Cowboys Break: Scouting the Colts

We can manage the show without him. Now, let's just give okay, no, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. It's been one of those weeks. Yeah, when you know when everybody's when you win a game to put you on the cusp of a division title, everybody's got to have a meeting. It seems like it's been it's been everything you could

think of this week, but it's been there. It's been pretty hectic, which, by the way, if we don't get into it, this is actually our last show of the week, So if you do want to throw some predictions out there, Oh, I didn't even think about that. Yeah, did you read my notes? Nick? No? I didn't. I hinted it out to you. I'll be here though, I'll be here tomorrow, joint show tomorrow. I'm excited. I don't. I haven't done radio with Brian since the Draft show, I think, so. Yeah,

I'm excited about this show. This showed me is a is a big deal too. Oh, I know that. I just no, this is the Dave Hellman's last show ever in his twenties. It's true, thank you, it's true. Tomorrow about Big Day, twelve more hours, twelve more hours. It's youth before. It's all tomorrow, dirty thirty baby, Big Day. No, it's not. But yeah, you know, it's fine. I'm not I'm not freaking out. Maybe I'm not freaking out. I'm freaking out a little bit. But it's cool. You'll be fine.

Just one day. Brian wasn't. He was kind of depressed a little bit. Yesterday, was it? Yes, yesterday, it's been birthday. Getting older? Getting older sucks, man. You know fifty five broad us. Yeah, age is just a number. But when the number starts getting hot larger, you're just like, this kind of sucks. And and by the way, Amber went, you went to what twenty three, twenty four whatever this week, last weekend, so yeah, Saturday, a week of birthdays. Mickey, Brian,

our whole staff was born in December. It seems like Derek, Yeah, nice anyway, Sagittarius people, all right, Well, I wanted to get into a little quick update on the injuries and some of the guys. We still had Taywan Austin and Sean Lee practicing again and was seek back at practice. Seq was back at practice. That's I mean a purely a maintenance situation. I mean, and he had a stinger in the game. He said he's fine. The dude had forty touches and we're gonna no Zach is Zach is

not back, which not plan. It doesn't It's not trend in that way. Um. You know again, he's in that class of guy that doesn't need practice. I trust that he could suit up if he felt it, but not not even to see him at practice on Thursday of game week. It does not seem like a good sign um for anybody. So something to watch. But I'm it's starting to feel like it might be such a healthy lead.

I mean, three game cushion right pretty much. And and you look around, I mean Philadelphia doesn't know if they're gonna play Carson Wentz this week. Yeah, they I mean, you can't I get it, Like you can't afford to think of this. It's like, well it's you know, it's okay if we go a game. But yeah, but no, we need to rush your best player out there if he's not ready for it in this situation. I will say this though, I um, I don't think Tavon Austin,

if I had to guess, I don't think he's gonna play. Um, he has back to practice. Then they called it limited on Wednesday, probably will be limited here. And listening to him in the locker room, I mean he didn't sound he didn't sound like he called I mean sounded like Garrett. He was like it's a process that we're still working on in things. And just seeing him a little bit of practice today. He wasn't working with that first group. He was kind of working with more of the practice

squad guys, second you know, wave of group. But and that's if I don't want to miss quote him, but he was telling reporters like his muscle like kind of came off off the bone. Yeah, I heard off the bone. I heard off the bone and a turn and went the other way. Yeah, that's which those are types of things that typically require surgery. Which you think about it, there was when he got hurt. There was kind of some debate about whether he needed to go to IR and they opted not to. So, you know, we we

have fun with Tavon. He likes to dance and all that, but like, I mean, if his muscle was coming off the bone, that's pretty severe thing. Back on the bone for a while though yeah, no, it hadn't bad to the bone. I'm just saying there's a difference between you know, dancing and practice and running in an NFL football game. So I wouldn't be surprised if he does much difference.

Not the way he dances, it's a pretty big difference. Like, it's a pretty big difference between I dance at practice as as y'all like to note, and I definitely am not pretty different moves though yeah, mine are better. Um, I just I wouldn't be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised. That's a long that's a long process. And yeah, I mean three limited practices might not be enough to get you back from a nine. I've got one for l two. David Irving not at practice, No, not at practice, continue

the street. I wanted to talk about him real quick, but before we why because again yes we we know what it is right now, which is we don't know basically, but people keep asking about him. So just again a quick update for everyone that keeps asking about David Orrbing. When is he coming back as of right now? I mean the expectation it is nothing. It's like we'll see

him if it's on the field. Everything. I think there are people in the building that kind of expect did this almost Um, he's got so much going on in his life. You know, you're not getting paid, but if you come back, can you get hurt you still get paid. It's there's something weird going on because yeah, high ankle sprain, I get it, But all these other injuries that we talked about, the guys were there, they're traveling. Travis Frederick's been at every game. Lee's going going to every game.

