Cowboys Break: Scouting the Lions Offense

That's good? That sounds done right there? Yeah, it's good stuff, smooth, here you go. Okay, today we're gonna get into the Detroit Lions offense versus the Cowboys defense. But before we get into that end, I'm sorry if you guys talked about this yesterday, but I wanted to go run down through a few of the injuries that the Cowboys have right now and how this may affect the game this weekend. Um defensive tackle Dayton Jones, he was moved to her I r out of here out most likely to go

under surgery right on his hamstring, I believe. So that's that's surgery on a hamstring. That seems bad. I've never even heard of a surgery on a hamstring, honestly, Nier of I which I mean, you hear people like Nicks as this all the time. He's like, is it off the bone? Well, Dayton Jones is probably off the bone. I didn't remember the play where he was running fifty yards down the field. I mean usually usually hamstring it's

something where you're running, you know. Yeah, No, I don't see a lineman with a lot of hamstring injury, especially severe hamstring injuries like that. Never never allow yourself to forget how brutal this game is. It's yeah, anyway, so he's on I Karen Read. They signed Koran Read and another guy dealing with hamstring problems, obviously Sean Lee. Yes, and it seems like this might be possibly a few weeks that he's out. I would call it a virtual

guarantee that he doesn't play against the Lions. And you know see after that, by ye think the trainers and we know this through you know, emails and stuff like that over the years. One thing they hate is to bring a guy back and then have to take him

back again, like he gets hurt. They don't want to bring a guy back to early or in this case, I'm not saying that they did, but you know, you have a hamstring injury, you come back, you have you reinjure it, then it's like cheeto, I believe last year where it's like, Okay, now we're gonna there's no rushing anything back. You're just gonna be back when you're ready. And that's pretty much how it works in a situation

like that. And Sean dealt with this whole thing last year where it was a couple of different times pretty unfortunate because that we're trying to take care of him and you know, protect him during training camp and once we got back here the preseason. But do you guys think that maybe just kind of overprotecting him in that way could have affected him. No, it's just what it is. It's that's classic hindsight twenty twenty. And I mean, I'm the guy that always says, keep those guys on the

shelf if they need it. And well, I mean, if if you're going to hurt your hamstring, at least it happened in a real game. I mean we could be talking about he tores hamstring in a training camp practice and that would be even worse as I mean, this is the this is the fifth or sixth separate time that Sean Lee has had a hamstring problem, and I guarantee you they've approached it all kinds of different ways, and it's I mean, it's unfortunate. It's just a thing

that that he has to deal with. This twenty thirteen, for sure, he had hamstring. I think he's done figure out all his injuries. I mean, it's it's at least three separate seasons now where a hamstring has been a problem for him. Like I said, I mean, I don't know, it sucks like it. Yeah, it almost feels like maybe it's just genetic that you just can't quite get over that type of stuff. I don't know, but I do

wonder just how great he would have been. And then the whole grand scope of the whole franchise when it comes to linebackers. You know, let's just say he never missed the game, but he played the way he played even missed a little bit. Maybe maybe the best linebacker in the history of the team. And you've got Leroy Jordan and you've got Chuck Howley. But he could have been that good. He really could have been, and he

is still up there pretty good. How many How many games has he missed over the course of his career, like forty if I had to guess, I mean he missed one entire season. Yeah, and that's probably right, So we'll just say forty. And I mean, the dude averages ten tackles a game. That's not even an exaggeration. So another four hundred tackles on top of whatever he's already sitting on. Throw in another probably two or three dozen tackles for loss. I mean, yeah, it's he'd be unreal.

He probably would be the best linebacker in team history statistically, I mean, he's got um there are seven seven games in the history of the franchise that a player has had twenty tackles or more, and he's had five of them. He was on pace for that in Seattle Hole. Yeah in the first half. Yeah, he had eight after a quarter. I think I started getting pretty sad when I heard, you know that he might be out a couple of weeks, because I started thinking, Okay, what if he's coming to

an end here? And I don't want to know anyone's career any but just going back to how this team is being Tyro last year, yeah, and Romo before that, which sure she was right one, but just thinking of how this team is being reconstructed, and you know how the older guys are kind of walking out slowly one after the other and then pushing back into the youth.

And now that the Cowboys have a linebacker group that is looking pretty good and pretty healthy, of course, it just just made me sad at about there's no doubt about it, and you know, we're still gonna have to find out how this team does without him. You know, we think, well, but Joe Thomas is better and late vander rash and Jalen's at a higher level, and Damian Wilson's playing well that they can they can handle this now, But let's be honest, and there's other factors involved there.

