Cowboys Break: Looking For Hope

We are live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star at Dave Amber and Dave All joining me. We appreciate you guys taking us some time to listen to us in whatever way you listen to us, including the newest way to listen to us, which is on our Alexa app. If you want to do that, just make sure you say open Dallas Cowboys and play Cowboys Break and you'll get our latest episode. We got a

lot to talk about today. We're gonna jump in and talk about some injury updates, talk about the matchup between the Cowboys and the Steelers, and we are going to spend quite a bit of time today taking questions from from fans. I know Amber has some stuff already lined up. If you have some questions that you'd like to send now,

you can always tweet Amber as well. I think it is Amber Garcia TV is how you tweet her and you can get your questions to her and we'll try to answer as many questions as we can in the final two segments of the show. All right, so let's jump in. Let's get some updates on some injuries. Yesterday I ask you guys about Ezekiel Elliott and Alden Smith.

They were limited on Wednesday. Yesterday they were limited again, So catch us up to date on the status of particularly first Zeke and where he is in his trek to being able to play Sunday. Nick sounds like he's expected to play. He's been limited a little bit, but from everybody that is talking about it doesn't sound like it's the worst of hamstring injuries. And I think that he should be able to play. I mean, now how

limited he will be in the game. Maybe they rotate more and maybe they get you know, let me to have him play wildcat and do all that stuff. I mean, I wonder if that's gonna kind of limit him a little bit. But it sounds like he's gonna be ready, David, you at all concerned with the fact that he has been out and it's a hamstring injury for a guy that plays the running back position. I just want to say hi to Nick real quick, just because you glazed over him at the top of I'm here. I'm hi, Nick, Hi,

good to see you on this lovely Friday. Glazed over there. It's okay, and it's not a big deal what I do. Just it's okay, we're here. Did I not say your name? You didn't? Sorry, you said you didn't. That's okay. I thought I said, I'm sorry. Sorry, man, it's okay. I'm sorry. I could have just let it go. But that wouldn't be me. No, it wouldn't be um. I thought I heard that right. I looked at Dave. Dave was kind of like, what and whatever you were rolling, you know,

episode fifty seven or whatever. I'm so sorry. I was doing that for Yeah, our producer. Not the worst slight against me today, So that's fine. I'm fine. Oh he's talking. Yeah, I'm a little worried. Anytime. I'm trying to drive us back onto the road like I took us off the road, and now I'm like, Okay, we should probably get back on the road. Uh yeah, anytime somebody. You know, the word run is in his name. So if he's got a hamstring, that's not great. Um, I think I think

you'll play. Maybe they limit him, Maybe we get to see some Rico doubtle, that's I mean. I hate to be a I hate to be a pessimist or a hater, but if this game goes away, most of us think it's gonna go. You know, Zeke probably doesn't have any business being in there in the second half anyway, So maybe they can use that as a way to limit him and keep him fresh, well, or at least the

fourth quarter. I don't know. I don't know, Hey, Amber, how confident would you be in Tony Pollard if he needed to carry the full load for an entire game? With everything you've seen of him, I guess to this point in his career, well, this year is just kind of just on the fence right there. I don't quite know how I feel about him at this point. I was really excited for him this year based on what I saw from him last year, but then this year

is just like hit or miss. Sometimes he has some really good runs and then some other times he just doesn't. So I think that maybe this is an opportunity. And this is hard to say, because yes, you still have to play a football game. Yes you still have to act like you're trying to win this game when you go out there on the field. But at the same time, it's like, you gotta make sure you protect your your starter. You don't want any thing to happen, anything like make

the injury worse for sequel Eliot. So I would think that we get to see more Tony polar on this game in this game, and it's just it's it's tough because he just doesn't have a good setup with the old line right now, so it doesn't help him. But I think he's a guy that hostalent and the ability to make runs and make it happen. But it's just in general, it's just not a good scenario for him. Nick.

I mean, I'm looking at the stats, and I mean there's nothing to suggest that that Pollard will be better than Zeke. I mean, he does seem quicker to the whole, but they're both averaging three point nine yards exactly. They're you know, receiving. They're averaging six point six point five and Pollard six point four. A lot less, you know, a lot less um touches for for Pollard. But I mean just saying you don't there's nothing to suggest that

that he is going to be better. Um, you know, his longest rush is you know, fourteen yards or something like that. And I mean, so it's not like he's done a whole lot with it. I mean they did have a big kickoff return that that was a nice play and the one nice play in Washington. But I mean, I think he'll provide that they need each other, not just one or the other. So I think it would be worse because who's If Pollard is the guy, then who's who's Pollard? You know, It's like that old thing

about Jordan and Pippen. I mean, you know, if becomes Jordan, pip never had a Jordan. You know, Pippen never had a Pippin you know, I mean that kind of stuff. You gotta have a second guy. I don't know, Maybe Ricco's the guy. Yeah, Dave, what do you think? Yeah, Rico, let's see him. We've been saying that. I'm six years Dave, You're you're right, Um, yeah, I mean I don't know. Yeah, I mean I feel fine if Tony If I mean, if if Tony would have to play the whole game,

