Cowboys Break: Make The Call

The Break. We are live from the SWBC Morga Studios at the Star. We are presented by Geico, and for second week in a row, we got our whole crew here, so getting used to this. Hopefully this show this week it's as good as it was last week because it was a really, really good show. It's good to have everybody in studio. Today. We're going to continue our defensive review. We talked about the defensive line last week, and this week we're going to dive into probably the most interesting

position on the Cowboys right now with the linebackers. And we got a lot of questions. We got to talk about a lot of things we got to try to fix for this team. Hopefully this is a show where Jerry and Steven and Will are listening in, because my expectation is that you guys are going to give them lots of great advice on how they need to handle this position. And it was hopefully not because I don't have much good to say about That's why they need to be That's why we want them to hear what

you guys have to say about this linebacker crew. Right, I'm just laughing thinking about my relationship with Will McClay and how heavily he probably weighs my opinion. I actually love I actually love the relationship you will have. It's it's kind of a It's like, if you don't know the two of you guys, you would think we'll hate you. But I know because of Will and how he is like, I'm like, we'll like you, Like he wouldn't take time to rib you the way he does if he didn't

like you. I tell myself that to make myself feel better, But I'm not sure. I'm not sure that's true. All right, let's let's dive right in. We're gonna talk about the linebacker position later in the show. We are going to take some questions So if you have questions, you can hit us up. Just tag at Cowboys Break on Twitter. Amber can get those. But I think Amber has some questions already. Starry getting calls now that we're back in studio.

Oh yeah, we absolutely can. You know what, Let's talk to the producer in the break, Chris Beam, and see what that's like next week or whatever. Like, no, in the in the break, let's see if we can actually get phone calls. And if we can, we will literally take a phone call here in the final segment of the show today. That's like saying, like at the pit stop, let's see if we can fix this, this and this. Yeah, no, we got a break in our break. It's three minutes.

We can figure it out, all right. Um, let's talk about the linebacker position. I want to start with a big question about this position, and I think, honestly it is the big question of the Cowboys from a standpoint of the linebacker position. What is the bigger problem at the linebacker position for the Cowboys? Is it Jalen's play or is it Layton's inability to play or be available to play. Let's start with you, Nick, Well, they're both the same. They're both I mean they both have the

same problem or they both have the same result. It's not the same problem, the same result, and that they're unreliable. So I mean it's all the still sounds the same to me, because I mean Layton, yeah, he's he's he's a good player when he's healthy, but he's not always healthy, the same as Sean Lee really and and you know, you just don't know what you're gonna get with with Jalen Smith and he's not he's not playing at the level and that the price tag that they put on him.

So um, I'll say it's the same because I think they're both kind of unreliable. But I have more confidence that Layton can stay healthy, which I think that's really what I'm trying to do. That it is like which one is a like? Which one is a bigger problem because you can't fix it is essentially where I'm going with that. I don't I don't know. That's a tough one.

I'll say Layton, all right, Amber, I get I get nick nixt logic there, But to me, I think it would be Jalen because I've been more excited of Layton at times. You know, he's shown especially in his rookie year, and it's unfortunate that he's been dealing with these injuries and every year, well at least last year, he came back talking as if he that wasn't going to be a problem again, and it wasn't necessarily the neck itself,

but it's still an injury in itself. But at the end of the day, how do you fix someone that isn't just performing well at all without an injury on the field. So that's my issue with Jalen And it wasn't something that it was just last year. To me. I wasn't a fan of what he was doing prior to that year, and I was very surprised at the contract that they gave him. So I just I feel that you're not really gonna get much more out of him, you know. It's just hard to envision him becoming any better.

And I know with dan Quinn there's a lot of hope and and talks about him having the ability to develop guys and all that, but I've just I don't, I don't I don't see it happening. I'm not a huge fan of what I've seen of Jalen Smith, and I'm trying to not be to not talk so bad or anything, to just be very political and all that. But Dave, take it over, Take it over. I mean, it's it's Jalen Smith. I think we all know that.

Maybe it's an uncomfortable thing to admit because he's, you know, the one of one of the few faces of his defense. The team identified him as a cornerstone piece. They paid him like it. I mean, you know, it's a it was a discount compared to the top of the market, but he's still a seventy million dollar player and he did not play like it. And honestly, it's way more concerning because I was trying to pull up the snap count. I don't have it in front of me, but I

know Jalen Smith played a ton of snaps like. He wasn't hurt, he didn't miss any games, he wasn't limited. He was out there all the time, and we got to see the good and mostly the bad of that. And yeah, you know, you can bring up dan Quinn. You know, they're going back to a scheme that they've played before, but Jalen played in that scheme in twenty nineteen and he didn't look awesome either. And that's you know, I have concerns that you know, I'm not a doctor,

but he doesn't. He doesn't look as explosive or as fast to me as he used to, Like he did not make plays in twenty twenty that he could have made in twenty eighteen. Like we've brought up the Deshaun Watson play a million times. It's a it's just a it's a very perfect example of the type of play he was capable bull of making at one time that we didn't see him make last year at all, or at least not often enough. It seems like he doesn't

change direction very well. It seems like teams know that they can exploit that, and that's a problem if you're the centerpiece of a linebacker corps and so and it's you know, it's also alarming because what are you gonna do. I mean, you probably can't trade him because you know at you know, Jalen said turn on the tape and other teams can do that too, and that's probably not gonna go great for you. And if you cut him, you're gonna incur a cost, like it's gonna hurt your

bottom line to get rid of him. And I mean there's ways you can. You can always get rid of somebody if you absolutely want to do it. But it's as we've seen in the league, this ship and always I think it's just getting started, to be honest with you, because the salary cap is a problem for people. So you can always do it, but you gotta pay your quarterback. You gotta make all this stuff work. You got to come in under the cap, and you need to add players to a bad team, not get rid of them.

And so that's a that's a puzzle that they've got to figure out. And I don't think there's a great answer to it because I don't have a lot of confidence that Jalen's gonna get better. And of course we can always be wrong, but that's just my opinion I have. I don't have a lot of confidence that he's going to get better, and I don't know how they get out from under his contract. I think they can do it. They can do it pretty easily next year, but you got to carry him for another year before you can

do that. Yeah, I think that. You know, there's talk of this new I mean, it's not a new defense, it's the same scheme, but he might have a new position. But what that's gonna do is that that that will just devalue um what he is. I mean, if they move him to the strong side, and that's been talked about, he'll play thirty percent of the snaps, maybe some one nickel.

