Cowboys Break: Plan of Attack

WBC Mortgage studios at the Star Gut. Nick and Dave here with me, and we're gonna get you guys ready for Cowboys. The Cowboys game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers at AT and T Stadium. It is a noon kick and uh, it's probably a little bit more of an interesting matchup than maybe we thought when the season began, because this team comes in three and oh. So we'll get you guys ready to tell you what we think is going to happen, tell you about some of the

storylines that you should follow this weekend. Before we get to that, though, Nick, why do't you give me a thirty two? Uh? Dennis Thurman. Dennis Thurman nineties, eighties, eighties, eight eighties, Thurman Thieves. That that was the Uh there's a posters, a famous poster called Thurman Thieves, and it was like, I'll say famous, but I mean back in the eighties, you know the back of those those posters a lot of the kids had and it was like him and Everson Walls and some of the other secondary

guys as Thurman's thieves. That was kind of a thing. He was at the leader of that. Yeah, they got a lot of interceptions back then. I mean there was. It wasn't a passing league back then. But man, I mean, when Everson Walls gets eleven picks as a rookie, can you imagine a rookie free agent coming in and getting

eleven picks? And that's wild? I mean, and then and then you know, he led the league three times and in a we've talked about Everson Walls a lot um who would opposite him back then, Well, couldn't have been Renfro at least not. Yeah. Well, like in the eighties is like Ron Fellows played over there and he was Ron Fellows in him and so but thirty two, Walt Garrison I think also was thirty two. He's kind of that's how Yeah, But you know, I thought I actually

thought about it. I was like, I don't even know a current I mean the last few years A thirty two you're kidding. I mean Scandridcord for like a decade. That's what them media came to mom. Yeah, I don't

know why I forgot um. Yeah, anyways, Corey Clements wearing it right now, I believe, No, I really, I didn't even I didn't even think about Scandrick or in thirty I think just because I mean as Sti's wark for a long time, especially because yeah, I mean, if you're the franchise quarterback or like an All Pro player, then

you're gonna wear that number for a long time. But like, considering who he was, can't and I'm not throwing shade at him, Like Scandrick was a fifth round pick who was good but never like at the top of his profession, and he still managed to stick around for nine years or whatever. Those guys come around, like, especially when you're at a like he was a slot guy and he played pretty solid. He was a pretty solid slot guy. So you yeah, I've seen guys stick around that long

and you can play special teams. Just lots of things that kept around. It's impressive when a guy manages to hold on to a job with one team for that long without like ever being in a Pro Bowl or any of that type of stuff, or a good mood or a good mood. You know he was. He was at the hotel in LA before the Charger game. Yeah, super nice. It was nice to see him. He was friendly. He had a much better at it. But yeah, but you know, that's honestly the thing, Like you know, you

guys have seen it. Guys retire and their whole disposition changes. Like when they're a player, they kind of look at you kind of like side of as soon as they retire, it's like, what's up, man, Everything's cool, it's sleep like, it all is okay. As big of a horse's ass as he could be. Scandrick was one of those, I would say it to his face. Scandrick was one of those.

But if you could like give it back to him or show him that you weren't like, weren't going to get your feelings hurt or whatever, like, you could spar with him. He appreciated that and he would kind of respect it, if not be outright friendly about it. Yeah, that's when I realized that he wanted me to say something mean back to him. I think our relationship got better so him and brought it health better. It's unhealthy relationship, but that's what most of my close friendships are like.

So maybe there's a lot of Dave Hellman. That's fair. I just said to him and brought us get better. No, I don't think that ever happens. Well, we will leave that one alone. We'll leave that one alone. Okay, all right, so let's talk a little bit about Let's start first with some injury updates. Carlos Watkins, Donovan Wilson, dawnce Armstrong, Tie and Secky we presume are all out because they

have been uninjured. They have been injured and nothing has changed with their Watkins Watkins was out doing rehab stuff with Britt yesterday, which is like a good sign. Yeah, it's a good sign, but it's not a sign that he's probably ready for Sunday and talk to me about the the COVID guys, we still no go on on Neil and with an eye no change, all right, So luckily they're probably not very unlikely they would play in this game, all right. Not practicing, you know, I mean

that's that's another thing. I mean, they've had it, they're dealing with it, and you're not practicing. You've got to, you know. It's not like you just get off the list and it's fine and they're not. I mean, it's not like they're even past. For Neil at least, I don't know if he's even past the point where he could come back, even if he were not showing symptoms.

All right, m Randy Gregory, where's Randy Gregs? Fine? He had an he misspractice with Randy Gregory had I don't need to do this today itis, which is like just like he had a knee issue in training camp. Guys get dinged up and they were like, you're you know, you're good today. You don't need to do this today. Yeah. He actually walked by us at practice yesterday and Mickey said, quit, oh god, Nicky. I think they have a they do. They have a funny relationship. I think, yeah, what did

you say? He said? Man? He goes, I'm old, man, I'm not twenty two anymore. Like I'm like, okay, what twenty seven? A right, Yeah, when did twenty seven get old? Here? Yeah? I mean, and you know, when you think about it, and this is not saying anything bad about where he is, but like, however old he is, he hasn't had as much wear and tear on his body like other players from that age. He just hasn't played as many games.