But Sean Lee got hurt in the second half, fourth quarter, I guess of the Giants game with the hamstring injury, and that's actually when the Giants came back, scored like ten ten points that were moving down the field. It would have been nice to have him out there. It was a prevent defense, but I think he could have helped a lot more than what he was with a ball cap on. So this is, uh, this is we'll get into that. But this is as good of a Detroit rushing attack as they've had in a while with

Kerry On Johnson coming on. So I think, yeah, I think they're better equipped to live without him, But you gotta prove it. We'll see you gotta prove it. Then we have MALIEK. Collins with a knee injury. He's expected to be limited in practice, and then Jeff Heath ankle and Tyron Crawford elbow. They are supposed to be okay and but but still those are little injuries that popped up.

And we have been talking about this defense being so good and kind of elevating their game, and now we come off this past game and they're a little banked up in a different different positions. You know, I love Tyrone Crawford, I really do. I got a chance to get to know a little bit more about him this year and helped with one of the deep blues up in Canada. I really like him and where he came

from stories awesome. Yeah, but when he gets hurt, doesn't it seemed like like it's over, Like the whole season is like it's over. Like he has a way. I disagree, No, because what do you mean you disagree? Into the game when he's on the ground, It's like, I just is it for the season? Like I maybe it heard that bad? Maybe how many games as this guy missed? No, you're missing the point of what I'm saying. When you say this is over that it looks a little goes down.

What are you saying? Yes, Okay, training camp two years ago. Now he got hurt, you know, he hurt his ankle, was saying, saying the old Jason Garrett Lazarus joke, like you know, you thought he was dead and then he's up there like five minutes later. Yeah, okay, that's all insane. I kind of fools me a little bit. I'm like, oh, God is elbow? I mean, what it's hanging out over here?

But you know comes back. The only reason I would disagree with that, The only reason I would disagree with that is because I know the type of stuff that he's played through in the recent past, Like he had a messed up shoulder for all of twenty sixteen. I think, yeah, the toughest player on the team, he's toughest. Hell, But but when when that happens, and I still like, oh my god, this is it? You know. Yeah, no, that's fair because it has been once. I mean, yeah, he

tour his achilles and it looked what it was. I think it was twenty seventeen when it looked like he'd done something like that again at camp. I mean he got carted off and everything, and he missed. He was fine, and he missed the whole preseason and yeah, he opened

fine is an exaggeration. Missing games. So so right now, looking at the Cowboys defense and based on this, all these little injuries that popped up here and there, what would be the most troubling part right now at this moment headline backer, which is just because has been the heart and soul the defense and they haven't proven that they could win with Adam. We'll see if they're better

equipped there. Um, did you say in Tyrone Crawford? I mean, and now you're talking about some tackle issues inside, he's banged up, Dayton Jones is gone, and you've got Karen read Sorry, I was going to jump in whosition. Well, Malie Colin, I mean, you're you're trying to figure that out. Yet one more week before Irving comes back I'm not one hundred percent sure, David Irving some you're ready to play, No, I would think they've held and Tyrone Crawford's gonna play. Yeah,

So I'm not I'm not sweating it yet. What about the safety position. So you got Jeff Heath that he's looking okay, but he did suffer a little ankle injury. And then you got a Cavon who has been struggling with a shoulder injury and has been on the report every since that injury happened. I'm not trying to be cynical, but welcome to the NFL. Like, that's these are just things. I mean again, Tyron Crawford like played a whole season

with his shoulder basically out of his socket. Like DeMarcus Lawrence gets tons of credit from this coaching staff for doing the same thing. He had a bum. I think it was his shoulder too, wasn't it, Oh, DeMarcus two or three years ago. That's just that's you know the game. The thing about it is is that, yeah, it's the name of the game, and you you have an ankle injury and you get retaped, but you know it's to

your touchdowns happen. Yeah, when you're gone. So Jeff, you know, let's let's keep a lot of safeties at one spot that we have been talking about forever. So Jeff, actually, I mean he came back into that game after I don't remember ever hearing about a guy needing X rays and coming back into that game like that. Doesn't seem like it happens often. Yeah, it's true. So I think

