Cowboys Break: Overreaction?

Welcome to the latest edition of The Break. We're live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the start and presented by millerlike the only Beer of the Dallas Cowboys. Today is our job to get you ready for Cowboys versus Buccaneers. We will focus in today on the Buccaneers offense versus the Dallas defense. We got some fan questions we'll get. We're gonna try to get questions every day from from fans this week, getting you guys ready for

the game. And I actually wanted to start today's conversation with a question that I received on Twitter from Clarence Ye. The question was are we And I think he's meaning by that the fans the media, everybody out in the Cowboy universe. Are we overreacting to the Washington loss? It was ugly, but recall last year's anticipation for the playoffs after the Philly game, it was super Bowl or bust.

This year it's it can. I don't know what he was saying there, but basically the point he was making was, are we overreacting to that loss? Because sometimes you can lose the last game and still do well. Other times you can win and not do so well. What do you think? Yeah, I think yes and overreacting a little bit. But that's what we do. And that's that's why you talk about football for seven days before each game, I mean each each day. I mean that's what you do.

So yeah, it's probably a little bit of overreacting. No one will talk about it if they play well, but that's you know, that's the last game we've got, last memory that we've got, and it's not the best, you know, game to go into the playoffs. But as I've said before, last year's the game did not carry over into the playoffs, so you can only hope this one doesn't either. No, we're not overreacting at all. You know, this was a

must win game. It really was if you think about it, I mean you had to go in there and you had to establish that you were going to win the game, and then pull the starters once you realize what was going on in Philadelphia. So yeah, I mean it's the same problems. You don't run, you're throwing interceptions. How many picks six? This is this guy thrown this year? You know how many Nick talks about it. You know, I heard him on the radio this morning talking about I

want to five three the fan. You know, it's not a overreaction at all. You know, you're you're trying to you're trying to establish, You're trying to establish things or trying clean up things that you've been poor at. You know, the last several weeks they haven't run the ball, you know, the last several weeks. The quarterbacks thrown interceptions every week. You know, these are things. These aren't overreactions. This is like, these are these are trends that are going towards you

getting in the playoffs. And everybody says, you know, you got beat by a backup quarterback who completed eleven passes. You know you got dominated up front. You're going to play better. I don't know if you're gonna play better fronts when it comes to you know, the defensive fronts, but that's not in a game that you're you're trying

to win. Initially, No, we're not overreacting at all. These are these are legitimate concerns, and we'll all be in here Tuesday morning if they show up again, and we really won't be overacting then, because you know, I think the reality is that this team has faults. It plays remarkably well at times, it overcomes mistakes that they make along the way, but the trends are going in the wrong way for this football team, much like it went

the wrong way after the Denver game last year. You know, there's things you're seeing that are concerning as you get ready for a playoff game. Yes, writing well, even though I do think that the Cowboys are going to be able to play a lot better this weekend when they go out to Tampa, I don't think that this is an overreaction either, because you're talking about a team that was uncapable of doing absolutely anything. They got one touchdown, they missed the extra point. Other than that, that was

it like eleven three and out. That's freaking embarrassing. How are you not able to do absolutely anything against the team that's not even competing to be in the playoffs anymore. So it's not had they lost that game. It would have been different if you saw some fight in the game, but we didn't see any of that. So that's what makes it worse for me. It's not that they lost whatever, you're still in the playoffs, but it's how they lost it.

There was nothing in there that they did well, and it gives you worry into the playoffs when you know you're gonna face a team that's a lot better a quarterback that's the Yeah, probably the best quarterback in the NFL ever played, But it just gives you a lot more worrying concern. But I do think they're gonna be competitive in this game, but it's just it was just a crappy way to go out this week. Does not

feel like we're about to head into the playoffs. That's not the vibe at least for me, and like in our office space, it's just not as exciting as it would be had they won that game or probably competed in that game. Yeah, I was gonna say I the only thing I disagree with you. There is I don't think. I don't think Tampa Bay is better than Washington. I mean,

I don't believe that. I know, other than the playoffs and they're in and they got a quarterback that everyone knows and all that, but I don't think they're a better football team than Washington, especially from a matchup standpoint. Now. I know the Cowboys have struggled against Tampa. They're not the same Tampa team that they've played. But I'm just saying I think, let's not That's what I keep wrestling with is that Tampa is not a good football team.