It's a different thing going on for sure. Um, he hasn't been here. He hasn't been here at all. And also what I mean, there's no doubt what is the tightest knit group in the delone the Hot Boys. They got their own names at their logo they got. Do they want him back? I mean, that's the question that I have them. Yeah, they would want a great player back,

or a good player who can be great. But you know, these other guys are playing so well that they're they're all in, they have bought all into this thing, and here's a guy that's not there, and if he comes back, you would you would think it would just be because there's playoff and playoff money to be to be had. Yeah, no, I think they would want to back. They probably yeah,

like there's probably some I would bet they're aggravated. But remember DeMarcus Lawrence would love to have a guy of his caliber eating up attention that he can take advantage of. I'm sure. I remember at the beginning of the season when we were back at training camp, somebody over in that area was telling me a story of the relationship or dynamic with the whole David Irving situation, where, yes,

David Irving a very talented guy. He has it in him, but as far as the attitude and what he's bringing in the effort that he's making, it's not there. And someone told me that Sean Lee has had a conversation with him, and Sean Lee was very upset, and it just all the teammates were just and when you have that, it affects everything. And you don't necessarily you don't want someone that's kind of sharing the victory with you that's not really putting in the work when you're out here

sweating every day. Well, because a guy like Karen Read or Daniel Ross will say isn't inactive for a game. They've been busting their butt through this winning streak and win in some games and helping him and playing pretty well, playing a role. And then you know, if somebody would have come let's say he comes back, and you know, one of those guys would would be an act of It's a business. That's the way it goes. You got

to get your best player. And as Tyrol Crawford said a few weeks ago, could anyone come back with not practice and just play well and contribute And he said, yeah, David came. Yeah, so he's a freak. Yeah he's a freak, and you're gonna play those guys. But and it's the same, it's the exact same conversation we've had a million times. You know, is David Irving the right kind of guy in the pure sense of like what Jason Garrett talks about, not really like he's got he want. He's an actor,

he's in commercials. He is an eccentric guy. Like he does not eat, breathe, and sleep and sweat football like Sean Lee. He doesn't. And I think David Irving would admit that. I'm not trying to talk trash on him, but he's a freak. He's a freak. And that's how that, like line one is, are you a freak when it comes to being a football player? Like that's line one, and then the rest of that always falls into place behind it. Uh, And that's I mean, that's why you

put up with it. It's a weird situation. But if he does make his way back, they sure as hell could use him when these games get more meaningful in the playoffs. But again, like next year, you're not, No, that's your chances again, this was his other chance. They've

already done this with him twice. It would shock me to see him get any type of long term I had a deal here at a coach on the staff tell me that he was he was just a little bit, you know, just a few months away from just back in the truck, you know, back and just loading up the cash. He was going to get one of the biggest deals there is. If he has a really good year this year, he was going to get you know, it wouldn't be one of the highest paid defensive tackles.

Now he will probably be Um. He will, he will, you know, try to get his life in order in the offseason. I doubt the Cowboys resign him Um, but it will probably be a minimum deal or and if they if the Cowboys do, it would probably be another one year, one year situation. But I don't think any nobody in the league would do anything more than that. I can't imagine that they would. So on the last you know, it's too bad you're in change. That is so sad. It makes me so sad when you see

someone that just he has it. He was born with the freaking talent and it just unable to use it. And another thing that makes me sad is like Rico Gathers, when you see someone different different things because it's very different. But I'm saying Rico Gathers has the size and when you look at that size, how much you can utilize

a guy like him. And we talked yesterday about using the tight ends and in the red zone and all that, and I kept receiving questions, so I thought maybe we'd bring it up once again as far as the red zone goes, And after seeing the how the tight ends played last weekend, would you want to consider using them in the red zone somehow, getting them involved and trying to get the ball to them and possibly cashing in this.

