Cowboys Break: OTA Observations

the latest edition All the Break. We're live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star. Cowboys have activity in the building yesterday. They have their OTAs. I don't know it was. It wasn't the beginning. The first practice was the day before yesterday. But this is the first week of OTAs. They have this week, next week, and I think two more weeks after that. I think they

finish up mid June with their OTAs. They'll have a little time for break before we head off to California, to Oxnard, California for the trading camp sessions that will start up in late July. These guys are gonna tell you about everything that happened yesterday in the OTA practices. I just was here just to kind of set this thing up and say hello to all the listeners out there. So it's the OTAs go more like OTAs right, because it's timely, time to talk about some football. Yeah, let's go,

let's do it. Uh, you know what, you really want to know what I really think now that I just said that happy thing, my like, if you're just asking me for my gut impression from watching an OTA, I was like, m this is maybe why I would have done a little more work in the offseason because and it's it's may I get it. We're not panicking. But tyrants have had back tightness. So he didn't practice yesterday, and Matt will let's go the fifth round rookie was

his primary replacement on the left side. And you know, Michael Gallup's still hurt, and Jalen Tolbert's dealing with a hammy and something happened to James Washington's foot and so somebody has disclosed with it. No, no, but he's wearing a boot. He's wearing a big old boot. So and not like a cowboy boot, like an orthopedic boot. And

those who know James Washington or know of him. That's a that's an interesting thing because cowboy boot is a part of his but so thing and again, like I get it, the season is a long long way away, but I was like, this is what you could be dealing with if something happens in the season. Noah Brown, Cede Lamb and Semi Phohoko as your starting receivers, which they were, and Matt will let's go playing left tackle. That's what I don't understand. Okay, Like James Washington comes

out in a boot. Okay, he's got something and it's not that serious. But yet when when asked to talk about it, no, no, absolutely not, we're not I want to talk Yeah, no one wants to talk about it what it is and you know it's not that serious, but we're not talking about it. But yet voluntarily we

say that Tyran Smith has back tightness. And that's why I mean, that's just like, I mean, that creates a five alarm fire, Like if you don't want to talk about injuries, then don't talk about but then especially don't talk about the one that everyone just pencils in, Like that's we're just saying, like, well, who's gonna play left tackle? Win Tyran Smith gets banged up or whatever, and then

we're just feeding into it. So like I didn't really understand that, Yeah, like why does why is the one injuries like a state secret and it's a guy that just got here that yeah, and then the other guy and you can see evidence of it, like you know there's something yeah right, yeah, yeah, they could have just they could have just said Tyron Smith personal day, Yeah, he needed a personal day, but instead of not coming Yeah, okay,

the numb but do voluntary meant it was voluntary? That's I even like I asked the question to Mike McCarthy. I was like, I get that it's voluntary, but you know, Tyrone was the only player that wasn't on the field today, So what's up with that? Yeah? And he was like no, no, no, he was there. Yeah, he could all the way up until the point and they had back tightness. It's just like and that. Yeah, fans and media alike are like, mm,

but yeah, I've heard that song before. Then again, though, let's let's also throw the other side of it, is, is that if anything to a star, any player, but especially a star player, if there's anything that is any kind of discomfort, they're out, of course, and that's not even gonna mess with it. Like I said, I'm not I'm not panicked in the big picture right now. I get it, this is the time of year to be

smart about those types of things. But I was like, we're getting to look at the worst case scenario right off the bat here to start this thing out, because that would be bad. Yeah, if that was what they

had to trot out in a regular season game. Quite frankly, those two positions, the wide receiver position and the left tackle position are positioned where we already know it's then we already know these are potential problems because where they sit right now, none of us feels feels great about the depth right So so yeah, you see right off the bat what that could look like, and I don't know. It makes me very nervous. Yeah, absolutely. Um, what else I actually want to ask you a quick question on

Jalen Tilburt. You said James Washington was out, Jalen Tobot was also out, So you got Noah Brown, you got Semi Fioco out there basically running with Ceedee Lamb as the wide receivers um. First of all, what do we know anything about Jalen Tilburt and what that's got a hammy? It's not expected serious. Um. They they think he could practice next week. I believe. I mean, you know, we're not supposed to disclose too much about what we see around here. But he's working out like he's he can

run it. It ain't you know, his hamstring didn't come off or anything, which which again, as a as a rookie, you always get a little bit like whoa, hey, you're a rookie. You should be able to kind of go through this. But it sounds like it's not anything now. But well that's the fun thing. It's not like I mean,

he's he was outside running around earlier this morning. Um. But the other thing too is it's like, well, we need you to start right like you know, let's not we're not gonna push you even though you are a rookie, Like make sure that feels okay. I can't remember. I'm sure it's happened, but I just can't remember a third round pick that has been that has so much you know, like on his on his plate about expectations are so high for the third round pick. We need you, we

need you, need you to do stuff. Um, that's good for him, but it'd be better if he was out there, you know, in the in the off season, in the off season program and the OTAs. But like Dave said, he'll he'll be fine. But you know, this is a chance for these other guys that I mean, think about it. Cedric Wilson just signed a you know what, seven million

a year deal with the Dolphins. Cedric Wilson was in the same boat as as we viewed him, as as we're viewing Fajoko, Noah Brown, point, all these other guys. At some point we're like, so, you don't even counting Cedric Wilson in there. And then it got to the point when Gallup got hurt, he was like that that's how good he was. He could step right in. I'm not saying these other guys are as good, but we didn't have Cedric Wilson on our radar for a while too,

So maybe maybe these guys can use this advantage. And this is the time of year where it can be a benefit. I mean, assuming Tyron Smith is okay, I think it's a great thing. That yeah, I mean, fingers crossed, and I like, you can't you can't just assume that I get it, you gotta and like, normally i'd be like, whatever it's may but like Tyrone's history speaks for itself. You anytime he has to miss time, you should be concerned.

Back neck, you certainly concerned. But sorry, Just what I was gonna say real quick is assuming that it's not a huge issue, that's great for Matt. Well, let's go to get a lot of reps. Like they they need both of those guys. Well, let's go and Josh Ball to be practicing an tell me there. I thought, maybe I looked at this wrong. Maybe I'm getting my six seven, six eight tackles mixed up. I thought that was Ball that started at left tackle. Go did a lot of it.