They're not. I mean, they're below. No, you don't feel like they have I mean they don't. They beat Carolina, they beat Carolina at home. But I don't think. I don't think they are trending up. I think they're I think they're trending in. They're eight and eight eight, nine whatever they are, you know, because I know they didn't play all their guys at the end of the game, probably could have won it. But nine and eight eight, now, whatever they are, I don't. I think they're an average

football team. I think Washington's an average team that knows the Cowboys better, and I think that's a little tougher matchup. But I'm just saying the reason why I say that I don't overreact is because I think this team has proven that they can turn it around. I think that they will turn it around. And I do think whatever the reason for it, they were not prepared for the game. I know they'll be prepared for So let's go down

that line of thinking. If you say they're an average team, does it concern you at all that three of the four losses Dallas has this year are two average teams. Yeah on grass Yeah, yeah, I don't know. I mean, what do you think Dallas is. I think they're an average ten. Yeah, I'm not I mean, I'm not trying to attack you on this. I'm just saying I'm just interested. If they're they're a really good football team. Yeah, I think that. I think that to me that you know,

you're trying to like convince yourself. No, I mean that's just the way to face him. They're really good. Yeah. I was laughing at the way he was just like yeah, which means hell no, Hell. I lost my will to fight right there. I just didn't want to go there. I think they're I think they're a really good team. This is a seventeen game season. They're they're they're really good, and they're they're one of the best. They're one of

the best teams in the NFL right now. And I mean, yeah, that's what makes that game so weird to to comprehend. But they are a better football team than that. They're better football team than than the Bucks. They're gonna have to go prove it or a normal care but they have to do. I think they are a better team. I think they're a good team. Here's my challenge, and

I kind of agree with everything everybody says. But the reason why I think it's not an overreaction is because I don't think it's an overreaction from the standpoint of the storyline that continues the same. And what I mean by that is, you still can't run the ball, you still can't stop the run, you're still turning the ball over like those are things that have been storylines that

have persisted over the last several weeks. And now, by the way, you're gonna face a team that you faced earlier this year that did those exact same things to you. They ran the ball even though they're not a good running team. They ran the ball against you. You couldn't stop them, and you couldn't run the ball against their front. You want to talk about a good front, you just face this might be comparable. When you start talking about fronts and how good they are up front, Tampa maybe

just as good. So I just look at that and I'm like, that's the part where I'm like, this isn't an overreaction. From that standpoint, that doesn't mean Dallas can't go and win, because I do think this. I told somebody this yesterday. I think Dallas is good enough to be any team, and I mean absolutely any team in the NFL on any given Sunday. Sure they absolutely can. I also think Dallas can lose to almost any team.

There's probably one or two they wouldn't lose to, but almost any team in NFL on any given Sunday, if they played like they played last Sunday, they can lose that game. Both those teams fighting for that number one pick. Uh, we're giving the Cowboys some problems in the second half, right, So, so I think the Cowboys are all of the maps. So anybody that says they know what Dallas is gonna do Monday. Good luck with that, Like, I don't trust that.

What's the reaction? Then, you said, is this an overaction? What is the reaction? It's kind of reaction, say overrated. I think the one I'm done, that's that's the that's the over that's the I mean, I think I think Ambar's right about this. I think people have just just have taken on the whatever you want to call it, that they've just taken on the burden of this team's just not good enough to go even though Tampa is probably not better than the Cowboys. The good teams don't

turn over the ball. Good team And you're gonna argue with me, but you're gonna say, good teams are really good on offense. Good teams score Brian, good teams do this, Good teams lead the league in turn good teams do that. And I'm trying to think about I'm just sitting there thinking about all the things that can make them an even better team that they don't do well. You know, they haven't rushed the passer as well as they need to. I mean, but that is that on them or is

it on the schemes they're playing. The thing that always just bothers me. Now, Nick about this as like every week you ask a question at the podium to Dak and it's about an interception. You know, you can't even get to your questions about the three touchdowns he through or the four touchdowns he through that day. You know, you know the questions I mean the questions to Jerry Jones after the games and stuff, and you know, the running and the run defense and all this stuff like that.