But um, but yeah, I think you're right, it didn't seem like he was to Mike McCarthy said this morning that he fully expects him to play and that you know, you gotta you gotta parse through the injury report. Some guys are on there because there you aren't gonna play, and some guys are on there because teams are being smart knowing that it's a seventeen game season. Randy's finding You know, I saw I saw something the other day.

We talkably defensive ends. You know, who's gonna play that if Lawrence is not playing and I's not playing, who's going to rush the passer? And obviously Michael Parsons is going to do some of that and other stuff. But um, I saw a play where Hurts ran on the sideline and Jalen was was trying to level out and really beat him to the spot. Not take an angle and really get him and I think fifty nine Gholston, right, yeah,

he did. Y'all see this play where he comes flying into the picture and I mean, I'm not calling Jalen slow whatever it is. This guy had a burst that I mean, he just shot right past him and really was the guy to force him out of bounds. And I was like, dang, I mean, like that was that was some an impressive play there by Gholston. Yeah, he's got some, He's got some agility to him there. He had some. He had a couple of flash plays he

I mean, he had to. For where he's been and how little he's played, it was impressive that he did as much as he did in his first game. Yeah, you know, honestly, that's That's one of the things that I'm liking right now about this defense, and I think is a big difference for them is a lot of these young guys they can move like they have built a fast defense, and I think that shows. I mean, you even look at somebody like Osa like Olsa's making

these flash plays as well. He's getting into the backfield. I saw another play where he ran all the way today. He was in the line, like in the middle of the trenches when the past was thrown and by the time the play was completed downfield, he's downfield trying to make the tackle. I mean, that's a defensive tackle. And I just like the fact that these are young, fast, agile guys that are flying around on this defense. They have revamped the athleticism of this defense very quickly. And

it's not too dog that Jalen. But like watch those plays. Watch when Jalen is between the hash marks and needs to get to the numbers, it's it's not ideal. You can't. I mean, it doesn't. And then watch Parsons do that type of stuff and you can see a stark contrast in terms of how quickly they can get to where they need to be. And the best part about it is is that they've added a lot of speed, a lot of you know, athleticism, but they've also added a

lot of size too. It's a different looking team. They got bigger guys across the board, so you know, just listening to what Bucky described the Panthers about how fast they are, they also have seemingly some undersized guys. Cowboys have have done it. Good athleticism but not really lacking a lot of size. And I think he said in that call, I think he said it was was it twenty nineteen when the Panthers became the first team to do it all defense draft? Yeah, And it kind of

reminded me Cowboys went last year. It wasn't all defense, but it was a vast majority, was significant, and they revamped their defense in one offseason, and this defense is playing a lot better. That's rules calling card. I think. I mean, I don't cover the Panthers, but I think he got there and he was like, all right, I'm gonna fix what I know how to fix and we'll worry about the quarterback situation later. And it looks like

what's happening? Yeah, I think he's he's a coach that's gonna you know, he's looking to see who's gonna win a fist fight, you know, like that that type of guys, those type of defensive players, toughness and and you know that's that's a good place to start, you know, I know, being in the in the Big twelve, what he did at Baylor was pretty freaking remark he's a hell of

a coach man. He turned Baylor into a good football program, turned Baylor around after everything that went wrong with them losing all the talent that they lost, the scholarships and stuff, and now he's in the NFL and seems to be doing something. Someone think the Panthers are as good as the record indicates, but they're I mean, they're good football. Last year said Baylor twice, I think Temple, what you did? I say, yeah, he was being Temple and then Temple.

I didn't say Temple, I'm sorry now that No, he turned as that was really really impressive there, Temple. Yeah, I thought I thought I said Temple, I'm sorry. Yeah, I would just say I mean, like the whole Baylor then that I was really like, I was thinking, as a big twelve guy, all right, we don't have to

worry about Baylor for a while. It's gonna take him a while to get from under the scholarship stuff and and by the way, and then quickly like they were like, oh my god, Bay was actually pretty good all of a sudden, and so yeah, he did a pretty good job there. Temple was the team. I just I have like childhood memories of like Temples Penn States opener, like every year just there throw him to the Lions sixty to three game, and then all of a sudden, you know,

Temple's winning eight nine games every year. Yeah, all right, you're gonna I was thinking of this Cowboys running back that played at Temple, Paul Palmer. You've heard of him, No, I haven't. I should the way now, he was a twenty six. I should have used him. The year that the Cowboys beat the Redskins is a further only win

one in fifteen. Paul Palmer was the running back and he like lit him up that day and the Cowboys finally got to win beat the great I've like learned a legitimate amount because the eighties are definitely my Cowboys weak spot because like you know about the legendary seventies teams and obviously the nineties, it was the eighties for me at least, it's a cloud like Yeah, it was. It was a transition decade too. That means you're you're

still thinking you're good, but they're really not. They keep losing guys and then just kind of plateau all the way. But I think when I started giving you these answers numbers, I'm gonna give you, I'm gonna give you the nick answer, and I'm gonna give you the right answer. Okay. That's why I like that, because you know, because it's like when you say twenty two you know whatever, like there's a right answer. Well, there's a couple of right answers,

but imm it, you know. Yeah, But but I'm also gonna I'm gonna give you another just no, like this is not a just a one year thing, so you don't have to use them all this year. Yeah, we'll have episode number thirty two next year as well. So yeah, I feel free to kind of. So I'll just tell you next week you don't even have to go to Monday because there's gonna be a crazy game. We'll talk about Monday. I don't have time. I'll just here right now.