I mean, Ball got some looks they and team I think Ball was out there somewhere, so they're both they're both getting some chances. But Ball. They said they were gonna work Ball primarily on the right side, and I swear I saw him on the right more often than I did on the left. I thought the first time that they opened things up, I thought it was left. But I gotta, I don't even know who's who's who.

Like this is almost like a Dez Bryant Noah Brown thing where I'm gonna have to figure out whose shoes or what and because they're kind of I gotta looked very similar. Yeah, yeah, I know. Uh well, it's funny like, well, let's go got pulled for a pre snap penalty yesterday and McCarthy even said, like, yeah, Matt, Matt did that or whatever, so like he played on the left side a good amount with the starters, even if Ball did

did so as well. Yeah, and then Waken. I mean, I don't know if it's on your sheet there, but if we're talking offensive linemen, I mean, Tyler Smith, did I start with the first team? And I don't know the reason for that. That's probably not what I would have done. But you know that doesn't shock me, does it shock you? I mean, I look at I look at this team, and I don't know if it's across

every NFL team because this is the only team I've covered. Yeah, but this team, I know traditionally, no matter who the coach is, for whatever reason, they just they want rookies to understand you're a rookie. So they often even though we all know by the time the season gets here, they're gonna be playing. Yeah, they just have a pension for saying, well, start the especially in minicamp, have you have your vet out there and make the rookie earn it.

You know, that just feels like what they do around here. I don't completely disagree, but I thought I thought it was a little interesting. Connor McGovern took every single first team round. I mean they probably had there were probably thirty team reps over the course of the day, and Tyler Smith didn't get a single one, which and that's fine, it's may I'm gonna keep an eye on it though, Like, if that, if that stays the same, if he hasn't worked with the first team by the time the offseason

program is over, that's weird to me. Yeah, and not only that, but also you know, McCarthy keeps saying he's a left side player. So if he's not gonna start over McGovern and Tyron Smith isn't there and he's not gonna play, he's not gonna play over, well let's go. So that doesn't then you start getting elect I mean, what's going on? Why don't you play him at left tackle and then play him at left guard on the second team. But that's what you're gonna do like well.

But we also said, and I'll speak for myself, last week we talked about that and I said, I hope they don't push him out to tackle this year. If he's gonna play guard, give him the reps at guard, let him get familiar with guard. And if if he's a long term guy that you think maybe a tackle, deal with that next year. But as a rookie, you're gonna need him to play, even him play guard. I mean, Tyron's dealing with back tightness on day two, Like what if I could tell you right now that he was

gonna miss five games? You don't want Tyler Smith playing any tackle? It just I don't know, because I don't I don't know what. I don't know what. Well, let's go, let's go. If if well let's go, is a is a pretty good tackle as a rookie, like and I'm speaking relative terms of rookie, then hey, maybe I'd prefer, well, let's go, because I think he might be a guy that's gonna play this year. Because I think Tyler Smith

is gonna be my guard. So I think if I'm gonna have if I'm gonna be without one, I'm just gonna put him at tackle, and he's gonna be the guy that might come in and play for Sorry, go ahead and imagine this. The defensive coordinators and the pass rushers that are just like, all right, we got well, let's go and Tyron Tyler Smith on this left side. These two rookies guard and tackle. This is where we're gonna rush. We're gonna do this over here, and everybody

load up on them. By the way, that's center there too. You can catch. You can work with all three of those guys. Le'll see what we can do. We're gonna challenge him. Most of the grizzled vet of the group we're gonna challenge him with. With lots of respect to Matt Well, let's go. I'm not trying to trash the guy, but like, I don't know, Tyler Smith played tackle in college at the f BS level and was good enough to get drafted in the first round, even if not

everybody agreed that he should have gone there. Well, let's go. Was a fifth round pick that played at North Dakota, Like Tyler Smith should be the better option at left tackle, yeah, right now, But then the question becomes is he that much better for you to take McGovern at guard. But see Brian, our good dear friend Brian brought us asked me this question yesterday on one oh five three. I thought we like we talked about all this and he was basically like, at what point do you start worrying

about cross training? And I was like, honestly, it sounds silly because again I don't want to overreact to Tyrne missing an OTA, but like, my opinions probably different today than it was on Tuesday, where I'm like, if this is already something you got to be worried about maybe, And I think the answer that I came up with I was like, so you practice four days in a row at training camp before you get a day off. That's typically how the workload works. I would work him

like three days at guard and one day at tackle. Like, I just think it would be smart to get him some work there at the very least. Doesn't mean you have to play him there, but I think he should

start getting used to it. Yeah, I would personally, first, I would see in the first couple of weeks at camp what I think, and they may know coming out of OTAs and mini camps, what I think of a Lesko what I think of Josh Ball If I think one or both of those two options are, again, relatively speaking for their level of experience, are pretty good options

at tackle. And I don't I keep him at guard and I keep working him at guard because my thought is that that's going going to be my starting guard this year, and I don't want to necessarily make it harder on him. I want him to really be focused on guard. You know what omnipotent is, I'm nipotent. I'm nipotent. Yeah, all knowing, But he pronounced that omnipotent? Who did Tyler Smith? Please? Don't that's what he's how he pronounced omnipotent. He's twenty one.

People do that? I mean, yeah, well, people in New Orleans. There's a heated debate between whether it's debated pronounced Burgundy or Burgundy, and it's like I have never heard well, I mean, New Orleans is full of weird pronunciations. But I mean, yeah, people, yeah, people do stuff like that. I'd say omnipotent, though, I think that's the right way. We got the best of New Orleans, didn't we? We

got the best of Louisiana, didn't we? Between you and Roland we got the best, and bron we got the best. That state, well, Eid came from Texas, Brian was technically Roan's from Plain. I'm actually from Louisiana, so raw I was born there. Yeah, we don't do many people. We don't. We don't claim three one eighth though, no offense slang or laning ass trieve it's East Textrie or Southern Arkansas

or whatever. Yeah, you definitely don't claim that. Um My point to all that was is that he that was his answer when we did we did get to know the rookies. It's a pretty fun piece that Brit Johnson did the other day. It was it was and that was his answer to that, was that all knowing, all power thought would be his superpower and all that. He had a lot of answers like that. Smart guys what I'm trying to say, he's more. He's a smart guy. He can figure that out, he can do that. He

