if he'll be a Defensive

Player of the Year, but we'll see. It's one of those situations where like you're like, oh, he won Defensive Player of the Week in the month, but like you had the graphic made up for it yesterday because it's that obvious. It's like, oh, what an honor. Of course I am, but yeah, in other words, it wasn't made preseason, Like this wasn't a graphic that was made preseason. Is

that what you're getting. No, I'm saying he's been so damn good that we I mean, you know, Taylor and Shannon hopefully had those graphics done way ahead of time, because that mean it's obvious three sacks in a game and three tackles for lost six point five sacks on the season really should be seven. But whatever, either way,

it's not shocking to hear, is what I'm trying to say. Yeah, good for him, really good for him, and hopefully he can keep it up because the Cowboys really needed I thought it was interesting yesterday when you guys made the point that it's hard to find a unit on this team that's better than the defensive line. And I think obviously most of that, it's not hard. Good part is about him. It's not hard to find it. You can't.

You can't objectively, with any basis of facts, say that a unit on this team has been better than the defensive line. It's a good point. Yeah there, I mean, they've been phenomenal. Well, I will say this, and as I did think about it a little bit last night, I still think you probably a part of them being run on in Denver was about that defensive line as well. So, as you said after the Denver game, you can't just pooh pooh that and just act like that didn't happen.

That's a significant thing. But everybody else sucked in that game too, So relatively speaking, yeah, yeah, they had a bad just because everyone was so bad. They've been way better when they've been good, and just as bad when they've been bad. Yeah, so they're better. All right, let's get into some injury talk. Cowboys had I thought a

pretty positive injury report. Now, of course, yesterday was just a walk through, glorified walkthrough, But Dave catch us up on the injuries and who didn't practice and who did practice on a limited basis it is a walkthrough, So I can't stress enough how I mean, if you've seen the video of the morning walkthroughs an ox Nard, that's what it looked like. Like guys are wearing backward hats. Guys are kind of like half jogging in position. Can't

stress enough? How not like a real practice this was. But the most encouraging thing of this entire situation is that Jordan Lewis isn't even on the injury report, which means he's fine or that's what it should mean. Yeah, So that's what I've got my eye on. If he's not even on the injury report on Wednesday, then I fully expect him to play on Sunday, which is huge.

It's gigantic. Chittabey Woozier was limited, as was Nolan Carroll. Right, feel better about Carroll since, I mean, I know that your brain is super duper important, but it's not a you know, a physical ailment that can hinder you from moving around on a practice fields. And wouldn't you think with concussions, you're if you're even in a walkthrough, you don't want him doing anything if they still are showing signs, if you've been cleared to go out and do football

things on a field. I assume that that's a very positive sign for your moving in the right direction. Whereas cheeto. Hamstrings are tricky, it's hard to really say, yeah, um, Sean Lee was a DNP, which is you know, take

that for what it's worth. He said yesterday that he feels optimistic that this isn't as bad as some other hamstring injuries that he's had, but you and that goes back to the conversation we had about Odell Beckham that he's one of those guys that if he can find a way, he's going to find a way and probably

shouldn't bet against him. But guy with an injury history like Sean Lee on short week's rest because of Monday Night football, I me, personally, I'm leaning towards just like, let's try to get through a game without him and not risk him, you know, risk losing him for further weeks just because of one game. It's a tough game to do it with that running back you're facing, but

sure is. But it's just it's just a thought that I had when I saw that yesterday, I'm like, yeah, I don't know, I'd rather I'd rather not rush him and have him healthy than try to wind up in a situation where he's out for even more time. What did they list Hitchens that he was limited? Hitchens's hitchensitive. Hitchens ran scout team yesterday. That's positive, right, Oh yeah again walk through. But he was out there doing football things. He was part of an eleven on eleven situation, which

is news. So I like, after the buy for him, I leaned toward that. Yeah, but I mean that's only two games away. That's not far and that's kind of what the original thought was, that you kind of get through the buy and then after that he should be back, right, Yeah, I hope. So a linebacker situation looks we'll start looking pretty good if if you can you know, if if considering nothing would happen, I guess with Damien Wilson, I can't imagine the NFL doing anything with that at this point.

But you know, with with you got Hitchings coming back, Sean Lee and then obviously Jayalen Smith, just any kind of rotation there, and they're starting to work Duran in there a little bit more too. So a couple of weeks ago, it looks really troublesome, but now it's getting better. If they can get through this game with Sean Lee or without him, or depending what happens. He's told a few reporters in the locker room, he said, hamstrings, it's one of those things. It's like neither it fires up

or it doesn't. I mean, it's not like it's you can kind of limp around on it. I mean, if it doesn't go for you, then you can't do anything. But he did, like Dave said, he said, I've had worse ones than this. Yeah, And so I guess all in all, when you look at the injury report, I think there were a lot of positive things that the Cowboys can at least be hopeful about moving forward. I forgot to mention Stephen Pia sat out also. That's I feel like that's just gonna be a thing that doesn't

completely go away for him. I've kind of put this in the category of romo of you know Tyron Smith last year, right. I just put this in the category of it's one of those things where I just expect to see Stephen pie on the injury list most of the season, and if you don't, then then maybe that means it that week he just feels great, but more than likely just to manage him. It sounds like that's going to be a normal thing, unless they and me speculating.

I don't know anything, but I guess they could sit him down and do a Nyard thing, may designate him to return if they wanted to, But as long as he can keep managing it and playing every week, I feel like they wouldn't want to do that. I guess. Doesn't sound like this is something that's gonna go away. It sounds like it's just thing. It's there, So I don't know if I are necessary. If you signed him,

you kind of it. It's like a lot of football injuries, like it would probably go away if you sat him down for a couple of months to get it better. But if he can, it's like, but wasn't this something that he was struggling with in the past already? Right, he had struggled with it in the past. But again, it's kind of like it's like DeMarcus Lawrence's backs, Like it's there and you could have surgery on it, or you could do something with it to help it get better.

