Cowboys Break: The Tyron Factor

edition of The Break. We are alive from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star. Got Nick with me David Amber at their own homes. We're talking Cowboys football with you guys for about forty five minutes today, and Wow, there's a lot to get into as we get you guys ready for Cowboys versus Falcons. Last night news comes out,

I guess it was yesterday afternoon. News comes out about a few guys that missed practice, some big name guys, and we're gonna talk about those guys and what coach McCarthy had to say this morning about their status going into this game. We'll also get into a little conversation on the game itself. We've got a few questions for these guys that will get you ready and give you a preview of what they expect to see on Sunday

at noon at at and T Stadium. We'll also play a little bit, a little bit of I know, I think, I have no idea. I'm sure Amber has something great for you in that segment, and then we'll do some fan questions at some point in the show. Hopefully we will get to some fan questions. We have not been able to do much of that here on the break because we always got so much to get into, but hopefully we'll have a little time today to get to some of that and end the show with some predictions.

So let's talk about the injuries. There were three names that popped up on the injury report yesterday that I don't know if it shocked anybody else, but it definitely got an eyebrow raise from me Amari Cooper, Alden Smith, and the big one, Tyron Smith. Amari had a foot injury, Alden had a tooth, and Tyren Smith had a neck injury. Nick, tell me what we heard from coach McCarthy as far as what the injuries are for these guys and kind of what the expectation is at this point with regards

to them being ready for Sunday. Well, obviously, you know, coach McCarthy's not going to give anything that might let you know what what could have happened for Sunday at the game time decisions. I guess everybody is a game

time decision at this point. But I think that the Tyron thing is just concerning because it's the same injury or the same area of injuries that's happened with him before, and so you know, it's it reminds me a lot of the Marcus Ware situation a few years ago, when it was just always neck, shoulder, back, you know, elbow. Just it's the same thing with Tyron. So it's already a very very weak position and now it could get

even weaker. So you know, he's he's not above missing games at this point, and that's that's what's scary, and that him alone will affect you. If he's not out there, they have a hard time beating the Falcons. We've seen that before. Yeah, I've seen this thing play out when Tyren Smith doesn't play in the Cowboys play the Falcons. We saw what happened years ago. When that happened, Dave,

walk me through the scenarios here. I know obviously coach McCarthy was not willing to give scenarios, but walk me through in your mind what the scenarios are in the event that Tyran can't play. Yeah, they're not great, Bob, I'll tell you that. I mean, I think Terren Steele is probably he was predominantly a right tackle in college, so I don't think you mess with that. I think you probably leave him where he is. But if Tyrn can't go, Alex Light, who was just signed on Tuesday,

maybe has to play immediately. Like, I don't think you have a natural tackle on the roster who's healthy enough to do that other than him. Mike McCarthy said this morning that Connor Williams and Zach Martin have gotten snaps at tackle at some point point. I haven't seen that. Obviously, we don't get to see everything they do, but so you know, and maybe they emergency kick a guy out

over the weekend if Tyrant can't go. But he didn't want to get into specifics, but I would imagine it would be Alex Light or somebody playing out a position I'm not already know the answer to this question, but Ambra, I need you to tell me from your words, from your mouth, how comfortable you're feeling right now with all of this that we're hearing about Tyrn Smith. I think we can all agree on this one that it's a

huge concern. Yesterday you asked a question about steal and how we felt there, knowing that the Falcons were able to sack Russell Wilson three times in their previous game. So and yesterday I said, oh, you know, I'm fine with having steal there at the position, but then now you speak about another position, another side, important side. We know how games have gone when Tyren Smith is not on the field. So yes, I am very, very very concerned as to what could happen in this game, even

if he is able to play. I don't feel comfortable enough that he could hold up through a game, through a full game. And we always talk about how strong and what a beast Tyren Smith is and all the pain and all the endurance that he can take. But at the same time, there are certain things that you can't It doesn't matter how strong you are, your body just can't handle that. And I know that a month ago, I pulled my neck and it sucked, and that was just by me stretching. And it's still like I couldn't

moved for like a whole month. So so I cannot imagine just playing football and having to do everything that the position requires. So to answer your question, very very concerned. All right, I should. I'm sorry. I forgot to point out that Brandon Knight could also do it too. We taught. We had a conversation about that the other day where it seems like maybe this coaching staff views him more as a guard than a tackle. But given the circumstances that they're in, I would be shocked if they don't

