Cowboys Break: Is 12-4 Possible?

we got a lot to get into today. Since we haven't been on the air in a while, I thought it would be a good idea for us to start with some questions. I have a little game I'm gonna play. It's it's gonna be a fill in the blank. I have four questions, or actually four sentences for you guys, and I will leave a blank and I'll ask each of you guys to fill in that blank. All right,

So let's start with the first one. We've arrived in sunny Oxnard, and expectations for this team are blank, Nick, very high, very high, very high, higher than they've been in the last ten years. Got it, Dave? Sky high? Oh, very high in sky high? Okay? I high, right, Amber, I don't know how to surpress that in my English vocabulary doesn't expand that much. But to the Galaxy, Yeah, I mean we talk about contracts, we talk about young guys are are making creating a new team, and yes,

that's fresh and everything. He's exciting, but that's not necessarily the case for Jason Garrett, who is coming to an end of from his contract. So this is a very important year. It's either he makes it or he doesn't. Everything that's happened since last season indicates that the divisional rounds not good enough. The head coach won the division and got to the second round of the playoffs, he does not have a new deal. As it stands right now, everybody and their mother on this team is asking for

astronomical amounts of money. Whether it's the running back who's not here, or the quarterback, or the receiver or even you know, guys like Jalen Smith that aren't on the radar. They want money too. It sounds like they got a hell of a lot of good players, and it sounds like they're not happy enough with their coach getting to the second round of the playoffs. They've added a couple

Pro bowlers in the off season. Yeah, like, what what about what they've done suggests that the expectations or anything other than high. All right, So with that being said, we all agree expectations are extremely high. What's the biggest threat, Well, the biggest threat to this expectation is blank, Nick, I think it's injury. I mean, I know that's probably an easy thing to say, but but you know, like Dave said, this is a really good roster. It was a good

roster last year. It got better. We think it got better this year with Frederick coming back, went and coming back, Randall Cobb, Robert Quinn. So the thing that's gonna stop it is injuries, and especially at positions were the backups just it's a huge drop off and so that I think that that's going to derail most teams, especially this one,

because it's very top heavy with good players. I don't know from one to fifty three how great it is amber, you know, going back to injuries, that is something that always scares me when you think about guys that ask for big contracts, and we have several guys that are in that situation right now. And I always go back to like dus Brian and what happened to him when he asked for a contract and then he got injured.

And for some reason, that always stays in my mind, like when you have a big contract coming up, there may be a possible injury coming up, and then all of a sudden you're screwed. So I would say injuries as well. Injuries is an eternal answer. Of course, I agree with that. But if that's not it, then it's coaching. I just said it. They've had three straight winning seasons, They've won the division two out of the last three years.

Jason Garrett has been to the second round of the playoffs twice, no three times, three times, and there is not a fan base in the history of sports that is less satisfied with the coach of a guy with those credentials. Clearly, ownership might not light the ownership wants him to succeed. Jerry Jones says that all the time, but not so much that they're going to hand out

a deal ahead of time. And you know, Jerry Jones kind of made a joke of it, not wanting to talk about what's good enough for Jason Garrett to get a new deal. He said, he was like, I can't hear you, what next question? On top of that, I mean what we scapegoaded Scottlandahan last year for a mediocre to bad offense. It's all on Kellen Moore. Now. I think people are pretty excited about what he might do, but now it's time to prove that. So we just said,

how many great players does this team have? The expectations are sky high, assuming everybody's healthy. It's gonna be coaching that holds them back in my opinion. You know, the one thing that Jason Garrett and his teams have not done, but really this franchise hasn't done, and I think it's about twenty years, maybe more twenty three years, is they haven't won the division back to back years. When the expectations are there and you've done well, they haven't handled

success very well. I know in OH seven they were thirteen and three lost to the Giants, and then in O eight there were supposed to be a really really good team three and oh to start and then and then it just it tanked. And so you know, I think that's one thing this team has to do, is the target is on their chest number. You know, good schedule, really good schedule for what it looks like right now and at first place, schedule and you've got to be able to handle that, and so far in the last

twenty something years, they have not done that. So that's gonna be a big thing. And for whatever the reason, I don't think it's injuries every year. I just don't think it's handling success the right way. So now go ahead. I was just gonna add, so, Okay, I don't think any of us really think that Zeke is gonna hold out for that long. But if that was to happen,

I mean, do you believe that everything changes for this team? Yes, yes, if he's if he's not here when the games start, absolutely and he and he knows that, and that's the only thing that's gonna really matter on this is this August sixth deadline or whatever. I don't think we'll do anything. I think he's gonna have to go all the way into September and threaten to lose some games, because we know if you miss one game, if you lose one game you're not supposed to like to the Giants at home,

that could change everything. That could be ten and six to nine and seven, and now you're out of the playoffs. And we'll get into that a little bit deeper when we get into Zeke, I want to talk a lot about what's happening with Zeke Elliott continuing on those line of questionings though, although those sentences, despite those big threats, Blank should give the Cowboys confidence that they will reach

their goal. Amber should give confidence. Well, I mean, I'm confident on what Amari Cooper can bring to the offense. Let's say, whatever happens with Zeke, I know that Amri showed a lot last year and this year should be better, especially with him asking for a contract. Also, Dak Prescott, the way that he has improved. I feel that this is the first time since he's been here where we've been able to see a significant change growth. This is the first time that he has a noticeable growth since

he's been here. At his footwork. He keeps talking about that and John Kinna what he has been coaching up and how that has been helping him. So I have confidence that at least the passing game should improve this year and they would be able to rely on or lean on that a little more this year. Dave, the talent that you have on hand, I mean, you know, whether it's Dak Prescott taking another step forward, which I think he will, whether it's even if it's a small edition.