You know, I think he's the best option down there for that if you're if you're going to really focus on a tight end, because I think he's one guy that can go up and get the football and you know he presents a mismatch for you. Now, you can't have a missed assignment on blocking and and you know you can't. That's not a good place for a penalty, So I mean, or a missed block or miss block or any ever that. But who decided to run the

ball down there? Right? But do you think the Cowboys are kind of moving on from this because at the beginning of the season, we saw how many opportunities they gave Rico in the red zone and it just never really worked out for them. And then eventually we saw that kind of fade out and disappear. I mean, one thing has been pretty clear. And hate saying this, but if a guy's wide open, either in the end zone or streaking for the end zone, that's not Dak's favorite pass.

That's just not what he's gonna He's gonna overthrow Rico, which is hard to do. You have to hit a banner to overthrown him. He's overthrown gallop or underthrown a couple of times. So wide open going to the end zone, that's not his thing. But I say that because Rico he was open a couple of times down there. And I mean, was that New York the bad overthrow in the back of the end zone. It feels like twenty fifteen, it really, Yeah, that game against the Giance, Yeah, I

think it was New Yorker. Yeah, I think it was second game. So hey, maybe maybe give it another try. They need to try some things down there. This is a good time to ring and he seems like that's passes are getting a little better. Typically, typically you see typically you see signs of those trends before they appear. You know, like you could see even before he started

making plays. You could see Michael Gallops snaps trending upward, and you could see them trying to do more with him, And I don't get that sense from Rico, Like I don't get the sense that they're trying to incorporate him on some level, if I mean, if anything. Jarwin and Schultz, yeah, I don't know that they're not really big enough that I think of them as these like drastic red zone mismatch guys. But I do think based on their success in this last game, I bet we'll see more of

them in these last three weeks. All right, let's take our first break when we come back. Let's dive into the Colts defense. Dave is gonna give us a pretty cool report, hopefully. Thanks for ratt vote of confidence. If you're like me and you love I mean, if you have a thing, then cutting the chord is scary. But then I found out I could switch to DirecTV now and still get the live sports I love. No satellite needed, no bulky hardware, no annual contract, just that the live sports.

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a Cowboys can cooler. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code word Cowboys. The Jack Black playmaker ten bucks free shipping. While a player can look good on paper, it's twenty's out on the field that you really find out what he's made of. That's why the Cowboys rely on more than just stats and scouting reports when building their team. When picking a tractor, it's why you should rely on more than just specs and features. You've got to take it out and put

it to the test. The Cowboys did when they named John Dear their official tractor experience one for yourself. Visit my John Dear dealer dot com slash football. Back to the Break, Welcome back. This is the second segment of the break. It's a good point. Dave just made good point. That's yeah, I mean that wasna We've never had an off the air conversation like that. That was good. They're pretty good. Now, let's hope this report is good but not so good at the same time, what do you

got to say about this Colts defense? This is easy, ag because if you've ever watched the Cowboys play defense, then you got it. It's over it's the same thing, same thing. Matt Eberflus, where did he coach? He was the dalla he was. He was just like Christopher shard is the defense of coordinators, sort of behind the scenes. Eva Flus was the same guy here. He was a passing game coordinator. He helped put the game plan together and let Rod Marinelli worry about the rushman. So this,

I mean, this is four three Tampa two stuff. Obviously, I mean the personnel is a little bit different, but this is the same stuff. Uh, Freenie's not there anymore. Freeny, No, No, Freeny's not there. Matthis isn't there. Gary Brackett's not there anymore. Oh, I really know. Carrie Brackett was one of my faves, like Bob Sanders. Bob Sanders would have been a Hall of Famer if he could stay on the field. Um, I have a pretty good young rookie linebacker. They do well, Okay,

do your thing. No, I mean, it's it's the same thing. Uh. They're stout against the run. They're eighth and run defense. They're not quite as good as the Cowboys against the past. They're not quite as they're They're a little bit they're not as good by just a little bit. Twenty three points per game instead of eighteen. Uh, you know, fifteenth against the past instead of I think the Cowboys are sixth right now or something like that. Um, but they

want to get pressure with their front. They have athletic linebackers and a young secondary full of draft picks and sound pretty familiar. Uh. Darius Leonards is the guy. Uh, it's unbelievable. I mean, he's a second round pick. I think he was the fifty ninth pick or somewhere around there. You guys loved him on the Draft show, Brian Brian was absolutely in love with him. Yeah, you're yeah, they're

smart guys, Garrett. Garrett told us that he was like, it's absolutely no surprise to us that Mattie Berflus wanted this guy because he just fits what this defense is for. Uh. He's super athletic, he's a tackling machine, one thirty five, one hundred and thirty five tackles. He leads the entire