he's gonna play. I would expect that, you know, it's you can always tell just by what they're doing with with roster moves and things like that, which David bring to Abbe Robinson bag. He's not on the practice squad. I don't. I don't remember that. I don't either. Should Yeah, maybe we should know that right here. Maybe we should have a roster that just came out so I should be able to know. Well, they have Ibraheim Campbell, he's

still here, and Irie Robinson practice squad. That's what I thought, Okay, and they just signed ad. They signed a DT to the practice squad two, which, to your point, Christian Ringo going so that at least lets you know that they're a little concerned about their tackle depth because if Malik can't go this week, it's a little early to say if he will or not. But if he can't go this week, you're probably talking Daniel Ross, Antoine Woods, and

um White Crawford and then they brought in Koran Read. Yeah, so something to watch. All right, Well, let's jump into the Detroit Lyon's offense, and let's start off with the quarterback. Now, Detroit did be the Patriots this past weekend. Toy six to ten. That's right. I'm pretty sure that's right. Interest everybody knew that was happening, right, very surprised you seeing the plane. Everybody was looking at you see a score like, that's not right. And it's funny how the NFL changes

so much week to week. Like we're sitting here. It might have been off the air. But Derek's just like, well, Detroit's a w just choking it up. They're terrible and they go beat you know, the most successful team in the last twenty years, maybe the most successful team over any stretch in football history, beat him badly, and all of a sudden you're like, oh, this might not be as easy as we thought. Well, and even in their first two games, even though they lost, I mean, they

were still scoring points. They lost to the forty nine ers twenty seven thirty, but then to the Jets seventeen forty eight, which, as you Americans would say, that he got they got man handled. Yeah, that's the man handle. They also yeah, well they also no, it's okay say it. Well that may also put the winning score first. That's what they eight seventeen and thirty twenty seven. But I'm just saying, do you get the point you Okay, you can figure out which number is low? Is that a

soccer thing? Did they do that in soccer though? Two? Three? Yeah? And so it just yeah, yes, okay, it's all good. Let's have culture in me. Okay, that's just a pet peeve of mine. And that's one thing I don't know why. That's just I hate that. Okay, forty seventeen there we go, Okay, thank you, all right? And that was bad that Matt Stafford and that game is bad for him. Yeah yeah, So let's go into Matt well, yeah, I mean, where

else would you start? Which if there's one thing that gives me hope about this game, it's that Matt Stafford is definitely a doctor jack Old mister Hyde quarterback. You know, he pound for pound He might be the most talented quarterback in the entire NFL, just in terms of like having a rocket arm. He's him and Aaron Rodgers probably like rocket arm, good mobility. He just he can do what ever he wants. But you know, much like Brett Farve, he's got that insane confidence that leads him to doing

things that can be incredibly stupid. He threw four picks in that game of the Jets. He threw so many picks and took them so far out of that game that they put in his backup just because they were like, you can't dig us out of this whole. Thanks, But at the same time, you know, he goes up and you know, he played a fantastic game against New England. He's got six touchdowns in three games. This is the

eighth best passing offense in the league. And I mean, anybody listening to this show has seen Matt Stafford play football, because you've seen the Cowboys play the Lions recently. But you really should go watch this guy because, like, you know, that's stuff that we're criticizing Dac for, Like he can do all that stuff, Like he's got the anticipation throws, he can put it on a guy's shoulder. He can

put it where only the receiver can get it. He will rifle it right through triple coverage, which when it works, it's incredible, but it also blows up in his face a decent amount. So this team typically, and like for the last five or six years, like they're as good as he plays, because if he plays great, they're hard

to beat, and if he implodes, they suck. But one thing to watch is that this looks like the best Detroit running game that they've had in a long time, like the Lions have been like the Romo era Cowboys forever, Like throw it fifty times, you're not going to run for more than fifty yards, so Stafford better beyond. But they are running for ninety nine yards a game, which is sixteenth best in the league. Which it's not great, especially when you cover the Cowboys. You're used to top

five rushing offense. But it's pretty good when your quarterbacks throwing for three four hundred yards a game. So it's a split backfield. Garrett Blunt, carry On Johnson and Theo Reddick. But Carrie On Johnson second round pick at Auburn, Hell, he was a hell of a player in the SEC last year, and he's going to be their feature back by the end of the year. If I had to guess,

like maybe Blunt is their goal line guy. But well, this kids us last week when you were like, I don't know why they don't run the ball to Carson More, Yeah, I mean he's not getting the carreas I kind of hope they don't. And then he gets thirty two and I mean thirty two carries, he should get a hundred yards,