But I think having Jason wittenback can help you in small measures. Obviously, Travis Frederick is enormous. You add him to the other All pros on this offensive Linemari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Ezekiel Elliott, who I do think will be there when it matters. And then you know the defense. You got some of the brightest young stars in the NFL on that side of the ball, whether it's Jalen, whether it's Late and Vander esh I think Byron Jones

and DeMarcus Lawrence. That's something to watch. But I think they'll they'll be more ready than not as far as injuries go. So what I mean what you got like eight of the top one hundred players in the league. You got five All Pros and eight Pro Bowlers. I mean, yeah, the talent is going to carry this team and hopefully, like I said, hopefully the coaching goes with it. What you give the Cowboys confidence sake. I don't think the backbonus changed. I think of the offensive line is going

to still give me confidence for this team to do well. Um. Yeah, obviously Zeke makes a big difference. I don't think that the backups here would be able to sustain it and do it as as good of a job. I don't think they. They would probably get some outside help. But I think whoever it is we've seen de Marco Murray can set records behind the line, Darren McFadden can can rejuvenate his career behind the line, and I think you know, the special backleg Zeke can take it to another level.

But I still think this offensive line and if Frederick can get back, I think offensive line is gonna gonna help that do his job. Cooper and whatever running back is back there, but I we'll talk more about and at least we feel good about the backup seeing the offensive line. Yeah, when you talk about injuries, at least you have guys that you are like, not, oh my god, we're screwed. He's gonna be a good player. If there's if there's one spot where you feel good about the depth,

it's got to be that offensive line. YEA. All right, So final sentence that you'll fill in the blank. My way too early on the record. Prediction for this team is Dave, Oh you start with me, all right, don't get mad at me. I think this is a ten or eleven win team. I really do. But I think this is a ten or eleven win team that's sharing the division with one of the best rosters in the league in the Philadelphia Eagles. So right now, July twenty eight, I think they win ten or eleven games and it's

only good enough for a wild card. Okay, Amber, Um, I hate this. I'm just gonna go with eleven. I think that sounds about Yeah, eleven sounds about good. It sounds good. Yeah, eleven and five. Dave is ten and six? You're eleven and five? Yes, all right, Nick, I'm I'm ten and six and that. And that's gonna be hard, you know, with with some of the teams that they have to face. But you know, just when you when you throw in the Redskins and the Giants and you know,

just you're saying those are easy wins. No, I'm not. I'm just saying those games are always tough. They're always tough, and so you know when and every team's got division, you know, games like that. But but you know, who knows what the Jets and Dolphins and Bills and they're gonna do. But I know what the Patriots are gonna bring um. You know, they'll win some of those games, they'll lose some a couple that they should not. I think ten and six and I I don't know, ten

and six might win the division. I mean it did last year. It did. I think ten and six is and again this is Stills Parcels line from by fifteen years ago. I think this is gonna be a much better team than last year. The record may not show it, but it will be a better team. I do agree with that, because I mean ten and six would be the same record as last year, but I think this team will look more impressive even if they finished with that record. There are a lot of topics we need

to hit, and none is bigger than Ezekiel Elliott. It started when we first saw you don't have to make a prediction. Would you like me to make it? Yes? Yea, if we're all putting our butts out there, Yeah, okay, all right, I'm gonna go with their fifteen and one. No no, no, okay, sorry, I'm gonna go with twelve and four because the way I look at the way I look at this team, what they did in the second half of the year last year, was really impressive.

It would have been a better record than that if they could have sustained that four full year before they got a Mark or after they got a Mark Cooper. But I actually think they got better. I think really the big one is the adding of Robert Quinn. I think you've now given yourselves two legitimate top end pass rushers on either side. I think you've got guys that can spell those guys who still can get some pressure.

If what we're hearing about Randy Gregory suggests that he really will be back and playing for this team, I feel really good about what you got. The pass rush I think you got. I actually expect a little bit more this year from a guy like Malie Collins and a contract here we see this happen all the time. Guy's getting contract years, and all of a sudden they're playing in a much better level than they were before.

You got those two linebackers in the middle, who are, in my opinion, two of the best in the league, and they are young and they are only going to be getting better. I think the secondary, I'm very excited to see what Xavier Woods can do, so I think

the defense is really air. That gives me a lot of confidence to say I think this team is even better than it was last year at in even the guys that you brought back with your Trivis Fredick coming back from injury, Randall Cobb being signed, I think you've got a lot of weapons to make this team even

better than they were last year. I know the schedule is going to be tough, but I think that's also what separates the good teams from the teams that are up there is the teams that can actually figure out a way to get wins. And I think this team is mentally tough. I think they'll be able to manage that. I think I can get to twelve wins. You got me believing after that field, so we'll see if that actually works out that way. But I do think we need to talk about Zeke Elliott. There are a lot