I feel fine that he would do. Okay. I don't think that he would be better than the best that we've seen from Zeke. I think, all things being equal, he's probably capable of going out there and carrying the ball twenty times for up to one hundred yards, assuming the game doesn't get away from him. But I still, you know, I think Zeke will have a role. I think if I had to guess today, I think Zeke

still finishes with more carries than Tony. But like I said, maybe this is an opportunity for Rico Dowdle to get some actual point time. What do we know about Alden Smith at this point? And he also was limited yesterday. Sounds like he's expected to play as well. I mean, you know, both these guys, Zekens Alden Smith talked on their conference calls. You know this week doesn't sound like players that aren't going to play in the game. But again,

maybe limited a little bit. Cheetah, both of these things, Oh yeah, you take the cheetah both well, both of the other two guys just seem like load management things to me, just like reading all the tea leads. Yeah, like the fact that both guys were available for their interview. You fact that Jerry Jones said he thinks they'll both play on the radio today, That just it feels like

precaution more than actual injuries. Whereas Cheeto Mike McCarthy's yesterday, Mike McCarthy was like, today, it'll be the big day. And then we asked him again today and he was like, Saturday, it'll be the big day. And I'm just like, all right, we're not gonna see Cheeto. Yeah, we're not gonna see Cheeto. And they don't sound good. I mean when he was asking the press conference, his erstone was kind of like, well, we waited to see how he reacted at practice, and

then we viloated him. But the way that he said we re vivoiated him just made it sound not us optimistic as to having him played this weekend. Yeah, I think the sad which okay, I'm sorry, I just I wrote about the secondary earlier this week, and you know, Nick's been calling at the hamstring from hell and I'm like, yeah, I guess so I'm sitting here thinking Cheeto's been out since maybe week four. No, I was wrong. Cheo has

been out since week two and it's week nine. So yeah, this is a this is a hell of a hamstring issue, allright. You well, often if you're saying contract, which I think that's what I heard, like you would think that would kind of move things along. But again, maybe if he doesn't think he can play, if he doesn't think he can play well with a hamstring. Jason Hatcher threw it out there, you know, but ten years ago, five years ago. I mean, I'm putting bad taping myself out there, and

you know, and and there's a reason for that. I mean, like it's not think about it. If he goes out and plays in a game and gives up the touchdown or two touchdowns, I mean then it's like, let's rank the free agents this year, and then all of a sudden there's a play like that. I mean, it's not the worst thing in the world. I mean, like, that's what these guys are, especially the guys that are going

for their second contract. This is it for them. This is the biggest contract they're ever has A takeaway he has he has a takeaway on film. You're talking about film and putting out there. He has an interest option before he went out with the injury, so at least he has that. Yeah, but if he goes out there and gets dusted by juju a couple of times because he's not at one hundred percent, nobody's gonna care that he had a pick two months ago. He's got a

bad Yeah. It's just but I know all the injuries are different, but it's just it's it's funny how Zeke is like, well, he's got a hamstring injury and he's probably gonna play in this game. And I get it, it's not torn or whatever, different different thing, but eight weeks for a hamstring or seven or eight, because think about it, if he didn't play this game, which doesn't

sound like he will. You know that that they got the bye week next week, so they're like, all right, let's come back and then maybe he'll play at the end. I mean, but it just it kind of seems like a for who for what situation? Right now? Okay, Um, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna go ahead and take an early break. When we come back. I want to talk about the Cowboys versus the Steelers. Asked some questions I'm gonna line up for you guys, the biggest

of which is who's going to start at quarterback? And does the person that start a quarterback do you think they'll actually end the game at quarterback. We'll talk about that when we come back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why Selor pioneers wigs to make lenses as unique as you. Varilux for super sharp vision, Essential Blue for protection, and Krisol for freedom from glare. Three cutting ex solutions

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this season. There's home matchups after Pittsburgh, We've still got one against Washington, San Francisco and Philadelphia. A limited number of tickets are on sale now. Get yours today at Dallas Cowboys dot com slash tickets. Welcome back to the break. We're in the second segment. We're life from the s WBC Mortgage studios. At the start, we're gonna talk Cowboys versus Steelers that happens this Sunday three thirty at AT

and T Stadium. Let's start first with the question that I think everybody's trying to figure out, and I'm not sure you guys have the answer, but I still will ask the question, who starts at quarterback for the Cowboys? And do you think the person that starts ends up finishing the game. Let's start first with you Amber. I

think it's gonna end up being Cooper Rush. I kind of hesitate after hearing Mike McCarthy said his comments and just stating that for some reason, he thinks Gary Gilbert has a little bit more experienced based on the fact that he's been a couple of weeks more here than