can go play tackle, he can play guard. And I like that seventy at the position you were going to play fingers crossed. But but you know this is a position you've played before, and you know truth be told, maybe well hindsight, I would say maybe, you know, they should have or could have done that with Connor Williams, but it never really was that big a deal and

we never really thought Connors should be playing tackle. They the team never really said that, Like we talked a lot about it, just because that's where he played and was good at Texas, but like, yeah, like when they drafted him, they weren't at his post draft press conference saying like, well, you know, he could be a tackle. They were like, yeah, he's hard left guard. Yeah, they never said that. Um, I wonder if the dog I

don't know. I wonder if the Dolphins view him as a guy that could be different, you know, different play different roles. They just gave a boatload of money to a left tackle, So I don't know if he's gonna be people in this building that thought he should probably play center. Um, if you know, maybe not practice it in like the week before a preseason game. Maybe actually do it. Yeah, maybe he's just do it all off season.

So weird, Uh, I was I thought I thought that also had an interesting he was talking about Jalen Tilbert, not Tyler Smith. But I think the same logic applies where he's like keep it simple for the time being, Like I don't I don't need you to do everything right away, Like, let's start with this and we'll build out. And once I feel like you're comfortable with what we're talking about at one thing, then we can worry about the rest of it. And I think that's probably a

good approach for any rookie. Ye all right, we're gonna take our first break. When we come back, let's talk about some standout players. And don't you guys give me a few guys that you notice during practices. Again, they maybe names it, some of our listeners may not have ever heard of. But we'll talk about some of those guys when we come back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. At ATNC, everyone new and existing customers get our best deals on every smartphone. Why because you deserve it.

We're turning your living room into your office and your gym. We're teaching Grandma had a video call and teaching her again. It's the button on your left Banna, Okay, your other laughs. It's not complicated. Everyone deserves something new, so ATNC is given everyone new and existing customers are best deals with every unlimited plan on every smartphone, even the latest Ones eighteen Team a temporarily slo dated specs at the network.

Specical restrictions and exceptions may apply. Want to use what the pros use? How about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The Starter includes four Jack Clack skincare favorites, plus a full sized and tense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code

word team JB. That's get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys The Jack Black Starter ten bucks free shipping. The Cowboys Way, where sixteen Hall of Famers and five championships shows us what success looks like. Where turkey is always the second best part of Thanksgiving Day, Where we are all defined by one single thing, the Star, Where we as fans know it's our job to keep the tradition going. Bank of America is proud to be the official bank of the Dallas Cowboys and to support the quest of

living life. The Cowboys Way copyright twenty twenty Bank of America Corporation, before there was a draft. You could size up a cowboy by three simple factors, the crease at his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude a man. Stetson didn't just protect him from what life through at him. It projected a rugged, unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American, made with pride. Right here

in Texas. There's still the unofficial crowd of all self respecting cowboys, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Find a retailer nearest Hwitt Stetson dot com slash Cowboys back to the Break, whether they're watching from home or cheering in the stands. Essler Lenses will let you see every exciting play book an appointment at your local Essler Experts and find the perfect Essler

lens for you. Seemour Dum Laura, Welcome back. We're in the second segment of The Break Life in the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star. This segment is presented to you by blockchain dot Com. Go check them out. We were talking about OTAs. I wanted to hear from you guys, some standout players. Give me some guys that popped yesterday as you were watching practice. Again, we're putting it all in context. This is an OTA practice. It is not what you typically see on a football field

during a season. But just from the standpoint of what you saw that might have popped out to you, what were some some players that stood out well? I mean, I thought the most popworthy play of the day was Marquise Bell, the Florida A and M safety that we've talked about. They gave him a lot of money to sign here an undrafted free agency. It's it's very obvious

how much they like him. Mike McCarthy said yesterday that, um, you know, they think he has the same type of skill set as a j Ron Curse, like a guy that can play off the ball safety but can also be a dime linebacker type of guy. And nah he he might have stepped out of bounds, but it's hard to know that live when you're watching it from field level. And nah he picks six. Cooper rush to the stage. Oh yeah, only at the Star. Only at the Stars graduation.

People that don't get your joke. It's it's right now. They're doing high school graduations for the City of Frisco in Ford Center, and so there's a stage and in the end zone on one of the end zones where they're doing the graduation, so they were kind of having to press chair out of that a little bit. McCarthy loves well. I think they're outside today, right, hope, beautiful day out. Yeah, um no, but yeah, so he it was just a basic like out route in the low

red zone, like two yard line. Um the receiver. The receiver was actually wearing nineteen. I can't remember the guy's name anymore. It's not a Marii Cooper. Well, oh yeah, don Terario Drummond, another undrafted free agent. Um, thank you, Chris um. And he picked it off and took it to the house and everybody was super hyped and it was yeah, it was cool. So I mean, and yeah, that's it's fitting that he's he's a guy that people are talking about because of how much money they gave him.

Let's let's talk about that a little bit like that type of play. When I think of an outroute around the end zone picked off to the house, I only think of Dion Sanders. I mean, that's what that's the okay, I mean, Andrey doesn't matter what part of the field is I don't even remember that play. I've seen Edred pick that. I mean, he just kind of but I might have been other interceptions. But what I'm talking about is, is Jon Curse that type of player. It's the first

time i'd really heard him compare him to Curse. Yeah, but if he's that type of guy, think about covering receivers at the goal line, out routes type of thing. If you think he can be close to the box type of safety. What a skill set that is to be able to do that. Again, it's all early. And let's also who did he pick off? Yeah? And how long did that ball get to the You know, sometimes those passes, you know, they need to be a lot quicker.

So I who knows. But it was a great play, and it's not the first Every time you look up he's doing something. Yeah, he's He's definitely been a standout. There's no doubt about it. They thought he was gonna be good. He has been. I know. On was it Players Lounge that Chris Hall, a long time scout, came on. It was No, it wasn't Players. I'm sorry. He was on the whole show last week. Talked a lot about Marquis bell very, you know, just they were on his radar.