of unknowns in this story. But I do think that one thing that stood out to me in the opening press conference, and that's how I want to frame our conversation is we heard three different things from the three primaries on this Jerry, Stephen and Jason, and I thought it gave these three different perspectives of how you look at situations like this, and I want us to talk

about talk about it from that standpoint first, Jerry. The whole mantra of what Jerry was saying, I think, and you guys can correct me if you took something else from from his words, But I thought, really what he's focused on was the fact that, look, I'm in speaking as I'm Jerry. I'm not worried about this. This is business as usual. I've been doing this for thirty years. This is a part of the business in football. Pro football is a business. So there's nothing to be worried

about at this point. We'll negotiate, we'll talk about it, we'll figure out what we're gonna do. There really are no words at this point. Is that what you guys took from from his words? As a general I think I need to direct quote though, because it was such a flex when he was like, this is the air we breathe, like this is our life. Like you know, y'all can stress about it if you want to, but this is nothing to me. Which yeah, no, I mean

you yeah, one hundred percent, that's what they're saying. And I also think, you know, that's kind of his I'm not call it arrogance, but I mean, they sit up there, they know more than us, and they know that, and so it's like, even if they were worried about it, they're not, you know, gonna say it right there because there's no reason to worry about it then. But if

we're in a month, they'll be worried about it. And that's why I you know, that's why I think that if Zeke's gonna be serious about this, then you know, he's gonna have to wait a little bit longer, you know, I don't think I mean, if they were to say, hey, he's not coming back until you know, August six, it's like, great, can't get hurt, you get in trouble. But you know, you could do that anywhere, you know what I mean, You're ain't gonna get hurt, which is kind of a

good thing. So so should fans be more concerned? I know Jerry's not concerned from the standpoint that he's done this before. He knows these things tend to work themselves out. But let's assume for a second that Zeke takes the route that you're talking about, and now it pushes into

the season because he really has to play. He feels like he really has to play hardball right now, when he may feel like this is his best leverage should be fans be concerned that that could play out, and then you go into the season without one of your best players, if not your best player. If I was a fan, I would probably think about this the same way that I think Jason Garrett is, which is to say, right here in Oxnard, cool, he's not gonna get hurt.

We'll get a better look at Darius Jackson and Tony Pollard and Mike Weber and Jordan Chun. You know, see what these guys got. Maybe they'll do something for this year. Maybe they could be trade bait when roster cuts come. This is this is a net positive. We're gonna see what these guys got. And you get back from Oxnard if he's still not there, it's like, I don't love this, you know, kind of it's in the back of my mind now, you know, I'd like to see my guy.

I'd like to know he's getting reps, but is he in shape? Still not freaking out because we got two more weeks so that's fine. And then you know, roster cuts and now we're prepping for the Giants. He's still not here. Now we're ringing alarm bells. Now we're freaking out, We're not sleeping at night. That's I mean, Jason Garrett won't admit that, but that's how he's going to approach this. I feel very confident, and that's how I would feel

as I was a fan too. If we're game planning for the Giants and we're not making moves to get him back, then it's time to panic. Until then, I'm kind of I'm cool to see what the rest of these guys have. You know, what worries me is the fact him not being here and where he's at right now, the people that he's with are gonna be in his ear. These people his agents are wanting money. They get money from him. So it's like having those people around you

telling you like, this is what you should do. You know, we should this is the game plan and stuff. You start putting those thoughts in your head and then you start acting that way towards that specific goal, you know, as opposed to let's say, okay, this is a different story. The Marcus Lawrence's hurt. That's different, and he has a contract obviously, but he mentioned that him being here is

completely different than when you're at home. So the thought of that aspect of it, I wonder how that would affect his thought process. Yeah, we're playing the Dolphins in Week three at home and the Dolphins have gone down and scored a touchdown. That's where we are. In my opinion, that's like, Okay, well, you know, plenty of time I got to come back and on that. But yeah, quarter and they've got the ball and the night we're in

trouble worried? Yeah not yet. All right, let's talk about Steven Jones his I think the takeaway from Steven was, in my opinion, camps where these things get done. And he made that point. Um, if you haven't seen our show special edition, Dave, you had to sit down with him and ask him about that as well. And I think they'd be interviewing Steven all year. He will be

interviewing It'll be your weekly We could give um. But but I think the point of that was that and we've seen this, those of us have been covering the team for a while. You've seen that. Like there have been number of guys that have gotten deals during training camp. This tends to be the area the time when the Cowboys kind of dig in on those a little bit and see if they can get something done. That all

being said, he's not the only deal. There are a lot of new deals that have to be done, particularly with DAK and to Mary. So talk to me a little bit about the timing of this and how that might affect what's happening with DAK and with the Mark. A big difference between the guys you're alluding to, Tyrant Smith, Zach Martin, Travis Frederick and then the two guys that are here that they're here, you know, And I think that one thing that the Jerry and Stephen have proven

is that you're not going to strong arm them. You're just not. I mean him and even went two games twenty five years ago and they had to lose both of those games for it to happen. So I think he would have probably been better served to say, listen, I have a big problem with this, and then if they can say, yah, come in, let's get this thing done.