give him a look if Tyrant can't go either. Yeah, Nick, of all the options that Dave is laid out there, which one do you think is the best option for the Cowboys in the event Tyrant can't play? I like, No, I don't like anything. I think Brandon Knight at left tackle, Terrence Steele at right tackle, lots of prayer and you know, I mean get the ball out quick, I guess. Yeah, so Mary Cooper and his in his healthy feet, Yeah, if I mean, I don't know. Here we are again,

with him, I mean, same thing. I mean, I know, if we're going into Mark Cooper, but this is a situation that we've dealt with with that before and I don't know if it's planar fasciitis or not, but here it is, you know, more foot feet problems for him. Well, I'll tell you this my first reaction when I saw the list, and then after I heard Coach McCarthy talking this morning to the media, my thought is that I think,

again I don't have any inside information on this. I think this Amari Cooper thing is more of than managing him more so than it is an injury. That he did go through the walk through today, which signals that they expect that he's going to be able to play. Alton Smith also was back. It was a tooth thing that he had to get done yesterday, so he was back today and find that it sounds like he's gonna play.

But it didn't seem to me like this was Amar certainly isn't in the same category as Tyrn in which you know, Coach McCarthy was saying with Tyrn like they are still assessing what's going on with him. So that doesn't sound good to me. But it sounded to me more with Amar that maybe this is just management. Did you guys get a similar impression or am I just kind of glossing over this a little too much? Dave, I completely agree with you. I you know, on the surf,

I'm not worried about a Mari. I think it's it's a management thing. He went through the mock game, which is what they call a walk through. But I will offer a rebuttal. And I hate to do this, but honestly, remind me of the Jets game last year because act like and I know it's not great, but people always

throw out twenty seventeen. The Cowboys have had injury problems at tackles a lot more recently than that, and against the Jets in twenty nineteen, they started Cam Fleming on the left side and Brandon Knight on the right side. They didn't have either starter against the Jets either. Another reason I bring this up is we were playing the will he won't He game with a Mari too, and he played and he got up after the second snap of the game and was like ah and didn't come

back in. So I'm not worried that a Mari is going to be available, But I don't blame anybody if they are just not rock solid confident that he's going to play every snap. I totally I get it. There's precedent there. But at least they have better death wife receiver. So at least you got other two guys that you can trust that theyn't make plays. But when you talk about the tackle position, whole different story there. And it look was if if you remember correctly, and yes, CD

Lamb is here. Yeah, but that was also the game that we were like, I thought Gallup was supposed to step up in this moment. Gallup did not play that well, you know, being that number one guy, and you know, but I think I think she's right. I mean CD in Gallup, and in Gallup I think is a better player than he was, you know, almost a whole year ago. So yes, better better options at receiver if that if if he doesn't play. But it's kind of what I mean,

what Dave said. We kind of alluded to it yesterday. Not having your top receiver or your top tackles, you can get beat by anyone, and they did. Yeah, and this is gonna be a tough one. And we talked yesterday. We talked to Bucky Brooks about that the pass rush for the Atlanta Falcons. It was a pass rush that was able to generate three sacks last week against Russell Wilson, who is not an easy quarterback to corral, by the way, and they were they were able to get three sacks.

And I do think that this is gonna be a bit of a problem for the Cowboys if if you can't get Tyren Smith out there to play, they're gonna it's gonna be a real real challenge to be able to slow down that pass rush this Sunday. Let's get into a good question. Sure, I just thought of this just now. But remember a few years ago when Shaun Lee wasn't on the field, what a mess the defense

was and they couldn't get it together. And then following that year they draft late in vander esh and Layton just kind of took over that role and kind of made everything peace together. How we I can't remember how we seen a game where we haven't been able to have neither Shawn Lee or Layton on the field. Has there been a game like that? That's a good question. It's a good question. I don't think so. Sean played in all sixteen games last year and started thirteen. So

I don't believe that is the case. No, that's it just it just makes me wonder, could we go back to those years where Okay, now you don't have these two guys that we're the ones that somehow we're gluing the defense together like that. That is just making me wonder how this defense it's gonna look, if even worse than what we saw last week. I mean we saw a lot of that last week. I mean for a good part of that game, you didn't have both of them, and the results were what they were. I mean, so yeah,

I think it's a great point. The only one thing to do play Luke Gifford. I mean, that's what you have to do at this point, right is that maybe to do? I see the pattern Sean Lee Late, venderish Luke Gifford. He could play what Big ten football? And late it's not him the Big ten. No, they're gonna have no. But I think Luke Gifford is gonna play. And I think he's gonna play. He's gonna have to play play a lot. It's gonna have to Like when you just said, well you gotta go to Luke Gifford.