I mean, it's just it just it trends in a way of like this team isn't isn't good? You know when when? But everything else kind of tell I mean, there's other things that say that it is good. But the things that you really feel like you need to win in the playoffs, they're not good at at That's the problem. I think that's the problem. On the difference there may be, and this is where I would put it. I don't think you could say they're not a good team a team that gets twelve. I think they're a

good team. I think what you gotta say is, yeah, are they Are they a super Bowl caliber team the way they're playing right now. I think that's where where the overreaction is. I think most people that watched last week. But what I'm saying, most people that watched last week are saying they are not one of the teams that are really in the hunt for a Super Bowl. That's the overreaction I think at this point because of what

you've been seeing the last few weeks. And that's a fair I think that is fair for people to have that estimation. Now we'll see where it goes. I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about the game. I thought we're talking about the Bucks game and like what they're gonna do this week. But like, no, I don't think they're a super Bowl caliber team. I've never seen a super Bowl caliber team. But you know, I've been here

a while. By to what you said earlier, how you think Tampa is not a better team than what Washington has whatever. Okay, they made it into their whatever. What I'm going back to remembering, for example, when we were talking about green Bay. Totally different team, but Cowboys were way better than what Green Bay was, and they went out there, you thought they could win and then Aaron Rodgers once again slaps you in the face. Over time,

they end up winning the game. So it's one of those things that even though pieces in their team are not the best, you're still talking about a quarterback that's gonna be Tom Brady, who you haven't been able to ever beat. At this point, I'm not saying it can't happen. I do think again, I do think this is gonna be a good game, and the Cowboys will show up and play a tough game. But we can't just dismiss

them and think, oh, well it's not you know. But but I do think they're better than Washington was and whatever. I just don't agree. I really don't agree. I think that we look at the schedules and all that, and I think that, you know, you got to remember when you get in as an eight and nine team, that means you won your division, and that means your division

is terrible. And and I think when you know, Washington missed the playoffs by a half game or whatever, and all three of the other teams got in and look at who they played six times. Look who the Bucks played six times. And the Bucks, you know, I think Tom Brady saved them, well, the defense saved them most of the time, and then Brady at the end just won the game. So I really don't I don't I gotta remember that the Cowboys are four four games better,

four games better than on the record. But I think I think really is they're about five or six games better. So I get it there's concerns, but I don't believe that this is this. I think the body of work is too too large. And I think that when they are ready to play, when they need to have a really big opponent, and if it's if it's um Philadelphia with the division on the line, the Giants on Thanksgiving, obviously, you know the Vikings gonna came back from Green Bay.

I think that they respond. I think they will respond in this game. All right, we're gonna take our first back and we come back when a dive into this Tampa Bay offense versus the Dallas defense will do that. And then just a few minutes Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. Todd thought it would be secure to jog in the Cheetahs Savannah. Todd believed the big Cat repellent he bought online was reliable. And now Todd is trying to be faster than this cheetah that can run eighty miles per hour.

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to Ford Center at the Star in Frisco. The Academy of Country Music Awards are always bringing you the country's music's brightest stars under one roof May eleventh, Get your tickets Seat dot com. Welcome Back. Second segment of the Break Life in that WBC Mortgage Studios at the star of the segment brought to you by blockchain dot Com. All right, let's start this conversation on Tampa Bay with I'm gonna take you guys back to week one of

the season. Obviously, we know by the end of the game Dak Prescott was hurt in the locker room the whole nine before that point. Give me one memory you have from that game, one thing that that would that happened in that game that you're like, this is one thing that kind of concerns me or gives me hope. What I remember is that they tried every double reverse and trick played the first series of the game. First series has gotten like a fifty three yard field goal

out of and that was it. That was the only point. And that took all this kind of I mean, like nine months of preparation to do all these things to move the ball just enough to get to the thirty eight yard line or whatever, thirty six yard line and make that kick. So that that wasn't good. That's what I remember. It took everything you had and then the boats were like, all right, nofe of that. So yeah,

that's that wasn't good. You know, I remember that game and I went back and watched it last night, but there were some things about it. I just remember how many times they got Julio Jones involved, whether it was jet sweeps or throwing him the ball, and Mike Evans made some really nice plays down the field, you know. But I just the biggest memory that I came away from was that they were actually running the ball pretty

well with Zeke. You know, he was averaging like almost five and a half yards to carry, and then they just completely stopped. And then all of a sudden, it turned into Dak trying to force the ball into coverage and they were knocking pat I mean, I've never seen a team just you know those PBUs you know, passes broken up, just bam bam bam it. You know, they kept challenging the Buccaneers. They were challenging the Buccaneers in

the middle field. And then he throws that ball the interception that Winfield gets, and I'm like why, And that kind of was the snapshot of Okay, if you said Dak this year that that interception of Winfield was like, Oh, that's what you're gonna see. You're gonna see more of this but the biggest memory, the biggest memory was they were running the ball well and they stopped. They just completely stopped running the ball with Zeke and the game never really was out of hand. When I just never,