But if you can play, you're probably gonna play. I mean, that's football really same thing. You know, you could sit Tyrn Smith down for a few weeks in his back

would probably feel a lot better thinking back to last year. Yeah, I I guess the point of what I'm saying, and it sounds like what Amber's saying too, is that if it's something that's a recurring thing that's been happening over time, even if you sit him down, you'll get temporary relief, but as soon as you start playing again, it's probably gonna start nagging again. So just kind of manage it.

And it sounds like they're just gonna manage it by giving him more rest and hopefully by Sundays every week he's ready to go. Yeah, I guess I just go back to thinking before he got here, he had a whole offseason and it is still something that he's struggling with, so and it might be a situation. We talked about them needing roster spots for players, obviously for David Irving next week. That's where I was trying to go with that.

But Brian Price, oh, I was thinking you could move Pie down if you if his injuries that bad to make that spot. Well, I don't think that they would. I don't think they would. But what I'm saying is is that cutting price, you know, just because you need the spot. It's harder to get through a practice if if Pie is not going to work with you every Wednesday. So I mean, I mean, guys, I got on a

practice squad to play defensive tackle one Lewis Neil. I don't think anyone would know that if they didn't go to the College of choice. That is offensive and not the practice. Lewis Neil kicked too much ascid training camp. I know people to not know who he was, but but you have to admit you know every single LSU play in the NFL. Honestly, I probably don't. There's so many of them. Not yes, oh wow, there's so many of them. They led the league. You probably know, right, Yes, Okay,

I'm a bit of a passionate LSU fan. I would tell it a homer. But whatever it was like that number might slow down a little bit. Maybe we'll see, um, things aren't going well up there. Whatever. I'm just asking Arkansas and Texas well, I'm asking I've never claimed that things are going great in Austin. I'm just asking. You know, the jury's out right, Okay, Um, I think I could know.

I know, I can't name the whole practice squad because I haven't learned the name of the linebacker they just signed, Aravon Williams him, I don't think, and um, there's an offensive there's an offensive lineman they signed recently who I never bothered to learn his name either. But I think I got the other eight showers. Yeah, Jamil's back, Brian Brown,

Lewis Neil. Um, I don't know the guys from camp. Well, that's usually what you're practice seah, That's what I'm saying, Like, those are guys you know, because you kind of saw him play those other guys. It's kind of like hard to really Yeah, you're like, okay, i'la all right, let's move on. Let's talk a little bit about the Cowboys offense versus the Rams defense. And Dave, I know you were gonna watch the game last night or watch some footage of this team last night and give us a

scouting reports. So what do you have? I did. I did watch the Rams defense on tape last night, and my main impression really is I'm sick of here in the phrase three four defense, because I mean that's what it is at the end of the day, but like, that's not what it looks like when these guys play. Like I watched the whole San Francisco game, so that's I don't know, And it's forty one thirty nine games,

so you're talking about seventy something defensive snaps. They got four or five and six guys down on the line like every snap. I mean, yeah, Aaron Donald Mike Brockers are really like the key components of this. Like they're the two guys that you can count on to be down every single snap, but they move all over the place. They play like Donald plays three technique, he plays one technique, he plays five technique. Brockers plays zero technique, one technique,

three technique, and five techniques. So they're lining up everywhere from the tackle to the guard to the center. You got Robert Quinn who plays wide wide. It's like that outside linebacker, but his hands on the ground more often than not. The same thing goes for Coon Curse type. Yeah, same thing goes for Connor Barwin, Like he's the outside linebacker, but he lines up as an end way more often

than anything else. And then you have alec Ogletree who is within three feet of the ball damn near every snap, Like he's basically another lineman. They got a couple of he's basically blitzing every play. Is that what I'm gonna I'm gonna get into that. Yeah. Not if he's not blitzing, he's just down near the line. And honestly, from what I watched, again, I'm not rot us. I didn't watch every game. I just watched last week, but he's a blitzer.

He's an extra pass rusher because he's sure in't anything that impressed me in pass coverage, that's for sure, and honestly as a run stopper for that matter. I'll get more into that. The big takeaway that I came away with, And maybe this shouldn't be surprising for Wade Phillips's. These guys are really aggressive, super duper aggressive. Like again, this is a three four front. They send five and six

man rushes all the time like a lot. Brockers and Donald are awesome, and they beat their man more often than not. I think if Donald doesn't beat his man and get into the backfield, it's because he didn't want to or that was not his assignment on that play.

Because he does it all the time with ease, and I think the ease with which should they do it actually works against them because I swear to God so many times they like overran the play to the point where Harlow's hide has three guys in his face right here and he just kind of cuts to the left and there's green grass over here. That seemed like it happened all the time. Alec Ogletree, if he wasn't blitzing,

he's down near the line. He gave up a thirty four yard gain down the seam to the fullback, the guy with the goofy name that I can't pronounce U. But the forty nine Ers signed him move the offseason from Baltimore. You guys, aren't you know not you're tight end? You said, fullback? Oh, fullback? The forty nine Ers gave a lucrative contract to a fullback. It's like jurishnick or it's a weird name, you're a vicious Nope, not right. Gave up a thirty four yard gain just really, in

my opinion, did not look super amazing in coverage. Again, like I feel like their whole strategy is to get to the quarterback and if they don't. It's it's not gonna be pretty, and it's kind of successful honestly, because they got four sacks on Brian Hoyer. They forced him into an intercept and on the first play of the game. But okay, so so here here are the stats that kind of back up what I'm trying to say. They're