My thought was, well, Doug, like, who else you got? Like, I don't think they got a lot of options here. Um at this point, put some respect on my man Joe's name. Yea, Joe will play Joel play. He's not gonna be the only I mean, they're gonna have to use other guys. They need some support there at linebacker. Cut them on draft on cutdown day, they don't. I mean, I mean I think they did that as they did. That was an accounting decision, that was an administrative like

he was never gonna be actually cut. Yeah, but anyway, but they I mean, there are It is amazing to me that at this point in the season, week two, you have that many positions that we thought going into the season were positions that look pretty good on paper, and all of a sudden, you're just like, I don't know what they're gonna do. You don't know what's going to happen at tackle, you don't know what's going to happen at linebacker. I mean, it's just like this is

not tight end. Like these are positions that that you thought they had a little something going and now it's just it's not that way. And you could say that's just the NFL. I think this is a little bit more than just the NFL. This is a I don't know if we've seen this level of key players going down this early in the season, not that I recall in a long time. I mean, I think at this point, if Tyron doesn't play, I think you have to look

at your options of Connor Williams and Zach Moore. I mean to say, all right, start practicing and move over there, because we'll see if Connor McGovern, a third round pick, can can fill in, you know, if if it's something that seems like this could be some long term issues, exactly, play him at guard and and just kind of see if you can get your best five on the field

at this point. I know. But McCarthy was asked that question this one does he you know, how does he feel about that and trying to correct one position with two, and he said he doesn't like it. But I don't know if you have a lot of options. Well, let's go back to Connor Williams being drafted. I thought that he was a first round pick for the most part of the draft like process, and then I mean, am I wrong? I mean, you did a documentary on him, and Amber and Dave. You were there at the Pro days.

I believe that year. Did he drop in in where he thought he was gonna go? Was he expected to go fifty? I mean, I think every player thinks they're a first round pick. I wasn't surprised by where they got him. I mean, people talked about him as a fringe, maybe a fringe first round guy, but media evaluations aren't always dead on anyway. I you know, maybe he could have gone a little bit higher, but I wasn't super

shy by where he went. I think the reason why I'm asking I'm asking this is because maybe he's not really a tackle. You know, That's what kind of dropped him. He played tackle, he was a really good player all conference and all that. But then it's like he's not really a tackle. He's more of a guard, which will drop you in your in your grading system because obviously tackles get graded higher than the guard. So that's that's

my point. Maybe he was never really a tackle. Anyways, he played it, but you know, Leonard Davis played it too. Gallery I think from the from the raiders they play, they get drafted high when the end of the day. It's like you're really a guard and that's that's what maybe the cases for Connor. But then the question becomes, Kenny play it better than the likes of somebody that got here on Tuesday. Kenny played it better than you know.

You start going down a list of guys that they got left at this point, and that's where you say, he may not be the best at it, but he may be the best you got. And uh, and I don't know, Like right now, Copleys don't have a lot of options at tackle. Let's just be honest. I don't have a lot of a lot of options. And I don't think they have a single option I feel great about, But I don't even know if they have options. I feel good about what you just said. Hey, he played

he got here a week ago. Okay, but that means time that would be still a week earlier than Tyring and then Connor Williams got here at tackle. Maybe I mean about the same. Maybe I mean honest, again, I don't know what they do when the media is not there. As far as getting him ready, I have no idea, but no window I know, right, But but I guess the point of it is though, is that I just don't know that right now I feel good about these other options, and by the way, I wouldn't feel great

about the option of of Connor either. I'm just saying, you don't have a lot of options right now, and so to me, you look at every option and you try to exploit every option, and you look for whatever advantage you can get if there is one. At this point of taking one of those guys and acclimating him to the left tackle position in the event that Tyran can't play, We're gonna take our first break. When we

come back, We're gonna talk some game preview. I have some questions for these guys about some different aspects of the game coming up this weekend. We'll when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor pep and cream Soda. Is he a new combone

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The Break. We are off from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Stark at Dave Helmett, Amber Garcia at their homes and we're talking Cowboys versus Falcon for the remainder of the show. Again, if you have some questions, go ahead and shoot him out. You can hit Amber on Twitter, you can hit me on Twitter, you can hit the Cowboys break at Cowboys Break Twitter and send us some questions and we'll try to get to some.