That's not going to justify as contract. You know, that's only gonna make it worse when you're looking at how much you're paying a guy, and you know, and so there's, like Dave said, there's just not a great answer. You can try to protect him and try to protect yourself, but that doesn't help you unless he's willing to take a pay cut, and I have this feeling he's not. Well.

You know. The one thing that does interest me a little bit here is in twenty and eighteen, which I think we all agree was the best that of what we've seen from Jalen, he still had those same issues of change of direction, like the things that you talk about about him. Now, those things were present in twenty and eighteen. The difference was, for whatever reason, they didn't show up as much because there were plays he made.

Maybe it was because of the role that they asked him to play, he was able to maybe hide some of those deficiencies and do things he was better at doing, which is straight line running, get him to the ball and make a play. So it makes me wonder if you take it from that standpoint, and Nick, you'll remember this. Back when Parcels came in at the time, everybody, everybody was saying Flozo Adam needs to go, like he needs to go. Parcels. First thing he said when he got

here is he gotta resign. You gotta sign Flozo Adams, and and to and right. And what we found out was after they signed him, he became a really, really and by the way, he was probably a good tackle before that. But I do believe that some coaches just have a way with certain players of being able to

bring the best out of them. And so the one thing that I'll go back to is, again, if we talk about twenty and eighteen, and we all agree that was his best year, and we all agree that some of the deficiencies we've seen over the last two years were still there back in twenty and eighteen, but he

was playing at a different level. It does make me wonder, can a guy like Dan Queen come in here and say, you know, I have a vision for this player that will take into account all the things he doesn't do well, take into account of things he does do well, and put him in those positions more frequently. And if they can get that kind of value out of Jalen Smith, that's his way to be valuable to this team. And

that's I think the hope. Obviously we don't know if that's what's gonna happen, but to me, that is the hope of what you expect from Jalen Smith. Translation from the people on Twitter, Derek Comparis dan Quinn to Partment no Sting. I hear it just stop hopefully hopefully that's it's not just the coach, it's the team. It's that fits. I mean, I agree with what you're saying, and that is I mean that that has to be the hope.

Jalen salary becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year, so I mean, if they're gonna do something with him, it would have to be really soon. And I don't I don't really expect that to happen. And I think, you know, I don't. I think the Cowboys, you know, Jerry and Stephen Jones love Jalen Smith. I don't. I don't think they want him to go anywhere, and I think they'd rather try to fix him, and that's what we'll see. I would guess um. You know, I

am curious. You know, people talk a lot. I brought this up when dan Quinn got hired. You know, he's famous for this Leo Leo thing, which is just a weak side pass rusher. It's like it's the most overblown it's a it's not special. It's you're just a designated pass rushing linebacker on the weak side. Basically, Bruce Irvan did it for him in Seattle. Vic Beasley has done it before, so and I'm here. You know, Jalen's got

straight line speed. He can do stuff like that. Maybe you use him more in that role, try to add him, you know, get some pass rush out of him, don't ask too much of him in coverage. I don't know, though, And I hope dan Quinn can help reclaim him a little bit. I just if he's gonna play off ball linebacker. Some of the things you see on tape just make

you dubious that it's ever gonna be amazing. But the other thing, too, is dan Quinn's been here since January tenth or twelfth, and I haven't talked to him, have y'all. I don't know anything about what he wants to do with this defense. So that's a little bit annoying, but not much we can do about it. Right, Hopefully that

changes here in the next couple of months. No, it would be cool, and it would be cool to know, like what the defensive coordinator wants from his defense and like who he might want to try to draft, all that type of stuff. He also works for McCarthy, so even if he was talking to us, well, of course he's not gonna doesn't mean he's gonna say anything, but or what he says actually is true, Like, hey, but

I mean you can read between the lines. Yeah, I'm gonna say, even if even if they try to coach speaker, you can all always parted something out of it. Yeah, it's better than nothing at all. Going back to Jayleen Smith, here's how I see it as you were guys who were talking about it and me remembering what it was like a couple of years ago, and how I saw him as a player, which was he had the talent,

he had the explosiveness in him. But my problem with him back then was that his moves were always too jerky, like he was indecisive, and that led me to think, well, he just needs to work on his instinct and that's only going to come with time and experience on the field. So there was still hope there and you saw the speed, but now it's to the point where your couple of years in and you don't see the speed anymore. He slowed down. Like his movements and the way he reacts

sometimes there's confusion. He's like where should I go? It's like he to me, And I don't want to criticize him too much because I'm not in his brain or his head to really know, but but the way I see it is like he lacks focus, you know, Like and I'm not trying to compare him to Sean Lee, but you look at Sean Lee, a player like him, He's a freaking focused guy. He's in the game, he's gonna know. He knows as soon as the play starts. He basically knows where the play is gonna go. Jalen

not so much. He's always if you look at all his play, especially from last year, there's always a lack of hesitation and confusion that slows him down a few seconds, so that makes him behind on the play, and it just like those few seconds are super important in a game where the speed is so necessary and it just

goes to buy itself fast. So to me, I don't know how as a coach you you really teach that the speed and the and the concentration and knowing, okay, where is this play gonna go and learning that you know, I don't know how coachable that really is. Honestly, I don't know that I would call it focus and concentration as much as I would call it preparedness because I look at a guy like Sean Lee, and the reason

why I think Sean Lee is Shan Lee. The Sean leely we know is because the amount of time, or at least what we're always told about Sean Lee is the amount of time he spends really preparing for a game. I'm talking sitting and watching and watching and watching and watching film of his opponent to be able to diagnose things that he sees on film once he's in the

game and quickly be able to react to them. If you're not seeing that from Jalen, my question would be, and I don't know this because I'm not with Jalen, but is he preparing in the same way that as Sean Lee prepares? Is that the issue more than focus and concentration. Is it an issue of him just not maybe preparing as much? And I don't know the answer that question hard to Yeah, the other thing too, and I agree with you, and it just seems like he

guesses a lot and like that could be preparedness. I also wonder if it's compensation for like, Okay, if I wait to react act, I'm gonna be late. So I just gotta go and hopefully I'm right. And you're not going to be right all the time. Because he's a smart guy. We know this. The guy went to Notre Dame. Like you don't get into Notre Dame even if you're playing football. You don't get into Notre Dame if you're dumb.

The guy's smart. So it's not a comprehension issue in my opinion, which again leads me back to at least questioning if it's a preparedness problem. You know, all right, So here's the next question I have for you, guys.