Let's talk about it. You know. But but I don't know if they're gonna hit the panic button now because they're not gonna let the whole team though that that's what you gotta do to set precedence, so I might this might be a little tougher to get done now because he's done this. I want. I mean, I wonder

and that's why I do, you know. And Stephen and Jerry Jones both kind of said like, look, we're gonna talk about all of this today and then we're not going to talk about it again, which if you read between the lines, kind of says like we're preparing for this to last for a little while. You know, if they're gonna get it, if they're gonna talk about it Friday and get it done Sunday, then they don't care. But they're like, look, we're not gonna do this for

three weeks, which is probably what's going to happen. I honestly, if I'm looking at this from Zeke's perspective, I do think this is probably the way to do it, because they've got enough other stuff to worry about with Dak's one hundred and thirty million dollar contract and Amri's ninety million dollar contract that yeah, you keep going, you got you gotta stand up and do something to make them

take notice. And yeah, it would be cool if he was a team player and came in and he was here and they were still talking about it, but he got some aggressive advice from his aid. It might not have been the best advice in the world, but it damn sure is making the cowboys take notice. I'll tell you that. Yeah, hold on, Nimber, before you say that,

I agree with you. What I meant is, I don't think he can get this deal done like right now or in a week or so by doing that, I think he could have maybe behind closed door and say listen maybe. But but I actually agree with what a Zeke is doing. I really do. I want to get that out there. I think he should ask for more money, he should do it now. And and I've said all along I thought he should be the top priority, and

so I think he's got leverage. I don't look at it like mah, he's he's he should honor a contract. I hate that argument. Alan hearns they didn't honor his you know, and he did everything he could get back. They don't honor contract. What it is is not At the end of the day, you have to look out for yourself. Cowboys to look out for themselves, and you as a player, you have to look out for yourself. This is a business business, right, I think he's doing

I actually think he's doing the right thing. But by doing this, I don't think this is going to be a quick fix. I think he's gonna have to go into September. I'm because if if in two okay, well yeah, I guess seem no into September, but I mean that's game week. That's game week starts on the second. I think, when when are you gonna be in Austin. I'm gonna be in No LSU, Texas is the seventh. That's the Saturday before the opener horns down. We can have that

conversation against it. Okay, Yeah, I'm fine. It's a flag. Um so September Labor Day. Roster cuts will be August thirty. First, Yeah, you start looking, you start working towards the Giants on September first and second, that's okay. YouTube mention. You think it'll still I mean, okay, I could see that. I hope not. That sounds stressful. Obviously, don't though. I don't think it's gonna last that long. I don't either, But then what's the point. Here's the I'm not I'm not

saying he's gonna he's gonna Cave. What I believe is, um, I think when you have two parties that both want the same thing, which is they both want Zeke to be here, I think that gives them reason to say, Okay, let's figure this thing out. It's when you run into problems, is when you've got kind of mismatched expectations. You got one side that wants to be there more than the other, right, and then it's kind of like, well, yeah, I kind of want it, but I don't really want it, And

that's when you got problems. Both of them firmly want Zeke to be here, and so if both the Cowboys and Zeke's representatives want the same thing, they'll figure out how to make it work. And I honestly don't believe that. I think there are probably a few things that they have to try to figure out where they may be far apart. They all know he's gonna get paid. They all know he's probably gonna get something. I would guess they would all know he's gonna get something in the

range if not more than Todd Gurley. What they got to figure out is how you divvy that up. What's the guaranteed money, how do you create language that protects the cowboys in the event that Zeke Runt finds himself running a file of the commissioner. Those are the kinds of things I would expect are probably going to be the negotiating points. But again, if everybody wants to get there, Usually when negotiate Asians are like that, he works itself out.

So I think they're gonna come to a conclusion here, and I would I would suspect personally give it two weeks. I would think they probably get a deal, and you're hearing, hey, there's a new deal for Zeke out there, That's what I would guess. I'm fascinated because Stephen Jones is pretty blunt, like I mean, he's not gonna tell you everything, but

like you can piece some of the stuff together. What was fascinating to me was on Friday he was talking about all three of these guys, you know, Daka, Mari, and he was like, these will get done, Like this is not a matter of if it's gonna happen, Like he said, we're gonna come to an agreement with Amari quote for sure, and Zeke he's you know talking about you know, like we gotta make it work for both of us. Same thing for Dak. It's not a matter of like, well, you know, we might want to play

a franchise tag with this guy. I know, it sounds like they very much plan on getting this done. And then after the press conference, Stephen Jones is like, all three of these guys have offers on the table, and we're bas like, which is to say, we're waiting for their counter offer, which is to say, if you really read between the lines, they're saying we're not interested and

like they want too much right now. You know, that's kind of the whisper on Dak's deal and its negotiations, of course, and it's a very poorly kept secret, Like it certainly seems like Amari Cooper's team is waiting to see what Michael Thomas and Julio Jones get paid, which I don't blame them at all, because Michael Thomas is

holding out as well. So it's one of those things where like it's going to take a minute for these dominoes to fall, but once they do, like I wouldn't be shocked if all three of these guys are signed before the season starts. I don't know if that will happen, but it would not surprise because again, the cowboys want

that to happen. Yeah, cowboys want all these three guys, and they want them under contract, and they want them under longer term contracts so they feel good about where they are right now and where they are in the next couple of years. One press conference that would be all three. How you talk about from a market standpoint, markability? If they did that, you know, new triplets, without a doubt,