Cooper Rush. But I think that maybe once they get into conversations between him and Kellen Moore, Kellen Moore maybe voices his opinion on the fact that he has known Cooper Rush for a longer amount of time, and maybe that helps in just the communication and getting them on

the same page. But I do think that if the Cowboys are losing pretty badly, I do think that there's a chance for us to get to see both quarterbacks in the game, because at that point, why not why not get a chance to see who could be a better backup to Andy Dalton once he gets back. Dave.

You know, I think I've said Cooper Rush five or ten times already this week, but I do have to acknowledge, Like again, you just sort of get some vibes listening to McCarthy and talking to people that maybe they like Garrett Gilbert a lot more than I thought they did, so I would start Cooper Rush. I'm not going to be surprised if it's Gilbert. Having said that, I'm with

a g I think it's kind of a mood point. Like, you know, David Moore from the Dallas Morning News made a joke this morning about how Tom Landry rotated quarterbacks like every snap or every series. I'm not saying you need to do that, but maybe give each of these guys a quarter or you know, give the backup guy the third or something. I mean, I think there's nothing wrong with acknowledging the situation that you're in and just saying like, yeah, let's give each of these guys a

fair opportunity to show. I know, like you you should try to win every game. You play to win the game, like Herm Edwards said, But I don't think there's anything wrong with acknowledging that you are in very dire circumstances and you can change up the way you do things because of that. Yeah, I would go with Cooper Rush. I think sounds like Dave said, it sounds like it could be Gilbert. But then again, you know McCarthy doesn't want to tip his hand at anything because you know

that's worked this year. But I don't get me a it worked, But that's okay, I don't. I really don't think the Steelers. I don't think. I don't think t J. Watt or Bud Dupree is gonna be like, what who's that? I'm like, you see, you're looking into the Pittsburgh practice facility right now, and everybody's like, Oh my god, which one is he gonna be? I don't know which one's gonna be. Like they're really ringing their hands over this one, right. Yeah. I think a better question would be and I don't

know who finishes. I mean, I agree they all should should play. If it's this close, then it's not going to take much to sway your opinion. But if there's a way to do it, I think I would probably make all three quarterbacks active, including Denucci. Why not? Why not him? I mean in the second half if he gets out of hand. You know, Dave said something earlier to I want to bring up. He said, if the game, like Pollard, if the game gets out of hand, I don't think it will get out of hand to run

the ball. If it's twenty one to nothing, like Atlanta up twenty one nothing, hey, let's go get back in the game. Pittsburgh up twenty one nothing, you're like running the ball. Yeah, but you know NFL coaches they're never can they're never going to concede it. I mean, did you watch that game last night? A game was over before it started, and end of the game, they're still trying to get down there and score that last touchdown. Hurting in fantasy, but still they're trying to get down

there score that touchdown. So I just think that's the NFL coaches. They're gonna keep pressing like and they're gonna if they're behind, they're gonna be throwing the ball because they're trying to get back in even though they know they they won't get back in. It's an opportunity to test those guys under those kind of circumstances, right, maybe, but he's not gonna get he didn't want to get beat by Pittsburgh fifty to three. Yeah, So I don't know.

I think I think you still run your offense. I think what Bucky said, he slowed down so the game as much as you can, and you know, see what happens. But I would play all three quarterbacks. I mean, i'd make them all active. I was say this, I don't I don't really honestly care who starts, but I do think if down a significant amount at halftime, I think

you make a switch. Like I think that's a to me, it's a no brainer, yeah, because I think I go through the first half and I see where we are, and if the guys are on a bit of a role by the way, he may be down, but he may be playing okay. Then I still stick with him and I keep seeing okay, can he dig his way out? Give him a chance to see if he can dig

his way out of the hole. Right, But if it's just a blowout by halftime, if it's just the offense not moving, there's nothing going on, then why not throw the other guy in there and just see what he can do. He might not be able to dig out of the hole either, but he might show you something

that makes you say, huh, not bad. Maybe he's a guy that we can continue to kind of keep developing a little bit here, and if there's other opportunities to play him later in the season, then we continue on that track and we'll maybe get him some more opportunities. All right, let's go ahead and move on to the next question. I got an over under question for you guys, Pittsburgh five sacks over or under, Dave, I mean, it's easy to joke about that. I feel, situation, it's always