Do you think the Cowboys should be looking at Layton vander ash as a situation where they think they can expect different, better results than what they've gotten so far from the standpoint of his health, or do they need to and maybe not, maybe abandon is a strong word, but do they need to start looking in another direction for a more reliable linebacker? Let's start first few Dave, This is I've written about this, and it's really tough. I think I have I done the Schrodinger's Cat analogy

on here before. I love that you bring that up, because that's one of my favorite books in the world. But god, I mean, I'm not smart enough to get into that. But Schrodinger's Cat's basically an experiment where you know, you release a vial of poison into a box with a cat, and you don't know whether or not it happened until you open it. So the cat is simultaneously alive and dead. Right I know, It's like different planes. The Cowboys simultaneously have two good starting linebackers and nothing

at all like right now they do they have? They're like, well we got Laton Vanderesh and Jalen Smith, or like, holy crap, we need we need uh. And you know there's a subplot here. There's a subplot here too. I'm just gonna keep going it's oh Sean Well, I mean the same thing. It's true, but just and I love Sean Lee, great guy, but I just I don't view him on the same level, just because at this point in his career, you know, you're probably you're not asking

for a thousand snaps from you. Um, but you're right, I mean you're right, Like, as of right now, Sean, you're like, oh, we got Sean leeback for one more year, or oh, Sean Lee is going to retire and probably be our linebackers coach in two years. Cool either way. Um. And and there's a subplot here where you know, you got to decide on Layton's fifth year option in May. That's probably something like ten million dollars to a guy that's missed almost a full season over the last two years.

I mean, that's that's a dicey proposition. So and if you don't do that, he's a free agent this time next year. And we just outlined everything that's wrong with Jalen, So what do you do? And I don't necessarily know that there's a great answer. I think I would probably pick up Layton's contract and hope that going back to a scheme that he is excelled in having a you know, an experienced defensive coordinator, and the injuries last year, they

don't they don't freak me out too much. I mean, broken collar bone, that's not a you know, that's a freak injury. Everybody rolls their ankle from time to time, like Layton would have play in the playoffs had they made it, So it's not like this debilitating thing. Um, So that's not the same to me as the neck injury. So I'd probably pick up his option and not feel great about it, but I feel a lot better than

being like, well, I'm a year away from having no linebackers. Yeah, and um, and i'd probably I would try to draft one somewhat highly doesn't have to be picked ten, but one of the first of those four picks, you know, two third rounders, first and second, I would try to spend one of them on a linebacker for sure. Is there's only one option to pick at ten, right, Um, maybe two? But really I mean Michael Parsons, And it sounds like from what I've heard, like none of you

guys love the idea Parsons at ten. Well, oh, hold on, this is somebody that doesn't study it like them. Yeah, I'm just studying it off YouTube like everyone else. It doesn't show us bad plays, right, you're in, Yeah, like I'm in. But that's all I see. Yeah, and I don't. I haven't read all the stories. I know there's been a lot of talk. He's off the field. He's been he's been in lawsuits, and he's got some maturity issues. He can get after. He's an athletic as hell, and

he can get after the quarterback for sure. But if he's got maturity issues, do you think bringing him into that room is a good idea? Great question, Sean Lee in it or not? Let's assume he's not. Is that a great idea? What if he's teaching it? No? Good? Um, but go ahead. I'm sorry, No, I just took you. No, that guy that just watching his tape? And I understand Perdue in Minnesota aren't the end all be all when

it comes to blocking. I get it, he's making plays, but he makes the plays that you wish Jalen Smith would make. You know, it's college, but I mean it's it's just he's unblockable. Um, But I don't know if I would do it at ten. But but but as what about the class from as far as second third round? Oh yeah, there's definitely value there. I was. I mean, I don't think they would pick him at ten. But I love another notre damn guy by the name of Jeremiah o Wusu Coamoa. He's a that three times. He's

a jack knife. He can, I mean, he's like the he's a linebacker, safety, slot corner, a little bit of everything. I don't think they would draft him in tense like that. He can linebacker, yes, safety slot corner, you know who? That sounds like somebody is sitting on Nick's wall like there are a lot of guys that fit that description. Linebacker, safety, slot corner. I am holy crap, I'm I mean, you wouldn't line him up in the slot and play him against Ceedee Lamb. But if he has the ability, that's

just tells you a lot about his athletics. He's he's he's impressive. I don't think I'm sad a nickname joke, thank you with that, because that's what it would be or Jay okay whatever, Okay, I mean I'm sad because are you the only one that loves him? Like that or a lot of a lot of people love him. A lot of people love him, But I just I don't know that he would be a top ten picks. They're trying to sneak him at forty four now that

no way. Is he one of those guys that if you trade down like that's a great pick in sixteen seventeen eighteen. Yes, I'm starting with David and I talked about this yesterday. I'm starting to like that idea. If it's there, if it's a trade down, and if you can get a good price for it, there's gonna be a good player there for you. You know, at fifteen, sixteen seventeen, if you can add a second or third round pick, I would be I think I would do

that less and less. You're in a seed lamp situation where somebody you thought was gone at four or five tackle is not gone. Guy, if he gets to yet ten, I don't know if you pass that up because he's he's considered to be a much better prospect than the tenth pick in the draft. Right to go back to the Parsons thing, I mean that just goes into a debate about you know, what's the value of a linebacker

the same thing as running back. Right is like, you know, if you can find these guys and there's there's a million other guys. Jabril Cox, who is an LSU guy, but he's outstanding, I love, I know, I know then I hate that even bring it up. Um, there's a bunch of other guys, Dylan Moses out of Alabama, Like, there's a bunch that you could find later on. And so that's the point is like, really, you know, if all he does is tackle and kind of cover, we're

really gonna draft him in the top ten. When a cornerback who can lock down the right side of our field is there for the next you know, we got we got the right side of our field taking care of for five years. If we draft Patrick's or Tan are we really gonna draft a line That's the logic. Yeah, And so that's why I don't think it would happen harder to find those guys for sure. All right, let's

take our first break. When we come back, we'll talk a little bit more about LV and that fifth year option. We'll also get into some other conversations, go a little deeper into the linebacker position and some of the players that are going to be free agents this year. We'll talk about that when come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. Honey, Big News Gary, Are you okay? Oh? I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only