but he did and he was pretty effective. Which no, like, yeah, the Seahawks didn't run the ball that well, but I think I think they just knew the Cowboys couldn't move it, and so they were just going to pound on the defense all day. Remember they when they had a mirror Abdullah, Remember when he was like a good, good player for them. Yeah, well, yeah, he's still there, but he didn't pan out to be what they wanted him to be, which but that's what

makes carry On Johnson so interesting. So yeah, and they're so versatile. Honestly, when I watched them play, this is what an NFL offense is supposed to look like in twenty eighteen. Honestly, Um, obviously you got to have the quarterback to do it. But they're they're eleven personnel all the time, like they have Golden Tate, Kenny Galladay and Marvin Jones. Like those three guys can all line up everywhere.

They're all versatile inside, outside, and then they throw to their running backs just as much as they run with them. I wrote this down somewhere Theo Reddick and Carrie on Johnson have combined for twenty seven receptions in three games. So you're throwing at your running backs nine times per game. Uh, they're just as big of a part of your passing off at Elliott and rod Smith have eleven? Is that right? And Elliott has eleven? I just threw rod Smith in

there because t is that right? Elliott? It's almost like your running backs can be mismatches always Elliott, rod Smith, Jammay's old Wally eleven eleven. I just want to throw all the backs in there. What's what's Austin? What are we calling him? Receiver? Yeah? If you go sixty four yards your receiver, So he's a receiver. And how many actual handoffs has he taken to this point? Like, um, he's had three for thirty four Yeah, we're just eleven

point three. Let's let's go ahead and take our first break, and when we come back, we'll keep talking about that, and then we'll go into their whole offensive liner. Yeah, let's do that. Do that. 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 you love.

Tried DirecTV Now for ten dollars a month for three months. Visit DirecTV now dot com, direct tv now more for your thing that's out at thing us called real. The limited time price a little little page if three months when he's monthday full prices currently mad aimum forty dollars and less cancer prices may change you subscribers on cancel any time. Content varies by package and maybe limited strict supply.

Star Sports Tours is the only official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, offering exclusive game weekend travel packages with sideline access and photo ops with current players, alumni, and cheerleaders. That's not all, though, You'll get to talk XS and os with Senior Director of Player Personnel Will McClay, and of course with yours truly me, Brian Broadus you can trust the official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, and with us you'll travel like a pro. Visit Cowboys

Travel dot com to book your travel package today. I want to use what the pros use. How about the official men skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Playmaker, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The Playmaker includes four Jack Black skincare favorites, plus a full sized Intense Therapy lip bomb

and 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 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 staffs and scouting reports when building their team. When picking a tractor, it's why you should rely on more than

specs and features as well. You got to take it out and put it to the test the Cowboys did when they named John Deer their official tractor. To experience one for yourself, visit your local Texas John Deer dealer or go to my John Deer dot com. Slash football. Back to the break. All right, we're back, and before we togard break, we were talking about the Detroit's offense. Hold on real quick quick. Oh yeah, do you really want to go to that game? If you want to,

like be in the stadium. You can't. You can't September thirtieth. Just let me finish. You get to go. They have tickets on sale at Dallas Cowboys dot com. They have some basically standing room only tickets at this point, but you can still get there, be there live at Att Stadium. Should be fun noon game, So get there. Better TV than what you got at your house. Promise you that that's true. Definitely true, Definitely an experience. Even if you

think the Cowboys are doing bad and stuff. Nah, make sure and come out because it's an amazing experience just to be out there in presence. It's still a big game. I mean obviously a big game for both teams. Because you get to this point, well two and two after four games, that's like, it's not where you want to be,

but you'll you'll definitely take it now. But one of three is certainly not when when what you see on the schedule with teams like Jacksonville, Washington, Tennessee at Philly, at Atlanta, it's I mean, we're already we're already an uncharted territory because Jason Garrett's never been one and two, right, But I don't I'm spitballing here, but I think four that's four and twelve twenty fifteen is the only time he's ever gone two games below five hundred since he's

been the full time head coach. Right, you know, it's hard. It's hard to do that and get back to eight n That's what I'm saying, like, yeah, this, I mean during the eight and eight years, being one game below five hundred was pretty normal. But I don't know why they're gonna win. I mean, that's that's the trend. That's yeah, And I'm picking them. I'll say it. I'm going to pick them to win. And that's the reason why, because