I bet they never dreamed. I don't know, because he was a thirty visit guy. I really don't know. I don't mean, I'm sure Florida and him had something to do with it. Um just just small school guy and maybe see that's the thing that's we talked about all the time about dan Quinn and the vision that he looks at that hybrid. So there's like that's the good, nice way of saying it, hybrid. He can do this and that negative scouts couldn't call him a tweener, like where is he? Is he as safety? Is he to

play him? I where to play this guy? And so that's why every some players have you know, coaches have different visions for different players, and so this was one, and you know you would have thought, you know, this being said, I'm kind of surprised they didn't draft him over Devin Harper in the sixth round if they like him so much. But you know, I kind I tend to agree with that. But they said, we're gonna money whip somebody, and we will him and it'll be him.

They really did. Um. I just remember when like fifty thousand was like the big signing bonus, like fifty thousand. They gave a guy named George Farmer thirty five my first or second year, or maybe it was fifty I thought it was thirty five. Either way, like two hundred thousand dollars to play safety, and in a like a few months later he was playing receiver THEWS. He came in at receiver. He came here at receiver, and the Seahawks tried to move him to later. Yeah, um, Mica

Parsons is still really good at football, for whatever that's worth. Yeah, did you stand out? Well, I mean yes, But that's the funny thing about OTAs is like they're going to keep the play going and so you have a chance to see the receivers and all this stuff. Like so he runs around the corner, he taps the quarterback on the Mica Parsons. We're like you know that right, We're like, oh yeah, these young tackles are getting so much work.

Micah Parsons whipped their asses like three different times, just like uh, Mike, Mike is in the backfield that this plays over, Like I know Cooper Rush is about to throw it, but this play's over. Like that happened like

three times yesterday. Go ahead and throw it if you want, but yeah, and you know, it's like it's almost like it and it's like not even worth talking about because it's like, well, yeah, it's Mica going against the backup Tackles's kind of a where's Waldough too, because you're watching these drills and you're looking and you're like, all right, there's you know, there's Gifford and and Layton and you're like,

something's not right here. You're like, oh, yeah, where's Mica And you're like, okay, pass rusher there, Yeah, oh he's down there, down there. Yeah. So he was doing both. He was the linebacker, he's doing pass rush. He had a moment um. Sorry, no, go ahead. He like, you know, there's everybody's got their routine before it takes an hour for the interesting part of practice to really start. Like guys are in their position groups, they're they're working with

their coaches on their footwork. They're doing this and they're doing that. Mica did this two or three different times, like he was with Treyvon and the corners working on the jugs machine. Then he sprints over to like go work with pass rushers. On handwork and stuff like that. Later on, he's doing not like true seven on seven, but he's doing like the seven on seven install or whatever you want to call it, where he's like calling out the back seven jogs across the field to to

go work on the trench stuff. Later I was like, this guy's getting his steps in, just moving between all the different things to be doing. Yeah, you know they were. I mean, I think it's okay. I mean they were working out a punter. Was that him? I mean, I don't know, I mean mica I mean maybe, I mean

I didn't see him. Here's something that I'm sure they would not want me to say, and this is just just my observation, but I got the sense that Sam Williams is going to be doing similar things as mica Um. I didn't see him put his hand in the dirt

a whole eye yesterday. I saw him playing some line like linebacker, but I also see him Russian like right over the center, like right, you know, just doing some some things Like I could just see him doing things in a similar way, like rushing him in different ways. Just what a nightmare that would be for other teams. If if you've got rushers that are coming from all over the place, you know where the law is going

to be cool, you know, try to stop him. Yeah, but but then you got other guys that are that could just mix and match, and that that's going to create problems. If he's capable. I'm not saying he's gonna be Micah, but if he's capable of rushing like that, that'll be interesting. I do kind of love the idea, And that's what we always talk about, is like tight

end is kind of similar. I talked to Dalton Schultz about that a lot yesterday, just like he just there's really only so much you can do to get ready for the physicality of like going against NFL defensive ends as a rookie, and defensive ends are kind of the same way. That's why, like, unless you're like a Miles Garrett, you typically don't start out fast because like going against a Tyrn Smith is incredibly hard. Well, maybe you don't have to ask Sam Williams to do that. You're just like, well,

we got three guys that can do that stuff. You just we'll just line you up somewhere out of way to put you somewhere and let you go. Yeah, we'll line you up somewhere where you can just try to have a free run or as close to it as possible. So yeah, that'd be fun. Yeah. It was interesting yesterday I saw that that Tank was talking after practice about the fact that he led rookie kind of house shining

him last year. He's talking about Micah and he's trying to reassert his dominance as the alpha in the room on the defensive side of the ball, which I like, I'll bring it like, Yes, I would love a competition between you and Michael to see who can be the biggest, the bast dude on the team, you know, So, um, yeah, I love that. We'll see if how that works out there. Yeah. I don't see Michael getting any worse. I only see Michael going up, so you know, only the only Michael

will only get better if the law is out there. Yeah. True, So that's very true. Yeah, and maybe and maybe vice versa, you know, I mean, maybe Tank, But either way, I mean, I think that's a great problem to happen. Absolutely, who's your best defensive But um, you talked about tight end. I mean, you know they obviously need a second tight end that they need a blocking tight end and Ferguson is the guy that you know they drafted and all that.

But I mean, if Sprinkle is gonna catch touchdowns, yeah, yeah, two, if he's gonna do that, like because he is kind of a blocker, and they they used him a little bit more as the season went on last year. Um, probably because Blake Darwin was was injured. But you know, I don't think Sprinkles ready to just give it up, you know, and not compete for It'll be interesting to see what happens. Jeremy Sprinkle and Sean McCune both got plenty of reps with the Ones yesterday, and I don't

remember seeing Jake Ferguson get one. And that I good, honestly, and like, not anything against Jake Ferguson, but like it's a tough again for the millionth time. It's a tough

position to transition to. And that's one like, and I get it you're curious about the draft pick, but like people ask me a lot of questions about him, and I'm just like, he's gonna have his work cut out for him to beat out a seventh year vet and now a third year of vetted mckun behind the franchise tag starter, like, I don't like, nothing's gonna be handed to that guy. You got to prove that you're definitively

better than they are. This is a point that I think Dave brought up a couple of weeks ago in one of our meetings, and I'm sure we're going to write about it or something, but you know, the second year guys, last year's draft class are having a hard time finding roles for them. I mean, these guys are are, Josh Ball being one of them, nay Sean and right even Kelvin, Joseph Mkuamu. I mean, I know I'm missing a coach, Golston, Well we'll talk about him. Second, he's

