Cowboys Break: Looking Ahead

The Break, live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios. At the start, we're getting you guys ready for Cowboys versus Cardinals that's coming up this Sunday. It has been moved if you didn't know, to a three twenty five kick time at AT and T Stadium. That will be a fun game to watch. We'll get you ready for it. Nick, let's start off first. Give me an eighty six eighty six? Eighty six? Man? How about I mean, have you ever heard of the California quake? Yeah? Butch Johnson were eighty six,

that was back in the day. Eighty six. Why do I think he was eighty three? Nine? Eighty six is eighty six? He used to be. He used to he's the six shooters, you know, touchdown all that, he's about the third. You know, well you've seen them. The catch he didn't catch against the Broncos and Super Bowl you know you've seen that that highlight Um oh, he's the guy that caught that. Yeah, I don't know why that

just bothered ute. Yeah, it's like in today's world, like that wouldn't even be a thing that no chance, trust me. And there's been a lot of times we do you know, highlight videos and top ten moments and people will say, Nick Luca this video and I'm like, nah, to take that out. He didn't catch that, like super Bowl, like, nah, give me something else, eighty six. Butch Johnson you got one day, I got one. No, you know he's going, well,

I I don't, I don't. I'm right, I'm out on this game because like when I weigh in, then I start getting the comments people like you didn't bring this guy up. I'm like, I don't know when Dan Campbell Dan Campbell now head coach of the Detroit Lions, Yep, Golden Scholtz perfect, great, that's yeah. I'm just he's having a great I just got off a show with him eighty six. So I have to say, Isaiah, stand back, here you go. That's a good one. He's actually good.

More of that number. Yeah, that's actually good. Shout out Isaiah, Isaiah good. All right, let's let's jump in. I do want to talk about one player that's been injured. That sounds like maybe there's a chance he's coming back. Tyron Smith, what are we hearing? Swassunt sent it's for our French listeners. Yeah that mean I mean seventy seven. Oh, get your ass back on the line up. Not at all. Yeah, it sounds like he's gonna plays seventy seven. Okay, it

makes more sense. It's just the way stadium slower. We were so off the rails already. Sais sand set. The set is seventeen in French and swissant is sixty six sixty plus seventeen. Is that how they do their numbers? Like, not all of them, but that's how they do that? Okay? Yet anything else? No? I used to be pretty good at French, but it's been a look a lot of years of that. In high school, I took six years of French. Wow, it's impressed. It sounded smart, at the time.

But like I really would just wish I never could use well, I would like speaking Spanish makes so much more sense, Like that is such a more useful skill if you gotta live in Texas yet in America at this point. Yeah, and I don't know anything about it, but I can count to seventy seven in French. So, okay, smiths looking he's looking like he's gonna play. I'm sorry, everybody, he's looking like he's gonna play against Arizona. That's the early word on the street. Well have to see. But

are you okay with that? Because I know a couple of weeks ago you were saying, like, man, just let him. Well that's untill now. I'm not really okay with it, I guess because in my mind I'm thinking, all right, let me look at the calendar. He plays this game, he gets through it, but he gets a setback, and then he misses the Eagles game, and then two weeks later, so so I'm already thinking, yeah, you know, when's the next one. I probably wouldn't play him. I probably wouldn't,

but he's good to go. He's good to go. Me, you gotta have this game, you gotta you gotta win. That's the thing for me, and unfortunately I haven't had. I'm gonna run the rest of these numbers today because I am curious what like all of the contenders home away splits are. But like this, this is sneaky important. It's not even sneaky. Why would I say it's sneaky Like they need these wins, they need to maximize their seating.

I looked this up this morning. They are winning their home games by an average score of thirty eight to twenty two, and their road the road split is twenty three to twenty. Oh you serious? So what am I looking at here? That's like everybody's schedule the rest of the way. Oh no, yeah, I mean I'm not worried about that. I just I don't I don't know how much better everybody else's home person. I'm sure everybody. Well,

I think the Cardinals that Cardinals are not. They are great on the road right way better on their problems right now. But it just what they did to Washington only emphasizes to me how important it is that this play team plays as many games as possible at home. And yeah, what Denver's really the only game where they haven't played pretty damn well at home. Like I know, they lost to the Raiders. They scored thirty three points

in that game, took it to overtime. So my point is, if if Tyring can play, I'm trying to at least get the number two seed. Number one seeds not really in your control. But if you can get the two seed, you're guaranteed to home playoff game, and that that is all in your control. You win the final two, stay at well, you hope that you stay at two. You need the Rams account. It's weird with you, but it's weird.