There's only one answer, Yeah, rookie season Cheeto, who's honestly now now now my bad? All right now, it's like our first break. When we come back from our break, we're gonna talk about storylines. I got a few storylines for these guys who are gonna figure out what they think is going to happen in this game. A little later, hopefully we'll get to some questions. We already have a couple of questions from Twitter. If you guys want to call us, call us at eight eight eight eight five

five two two nine seven will be right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. 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.

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Let's talk storylines. Cowboys will take on the Panthers is Sunday at noon at AT and T Stadium. Panthers are three and oh, Cowboys are two and one. First question I have for you, guys, Carolina has a ten day break coming into this game. Dallas is on a short week after playing a Monday night game. How much of an advantage is that for Carolina. I mean it's an advantage. I just I can't get I can't get as worked up about it as a lot of people do. And I know the Cowboys played Monday, so I get it.

That's an extra day where you're not resting, But Thursday to Monday, like it's like the two extremes, right, Yeah, But well, what I was gonna say is, Cowboys played on Thursday to open the season, Chargers played on Sunday, and they turned around and played the next Sunday. Chargers are on a short week. I know Dallas this week is shorter, but my point is that every team in the league deals with this stuff. Um, at least the Cowboys are at home when they have to do it. So, yeah,

it's probably an advantage for Carolina, but welcome to the NFL. Yeah, I mean it's it's an advantage a little bit. And just you know, also when you when you think about what Carolina is probably gonna have to do to win this game. You know, defensively, they're gonna have to probably come up with some different things and and they got a little extra time to do that. But that happens around the league. It happens all the time, and I there's so many things you have to factor in as

a schedule maker. I don't know if you can say short week versus you know, um, you know, short week, long week. Did you say the Chargers did they play Monday night? No, That's what I'm saying. The Chargers didn't have as short of a week. I'm just saying the Chargers played Sunday afternoon. Cowboys had the long weekend, right, because you can't match up everybody's Thursday. There's no way with with all of the moving parts and the fact that they play four nights a week now or however

many nights. I just you're gonna you're gonna have these weeks and people have a problem with it. Watch Less Football on TV gave the league lesson centive to do this stuff. But we know that's not going to happen, So yeah, what do you want to do? I mean they watch it like when it comes to like Thanksgiving stuff like that. You know, the Cowboys I think will always from now on have a road game as long as four as long oh oh yeah, yeah, yeah, just

just to make it some I mean before Thanksgiving. I know that's been a lot of things teams have kind of complained about because the Cowboys get a Yeah, that offsets the fact that you're always playing a Thursday home game. Yeah, and I bet you that. I have to look at the last few years, but I bet you the team that's traveling to the Cowboys will probably play a home game the Sunday the Sunday before. It seems like a good bed. But you know, you can't, you know, but

it is an advantage. Yeah, it's advantage. I mean, coaches think covering their mouth before they call play is an advantage. So yeah, they probably think this is a disadvantage. And by the way, this is not the question was not from the standpoint of a complaint as much as it is what are you are you expecting to see something different? Because again, when you're talking about it's one thing for a team even to have played on Thursday and the

other team to have played on Sunday. You're talking about the two extremes. You played on Thursday and then you played the other one team played on Monday. That's a significant amount of difference in in recovery, is what I'm saying. And so do you guys expect to see that play out on the fields? Not masking? No, that's I mean teams Monday night football has been a thing forever. I mean, teams know how to play on that schedule. Third, I mean getting ready for Thursday. Yeah, that's I mean, that's

a different animal. But you still have six days and again that's why you do stuff like not practice Randy Gregory even though he could probably practice. And actually, you know, there's a whole interesting wrinkle about it from a preparation standpoint where McCarthy was talking to us this week about how they had people on staff who on Saturday and Sunday of last weekend, we're game planning for Carolina. They're

like the Hayes in the barn for Philly. Well, we'll take care of that, but you guys, let's do some advance work. And then Tuesday morning, the coordinators Kellen Moore and those guys dan Quinn, they skipped the Philly game like they got up. I'm sure they probably watched the tape that night after the game, but they got up Tuesday at oh dark thirty and we're onto Carolina. I mean, it's just it's just the way you got to do things in these situations. All right, let's move on to

the next topic. Carolina has a number one defense in the league. Is there number one defense the result of a weaker schedule? Or will would this be the week that someone slows down the Dallas Dallas is high powered offensive attack. I think that's that is the central that's the central question with this game. Very so what do you think is gonna happen? I think both things can be true. I think again, Matt Rules a great defensive coach Phil snow as well. He's been with and they've