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your favorite football team. Get yours today at Shop dot Dallas Cowboys dot com or at Stetson dot com. Back to the break. The Richest Weekend and Western Sports returns to at and T Stadium for its eighth year. Don't miss the finals of the American Rodeo on March sixth and seventh. Tickets are on sale now, get yours before they sell out at SeatGeek dot com. That's this weekend, March six and seven. Read in the Richest Weekend and Western Sports returns at and T Stadium. Okay, it's called

the American Is that that's the PBO? That rodeo? Kind of yeah, yeah, okay, one time for the Rodeo. Okay, all right, I'm worried. I'm so ready for next week for March Badness. Is gonna be fun this year. I cannot wait for March bad decision. Let's did not even you didn't realize we're there? No, it's March. I got y'all don't have a team at She was like, pretty deece. I mean, is someone gonna take over Brian's role of printing out the brackets and Nick does that? I don't

don't do that. You don't haven't done that in a long time. Can you not do it this year? Yeah? At all? Yeah, Well, I'm not saying we put money on. I'm just saying we do it just for fun, which is funny because Brian would ask me, oh, who's you going for ery G. I'm like, oh, let me see which name sounds better, because of course I don't know any single when when it comes down to the stories though, for brought us, I mean, everybody's got about ten. Yeah. One of my favorites of all time was the year

we did dating Story. I'm not I'm not gonna say it at all, and just the fact, well you can't bring it up. You don't tell the whole story, the whole story, but just it's just the simple fact of I'm not doing that stupid stuff. You guys can do that if you want. I'm not doing that. So the tournament, Brian, he's like, nah, it's okay, give me a sheep, give me keep fine, I'll do it whatever. First game we

go eat. First game, Ohio State is playing Dayton, and he picks Dayton because you know he probably picked him an eighty seven and anyway, and then they los to Ohio State, and I mean, he was going off. You would have thought somebody that he was Yeah, he was, just he wasn't he didn't care at first, but now that he's in, he's all in. Oh yeah, all in. Yeah, he was wishing bad things. It was the whole guy. Yeah, don't tell the whole Oh yeah, don't tell these Yeah

that's madness, that's what happens. Yeah, all right, let's jump back in. Let's talk some more about this defensive REVI. You were talking about the linebacker position. AG. I wanted to get your opinion on this fifth year option on Layton vander esh If you had to make the decision right now, do you take a fifth year option on him, or do you just accept the fact that he's going to be a free agent next year. I think I would.

I would trust the medical staff and see what their analysis on him is and if they feel confident that he is healthy and the way he always speaks about and we know listening to him, how committed he is, and he's a hard working guy and he's going to go back in there and grind and try to get better and all that. And his issue obviously has been

the health and the injury stuff. But like Dave mentioned, any none of these injuries seem to be major, And I don't believe the whole neck thing pop back Club last year that we heard, so at least I would expect him to be okay, and I would just go for it. I mean, he's I just it sucked to waste that and kind of see him go away that soon after you drafted him in the first round and you spend that money on him or you know, that pick on him and not really get that the return

that you were wanting and expecting. So I would go for it. But at the same time, I definitely think they need to add more talent there, and Dave would know, and like he talked about the draft and all the that's not my area of expertise, but whether it's the draft or some a veteran guy that can come in and if they take over Jalen's role, I mean, Jalen

can watch from the bench. I know he's getting a lot of money, but he can watch from over there, get upset and then maybe next time he comes in on a rotation or something he can maybe porm better. I want on the coaching Steff so bad. You know, it's funny. Just last segments, she was like, I'm gonna try to be politically correct. This segment is like, oh, put him on the bench. He can watch from the bench the good view over there. The harsh truth is that,

like politics are a big part of it. Yeah, and you know so aritocracy, like no, okay whatever, Like politics are a big part of it, but having a g on the sideline just be like if you want to go in, make a play next time and like because you're like no, but nobody staff is saying that to these guys, and at least not on a regular basis. Yeah, that would be awesome, Nick, would you would you take

the fifth year option? Uh? No, I'm not giving him a fifth year option because I think and if I can do this, I think I'm signing him to a long term deal. Let's try to wipe out that fifth year option. Yeah, you're going all in, Like, yeah, go ahead and give him a long term she said, But you think you gotta pay him big money right now? I don't. I don't know. That's the thing I think you can get. I think they're at this crossroads where it's like, you know, what, help us, help you, Jerry McGuire.

But that's that's kind of what it is. I mean, it'll be one of those situations. Let's let's don't have to worry about this. Let's don't put all this on your fourth or fifth year, and all we know you can play. I like what she said about you know, we know he's gonna work card, he's gonna grind, he's gonna do what it takes, he's gonna study, he's gonna be there. And it's the same with Shaun Lee. Shaun

Lee didn't ever want to get hurt. You know, he did everything he could not to get hurt and all that, but sometimes stuff like that just happened. He's still I don't think you'd change the story at all. I mean, I think you'd keep Sean Lee. He was good for you, he wasn't as great because of injuries. I think the same for Layton. I'm gonna start that clock. I'm gonna try to get a four or five year deal, try

to spread it out a little bit. I will say this, and I doubt the timing of this is a coincidence, but the option deadline is always a week or two after the draft, which I you know, that's probably to allow teams to see how they can improve their roster before they have to make that decision. So you could hold off. And you know, if you come out of the draft with a badass, you know, if you use that tenth pick, then may say that's definitely even if

you get I pulled I pulled up. You know, I was blanking on the names Dylan Moses, chat Serad out of North Carolina as a guy that I like a lot bar and Browning out of Ohio state, my lsu Guy cox Um. I mean, if you get a guy with one of these big picks, you can say, all right, Layton, you know, we'll see what happens. It's not going to pick it up, and you know, maybe we'll have to

eat our words if you have a great year. But and maybe that if he does, maybe they're willing to assign him in that long term deal at that point, although it'll be market price. You can maybe they're willing

to do that. Could franchise tag him if you ever get something done or by the way, or by the way at that point, as you said earlier, at that point Jalen's deal is you can depart from that, and maybe you decide we depart from the Jalen deal and we do a long term deal with with Layton, Like there there are options that you have basically if you just point for a year, if you get that guy in the draft or in free agency, right yeah, I think I think this year the best way to go

would probably be third or fourth round on a linebacker. I hope that you get an Anthony Hitchens. Hope you get a Damien Wilson. That Wilson didn't develop as quickly as Hitchens, but somebody like that. That North Carolina guy intrigues me a little bit. I get more intrigued a little bit with the players that I know don't have the badasses upfront. You know, the Alabama linebackers. I mean it's hit and miss something with them because you know

that they're getting to play pretty clean football. But who's who's holding down the fort At North Carolina? You know now, LSU ls what they've got two or three the best linebackers in the league right now? Right Yeah, yeah, I mean they're not wrong, but you gotta be careful with that. Just like we don't say, oh, don't dismiss the Michigan defensive ent because Taco didn't pan out, you know, and don't compare not to name linebackers. So it's it's not