You got. The best you can do is you gotta keep winning, right yeah, which and then well, the Bucks can lose. I mean it's not like they're cam. They don't have they don't have to kind of schedule that makes you think they're going to lose it. But they can't. Nick's gonna come at us because the Lions just beat the Cardinals, I'm saying, I mean they can though they yeah, no, absolutely,

but the Saints can. That Saints team that we just saw last night against Miami can shut out the Bucks at home, then yeah they can be beat They can who they play, I don't even I guess the Jets. They play the Jets in the Cardinals team that just that they just beat by twenty five. Yeah, so the Bucks don't Bucks don't get to do the whole division stuff at the end. No, well they I mean the last game division. They played three of their last four

against the division Panthers. I guess, I guess you can't do everybody that way. Yeah. I think this is a team that I look at Tampa and I'm like, they're probably gonna keep winning. So your best shot is you gotta keep winning, and you gotta pray the Rams keep winning because without the Rams there, then you drop back to three instead of two, and that means you get a home game that first round, but that next round you are on the road. Ask you this, though, you do,

who's gonna be the seventh scene? Okay? Right now, let me tell you where they are right now. So you got the top four, you got Green Bay, Dallas, Rams, Tampa Bay. Then you got Arizona at five, then you got San Francisco at six, and you got Philadelphia at seven. Okay, and I ask again, do you want to be the two? Yeah? Yeah, and take on the Eagles back to back like they I mean, you play them, bring it on. I don't

care about. Well, here's the other thing. You beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Week seventeen, there is a chance that you knocked them out of the playoffs. I think they have to win out to make it. Yeah, believe because they right behind them, right right now behind them. I think they've got New Orleans in Minnesota. I want to say, they're both seven and eight, one game behind them, and I think if they I think the Saints. I think the Saints would have the tiebreak over them. But um,

I'd rather play the Eagles than the Vikings. I think I agree with that. Yeah, No, I definitely agree with that. I don't know if I agree with that. I just think division games are tricky, you know how it is when you're playing division teams, it's just tricky. And I recognize that iron you're saying that coming off a fifty six to fourt team where but but it is it's trickier when you're playing division games, just because I mean,

I think that's the Saints in the Bucks. Like division games, division teams know you better and it's just a little different than playing an uncommon opponent. You're right, but the Eagles just I don't know. I don't They're not afraid of them. I'm afraid of the team with the better quarterback. And I don't think Jalen Hurts is that guy at

this point is better than he is. He is a better passer, I don't know the he's a better quarterback because what they're doing, what Philly is doing right now running the ball, this quarterback works for that, and he works very well for that kind of style of playing football. I don't think it'll matter though, because I just I mean, if the Cowboys win the game, then I Philly's probably out. The Cowboys lose the game, then they're probably out. They're

probably not. Yeah, yeah, I don't think that's super yes, So either way, it's not likely that now. I don't know what's gonna happen with San Francisco in Philly because they're both eight and seven. So Phil hurt too, right, yeah, yeah, he has a well that might be good for him, but they may actually Philly may actually jump up to the six, which if they beat Dallas and Dallas may drop to the three, so they still may get them.

So there's still a lot to be figured out. The point I think that all of us are trying to make is Dallas to secure the best seat possible needs to win out. They need those final two games, and then they need a little help along the way with them. And it's it's annoying because typically at this time of year, the results of this week can kind of set it

in stone a week ahead of time. But that doesn't seem likely because unless and less like the Rams lose and the Cowboys win and the Buccaneers win and the Packers win, than maybe that would say. But I guess the point I'm trying to make is that both of these games, there's still gonna be something to play for it no matter what happens. So that's it's kind of a bummer in the sense of, like, yeah, I'd love to rest Zeke and Tyron and Tony and all these guys,

but is it worth not having the two seed? And I don't think it is. And going back to what originally prompted this, Stealen and Seki have played well enough that I'm I'm okay risking the chance that he aggravates his injury, and I don't want that to happen, but I'd rather have Tyron out there for games that can get me a better playoffs. Okay, you make that argument the other way. Can't you also say, well, they've played