In the third segment of the show. Here's my first question for you, guys about the game, and this is a this is kind of a before you get into the game, it's kind of the pregame. But I'm interested. I heard somebody say this earlier this week, and it was at first I kind of just dismissed it because I believe so fervently in one way. But I wanted to get your opinions on this. So Mike McCarthy this last week decided he wanted to defer after winning the

coin toss. We've said on this show, I think we all agreed on this show last year we didn't understand why Jason wouldn't defer way more, if not all the time, because it just gives you that opportunity going into the second half to be able to maybe score before the half and get a double score coming out back out of half. But all that being said, if this team, if we agree also that this team is built to be able to play with the lead, that the defense is the kind of defense, that the strength of it

is about the pass rush. And so if you can put a team in an opponent in a situation where they're having to throw the ball, you give your defense and advantage. Then what the Cowboys in a situation like that, actually prefer to take the ball after if they win the coin toss as opposed to deferring. Nick. I'll go to you first, what are your thoughts? Well, my thoughts

are like, who is saying this question? You? Like, because I thought for sure that you had like this quadratic formula out there, of like you thought that this was not me I heard from somebody else. Okay, But but and like I said, as I set it up, I was actually I have immediately kind of dismissed it. But then I came back and thought about it and said, huh, I wonder Okay, I me personally when I'm going to

sit down in my seat. When I you know, we used to be sitting in the press box together and you're like, oh, so long you cowboys have the ball first to start the game. You're kind of like, okay, cool if whatever the score is. When you walk back into your seat the third quarter, like cuts get the ball, it just seems like a bigger deal. Do you have

the ball or not? Before it's kind of like, yeah, okay, that's nice, But in the third quarter it's better, So I think it's I wouldn't say it's fifty fifty, I'd say it's sixty forty better to have the ball in the third quarter. That's what I think, regardless of need to get up to a fast lead and all that stuff. Timber. If it was always, if it was up to me, I would always choose to get the ball in the second half of the game and get that going. Now, it's hard for me to fully form an opinion based

on this first game because I remember that. I guess you should be able to suit it depending on how your team is performing or going. Like do the Cowboys have slow starts again this year? We've seen it in the past. If that was the case, then I would rather have them get the ball in the second half of the game. But if there were a team that do go out there score points in the first drive, like get the ball moving and going, then in that scenario, I would be like, Okay, why not, let's just get

them going in the first quarter of the game. But as of right now, I think that I would just go with getting the ball in the second half. Dave, I don't. I don't think you're crazy. For whatever it's worth, I actually thought about bringing this up on Tuesday, be for the same reasons. And for the record, the twenty sixteen Cowboys, I think that was a pretty big part of their success. They started with the ball a lot

that year. They scored a lot of opening drive points, and I think it allowed them to dictate a lot of games. But there's just way too many There's way too many variables. You know, if you could guarantee me they're gonna get points every time, sign me up, but you can't. You might, you might have a freak turnover on the first play of the game, and now you've you've ruined the rest of the flow of the game for one drives. There's just too much stuff that can

go wrong. And I would way or rather have the peace of mind of knowing that I can start the second half of the ball right. We're gonna go to the next question. If Dallas does one thing better in week two than they did in week one, what would you think it would have the biggest impact And how likely is this to happen. Let's start first with you, Dave, convert third downs. If they convert more third downs, they win that game the other night, even and they were

still outplayed. But stay on the field longer, help your defense obviously convert more scoring opportunities. I mean, three of thirteen is ridiculous. I mean this team was third I think in the league and third down conversions last year. They converted like forty four percent, So to drop all the way down to twenty three is pitiful, and it's so low that I think it has a good chance of being better going forward. Like that, that's they won't be that bad every week. There's too much talent for

them to be that bad. So do that better and you've got a lot of way better opportunity to win the game. Do you think what's the likelihood you think that will happen? I think it's very likely because it's there. That's that is an aberration that is startlingly low. There's no way that an offense with this many good players on it will consistently convert twenty three percent of their third downs. Like if that stays that way, everybody needs to find new jobs. Like everybody should get fired, all

like the quarterback. That's there's no no, not us, no, of course, not everybody, but some people. Twenty twenty three percent with what they have on offense is unacceptable and it'll get better, just as a virtue of statistics. All right, Amber, score more points. I mean, I know that's a simple and obvious answer, but you just need to have them score more points for you. I I expect this offense

regardless of what's going on at the old line. I still expect the offense to play better and to be able to carry the game because I trust them more or I rely more on what they have talent wise than what the defense is currently doing. So they just need to be able to get into end zone and score more points. Figure out and with everything that's happening, I would hope to see more of Zeke and Tony Potter being used at the same time and taking advantage