creating a spot for himself for Hoko. Those guys right there, there's nothing's guaranteed for them other than like Micah, you know. And so imagine the rookies of this ship that just got here. I mean there, if last year's rookies are like, well, I'm trying to fight for a spot, then of course they are too, and with a year behind, so um, I would say the deeper roster than I think people are giving them credit for. I mean, this roster has

got some talent in it. Maybe not the heavy hitters that you want them to have, but I think that they're starting to show that they do have some pretty decent depth at the maybe not I'm sorry, or that the draft, because if the draft picks are having a hard time getting on the field and the team doesn't suck, I mean, you know, then I think that that's showing that there's got some decent depth, and I think the

point needs to be made on that way. You said, not the heavy hitters that you want, but not the heavy hitters you've been used to sing. They may have other players that can step into some of those roles if they feel like except in some of those roles if we haven't seen yet that we will see if they can be that right, if they can get let's say Sam Williams to be a guy that can be a good pass rush specialist for them. Essentially, that's what

they were getting out of Randy Gregory. Randy Gregory wasn't a player that they use a ton like. They didn't use it. You look at this snapcount. He wasn't used a ton. If they can get that kind of production just from a pass rush standpoint between him and whatever other guys they've brought in, then they may feel like they've already supplemented that in the way that they needed to supplement it. It may just be different, it may

look different than what we've been used to seeing. You're not wrong, but I'm just not going to give it the benefit of the doubt. And I do agree that I'm just the roster. There's depth on the roster, a lot of it's not proven. Like you look at it and you're like, uh, I feel pretty good about like spots thirty through fifty, just in terms of having talented guys there, But who's gonna step up and be somebody

that I can count on? I mean, I think about this all the time, and I know there were issues with Joseph Randall that we're beyond football that got in the way of his success. But like when DeMarco left, you remember the just boundless confidence in the building about how the meat on the bone comment. They were like, well, this guy can be better than DeMarco. Like we're good with Joe, We've got Joe McFadden got yeah and Morris. Sometimes they're right. Sometimes it does work out like that.

A lot of times it doesn't, like this is the time of year for boundless optimism, and I'm just like, Okay, maybe James Washington will be that dude when he gets a better opportunity, or maybe we'll all wish Amari Cooper was still here in October. We're saying the same thing. I'm not saying that it's proven. What I'm saying is it just may look different, and it may look that's what they're hoping. They're hoping that they still have the

same level of productive players. It's just going to look different than what you've been used to sing to this. I would sign the best wide receiver free agent out there right now that can play, that can play, and who is that? God the guy re having an injury? Yeah I know that, But who's who's the guy right now that you could think of. I don't know, but I'd sign him because it's not only because I need a guy to come in here and and you know, perform.

I really think when the season starts, I think I'm gonna need that guy. Even when they come back, I'm not sure Washington and Tolber will be I don't think that will put be ready. I I could use that guy, and I don't I understand the term progress stopper. What give it? Julio Jones, Yeah, I'd sign him. He's I mean, he's kind of Tyrn Smithy at this point. Yeah healthy. I can't rely on him. I need somebody actually rely on. Will Fuller. Not reliable health wise. That's probably why a

lot of them are out on them. Yeah, free agent market right now is because they're probably not reliable players. Cole Beasley Nope, No, not interested, Nope, t Y Hilton even a little bit, like literally all of all of the guys that got something. I mean, the only one that looks appealing is Odell Beckham, and he won't be healthy until way after the season starts. It's you want him in that statement? Are you're still gonna get one of those guys? I'm trying to think Alan Hearns bring

him back? Oh my god? Good? Is he still like I don't know he's on the list. I don't, I don't know. Just don't think that he fits for what you need right now. I'm I'm wrestling with the with the little guy. I don't know. I'm not did he did he hold on? Has he said enough at things where like he wouldn't be welcome back. I don't think so, right, not for me? But what yeah, okay, okay, okay, I'm done there. But you feel free to take that option if you want it. But why is he Why is

he available? Because he wanted out of Buffalo and I don't he's thirty three and has a very specific role. Yeah, roll easily nice. I don't know. I mean, I mean, the thing is, he can't he can't give you the versatility. Indeed, if you need somebody that can step in and do different things, he's not that guy. Here's a guy. It's

a slot guy. That's it. And I've said this. I mean I think that he his situation with Dez, they were perfect for each other because des really wasn't going to play in the slot and he wasn't gonna play on the outside. And I think he benefited from that and benefited greatly, and he was a really good, really good player. But CD does playing the slot. Yeah, CD does play the side, and he spent most of the day yesterday, and you want your number one to be able to do all those So he can't help you.

Because now when CD's in the slot, where's he go to? Slideline? I meant Dick seemed to make it work. But you know, but the Dicks, I don't know if dis plays inside. I don't know. No, No, I'm just saying with Beasley there in Buffalo, they were making it work. I mean yeah, But my question is, like was was Dick's primarily an outside guy. He didn't go into the slot, so it

allowed for outside of them. So this is a waste to But I think they do need to sign somebody that that it's healthy and he's got new song, does he like go check it out? No, I'm good, I would probably. I don't know. I mean, I don't know. If you're a hip hop connoisseur, you don't have no desires. I listened, he's he's not bad for a football player. It's but I don't feel the need to go back to it. You know. I just remember that one thing we saw. I guess he was in a studio or something.

It was like take a breath, like it was. It was like it was impressive. I mean I was impressed by it. But you know, anyways, Um, I didn't mean to take us down that road. What I was really gonna say is, so they took us down that road. They drafted eleven guys last year, and two of them kind of came out of last season with defined roles. It was Osa and Mica. That's about it. And you can't even say Jabril Cox because like as high as

your hopes are for him, he hasn't done anything. He's been hurt and he's not he's not ready right now. He's not practicing right now, So that is I'm not good at math. But that's nine guys. They need more than a couple of them to rise up deuced. Come on, I need you about one of those guys that I that was showed up yesterday in chauncys Uh with Osa being out. Golston was in there at a squad bruise

for Osa. For anybody wondering, I don't think it's super serious. No, probably took a helmet on the leg on Tuesday or something like that. Um, but I think that you know, from what sounds like he's gained some weight to this is going to be a permanent move for him. He's Chauncey, He's you don't have to worry. He's a d tackle now.