twenty second in the league in yards per game. They're allowing one hundred and forty rushing yards per game, two hundred and five passing yards per game, and they're twenty sixth and scoring d largely off of giving up for thirty nine to the forty nine ers. But for all the talent they have, I just feel like they're aggressive to the point that it's not disciplined. Like they give they give up cut back lanes, they give up big gains. Hoyer hit he hit Pierre Garson for fifty nine yards

one on one coverage against Tremaine Johnson. What else did they give up? They gave up They gave up two or three long gains, like right down the middle of the field, and San Francisco had four drops on top of that. Like, so the main thing I come away with is that, yeah, these guys are super aggressive, they and try to force you into a mistake. But in doing so, I feel like they made a lot of mistakes. They were penalized. The Rams were penalized seven times in

this game. Five of those came on defense, off sides, off sides, too many men on the field, roughing the passer, defensive pass interference, all of which are undisciplined, not smart penalties. Roughing and the two off sides are results of trying to get to the quarterback and trying to, you know, make a statement with your pass rush. Um, going back to our conversation yesterday. Sorry if I'm ready, Um, there

is a lot of talent here. Wait, Like I mean, the Rams have been mediocre to bad for more than a decade, so that's to be expected. But Rockers is twelfth overall. Donald is fourteenth overall. Robert backs is that what you go? Picks? Okay, gotcha? Sorry? Robert Quinn is eleventh overall. Ogletree is thirteenth overall. Mark Baron. Mark Baron is a safety who's he's their linebacker BAMA former buccaneer. He's traded to the Rams. Um Truemain Johnson right seventh overall.

True that uh same draft as Mo, and he was better than Mo and Brockers was and you just kind of remember the guy I remember about the Brockers, Yeah, that were better than him. Truemaine Johnson, who's their big, feisty uh six three corner. He's starting a lot of crap when they practiced together at training camp. If you remember that a couple of years ago, where was he drafted. He's a third round pick. Um LaMarcus Joyner is their their main safety out of Florida State. He's a second

round pick. So they got Yeah, they've got they got talent, and they they can do a lot of impressive stuff with it. Like I can't I can't express how impressive, particularly Brockers and Donald Ark, like they do whatever they

want most of the time. But again, I feel like you can take advantage of a lot of that, and like all I was thinking about while I was watching this was like, oh, Dak can kill these guys with play action and stuff like that, because especially like the boot actions and the waggles and stuff like that, where you get the whole defense going one way and bring it back like they weren't ready for that on any level. When Brian Hoyer was doing it, and that's Brian Hoyer.

That's without the talent that he has around him as well. Exactly like you know, I thought I said last week, Arizona was really aggressive, but they were disciplined. These guys, I just feel like they want to hit you and make a statement and worry about the rest of it later. Like it seems like just not a very disciplined group. Now it has turned into for them, it has turned into ten sacks, which they are now sixth in the

NFL in sacks. And I guess the big question from that is do you think the Cowboys can take this aggressiveness or will take this aggressiveness and use it against him? What does that ten? Or do you think that'll be a problem for this offense. Well, I think that it'll be both. I mean it'll be a problem because you know, they'll catch them on times when they're not ready and they'll probably get a few sacks here and there. But it's just like that game in twenty fourteen, if you

remember that they got up twenty one to nothing. I mean that their aggressiveness from generas Jenkins at the time got a pick six interception, but his aggressiveness also led to a touchdown by Dez Bryant that got him back in the game and turn things around, So you know,

aggressiveness will work both ways. I think what's interesting is that, you know, obviously you talk about Wade Phillips wanting to come in here and probably do some great things against the Cowboys as a former coach, But let's not forget that that Scott Lenahan on the other side of the ball, also coached the Rams as a head coach didn't work out as well. Might have something to prove too, even though these aren't the same Rams, same city or anything. But I still I guarantee it will be a nice

chess match between Lanahan and Wade Phillips. All Right, we're gonna take our first break. When we come back, I'm gonna ask the question, Dave. I heard you talking about how these particularly the particularly Brockers and Aaron Donald move around quite a bit, and I'm gonna ask the question, do you think that this can create a problem for the Cowboys seeing as though they can now try to use those guys to exploit the weaker links of that offensive line. We'll talk about that when we come back.

This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. We the entertainment loving people demand the best unlimited wireless plan ever from ATNT. What else do you want? Are you unicorn? Maybe? Only at and T offers you unlimited data with HBO included and never pay overages. Get ATNT Unlimited plus our best wireless deal and unlimited data plus save twenty five dollars

per month on direct TV. It's entertainment, You're right after twenty two three gods of data use and TAM Slow Speeds plan includes stream saving videos, will streaming standard definition unless you turn it off. Twenty five dollars DIRECTD savings across a t T Unlimited plus credits start with thin three bills. Service prices subject to change other usage speed fees, charges and restrictions. Supplies the att dot com slash unlimited

for details. Hey Cowboys fans, did you know that over the next few years more than a million service members will transition from military to civilian life. Veterans face unique challenges when they get out of the military, and Bank of America and the Dallas Cowboys are teaming up to help with financial education, career opportunities, and support of military nonprofits and organizations. Locally in North Texas and across the country.

We're proud to support our troops and are deeply grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of our service members and veterans. Bank of America Official Bank of the Dallas Cowboys invites you to join us in our efforts to get involved by tagging game day photos on social media using hashtag troop thanks. That's hashtag troop thanks, and by learning more about our commitment to veterans at Bank of America dot com slash Military Support. Together, we can thank our troops

in ways that make a real difference. Copyright twenty sixteen, Bank of America Corporation. It's bowling night with brands and you're hanging out together there butch of cravings of the better, but they're Depensie. You don't know what to do. Pepper. You have to believe Don Pepperer. When you crave a doctor Pepper, nothing else will do. Pick up an nice cold, twenty ounce bottle today, doctor Pepper, you crave. I hear all this talk about what it takes to be a cowboy.