NFL as a rookie and not a first round pick. Uh. That's that's unbelievable to me, which and I didn't know this because again I would argue the Cults are probably the team in the league that people just know the let the least about. They got another linebacker by the name of Anthony Walker, ninety seven tackles and ten for loss, So he's the Jalen too, Leonard's vanderss. Seriously, I mean

it's the same stuff. There's not as much talent on the on the really the rest of the defense, in my opinion, like I said, they're just a step below. I circled this They've got so they got draft picks all over their secondary. But you know, Okay, Malie Cooker's a first round pick, but Clayton Gag Clayton Gethers. Their other safeties of a fourth round pick, Nate Harriston, their corners, a fifth round pick. Quincy Wilson out of Florida's kind

of there, do everything. Nickel guy, he's a second round pick. So it's it's not as many resources or yeah, I don't think so compared to like Byron Cheeto Jordan. You know, these guys all being top one hundred picks, and then you can tell their talent deficient up front because literally only one of their rotation of eight guys or two two of them is like homegrown talents. You know, they got Marcus Hunt, who's a washout from Cincinnati, Nico Autry.

Have you ever heard that name? Which he might make the Pro Bowl? He might make the Pro Bowl. Defensive tackle. They stole him out of Oakland. He's got eight sacks. He's had five in the last two games. AFC Defensive Player of the Week. And then Jabal Shared is a guy they got from New England. He's got five and a half sacks. He's their best plays first name Jabal Jabal nice and pronounce yeah, allum, so it in my opinion. And you know, just like we talked about the offense yesterday,

like they're clearly trying to revamp this thing. They're gonna be signing and drafting guys with all that cap space and their draft picks, but they're trying to make it work right now with what they got and it's working pretty well. Like they've got just as many sacks as as the Cowboys have with thirty five. I think that's the biggest difference. Mattieberflus without Rod Marinelli, seems like he's more willing to bring pressure. They've been blitzing a lot

the last two weeks. They've got fourteen sacks in their last four games. A lot of that is coming from corner blitzes, slot blitzes. Darius Leonard blitzes like a madman. He's got seven sacks that would put him at second on this team. And see that's the big difference between him and vander Rush. Vaneres has a lot of tackles too, he doesn't have any sacks and I and it works

for Rod Marinelli. I mean, the pass rush has been good this year, so I'm not trying to knock him, but he doesn't like to bring pressure like it's I mean, I know they've they've done it at times this year, they've done it at times in the past, but he would prefer for his front to get all the pressure, whereas it looks like I think Matt Eberflus looked at his guys and was like, this isn't getting it done, so we're gonna start blitzing. And it's it's working for

him to this point. That's the way to do it, you know. And Eberflus knows this offensive line pretty well and and he's gone up against it in practice and he usually had Frederick and Martin and a better version of Tyrant Smith and um now doesn't look like Martin will play. We'll see, but it's it's gonna I if Connor Williams avers to a Philo and Joe LUNEI are the three guys in the middle, and he likes the blitz a little bit more that not only does he

like to blitz. That's the other thing too, is you know, I don't think the Nico Autry is on on the level of a Kawan Short, but we've or or Fletcher Cox. But what we've seen what those type of players can do. You talk about Zach Martin not being there, that's a problem unto itself. Autry four yeah, four tackles, two sacks and two and a half tackles for loss last ye.

It seems like if they're a team that blights to blitz and gets some sacks, they typically don't have rank eight overall and run defense, I mean it seems like it's a very controlled type blitz, a good run blitz type where you're you're not, you know, leaving yourself open for a big run or big play there, and they are I mean obvious. I always say this like I trust the Cowboys to be able to run the ball

against anybody. But like, I don't those numbers aren't flukey because since they started winning these games, uh, they've only allowed like, they've only allowed one team to go over one hundred yards as a team in the last five weeks as a team. It's a team, So that's pretty good. The other they're they're very opportunistic. They've got twenty one takeaways. That's five more than the Cowboys have. This last game against the Texans was the first time all year they