That's their plan for him. They want him to be able to play three tech and maybe even some like five tech when when they do their hybrid stuff, when you think about what they got right now, defensive end, Yeah, I think that's the best option for him. Yeah yeah, I did too. And and you know, wasn't Golston a defense of end at the Senior Bowl? And then he

wanted to play tackle? He was a d end in college and for most of his career, and they were just they were short on tackles at the Senior Bowl and he offered to kick inside and he did it. He did it at this time last year too, like they played him at tackle when he got here before he got hurt. But that the is that the common thought right now on the football side of the building that he is a defensive tackle. Yes, yeah, Like he's put on like twenty pounds of weight. That's like this

isn't like, oh, maybe we'll do some of that. Like they view him as a d tackle, right. Can I just tell you right now when we do our two to watch right before the first preseason game, but it's gonna be your guy, It's gonna be Chauncey Golston. Because I'll say this, you won't see a lot of this them in pads. He'll flash a couple of times here and there. He'll be good. He'll get past the guard to get the left guard. Whoever. He get passed Tyler Smith and all that. Looking really good at tackle, but

he's gained some weight to get there. He's still kind of a pass rusher. Let's see what happens when he gets locked up against a real all pro or just a veteran guard. Can he withstand that? That's gonna be the key? Yeah, third nine, he could rush from the inside and he could be good. Third and two run running at him. I want to see what happen. And I'm not saying he can't, but I think that's that's gonna be the big question for him. Yeah. So all right,

we're gonna take our final break. We'll come back, and we got a few more observations we want to hit from practice. We'll do that. Want to come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Review. Hi. I'm Clint Tillison with and I'm Jay nova Check and we're both with Turf, the official tractor provider of the Dallas Cowboys. So if you need a tractor to bail some hey, a'm more to cut some grass or a gator to get some chores done. Get a John dere at United

agin Turf and then let's get to work. Hey Jay, that's my line, Well not today. Get to work with a John Deer tractor package that's just right for you and your budget. Visit United Aginturf dot com. The Cowboys Way We're sixteen Hall of famers and five championship shows us what success looks like. Where turkey is always the second best part of Thanksgiving Day, where we are all defined by one single thing, the star, where we as fans know it's our job to keep the tradition going.

Bank of America is proud to be the official bank of the Dallas Cowboys and to support the quest of living life The Cowboys Way. Copyright twenty twenty. Bank of America Corporation at ATNC, Everyone new and existing customers get our best deals on every smartphone. Why because you deserve it for turning your living room into your office and your gym. We're teaching Grandma had a video call and teaching her again. It's the button on your left Nana, Okay,

your other laughs. It's not complicated. Everyone deserves something new, so ATNC is given everyone. New and existing customers are best deals with every unlimited plan on every smartphone, even the latest ones. AT and T may temporarily slidated. Speech at the networks. Specific restrictions and exceptions may apply. New Doctor Pepper zero sugar, you deserve it. I do deserve that.

You deserve decadent flavor without sugar, and a day at the beach without sam getting everywhere, and a relaxing bath that your children don't interrupt. I deserve all that. It's just a visual metaphor for doctor Pepper zero sugar. Everything you want, nothing you don't, a visual metaphor on the radio. I do deserve that, Doctor Pepper zero sugar, the zero

you deserve is finally here. Back to the Break. The ninth annual Reliant Home Run Derby is back at Ryder's Field in Frisco on June seventh at six thirty pm. Come see your favorite Cowboys players swing for the fences to raise money for the Salvation Army. Free admission to all see you there. Welcome back. It is the final segment of the Break Life in the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star, I want to talk about something that's a little more somber than something we than the

other things we've talked about throughout today's show. I'm sure everybody out there listening has is aware of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas that have been done. I think it was Tuesday, but it was interesting yesterday because several of members of the Cowboys organization, the head coach, Dak Tank, had statements about it when meeting with the media, and it was what was most moving I think to me was not necessarily the words, but certainly the emotion that

we saw from Mike McCarthy. I think a lot of us may have experienced similar kind of emotion. I know, NICKI and I were talking another day and I could sense it. You were kind of feeling it and kind of welling up, you know a little bit. And you know, I got home that night, my wife was crying and just kind of, you know, just kind of I think when you have kids, you you look at this situation and you immediately start thinking, man, I don't know how

I would manage that. I mentally don't know how I would manage a situation like that where I was placed where when my kid went to school one morning and didn't come home that night. I don't know how mentally I would be able to manage that. And so a really really tough situation. But but what did you think based on a guys, what you heard yesterday and what you saw. I mean, you know, people are you know, these players are human, you know obviously, And this relates

to everyone. If you have kids, obviously it does. If you don't have kids, it doesn't matter because everyone's been in the second grade, everyone's been in the third, second, third, fourth grade. And I'll tell you this. When I was about that age, anytime I saw a storm cloud, I was scared. I was scared of a time with an Oklahoma. I thought it was gonna be tornado every time. I was always scared of that every time. Yeah, But when I got to school and we had a drill or

it was a thunderstorm, I never cared. I never cared because you know what, I'm at school. Nothing's going to happen to me at school, never and I and that's the fear is And I got honked at yet the day afterwards letting my kid walk to school, walk to the you know, he's got to walk forty yards right after I dropped him off, I watched all forty of them because I want to see him get in the school. That doesn't mean he's safe, but I wanted to see that.

Ladies honking at me behind and all that give a shit, I'm sorry, I don't and and and so anyways, everyone's got their opinion. But um, I thought the guys you know, were we were. It was the It was the guys that should have said it and then and they all can have an opinion. I saw that guy for the Warriors that that had some really good things. He doesn't even play and he has great things to say. No, no, no, not Steve Kerr one of the other players. Um, but

um tank Dak McCarthy. You know, they all said what they should say, and you know everyone everyone wants to answer, wants change. I had a funny moment yesterday which I don't have kids. I can't. It doesn't no, I know, I know, but of course you're hum. I was getting there, but sorry, um, of no, of course, of course. But I texted a friend of mine yesterday and I was like, like, do you even want to have kids? Like it? Like, is that something I should aspire to? If this is

the reality that we live in? And so I was just going back and forth with my friend like that, and then later that day, Dak said something said it kind of took my breath away. Dak was like, I'm kind of fearful to have kids if this is the world we live in. And like for Dak Prescott to say that, like I kind of had a moment where I was like, you know, Dak is like he's he's confident. He's like the most confident guy I've ever been around.