smart to take the under. Like it's very rare to see an NFL team get more than five or six sacks of the game. I know what happens. I mean, we've seen it happen in the Cowboys, but way more often than not, No, and and the Cowboys will game plan for ways to get the ball out of their guy's hands or just to run the ball to protect the quarterbacks. So yeah, I mean, like I can see four or four and a half, but if you're telling

me over under five, I'll go under. Yeah, And that just to be clear, it was not meant necessarily to be a joke. You look at what they did last week. They gave up four sacks last week, and in my opinion, they're facing a tougher pass rush against the Steelers than what they faced last last week against the Eagle. So to me, that five number is a legitimate number, and it certainly isn't a joke for whoever's gonna be back their quarterback, because they're gonna have to deal with that.

But Nick, what do you think probably under. I think they'll try to get the ball out quick. Like Dave said, if if you would have said, if you would have said four and a half, you know that, then you think get about it. Yeah, maybe, but or four he said four. I mean, but I think I think it'll be it'll be close to that. Well, that makes it so much better, does it? Does? It makes a difference. It makes an absolute difference. Yeah, it doesn't. You're still

four and a half. Five, big deal. Same thing. You're getting pressure, you're getting dropped in the lane. You're just ignoring the whole concept of over under. Like yeah, I mean, like we all agree that they're gonna get sacked in this game. But five is a lot, you know what, I'll take it. I'll take it. I'll take it. I'll put five on my name, I'll put five. I'll say this is gonna be one of those games they're gonna

get pressure. And the thing is a lot of those plays might not necessarily count as a sack because maybe the quarterback just gets rid of the ball quicker, but he's still gonna get hit and pressure constantly. I just don't trust our offensive line unfortunately, and I am scared of what the Steelers have over there, So yes, I'll go ahead and take five sicks. It's not gonna be a pretty game. I'm which j G. I think this

is gonna be. I think that really the toughest part of this matchup for the Cowboys is going to be the fact that not only do the Steelers have good rushers, but as Bucky was saying earlier in the week, they blitz a lot, and you never know who those five guys are that coming because they play that three four defense, it can be a different five all the time, like they're sending different guys, and what happened in that Arizona game, similar thing. When you've got guys coming from different points,

that's a problem for the Cowboys. And you've got a much higher grade pass rusher with Steelers with the Steelers and a much higher grade secondary with the Steelers than you had with Arizona. So I think that's gonna be a huge challenge for this Cowboys offensive line. Let's move on to the next question. How much does the fact that Pittsburgh's offense is a quick passing attack help the Dallas defense if at all. What I'm getting at there is Dallas has had a lot of problems with the

deep ball. Doesn't seem like that's what Pittsburgh does regularly. Now, maybe this is a week when they find that part of their offense, but that isn't something they do regularly. Does that help the Cowboys defense. I don't know if the Cowboys secondary it will tackle that well. I mean, that's where it's going to come down to. The reason why they do that is because they get it blocked, and they also, you know, have playmakers that are going

to break tackles, and that's where I think. You know, if the Cowboys have had some issues where they're not making tackles in the open field like that, so you know, Pittsburgh's gonna do whatever they can score points. I think it was what Bucky was saying last week, I mean a couple days ago about Ben doesn't take as many shots down the field. It's not the same as it as it was in the past, but they're still effective this way, so I think it helps a little bit.

But if the Cowboys aren't going to tackle, they're gonna have those games where where they're not out there making plays to stop them, then you know it could be just as ugly. Yeah, Amber, this question is a little confusing to me, but if I'm trying to make sense of it, I mean, I would say it would help them if we get the type of defense that we saw last weekend, but that most likely is not going to happen because you got a very different offense and

a very different quarterback. So I would say I agree with what Nick said. I don't think it necessarily helps them much, if anything at all, But the defense is just it. I don't I don't have any answer. I don't trust this defense to do anything either, So I don't know. Dave Well said on Namber's part, I mean, halfway through the season, how could I possibly be expected to say like the Dallas secondary has an advantage. I mean, I know Carson Wentz struggled against them, but Carson Wentz

is struggled in a lot of games. I put that more on him than the Dallas secondary suddenly being great. Kyle Allen let them up the week before that maybe it won't look as ugly as it has at times, but Hall of Fame quarterback, and I mean, that's a nice receiving corps. Maybe not as good as it has been at times during the Steelers run, but Chase Claypool's six four, Juju's obviously great deanteum, and then you know, James Washington's a deep ball guy too, even though he

hasn't had a huge role. So no, I don't I don't like that. I don't like this matchup at all. Yeah, and I'll say this, it's not to me. I agree with you. I think this is this is a challenging matchup for the Cowboys, pretty much as every week is going to be for the Cowboys. But from the from the standpoint of the fact that if if they are not a team that really takes those deep shots often, I don't know that I've seen the biggest problem with

the Cowboys secondary being them tackling. I think the biggest issue has been they let guys get loose and for you know it, there's a forty r touchdown or fifty yard touchdown, know whatever it is, right, they they just don't seem to be able to always be on the same page with whatever's going on down feel, And I think that's the part where if there's a team you're running up against it doesn't really do that a lot.