have not managed to take away in a game. That's I mean, that's pretty impressed. I looked it up for the sake of comparison. The Cowboys haven't managed to take away in three games. So they're all right. But the Colt these guys, they play opportunistic defense. They get picks, they get fumbles, Um, and with Dad, I mean that's not hard to do. Yeah, I mean at this point, you know, I literally I'm posting a column right now about how I'm I'm sold on Dak like for better

or for worse. Yeah, yeah, his warts and all of that, I'm sold. I'm I'm fine with it, Um, But you can't I can't deny his ball security has been bad for most of the last basically for this entire winning streak, especially in the pocket, which is a album against a good pass rush. Yeah, and we've seen how many fumbles he's had, and he's been pretty lucky at getting the ball bag. But last time last week, that's where it

didn't really work out. You know, they recovered it. The fumbles that he's had, I mean, he I guess he does lead the league in fumbles, but like that's not that's surprising considering that he's been sacked almost fifty times. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I guess, so if you look at it, I mean, it's not like just being tackled. It's being tackled when you're looking up and you're about to throw.

I mean, now, he has been fortunate to get some of these fumbles back, but a guy that has that many sacks is gonna get He's gonna fumble the ball a lot. Yeah, you're right, you're right, but I don't know, just hold onto it on the ball. I mean, you think that divisional game against the Packers two years ago, I mean, Jeff Heave hit Aaron Rodgers as hard as you can hit someone in the bat. Miracle and it's like that should have been a fumble and they recover it.

Bailey goes right out onto the field and of field goal, and they should win and go to the championship game. It would have been my first intercity championship game. If you haven't noticed that, Yes, I was in a lot of other people here, so uh and he didn't he didn't, he didn't fumble the ball, and then like that's I don't know, that's a credit. It shocks me that these guys get hit sometimes and don't full well. And that's I mean, it's something that we make fun of during

the combine and it's the underwear Olympics. But like hand size matters when it comes to stuff like that, like if you can just palm the ball, and especially if you've got two hands on it, and that's I'm not a quarterbacks coach, but that's why they always say, you know, you got to hold it up here and give yourself better leverage for when somebody comes to swipe that thing.

And if you you got both your paws on it, and if your hands are as big as people would prefer him to be, you at least have a decent shot. And I don't know Dak's hand size off the top of my head, but I think they're big enough that he should be able to do that. I just think you work on it a little bit. They're big because one day he was at Dapodient Haun. Don't laugh. I think you should wear a glove. He's non dominant hand.

I'm sorry, I can't. I actually like he has literally had so many he and I'm not talking about getting mauled by a guy and dropping the ball like. He's had so many weird plays like the one where he kind of dribbled it to himself. And he's had a couple of Aaron Brooks moments where he goes back to throw and it comes out like I'm wondering if, like, are his hands just sweating during these games? And like

maybe he should be wearing gloves. I mean, Ben Roethlisberger, does it swear one on your non throwing hand if you can't throw with one. I think it's so if you're running with the ball, it gives you at least a little bit better shot of holding onto it. I don't think that's a bad idea at all. I will pass that on to Dak and he will say, who

are you? Well, let me clarify something real quick. The hand comment, I just saw him talking at the podium after a game one day, and you know, he holds the podium right here, and I was just looking at it and I'm like, oh my god, they're big. Like that's something that you don't really pay attention or like see up close as far as like oh yeah, hands from a quarterback. So it's crazy. But I wanted to ask you about something else you mentioned the secondary being

pretty young. How do you see them playing against again, Michael Gallup and Mark Cooper just a Cowboys wide receivers overall. I mean, again, this is the Dallas defense. I mean, it's not the Dallas defense. Tampa defense goes back forever. But they're gonna they're gonna limit the big play at Mali Cookers like your center fielder. I think, no, I know. I mean, he was the seventeenth overall pick. He is a better safety in terms of like instincts and coverage

I think than the guys here. He's gonna be back there, so they're good at limiting the big play. I think there's plays to be made against these guys. Slants all day long because if you're gonna blitz and you're gonna eliminate the big play, that means the middle should be open. But that's not where Dak has been great. I mean, he could throw the slant, but we've seen some of those interceptions middle of the field throwing the ball like

intermediate left side two picks in then game. I hate to lean on this because we just saw them have a good game for the first time ever. But a nice day for the tight end. Would they carry that over? Well, let's go ahead and take an early break this time. When we come back, we're gonna get into game day predictions since we don't have a show tomorrow. As far as Nick and I, while the player could look good on paper, it's when he's out on the field that

you really find out what he's made of. That's why the Cowboys rely on more than just stats and scouting reports when building their team. When picking a tractor, it's why you should rely on more than just specs and features. You've got to take it out and put it to the test. The Cowboys did when they named John Deer their official tractor experience one for yourself. Visit my John Dear dealer dot com slash football. It's time for tail game with the autobox boys. Auterbox the makers are those