I mean that Dallas made some really good stops. They make them kick field goals. Yeah, I mean, they really did, and so it's it's unfortunate that they went away from that and it turned into trying to force the football. What I remember is the excitement heading into that game, thinking this is, uh, this time around, the Cowboys will be able to beat Tampa based on how they had played the year before and how they repeated pretty good, and then thinking Dak is back to being Dak, And

then the game starts and he was pretty bad. He was not Dak, and it was just a game that you're like, Okay, what are we watching based on the initial excitement. Then he gets hurt and you're like, okay, now we got to wait a whole another year to start this over again. Luckily, things didn't go down that way. Went better than that, and Cooper Rush did a really

good job, but that's pretty much it. And nothing was working for the Cowboys in that game as far as like you having your starters back, You had Zack Martin back in the lineup, and you thought, oh, that was the missing piece that you needed to beat Tampa the year before, and now you got all your starters in there, and it's just it wasn't really what you expected it

to be. Well, you lose McGovern really early in that game too, Oh yeah, yeah, I mean Farniac is in there early, and then you got the Now you got Farniac and Tyler Smith playing on the left side, and you're now you're like, hold your breath, here we go kind of a thing. Yea, all right, So let's let's now focused in a little bit to the Tampa Bay offense versus the Dallas defense. Brian talk to me about the differences between what we saw from the Tampa offense

what they were on Week one to what they are now. Yeah, they can't run the ball and they and they try and they really don't go very well. Where Dallas struggled in this game. We talked about the jet sweech. We could see this again, what they did, they ran counter runs and what they put a lot of pressure on Diggs in this game. Having to deal with polling alignment. They weren't good at They weren't good at the point

of attack. Women Like where the ball was running safe to the left, the right defensive end, Armstrong gets crushed, They get a block on the linebacker. Now linemen are up on Diggs who's retreating, and now you got four net running downhill. They figured out that, like, listen, we can move offensive linemen in this game and Dallas won't

be able to handle that. So worry about that A little bit of them coming back, you know, Tampa, when they run the ball, a lot of it is like Brady takes the snap and just hands it inside and in its fournet to hit the hole. In the game against Dallas, it was all those perimeter runs that really hurt Dallas in that game, and they figured out running at digs was the best way to do it. I kind of feel like that there maybe go back to a little of that kind of running. Now. The problem

is with their offensive line. They're not really healthy and Donovan Smith through their left tackle. I was talking to people in Tampa about this last night. I said, listen, I'm watching your games, and it doesn't like Donovan Smith's playing very well for you. Right now, the left tackle and he's like and he's like, honestly, he's not. Circle back to the game. If you're the Cowboys, what happened. They moved Parsons over to Donovan Smith's side in that game.

Inside move, outside move. They really put him in some bad spots. And my Tampa guys admit it's like, yeah, we're a little bit worried about Parsons going over there and having to deal with Smith because you do watch the Cincinnati game. I watched the San Francisco game. One.

San Francisco just just mauled them, you know. I mean with McCaffrey and those guys, they showed the ability to run the football against you know, but you just have to it's those combination blocks which Dallas has struggled with, the combination blocks of two guys together and just push that defensive lineman and now you got a back that has the ability to make the cut. That's the thing

that that that that San Francisco. Cincinnati just got luckier than Heck, they threw the ball, Brady had a touchdown call back from a holding call because of Donovan Smith. So yeah, there's the second half. I mean, they Tampa played great on offense against Cincinnati. In the first up seventeen nothing, You're thinking like, oh, they're gonna roll. Then all of a sudden, turnovers head, Brady throws an interception,