don't think that either way. But I just know sometimes schemes like this scheme is translating to the NFL. And I know these fast linebackers that are coming out of LSU, I mean they're balling like they got some guys in the league right now. You look at and you like, if I can get that right, give me that. I'll take that. I don't think Jabril Cox is Devin White, but he's a pretty good player. Well, way to bring

us back to earth on that starts. I was starting to say, little's go get Well, it doesn't sound like the league thinks so, either because they second or third round, but I think he's I mean, we don't have to. It's this is not the Jabril Cox hour. But he was All American at North Dakota State one like three national titles, started from the get and he was like, oh, I want to see, like can I can I do this at the next level. Transferred to LSU and was

the only good player otherwise atrocious defense. That means he's still developed. Like everything about that story, yeah me too. He was literally like I've done everything I can do at this level. Let's see how I handle the SEC. And LSU was terrible last year, but he played great. I like him. Yeah, I like that story too. All right, Um, here's the next question I got for you guys. Is linebacker position where Dallas needs and I'm going to stress the word needs to draft early or invest the quality

veteran starter from free agency. Let's start first with the amber. Uh. That's a tough question just because I mean, and we've talked about it in previous weeks, just how many needs the Cowboys actually have, especially on defense. So if you find the guy that you really have a high evaluation on, I would say, go for it. It's not gonna hurt you. I know. We just talked about those two veteran guys

Jalen and Layton and all that. But at the same time, I just go back to watching plays from last year and it's just like, that's a really important position on the field, Like you need some help a linebacker. That's a spot where you can see how much better the Cowboys could have been had they had productive plays from their linebacker group. So to me, I do see the position as a very high need. But then again, depending

on the talent and what positions, I wouldn't be opposed to. Okay, whether it's a cornerback or a safety or a defensive lineman. I wouldn't get mad up at it either if you got someone that's a lot more talented than a linebacker. But at the same time, I do see the position at a very high need right now, all right, Nick, Yeah, I mean it's it's a definite, definite need because of kind of what we said when we started the show. Do you have guys or do you have nothing? You

know that wide receiver, you know you've got players. You know that, you know what you've got at other positions too, Linebackers one where it could be good, but it could be nothing. So yeah, I think, but you need to this year because of those question marks. I think you drafted them. What's early, second or third round? I'm getting

one in the first two days. I think I have to have a linebacker by you know, by Friday night, you know, for the first three rounds, and that's that's four picks though right maybe we don't know yet, more than likely it could be and then you know, if we if you trade back or something like that, and in the first round. Um, yeah, I just I just think you have to get a linebacker to to add some depth. I mean, let's not forget I know it's down the list, but let's not forget that Joe Thomas

and just In March are also unrestricted free agents. They may not come back this year. So if anything, you need that fourth linebacker for some depth purposes. So I'm drafting a guy relatively early that's ready to play. Dave. This conversation kind of makes me mad because like we've become we're like the We're like good cop, bad cop. We're the bad cops because like we know, you know, every year and I understand it, fans want the team to like spend in free agency and we wind up

like they're not going to do that. Stop wasting your breath. And I like, I don't like saying that. I want, like, think about all the content we could create about let's the five linebackers that could make the biggest flash for the cow Like that would be great. Not gonna do that, I mean, why why why would we? Why should we? Fun? They're not gonna do it, tampering them if they're free agents?

When would we do it now? They're not? Actually it might be tampering, like they are technically under cot all right, Oh the point be every year I feel like a jerk for pooh pooing on everybody's free agent dreams. But that's you know, what's the You know, Lavante David, I'd love to have him on this team. Cowboy's gonna pay thirteen million dollars a year for him? No, kJ, right, of course you would. He's a great player. kJ right.

You could probably even get him for cheaper. You can get him for cheaper, I think, yeah, but much is it cheap enough? And that's the point, like the cowboys typically scrape the bottom of the barrel, like is he not your Gerald McCoy kind of guy where you could get him in that kind of deal. Maybe did you think JJ Watt was gonna get sixteen million a year? Yeah you did? I actually did? Okay, well, because JJ Watts still jj Watt. There's the brand, and you pay

for the brand. At this point in guy's career, who's going to the Hall of Fame. The point my point is, yeah, I mean maybe, but kJ. All it takes is somebody with a little more money to be like, hey, kJ, we'll pay you eight million a year, and all of a sudden, the Cowboys are out, Like that's how that goes and so it's hard for me to get excited about this because they are I mean, right and and David are the big ones. But there are some other guys that are available that could improve this team. I

just don't think the Cowboys will sign them. So I'm with y'all. I would I think they need a draft one by Friday Night draft. Yeah, I mean that's rounds. That's rounds one through three. One of those, you're probably gonna have four picks around the top one hundred. I think one of them should be Yeah. I mean that that's not even a reach. I mean that I think in your top four picks. I mean, you know, I don't think the Cowboys should trade up at all this year.

I really don't. I mean I if you can get nine ten picks, pick them all because you're gonna need you need to hit on these guys. You need a sixth round pick to win on Anthony Brown, a guy like that. You need that player because Anthony Brown is still on your team, he's playing, he got a second contract. I mean, you're not gonna win on all of them. You could pick Rico Gathers, you know, you could do

something like that. I'm what I'm saying is is, though, don't be trading you know your ten picks to get six or seven, No, you need ten. Yeah, you need to hit these. And that's why I love the idea of maybe trading back. You know, in fact of the matter is if you look at the areas of the team and you put them in priority order of areas where you think they need help the most, there's no doubt in my mind that linebackers in the top four.

So you're right by the end of Friday night. Unless you went out in free agency and you got yourself a guy, then by the end of Friday night, you absolutely need to have a guy that you drafted who is at the linebacker. Well, you know those three that three letter word that could change all of it and all of your You're we're not talking about him today, saying just saying that changes everything. Three letter I thought you said three words, and I was like, Dak deal,