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for you or for anyone around you. Yeah, for women too. There you go. Very very soft fabric, very comfortable. I think I've completed it. Let's go, um, just trying. You know, it was a crime for me to talk. I am the host, though, good thing. Let's go, I say when we go, all right, let's go now? Okay? Game day predictions in order in honor to unique I wanted to make sure we did not miss the opportunity to get I'm gonna go for Derek here. Let's start off with

Derek Eagleton. Derek's gonna tell you that it's gonna be close, and then the Colts are pretty good. But I'm gonna go with Cowboys here in a close, hard fought game like I do do think this is a team you got to look out for. Uh, Cowboys, wait, wait for the roof open or not. I would be surprised if they opened the roof. That may change Derek's Yeah, oh no, it still comes down to Cowboys had hard fought game, but give me Cowboys ninety did nothing. Yeah, I'm gonna

go back. I'm I'm gonna go back, and like has he he's picked against them probably once this year. I don't think you don't think so Cooys. Yeah, No, his record is good for him. He knew it all along, he did. Um, I'm going I don't know. I don't see. I don't see what the fuss is about with with the Colts. And obviously their defense is pretty pretty good, but I don't think that they're gonna be able to score a whole lot of points. But I do think

it'll be a challenging game. You can't keep losing guys on the offensive line and expect it's just gonna be okay. So especially your best overall player, uh and Zach Martin. So I think it's gonna be a little bit of a challenge. But I still think the Cowboys that they just I think they've got a role in At this point, I'm gonna let Dave actually put my score in. But I got I've got the Cowboys doubling up the Colts.

So you picked the score. So doubling up the Colts based on these teams, I'm saying that means they win twenty to ten. Okay, sounds good. I was gonna thirteen something. But other than twenty to ten, if you're gonna double somebody up like the in a football score, it's hard to come up with an You know, they're not gonna win twenty one to eleven, are they? Or twenty twenty two to eleven? Sorry my bad, I can't do math. Twenty four to twelve, I doubt it. Yeah, twenty eight fourteen,

I guess there you go. All right, twenty to ten. That sounds that sounds good. What about you, Dave Um? I sort of agree with Nick, like I, on paper, I don't see what the fuss is about. But if you watch them play like the defense is swarming. They got a lot of young talent, they're confident, they're at home. Maybe most importantly, they need they need it. They're fighting

for I mean they're you know, they're two. Yeah, they're fighting for their lives, which and the I mean, the Cowboys haven't clinched anything, but they have a nice little cushion that they've built here that they don't need this game quite as bad. I think desperate team theory comes into play. Having said all of that, like basically what I'm saying is this game gives me an uneasy feeling. But I'm too convinced by everything the Cowboys have done

these last five weeks. And I don't think the Colts are so good that I'm going to bet against them now. You know, like if they were playing if they were playing the Saints or the Rams, I'd probably i'd pick them to lose. But this Colts team is scrappy but flawed, and I just think the Cowboys ought to be good enough to sneak out of there with a win. I do not think it'll be comfortable. Yeah, does it concern it has been a while since the Cowboys have played

away from home. Yeah, we know the struggles they had, but at the same time, they did not have him Mary Cooper. They were they were terrible on the road before group, But when in the two games they played since they got him, they beat the Eagles and the Falcons, which were those games comfortable for anybody? No? They were not. None of these five games. No, and that I expected to continue. I think luck Luck can beat these guys. He can make some plays on this defense, but they

don't run the ball that well. And that's that's my thing. I just don't think they can be I got I got Cowboys winning, uh twenty twenty to sixteen. Here we go, nice a nice, ugly score, a score that implies a lot of field goals and uh, tense finish, because that's probably what's going to happen. Okay, you got, Um? Mine is simple. I picked the Cowboys. I'm in they They've sweetened me up. I'm riding with them all the way.