I think it can be an advantage and I shouldn't even say an advantage, it could help the Cowboys because you don't do to them. It's kind of like what we talked about last week with the running game, Like we were like, why didn't they keep running the ball? Well, that helped Dallas. They didn't keep running the ball, right because that's just not what they wanted to do. They wanted to keep giving Wins an opportunity to throw the ball,

and that helped Dallas. So I do think there can be a little bit of that that might happen this weekend where if they're not willing to take those shots down field, not to say they won't be there, but if they're not willing to take them, then I think that does help Dallas a little bit. And I think it can help Dallas again if they can tackle well, then I think it can help them maybe in this game a little bit and to keep them away from what's really hurt them in the past few weeks. All right,

let's roll into the next question. As Dallas corrected some of its rushing defensive problems, or do you expect James Connor to have a good day. Let's start with you, Dave No. I mean, like I just show me you know they played great, they played great last week. I tend to think of it more as an operation until I see more. And you know, we talked more when we were reviewing the Philly game. I think the success against the run was a lot more about Philly being

reluctant to do it than Dallas suddenly buckling down. So you know, they should have this new defensive tackle Longkou who can maybe help am Anchor down Neville Gallimore continue getting reps. But until I see them do it, I absolutely do not trust them to shut down anybody's rushing attack, especially you know somebody. Again, maybe the Steeler's offensive line isn't what it used to be, but it's still very good and James Connor is a good back, so that no,

I don't like that at all. They've given them more with less to less, Right, Amber, what do you think? Yeah? Yeah? The only thing I have to add to what they've said is that I think the Steelers defense is going to be able to get the Cowboys offense off the field a lot. So I just feel like the Cowboys defense is gonna be pretty tired in that game, and that's gonna hurt them once they try to stop whether that's the passing game or the run. It's just they're

gonna be physically tired in this game. So that's gonna be a problem in that aspect. So yeah, I don't I don't think they're gonna be able to stop the run. That's a good point. No, I don't think the offense is gonna be able to do much. So, yeah, they're gonna be on the field thirty five minutes plus in that game, and I think they'd have a hard time stop in the run in the first quarter, you know. So I just think you said James Connor's gonna have a good day. I think he could have a really

good day. If you were playing fantasy, you're playing him, I would a team you're playing, I would not even thinking twice about yeah, yeah, I've got the quarterback over there, and I don't think that's I don't think he's gonna do it much because I think they'll run the ball. I really do. I think that, you know, they'll you know, this is one of those games. I mean, I know it's his doom and gloom, but it just is just

this team. They just don't have the firepower on offense to compete with that Steeler defense, and then on defense they don't have it to compete with Pittsburgh's offense. But that's the crazy part about this, and we all know because we've been watching the NFL for a long time.

It's these kind of situations that often create these weird moments in the NFL when everybody is convinced of one thing and I don't even know, I don't even know a scenario where that would actually work out like that this this week, Like there's no reason at all to believe the Cowboys will be better offensively, defensively or special teams. There's no reason to believe that. They've given you, no reason to believe that. It's just weird because you look

at this. But the point is, the point is it's just weird because we've seen this happen in the NFL. And again, Pittsburgh they would go to eight. No. I don't think Pittsburgh has been eight. No. I want to say I heard a statistic like they haven't been eight. No, maybe in their franchise history. But but again, you're talking about these just these these weird moments that sometimes happened in the NFL. I think if it happens it would happen because of what Day said earlier in the week.

Dallas comes in with this completely different game plan where basically they're like, or do a wildcat the whole day and they somehow take Pittsburgh off guard and they catch them doing some stuff that that they're not really prepared for it. That would be the only case scenario. But I just don't even see that really working against a team this good. All right, we're gonna take our final,

I will say, sorry, good Dave. I mean, yeah, any given Sunday, anything can happen, Like, you can never completely rule that out. But like, when the deck is this stacked, I mean we saw it last night. I watched that game. The forty nine ers are decimated, they don't have any of their good players, and green Bay went in there and rolled over them. I think it was thirty one to three, and then green Bay let off the throttle

and San Francisco got some mercy points. So when the deck, when the deck is this stacked, I just don't know what all you can expect to do. Doesn't mean that the Cowboys can't win, But forgive me if I'm not really entertaining it as a legitimate possibility. There's no logical reason to believe that they will win. All right, we're gonna take our final break. When we come back, we're gonna get some questions from you guys again. You can even I mean, I'm sorry, you can tweet Amber at