He's like an optimistic and yeah, and for him to say that, um hammered home just how horrible the situation really is. Yeah, And I don't know, man, it's gross. It's and like I hate the fact that I'm even trying to like couch my words right now, because like how is this such a divisive issue, Like how is this being bad something that pisses people up? Like, well,

you can't say that, like, you know, it's easier. It's harder for me to go buy a razor at CBS than it is for somebody to get that gun, and like that's not okay. And the fact that he's saying it's not okay, it's gonna piss somebody listening to this off is absolutely insane. I can't I don't, you know. Yeah, I could go on and on and on and on, but at this point it doesn't feel like it would do any good. Yeah, And that's that's a tough thing. I was telling somebody this the other day. Regardless of

where you fall politically, the fact is this country. There's something built into the fabric of this country when it comes to guns that doesn't really exist in any other part of the world that I'm aware of, And a lot of that has to do with kind of how the country was formed and fighting against another government that was that they felt like had ultimate power over them, and so there's this inherent thing of we gotta keep our weapons, we gotta keep our weapons, and because of that,

we have this feeling, there's a feeling in our country for a certain number of people that that's just the right that they are not willing to give up. And it doesn't matter what the circumstances, they're not willing to give that up. And I think that's where we end up in a situation like this, where you know, although you look at it, you're like common senses, this is a problem, but it's just it's something that's built into this country, and it's it's it's that's why it's so problematic,

and trying to find a solution it's so problematic. Well, does it have to be an assault rifle? No, it does. Yeah, you know what. The funny thing like I was talking to Taylor Stir and our old friend about this yesterday. She bought a handgun like years ago. She lived alone. She you know, she wanted it for protection. I'm in favor, honestly, Like I'm It's like people think that there can't be middle ground here. I'm pro Second Amendment. I don't want

it to go away. What about background checks? What about certain weapons waiting periods? What about maybe you know, maybe this rifle that can fire forty rounds in ten seconds just shouldn't be available. I'm sorry. You can have your hunting rifle, you can have your handgun for self defense. I just don't think you need an a R fifteen. And I don't care if you've got like a hog problem on your property, Like there's another way you can

figure that out. Yeah, or even maybe if that's what you need it for, you can We were talking about your daughter getting your driver's license, the other day, the day that this happened, and we're like, you gotta take like week's worth of classes and pass these test months to drive a car. To drive a car, you gotta jump through ten different hoops to be able to drive

a car. Why not, Like you know, somebody was like you, maybe a forty eight hour waiting period to buy a gun like this, how about a six month waiting period if you need it that bad for a practical practical purpose and you're that responsible, you can wait. Everybody else, sorry, too bad? Like what's so controversial about that? It's unbelievable. Well, and you can still have your like I said, you can have your revolver for self protection or what like.

I'm not trying to take that from you. Yeah, we just need a little bit of common sense here and we can maybe avoid some of this crap about it, like you to pick up the pace though, I mean, well, yeah, I'm just saying. You know, no one's saying, well, man, we don't have enough people will drive's licensee's doing that pole where we are worried about ranking of Yeah, I mean we should we should be you should have to

take another test once you reach a certain age. Or like once you've been gone from like once you've taken once enough years of fast from your driver's test, you should be retested. I can go on and on about this. Let's think about this. And an eighteen year old in the state of Texas can go and buy an assault rifle. They cannot go and buy liquor. So I'm saying that, like the laws just don't match up. That's my thing. Like, I'm just like, let's get something to make sense here,

because it just it doesn't make sense. You can do a lot more damage with an assault rifle than you can with a bottle of liquor. And I just I feel like if they're not mature enough to be able to be responsible, be able to be allowed to be responsible enough to drink and handle themselves the right way, then what makes you think that they're responsible enough to handle an assault rifle. That's where I'm and again I'm with you, Dave, Like I don't know that this means,

like I'm not trying to take people's guns. I'm just saying, like, is there a common around that we can find here that makes some sense? It just doesn't all make sense right now. Well, I'm not comparing this at all to nine to eleven. I mean, I'm not I mean people some people could say whatever. All I'm saying is, is this stuff happening in an airport right now? There's a

reason why it ain't gonna happen in an airport. And we got to get to that point where and I know it's there's a ton more schools than there are airports. I get it, but it's got to be treated somewhat on that path of like what our schools are. Yeah, not to get too philosophical, but I don't know if you guys have heard of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The whole premises you can't really reach certain levels of needs

if the basic levels aren't taken care of. And in that same way, I look at my kid going to school as the priority. The first priority is you better keep them safe, because when I drop them off in the morning, my expectation is number one, I get to get them back in the evening. Number two is you're going to educate them, right, but if you can't keep

them safe, then the education becomes somewhat irrelevant. So you could say what you want to say about Yeah, we got a lot of schools, it will cost whatever amount of money. If you're not protecting them, then everything else becomes irrelevant. So first priority for every school district, for every city figuring out how they deploy their police departments. It should start with how do we take care our most vulnerable which is kids. Start there at the top

of that list. How do we take care of our kids? How do we make sure they're protected and they feel protected? And if you can't do that, you're missing on everything else, because that is the top priority. The irony too, is like and I don't want to speak too confidently, but like it seems like there were things in place to protect it, Like there were officers on the scene and didn't find them mattering. Yeah, but that also questions like what was what was their level of training? Sure, what

was what was the what was the security outfit? Looking at the facility, like it sounds like the gunman went in through up an unlocked back door. Like again, there are all these different things and like Nick said, it ain't happening at airport. We all walk an airport and we see a bunch of guns and it's like one of those things where those people know how to use them. And if you're going there, you better be prepared for

a fight. It's gonna be a real fight. Um. And I don't see why we would protect an airport like that and not think about how we protect our kids in a similar fashion. It's depressing this, I mean that is it's a good point, and DeMarcus talked about that too, of like better security at schools and things like that, and it's a good point. But it does bum me out that that is necessary. Like that's I mean, because that is a more realistic path to stopping this than