Brady fumbles the ball, Brady fumbles the ball again. You know, all of a sudden, now is and since then has kicking field goals and then at the end of the game they get to go ahead touchdown and end it right there. But that's this offense is different, Frint, just because they haven't had the health in the offensive line, and they haven't had the health at receivers. Julio Jones has been really really banged up for them too, so

that's something that they're going to have to deal with him. Evans, those guys still, like say Donovan Smith, I think is the best thing to do here. And they're having problems at center. Nick LaVette Nick Leverett is the guard who's the normal starting guard. He's had to play center. So they're kind of in some flux right there, and they were in flux when they played in Week one. They had some problems in Week one, so those things haven't

changed for them. But this is a team that, like I said, I would be worried about the stuff going to the perimeter. They had success because they found out that Diggs wasn't interested in play playing enforcing the run, and they were killing the edge to get that edge. Can I ask you to do the flip side like for Dallas defense because that first game, even well first half of the season. Yeah, we know how the Dallas defense was and how good they were and pressuring the

quarterback and writing turnovers and everything. How different is done now? I mean we talk about it every day on the show. But as far as like matchup goes, Yeah, which you've you've played, I think you've played perimeter runs beat, You've got Hankins is gonna take care of the inside stuff for you. So now that helps vander esh run to get to the perimeter, be on the edge. I think you've got guys like I think Armstrong has done a

better job of holding up blocks. But it depends, like you say, you still like Donovan Wilson has got to play downhill fast. I mean he but you get so much play action with this guy. You know, even though they don't run well, it's they still fake it like they're gonna run it. And now you're you're moving forward, You're gonna have to, like Armstrong is gonna have to

be great, Hankins has got to hold the middle. You just can't let them when they when they take that snap and hand the ball inside, you can't let that be a four yard run. You can't. You got it. You've got to find a way for that to be a one or two yard run and then let them play from there. But to me, I think you got better players on the perimeter. I think your safeties. I think Wilson playing safety. Curse he was in a boot

the first game. He got hurt, got nicked up in that game, and you know there was there was a lot of things going on, But it's gonna be about can your guys get to the outside quick. And I can say it's different now with Hankins because Hankins takes up blocks which allows Clark and vander esh to run and if you could get them out in space quick enough, then make Fournette have to stop out there. Now, you don't get that long run for ten twelve yards like

they were getting in that game. The first in Week one where a stat where Brady leaves the NFL and and getting the ball out quick like two point five seconds. So what is he doing like throwing? Is it quick quick passes to to Evans and Godwin because they don't seem like they're they don't have time to get the ball down the field. So what is it? It's all, it's all, it's all. It's all like outs, curls, slants. It's it's inside stuff. I do a lot of bubble

screen out just the perimeter, get it out. The first play of the game, if you remember Godwin caught it was first or second play of the game. Godwin caught up and went like at Diggs and went for like fourteen fifteen yards. I mean it was like quick boom ball. They in that game they attack Diggs. They didn't think Diggs could handle ball coming at him the whole game.

So that and in the run that's say in the un the screen in the screen, the screen came because he's gonna retreat and they couldn't get people out fast enough. You know, their their their mode in that game was get lineman in space and make the Dallas secondary and linebackers have to deal with that. So I would be surprised if they try something similar to this. But the ball they don't their their protection is not good enough for him just to horse the ball down the field.

He'll make some throws. I mean, you get guys like u in the game against Dallas, Mike Evans caught a ball for like eighteen yards up on his curl back inside and everybody in Brown and everybody there was somewhat space but that but as you watch them play, they just don't have the time now to throw the ball. He's not gonna sit there Cincinnati, like when they made since they made him hold the ball, and when he's

taken hits, he's putting the ball on the turf. I mean, there was a couple of times where it was they're one of the worst teams in third and long in the league. And there's a reason for it because they can't hold up long enough to get the ball down the field. When you look at these wide receiversh you know, we talk a lot about Mike Evans, gage and but but you talk about a lot of guys. I think Chris Godwin is a guy. I think you hit it this one on the radio, Nick I thought I remembered

you talking about him. But Chris Godwin is is when you really think about it. He's the guy that could really kill you. He's got one hundred and four catches for him this year. Evans has seventy seven. So he is a guy that they go to. One hundred and four catches ten twenty three is a number of yards, and he had that one less game. He didn't play one game. So what what's that average? I mean nine point eight or something? What's that? What's his average? What's

the averaging per catch? Oh? I don't, I don't have that. I mean looking for ten something like that, Like it's almost it's almost ten ten to catch. But yeah, so that almost that shows me that he's he's throwing those bubble screens a lot to him, not so much down the field, so I mean it's still effective. It's still almost a first down. But yeah, I didn't really it's nine point eight. Yeah, so right there right there at