And I think it will come down to like an extra point or something like that, like just one extra point. They'll make it in and they win the game. Every every noon window in the NFL has at least one berserk finish. I mean, you know, the last time this team played at noon was Atlanta game winning field goal at the buzzer the Dolphins and the Patriots what they just did the other day? Uh, I mean the Colts and the Colts and the Texans played a frantic finish

the other day. And so that's that's what's gonna happen. It'll be I looked this up for my column, actually, um, and now I forgot. I think eight of the eight of their thirteen games have been at No. Ten of their thirteen games have been decided by a score, and six have been in doubt in the final minutes, and

four have been decided on the final play of the game. Wow. So, I mean, if you're expecting anything other than stress, you're probably Wrongston Detroit, Houston, Detroit, first Washington game, and then this Eagles game. No wait, No, so five is Atlanta too? Houston Detroit, Atlanta, Billy games? Watchline'll play the game. Yeah, that's nuts, even by the Cowboys standards, which also for my column. Did I tell you this? I know, I

told Brian so Philly was my ninety sixth regular season game. No, my ninety sixth game that counted between regular season and playoffs, covering the team, thirty seven of them have been decided by a score or less or like you know, been close at the finish. So the playoff game on January fifth or sixth will be your one hundredth game. That sounds right? Yes? Nice, I hope it's the sixth. I'm in a wedding on the fifth. Oh yeah, we've talked about this, but yeah, a third of a third of

the time this team plays. It's stressful. Okay, that's crazy, no doubt. Now let's answer some Twitter question. I seen several people asking about this same topic. But do you guys think that the Cowboys will end up losing Chris Richard during the off season and if so, what will happen to the defense? Are you guys concerned that that would be that would really affect the defense and what they being able to accomplish so far. Well, I think it would be a tough loss, but I don't know

any other way around. It really just depends on how things finish here. Um. You know, with each game and each win, it you kind of wonder about Jason Garrett's um, you know future. I mean, I still think that. I know I've said all along this season that that I thought that Garrett needs to be in the NFC Championship game or win a couple of games in the playoffs,

or he probably won't be back. But every season's different, and the way this thing has gone right now, it's like you wouldn't think that they would make a change there, and that's really the only way to keep him. I say all that because that's we're the only way to keep Richard. You can't make him the defensive coordinator or all that. If he gets offered a head coaching job, then he'll, oh, he's gonna go for it. But that's

that's I talked to him. And when I talk to him by that training camp, he I mean, I asked him basically that's in question, like are you wanting to be a head coach? Like without hesitation, He's like absolutely, and like, yeah, he's here because you know, the Dallas Cowboys are very visible and they're gonna be on TV and they're gonna show him, and especially if he gets in a fight with an other team before a game.

I will say this though, and I mean, barring just a complete collapse, I can't imagine that Jason Garrett doesn't keep his job. But that I think, yeah, that's a good thing for your odds of keeping chrispher Shark, because he can only he can only leave for a head coaching job, right. I mean, the Cowboys don't have to let him out of his contract to go be somebody else's coordinator, right, right, right, He can only only leave your contract for head coaching job, right. And I know

we think the world of him. He's done wonders for this defense. But you got like you kind of got to take a step back too. Is is one season in Alice as the co defensive coordinator enough to get you ahead? That's what I just said, Durst for you like you, you know him, you like him, You've watched he's gonna he's gonna get in the room with somebody for an interview. It's possible. Is he gonna lose it

in that room? Probably not, And he's gonna win it. Gosh, just the way he carries himself and the way the things that he says. I mean, I will hire him in my only point being, but there's there's only so many what there'll there will probably be eight openings or something like that, and that's not a lot of openings. And there's a lot of talented coaches at the NFL level college football coaches, um, and it's a I mean, it's a big job to give to somebody. So and

I'm I'm not betting against Christoph Shard. I'm just saying one year in Dallas, it might it might not be enough to sway some people that he's ready for it. I don't know how many years in his contract. They don't release those, but typically coaching contracts or two or three years. He's certainly gonna get interviews because he's deserving. I'll just say that he is absolutely deserving, and he'll

get interviews. He'll also get interviews because he would be you have to interview an African American and he would be. I mean, you'd be right at the top of the charts for anybody that has a vacancy to interview him. But I'm saying that because he's absolutely deserving. Yeah, but he's gonna get in a room. I just can't. I can't see him losing the job there. So they say all that, let's just say, I don't know, two and one here down the stretch, whatever, Cowboys, fourth seed, they