the other. The other I mean, like, but that's how how deeply ingrained this thing is. And I don't know that that's a I tweeted it the other day when this happened. I've given up on trying for political answer to gun violence in this country. It's I don't know how to get there because they're just you ain't changing anybody's opinion on it, so it just kind of is what it is. But but that doesn't mean I'm giving up on the idea of protecting kids, because that is

a problem that needs to be solved. Recallessive of everything else, you better figure out a way to protect these kids in these schools. Yeah, all right, let's uh this has been there's really no transition from yeah, punt return, you can't. And I will say this too. I know they're probably I'm guessing there are probably some people out there listening right now saying I did not tune in for this. But there are some topics that and we try very hard to stick to, you know, talking about football on

this show, although that's not our lives. When we were in the office, we're talking about all kinds of stuff because we're humans. But I think there are some topics that kind of transcend whatever's happening on the football field, and this is one of those. And I just felt like it was necessary for us to have this conversation.

Our job is escapism, and I value that, like I value helping people sort of get away from their lives, you know, like it's I we do a service for people, but not everything is meant to be gotten away from. Like sometimes you've got to take a hard look at things, and the team, the team's talking about it, I mean, like everybody should be talking about it, regardless of how much it sucks. So because honestly, can we can make

you know, this is one exception once a year for something. Yeah, because you know, a lot of times and we've seen this in the past few years. I mean, these these players, these announcers, these you know, they have a voice, they have a platform, and and it's their job to use it. Now you can you can make that case all the time. Well, it's not my job to be a role model or whatever.

I know Barkley had said that long time ago, but but it's they have the platform, and the platform is for other things, but sometimes, you know, I think it's important to use it in a case like this, Um, you know, especially you know, I hope his team doesn't win another game this year. But you know what, Steve Kurf like, I applaud him for attacking you know, the people that he thought should be attacked, and he had

his research and he had his facts right, you know. Um, I hope he does it again tonight because his team didn't play well and all that. And again I'm not trying to light on it. I was very impressed with what he did and I appreciated him doing that. And what some people don't know is this, his father died

from gun violence. His father was an ambassador. I think and was killed in another country when they stormed the embassy, and so he has been personally affected by situations like this, and so certainly thinking about that where his dad probably knew in taking that job there was a chance for violence, there was a chance he was going to be put in a situation where he might have to give his life. That shouldn't have to be for our kids, Like that's

where the line has drawn. Our kids, like you said, Nick, should be able to walk into their schools and feel as safe as they do when they walk to their homes. There should be no difference. They should walk in that school and feel like, man, I'm here to learn. I shouldn't have to worry about those other things. Yet it's sad that, just like you you mentioned the tornadoes, we

did tornado drills when I was a kid. You know, our kids are now living in a world where they have to go to school and they have to learn about active shooter or training. We did training, Yeah, we did tree month ago, but we're adults. I don't want I hate the world. I hate the idea that my child has to train for an active shooter in their school.

That to me, that means we're doing something wrong. If that is a reality enough for our kids have to train for it, we're doing something wrong as a society. Because if you can't protect your kids, what are you doing? Like I said before, there are lots of priorities. If you can't protect the kids of your of your society, you're doing something completely wrong. You know, you're missing the point well said. You don't want them worrying about it

every day. You don't want of them thinking, you know, man, could this really happen? You know you don't. That's why, And I mean one percent right, but even I mean, it's just the world we live in. Man. I went to I went to a movie a couple weeks ago. That's in my head every time I go to a movie, every single time. And it wasn't even like Opening Night or anything. I was just it was like Saturday night. I went to see something and had already been out

for a while. Because that's I like to go to unpopular movies so I can look at my phone during the movie because like if nobody yeah, wait, so you can look at your phone and that no, because the movie is in the theater, Like I'm like, I want to go see this movie but I don't want somebody telling me to put my phone away. So I wait, like a month and a movie you want to see

through me, like a movie that isn't that good? No watch, I'm like, I want to watch this movie, but I don't want somebody yelling at me if I'm checking my text to see if Nick's talking to me or something, you know that type of thing. Some news is breaking, but even or you know, maybe I just want to look at Twitter whatever. Yeah, uh even still like the whole are there people that will call you out on that if you're in like a crowded theater, Yeah, and

they should like that's rude. But I'm always on my phone Tomorrow me too, Like I'm definitely yeah, I've already bought the tickets. But my kids like they don't want to go see it. But I'm like, I go see all your movies all the time. So this is one where Dad's gonna be like, I'm gonna pull right. We've we've had that conversation too. I'm just like, if you want to go with me, you can go with me, but you better not be elbowing me halfway through, like

you know, no restroom, Brady need more popcorn or let's go. Oh, you do what you gotta do. But as much as you love that movie, I would go by myself. I would be like, I need to dad, Dad needs these two and a half hours, Like I can, you know, I should just say that to Father's Day weekend when you can just kind of break away and Nick will probably go see it like three times, honestly. I mean I'm gonna I'm a definitely gonna see it. I'm all in,

I don't care. No, you're probably the first. Yeah, yeah, I'll wait till it comes out on streaming. No, I cannot wait. And I don't used to go to movies other than taking my kids to see their movies. But this is what I want to This is one. I mean, I know the first line of that movie and the last line of the movie. I mean these random lines, it's the top gun. I mean, I've seen it that many times where I know exactly what they are, so, I mean I've seen it enough. I'm ready. What's the

first line, morning, Scott? You're right? And the last line is I don't know, but it's looking good so far. That's that's those I mean you're talking, Nick, remembers the score. Yeah, why would that surprise me? Yeah? Getting and what what? Where is that movie from nineteen eighty six? Right in the wheelhouse? Right in the wheelhouse. It's the greatest period of your life. All right. We appreciate you guys join us. We also appreciate you guys indulging us. We had to

have that conversation. We thought it was necessary. So if you didn't like it, then feel free to fast forward. But if you didn't didn't have I'm I'm assuming a lot of you guys out there having these similar conversations. Let's make it something that our entire society is thinking and talking about because we need to find a solution to this. All right, So we'll see you guys next week. Till then for Nick Eaton Day Film and I'm 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.