Everyone's got their ideas, but I just say to myself, it's what's up top that matters. Sure, you need men with the muscle and heart to get her done. But if your scouts and coaches are listening out there a word of advice. Pick the man with the most well worn stetson. That's the one most cut out to be a cowboy. Stetson hats are handmade right here in Texas and have been on Cowboys heads for over one hundred

and fifty years. The rest of you can visit stetson dot com slash cowboy to find a retailer nearest you. Back to the Break, Welcome back. It's the second segment of The Break live from the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star, and we're talking about the Cowboys offense versus the Rams defense. Dave gave us a good breakdown there, and Dave, one of the things that you talked about is how they tend to move around Michael Brocker's and Aaron Donald two of their better players, right, baby, two

of the best players they have on defense. I would say definitely. And so my question is this offensive line. The Cowboys offensive line, We've talked a lot about it. There are two guys that are kind of new to their positions and so when I call them weaker links. It's not so much that I think they're bad players,

and I want to be clear about that. It's more about the fact that they are new to their positions in this offensive line and they're being compared to guys that are all pros in the other three positions, which is also called a weaker link. That's okay, I know, I know, but I don't want it to be you know, it can be construed as you're saying, well, they're a bum,

and I don't think that. I think they've actually played as well as the rest of the guys on that offensive line for the most part, because I think that game they played in Denver, you're all pros. We're having

some right. So so all that being said, all I'm saying is do you think that with those two guys particularly and being as good at players as they are, and because they can move around and play a lot of different positions, do you think that this creates an opportunity for them to exploit those weaker links more than say another team that wouldn't have that flexibility across their

defensive front. Yes. And if you're a fan of line play, I highly encourage you to get yourself a copy of game Pass and watched like all twenty two of these guys play, because it's really fun. Like, like I told you, where all they line up. But you think of defensive tackles as being like basically unathletic guys who just clog up the middle and try to force their way into the backfield. These dudes are athletic. Like you're talking about

your two main defensive tackles running twist stunts. They ran a twist stunt where they were both lined up at five techniques so on the tackle, and they crossed each other and rushed on the opposite tackle. Wait, they were on the outside, both of them on the outside on the other side. Donald has lined up on the inside shoulder of the left tackle and Brockers has lined up on the inside shoulder of the right tackle. And they

stunt and reverse and go at the other guy. And they were fast enough that they did it and it worked. I mean, I can't even fathom that. I don't think. I don't think essional game I don't think they didn't get a sack on the play, but like they got pressure and I saw it and I had to go back and watch it, like four task because everybody was confused, like I thought he was on the other side. How

did he get over here? So saying, and then but they can also, you know, they'll they'll play on Frederick, They'll play on Martin, They'll definitely play on Chaz Green. I'm sure they won't be I mean, they're not afraid of the matchup an whatsoever. I mean, everybody will have their hands full with these guys. And then on top of that, I mean, you know Lyle Collins, you know he's had his hands full on the right side throughout

the season of this point. I don't you know, Connor Barwin doesn't strike fear in your heart the way that von Miller does, but he's been very productive. He had a sack in this last game. I think a lot of that has to do with the attention that these other guys get. I mean, Robert Quinn had an eighteen or nineteen sacks season not all that long ago. So you're talking about guys who command a lot of respect and a lot of attention, and I think Barwin benefits

from that. So I think I think Lyle is going to have his hands full dealing with him as well as these other guys because The point I'm trying to make is that they can all line up anywhere. And going back to my original point from the very beginning is yeah, they call it a three four, but they basically play permanently in nickel because you got your down linemen, then you bring in your linebackers. Mark Baron and Ogletree are only they're the only true linebackers that are ever

on the field. So you're usually talking about at least four, if not five, guys that are trying to get to the passers. So offensive line is going to have its work cutout. It's like a huge game for Beasley. That's what it seems like to me. Well, yeah, actually, I was actually gonna go there next because it sounds like the strength of this defense is the front and if that's the case, then it sounds like there's an opportunity here in the passing game. Do you guys agree with that?

So who is the guy you said bast for you? Who's that guy that you think has to show up this week and make plays for them from it seems like if there is a lot of pressure, you know it's gonna be a situation where you know you'll see they'll be a nickel where they they'll play a deep but they're gonna make sure and prevent the big play. But it seems like the middle, the underneath stuff will be there, and that's where Beasley and Winton and those

guys really do their work. So I'd like to see them, you know, I think cold Beasley's gonna bounce back, and he didn't have a bad game, but he just wasn't targeted a lot. But I think that you'll see that this will be a game for him. I agree with that. I also I didn't come away from this impressed with Trumaine Johnson. He's a big guy, he's aggressive, he's physical. If he gets his hands on you, he's probably gonna tackle you. But he's I didn't I don't look at

him as like a shutdown corner. I mean, Pierre Garson had a nice night in this game. He had a couple of big gainers. He had a couple of plays where he was left uncovered for one reason or another. So I'm looking at this this will be the easiest matchup that Dez Bryant has by far through four weeks. And I'm not saying he's going to have one hundred and fifty yards or something crazy like that. But it should be far easier for him to get favorable looks

in this game than it has been. I think. Can I say something, No, I was I was coming to you. I was going to ask you, thank you, thank you. Now I was just gonna say I'm really not impressed by their defense. I'm not worried about it either. I know how you talked about a lot of these guys, and I do agree that they do have a lot of talent, but I don't think they've done enough with it.