Like what that deal done? What is it? Rain to code? Always get that confusing rain Da coda Prescott. So that's your three words. Yeah, but that's where it all starts and ends. I think for the Cowboys, as far as you want to start talking about the roster. Yeah, you're not. This is this Uh, it's gonna be our last show without him signed. God, I hope so possible. You know something I don't know, but the deadline's coming up March. Well, but that's not really then that's that's the tag that

the real deadline is obviously, what is it July? When they can when they have to stop? Yeah, you know, negotiating. You can't negotiate anymore. Like I disagree, you ain't gonna get you ain't gonna get almost be cuss, you ain't gonna get anything done if you don't. If you if he's sitting on your tag at thirty that you can't even do that right now, like right now that they couldn't do the tag. They don't have to move maneuver

some things around. But I have no I'll put it to you like this, if you want to give me a if you start talking about percentage chance, I think there's personally, just again what I believe. I think there's probably a twenty percent chance they get a deal done before they have to tag him. I also think on the flip side of that, there's an eighty eighty five percent chance they get a deal done before they get to that deadline in the summer. So to me, I just again, I don't have much faith that in a

week now that this is gonna get done. I just don't. I don't. And I know these things that they can move quickly. Once you get going, you can move quickly on them. Just don't have faith in that. If that happens, then I don't see Jalen Smith on the team. I don't. I know, I know, Okay, we're back to lineback. Well, that's a hell of a way to bring it back. Wait, if Dak gets tagged, you mean yeah, yeah, I mean June first, these guys, you're gonna two guys you have

to put as June first, June first cuts. Get him off the roster now and then you know, but you know, June first, that's when that's when it'll hit the cap. So I mean I I him and who else? Who's another June first? Possibility? It don't stay seventy seven. No, he's a pole. No it's possile. No, it's not possible. It's possible. You ain't got no options, Like, what are you gonna do if you say we're gonna say bye

by to him, like, what are you gonna do Northwestern tackle? Look, they don't have a backup tackle right now, let alone another starter. We saw how that went last year. That is not an option. That's why I just, that's why I'm just I can't understand why they're not gonna try to get this done both sides, because if I'm Dak, I'm like, man, I want to have some players this year.

I want to try to help. I mean, this is this year could be almost a wash if they have to play on thirty eight million, And I mean I don't know. I mean, I'm sure we compete good. Sorry to go back to what you mentioned about the cut, Like on Jyle, what happens with that money? Like it does he get distributed? As far as that, you don't get that hit full when you hit right there, when you June first a guy, you just spread the money

that you're losing. It spreads out over two years. So if if you cut him, I just had it pulled up. Cut him now, if you cut him, if you cut him today, just and it's just straight out cut, it's like twenty four million or something crazy like that. Um, it's a nine million. I'm sorry. I got I got Zeke and Jalen confused, I'm I'm writing I'm writing about Oh yes, I'm writing about Zeke right now. So that's

a huge hit. Um, if you June first, Jalen, uh, he would only hit your cap for three million this year and seven next year, and you would Yeah, if you want It's it's not hard to do it. If you want to do it, it's just a matter of again,

how confident are they that he can do something? But to think about that, like, I don't know that I can't come up with another name off the top of my head of a guy that I would say is another guy like Jalen where it doesn't completely debilitate you to cut them, but you can cut them for enough that helps you be able to get Dak on the tag. Yeah, right right, there's not. But then but then that changes your you know when we said, got to get a guy in the first two you know, two nights of

the draft, first three rounds. Um, that changes things if you cut him, you know, now you're now you're sitting here with Layton Vanders who was banged up last year. And then well you're also begging Sean hey Man, just In case, can you just hang out for a minute, don't you know. I'm just saying, like, you gotta convince him, like I don't leave town, just hang out for a minute. We may need, we may need. He's probably on the West Coast because I know he goes there in the offseason,

and he's just give me a call. Yeah back, okay, I'll meet yeah, persolutely perfect. I just want to have him on the line in case I need. But the other I mean, we've seen this too, is if they have to, they can restructure so many of these is true. I know not everybody loves that, but that's that's the world you're living in right now. Until they figure something out. All we're gonna take our final break when we come back.

We got a couple more questions on linebacker. We're gonna try to get to a phone call because Chris tells us that we can make a phone call. Now. I'm gonna see if I can remember this phone number. I think it is one eight eight eight eight five five two two ninety seven. Is that correct, Chris? He's not listening all right, eight d eight eight eight eight eight

five five two to nine seven. We will try to get at least one call from someone who has been sitting on the line since last year this time, and hopefully we can answer the question. The questions may be the same because there were a lot of the same questions that were still doing right now. We'll do that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio since eighteen sixty five. Stetson Hats are American maid with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson is

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T Stadium, the home of the Dallas cow Boys. You can run on the field, see the locker rooms, so much more. Tours are available daily. For details, visit att stadium dot com slash Tours, Welcome Back. Final segment of the show. We're life f in the SBABC mortgage studios. At the start, we're presented by Geico and we're talking about linebackers. We do have a phone caller on the on the line. We're going to get to him in

just a second. I did have a couple questions real quick that I wanted to hit about linebacker, and we don't have to go too far in depth. But first question is, if you could only resign one of these guys, who would you resign? Joe Thomas or Justin March Dave, Let's start with you, Joe Thomas. I like Justin March a lot, But Joe, Joe has started and can't start, and does a decent job when he's asked to do so, and he's also just as valuable to the special teams.

He's also very valuable special teams. Yeah, he's I don't know how old he is, but he's he's not. He's probably closer to the end of his career than the beginning, so I assume he wouldn't be that expensive. Sorry, Amber, I agree, and because of he has implanted more in my memory than justin So Joe Thomas, I mean he's a guy that I can easily remember more that he's done more for the team. So yeah, like they've said, if it's a good deal, affordable, why not same. I mean,

he can play, and he can start. And with this, with those guys on the front, you have to have that fourth linebacker has to have starting experience. So and plus he's a big time hitter, he really does. I mean, he brings the wood on. So I'd like having him out there. And so no Thomas all the way. Yeah, I think that's the key is to me, he's a starter. He's a starter that you get as a backup. So I think from that standpoint, I would I would love

for them to resign him. Final question, Um, what have you seen or heard regarding the development of the two younger linebackers that we've talked a little bit on this show. They didn't play a ton last year, but they did play some. You got Luke Gifford, and you got Francis Bernard Nicholet's start with you. Um, you know, I think I think Bernard's issue is gonna be speed. You know, I just don't think he's got that speed. But you know, he makes some plays. He made some Uh, He's a

guy I'd love to see in the preseason. I would love, you know, preseason games for him. I think he will be a guy that kind of he might just be a gamer. Uh, didn't do a whole lot in the in the in the games where he played some on special teams. But I think he's a guy that could really develop in the preseason. And then I'll let them talk about Gifford if no stuff, but I mean I'll just take him. I think Bernard's a guy that we

saw some good things. I'd like to see him play more. Um. Well, look, Gifford, he's a guy that two years ago, I know a lot of people talked about. Yeah, I loved him. He has a perfect linebacker mold that fits Shawn Lee and Layton and Jayleen type of body. So he just looked right in the group. As far as that, you know, the injuries, I forgot what kind of injuries he had. It was like leg issues apension too, so yeah, a suspension. Yeah,

so that affected him and it's just unfortunate. Even last year, I think he was injured during training camp a bit. Was it was it because I remember he wasn't on the field that much. I forgot for whatever reason. But the point is we haven't seen much from him, and it's unfortunate. And then with Bernard, he's a guy that last year caught a lot of people's attention as well. He's not necessarily he doesn't necessarily have that mold of the linebacker and the body and the height and the

you know, bulky body. But he's a guy that although his size, he was still making plays on the field and he I mean it wasn't because of his hair that you were noticing him on the field. He was out there doing stuff. So I was excited about him as well. But then again, once the season got started, we didn't really get a chance to see much of them, and then whenever we did, it wasn't necessarily anything impressive.