new triplets right there. And I mean I know a guy who sits in an office above us at the Star who would be really happy about that, which one a lot of row of offices above a lot of typically our friend who runs the merchandising to partab. Yeah, I'm sure he can be very very excited. All right, So let me ask you this on that same topic. Talk to me at about the priority. Is there a priority with these three or is it just kind of like whichever one kind of falls in line happens when

it happens. He set me up fantastically like I'm I'm so fascinated by that, and I want to understand it, and I just don't know, I don't know if I can. I Actually I talked to Stephen Jones about that where I was like, you know, typically when we come to camp, it's it's Tyring needs a deal or Travis needs a deal. Like we've never seen this before where you need three guys signed at once, and he's all very important, yeah, and he's just like yeah, you know, like we're in

good caps. I'm like, do you need to sign him Maori first because he's got the highest salary. Do you need to sign Dak first because it's the biggest number and it kind of sets the table what's going on? And he's like, hey, you know, it just it'll work itself out like that. He's like, we've juggled four and five at a time, Like, you know, if if we want to do four deals at once, we can do four. If we want to do five, we can do I'm and I'm just like that doesn't make sense to my

very bad math brain. But if you say so, Stephen, then I guess it's true. So he's just kind of like, whoever's willing to play ball first, I think that's who gets the deal. Like, I don't think there's really any order to it. I disagree. I think there is a priority. I think it's Zeke. He's the guy where he's the one that's making He doesn't look like he's going to play without a deal. I don't whatever, But was that

the priority before he held out? Because I personally made him I personally and that's why he he just did one of his patent hurdles right over and said, what's this Now, I'm a priority? And I I agree with them because going back to what Stephen Jones said, he's the straw that stirs the drink. That's what he said. So you know, if that's the case, then it's like, let's mix it up. I've spent enough time around Amari Cooper to believe him when he says he's not really

worried about it. And to his point, I mean, he's scheduled to make fourteen million dollars this year, so like, I'm sure he's not that upset number four out there. I don't know if I like. I think I think he cares a little bit more than he's going to say in a press conference setting, like what's he making this year? He's making two million, which is only because of how many snaps he's played over the last four years.

He should be making like six hundred thousand, and but even at two million, I mean, I don't know how to do the numbers on this, but I would argue he is the most underplayed, underpaid athlete in all of sports. Bet you there's all any sport, all of them. I bet you there's a third quarterback on a roster that might make more than Yeah, I would Yeah, I would be willing the third quarterback that was definitely definitely definitely backup. You're a good backup, you know. I mean, what's the

what's the Dave looklike out there? What's his name? Ryan Fitzpatrick? Yeah, I'm on the Soda Weight loss Challenge now, So I'm not going to have the gut that Ryan Fitzpatrick had when he reported about So tell us about the Soda challenge. No, nobody wants to hear about that, talk about talk about that by the day ten. Yeah, yeah, you're searching for topics. Um, okay. So that all being said, let's move on to Jason and kind of how he looks at this whole thing.

I think Jason's big takeaway for me, at least, was that when guys are out, it creates opportunities for other guys. It means that there's a chance for other guys to get on the field and show what they can do, and not just for themselves, but also for the team. So the team knows, hey, we got a good, viable option and maybe we were thinking he's just a backup. Maybe we got to work him in a little bit more. That being said, who do you think has the greatest

opportunity with Zeke being out? Is it Darius Jackson, Mike Webber, or Tony Pollard? I honestly think it's Darius Jackson, because well, Tony Pollard is what he I mean, he's a fourth round pick. He's by I mean, if you pulled them anonymously, I think they'd say he's the draft pick they're the most excited about this year. He's here and they're going to find a role for him or try to. So I don't worry about him. But I mean, Darius Jackson is the guy that gets forgotten about because they drafted

Mike Webber and he's the most experienced guy. He got the first crack at the first team reps yesterday. He's the one that has the chance to make the biggest statement because these other guys are the shiny new toys, right, I mean, they're already excited to see them, whereas you kind of push out the older guy. And so I think any opportunity that he can get to take reps

is going to be great for him. And even if it's not with the Cowboys, it could be great for him to get that tape out there for another team to see. I think he's just a good, great combination of a guy that could be at every down back. He's got some speed as well. I think Tony Pollard is the Felix Jones to when they had Marian Barber. You know, Pollard will be great if they got Zeke, but if they don't have Zeke, I still think he's

going to be number two all the way. I don't think anybody's nobody's looking at him to be the lead back. I mean that that was kind of the scouting report on him coming out, as you know, Stephen Jones even see he's like he can run between the tackles more than he gets credit for. But I still don't know if you want him doing that exclusively, which says to me that they need a number one to pair him with.

So you know, Weber and Jackson are the two that we've been looking at, and we'll get a better look at him now. If Zeke's not here, Ye, all right, We're going to take our first break. When we come back, I want to talk about some injuries. I want to talk about some guys that are starting training camp on pop and what that may mean for the Cowboys as they get ready for training camp in the preseason and even getting ready for the regular season. We'll do that

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it out and with it to the test. The Cowboys did when they named John Deer their official tractor experience one for yourself. Visit my John dear Dealer dot com slash football. Back to the Break Welcome back. It is the second segment of The Break live from Oxnard, California. This day two of Cowboys training camp team is actually out here behind us going through their walkthrough. Practice will happen this afternoon at three to thirty pm Pacific time.