known each other forever. Um, they have talent, obviously, we talked about that yesterday. Um, So I don't I don't think it's a complete fluke. But I also they have not played somebody of Dallas's caliber on offense yet to just happen. Even the Saints, who have a more veteran offense, were decimated by covid U. So yeah, I mean, I respect what Carolina has done, but I'm not intimidated by it. It's the best time of year. This is college football,

pro football. It's best time of year because football season is going on, you're in it, and it's still is still early enough to not know everything that's happened. Every game's fun. Every game is you know, and you think you think you know some stuff and you don't. I mean, like, like I think, Dave you alluded to the twenty nineteen Cowboys.

Is that right? Three? You know? Started three and oh you know, and everybody said they had and played anyone yet, And as it turned out, they hit they hadn't and it showed. And I think if it's eight and eight, they sure did, so, you know, and it's just, you know, the bottom fell out there in the week week four, and they faced the defense that shut them down there in New Orleans, and then um, the Jets came and all you know, I guess there was a loss in

between there. I can't remember how those three losses went. They lost, they a New Orleans game, New Orleans and then the Packers I believe, and then the Jets twelve to ten, twelve to ten. Hated that game. Yeah, Um, but I just think it's it's early, it's it's you're both both things could be right, I mean it is, but I am I'll take Dallas's resume so far up against just about anybody, and that like, screw the Philly game.

I'm not even talking about that. Going on the road and beating a very talented Charger team that just beat the Chiefs. Transitive properties not a thing, but that is a testament to their quality that they can beat the Chiefs. And then you take and Tampa Bay to the buzzer on the road in that environment. Yeah, what we thought of Tampa Bay's defense coming to this season based on last year, was that that was going to be a really, really great group which returned all of their players, and

the Cowboys put up points on them. Yeah, and you know, I think, you know, when you look at the Cowboys Panthers, I think the Cowboys should get more of the benefit of the doubt because if you said, come into it, hey, Dak's gonna be rolling, That offense is gonna be going, They're gonna play all kinds away. Kellen Moore, You're like, Okay, I saw what I saw last year and him healthy

and all that. Yeah, I could see that. Um if you're like, Panthers are gonna be three and oh their defense is going to be you know, menacing, Like oh really, So you're still surprised a little bit. So if you get the benefit of the doubt that that's why they play the game, They're gonna play it sending We'll find out. This is a statement game for both teams. I'm gonna say if Carolina five, if Carolina wins, they'll be the

talk of the league. Not that Dallas is the scene as this juggernat, but it's like, Okay, you went on the road and beat a great quarterback what looks to be a pretty good team. Yeah, I mean they'll they'll be the talk of the NFL if the people will talk less about what the Saints were missing and say

more of Hey, they beat the Cowboys and the Saints. Yea, and both those teams you think are two of the better, better, not great, two of the better teams in this in this day, at least in this conference, right, and so yeah, that that definitely changes the narrative on the Panthers. What a difference that game can make. It just in your record. Just think about where we're gonna be sitting here on Monday, three and one or two and two. Big difference. I mean,

it's just huge. It's it's a huge difference in where even though it's one game and it's a longer season, but man, three, I mean it'll this This is a This is a huge game for the Cowboys. They got If they're gonna be the team they think they're gonna be, you have to, Jason Garrett stack wins on top of each other. That's what you have to do. Why football is so great. Just you get one shot at it, and I mean you get seventeen shots at it, but you only get you get one a week, and they

all matter a lot. Yeah, all right, So how will this offensive line, particularly steal Beyondish Williams, hold up against the league's best pressure defense and that's at least statistically, they are the best pressure defense in the league. How do they hold up? So I actually read a really great story from a buddy of mine, Benjamin Solak, who

works for The Ringer. He wrote a whole breakdown of the Panthers defense and kind of what they do and how they pressure, and there it was very complimentary toward the Panthers, but then it kind of transitioned. It was like, okay, but this is a different caliber of quarterback. And I guess the point I'm bringing up is they're gonna pressure Dak, and an offensive line is probably gonna have its handful.

But over the last two years, Dak is incredible against pressure, Like if you blitz him, the success rate is off the charts. And that's again, that's what makes this so fun is I'll take my chances with the Panthers do and what they're doing, and I you know, I bet Dak will get sacked a couple of times. But he's gonna he's gonna make them pay if they do that too much, is my guess. Yep. I think, you know, running the ball, I said it yesterday. I think running

the ball is certainly gonna help with that. Um, you know, just just just be balanced. I mean, be don't be a one dimensional team. And that's why scoring early what Kellen Moore has been able to do, scheming this up and getting some you know, early drives. All three games they have come out and have done a nice job. That first game in Tampa, they were on two, they got down there. I mean it's the one throw. Dak probably with one or two throws of that game he'd