well enough that I'd rather keep resting Tyring. Hope. I'm still trying to win this game, still trying to win in hoping that you know that they play well. But I'm, you know, gonna just save Tyron for the playoffs or Yeah, I think he's a good enough player that he can do that, Like he can just go right into your playoff game. Absolutely, we've seen him do it. Like he's not one of those guys that comes back from injury and he has needs a game or two to to

kind of knock the rust off. He tends to be tiring because it's not just his ankle, it's just the neck in the back of the ankle, I mean, the elbow and all that stuff. So you're resting at all when you rest him. So no that I don't I don't disagree with you, Dave. You actually brought up an interesting question I have for you guys. And this is hypothetical, but let's assume Dallas didn't have anything to play for in week eighteen, um, but Philly is playing to get

into the playoffs. Would you play your players just to knock them out now, or would you rest your guys? I would rest my guys if I had if there was nothing at all to be gained from that game. Other you're cemented at three, which is probably what would be the scenario three or four. You're cemented there, if you're there, or you're just you're sitting your guys. I

don't have to care what Philly does. I mean, it doesn't, but if but it could be that that's your chance to get them out and you don't have to face him in the first round. I don't. You don't care about how afraid of Philadelphia. They're not good. They's like no, and I know, like famous last words. I get it. I'm not oh my god, we gotta play because Philly might get into the playoffs. No, they're not good. They're not good. It's like we knocked you out of the playoffs. Cool,

I knocked back out. I mean that's serious, man, that doesn't happen, right, I'm just saying that, no idea, no things. All right, we're gonna take our first break when we come back. We're gonna joined by Buckey Brooks of NFL Network. We're gonna talk to some Arizona offense versus the Dallas defensive. Day we come right back, Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. At ATNC, everyone new and existing customers get our best

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Welcome back. It is the second s of the break Life and thats WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. We are joined right now by Bucky Brooks of NFL Network. We're gonna talk some Arizona offense versus Dallas defense. So let's start first, Bucky, I want to know, from your perspective you've seen both these players. Is Michael Parsons capable

of containing Kyler Murray? Who? I think so because Calabury doesn't look to run all the time, like he's been a little more hesitant and selected when it comes to running. But I think now with this team in the middle of a slide, I think all things are off. I think he'll do anything. But yeah, Mica is certainly athletic. Enough to make it uncomfortable for Cala Murray in and around the vocket. How did the Lions beat them? Beat

them up, physically, beat them up. We can say a lot of the Capital Lions in their record, but they play hard. No, they play hard, their physical football team. And what they did is they took the fight to the Cardinals. They also caught the Cardinals at the right time. Cardinals were kind of sleepwalking after getting beat by the Rams, walked into the air, weren't ready to play, and they get hit in the face. And I think what people have seen like they are a team that typically dictated

the terms earlier in the year with their aggressiveness and physicality. Well, the tables have turned and people are kind of utilizing that formula against them, and they haven't responded well. And so I think the recipe for dealing with the Cardinals in general is you want to make it a fistfight. You want to make it one of those physical games and see if they have the ability to withstand it. Buck.

I'm glad you mentioned Kyler being a little more hesitant to run because I mean, yeah, since his injury, that hasn't been a big thing. I think he and yeah, he only ran for three yards in that loss to Detroit, but the last two weeks, I mean, he had seventy four yards on Saturday against Indianapolis. So like, and you kind of alluded to this, do you expect them to make more use of that because it makes them so much more dangerous or is it not worth the risk

of him aggravating that injury. I think he did it and he kind of popped to play lose our guy, We lose him here you go? Yeah, sorry, you back now? Yeah, okay nah. So like, look, he had a big run. He had a fifty two yard run in that game, and then he selected, but they're not using them the same way then I really run in zone read and some of that other stuff that they were running early

in his career. But I think, now, man, when you lost the way that they've lost and you in jeopardy of kind of falling down the seedings, I think you have to unleashed Kyler and let him do whatever you can to keep this offense going. So they are now without DeAndre Hopkins, and I know they played some games earlier this season without him as well. How much does this offense change and in what ways does it change.