So I think it's more of like Nick said, preseason, hopefully we get to see some of that and then just them allowing giving them more opportunities, which that's the only way we're really going to get to see how they perform on the field. I just don't think they've had enough chances for us to really get a good evaluation on our end. I'm sure they do have a better evaluation, but from us watching from the outside, it's just kind of hard to tell right now. Francis Bernard

actually played in thirteen games last year. I didn't I special teams, Yeah, yeah, but I would I still I would have guessed like eight maybe, So I just you know, it's it's like a pipeline. I look at it. As you know, we just talked about March and Thomas. You probably bring one of those guys back, and you probably don't bring the other one. And like, it doesn't really matter to me that much at the end of the day, which I prefer Joe Thomas, but if they prefer Justin,

that's fine. But you're not going to resign every bit player to a second contract. And that's what like, that's what Gifford and Francis Bernard are here for. They're going to step in and be your special teams gadget guy who could maybe step in and is maybe a developmental player if they go on to you know, if they catch somebody's eye and the coaches, you know, dan Quinn's like, holy crap, like we got something here that's awesome, and

that happens sometimes, but you can't count on it. And that's so you know, I'm not gonna let it either of these guys stop me from drafting a linebacker highly because that's you know, that's where you find those guys and bring these guys to training camp. They'll have a role on special teams. They can round out your depth chart, and if you get anything more from them, that's great, but you know, I don't put super high expectations on

guys like that. All right, for the first time in a year, we're about to go to the phone lines. We got a phone call from a fan who has a question for the crew. Steve from Virginia. Steve, what up? Wow, I'm the first caller. That's pretty impressive. Yeah, yeah, glad to have you back right to hear it from that, right, A lot of pressure exactly. I'm steel sec. I watch yourls listen to your show. I actually watch it, you know,

servery day. Thank you. Um My question is I don't understand why there's no talk about transition tagging with back so you can find out. Everybody argues about what Dack's worth this and that whatever, put him out there and say, guess what, go find out what's you're worth. You still have a right for first refusal and if somebody taking you on page you get two number one. I don't I don't understand what's Well, you know you're right. Technically

you are, you're right. We had a mail bad question about something similar on this too, about letting you know, lett him go and see, but it's they want to sign him and I think he wants to sign here too, So it's it's you know, it's it's just like any relationship. I mean, what if you said, hey, go out and see if you can get somebody better. If you can get someone better, then let's see. Let me wait, let

me weigh my options. What if that was a real relationship, that's not gonna go well, obviously not that I'm the one to give it advice, but I'm just saying, yeah, I think that that's not gonna that's not gonna hurt that that's gonna hurt. Too many feelings on both sides. If you start doing that, he's the guy that you say is then goes sign and build do a transition tag to see if you can get a better deal. Well,

I'm this is quibbling a little bit. It's it's you're actually talking about the non exclusive franchise tag because the transition tag, the transition tag doesn't offer you compensation if you lose the player. Yeah, but there's there's two. There's two franchise tags, exclusive and non exclusive. So the non exclusive would allow Dak to talk to whoever he wants. Somebody can make him an offer. You're right, cowboys have the right at first fusel if they if they don't

feel like matching, they get two first round picks. And I can see the logic, honestly, Like, I get why people feel that way. I guess my point is if you do that, you're losing Dak. In my opinion, I mean, because there's somebody with more money who needs a quarterback. I mean, that's that's that's going to happen in my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you lose him that way. And yes, two first round picks is that's nice, but is it enough to offset losing a franchise quarterback, like

the is that enough? And some people think so, I think not. I think the Cowboys probably think not because what are those picks? Like who who is? Uh? Like, who's who's offering dak? I mean if it's the San Francisco forty nine ers, so you're gonna get picked twelve and then their pick next year? Is that good enough? Is? I mean? But if he's but if he's franchise, you're gonna get not gonna get anything. Everybody agrees that if they franchise him, he's walking next year. You can't pay

him nothing. And I mean when the other complaint that God is every time the players do this, the players scream, it's a business. It's a business. I gotta take care of my family. It's a business. Well, if it's a business for one side, it's a business for the other side too. And you can't worry about hurting feelings you got you gotta run this business. And I think that's

what's hurt to Cay a Cowboys plan. I fifty four years old and a Cowboys fan my whole life, and and it's just like wow, the decisions they make some time, And I know that that you know everybody, Yeah, I don't. I don't want to pickle him. The guy too bad. But my brothers know there's a guy named Crawford out there and he's got he's got naked pictures of somebody. I don't know how in the world he's been on the field this moment. Oh Tyrone, Yeah, Hey, here's here's

the other thing. I think you gotta remember. We appreciate the call, We appreciate the call. But here's here's the other thing. I think we got to remember here. And I want to say, this is the situation that happened with Steve Hutchinson where he was with I want to say Seattle and then went and he was a non exclusive that went to visit Minnesota, and Minnesota basically put a contract out there. And I want to say the

term they use was poison bill. But essentially what happens is the team says, Okay, the money could be comparable. It could be something that the other team says, yeah, we'll match that. Here's the problem. The contract could say something like you have to play three games a total of at least three games in the in the state of Minnesota every year. Right, there's no way Seattle can

agree to that, Minnesota can agree to that. And so what happens is essentially, I think you have to The evaluation you got to make here as to whether you do an exclusive versus a non exclusive free agent tender is essentially, do you want the player? Because if you want the player, you better not do non exclusive Because

what happens if let's let's play this out. What happens if Washington says to him, hey, man, we we'd like to have you, and and we'll pay you a little bit more, maybe it's a dollar more, but we're also going to put a poison pill in there that the

Cowboys can't match. And if Dad want if Dak wants to stick it to the Cowboys, which could be the case, I'm not saying he does, but if if he looks at it like, hey, I take the same money to go play somewhere else because I just feel like this negotiations and the going anywhere, then you leave it up to everybody else to make the decision whether you're going to get that player. The player the other team like they can do things that basically say you cannot match this.