of those two guys. So that's what I would say, Just figure out a way to keep scoring. Nick, Yeah, I mean I do think Dave is read on with the third you know, with the third downs, and then if that happens, then I think they stay on the field. And I think, you know, Amber's right, they score more. I mean, so I think both of those are the key. I would also just say get better in the red zone. I believe they were there four times and they got

seventeen points. I mean, you get in the red zone four times, you hope to get twenty eight, and twenty eight obviously wins that game, so you know, even twenty one could win the game. So if you've got three touchdowns there, so you know, I think red zone, you know, red zone, third down, all that stuff is gonna lead to two more points. All right, here's my final question in the game preview. If the Cowboys lose, the primary

reason will be blank Amber. I mean, I can't just say the same answer that I just use because they weren't able to score points. No, But if the Cowboys lose, the primary reason would be I mean, it's nothing more obvious as that one than just not being able to get points and getting in the end zone. Hopefully the defense's able to help out a little bit and help detain or contain the Falcon's offense a little better than they did last week against the Rams. So it's just

that if they lose, is because they just score. Now, all right, I'm gonna challenge you a little bit there if they did no, no no, no, But I'm gonna challenge a little bit there if they don't score. What will be the reason they don't score? If they don't, well, Dak was getting pressure all the time. Kellen Moore didn't utilize his mobile quarterback, let him get out of the pocket a little more and to buy him an extra

little seconds, buy him more time. I just think that if that doesn't happen, it's because Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy weren't able to plan accordingly to what they currently have on the team and the issues that they're going through this week. Accepted that exactly. No, that was good, that was perfect. That's what I need to hear now, Nick, thanks for challenging me there, all right, if they don't, if they don't win, say if they lose, tell me

why they will lose, Nick olil Jones, it's a good one. Now, I'll say. I'll say Calvin Ridley. Honestly, Julio is gonna get his his you know, his catches and his yards and all that. And I think we know that whatever match up the Cowboys have, I don't think Dion's coming out of retirement, so I don't they don't have anybody that could cover him just by himself. But it's it's Calvin Ridley. If it's that's a problem too. If Julio and the other guy, you know, and then and then

then they're just playing downhill all the time. If they if they get that thing rolling and nobody can really stop anybody on that on that receiver receiving trio for the Falcons, that that's gonna be a problem. So uh, you know, usually you have a plan for the best guy. You can take your chances with the others. But you know, it's it's like when the you know, when the Lakers back when Derek Fisher and Robert Orley or were hitting shots, that was over because you know, Kobe and Shack were

getting there, but the other guys are hitting. Yeah, so that's the other guys, Dave. If the Cowboys lose, the primary reason will be blank because Dak got killed. Um that I mean, Nick, Nick makes a great point, But I I I care what happens when the Falcons have the ball, Like I just chalk that up as damage control. Like, I'll be shocked if twenty points is I'll be shocked if twenty points is good enough to win this game. And I you know, I probably would have said that

about the Rams game. So you never know. But I just think you're probably gonna need at least twenty eight if not thirty one or thirty five points to beat this team, and if they lose, it's because Dak got murdered in the offense couldn't do what it's supposed to do, probably because of protection issues. That would be my guess. All right, let's go ahead and take our final break. When we come back, we're going to do a little bit.

I know, I think I have no idea, and then we'll hopefully get a question or two before we in the show. We'll be right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio since eighteen sixty five. Stetson Hats are American maid with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Want to show your Texas and Team pride two You can by purchasing your own stetson. You can look just like how the flag guys do on field at every

home game. Stetson Hats the official crown of all self respecting Cowboys and your favorite football team. Get yours today at shop Dallas Cowboys dot com or at Stetson dot com. I'm Jay Novachek, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, back in the day, I was the guy who always got the tough yards, and that's why I run with John Deer today. In fact, I have a John Deer three zero twenty five E tractor that can handle any yard work I need to do, even the tough yards

way out back. So if you have one acre or a thousand, John Deer has the equipment that's just right for you, Visit a John Deer dealer today and run with us. We are the official tractor provider of your Dallas Cowboys. Want to use what the pros use? How about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of cowboys locker room favorites, for just

ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Clack skincare favorites, plus a full sized and tense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code word team JB. That's get Jack Black dot com Slash Cowboys the Jack Black Starter ten bucks, free shipping. We're batting in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor pepe and Cream Soda. Is he a new comboe Let's music to

my ears? Okay, Doctor music to my ears and mouth new Doctor pepper and Cream Soda. Delas just back to the break. Coming to the game this weekend, make sure you know before you go, wear a mask, keep distant, be prepared for cashless transactions. Plus, be aware of all safe stadium policies prior for arriving at AT and T Stadium. Visit Dallas Cowboys dot com slash safe Stadium for details. It'll be so nice this weekend to be at a

game and there's gonna be fans there. I just I'm looking forward to that cash less, this cash lest So make sure if you're going, make sure you be a problem for most people. Right. I don't even I don't even carry cash anymore. I don't even remember the last time I paid for something in cash. Yeah, but of course there'll be somebody that, you know, the old school people that I gotta go to ATM going to the game. Got my money clip? I mean, what am I gonna

do a money clip if I don't have cash? Yeah, anyway, it'll be fun to have some like you said, have some fans there. It absolutely well and we all will be there as opposed to last week when jess Nick was there, so it'll be a lot of fun. We'll enjoy a good game Sunday afternoon at at and T Stadium. Let's play our little game here. I know, I think, I have no idea. I'm gonna start first, and I'm gonna throw my all three of mine out and then we're gonna go through and we're gonna have eat. You

guys go with each one year. I know, then you'r I think, and then you're I have no idea. So I know Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley will put up big yards this weekend. I think Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and Ceedee Lamb will also put up big yards. I have no idea if Dak will survive day. Hey, let's go with you. How do you know? What do you think and what do you have? No idea? Well, I'll let me go out of order real quick. I think I think Tyrone Smith will be able to give it

a go. M just a hunch based on his own toughness slash. You know what we're hearing that. You know it's it's manageable from inside the building. I have no idea what it's going to look like though, because again I mean, give it a go doesn't necessarily mean play great or play all sixty five seventy snaps m Despite it. Having said all of that, I think the Dallas offense will look better this week than it did last week. Like like I keep saying, like twenty seventeen against Atlanta

has burned into all of our brains. I get it, but it is possible to play effectively without your starting offensive tackles, like teams do it all the time. I think it'll look better than it did then, even if it doesn't look great. All right, Amber, you want to give us here, I know, I'm okay, I'll give you

guys all of it. Then I know I know that the Cowboys have talent, and this is it might go against everything that we keep talking about, the death and having backup guys who can step up to the position. But at the same time, I just I know there's talent there, enough talent to make it happen. I know that these experienced coaches who have many, many years for many experience years. I think that they can make it

happen and figure out what to do. They should be able to figure out what to do and accommodate everything to make it work and play better in week two than they did in week one. With that being said, I think they can play better in this game. I think they should be able to score more points in this upcoming game. But a big thing that I just don't know is if one week is enough time for them to fix the issues that they've had on defense. That's interesting, Okay, Nick, Um, I know Dak is gonna

play really well this week. I mean, he's gonna have big numbers. Um. I just just think the way the nature of the game will be and his guys, even even with the injuries, you know, I do think I know that Dak will have a good game. I think will be talking on Monday about how I'm surprised we were with Dalton Schultz is play. I think Dalton's I think Dalton Schultz will play well, or at least play way better than he did before. I have no idea if it'll be enough, because I just just the way

things are and that defense and the struggles. I mean, I'm gonna pick that that it will be. But I really have no idea. So that just tells you about where my gut is right now. I have no idea. All right, Dave, let's look back around to you. I don't. I think you gave us two I thinks and didn't give us an eye know or a or a. I have no idea. So what are your others? I think it's easy. I thought I he did. You weren't listening there? He did all three? Yeah, he did. I'm sorry. I

thought he gave us a couple of things. I already I already. I think Tyron's gonna play. Yeah, I know, I yeah, I think Tyron's gonna play. I know that the offense will look better than they did last week. I think that one too. Okay, good, I don't look, I don't. I don't feel great about this game. Let's not the game we're playing, like the game on Sunday afternoon. I don't. There's a lot of a lot of variables there. Done it always like I know Julio Julio Jones has

a hamstring injury. But like Nick jokes about this all the time, like you just you just know that the opponent's gonna find a way to figure it out. Meanwhile, you're like, our guys won't though, our guys, it never works out, And that the way it is. That's why I feel about a two point conversion. If it's my team that's trying to play defense, you know, I'm just like, God, that's like it's like two yards, that's nothing you could walk in. But if you're on offense, you're like, oh

my god, that's like eternity over there. You know. It's just the way your perspective is. All right, So here's what we're gonna do. Let's like a few questions. Amber, what do we have from from our our listeners? Okay, I have this one just for the fun of it. I think it was this previous week that it was going around social media the whole. I forgot who did it first. Maybe it might have been Scooter mcgreger or however you say his name. Sorry about the idea of