like to have back. He miss the wide open, probably would have scored there. But they are starting fast, and by starting fast then they can play, they can run, they can pass the you know, mixed up the way they want to do. So I think whoever scores first here, you know, gets gets a nice advantage, is going to have a huge advantage in this game. I do think. And actually it was it was funny bit of synergy

because I was in the studio yesterday. I was in the control room getting ready to shoot my show and Will McClay came in to shoot his segment of The Coaches Show, and he broke down the way the Panthers do things, and it was in the story I just referenced as well, which is they love They basically disguise pressure, so they'll show you a look, you know, two dbs come down, safety comes down, whatever, and then at the last second they'll drop back and do this, and the

line has already made their calls and done this, that and the other, like, Okay, we've got two guys on the left, we got to account for that. Then those guys bail out. Line doesn't have people in front of him, and meanwhile, Brian Burns has an unblocked look at the quarterback, which it's fun to watch defenses do stuff like that. But again, Dak Prescott is going to be way better at accounting for that type of stuff than Zach Wilson. And I think that's who that blitz came against, if

I remember correctly. So yeah, I think them Connor and Tyler and those guys handling all of the weird stuff Caroline is probably gonna want to do is going to be a big challenge for this game. But I think having Dak. I mean Matt Rule. Actually, Matt Rules said it this week. He was like, he looks like Brady and Manning at the line in the way that he's

up there. He can account for everything. He knows what every moving part is, and I think that's going to give them an advantage in that and the other thing on that saying on an interesting point that's similar to that. You look at Dak and how quickly he gets rid

of the ball. I read a stat earlier this week he's the sixth fastest in the league with regards how fast he gets the ball out against teams like that, Like that matters, right, And then you think about how they played particularly, I think it was in that first game where you remember early in the game, hey, we're doing all these different kinds of exotic things and misdirections, and when you got a really fast defense that's really aggressive, doing those kinds of things can a lot of times

get them to slow down a little bit because they have to take their time to figure out where the ball is and what's happening. So I think between those two things, I think the Cowboys are really positioned well to be able to deal with a very aggressive and fast defense like this one and be able to offset some of that stuff with what they do offensively. All right, we're gonna take our final break. We'll come back. We got a couple more storylines we want to hit, and

then we'll get into some questions. We'll be right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com radial. Hi. I'm Clint Tullison with United Agginturf. Before you can park yourself in front of the game, park yourself in a John Dear and power through your chores. Our land Run package is a ten twenty five R twenty five horsepower tractor with a loader, rotary cutter and a box blade for two twenty nine a month, and the price you see is the price you'll pay. No surprises, so don't miss another kickoff.

Visit United Agginturf dot com. Offer ins February first, twenty twenty one. Restrictions are plenty see dealer for details. Now let's get to work, Honey, big news, Gary, Are you okay? Oh? I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only for new customers. So to get a new customer deal, I change my name to Jackie Flash. Okay, but the best smartphone deals at AT AT and T are for everyone,

new and existing customers. That's huge. Then guess who's getting a deal. Is it Jackie Flash, Jackie Flash. It's not complicated at AT and T are smartphone deals are for everyone. Restrictions apply. Is it att dot com for details 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 sand getting everywhere, and a relaxing bath that your children don't interrupt. I deserve all that. It's

it's 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. Before there was a draft, you could size up a cowboy by three simple factors. The crease in his hat, the bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude. A man stetson didn't just protect him from what life 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 Jewitt Stetson dot com Slash Cowboys. Back to the Break, check out the new Miller Lighthouse, located outside at ANDC Stadium,

where Dallas Cowboys game day traditions are born. Enjoyed the yard games that Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders performance, beer gardens, and more. For more information, visit at ANDC Stadium dot com slash Miller Lighthouse. Final segment of the Break live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star and let's flip over to the defensive side. There a couple of storylines I want to hear with you guys. How much will Dallas benefit from the absence of Christian McCaffrey. I think

that's well. I mean, obviously, when you lose a all Pro caliber player, that's big. I mean that seems obvious. But well, let's the reason why I say that, though, is how many times have we seen over the last several years, you go into a game there's some star player that's not there and you're like, oh, this is gonna be an opportunity and doesn't get taken anybody. Somebody else steps up and they kill you. I mentioned this a couple days ago, but I do wonder having a

versatile running back. And I haven't watched a ton of Carolina. I'm sorry, but all twenty two fix it game pass sucks. It's awful. Having a versatile running back is. So it's something that Joe Brady has leaned on in his career, and that's Christian McCaffrey is a guy that you can feed the ball to as a runner. Sixteen catches in nine quarters of play. I mean, do the math on that.