So for those of you in the area that want to come out into ten practice, it's an open practice. Makes you get out if you happen to see Nick, Dave or Amber along the fence line, makes you stop before a picture. They are open for business, and we'll be open for business about training camp. Open for business like we're charging for these pictures. No, just okay, I wouldn't I would never do that. But you were suggesting no, what I mean open for business. I mean like you're

open to help out. Got you take a picture and nick Hole's babies and all that kind of stuff. You one of them, Momi three at a time. That's fine. Three, that's the record, yea, And please don't do more because I was really nervous that we might have a lawsuit after that because I didn't think you're gonna hold them all and think, yeah, a few beers. So yeah, kind of treacherous there. All right, anyway, let's get back in. I do want to catch up on one injury from yesterday.

In day one of practice s Triston Hill was carted off during the practice on Saturday. Do we have any updates on what his injury was and what his status is at this point. Well, it obviously wasn't as as bad as it looks like. Anytime you're carted off the field,

I mean, it's not a good thing. But again, this is his first training camp practice and it sounds like it was just cramps, hamstring may be tightened up on him or looking down here, I saw him down there, down down there, and in the walk through his grandson eyes are better than others. He's definitely down there. Okay, well that's good. That's that's good for him. That's I mean, it's easy to poke fun because we wait all summer and then these two practices are are very boring. Offense

doesn't go against defense and seventy three degrees. Yeah, but that's exactly that's exactly why they do it. Is it's it's I mean, then you know that's what you said. I know, give me our time. That was pointed at me. I'm sure because I was just like, it's seventy three degrees.

How do you get the hydrated seventy three degree? I give it, but whatever Again, I like I said yesterday, I think if you did all that in your hotel room and went for for an hour and a half, you can still if you're not in the best shape you need to be in. And that was the key, right, that's the key. And again I'm not saying I don't

know his condition level. My thought is these guys, as professionals, when they have that month month and a half off, they're still working out to make sure that when they enter training camp they are ready to go. The trainer told me a long time ago about especially about rookies.

Sometimes rookies come in and they don't know the difference between being hurt and being sore, and you have to kind of go through that a little bit, and it's hard for the trainers to kind of know that and to see, all right, this is something you just have to keep grinding through or this is a serious thing. So you know. But this is the reason why they do these two boring practices, right, kind of get your feet underneath you, get used to going through football stuff.

See if you got any problems with your muscles and whatnot. I mean, you know, I don't know what the long term outlook is for Tristan. It doesn't look too serious if he's walked through. But that's why they do that. Yeah, I don't know what's on your you know agenda here about talking about positions that are going to be problematic or could be. But defensive tackles the one I think

could really hurt this team. And I think them in a smart move now to draft that with their first pick, because when you look at yeah, they won seven of their last nine or eight of ten or whatever it was, but the two that they lost, they got completely dashed in the middle of the field. The Colts ran all over them. The Rams ran all over them all night. And I think that's an area that they have shown they can get pushed around a little bit. And so

I know. Laton Vanderesh was asked yesterday about what about that Rams game, said I'm not worried about it. Well, somebody needs to be worried about the way they played and make sure that that doesn't happen again. Let me make this clarification. I want to give you a chance to clarify. It seemed to me during that game that a lot of particularly the Rams game, a lot of the issues that were happening weren't necessary. It wasn't like they were lining up and they were playing power football.

It was a lot of misdirection. There was a lot of stuff that was happening that I think the Cowboys got caught out of position a lot of times, So it wasn't so much getting pushed around, which I think is a unique distinction that should be made. Do you agree with that? Do you disagree? Disagree? Because because what does Marion Ellie love from his defensive tackles? What does he want them to do? Get up the field? Do what disrupt the passer rush, the quarterback rushman. He calls

him that. That sounds great. Sometimes you can use those guys to your advantage. So put, whether it's pushed around or allowing you to go this way. In opening up the game, there's a running back that I never even heard of that was going all over on you know them in the Indianapolis game. I mean Marlon Mack. I mean I'd heard of him some, but I mean, yeah, you know, not a household name. And so I just

think sometimes that scheme can be used against them. So whatever it is, whether it be pushed around or just just they there were plenty of running lanes for those games and those I think that's the recipe to kind of beat the Cowboys and that aggressive defense, the speed on linebacker, the speed into the rush, use the rush against them. They got to figure out ways to not let that happen. I haven't watched the tape of that game in a long time, but and the Rams do

use misdirection. They did it very well in that game. But like I can go make a two minute cut up of C. J. Anderson runs between the guards, just plowing right up the middle of the field, linebackers out of position, defensive tackles getting pushed off the ball like Big Boy got hurt in that game. Yeah no, and Antoine Woods, I mean he was playing with like a separated shoulder or a bomb shoulder like hurt it in the second quarter. I get all that, but they got

blown off the ball in both of those games. And I do think that is something to watch here. And that's the thing with repetition. It can be a bad thing for you whence you train a certain way and you repeat that over and over. And yes, it may work for you most of the times. When you're playing a team like that that is starting to get so creative, your instincts have to be able to follow that and adjust at the moment and not be able to do the same thing that you do over and over. You know.