ten yards a kitch. So yeah, But I mean the point is, and I guess when you think about it, you would immediately almost think, hey, if you're gonna take digs and you're gonna put him on one guy, you obviously it'd be Mike Evans. But thinking about that, if you're going to first of all, do you think it's the right thing to have have Diggs travel with someone? And if so, who should be the receiver that he travels with. I would travel with God when myself, I

would because I'll tell you why. I'll tell you why because I think the thing I think the thing you know when you're talking about the other receiver there. I kind of feel like though that Evans, he'll drop the ball on you every one while. And that's the thing about it is, I mean, he'll he may trust me. I'm not saying he's a bum receiver. I'm just saying, though, if if you're Brady, you're gonna think about in this game, go to the guy that I you know, he's done

the ball to him one hundred time. He's one hundred receptions there, you know. And and and Evans. Evans, as great as he is, he loses his focus during a game. You will see sometimes he'll drop balls and it's like, WHOA, what just happened. They're kind of a thing. So if I think if he if if you're if you're saying, okay, who is Brady, especially on third downs? Who is Brady gonna try and get the ball too? He's gonna get it to a guy like Godwin, who he knows he

could trust, is gonna make the third down reception. Evans is a downfield player, but like I said, they haven't had the ability because the protection doesn't allow him to get the ball down the field. Yeah, I think. I think if you're gonna follow him with anyone, that would be it would be Godwin. But then when you get to the red zone, I might, I might flip it up a little bit. I might. I might go with him a little bit bigger on Evans and then just

try to brack it you know him. I keep saying, Gauge, it's Godwin. Keep trying to brack it him with you know, Bland or whatever, because that's what we're He's the bland On like Evans in the at the four yard line. Yeah, I just feel like that's just a jump ball. I'm not saying Bland's not a fighter. He can't. Yeah, I'm gonna say he's gone battle. He might give up something, he's gone battle. He's gone battle. I mean Aaron Glenn, you know, I mean he was five nine, He would

be a battle. You know. I love Daron Glenn's game though. Yeah, they've got They've got to figure out quickly in this game. Dan Quinn's got to figure out quickly. He's got to go an attack because, like I say, Micah Parsons over Donovan Smith, Donovan Smith is not ready for this. He's not playing well enough to be And in the first time around, I mean they were twice where he just embarrassed He embarrassed Donovan Smith. In this game, I mean, they have to be. If you're the Buccaneers, you have

to be concerned about Micah Parsons lining up. But it's gonna have to be some wins on the other end too, you know, with Tristan Wirfs and guys like I mean, you can't just be all in Micah Parsons this game. They've got to find some other spots to win and

make Brady uncomfortable in this game. If they can't, haven't we seen no where teams have taken advantage of the aggressive nature of defensive ends, Michael being one of them, and really run straight Adam, run towards the off tackle, run run out wide because those guys trying to get to the quarterback sometimes take the easy route to the inside and then they get Yeah, rather than trying to hold the edge. Do you think that could be a thing that maybe works against Dallas is to say, yeah.

The thing about it is, the whole idea of playing Tampa this week is keep the outside shoulder free. Yeah, don't don't give up, don't run inside, and then all of a sudden you jump inside Armstrong and they turn on you, and now vander Esh has to fight you

getting turned and then getting all the way. The whole pursuit is now, Yeah, exactly, everybody stays square, keep outside shoulder free, Hankins in the middle, grab as many of the centers, the guards, and then let these linebackers like Clark and those guys run, you know, and get to that's the thing you make Burnette stop, you get a chance. It's like the old it's like the old days. Who was my guy Nick that played for the Giants way

way back in the day. Yeah, well Hampton? Who was the way you know, number twenty seven I'm trying to think of in the Hampton Robbie, No, no, no, there was something. It was another guy who's built like a big old tank. I know, I can't even remember name. Are you talking about Jacobs? Yeah, exactly, there you go. Yeah, Jacobs, that was a little more recent than him. Well that, yeah, exactly Jacobs. It was when Brandon Jacobs, when you get him to the edge and he stopped, then it was

like it was. But no, when he's playing down hill, he's a pain in the you know what, because he wasn't slow either, he was big. And that's what I'm saying. And the same thing with Fournette. You get Fournette kind of stopped and then have to restart. That's a different thing for him to have. That's your goal this week. Don't let him make him stop and then go after him.