That's he's just he's your safety net, and so the closest thing to a safety net other than that, assuming Chuba Hubbard is a rookie who's going to take some times, probably Tommy Tremble, who is also a rookie. So yeah, I just think in terms of having that outlet to just get the ball out if you need to, Bucky said, Darnold looks comfortable. A big part of that is probably having a little bit of a do everything guy who

can help you manufacture yards easily. Yeah, and when you're a guy like McCaffrey, who who you know, he shines in the passing game. You know, he has a good understanding of do I block here? Do I leak out here and take a screen? You know, just say it's not just passes out and routes. I mean, I think very rarely does that happen. This is this is he's got a good flow of it, and a rookie is

harder for them to figure that out. So I think athletically though, chop be Hubbard can be a really good player and a good runner, and you got somebody to watch out for. But I wonder if they're going to lose a little bit in that dynamic of okay, blitz here when we see this, we do this, you know, do I pick up this guy? So it'll it'll it's you know, he's not he won't be considered one of the best backs in the NFL if they if he just leaves and another guy just comes in and takes

his place. I don't and I think he is one of the best backs. Yeah, that's a can of worms. But it made me think about the Zeke Pollard debate. I mean, they're good players all over the NFL. I mean you can replace production if if the player is good especial at the running back, and the coaches know how to scheme for him. I haven't seen it from Chuba Hubbard. I know he was a great college player and he deceptively fast. He's like a he did track

at a pretty high level. I don't remember the specifics, but he's yeah, he's good. All right. Um, final defensive question. Can Dallas create pressure, sacks, turnovers against a questionable offensive line. You've got Cam Irving, who Cowboys know a little bit about as their starting left tackle. Bucky Brooks also mentioned their center Matt Paratus. What do you think the Cowboys chances are of getting pressure and maybe even sacks this

week against this offensive line. I'm bummed because I played the Bengals defense last night instead of the Cowboys, and I thought to myself, all you had to hear was Cam Irving is starting on the other side. You should have just done it. Yeah. I did the same thing. Nack. Yeahs got me a sack. Weird what It's a strange play in my opinion, no offense, but that's it was. But this is when you get cute. This is when you get cute. You're like, oh, they've been doing pretty

good against other Trevor has been thrown a lot of Yes. Yeah, so you're like, Okay, this all kind of matches up. It's primetime. Maybe they're at home, like maybe their defense just really goes in and goes crazy and not so much. Anyway, go ahead, I just uh, Cowboys defense putting pressure. Yes. Fun stat that I did not know until thirty minutes ago is that Donald has fumbled three times already this season. So yeah, there's some potential here. Yeah, we know Cam

cam Irving is not. That's that should be a favorable matchup for Randy Gregory and hopefully for Michael Parsons. Um, yes, they should be able to put some pressure on Donald. I would hope. So, okay, go to the East over here to Carolina and Charlotte and Panther's break whatever they call it on the on the on the crow keep pounding. Yeah, um they say. You know. Fun fact that I just found out thirty minutes ago is Dak's fumbled four times this year. You go, I mean like, sure, you know,

And I'm not saying it's maybe you lose. He's lost two, he lost the one against Philly and what did he lose another one? Oh? He might only lost one. Actually not, I think about it trying to. I think Zach Zack jumped on the one in LA What was I don't even I know he's That's why I don't think they're Sometimes you know, you fumble it, you just get it yourself. Oh yeah, technically, I'm okay, it does it counts as a fumble that Dak dropped the snap and then threw

a touchdown to a Mari r That's a fule. Is that a fumble? It might be, It might be can considered a fund I'm pretty sure. I'm pretty sure it does. If you go look at the play by play, it says like, yeah, so so I'm That's why I say fumbles lost to me is a best Yeah, yeah, yeah, and just fumbles. But good Sam Darnold though, has more rushing touchdowns this year than he's had in his whole career combined, Like he had two his whole career, and

he's had three in the first three games. So he's you know, and I remember this from the game that they played the Jets. I was surprised, of course, it wasn't that the year that everybody, every quarterback was running on them drifskull and but Darnald, I mean he showed you some some He's not a statue. He's really not. He's not. He's not as mobile as Herbert and obviously

not hurts, but he's not a statue. Honestly, there's very few, in my opinion, very few quarterbacks that come out of college these days that can't at least move around a little bit. Like it seems like all quarterbacks at this point. Part of the job is you better be able to move. I mean Ben Roethlisberger was, I mean, he was as big as a house when he came out of college, and he's he's always been able to kind of maybe not anymore, but not anymore when you back in the day.

The interesting thing about him was he was a take. So when he moved around, good luck taking him down, especial if he got a running start like it was just he was a big deal. You're right, you don't see a lot of y like that. It's four fumbles for Darnald, But to your point, he's only lost one of them, got it. But I do if you can put some bodies around him in the pocket. Yeah, that's interesting. You got a shot. If the ball hits the ground,

you got a shot. And I just I have to believe they've been able to reliably get pressure against two teams that overall have better lines. And I know Philly was banged up with my Latta not out there, but they should. I don't know if they're gonna sack him a bunch, but they should be able to put some traffic around him. And I'm guessing he's not at the top of that list I mentioned earlier of God to get rid of the ball really quickly. I'm guessing he's not up there at the top of the list, so

you should have some time. I agree. All right, let's let's go take a phone call. We got a call from Ryan in Arizona. Ryan, what up? Hey? Ryan? Hey guys. I hope everyone's having a good day. I was out for the Eagles game last week, and you know, that's probably the first game that wasn't spoiled by poor safety play that I've done to And it makes me nervous that so many of these guys are on one year deals. How do you guys see this shaking out long term?