There's no way for you to match this and essentially the player's gone. So if you don't want to lose the player, you gotta do exclusive pills. Did they They might have? But how but how do you how do you ensure that? Because there are certain things that like, there are ways to do it right. That one, that one one is just a blatant one, But there are other things you can do that makes it very tough

for a team to they're able to match. There's other like, I mean, with all due respect, like I don't necessarily care about that. The thing for me is um and I think I think he makes a really interesting point, like I don't know, I don't know if the Cowboys are always as ruthless as they need to be because

the star and the image of it. I mean, it's it's different here, you know, well, I mean, you know you're playing on you don't think the Cowboys front office as ruthless as it needs to be, not always always. I mean, like Travis Frederick, it's well, okay, I'm just saying no, no, I'm saying they could go get his money if they wanted to. Oh, oh, I don't even

get and I'm not thinking about the money. I thought you were talking my dis from standpoint of players, keep them or don't keep them, well, I think I think having obviously you need great players to win, but like having stars, like it matters, Michael Irvin is Michael Irvin and Emmett Smith and like that matters to this organization, and there's value in that for whatever it's worth. But

maybe they should have played hardball with Zeke. Maybe they should have said, you're a running back, be here or you don't get your money. We're not paying you two years ahead of time. Like but and having said that, and people have said that sense and maybe it's fair. Maybe they could have said, you sit out at all year if you want to, but we're not paying you two years ahead of time to be a running back. Sorry, I don't know if quarterback is the spot to play

that game. I don't know if the most important position in the game for a guy that's done everything right is the right spot, not only because you need dak to win, but also the message that it sends to the rest of your locker room. And that's a big one, I think. And then on top of it, and we're purely in the realm of fantasy here, but if you want to play hardball and deal Dak put the exclusive tag on him, and then you decide the price. Screw

two first round picks. You say you're under the exclusive tag. If you want to go somewhere else, we will find us a deal and we'll get it done. But we're determining the price, not the league rules, and we're determining where you go. So don't bring us Washington. Yeah, we're not doing Washington, right. So, yeah, you're right, you could still get the benefits of having an exclusive while you

have our exclusive. Right. There are ways, And like I said, yeah, the Cowboys should probably be a little bit better at playing hardball because I mean with the last few of these deals, it's been a lot of talk and then the player gets what he wants. I mean, Zeke did, DeMarcus did, all right, So but my point being is, I don't I don't know that Dak is the guy to play that game with. We should be ending the show, but we got a call from Philip and France, so I think we kind of got to take this call.

Have anywhere to be all right, let's go what you got. I think it's good to talk to you again. You know, I got a just a simple thing to say. Since you're talking about linebackers, I do believe that's the linebacker plays would have been better. Let's sit in if we had something stronger and bigger in the middle of the d lineman, I'd like to know what are your thoughts about it? Thanks for ticking, Michael, take care and be safe.

But polutely, that's a good call. It's a good question do all we are Are we undervaluing the play of the linebackers because maybe they didn't have that consistent big body in the middle of the defense to keep people off of them. Yeah, I mean I've I've said it for years. I mean, some of the best linebackers of

all time. I've had those big guys up front. And it's going to be interesting to see with this new defense that you know we keep hearing about or not new, they're going to go back to a scheme that we've seen here before. But I wonder what that means for the defensive tackles, you know, because I believe when Seattle had a Brandon Mebaine, I think he played with Dan Quinn. Mean, he's big dude, so so I think that they will have some some beef up there. I think it's a

good point. I'd like to see a little bit more guys that are focused on stopping the run and not these big body guys that can get up the field. That's nice Gallimore, Tristan Hill and all that. I do want a guy that's interested in just staying right here. I'm just not getting anybody getting pushed back. I'm not really motioning a lot forward. We're just gonna hold hold the middle right here. That's the guy I want. So I think I think it would affect the linebackers for sure. Yeah,

I think it would help. I don't know if it would fix everything, but for sure it would help. Um, you know, they did signed on Tari Poe didn't work out, but maybe that means they're more willing to consider those types of things. I still don't think they would draft like a pure nose tackle super high. But you can get those kind of guys later too, right, you know, the big body guy that's just going to be a

two down player anyway. I'll be interested to see what they do with that, because, like I, I think there's a non zero chance Gerald McCoy winds up back here. Well, I mean I would like that, ye sent maybe. Yeah, I mean I think there's a chance. And then you know, Antoine Woods is easy to keep if you want to keep him. And then you got the two young draft picks Hill and Gallimore. I mean, yeah, I'll be I would. I'll be interested to see what they do with that.

I hope that they try to add some beef for sure. Gallimore was not a little duty either, And I wonder how much an offseason of him working out with these trainers, if that gets into a point where he develops into that kind of body, well you could put him in those situations a little bit more. I don't know, that's not really been he was brought here to be. He's more of a three technique guy. But I do wonder if if you kind of bulk him up a little bit,

could he do that? Yeah, but I don't know if you want to do that, because you know, I remember Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma said he's the quic defensive lineman they've they've seen. He's not supposed to be moving that quick, and we saw him kind of dart into the backfield several times. I like that quick. I mean, he's big enough. But then you got two guys doing that like that's what Tristan is, right, That's okay because those guys can

rotate absolutely. I guess my only point though, is if he's if he's that quick and athletic, can you and these trainers wouldn't know, can you bulk him up without losing that? How much? Can you bulk him up without losing that? And if you can get a guy that's bigger and only loses a little bit of the athleticism, but he still has a little bit of that, but he can also hold up at the point, now you might have yourself a really great asset that you can

go at one technique or three technique. Right. Maybe I just I don't know. I don't know all that. I just think I wouldn't want to change what he is. He got a lot of pressures last year based off his snaps. I mean he didn't. He didn't get a lot of snaps, and his snaps are pressures to snaps ratio, if that's even the thing is about as good as anybody in the league, especially for rookies. Yeah, it's pretty good. All right. Appreciate you guys joining us. We are back

next Wednesday, normal time, eleven thirty two. Next week we're gonna talk about free agency. Free agency will be starting the week after that, so we're gonna walk through a lot of different questions around free agents, not only the Cowboys free agents, but also free agents around the league.

And each of these guys are going to tell you a few of the guys that maybe they are looking at that they would like the Cowboys to consider, even though Dave says, if we know they're not going to do it, but we'll at least have some fun with it. She'll see if there are some free agents. And also next week we'll have some more phone calls. It was nice to hear from some of the fans. We'll keep that going until then for Nick, even Dave, helmt amber Garcia.

I am 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.