I think that they will. That's the reason why I'm going to pick them to win, because I just because of how things usually tend to play out, imply I know what you're Yeah, I know. I mean that's why. That's why, because I really do. It's a weird, strange lady trouble. I'm not weird. I'm not ready to make It's Wednesday. How are y'all making that Pickle's Let's keep

talking about their offense. I'll like what you said yesterday about it was it Dak You said I'm not ready to to call him a good quarterback or not or whatever because I don't have to. I don't. You don't. It's smart, I mean, but that's the world we live in. Every every play is he's not very good. He doesn't need to be playing, he doesn't need a job. Every with every play, it's not it's just like this is the end of it. I'll tell you that. I really,

I'm not bssing. I don't know who to pick yet, but watching this Detroit offense does not inspire confidence because he I mean, and I'm not knocking the Dallas defense. They've been really good, but this, this is a difficult defense to defend, which you know, that's what we were talking about. Offense. They can run the ball. Sorry, thanks, difficult offense to defend. They can run the ball, throwing of their running backs nine times a game. Stafford averages

forty five attempts per game. I think that's a little bit skewed because they were trying to dig their way out in that Jets game, and in the forty nine Ers game, actually they fell behind by seventeen points. So ideally Matt Patricia wants to run the ball. I don't know how realistic that is. When Matt Staffords your quarterback, let that guy rip. But no, that's the other problem. Really. They have allowed three sacks this year. That is best in the league now, and he's got a lot of

passing attempts. Yeah, well, here's a couple couple things. I looked this up. They've allowed three sacks. They've gone against pass rushes that are currently ranked tenth, seventeenth, and twenty ninth. The Patriots are twenty ninth. I think that actually gets worse as you get so the forty nine ers or seventeenth. The Jets are tenth in the league. Three sacks a little bit of two things at work here. The Giants chot geez, where am I today? The Lions offensive line

is pretty good because they've invested in it. Taylor Decker is a first round pick at left accle Ohio State. Zeke's teammate Frank Ragnow, you're a guy from Arkansas, first round pick playing left guard instead of center. Graham Glasgow's your center. He's a third round pick. T J. Lange is a very good unrestricted free agent. Green Bay cut him in a contract dispute. Lions snatched him up right away, and they took Ricky Wagner, who's a starter from Baltimore.

So literally, the whole line is either premium draft picks or veterans that they paid good money for. So you know I heard that before. Yeah, and it leads to a good offensive line. They're playing like it though. That's I know, sixteen best rushing game doesn't sound that great, but it's way better than the Lions are used to. Carry On Johnson's their first one hundred yard rusher on Sunday night, first time they've done that in five years.

That's what we're talking about. What carry On Johnson ran for one hundred yards against the Patriots. It's the first time a Detroit Lion has run for one hundred yards since the twenty thirteen season. That cannot be accurate, one hundred percent accurate. It was so accurate that Barry Sanders tweeted a congratulations to him, like, hey, way to go, man, like carry on that, carry on that tradition and get it crazy. He used to get one hundred yard half.

That's well. I mean, honestly, the parallels to the Cowboys of Romo's you know, pre the pre Travis Frederick and Zach Martin Romo Cowboys, I think they're very similar. You know, it's a team couldn't rush for a hundred yards to save its life from like twenty ten to twenty two.

What's weird about that is if any team, you would, especially here in Dallas, if the Cowboys did not have a hundred yard rushing game, they would go into the draft and it would be like the biggest thing that they didn't have a hundred rusher, and they would they'd get one, and then if they didn't have it for two years, it would be like, oh my god, you would try to get em it out of retirement or something. That's the funny. They've spent the resources, Like I know,

Abdilla is not like the second round. Yeah, he's not like this bruiser back, but they've spent draft picks on running backs. They didn't have the offensive line, and I don't know, I don't know that this is like, you know, this insanely good offensive line, but they're talented enough to get that done. And then Stafford is a highly confident, competent quarterback who gets the ball out quick. And it's

a hell of a combination. And that was part of it over the course of these years that you know, Stafford's probably up there high and passing yards too, because he's not running the ball a lot. I mean, he's choosen to throw. You know, Romo had that two for a lot of the years. Romo only had one one thousand yard rusher for the first five or those guys like to throw. They know where the stats are, then

they know that's where the money is. But still in a game, one hundred yard rusher in a game for five years, I want to it was November of twenty thirteen. You do it against Belichick, you do it against the Pats. It's pretty impressive. Well, then you don't have to worry about for another five years. Well, I don't know, like I said, la Garrett Blunt is their starter in name. I really think Carrie on Johnson's going to have something

to say about that as the season goes. Unfortunately, the other Like I love these receivers, I don't know if they'd be as good as they are with a lesser quarterback. I'd be interested to see what Golden Tate, Kenny Galladay, and Marvin Jones look like here in this passing attack. With what we've seen so far, it would probably be better. But I don't know if they'd be as good as they are because with Matt Stafford, these guys are great.