Who's coming back next year might be pretty mature, But I got a little PTSD on the topic. That's totally fair. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I understand that you finally see good safety play and you want to hold on to it. But I mean it's a little early for me to be thinking about that, right, I just I know it's it's early, and because to me, I don't even think about the safeties. I think about the scheme, and I

think about the defensive coordinator and stuff like that. If dan Quinn is your defensive coordinator, I feel confident that safeties are gonna want to play for him, and they're gonna understand what they're doing and they're gonna be playmakers. So as long as that's if he's the coordinator, I feel confident on whoever he brings in. I'll just leave it at that. And not only that, just to try

to give you a little more peace of mind. Off the top of my head, I mean, Demante Casey is a veteran at this point, as is j Ron Curse. Curse has been in the league since sixteen. I think Casey's seventeen. They both came here for dan Quinn. They both you know, they're not these big market big money. I guess what I'm trying to say is they would have to have Pro Bowl caliber years to price themselves out of here, which maybe they will, but right now

I'm not ready to say that. So I think it's completely plausible that you could sign one or both of those guys too deals that won't kill you. And then I didn't include Malie Cooker in that because he's got the name wreck. I mean, he's a first round pick. If for some reason he blows up, maybe that could be problematic for you. But right now he's not playing enough snaps where I think he would have that opportunity.

So I don't view that as this drastic thing where like, oh my god, all these guys are gonna be worth ten million a year next year. I don't think that's realistic. If you want, if you want to keep them, the likelihood that you could keep them is probably pretty sure. And if they do price themselves out of here, it means you had a hell of a year. So that means your safeties went to the Pro Bowl. If your safeties go to the Pro Bowl, that means you had

a pretty good year defensively. And if you do that, that means they probably are a playoff team, probably a deep play. So I would guess if that is a problem in twenty twenty two, it will be a good problem to have. Yeah, but I don't think it's going to happen. All right, let's go back to the phone line. We got a call from Bob in Nashville. Bob, what up? Hey, guys,

great show, Thank you, Thank you. He correct me if I'm wrong, But I think Dallas's record overall when the running game is, you know, over one hundred hundred and fifty yards, is a lot better than when doct rows the ball fifty or more times. So who's us? I think to probably run the ball as much as we can. What about the addition of a fullback? I think I

tweeted that to you, Derek. I really think that's a valuable asset if we can utilize that, because that means that they pick up that first defender like usually a linebacker the zeker Tony Pollard doesn't have to deal with. I wanted to pick your brains about that. Thanks guys, Okay, thank you. Can I say something real quick before you get to that. This always bugs me a little bit when people talk about that stat of well, they win when they rush, because I think what everybody's forgetting is

rushing is a byproduct of winning. Like what I mean is when you're winning, you're able to run more in the second half, so there will be games win. It looks like that's the reason why would Really that's not the reason why you want. It's a byproduct. But go ahead, I want to I want to get to whatever. No one ever says, Hey, we gotta pass out the clock here, right, I mean we're running out the clock. That's what That's what you're trying to do. That's typically what you do,

and running stats or a sign of success. I think I've never heard Kellen Moore say this, but I think that in his offense he feels like a fullback sort of limits what they want to do from a versatility standpoint. When now, if you get a dynamic fullback that can you know, be really good out of the backfield catching the ball, that's that's one thing. But you know, you put these guys on the field because you want to

create matchup problems. You have these two tight ends, Well can run it out of this, we can throw it out of this fullback. You know, it's really got to be a third and one. Here's McGovern coming in or whoever they want to bring in at fullback, and we're not trying to trick you. We're just trying to get

this yard. So I think for the most part though, they don't really want to have a fullback out there's and I love the solution to it because you do want one on occasion, and Kellen was like, Connor McGovern can do this, and I think Sean McEwan can probably do stuff like that when he's healthy again. Blake Bell had a very small role doing stuff like that last year, and I love the versatility of it because you're not

necessarily tipping your hand and that's the thing is. Yeah, if it's third and fourth and one and you just gotta dig people out and get a yard, that's great, But in general, why do you want to invite people into the box, And that's what a fullback does. You're like, okay, they got a lead blocker, here he comes, and now you're crowding down my goal. And I think Kellen's goal is to spread things out and be again as multidimensional as possible and create the most favorable matchups. I want

Zeke running into nickelbacks, not linebackers. Yeah, but I will say this, if you do invite those guys down into the box, you need a guy that's going to be in that fullback position, like a Connor mcgoverned who moves people, and like, you can't have just And I know they've done this before, The Cowboys have done this in the past where they'll take a tight end and put him in that situation and the tight end runs up to the line and he blocks the guy, but he had

moved him. So when you're in close quarters and you need that yard, you need somebody's gonna move. You need somebody that's gonna make away. And that's where I love what they deal with Connor McGregor, I mean governed. Get somebody out back there that's actually going to move someone out of the way so you're running back then has a bit of a lane or at least a crease where he can get that yard. It's a fun wrinkling.