having Des Bryant playing tight end for the Cowboys. So just for the fun of it, because I see several people mentioning it. Uh, wanted to get your thoughts and input in this whole idea has actually responded to Scooter, Wait, what I just said, Jersey, good question. I don't. I mean, I can't wear eighty eight. Oh well, just make it

interesting he could wear, he could wear like ten. Um hEDS responded to Scooter and was like, I don't think I could put my hand on the ground, but like I can line up, you know, in line in the slot type of deal, like you know, like that ten fourth receiver at this point like that, Yeah, I ain't doing you any good that I If that's what you want, then just get no one Brown to do it. That's how I feel. I don't think you need to bother

with that. Yeah, I mean the point is, and I think I saw quite a few fans jumping on the bandwagon. I think it's part. It's it's it's a lot of that just because people loved it. And I get it, like fans just loved it. I think he's an all time favorite player for for a lot of Cowboys fans, So I get that. But I think when you look at it, just from a logical standpoint in theydon and I wanted to tweet, have you guys ever seen a tight end, an NFL tight end in person like Dez

is not even close to that? From a body standpoint of him being able to do that job. He just doesn't have the body to do that. And that's nothing against Dez. That's just he can't. He even said, as you said, Dave, saying he can't. He couldn't put his hand on the ground there, you know, on the you know, at the end of the offensive line, like that's just not something that he's built to be able to do.

So it doesn't really Again, what he was saying he could do is basically, I can be your fourth wide receiver. They already have a fourth wide receiver. They got a fifth wide receiver. It's just not there's not much there. Dez isn't doing the things that he did. I mean, the things that made him dead are the ones that he against the Packers or Detroit when he would go up over people that game against the Saints where he

did it. He's just he's just like he used to tweet it every time, just like I'm better than you. I'm just better than this. Yeah I did. I didn't run a great route. I just ran to the back corner of the end zone. The balls there and guess why, I'm better than you. And I caught it that doesn't happen as anymore. I don't think that that would happen anymore. And I just it is what it is, and it's this respectful to the tight end position. To I just think that, Oh, you know, people think all the time

if you're a slower corner, move them to safety. There's more to it than that. You can't just say if I'm a slower wide receiver, I can play tight end to get killed by defensive linemen. All right, Next question Nimber looking at the at the calendar for this year and the opponents, should the Cowboys be focused more on winning this during this first half of the season, is that it's basically it's the first half of the season more important than the second half, or which one would

be more important based on the opponents. I have to go, I don't think there's I I think that. I mean, it's it's a misguided it's a misguided concept. And I mean, I like I can hear Brian broad Is shouting like they're all they're all important, They're all important, which they are at it they're that doesn't matter because like literally like look back to last year, I was even guilty

of it. I was like oh, Cowboys are three, and oh they have to like they really gotta make hay against these next few opponents, because the Saints didn't have breeze and the Jets are terrible, and the Packers had injuries and guess what, they lost all of them, like, so that just doesn't matter. I remember, I this has burned into my brain as a kid. In two thousand and two, the New Orleans Saints started six and two and missed the playoffs. Like it's just like that, anything

can happen. You never know who's gonna be good or bad, or when you're gonna lose or whatever. I don't subscribe to that belief at all. Sorry, you know, I'll say this. I'm looking at the schedule right now. This is not like I guess the way you asked it, But to me, the middle part of the schedule seems to be the toughest. You look at that stretch between October nineteenth and November twenty second, you're playing the fount I I'm sorry, the Cardinals.

You're playing the Washington football team at Washington. You're playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Philadelphia. You're playing the Steelers at home, and then you're going on a road to play the

Minnesota Vikings. That to me is probably one of the tougher stretches of the season, when you're talking about a five game stretch, even more so than the beginning, the three game stretch, or the end where you got San Francisco and you got Baltimore there, but you also got Cincinnati and you know, another game against the Eagles at home and in the game against the Giants. I think the middle part is probably even tougher than maybe the beginning or the end. Well, I think what I thought

the question was was going to be. I thought that's where she was going was the fact that you know, this is a unique year obviously where the end of the season might be different than it is right now going I mean because going to Minnesota later in the year, it might be a completely different atmosphere than what Aaron Rodgers had to do in Week one, because that thing was silent, it was nothing. It wasn't like going on

the road. So I wonder as the months go on and these states start to open up more things and realize, why why are we not hitting budget this year? Oh? Because you don't, You're not making any money. It's like, well, let's open some things up and not again. The reason to do it is to be safe. Yeah, I'm just saying, but if things start to get where we start to reopen things and now playing on the road is much tougher, that could be different. So get these wins on the road.