I mean, Tate's already on twenty catches. Galladay is underrated as hell, He's got nineteen catches already. Jones is there. These guys are yak monsters. You know, they'll take a ten yard route and gain forty. They're hard to tackle, kind of not as talented as O'Dell Beckham, but they just remind me of Odell Beckham in that sense that they can turn small games into big plays. Catches for Tate, Tate has twenty, in Galaday nineteen, and Jones has twelve

fifty one. If I had to guess, all three of them have more than the cow oh no, not Beasley. What's Beasley at twelve? So that's fifty one catches for your top three wide receivers, right, yep. The Cowboys have a combined fifty four catches between everybody, everyone and your top three receivers twelve and nine. That's twenty one and five twenty six. It's your top three receivers right there.

Which this all of your receivers adds up to twenty nine thirty one thirty eight top three receivers or six receivers. They're not great, Bob, it's not great. It's not I mean, it goes back. I'm okay. I just gave you the catches. But look at the targets too. Tate's been targeted thirty six times. Jones have been targeted twenty three times. Galladay has been targeted twenty eight times. So this team doesn't

have a number one receiver either. They just have three really competent receivers and a quarterback who can get them the ball. It's and then on and like I said, on top of that, theoretic can carry on. Johnson have twenty seven combined receptions in three games. So if you know, Stafford checks down a lot too. But actively. Yeah, it's and that's that's my point. Like I watched this team and again I get it. Matt Stafford's the number one pick in the draft. He is arguably the most naturally

gifted quarterback in the whole league. But this is how I would want to play offense in today's NFL. It is a heavily passing oriented game with a good enough rushing attack to make you balance. And you know, and Rob talked about this yesterday on one of the shows that we did, and you know, I think it's a good point. It's it's not so much about how great this offense is, but it's like how many points can

you hold them too? Because if, if, if they're still gonna be good enough to get to twenty one points, is that enough to win? That's what we're gonna talk about tomorrow with the Lions defense against this offense. But you know, it's it's maybe not gonna score forty points, but half of that could probably win twenty one points. Would would beat the Cowboys in any three games this year.

That's that's interesting. I mean for everything that you don't need that, yeah you're at I'm gonna break the mic for everything I just said, like this ain't this ain't the twenty thirteen Broncos. Like they scored twenty six points, they had to settle for three field goals against the Patriot four and to settle for four field goals. Yeah, that's right. Um, they scored seventeen against the Jets mainly because of turnovers. They're averaging right in the twenties. Wait, yeah,

I have that written down. They're scoring offense is only fourteenth best in the league. It's so they can stall. And I think the way to do that. I don't think you're just gonna You're not gonna sack Matt Stafford

five times. If I had to guess, what I would do is once this is not what people want to hear, but I would just try to clog the throwing lanes and play ben but don't break and acknowledge that you're probably going to give up some yardage and hope you can either get turnovers or stall their offense out when the field gets smaller, like get an interception that you don't have. I know they don't have one, but this is the guy to get you out of that. Right,

he's got we need a bunch. He's got six touchdowns, but five picks. Now, granted four of those came in Week one, but he threw one against It's been two weeks, maybe week four. He's like, Okay, this is the time to know a few. He is insanely talented. But we don't talk about him as one of the best quarterbacks in the league for a reason, and that's because he's going to try to give you the ball. So all right, let's take our final break and when we come back.