win the division, get the hats, all that stuff. Seattle comes in. So two and one, ten and six, ten and six finished, ten and six, finish the the NFC Eacht Championship. The fourth seed. You play Seattle, you lose. You didn't play well. Highlighters came in, they beat your russell, you couldn't tackle him. They beat you a low scoring game. They beat you thirteen to ten, and you're out. All this excitement, all this finish the fight, all this stuff

and you've lost. Ye, very possible outcome may not he may not be the head coach. It's possible because right now it's five game winning street. You know, you're at the top of the roller coaster here, Like, allow, this is great, but if it doesn't end in a favorable way, especially after a one and done, because I know there were some unhappy people when they lost for the Packers two years ago after thirteen and three, So if that happens again, I don't think it's it's a guarantee because

what we've seen right now is good. It's gonna if it's not a super Bowl, it's gonna end in a frustrating, disappointing way. And I don't know what's going to happen. Yeah, no, I mean it's possible to envision a scenario where you make the playoffs and people are just freaking furious that

the way it finishes. I mean, yeah, what you just described, And honestly, I don't know the answer, Like I wouldn't be surprised either way, Like, okay, yeah, you lose to the Colts, then you win the last two, you win the division, you play Seattle and you play like crap and you lose. I wouldn't be surprised by either outcome. I wouldn't be surprised if it's like, let's run it back. Maybe we get a new offensive coordinator, maybe we promote

Chris Richard and we're good. Or yeah, maybe it sucks so much that you blow the whole thing up and then I just I love to say, there's only like two or three people in the world that can answer that question, right. I think the best scenario for him that doesn't include a Super Bowl victory is you gotta win that first game. You go to the Saints or the Rams, probably maybe the Saints, and you gotta compete, You gotta, you gotta, you know, ball out in that

game and have a good showing. If you don't beat the one or two best teams in the league on the road, I don't see them really making a change there. But I think I think if whatever it is, if it ends in a in a shocking slash disappointing way, because losing is going to be disappointing, but in a surprising disappointing fashion, I don't think that's good for the coach.

As long as you don't for lack of a better phrase, like wet the bed, which and I mean, you know, you're thirteen and three, you won eleven games in a row and you lose your first game. People would describe that as wedding the bed. Yeah, well, you know show I deal with that a lot lately. And hey, you gotta have patience. You got a three year old. Yeah, so don't yeah, don't come out to bed. Don't come

out and play terrible in the first playoff game. Like that's that's a bad idea that talks when you start saying like the when you talked about the two different scenarios and possibilities, and when it comes out down to like the whole wiping out the whole thing. I don't

really understand that whole concept. And I know how if you bring a certain head coach or whatever they bring in their staff that they want and all that, but why would you wipe out let's say, someone that has actually done some positive things although the end outcome we're talking about, Garrett, No, I'm talking about like, let's say different positions, which well, position coach, there's no guarantee of that first of all, which this week is a great

example Matt Eberflus signed an indie to be Josh McDaniels defensive coordinator, and he went back to New England. He bailed on them. They hired a new head coach, and they're like, ah, we still, well, we'll keep Eberflus around, Like we can do that. So it's yeah, I mean, in a scenario where another coach came in here, like he could opt to try to keep Christirah Shard and christ Shard could hang around here. But yeah, the answer your question is because coaches want to work with who

they want to work with. It's like, Chris, you're really great and YadA YadA, but you run Seattle's defense and I want to run Yeah, the Jets defense. I mean, it's what I mean. So I'm trying to think of an analogy. But you want you want the people that make you feel comfortable with what you want to do. Yeah, and if they don't fit that, then you can go somewhere else. We'll have to keep waiting to see what it really happens in this offseason. But in the meantime,

we have a game against the Colts this weekend. Let's hope the Cowboys come out with another win and yeah, the guys Dave nine o'clock tomorrow. I haven't robbed Nate. I'm excited about this show. Brian. Basically, when I got here this morning, he was like, we're gonna fight for an hour, like so nice. That's the attitude he's gonna. He's gonna, yeah, we're gonna have some good spear fight with someone on their birthday. Sure you do it, like not fight fight Like. He's not gonna punch Briant all

day yesterday. It'll be fine. He fights with me all the time. Anyways, he's gonna have a hat right here on on Monday if they if they win this game, we'll get one. We'll steal one from somebody. That would be dope. Yeah, they'll have championship hundreds of them. Yeah all right, Well, thank you guys so much for tuning in once again. For Nickiman, David Hellman, and Bergarcia. This

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