As far as the linebackers, that was one thing that Laton had been doing all year. I thought his instincts were so good. And when you talk about Sean Lee, that's one of his best abilities. To me, Shan Lee, his instants are amazing, That's what That was something that Jalen had to work on, and I think he improved on that last year. So that takes you have to consider that instincts and be able to react in the moment. But that was part of what I was saying about

the misdirection. I think for a lot of the plays I saw with the linebackers, they were just out of position. It wasn't like somebody was on them and they couldn't get off blocks. They couldn't get off blocks because they had already taken a false step and when they took the false step, now they can't recover rights. It was there was so much in that game to me that was about to be blung with you. It was about coaching.

It was about the fact that the way that they were attacking the Cowboys, the Cowboys just weren't responding well to it. Yeah, I mean either way, it's not necessarily talking about the strength guys or whatever. I mean, it's if you're in the right you know, just like boxing, if you're in the wrong position, you get knocked out. I mean, so it doesn't really matter about what it is, whether it be pushed off the ball or got yourself

ran yourself out of the play. But one of the things that that Amber was talking about with the linebackers that made me think about. I think you're gonna have a little bit more clarity of who's going to be on the field, no more feelings when we've already you know, slashed Shawn Lee's salary here, so like the feelings are out the window. You're not just one of the starting linebackers anymore. In fact, they talked about and playing special teams.

There should be no situation when Layton designed on the field on third and seven for the season on the line, your best two linebackers need to be playing. That's the that's the deal. And hopefully that will happen more and you won't. You won't find out where why why don't they have Jalen on the field here? You know why Shaun Lee here? If it's a big drop off, and I think it is, I think it's now it's clear

these top two guys and then Shaun Lee. All right, let's jump into some of the guys that are starting training camp on PUP. There are four guys, and really there are two of them that are most concerned about. DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Byron Jones, Noel Brown, all of PUP to start a training camp. The two I'm most

concerned about though, DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Jones. How much are you guys concerned or you think the Cowboys should be concerned with the fact that there are two players who, by all accounts were probably maybe the two best defensive players you had on your team, two of the three best players. Let's say that two of the best three defensive players you had in your team, and both of them start the preseason or start training camp on pup and there is no real indication of just how something

they come back. I think most people believe they'll be back by the season. There's a chance maybe they aren't back by the beginning of the season. How concerned do you think the Cowboys should be with that? I think at this point I've talked to enough people who know what they would be talking about, who think that they will be ready for the season. The problem is how much work will they have had to get in by

the time that arrives. Like, you know, is DeMarcus Lawrence going to hit the practice field real deal for the first time on the Wednesday before the Giants game, or is he gonna get ten days in August to get his feet back underneath them? Matter practices first, d Law or Zeke oh Um, good question? Damn uh, d Law. I think I think I think that is that that's

that's I think. I question. I think it was. I think d Law is gonna start practicing when we're back in Texas between the final two preseason games or you know, around that time, like the you know, the part of camp where everybody's like enough of this, we're done, you know, let's yeah. Uh, I don't know. I don't feel as confident about Byron. Uh it's a hip. He's recovering from hip surgery. That's like everything when you play the cornerback position. Uh,

So I wonder about that. So I think they'll both be ready for the season. I just wonder how much work they will get. And that is concerning because that's important. Even if you're an all pro, that's important. You can't rush it. Then comes another injury, the true which I think they're being smart about that for the record. You know, it's kind of you know, Zeke, you feel these different levels of alarm or interest because like he could be here,

but he's not. You know, like they're just they're not ready and there's no sense in rushing them back. I think they're being smart about it. If they can get some reps in August, that's fantastic. But if they're ready for the season, they're all pro players. Hopefully they can figure it out as they go. It's not ideal, but it is what it is, So I don't I don't feel concerned. I'm just kind of like, well, I mean,

that's that's what it is. The schedule makers helped them out because if there's two positions that the Giants have been talked about a lot, is that their offensive line has not been that good. And I don't know who's playing receiver. They have a lot of products right now. A wide receivers, I don't know. I mean, I don't know.

If Golden Tay doesn't win his appeal, yeah, I don't know what the top three wide receiver presumably the top three wide receivers will all be out against the Cowboys, or one could be back, but it would be is he would be just after having no training camp. Anthony Brown starting dish doesn't seem such a bad idea, you know, I mean, if that happens, then who knows, you know, they'll have somebody that emerges. But but I'm just saying and then the offensive line that they've had some some

missues there. But I think I don't know. I just feel like, and I've always said this for years, when you start skateboarding, you know you're getting close to on your way back. And so said years for years, we always say when you skateboard around through training camps, like being on the courts. When you get on the courts, you're new, it's the new thing. So when you skateboard, you're you're a couple of steps from being back. Byron

Jones was doing that. I think he's I think this, like you said, just being you know, cautious about it. No sense here you think, Byron practice is here. I do not law. I think I feel like you will practice a little bit work into practice. Okay, So all that being said, I talked a little bit earlier about Jason Garrett and how he says, when guys are out of creates opportunities. Let's start at the defensive end position. What guys get the best opportunity With DeMarcus not being

out here during camps. Don't forget about Tyron Crawford either. He's on up as well. So your longest Tyrone's probably not a starter at this point because Robert Quinn is here, but your longest tenured end, one of the you know spark plus because of your defensive line. This is this is a golden opportunity for Taco Charlton to do something out dude carry hid or two. But not only that, maybe last chance like this, maybe Taco's chance to actually do something where he ends up staying on this team,

Like he's got to show him something. I think you are in. You are in the territory now where that is a post that is a feasible conversation where you're like, if this guy is really not giving us anything, what's the point? Just the fact that you feel like as a Cowboys organization, you had to go out and sign a guy like Robert Quinn. We have a first round pick entering when he should be Henry embarrassing as a little but calent acquisitions three twenty three, sixty five, twenty four.