And but when they're running those plays where it's where they're pulling guys, everything's flowing, that's a hard play to stop because you can't get bodies over there to stop

the ball from from getting to the edge. Because he's not a guy that's gonna just put his foot down and just make a huge cut, like like you have to beat him to the sideline and then like you like you're saying, if he if he stops to try to cut back and he's a lane, that's where Van dur Es, that's where those guys at the meeting right there, but but yeah, Gaina two, you know it's about it's about the edge, I mean and Dawrence and Tank that they've got to win that spot to the outside and

also the corner. The corner has got to be fighting and making sure he cuts back, he cuts back where your friends are. This was a game too that Tank did a pretty good job and run defense himself, you know, with the ball going away from him, like his ability to to work outside, the knife inside or just straight shoot the gap, jet the gap, you know, those kinds of things. That's where that's where Tank has got to you know, the tackles for loss and plays like that,

that's where he's gonna be. He's gonna have to be big, you know. I'll say this though, um, you know with they've also got this, you know, the kid White, number twenty nine, he's he's a guy you have. They've started to use him more in a lot of this offensive stuff, handing him the football. So they've got a couple of backs that they're working with. Right now. We're gonna take our final break. We'll come back. Let's get some fan questions. We've act Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. The season is

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das cars dot com. Slash twenty twenty two playoffs his quarterback and for the two teams. I think it's I think Dak will be there for the Cowboys and then Brady for the Bucks at the game. They will not be at the watch party. They're not gonna be at the watch The newcie of me at the launch party, Willy, I don't know. Good could be? You know, he's actually pretty good. He's pretty good on the radio. Is he Yeah, we interviewed him one day. Is he doing us? No? He is, Uh. He is on the L is Seattle.

He's with the x it's the LFL. He's Seattle, the Seattle team in the XFL. But actually we had him on the radio. He does a really good job. It's it's it's he's very entertaining. You're saying I need to call him once his career is done. I'd say you need to give him a call, like, hey man, he's still under contract. Anything out there in Seattle, like upside down Seattle. I don't know, man, I don't know that. It's a nice little man. It's a nice little everybody.

I know, it's a nice little but he he came on. He's really funny, bust on himself about things. It's it's really cool. He's he's, he's. It was very funny about that. I really thought he was Romo. Yeah, he thought he's going to end up well, it was very similar. It was very No, they didn't go out and play, you know. Then again, Romo waited four years. I mean he got to wait, he got time. Yeah. Yeah, but but the way the news he kind of carried himself and all that,

I mean, it's it was very similar to Tony. You want to know who's giving me Romo vibes is Brock Party? Like do you have you watched him play yet? The way he plays reminds me a lot of time, Like he's that kind of guy that kind of dips and ducks and just throws the ball out like yeah, he's he's got he's got a little bit out of in him. All right, we're going to We've gotta take some fan questions here. In the last few minutes of the show,

we got a question from Gary Matera. He says, which linebacker do you take off the field for Layton vander Esh seems like Barr and Clark have been equally underwhelming. Curious to see what combo they go with. Vanderesh and Clark are your players in this game? Yeah? Bar? Why why Clark of the bar? Because I don't think Bar can really run anymore. I don't, I don't, I don't see the burst, I don't see the ability to finish. I think plays right at him. Anthony Barr. I think

it's totally on board with players that go away. Where it turns into we got to get to the edge and this and we were just talking about this in the previous segment. This is going to be a game. It might be played on the perimeter, and so you need to get to the perimeter. And I think Anthony

barrs struggled some of this perimeter play this year. Might see some goal line for him though, because like you said, balls running out of he recognition should be there, a little bit more not chasing down for net in the flat. That may be more Clark's thing, But I could see probably some goal line packages if he's if he's active, I mean I hate to think that he's an active No, but I'm just I don't know the numbers. I don't know. I just know one guy's coming. If everybody's healthy, I'm

saying somebody's coming coming back. Yeah, I don't. I don't. I would imagine he would be, but I mean, what are you not going to take jabrol Cox would be an active that's what that's what Vanderesh coming. Do you guys have any concerns of like how he might play after the injury. Yeah, you have to have to have I think you'll actually be fresh, he'll be I think you know what. To me, I the thing is, I think Layton Vanderess has played so well for you this

year and I don't see that stopping. I really really do. But I felt like it's gonna be a tough game. It worries me mentally because I felt like the last injury, he wasn't there mentally, Like you could see the hesitation of like just this year was finally when he was able to let that go and play without having to think about it or or just you know, that mental