Without Hopkins, didn't have anybody on the perimeter that scares you outside of zach Ertz, And zach Ertz only troubled you a little bit because he can control the middle of the field. But there's not a receiver out there that you're worried about, no one that demands a double team, no one that demands special attention like Trayvon Diggs traveling in those things. The loss of DeAndre Hopkins really hurst. I mean, he's a different type player because he's not

a speaster, but he wins fifty fifty balls. Without that element on the becomes very pedestrian. That's why we're seeing them engaging these tough battles where they're not scoring the amount of points that they were scoring early in the year, and the running game has not been as effective and as prevalent in their game plan as it had been early in the year. How much does that affect their red zone because I know in the red zone he's another guy that can, like you said, he can catch

the fifty fifty ball. They throw it up to him a lot. How much is that affecting their ability to be effective in the red zone? Well, I mean he's a huge loss because he is an outstanding red zone weapon, does a great job catching the ball when it's contested. Without him, now they're kind of leaning on other guys unknown and those guys, but they don't have a dominant play. Addition, Countle and AJ Green is not the Aj Green that the name used to represent, like he's a solid player.

If without those weapons, you're seeing that they're having a tough time consistently moving the ball, consistently putting the ball in the end zone has been one of the reasons why they struggled. This is that time of year where we ask you about the Cowboys fourth cornerback. But I wanted to get your thoughts on how you thought Kelvin Joseph played in his first start and he got a lot of snaps the other night. Yeah, he probably got a chance to play, and I think it's a good

thing for him to get in the field. Look, man, the Cowboys have been playing so well, whom I think you can say good things about Kelvin Joseph. Sound like we started that way. How boys are playing so well that you put anybody at cornerback. You put Dave at cornerback and he played well, I don't know about that, man, I don't want to see that. No against two. You don't Christian Kirk, Christian Kirk, Christin Kirk bad idea. That's what my question was gonna be about Christin Kirk. Well,

between Kirk and um More, Rondell More both. But it's interesting from what I understand. I mean, and this makes sense, but them not having Hopkins is forcing them to play those guys out of position, like Kirk has been a great slot receiver for most of the season. Rondel Moore is I mean, he's just get him the ball however

you can. But those I'm not gonna say that about Christian Kirk doesn't scare anybody because I mean, if you if you're an Arkansas fan and you've watched him and him, um my god, he's he's scored about and by the way, and last year, he's doing it this year too, Like he's playing pretty well this year eighty on the Cowboys, Like yeah, yeah, he's just not Hopkins, but he's a he's a very formidable opponent. Not to take credit away from Christian Kirk, but the Cowboys just decided not to

cover him on that play. But he's having He is having the best season of his pro career. He's got sixty nine targets, nice for eight hundred and sixty yards and five touchdowns. I mean, he's having a nice year. We got Bucky on the phone, yep, finish your we ask your question. Yeah, I think I was asking me about Kelvin Joseph and what your thoughts are in his first game and he played a lot of snaps. No. I thought like you did a solid job considering he

hadn't played much at all this year. And I understand why the Cowboys hadn't played him because they were playing so well on defense. But see the young guy go out there like he's having and competed. It wasn't always pretty, but I think he certainly can get out there. But it's a lot easier to play DV where you got to pass for us doing what they're doing. I mean, they've asked a lot of flaws because you don't have

a lot of time to really go at people. But I think for its first opportunity on the show, I think it was passing Buck. We were just talking about this while we were waiting to get you back. Christian Kirk is having a really nice year for them. I assume most of that's been in the slot. So what is the Hopkins injury done for him? I mean, is he playing out a position right now? Or how might the Cardinals try to get him going in this game? Ah, this is more balls than going to in his direction.

Like you remove a guy who probably gets sentence all targets the game and DeAndre Hopkins, the ball has to go somewhere else. If Kirk has benefited from that, He's a good player, a nice number three receiver. I wouldn't call him like a compliment or a solid number two, but he's effective him if you don't keep your eyes on you don't pay attention to what he's doing and where he's at. Yeah, he can. He can rack up

a hundred yard game. But the thing is he's not necessarily what I would call an impact players, just steady drift production. But it's not big plays, splash plays the kind that makes you becomes coordinated to say, okay, you need to turn off the post. All right, Bucky Man, I appreciate you join us. Who have you back? Tomorrow we'll talk to some of this Arizona defense versus the Cowboys office. We're gonna take our final break. We'll come back.