I don't think they've been as productive. I was looking at all the stats and just kind of comparing with the guys we have on our defense, and what they've done has been fairly similar to what the Cowboys have done so far. And I think we can all agree they haven't been impressive the Cowboys, aside from the defensive line, which they the Rams don't have or havn't done nearly

as much as what our guys have done. Like DeMarcus Lawrence, which obviously we really know he's like the top guy right now, but as well as Malie Collins, so number wise and production wise, they just haven't done much to where um, I mean two words. Well, the one thing I will point out here is that Aaron Donald missed all training camp. He had a holdout, and so he's

having to kind of work himself into shape. And if you go back and look at how he performed last year, I don't think there's many people that would say that productively, he's not every bit as good, if not better than any defensive tackle you probably want to point to in

the NFL, including Malie Collins. Right, he is up there as one of the premier guys, so productively, I hear your point, but I think it's a little bit to that to looking at his statistics right now, that maybe a little MISSI I agree, because he's having to work in Yeah, yeah, I definitely agree. The one thing, it's like, I haven't seen it yet, so I'm I'm good as

of right now until I see it. And I don't think it'll be a problem if I mean, it'll be something that they'll face and they'll have a little bit of struggle there, but nothing that will make them lose the game. I actually I agree, and I mean I came in here and I still believe this, But I came in here and said, you know, these aren't your older brothers, Rams. They're way more talented than that. This isn't a team you can write off. I still think that's true. But for the talent they have here, the

production doesn't doesn't do it justice. And maybe you know Aaron Donald's two weeks in system and one of the more complicated systems in football. If if players are to be believed about Wade Field's defense, so maybe that's part of it. The forty nine ers big boyed them twice. They went forward on fourth and goal from the one twice and scored on scored touchdowns on both plays. Both just runs to Carlos hide where they knock them over and score a touchdown. It's a good sign for the Cowboys.

So and like I said, I mean, the secondary did not impress me in this game. There's a lot of talent here. I did think it was interesting. So this game, forty nine Ers scored to make it forty one thirty nine. They don't get the two point conversion, they recover the on side kick and then they so they go into a possession where they're near midfield with a chance to

go down and win the game. Aaron Donald just destroys his man, forces an incompletion right away, they send five, and the Niners run a screen that they sniff out immediately zone coverage on third and long. And then the last play of the game, which is like a fourth and eighteen after a questionable offensive pass interference call, but still Aaron Donald blows his man up and sacks Brian

Hoyer in the game. So when the chips are down, especially if you're in a situation where you have to throw the ball, that could be bad news, as it is with most really good defensive climate right. But I do think there's plenty here that the Cowboys should be able to take advantage of. And you talk about Zekiel Elliott being great at cutting back and moving in open space, I think their aggressiveness should play right into him. Like, I think there are plays to be made against these guys.

This sounds like a lot like the game last year against the Bengals a week about the same time of the year, Week four, Week five, they walk. They came in. The Bengals were I think at the time, like the best defensive line in football, yeah, and that they weren't allowing anything. And I think the Cowboys oh line took

it as a big challenge and they won obviously. And you know, Zeke's running sixty yards right through the middle of the defense, and so I just think this is this is one of those type of games where I'll be it'll be big on big, It'll be some really good talented players that the Rams have drafted to change their defensive line. The Cowboys drafted some really good offensive linemen to try to change with their line, and then this is kind of what you'll get. It'll be it'll

be one on right there, mano Imano. Yeah, strength, I don't know who. I don't know who. They were dominating, that's what's you said. That Like, in a one minute span on the fourth and one when they really needed to stop their offensive line, that from the Niners dominated them. But a fourth and seventeen eighteen they couldn't. They got dominated on the other end. So it sounds like speed and quickness, it's their strength. They can kind of get there when it's big on big and pushing people off

the ball. That hasn't really been the Cowboys strength though, knocking people back. So I would say this last year when they were in you know, short yard of situations, they were pretty good at it, So I guess that kind of fits right Leary. Huh with Leary? Okay, yeah, you're saying without Leary, it's a whole different thing. That's nixt guy. Yeah right. I would hate to think that the left guard can make that much of a difference. Sorry, Nate,

but I just think that something there's something here. He really wasn't the guy in twenty fifteen. He was the guy in twenty sixteen, and then now he's not in twenty seventeen, and we just they haven't been as good short yardage. Well, we have enough of a sample now we don't know that, not yet, but we're getting there.

I mean two and a half years. I almost no, no, no, I'm saying this season with with you got Chazz, and now I don't know that we've had enough of a samplifize in short yardists to say that they can't do it well this year. Were you not arguing a training camp that one guy wouldn't make a difference in this offensive line? That would have been me. I was arguing me, Yeah, you were. I think it was me. I know it

was me. I know, I said the Ron Leary fan club, So it was I definitely was on that that it's not because to me, I look at it and I say, if you got that talented, if those other guys play up to the level that we expect them to, then a left guard should not be able to platoon this thing. Yeah, I just don't think that's And I somewhat agree with that as well. I mean, I do agree that one position on the line's not going to change a whole lot.

But when it gets down to third and short, fourth and short and you really need to knock people off the ball, I'm behind him. I think, run behind him. They've done okay, But I do think we clearly have seen a change compared to what they We don't have enough aside. It's been three games, really really good. Okay, from what we've seen, we have seen a change that I don't think. I don't think. Schedule, huh, is there any bad defenses on the schedule? I mean, Giants, Broncos, Arizona,

they didn't have a great defense. Yeah they're kind of man, we'll see you next week then. Yeah. It seems like every team's got this great defense up front. Atlanta's not a great defense or whatever. It's undert we're in that score a ton of points. That doesn't really matter, right. Dak said yesterday that he thought these first three defenses were about as hard as it's gonna get, which I

don't know him. I will say this, though, Battle hasn't played as well as they've played in the past, Like they've had some games this year where their defense has given up a lot more points than your typically. I'm not even doing trying to worry about Christmas Eve right now, September twenty starget Christmas shopping. I have not I won't be home for Christmas, so I don't even need to