We've discussed about the Detroit's offense, but how does this really match up against the Cowboys defense. While a player can 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 stats and scouting reports when building their team. When picking a tractor, it's why you should rely on more than specs and features as well. You got to take it out and put it to the test. The Cowboys did when they

named John Deer their official tractor. To experience one for yourself, visit your local Texas John Deer dealer or go to my John Deer Dealer dot com. Slash football want to use what the pros use. How about the official men skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Playmaker, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with

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the pro Shop or at Stetson dot com. Today. Back to the Talking Cowboys, back to the breaking Cowboys. No, no, it's okay, but yeah, that's on night thirty in the morning. Tommy John. Yep, Tommy John right, like, yeah, he's good for the guys, good for the girls. Right, no adjustment needed, good underwear. I'm rocking mine right now. Yeah, you are off your first order if you go to Tommy John

dot com. Forward slash Cowboys. Yeah, you are the rest. Okay, it's Wednesday, okay, Tommy Joan Day, all right, thank you for that and me you're welcome, very thank you for Tommy, very good. Thank you, Tommy John. All right, So you talked about this offense line offensive line being pretty good. Now,

how does this really match up with the Cowboys defensive line. Well, well, my main thing is this is gonna be a fun week to see how good the linebackers really are without Sean Lee, because again, you know, this isn't This isn't the Cowboys with Ezekiel Elliott. You know, twenty sixteen Cowboys running for two hundred yards a game. But this is as formidable as the Lions rushing attack has been in

recent memory and the linebackers. It's going to be on the linebackers to keep that from being a dominant story in this game. Because we just talked about the defensive tackle depth. I don't want to bet on Malik Collins to play this game. Tyrone Crawford is banged up, so Jalen Smith, Layton vander Esh, Joe Thomas. Those guys gotta gotta limit that yards per carry. You gotta keep those guys from taking advantage in the passing game as well, because from what we've seen, I think the secondary can

match up with these receivers. Okay, I mean you're gonna give up yards, you just are, but I think they can keep it from being I mean twenty thirteen comes to mind. Yeah, every time the Cowboys play the Lions, I think about that Megatron game. I think they can keep that from happening. Yeah, are you expecting the pass rush to be able to pressure the quarterback? Well, I mean, you know the fact that he's only he's not the most mobile quarterback in the world. I mean, but he does.

Those good quarterbacks, even like Peyton Manning, they know how to get around in the pocket and not prevent sacks. But that's it's not because of their mobility is so much as it is that it's a you know, designed to get the ball out quick and they've got receivers to do it. They've got receivers that will probably make the catch and go make some plays. So you know, that's one of the things Eli Manning has done well for so many years, So I think he does a

good job with that. Getting to the quarterback is going to be tough. You're gonna have to get in his face. That's the thing. That's why Chris Rashard plays this type of defense. Get it, get in their face, make it tough to throw early, and then he has to make some decisions. And that's where that pass rush needs to get home. So I would imagine that they will get some sacks. I mean, it'll be their worst game as

far as the Lions. As far as giving up sacks, I think they're gonna get at least two or three maybe now with Sean Lee being out possibly being out. Do you expect them to use the linebackers in the pass rush as well? Like that's probab, We've been seeing it. That's what I was about to say, because I mean, no disrespect to the edge rushers, but I don't expect them to just get sacks. I mean, three three so far this season is not good. And again Stafford's gonna

get it out quick. Like I don't think you're just gonna beat the right tackle and sack Matt Stafford. But I say, I do think that Joe Thomas is going to play really well. He did a nice job in training camp. He really did when when Sean Lee was out. He's played in Green Bay for two years, He's faced this type of offense, you know, this offense. Actually, I think he you know, he's got he plays with a good chip on his shoulder. He's very physical. I think

he's going to be a really big game. This will be the best game the Cowboys defense has ever played without Sean Lee. I mean recent history, and there's been so many I don't know if it's the number one, but I mean it's been many of them. I did not like the idea of blitzing Russell Wilson last week a lot, because if it doesn't work, he's gonna kill you with his arm or his legs, preferably his legs, because if it doesn't get home, then you would imagine he's got the whole middle of the field to do

whatever he wants. Stafford's more mobile than Eli. Anybody is more mobile than Eli, but he's not so mobile that he's going to get away from Jalen Smith if he's coming through. So that's how I would pressure him, and even if you don't get home again, that's how you force him into making dumb decisions because he's got an

insane amount of confidence in his arm. Like his picks against the Jets are literally like dude on a plant was double covered and he just tried to fit it in there anyway because he thinks he can like and so if you can pressure him, hopefully he can he'll make those types of decisions. I definitely don't want to give him all day, but I think you're gonna need to blitz to do that, um, because again, these games bear it out. I don't think with just four down linemen,