We'll have some more questions for these guys about this matchup. Well that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. I want to use what the pros use. How about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now, you can get to Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Clack skincare favorites plus a full

sized and tense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code word team JB. That's get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys The Jack Black Starter ten bucks free shipping. At ATNC, everyone new and existing customers get our best deals on every smartphone. Why because you deserve it for turning your living room into your office and your gym. We're teaching Grandma had a video call and teaching her again. It's the button on your left Banna, okay, your other laughs.

It's not complicated. Everyone deserves something new, so ATNC has given everyone new and existing customers are best deals with every unlimited plan on every smartphone, even the latest ones. A ten team may temporarily slidated spects at the network. Specic restrictions and exceptions may apply. Hi, I'm Clint Tillison with man. I'm Jay nova Check and we're both with Unturf,

the official tractor provider of the Dallas Cowboys. So if you need a tractor to bail some hay, a'm more to cut some grass, or a gator to get some chores done, get a John Deer at unantagin Turf and then let's get to work. Hey Jay, that's my line, Well not today. Get to work with a John Deere tractor package that's just right for you in your budget. Visit unantaginturf dot com. Before there was a draft, you

could size up a cowboy by three simple factors. The crease in his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude. A man. Stetson didn't just protect him from what life threw at him, It projected a rugged, unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American made with pride. Right here in Texas. There's still the unofficial crowd of all self respecting cowboys and stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Find a retailer nearest

to you at Stetson dot com. Slash Cowboys back to the Break. Dak Prescott is the nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide Recognize NFL Players for outstanding community service. To go to his website Faith Fight Finished Foundation dot com to vote for him on Twitter. Figure out how to do that by January seventeenth. Vote for Dak. He needs your votes. Welcome Backs. Final segment of the BRAAKELFT nes WBC Mortgage Studios at the sto do it for the Pro Bowl.

But it's okay. Vote didn't vote for him for the Pro Bowl? Why didn't you vote on? No, I'm saying the fans, Well, I thought you didn't vote for him. I don't vote for the Pro Bowl. You don't get a ballot. All right, we all get a ballot. That's my point. But I did not do that. No, I sided not to vote for him. No, okay, he didn't play well when it was time to vote. Vote. That's that's what happened with him and Zeke and a lot of guys they when it was time to ask the ballot.

I think I've said this before, like if if the president's gonna, you know, candidate's gonna say some really stupid things, I wouldn't do it on November the first. You know. Yeah, people about to go to the stuff the ballot don't suck in November, you know, And that's kind of what happened. I mean, unfortunately Dak and Zeke and those guys picked a bad month. The slack off boy Schultz had had a shot because I think CD I think we talked about it in late September. We were like, man, they

got twelve people in the Pro Bowl. Everybody's gonna make the Pro Bowl. And then November came and I think there's I think there's fifteen guys on the list, like alternates and guys. But you know, now the alternates run pretty deep. Yeah they they It's not just first guy. They have like second, third alternative. Yeah yeah, I still think. I mean there's at least two or three more guys that I think have a chance to get on the roster. Yeah. Yeah.

Nick would not be a very good campaign manager, Woody. I think that's patience isn't good enough. For him to be a campaign Okay, he would absolutely lose it. I thought that was good advice. Don't sucking crunch time. No, that's fair, that's fair, cross life, that's fair. I'm just saying Nick as a campaign manager, that's not a good idea. You got to be very even, I think to be a good campaign manager. That's not Nick. I'm not even keeled. No,

you're like, man, you suck it. That's how you didn't win. And not only that, but like Nick would lose it with voters. He would lose it like that, Yeah, you would. You would have some moments because you can't, you know, ideas when somebody really gets on your nerves, like you can see it in your eyes. It's like, don't do it, don't do it. So he did his face, right, he did his face. He just can't stop himself, all right, final segment, shop myself, trust me, I stopped myself. Oh, terrifying, right,

it really is. Um, Okay, So here's I want to talk about. I want to talk about these coordinators. Yesterday, Dan Quinn Callamore both talked to the media. Um, there's been some talk around the NFL because the rules have changed with regards to UH coaches that are that will get opportunities to be able to interview for head coaching jobs, being able to do that over the last two weeks of the season actually starting now, um and you guys in the media asked them, asked dan Quinn specific dan