Amber Garcia TV. She'll get your tweets there. But we'll also have some other questions as she's worked up. We'll do that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor and Cream Soda. Is he a new combone that's music to my ears? Okay, doctor music to my ears and mouths, New Doctor pepper

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Back to the break. If you're looking for something to change up your dinner routine, you can help support local firstco businesses by choosing one of the Star District restaurants. For more information on delivery, take out, curbside, pickup, and dine in availability, visit the Star District dot com. Absolutely, we are in our final segment of the Breakwheel live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios. I got Dave and Amber with me, and we're going to jump into some

questions here Amber, what you got out there? I still have a lot of questions about the tackle position, but specifically about Tyren smith future. What do he guys? And I know this is kind of hard to tell us right now, but what do you guys expect here to happen with just him and his time here with the cot Boys? I would imagine I'll go ahead, Dave, go ahead, next Sorry, I bet he's coming back. It comes back

next year. God. Yeah. At the risk of sounding like a crazy optimist, like, I'm not very worried about Tyrant Smith, to be honest with you, like, I think a lot of the problems that have plagued Tyrant Smith over the last three or four years stem from him trying to gut through it, like he hasn't had this surgery that shut him down, because he's like he's a warrior. He's like, I'm good to go. I can fight through this. And he'll miss some games and the problem never really goes away,

but he fights through it. And so give him a whole year to have the surgery and really get himself right. Not saying he's gonna play in sixteen games a year for the next five years, but I think this will help him finish his contract. And you know, the Cowboys obviously you can't take that at face value. They need to address their depth at offensive tackle. But I don't think Tyron's going anywhere. I think he'll be starting for this team for the next couple of years, at least

the contract. How much longer is it on their contract? Do you guys know? I want to say three seasons? Hang on, I'll look it up. I will say this while David it's here, three or four more seasons. While Dave is looking it up, I'll say this. I disagree with you guys a bit. I think he'll be back. I don't think there's any reason for the Cowboys to say, oh,

let's get rid of him. I do think the Cowboys, if they go into next season relying on the fact that that both their tackles are going to be healthy and healthy for sixteen games at a mistake, So that means they need to I think invest some resources into that because right now, I don't think I've seen a single guy that they've rolled out there to play tackle at this point other than their guard who they don't

want to put a tackle actually do it well. So I think this offseason, whether that means they got to go out and invest something in free agency, whether that means they got to invest a mid round pick, or whether that means that they take one of the guys that maybe are playing guard and really invest working them at tackle, I think they got to address that position, and I think they got to address it in a in a significant way because they can't trust that both

these guys coming off injury, and with the injury history of Tyron, they can't trust the fact that that they're going to have those gas for sixteen games. I think they can make the argument they did that last year though when by getting Cam Irving wasn't great though, And that's what I'm saying. If you're going to go out and do it in free agency, you better get a better quality guy than Cam Irving. I mean, he can't remember he got he Actually they made a decision that

he was worse than Terrence Steele. This coaching staff made the decision he was worse than Terrence Steele. If they're accurate in their assessment, I'm not sure that Terren Steele doesn't beat out Lyle Collins for the starting job. I'm not sure he hasn't been that. He hasn't lost the job to anyone since he's been here. Regardless of how poor he has played, he continues to be the right tackle of this team. Yeah, but you're saying that tongue in cheek obviously, I mean that's there's no way he

was beating out Lao. But the point is, I think it speaks more about cam Irving personally. I don't think cam er I think this coaching staff will look at Cam Irving and said he's not a very good tackle. They played him when they had to, when they absolutely had to. I thought he's played pretty well. It's hard to do that, though. It's hard to get a guy and pay him to be a backup, and you see it even at quarterback. Andy Dalton has to make that decision. Yes,

I'm gonna be a backup there. So I think you have to draft someone second round, third round, draft someone and hope that you know you can develop him or move Connor Williams out there exactly, And maybe that's the answer. Maybe you give Connor more time working at that. Maybe it doesn't mean he moves there initially, maybe he's still your starting left guard, but you start working him there and seeing if maybe he has the ability to slide

out to it. Man, you think about that, Dave Williams say that the next year they moved him to tackle. This would be his fourth year, next year right contract and all of a sudden europe swing tackle. Yeah, that would be terrible for well, I mean, yeah, you're right, because it wouldn't be a starting situation. But I mean that they did that for Lyle and it helped him.