do any Christmas good point. Oh so just because you're not there, It's like I don't need to have a present for my parents, Like I'm not going to be there, so why do you need a present? You just gave me life much. Yeah, it's awesome. You're so sorry Mom and dad. You're a great son. I'll get them something, all right. Let's take our final break camp, Yeah exactly, let's take our final break. We'll come back. We'll get

some questions. You guys call us the numbers two one four eight seven two twenty one O two again two one four eight seven two twenty one O two. You can also hit us on Twitter at Cowboys Break. Wake up, Dave, We'll right back. This is the break. To work this big land, you need equipment with values rooted as deep in Texas soil as you are, like John Deer compact tractors with a six year power training warrant to him. Big features that help you work less so you have

more time to do what you love. John Deer was first in the Texas fields, and we're proud to be on the field as the official agg and turf equipment of the Dallas Cowboys. Find Texas sized deals at my John dear Dealer dot com. Slash football terms, conditions, exclusions, and warranty limitations apply, so you love for details. We the entertainment loving people, demand the best unlimited wireless plan ever from ATNT. What else do you want? Are you unicorn? Maybe?

Only at and T offers you unlimited data with HBO included and never payoverages. Get ATNT Unlimited plus our best wireless deal and unlimited data plus save twenty five dollars per month on Direct TV. It's entertainment. You're way after twenty two kidle bytes of data USA and TAMA Slow Speeds plan includes stream saving videos, will stream and standard

definition unless you're turning it off. Twenty five dollars during TV savings across AT and T unlimited plus credit start than three bills, service prices sujet to change other usage speed fees, charges and restrictions applies the att dot com slash unlimited for details. Star Sports Tours is the only official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, offering exclusive game weekend travel packages with sideline access and photo ops

with current players, alumni and cheerleaders. That's not all, though, You'll get to talk xs and those with Senior Director of Player Personnel Will McClay and of course with yours truly me, Brian Broadest. You can trust the official fan travel partner the Dallas Cowboys, and with us you'll travel like a pro. Is it Cowboys travel dot com to book your travel package today. Back to the break, Hey, Nick, What's what's one of the most important components of football?

Um scoring points? I was thinking more about ball security. Okay, speaking of ball security, Tommy John underwear, I think goes hand in hand. He goes hand in hand. Uh, it's very comfortable, it's very secure. Feels like you're wearing nothing at all, but really keeps everything in order. I'm actually wearing the promotional pair that I got yesterday right now, and I'm very satisfied and very comfortable. Promotional pair. Yeah, you mean like they gave it to people that actually

do reads and stuff. They well, most of us, people that they care about. Yeah, people that they feel like we're like family. Your package is in the mail, I'm sure, and I package, I package is secure. This is so I love that every day. Was that better than put Tommy John on your end zone underwearth we hadn't talked about that part of it on your Yeah, don't forget

about the tush. Yeah, it's a fantastic product. And I'll say whatever ridiculous stuff they want if they keep sending, Yeah, keep sending them because they're actually very comfortable and I actually enjoy wearing them. So anyway, and where you got anything to chime in on that one? I see you? All right, I'm biting my tongue. Just stop, okay, all right, let's let's move on. Let's get some questions. You guys call us the numbers two one four eight seven two twenty one O two. You can also hit us on

at Cowboys break. Let's get a Let's get a question from Twitter Amber. Has Jordan Lewis jumped Nolan Carroll on the depth chart because of his recent play? We know Carol is right now, it's looking like we're gonna know question. Would you start him right now? If both are healthy? Would you start Jordan Lewis over Nolan Carroll? It is all sample size, but I think so. I think so too. But now we're getting into what the cowboys would do,

right I don't care what the cowboys are doing. I'm asking what you would do, But don't you want to know what's more likely to happen? Yeah, kind of, but they just don't. They just don't do that because there's no need for it. There's Jordan Lewis, is this young guy that that's had some injury concerns too, and you know he's just just stay hungry, you know. Okay, this

is the way it works. And Nolan Carroll comes back in and he got hurt and because he you know, I don't think it's a long leash, but I think no one Carroll would come back to his spot if he had another game, Like the part of the game before he got injured in Denver. Do you think at that point the Cowboys, I'm just gonna talking about them, you think they would make that move at that point, They've got to make some roster moves here and and that just took the show with a whole different direction.

We don't we don't even go there. We don't need It's really easy, huh, that really is actually just do it. But again again, okay what you would do versus what the Cowboys, right, But what I'm saying is is that I don't think Nolan Carroll would be completely safe from that in my opinion, really like as in they would just outright cut him. I mean, Cheeto to be healthy, I need strides from Mark Marquez White on the practice squad,

just just not necessarily to bring him up. But if you need it, about it maybe, But does it have anything to do with how well benabin Wickery can play?

Does this play? I mean, but I'm saying, I'm saying, if you're thought, if you're talking about the possibiliar Carroll going away, that you kind of want that vet that's gonna be here with Orlando to be I mean, I mean, you're gonna cut ben A before you cut Carol, I don't and I mean I see the logic, but I just don't think they would cut no Carol, not in season. He's a veteran. May if if Jordan Lewis had played all of training camp and had just whooped him and

totally claimed that job. Maybe, But you're in season now, where anything can happen week to week. I mean, they're already dealing with injuries, and the thought of cutting one of two guys that has really been through the grind of an NFL season over and over again, a veteran guy, Yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. That's I mean, it's it's not you know, he's got like

three million and guarantees or something like that. It's not even like this is some big obnoxious contract that you you know, that you have to get off the books. I don't think that makes a ton of sense now that you're playing week to week. But you know, and I agree with Nick, the Cowboys are always more likely to lean toward the veteran in a situation like this, in my opinion. But if he gets back in the lineup and looks as bad as he did in Denver.