block of just not trying to get hurt again. So that's my main concern of me him maybe going back to that and just not going full and just kind of hesitating a little bit. I would think most of the people in the world when they see a wolf would run from it. This guy, I mean, this guy is the hunter of the wolf. I don't think he's gonna be that afraid. I really don't. I'm not trying to be funny about it. I think I think he's got this a mental like like, yeah, you got to

be careful with the in kind of neck. But I don't think he'd be really afraid to go in there and play this is this is a big game. I mean, this is a game for him to like, Yeah, he's a he's a free agent. The world's gonna be watching. I mean, like he has to prove that that he can't that he can overcome a neck injury and uh and still be the rest of guys. So I think he will be. I wonder, you know, how he'll play, But I think he's a key player to this game.

I agree. I think he's a huge player for this game. But I do share some of Amber's trepidation, Like I I don't know if what is where he will be after being out these weeks with a neck injury, like neck is just different, like neck, back is different esecially when you're playing linebacker, you're a crash just dummy every game, right, So yeah, he wasn't just just just to be clear, he wasn't like he's not like cleared this week to go play like he's been ready to go like like this.

I don't think he was just cleared this. Yeah, they were letting the thing calm down, that's what they were doing. So to me, yeah, and you and I could see where everybody's saying what they're saying, because you know, we've seen him with Tyron Smith, you know. I mean I was over here, is like, hey, I think you're gonna be better at right tackle Tyren Smith. Not they're not playing better at right better right tackle, but not better at right tackle right now. Yeah, So I think it's

I think there is reason to have some concern. We'll see how he plays if he gets back to what he was before the injury. That's what Dallas needs if they're going to be successful in the playoffs. To me, they need that level. I think we kind of forget that part. I thought his injury was a big, big blow in that Jacksonville game. I mean because the way Travis Etn or whatever his name is said it right, right, yeah, right,

doesn't look right? Um, but the way he ran the I mean I didn't realize he had so many rushing yards and and and I think down the goal line some of the passes at bar I thought struggled with there. Yeah, I think I think that that was a big, big loss in that game. I'm not sure that Jacksonville wins that game if they you know, because they had to score a lot of points and I don't think they

would have looks. Take another question from Sam Grease, and he says, do you think they'll have Parsons focus on rushing up the middle to disrupt Brady's pocket? Also the issues they haven't right now at center center's hurt. Do you think that'd be a good absolutely go for it. Yeah, if they're gonna, if they're gonna if their center situation doesn't stabilize, or they don't have their guys in there the right you know who they feel like that they

you know, can play with. But all means that's this is a game. You move him around, you just figure it out. You say, Okay, this is how we're gonna rush. I mentioned Donovan Smith. Donovan Smith has to be terrified playing this game that he that he has not played well enough this year. And he's got that guy over there that lit him up in Week one. So if anything, if anything, all that attention on Parsons, somebody else has

got to win on those other these other side. And that guy could be Sam Williams, who, you know, his first game of the season didn't really do much contribute. I don't even know. I don't remember him playing or doing anything in that game. He's got to be a different player than he was now. So I mean he could be one of those guys once he moves inside.

Parsons moves inside, maybe Sam from the outside. Yeah. One thing about the playoffs that seems to happen every year is you have players for every successful team that weren't necessarily great players in the regular season that step up and provide something extra in the off seaton and in the in the postseason. I think Sam Williams can be that guy for Dallas. I think he is a guy that if they really use him, I think this offseason,

I mean, I'm sorry, in this postseason. I think he can be a big factor for this defense because I think he has the talent. I don't think he's always gotten the opportunity. In part that's probably because they needed to mature him along and get him more ready. But I think that's the time to use him. I don't know what his play snap is. I mean, it can't be anywhere close to what the other guys are. But

he led the team and tackles for loss. Yeah, that's a limited time, limited, very limited team, very limited time here. You know, seven seven tackles for loss, so amazing. And also he gets around the football too. You know, he's got three fumble recoveries too. Yep. Talk about disruptive players, I think outside of Mica, he might be one of your most disruptive players, no doubt about it. All right,

appreciate you guys. Jonas back tomorrow, we'll be talking about the Tampa Bay offense versus I'm sorry to Tampa Bay defense versus the Dallas offense. So then for Nickit, Mcbrian brough us An Amber Garcia. 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