You know, Lyle was playing guard and they moved him and he I mean, you know, he's happy about the way that way, but they loved him to be a starter that they didn't move him to be right, No, I know, I know, Yes, Connor I would think would be livid if he gets moved out of the starting lineup in his contract year. If that would not I can't imagine that would make him happy. Tyran is under contract for three more years. I will go on the record and say I think he finishes his deal. But yeah,

I said that too. I mean they need to invest in in a good backup, whether preferably in the draft honestly, because yeah, finding finding a Stallar starter caliber tackle in free agency to not start is that's going to be tricky, So use a draft pick. Well, speaking of free agency, and this is tough again because there are other factors

like Dak Press contract and all that. But do you guys think that the Cowboys maybe learned a lesson this year by shopping for Bower Gains and all that dream free agency and maybe they kind of start handling free agency a little bit different this upcoming year. I doubt it they should. I mean, they they haven't really hit on a free agent investment in the time that I've covered the team, and I don't, you know, you get it like a pleasant surprise, like a Jeremy Mincy. That's

not what I'm talking about. Like, they haven't they haven't really spent big money on a guy, and on the rare occasion that they've spent medium money, it hasn't really worked out. And with what they've got to figure out with Dak and some of the other pieces, I have a hard time believing that they're going to do it next year either. Yeah, I don't think they necessarily trying

to bargain shop as much. I mean, they are trying to get bargains, but I think it stems from the fact that they they're going to I mean, they had the highest quarterback in the in the NFL right now, highest paid quarterback right per year thirty one million. I mean I think, I mean, I know there's guys that are supposed to be making more, but I mean he's

making thirty one minute. That's one of the top seeks, one of the top running backs, Mary's on the top receivers, the left guard or right guard, left tackle, left defensive end. So when you do all that, you just don't have money for it. And I'll complicate that even more. This next year's salary cap is gonna go down. Guys, it's gonna go down, and because of COVID, it's gonna go down.

And because of that, I don't think that they'll have the money to be able to go out and just spend, you know, in free agency and just completely change the way that they look at free agency in a year when their salary cap is actually down. That would have to be in a year when your salary cap is up and you're like, all right, we got a little extra money, let's play around a little bit more than

we normally would. I think this year they're going to be as frugal as they possibly can because of the fact that they do still have to sign Deck, which might actually end up being a savings for them, but they have all these other guys with these big contracts. Yeah, I don't think this is gonna be the year they're gonna change up their strategy. Even if they wanted to change up their strategy, I don't think financially this is

a year to do that. Well. And we know the Cowboys love drafting people, and that's the preferred route when he comes to player at consisition. So here's the next question. Let's go around the room and just talk about because everyone wants to talk about draft already. So what would be the position your biggest position of need right now

when you look at drafting a player, I'll start. I think that when you look at where they are projected to pick, like I am, I'm just getting the best defensive player on the board and it really doesn't matter. And if that's vague, that's fine. That's how bad the defense is. Because if he is a catalytic line back, I'm for it. If he is a badass cornerback, definitely. If he's a pass rusher, okay, and if he is a run stuffing defensive tackle that he's just like controls

the middle. Bring it. So whoever the best defensive player is, defense is so bad. I am for that. See I don't I don't completely agree. I actually I was talking about that on Twitter the other day. Is I think you just got to look at positional value here. And I don't want to mention any specific players because I haven't done I haven't started researching this draft class, or I'm just watching college football world get to that, don't worry. But so I don't want to. I don't want to

throw any specific players under the bus. But this defense is so far away being top notch, like an off ball linebacker. I don't know if I can justify that with a top ten pick, or a defensive tackle who

doesn't rush the passer. I hate to sound like Stephen Jones because we know they hate one techniques, but like, if I've got a pick in the top ten, I need a little bit more bang for my buck, which is why you know, and I don't even know the names of any of these players, but I'm hoping like hell that like a very very top tier defensive back is available, either a cornerback that can completely take away half of the field, or one of these safeties we've

been dying for for years, like a Derwin James who can play six positions Like that is my pipe dream. If I'm picking in the top ten, is a defensive back who can help me just completely revamped the secondary. I'm completely with you, David. I love your point, Nick, because if there is I will say this, if there is a dynamic type player at linebacker, a type player that's all over the field and can do a lot of different things, then that's the guy I would I

would be okay with spending that high pick. The likelihood you got that guy sitting in the top ten probably not great. But if you've got one of those top notch cornerbacks, you know, the kind of guys that like kin a Couta that came I was as a Couta that came out of Ohio State, that kind of back that I feel like he's gonna come in and he's gonna be an immediate impact player. And now I'm gonna pair him up with this other corner I got in the second round last year that I think now can