I don't know how how often you're gonna get to him. Yeah, now, what's here's a question from Twitter. What's the toughest matchup between the receiver and corner? That's that's the we like, you know, this is again, this is the way the Cowboys would want to play. I think, like they don't have this. You know, this guy's gonna be on the left and he's their X receiver, like they all go everywhere, like and they bunch too. The Lions love to use

them all. You know, they'll bunch all three of them on the same side and have Luke Wilson the tight end on the other side. Like. So I don't sit here and say like, well this is this is a big Cheeto game, because it's gonna be Cheeto verse eight. I don't think it's gonna be answer that because I think that there's a significant drop off between your first two corners and your third one. I mean, I don't, but I would argue that Brown has played well through

three weeks. I think he's played well, but I don't think there's a big drop off between the three receivers that the Lions have, So I think that matchup there against Anthony Brown, I think he's somebody that you need to watch because they have three really talented receivers. And I don't know if you could say that about the Cowboys.

I don't know what's going wrong with Jordan Lewis. Not sure why the guy can't get on the field and play a snap when he's when he's out there there, I mean, when you have injury issues at safety and he's having to play special teams and Jordan Lewis can't go down there and run on special teams. My goal for this week is to get an answer to that on the record or off the record. But like it is, I mean, even even if Anthony Brown's playing out of his mind like one snapt off the record answer, let's

get an on the record answer. I got bad. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, well, I mentioned if you're not gonna talk about it, I think he could. I think he needs to be more physical and special teams. I think that that's that's part of it. But but still you're having issues on special teams. I mean, you'd like to think a guy could get on the field and play. If he's going to be active, you need

him to be on the field and do something. I'm flabbergasted that a guy who started seven games as a rookie and played pretty well is so bad that he can't get a handful of snaps. I don't know, well, but like I said, Anthony Brown's playing well, so I don't think it's the reason. It's certainly not the reason why they're losing games, and the defense has been good. But it is weird or is he from like from

like not college? Jordan Lewis, Detroit Man. I knew it was probably Michigan, but I didn't know he's I'm pretty sure he's a cast tech guy, which is like the big powerhouse up there wants to play this game probably. I mean, I don't know how you can look at this and just think, like, regardless of what Chris Rochard said in the offseason that he's the exception of the rule, they just don't think he fits what they want to

do in this scheme. Clear. I mean, I don't know what else, what other explanation there is very disappointing, especially after what you mentioned. Seeing a guy that played like that towards the end of last year, and it's like, to me, it's very sad. I like the guy, and

it's seeing like somewhat of wasted talent. You know, I'd say this the cleaning crew that's here throughout the off season, they're probably confused because they're like, man, every time we come in and clean, we see Lance Lenore and Jordan Lewis, like the two guys that probably were here the most.

That doesn't always mean you're gonna get on the field and play, but I'm just saying, but these two guys were very, very dedicated all off season, and you would you would think that it would be better, you know, especially if strength is an issue. You can't predict. I mean, you know, they fired their DB's coach and brought in a new one, and I mean and chris Ter Shard has more control over the scheme than anybody in recent memory.

But so you can't predict that stuff. But it feels like a wasted resource at this point, like you spent a top one hundred pick on a guy that you don't even want to play. Yeah, the one snap he got was when Byron Jones was hurt. So very confusing, But that story to answer the question, it will be. I think it'll be all hands on deck because all three of those guys can do a little bit of everything.

He's gonna play this game, Jordan, Yeah, for what, Like why it's gonna for what you just said, There's gonna be more passing, there's gonna be more more stuff going on, and I think that you'll you'll probably need to rotate that a little bit more. I hope, so for his sake, Like, I mean, yeah, I penciled him as as a starter in the spring. And what makes you say that? Though? For me, I just think this type of offense that

they're gonna face that's more wide open, more passing. I think that you'll probably need to play more than three cornerbacks in this game. Maybe not against the um the Seahawks, or definitely not against the Seahawks who ran the ball thirty five times a lot of times. But I don't think that they're gonna run it through different times that they're gonna throw it forty times. And I think Jordan

Lewis will be just more involved. It's it's fine. I mean, I would the Lions are balanced for what they want to do, Like it's very not balanced, but if you can get ninety eight yards rushing when your quarterback is capable of doing what he's capable of. This is a very pass heavy attack. And I think, I mean, but that's why it's got to be on the linebackers, because if you let them have that in the running game, it's just gonna stretch you even thinner in the passing game.

All right, guys, this is all the time we have for today for Nick Inman, David Hellman. Remember your see how Derek wasn't here. But we'll be back tomorrow talking about the Detroit Lions defense versus the Cowboys offense. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.