Quinn specifically about this in Kellen Moore. What they have to say about the potential about potential head coaching opportunities that maybe out there for them, probably what you would expect, just that they're focused on what they're focused on right now. I thought they were both pretty honest about like, if the right situation comes along, that would be awesome, Like I'd be honored by the opportunity. But dan Quinn had

this whole it was great. He was like, you know, I didn't take this job thinking about the job I was going to have next, Like I'm just having a blast here working with these guys were doing great stuff. And Kellen Moore, I mean, Kellen's been getting asked about this all year because like how hot they started and then they played Philly, who he interviewed with last year, so there's a connection there. A couple of college jobs have come open, which Kellen Moore was never going to

coach TCU. I don't know why that was a thing, but so he's been he's been answering that all year, and so he said the same thing. He's like, that would be awesome when the time is right, but we're focused on what we got to do here. I think it's interesting because the rules change starting today, teams with head coaching vacancies can request to interview assistance, and I

think that's great. Dan Quinn had a great he talked about that too, of just like that's awesome for coaches to kind of be able to get a jump start on that. And you're not just wait until because you know how this goes, where your focus, focus, focus, focused, and then all of a sudden, the season's over and it's almost like the rug got pulled out from under you. But there's such an unprecedented number of teams that are

still in the playoff chase. There's no openings right now, like Jacksonville and Vegas are the only openings in the league right now, so there aren't that many teams that would even be able to ask to interview them. But I would imagine that'll change in the next maybe, if not in the next week, then then in the next two weeks for sure, like by the time the playoffs get here, it'll be a different story. And it's very interesting because one of the things I've heard just talk

different people around football about those interviews. You know, I think all of us, as regular people, here an interview and you think, okay, just be prepared to go and

answer some questions. And this is a different kind of thing. Yeah, like you're gonna be asked questions about so, what how would you handle training camp, how would you schedule this, how would you set Like there are some really really in depth plans that these guys have to be prepared to talk about with these teams if they're asked to interview. And it helps for dan Quinn because he has the experience of being a head coach, so there's probably a

lot of that that he can lean on. For somebody like Kellen Moore, I would assume putting together those kinds of plans requires a bit of preparation and getting ready for that to be able to go into that that interview and really be prepared to talk about it. You're right, I think Kellen Moore might have an easier road than dan Quinn when it comes to that interview process because you're saying, oh, well, you've done it. But dan Quinn can't just say that all the time. He can't just

say I did this, I did this, I did this. Well, yeah, you got fired in the middle of the year. He also took a seam to a Super Bowl. I understand, I understand, and then if we really want to go there, we can go there. Yeah, but no, no, But but taking your team in Super Bowl, how many coaches have done I understand, But but I'm saying, but I'm saying, and dan Quinn is is great at figuring it out,

like he's figuring out this defense. So I'm just saying, but the coaches that have done it before, especially him, he's got to have and I think he will. He's got to have different answers than just leaning on this is what I did in Atlanta. He's gonna say I've done that. And McCarthy is a good example of that because McCarthy was like, he's done it all in Green Bay, but he got fired and he was a good example of kind of showing and adapting to what has changed.

Use your your history when it's there. Also, know that the NFL and things have changed and kind of learned how to adapt. Yes, I agree with that. I think the thing is it still makes it easier because he knows ven he has a platform for it, so he knows. Yeah, I know, I got to have a plan for training gamp I know, I got to have a plan for OTAs. I know, I have to have a plan for this

contingency and that contingency and that contingency. My plan might have changed a bit, I may have altered something because I've learned some things in the years since I've been a head coach. But it does give him a basis, right, It gives him a basis to kind of know what he's doing to be able to answer those questions. I think that makes a lot easier for for him than for Kellen. But here's my question for you guys, and I want to take this one at a time, for

each one of these guys. Tell me what do you think is the best characteristic that would make each of these guys a good head coaching candidate. Let's start first with Dan Quinn. Oh wow, I mean just from and from your experiences with them this year, which is a shame because my just like everything else the last two years, like the amount of I'm very limited in how much I get to deal with dan Quinn all but all those interactions have been fantastic. He's great with the media.