give me a really good tandem. I'm going for that, like that's my preference. If I can get that cornerback that's a great cornerback, I think that will help everything all the way around. I think he helps more than just a cornerback position. I think he helps the safety. He helps the pass rush. I that's where I go if I have a choice. Yeah, And the quarterbacks will factor into this. If the Cowboys are drafting that high, right, always look at the quarterback situation. Not so much so

that the Cowboys will do it. Maybe they will, that's a that's a discussion for another time. But the times the Cowboys have traded that first round pick in the past, it's because someone else wanted a quarterback. They wanted a Brady Quinn or whatever. The Cowboys are trade. I'm not saying they drifted three guys this year, right, Dave? Have you nick you guys at least Georgia and I mean, I mean, I'm sorry, at least Ohio State and uh yeah,

we know those two. Maybe isn't a third one. I thought that was a third one that's kind of being talked about. Yes, No, the North Dakota State kid and the BYU kid are both going to be first round picks, and um, Kyle Trask out of Florida I think has a chance to Okay, I just think, I mean maybe as many as five. Yeah, it look at Jerry of like using that to maybe trade back if you need it to or whatever. I find Derek's answer pretty amusing because I thought, if I remember correctly, that all we

needed was some really good pass rush. They didn't will and they didn't get it. Now you're over here to talk and they didn't get it. Did you do you think this is a really good pass rush? Absolutely not, Okay, that's my point. They did. I'm just saying, like, maybe maybe you can get it. Maybe I would have expected you talking about maybe reinforcing the past rush rather than talking about now They both play off each other. They both play off each other, so you gotta give me

one of them that's really good. If I have a really good secondary, then I can afford have pass rush that's not as good because they're gonna be helped by the secondary. Or if I have a really good pass rush, then my secondary will be helped a little bit. It's kind of an either or. But when you're getting neither like they got this year, this is what you get as a result of a really bad defense. No, I agree. I just wanted to give you some crap on some

previous climents that you've said in the past. It's all good. Do we have time for one more? And yeah? Yeah, no, oh, I'm sorry. No, we gotta do picks. We gotta do picks. Let's go and jump the pics real quick, all right. No, not that we are have any suspense here with our picks, but at least we can get some some suspense with the scores. And let's start with you. How do you go on this pick, Cowboys versus Steelers. I'll do it pretty simple. Cowboys loose and the Steelers they end up

scoring at least like thirty five points. Cowboys somehow get lucky and score. For some reason, I'll keep seeing number thirteen in my head, so I'm just gonna go with that. So thirty five thirteen, m okay, Nick, thirty one twelve Pittsburgh. I don't need that. That field goal. You're gonna stick with that. Yeah, I heard this morning you were kind of walking. But just just see why holding Pittsburgh under thirty like, I don't see that. Yeah, thirty one, thirty

one to twelve. They fail to cover the spread for the ninth consecutive week, which I think is the record. Yeah, it's unbelievable, all right, Dave, Uh, you know it sounds weird to say, but I think the efforts gonna be there again. Like, I think they're gonna be scrappy again. But the problem is, what kept them in the Philly game was Carson Wentz turning the ball over. Roethlisberger has

been amazing at not doing that. He's actually only thrown an interception in two of his seven games, so five times he's gone out there and protected the ball very very well. I don't see them taking advantage of him, so I think they'll scrap. But I think Pittsburgh pulls away pretty easily. I got thirty four or to ten, and I think I think the Cowboys do score a touchdown, but it's like in the last five minutes when nobody's really paying attention. All right. I think that this game

is gonna be one where I agree. I think the defense will be scrappy early. I think that there will come a point though, whin the bottle will break, and I think score affiliate. I mean, I'm sorry Pittsburgh ends up scoring points much much more than than what they did last week. I do think though, I look at the Cowboys offense, if they could only get nine last week, then my thought is this week it's going to be

less than that. I just don't see them being able to I think the biggest problem this week is just going to be offensively. They just can't match up or at least anything we've seen so far doesn't suggest that they have a good matchup here against the Pittsburgh Steeler defense. So I actually think it's gonna be kind of a little bit of a you know, the offense doesn't score a touchdown for sure, I think I'll give them six points.

I'll give them two field goals. I think Philly scores thirty four thirty four six is what I see as a final score. All Right, I appreciate you guys join us. We'll be back on Monday. We'll let you know what went right and what went wrong for the Cowboys. Remember next week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, it will be the bye week, so we're gonna flip things around. We've got a whole new lineup for every one of the shows. Did put it on my Twitter page? You can check

that out. We'll also give you some more information about that next week. Till then for Nick Eatn, Dave Hellman, Amber Garcia on Derek Eagleton. This has been The Break Live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.