I mean, once it's hindering your ability to play a good defense, they'll that's not a long leash at all. All right, let's get a phone call from Jorge in Mexico City or Hey, what up guys? Hey, Well, first of all, want to say Amber, we gave a great Latino touch the Verter. We just make it even better. Thank you. Now to get to football, I have a comment in the question. The comment is you carting the play calling with Scott Linehan. I know Dak's a really,

really good quarterback. I know it's gonna be great some day, but I just feel you still learning, still developing, And I feel like the play calling they're taking is like they want to make some a pure, pure pocket catch, which I think it's not radiot. I mean, he's gonna be rady today, but it's things that should get back to what they did Latin in the first team, with

the boots, the waggles, you can seat. I mean, he's a mobile quarterbacks and uh, I feel like the decent sets are are challenging us to to make some pocket tatters. But I mean they're they're they're getting the best of us. And my question is and then you guys get to the ton, But uh, are we still sure that we like called layout Collins were right tackles? Can we just go back to what we did in twenty fifteen? Guard over to the cycle decisions? All right, thanks for the call.

First of all, let's still go back to anything from twenty fifteen. Let's let's don't do anything about twenty fifteen to go back to UM you know with their four win season. They're already halfway there with two wins, So I that sounded good. But then who's your right tackle? Well, he's saying, kick Chaz back out. But here's deal, it's not gonna happen. Guys, that's not gonna happen this season that we're gonna happen. That's an offseason thing. They are

unless there's injuries. They are set that Lyle Collins is going to be their right tackle and Chaz Green is going to be their left guard. The way that you say that, though, is kind of like, well, they're not gonna cut Kellen Moore. Like you, you think it should happen, but it won't, and I disagree because you made this decision. We answered this in the mailback this morning. Actually, like

you made this decision. We all said heading into the season that Lyle would probably have his growing pains and not be an all pro from the get right. That has played out fletely to form. He hasn't been terrible, he hasn't been great. He's had his struggles, he's had his wins again. But again, when you're you're into the season now, where you're playing a game every sixth day, why are you trying to shuffle this thing. You're only going to get better by giving these guys reps where

they are. That's the only way this is gonna work. And it hasn't been as good as last year. And I think that troubles people because it's a lot of fun when you're dominating the way that they did last year. But they haven't been bad by any stretch of the imagination. They just they've been okay. And just to be clear, I wasn't saying they should but they won't. I was okay, I was saying they should not and they won't. You're wording, I believe you're wording made it sound like you were

saying they should, but they won't. No, no, And I guess the reason why I was kind of coming off like that is because I was trying to express to him that this is kind of a moot point. For those people that are out there that believe like him, it's a moot point. They're not going to do that. That doesn't make sense and how NFL teams are run. But if you think about it logically, that's not the

smart call at this point. I mean, if you get through the whole season and then you decide that this really probably isn't going to work long term, come talk to me. But I think this thing is playing out exactly how you probably thought it should or you should have thought it, yeah, which is that these two guys are having their growing pains, but they're getting the job done more often than not, and they'll get better with

playing time. I don't think shuffling the lineup and hoping that it's magically better is the right way to do it. The first part of that, I think that it was a good that's a good observation about Dak and what they're doing with him in the pocket. And yes, they are trying to do that, and it's not just to try to develop him from that standpoint to be a good pocket passer. It's because that will help the offense if he can stand in there and make some throws.

And I think he's shown that he can do that. But in that game against the Cardinals, it was clear that they had to move him. He needed to move to make plays. He needed to run. All of the touchdowns or three other than the one with Dak, I mean with Zeke, but the three touchdowns were a product of his legs. He was rolling right throwing or running and flipping into the end zone. I think that they kind of realized that in that game, and I think you'll see a little bit more of that. Something else

I would throw in. And this isn't me trying to be amateur scout. This is from conversations I've had here with people. It's harder to do that type of stuff when you're playing three or four teams. You're talking about outside linebackers that play like why to the title, they played disciplined, and they're gonna be there every time. You're gonna be right in your quarterback's face when he's trying to do that stuff. And you've seen it play out so far this season, even and it's worked a couple

of times. But when Dak has done those actions. He's had guys in his face from the get Yeah, some of that it happened against Arizona too. Like I said, sometimes the players still worked, but it's not like it was really faking anybody out. So I think, you know, I think you'll still see it, and I think it'll

work better when they play some more traditional style defenses. Yeah, and I think that that run that he had, that the touchdown run, to me, that's more kind of what you want to do if you're gonna use him with his legs. Is it's it's not always going to work on the boots, like you said, when you got a team that either it's really fast or they're keeping somebody

in to kind of spy him. I think in those kind of situations, you gotta get from point A to point being the fastest way you can, which is a straight line, and so you fake the run and then you just let him take off, take off into a hole that he sees, rather than having to boot out to the outside where the defender can then float out there with him. So I think they just got to

mix it up and give a good mixture. And I think if they do that and use his legs not all the time, but use his legs in good situations. And I think there's a way to make this, make this thing better and make him more effective as a quarterback. What helps the Cowboys probably promability to She was just throwing her. Is that the question that you're asking throwing the collar? I said something I understand Amber, Like I don't speak Spanish, but I know what she's the Amber whisperer.

It's just because I do those videos with her after the games. I will say this when I'm editing those videos and I'm postgame with Dave, I'll be speaking Spanish and he's like, he'll make facial expression. Is that it's all context clues, Like you can you pick out a word or like, you know, like the word Mexico is the same in Spanish and English, Like you pick that out? Shut up? Context clues. You can figure out a sentence in another language if you can understand like three words. Anyways,

it's pretty good. And see miss Brian brought us that I can work. Well, are you saying that I'm not good when I'm done that? Oh? Like, like I don't have the experience of listening to that. It's a great point. Apparently, not because you have no clue what I say. Anyway, if you put me on camera, I'd be able to do it. Don't ask me to do videos with you, so you're too busy like figuring out how do they making sure I'm good at it? Though? Right? No? No, okay, guy?