He's a very approachable guy. I think the thing I like about dan Quinn, I mean, regardless of how you feel about how it went in Atlanta, you can't deny that he's been there before, Like he's done it. He's

got a lot of experience with that. But really what I like about him is probably the adaptive in the approachability, like the way like he's just adapted this defense and his weekly game plan to suit his player's strengths, and like to a man, they all adore him, and so knowing that he can, I would guess very easily win over the locker room. And then we'll also Taylor whatever he's doing to fit what he has the way that

he has here. Probably that Yeah, I think I think as a coach, you've got to learn you got to find the balance of like this is what I do, and I do this well, and this is what's worked for me in the past, and this is my style and the style of players that I want. But also, like Dave said, you got to also, you know, you don't always get who you want. You know, you got

to deal with who's there. And I'll say this in a bad way, but it's like he doesn't He's not going to go to the combine and pick out a guy like Jordan Lewis and say put him on my team. He comes here, Jordan Lewis is on the team, and he's played fairly well up and down since he's gotten here. He comes here and he says, all right, this guy's under contract. He's gonna be in the mix. He's a pretty good cover guy, and he's made Jordan Lewis into a really, really good player. And he said, Jordan's had

a great year. And I think it's a good example of this isn't always my preference, but like I'm gonna take what I take, you know. Not He also wants jay Ron Curse because he thinks he has a vision for him. But I think it's that mixture of this is the guys I want, but I'm also able to adapt and figure out other things as well. And and like like Dave also said, the players love him. Hey, he treats him like a man. You know, he's the

smoothest cusser I've ever seen too. I mean, he will just he will just throw in a cussboard and you're like what he say that? Like, yeah he did, but I was like, oh, okay, see that, and that's I love that in a weird way. I have that too. It just encapsulates what I like about dan Quinn is like I don't think, like we talked for so long about how like, well, the Jason Garrett you get at the podium is so much different than the guy that the players see or really think that's the case with

dan Quinn. Like he just gets up there and he's like yeah, we like, you know, we really fed that up, and just what like he's not even approaching it like I am at the podium, I am doing my coach thing. He's just like, yeah, I'm Dan and this is what I think about what happened? Were doing guys? And I think that like the players, well he just lost in the playoffs, Yeah, how are you doing? Not doing great? Exactly. I never understood how he would open up a press

conference after a lost, tough loss. You just lost in overtime because you guy dropped the ball or whatever, and he's just like, I mean, how are we doing guys? He believed in consistent. He did there's like there's a place for that, but he believed in consistent. I wasn't trying to turn this into a Jason Garrett slander session.

I just I think dan Quinn seems like he's just himself and players respond to that probably more than anything of just like, I just don't get the feeling that there's like a lot of politics with dan Quinn and that and and players appreciate that. Well that's the easy one. Yeah. The greatest asset of Kellen Moore as a potential head coaching candidate. I think he is incredibly smart. I think he has a very great grasp on where this league is going in terms of trends and the way you

call and establish an offense. And he's I know, like we kind of joke that he's kind of nerdy or whatever, but like he's a he's a young guy. I think he relates to players, and his pro career wasn't anything that anybody's going to remember, but like, I think he has played football at a high level. I think that I think he's got a certain amount of cachet there where it's like, okay, like you look at what this guy did in college and what he's done as a

coach to this point. I think it's easy for him to win people's trust that he knows what he's talking about. When when it comes to that, it's it's gonna be a tough situation for him, you know, if he if he goes to another team, and you know, it depends on depending on what they have on offense. You know, do they have some pieces it's not to be like this, and if they had pieces like this, then the coach

previously probably wouldn't have been fired. He's in a unique spot too, because he was the He was on the team as a quarterback with Dak when Dak was drafted, so they have a different relationship that way. And then he helped him a lot. You know, he helped him more than the starter did ever. Everyone knows that. And then and then then he becomes his quarterback coach and now the offensive coordinator, so they've been able to have a relationship that will be unlike anything else he's done before.