You lost an opportunity with the silent stadium against the Rams. I actually think this weekend and what's going to happen at and T Stadium will set a tone for what's going to happen by November of this year around the league. If the Cowboys are able to have a whatever percentage they're going to have out there, and everything goes well and there is no spike in the city of Dallas in COVID cases, I expect that there are going to be other teams, like you said, Nick, that are gonna say, huh,

maybe we should consider putting a certain percentage. If our city is allowing us to do it, maybe we should put a certain percentage of fans in the stands and just kind of grow from there. And I think as that happens, and if it happens and there are no bad repercussions from it, then I think that's going to

continue to grow. So you're right, by the second half of the year, some of these stadiums that are empty and silent right now may have a certain percentage of fans in them and maybe a much harder environment to go into and play. And I say that, and then I'll speak up the other side of my mouth and go, it's twenty percent of any stadium really gonna affect anything. But here's the deal. Let's assume it's twenty percent. And this is an assumption. Let's assume it's twenty percent for

the Cowboys this weekend if everything goes well. What makes you think that if the governor allows it and the city municipalities allow it, that by middle of the season it's not fifty percent, and maybe by the end of the season it's not seventy five percent. All I'm saying is this all keeps growing if everything goes well, right, and you got to go to Seattle in two weeks. They've been piping in crowd noise for years, so they're very adept at it. All right, guys, we appreciate you

joining us real quick before we end the show. I do need to get the predictions what you guys think are gonna happen for this week's game, Amber, I see that look on your face. I'm gonna go to you first, telp me who's gonna win this game with the final score? Why don't you give me this question? I shoot, I just picked both outcomes you used to do? Hey, I only did that once? Right now? Okay, okay, I think that if shure, if it wasn't because of the injuries,

I would pick the Cowboys to win. But because of the injuries, I am very concerned at that and what that's gonna do for the Cowboys. So I don't think that they end up winning this game and they lose to the Falcons, probably like twenty four twenty eight something like that. All right, Nick, I'll go with the twenty eight for the Falcons, but I do think the Cowboys

are gonna get some more points here. I've been asked like twice on different shows to pick during the week, which I don't you know, I don't like because I like to wait till the last minute to pick these. So that's what a true gut feeling is. So I already have picks out there. So I went thirty eight twenty eight. That didn't really know that some of the injuries there, but I'll stick with it. I think the Cowboys will play well. Hopefully they get the Falcons blocked

up front. Thirty eight twenty eight. All right, Dave, uh let me okay, I mean I hate everything I'm about to say. Let's just put it that way. UM, I don't feel good, you know, with the with the injuries, the possibility that Tyron might not be there, uh Amari Layton Jarwin. But uh, this, this is this is a no. I don't want to hear excuses. Basically, you know, I'm I'm the DAK champion, Dak's gunning for a new contract.

Make it work, DAK new coaching staff. You know, so much hype all offseason about how experienced they were, how smart they were, you know, one hundred and fifty years of coaching expertise. Make it work, figure it out, do something. Um, if there's if they're as good as we think they might be, maybe they can weather this and find a way to win, you know, h thirty thirty one to thirty, just by the skin of their teeth. Because I don't actually believe what I'm saying. All right, I am going

to cheat. Um, I am going to give you two different scores. I'm gonna do it. And the reason why I'm gonna do it because I think it's fair in the situation. Because I do think it matters a great deal whether Tyren Smith plays or not. If Tyren Smith does not play, I think Atlanta wins going away. I think they win thirty one seventeen. If Tyren Smith does play, I think it's a high scoring close game. Cowboys win thirty four or thirty one. That's how much of a

difference Tyron Smith makes. It's one thing if you got Lyle Collins on the other side and you're having to play without Tyren Smith. It's a whole different thing. If you got Tarn Steele on the right side, and now you got put question mark there of who's going to be on the left side, and you know it's not gonna be Tyrn I don't think. I think that's the straw that breaks the Campbell's back in this instance, I think the Cowboys will have a hard time doing anything

on offensive. Both their tackles are guys that are that are inexperienced and don't have the level of skill that the Cowboys are accustomed to playing with. When their passing game is predicated on being able to get the ball downfield, so appreciate you guys. Join us. We'll be back on Monday. We'll tell you what went right and what went wrong for the Dallas Cowboys. Still then for Nick Eatman, Dave Hellman, Amber Garcia. I am Derek Eagleton. This has been The

Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.