So what helps the Cowboys probability to win? Converting third downs to keep the chains moving or red zone efficiency? They've been pretty bad at converting third downs, haven't they. I don't know about for the season. Yes, Denver game they were horrible. Now we're focusing in this coming yet, but I'm saying just as a train third and long. They were two and nine. What's what's third and long in the NFL? Like a third and lungs at ten? I thought third and seven or eight six or more? Yeah,

you know what? They're converting on third and long like the percentage wise six percent awful, six percent last than the league two for nine on third down against Arizona two for nine and that was their best game of the seat. Well, I don't guess. That just means on first down they're not really running the ball very well. First down, second down, they're getting behind the change, does it? Yes, because well, but because if they get in third one,

third and two, it's more manageable. They can get these but they're not. They're not getting to third and one and third and two that's the times they get to third down. If they're converting second downs more frequently, then I'm saying they're not running the ball well to start it off, they're they're getting themselves behind the chains early in the in the down and distance, and then it's the next thing you know, it's third and ten, third

and eleven. It's not working. I completely agree. So, but to answer the question, um, it's it's more important to move the chains on third down. It's more important than it is in red zone. I think because you can always kick a field goal and you're going to make it. Let's so, if you don't get it on third and four from midfield, then you have to punt. If you don't get it on with the nineteen yard line, you kick a field goal. I think that's eric you don't

never get to the nineteen. No, I mean, I don't think that that one necessarily necessitates the other. Yeah, I think that, yes, they both are problems for them right now. First down is a problem for them right now. Third down is a problem for them right now. I don't know that first down necessarily equates to always to third

down success. So I don't know if I agree with that part of it, but I get your gist, and that's why I didn't really argue to because first to get you just a first and tend to start the game Zeke for negative one second and eleven, Zeke for one, so you're in third and ten. Next possession, Zeke up the middle for negative three. Second and thirteen pass incomplete, so you're in third and thirteen. Next drive, first and ten offsides brings you to first and five. Zeke runs

on first and five for no gain incomplete. They converted that probably because it was second and five, first and ten complete, the terrence for eight, Zeke up the middle for one, and then that third and one Zeke busts a thirty yard game. They haven't been great on first down, and I agree with that. That's why I just said. I just said there's they have a problem on first down, they also have a problem on third down. One doesn't necessarily cause the others. What I'm saying, there's not a

causal relationship between the two. If they don't get at least like three yards on first down. I'm calling that a wash. Like I'm just I'm assuming something bad's going to happen based on what we've seen. So how does first down not affect third down? Like there? No, No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is there there are times when they get the third down that it's not about first down. And there are also times

when they convert on second down. So even if they didn't do much on first down, they convert on second down, so it doesn't matter, So you never factor that into the third down conversion rate. Yeah, I'm saying. Well, so all I'm saying is yes, they I think we're all agreeing from the standpoint. They got a problem on first down, they got a problem on third down, and they got to fix both of them because I think they're both an issue for them right now. Okay, what are the Cowboys?

What is the chances that the Cowboys used Seek the way Minnesota is using Cook. I haven't really watched them play much other than Monday nine. I assume that means more as a receiver, I mean, because it seems like Cook is I mean, I know Dalvin Cook is off to a good start, which you've said you kind of wanted to see the Cowboys. Yeah. I mean Zeke has gotten three or four receptions, I think, or three or four chances at a reception in every game that they've

played so far. But I still don't think it's enough. Like I don't. I don't think it's creative enough. You know what I was encouraged by though this week that twice they ran the you know we were talking to last week. I mentioned that angle, Yeah, where they kind of run, they flare him out and then he cuts back into the middle, And they did it twice last week.

And I'm really thinking if they just start doing things like that a little more, find routes that he can get open on, find routes where you isolate him in man coverage against a linebacker, he should win that matchup. And that's what you're talking about from a standpoint of creativity. If they can find those kinds of things and not just always whenever he gets a pass it's just the flair. We're only going to get two or three yards at

the best. Then I think that's where you're going to see more production out of the running game for ridicularly, I would like to and I know that they did try to get him the ball on a couple of those, but I would still like to see him used more creatively as a receiver. I agree it just when he goes out, it seems like it's always as a decoy and they try to screen with him and it didn't work out. But more often than not, it just seems like it's a dump off that isn't really designed to

get more than three or four yards. It seems like a screen ought to be able to work, like they ought to be able to be really good this team. You can screen them if they're that aggressive. Yes, I man misdirection delayed any anything out of the ordinary delays misdirection play action leaf licker. It should work against these guys. These guys only care about My team tried that in the game the other day, and were you just jumping up and down. You didn't care about the result. You

were just like they did. Well, here's here's a part of it. You better get it blocked, okay, if you can't block, and then you're only wasted more time. So Larkansas tried it against A and M. They didn't work because they can't block. So that so did you get the ball knocked around? Quarterback caught it and then he had to duck and go underneath and throw it over

the middle. Nothing happened. Now get it blocked first. A fleeflicker that doesn't work is like such a It's so disappointing because like you see the quarterback get the ball, you know, oh, oh my god, fleeflicker and then it's just you he gets backed or it doesn't go anywhere, and then you're like, the way it works, it's like, well, I won't see that for a while. Try that. Not gonna do that again this season. All right, we appreciate you guys. Join us. We're back tomorrow morning, nine thirty am.

We'll get you guys ready with our final predictions on the game. Cowboys will take on the RAM Sunday at noon. Until then for Nick Eatman, Dave Hellman, Ambergarci. I'm Derek Eagleton. This has been the Break Live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio Award. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.