I hope we see some more of it in those in those situations, Nah, I don't want to see mcgovernor out there on too many. First, they need to play McGregor. He can hang out in the suite, right, but I don't want to see him out there now. You want to see the McGregor walk afterwards when you get into the end zone. But now they need to play called the QB sneak and not. And I'm not talking about QB. I'm talking about Quintin Bohanna. Oh God, put him in

there and let him just run into somebody. I'm talking about as a fullback. As a fullback, okay, because when you say QB sneak, I'm imagining Bohannah taking the snack. No, you know what I really want him to do, and it might hurt your quarterback, but yeah, no, don't. Don't you want him to do it would have worked, No, he need your quarterback might not have gotten up. No, No,

that's not what I what I say. I say this in the press box all the time, Like on a quarterback sneak, I want my fullback just hitting the quarterback right in the back. No, I'm pushed up. I'm one hundred percent. I'm with you. By the way, like Dak's wearing a flak jacket, he's a grown man. He's fine, and he's gonna push it doesn't okay, he doesn't have to lead in targeting Okay, just just push like just I'm trying to get in the pain anyway I can.

Dak Dak does a quarterback is way too important to me for me to have a defensive lineman hitting him in the back on purpose like friendly shove. Okay, can we just show up like Dak is Dak is like the toughest. He might not he's tough. I got that. That's not my point. My point is things happen in the NFL. It is a contact sport. Like I don't want to create extra contact for my I'm not asking

him to spear of the quarterback in the back. Just push, push alright, alright, real quick for you in the show when you to get some predictions, what do you guys things gonna happen this Sunday, twelve o'clock noon. Cowboys Panthers. I think the Cowboys. I think it's gonna be a good game. I think I do believe that the Panthers are probably one of those teams that's gonna be a you know, a good, well improved team. This is a

great test for them. I think the Cowboys are a rolland though and it's gonna be it's gonna be a good game. I think they win. I'll say twenty four nineteen. Okay, Okay, I'm glad you said that. I just I have this feeling like something weird's gonna happen. The score score of this game is gonna be weird. Ye, just somebody's gonna get a safety or maybe a missed extra point, hopefully not from IM. But I think it's maybe I don't. I just I just feel that I feel like it's

something Mucky's gonna happen. Um, But I do like I have absolute faith in this offense. The way they're playing right now. Dak Prescott is so impressive and so confident. I don't think it's gonna look pretty all the time. At like they're gonna pressure him, like I said, I bet he takes a couple of sacks, but I think he's gonna burn them if they try to pressure him too much. I think I think there's a lot of

plays to be made in the passing game. Amari Cooper has talked this week about how much man they play, have fun, play all the man you want. I think the Cowboys will win that more often than not. Um, And I so I don't think it's gonna be an easy win. But I think the Cowboys win twenty five twenty.

I think the Panthers. Panthers defense has enough to them to kind of stand up and they're not gonna score forty this week, but twenty I got twenty four nineteen, so that's I had twenty five twenty before you said that. So like my eyebrows kind of perked up I had when you said I was think because I was thinking twenty four sixteen. I think it's the game. The Cowboys don't score as much as they would against North. I think they're gonna have some issue. They're gonna some things

are gonna have to figure out. But I think when they get rolling, I think they'll score. And I actually I was actually even thinking that's healthy. The sixteen for them is kind of healthy. I think without their best player, I think offensively they may be stretched a bit and it may be closer to ten or twelve points. Hey for Carolina, because I just I think they're gonna have some struggles trying to get the ball in his ze.

I think the way the game's gonna stay close is their defense is going to create some places for them, maybe some turnovers. That's gonna be the big issue for not calling out the Cowboys fans Cowboys Nation, because they're they're great fans, but this is a test for them. Monday night Eagles first game. Yeah, congratulations, you got loud, he had towels. You did it, you want, Yeah, you did. You did an awesome job. And they they played a role.

Noon Panthers bring it. That's where you needed. That's where you needed to show that that you're this is you know, you're in this thing, and like we haven't always seen that but before I'm not you know, I don't know if Carolina's gonna have a lot of fans. They'll probably gonna have some. You know, they're probably excited about their teams in the game. You're gonna get a lot, be a couple. But I just think this is this is one where you know, you want to have a home

field advantage. It's easy to do it on the Monday night against the vision team that you hate. Do it against the Panthers, Yeah, beautifully said. Okay, noon games against Yeah, noon game against an uncommon opponents. It has a tendency to be kind of sleepy in there. I'm calling you, Olivia,

my daughter at the game. Bring it, Okay, thank you. Now, this is one of those games where you know fans can tend to sometimes, you know, fans can be this is one of those games on the schedule you're like, you know, I'll take my season tickets and I'll sell these tickets because this is just the Panthers. I want it. But and so yeah, you got rhino though. Maybe that maybe that that's like you said, this is a sexier looking game than it was three weeks ago. Yeah. Yeah,

So we'll see. We'll be back on Monday. We'll let you guys know what went right and wrong for the Cowboys. Break all that down for you till then for Nick even a, Dave helm and I'm Derek Higelts and 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