I think he's relatable. I think he could do it, and he's very very smart, but it will be a challenge because this has kind of been molded into this spot of offensive coordinator and that won't be the case

if you go somewhere else. Yeah, I do. When I think about like an opportunity for Kellen, I would I just leaned toward thinking like if he was going to go somewhere that was about to draft a quarterback, and he's going to have the chance to like do that all over again, as opposed to going somewhere with like an established and not saying that he couldn't do that, but maybe it would be easier for him to do it organically the way you can attack. Look at the

two spots that are open. One of them is that way. It's got a quarterback. Sure, you know, I would be really excited to see Kellen Morgan a chance to coach Trevor Lawrence. That would be fun. I actually think that that's a situation that looks like it would be a good situation for somebody like him, if if the owner were the type of guy that's willing to give him a long runway, because that's not a quick rebuild. I don't think. I don't think Jacksonville is one of those

places that you're going to rebuild. They're keeping their GM, which I don't know if that's a great idea, I don't know. Yeah, that gives me pause. And then the other job that's open is a little more dyssunctional over there with the Raiders. Yeah, yeah, that's a hard that's gonna be. I don't care who you are, it's going to be a hard city to coach in, just because

I think there's a lot of distraction there there. That's you know, every city has its distractions, but I think that city has a lot of distractions, and I think that's a challenge. I'm glad. And just to circle back on that that, like, I think that an easy thing to knock Kellen for, and I agree to a point, is like it it's hard for me to imagine him leading a locker room of like seventy players and thirty other coaches and all the personalities and the egos that

go into that. But then at the same time, like look around in the league, Zach Taylor, Matt Lafleur. Even I know it sounds silly now, but like Sean McVay had no like NFL cachet when he got the Rams job, And so I think that that's not as big of an obstacle as I think a lot of people want to make it out to be. Like Kellen fits right in the mold of a lot of these successful hires

over the last year. But from a personality standpoint, that's where I wondered, I haven't spent enough time around I think you have to have a very commanding presence if you're going to be that guy. I think McVeigh he commands, Like you look at the way he kind of presents himself. He commands a certain and I think, you know, I think that's probably something Kellen would have to work on

as a head coach. But I do know he's got far more personality than he likes to show, so I would be it would be interesting to see what that

looked like. And another thing too, is like I think Kellen Moore understands the situation he's in right now, Like he's got a very visible, high profile head coach with an ego of his own, who Mike McCarthy I think, didn't mind having Kellen Moore here, but he's still what like Mike McCarthy didn't hand pick him, so he's like, I'm not the coaches guy I'm getting a lot of credit for this offense, Like, I just need to stay in my lane and not be a thorn in Mike

McCarthy's side. So I wonder if he got into his own situation where he was calling the shots. I wonder what that would look like. It's it's hard to imagine, honestly, because Kellen's been here since twenty fifteen, and he's been so low key the entire time. Like I, it's hard to imagine in any other way. But which would be

harder to replace? For Dallas dan Quinn? They asked, Yeah, they asked me this on the radio today and I didn't want to answer it, and I like I leaned toward I put so much value on the quarterback play caller. You want those two guys in sync. You want the people in charge of your offense, like in lock step. But there's so much talent on this offense that I

think it sells itself. And the ability to work with a Dak Prescott, I think you could get yourself a hell of a pool of candidates if you did have to replace Kellen. Just haven't seen anything like what dan Quinn's done with this defense in the last ten years. I think the biggest key to that is you gotta

know how to use Michael Parsons. For Michael Parsons to be the Michael Parsons that we've seen this year, it would have been very comfortable for a lot of defensive coordinators to just keep him at linebacker, and he would have been a guy that was at the top of the league in tackles. He would have made some splash plays sideline. The sideline, you may have seen some stuff in coverage. You probably wouldn't have seen him with his

hand on the ground rushing the passer. And so that's where I'm like, I want to defensive coordinate whoever he is. If Dan Quinn leaves, I need somebody that knows how to use a rare talent like Mica in all those different ways and give him those opportunities rather than just kind of putting him in a box and asking him to do that great because he could do it. I just think you're not gonna get the most out of him.

I would, and I think the world of Kellen. I'm the whole through this whole tough six weeks or so, Like, I don't I don't put too much of that on him. I mean, everybody had a hand in it, but I just I don't think he just lost the plot. I think he's a really good coach. I'd be sad if he left. But if you're making me say one, I'd say, Dan, all right, that's a rap. We'll be back tomorrow. We're gonna talk tomorrow about the off the Arizona defense versus

the Cowboys offense. Still then for Nick Keeping. Dave Helm and I'm Derek Eagleton has been The Break Live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.