You know, like, what is he into his third th year? You would expect that a pass rusher by entering his third year should be showing you enough where you don't have to go out of spin. That absolutely Quin ended back they did is the biggest indictment. It's you know, actually a bit of a tangent. I'm sorry, but the Arizona Cardinals cut Robert Candici yesterday. They're first round history is atrocious, like going back to like twenty twelve, they have not hit on anybody, like their best pick in

the first round. He could take out first round no, because they found you know, they found Tyron Matthew, they found I'm just saying, oh no, yeah, I'm in their draft history. But their first round history sucks out loud. There's no nice way to say it out loud. Which but then you look at the Cowboys and it's like it's so good, and that makes Tacco look even worse because there's an All Pro on that. I mean, Layton

was an All Pro as a rookie. Zeke is the best running back in the league, Byron made All Pro last year, DeMarcus got paid one hundred million dollars, Zach Martin and on and on and on and Tyron, yeah it is. And here you are. They've even got a point now with their second round as a becoming net right, So yeah, and here you are now saying, damn Tacco. If you this is your opportunity to get some stops. You can do it. It's not great, but so I mean he was He's the first He's the first string

left end right now without Tyrone and Demark. Guess so big for him. Carry hiders. Another guy Nick mentioned him um Dorian's armstrong, very very excited to see if he can make that patented year or two jump to draft picks too. Joe Jackson and Jalen Jelks. Both those guys I feel like, you know they're gonna factor into this mix as well. I don't forget Randy Gregory could show up in a moment, right That's Jalen Jelks is my guy that I believe is going to do something. You

have you've been on him, I don't know. It's which is interesting because most people, most people ride off the guy that's wearing Bob Lilly's number. They're like, oh, if you gave him seventy four, he doesn't have a future I or you just right off the fact he's gonna be wearing that. Well, sure, I know change, I don't know. And we've been burned by the guys that look you know that look the part. There's a lot of really

good guys out there that get cut. Joe Jackson looks the fricking party he I mean, so there's gonna be some competition there. Definitely talk about the cornerback position real quick before we before we leave Jordan, Lewis, Donovan Olumba, what kind of what cornerbacks could possibly pop up here and get some opportunities. Obviously, Anthony Brown is still gonna be of the mix as a you know, starter caliber guy, Mike, but who who really gets a get some opportunities here

to kind of impress Mike Jackson's a great answer. But I'm gonna take the opportunity to cheerlead for Jordan because the longer Buyron sits, the more Jordan is a starter. And that's awesome for me. I mean, I love the guy. I think he's a good player. We've beating it into

the ground. I think it's unfortunate, you know, they change schemes right after he got drafted, But this is an opportunity for him to prove his merit and if he does well, he could either find a bigger role for himself or you know, I don't want him to get traded, but maybe you know, you could use him as you know that type of you know, business of the NFL, all that good type of stuff. Yeah, maybe he could improve his standing in the league with a good showing

at training camp one way or the other. Christopher Shard loves a big, long cornerbacks. That's his second favorite thing about a cornerback. This first one. It's gotta be that he likes corners that make plays. That's what all defensive coaches want. Yeah, so do that offset the second part by going out there and making play and for some reason, the ball finds him a lot fun recoveries things like you you know, he just needs to clean up his game just a little more and he can be so

good like we've seen him. He has the talent. He just needs to take advantage of those opportunities, clean up his game, and then he'll be in everybody's eyeball. Keep him on defense, you know, please don't do that. It's you see it all the time where coaches have a kind of a prototype of what they want up for particular players as far as size and and and length and all that kind of stuff. But I saw it with Parcels when he came in and his linebackers and

we got here. He actually had two linebackers with that with the exact opposite what he typically one. He had Dexter Cokeley at dat Win and by the end of that first year, I remember him saying those guys are in my respect, and I think it's the same thing here. There's an opportunity for Jordan to earn the respect of Chris Rashard from the standpoint and saying he may not be my prototypical guy, but he earned the right to be able to be among my starting or playing cornerbacks

because of how point he can play. Having said all of that, Mike Jackson is right. That dude can tie his shoes standing straight up like I'm believable. He can do a group hug over here. He is. He's running with the second string. I mean, okay, they're not really practicing, but he is working with the second string as a Day three rookie, Day three pick, as a rookie second string. He's got all the measurables. So if he lives up to what Richard saw on him, and I have heard

that he was a Chris Richard special. He loved him, that'll be exciting. All right. We appreciate you guys joining us. We will be back um tomorrow at our normal time for the training camp. We'll be at ten am Pacific time, that's noon for you guys back in Dallas, and we'll be on everyday Monday through Friday, so makes you check us out. Then we'll give you, guys, our latest and what we think of what's happening out here in training

camp in Oxtard, California. Until then. For Nick Eatman, Dave Hellman, Amber Garcia, I am Derek Eagleton. This has been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com. This is been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football o'clock