Cowboys Break: Won't Be "Easy"

The Break. We're live the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. Got Nick and Dave dating back with us today, Right, we get a bonus a day of Danny special guest. Yeah, so it should be fun here. We got a lot to talk about. This is I think the first week that we've been doing this show this season where where we're going to have our look at the opponent, and it actually feels like there's a lot to talk about when you talk about all the personnel that they have.

Dave's gonna have his breakdown of the Saints offense and we'll get into that today. Tomorrow we'll talk about their defense. But when you start going through this thing, there are a lot of guys that you have to talk about, a lot of guys that can be potential weapons for this team, probably more than any other team that we've

that the Cowboys have faced this season. We'll get into that in just a second before we go there, though, I did want to talk first about a couple of guys that are coming back from injuries, a couple of guys that are still on the injury report. Catch us up on Xavier Woods and Tavon Austin. We'll let Dave did that. They're both at practice, good both. I mean, they're both expected to be limited. But you know, if you're a veteran and you're practicing on Wednesday, it's always

a good sign. That's where they're at. Yeah, I mean, like, well, you got to watch it for the rest of the week. But you know, we talked about it yesterday. The four to six week prognosis for Xavier Woods looks pretty faulty. Yeah, I mean, it's been less than two and he's practicing again, so keep an eye on him. But if you're a veteran and you're practicing on Wednesday, that's usually a really good sign. Antoine Woods and tarn Crawford. Tarn Crawford not

practicing and that's not surprising. Luke Gifford it's back, and that is a little not surprising. I mean, it makes sense, but it's just kind of out of sight, out of mind, Like haven't seen him since he heard his ankle in San Francisco. That was August tenth. Been a long time. So he's out there practice brain right, Yeah, which looked like a broken ankle that was coming off. I mean, but you know, the interesting part there is they kept him on this team for the whole time, you know,

and I know they've talked about it a lot. That kept him on the training camp roster. They he had made the team. I think that was probably the most expensive interception ever to get an interception and then get hurt like that, because like, okay, you're on the team, you're done enough to be here. But to be here, he's probably they're expecting him to be a special teams guy, may be active. So I'm I'm interested to see when he gets healthy, is he going to have a role

on special teams and whose spot does he think? Yeah, it's funny the nature of this thing because back at training camp, it's like he's so impressive. He's this undrafted rookie linebacker and he already made the team even though he can't practice. And now it's like, well, this is the guy that they've did all this work to hold onto. Like,

let's see something. And I'm not saying that he's going to start or anything, but for all of the work that they did to keep him on this team, you wouldn't think that he's going to live up to those expectations, even if it's just as a special teamer. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see as time goes on what his role will be and how much they can work him in. Obviously, this is a team that's very, very deep the linebacker position, so really special teams becomes his opportunity if he's going

to get me play any real significant playing time. So let's move on. Let's talk about the New Orleans Saints. Let's start. Dave, give us your your breakdown of this fence and what you've seen as you started looking at the tape on these guys. Did you watch the game on Sunday? I did? Did you watch it? Danny? Yes? Nick? So, yeah, Alvin Kamara is really really good football player. Yeah, that's

I mean, that's really my that's my breakdown. M not really, but if you watch that game, not surprisingly with a backup quarterback in the game who hasn't started in three years, they really took the pressure off of Teddy Bridgewater and put it all on Alvin Kamara. I would venture a guest I don't cover the Saints, I would venture a guest that that is the most they have ever leaned on him, and he delivered. He did it all for them.

He had ninety two rushing yards, no, ninety two receiving yards, excuse me, and he caught what nine passes sixty sixty six or sixty nine rushing yards. I've got it for you, sorry, on sixteen attempts, which was interesting because in the previous two games he'd averaged thirteen. He had thirteen carries on both those two games at sixteen in this game, sixteen little bit of an increase, not a huge increase. Sixteen carries for sixty nine yards and a touchdown. Really nice

output on his part. Nine receptions for ninety two yards and another touchdown. Brought this up in Jason Garrett's press conference. The amazing thing is, honestly, he would have had a pretty pedestrian day. If the Seahawks could have gotten him on the ground. I mean, if you watch the tape of this game, he is banging off linebackers, dragging safeties. He dragged Jadeveon Clowney at one point in this game,

a sixteen yard run right up the gut. Clowney grabs onto his waist and he just carries him for like five yards. He's like, that's cool. Number one overalls, like you just described Jerome Bettis's career honestly average. If they would have gotten him on the ground. You you said it yesterday. Is like the perception because of what they asked him to do, is that he's like a scap back, like you know, Darren Sproles was so successful in New Orleans.

It's just not true. Jason Garrett said it today. Heat two hundred and fifteen pounds. He was running between the tackles and these are not like, yeah, these are not bad players that he was demolishing. Like Bobby Wagner and kJ Wright are fantastic linebackers, and he made them look really bad. He scored from thirty two yards out on a It was like third and thirteen. It was a clear out screen, like let's see if we can get

in position for a fuel goal. And it's right before the half and he just he dragged half the defense and scored a touchdown. This is so exciting, really is because Steven Jones said that Tony Pollard is Alvin Kamara just going to be Alvin Kamara, Right, Yeah, he did say that. So this is what Tony Pollard's going to be to get I wanna and you mentioned it, You mentioned it like this is an offense with a lot

of talent on it. Just in general though, and honestly, I don't think the Saints get enough credit for what they've done on their offensive line, Like everybody gives the Cowboys so much credit. Just looking at it, you start to Ron Armstead that left tackle, he's a third round pick. Andrews Pete at left guard who was drafted to be a tackle, but he's a first round pick playing guard. Eric McCoy was their first pick in the second round.

I believe in the high or in the low thirties. Like, he's a very good second round pick out of Texas A and m Larry Warford. They got it in free agency, but he was a high draft pick. Back in his day. And then Ryan Ramchick, which everybody talks about t J. Watt. Ryan Ramchick was drafted thirty first overall in that draft, which you know, I think the Cowboys are happy with Lyle Collins, but they could have gotten themselves a Pro Bowl caliber wright tackle as well. You know, you know

you watched Inside the NFL at all. They it's Michael Irvin's on it now, I think filling in for ray Lewis. But Phil Sims said yesterday or he said it on the show, that the Saints have the best offensive line of football better than Dallas, and he actually picked the Saints to win the game just because of that. Now, yes,

he doesn't like the Cowboys. What he's the anti Irvin when it comes to that, But he did say Dallas is the number two team in the NFL as far as overall team, but he thinks this Sael win because of their line. Their offensive line is really impressive. Michael Thomas is awesome, trey Quon Smith is a third round slot number three receiver, and then you've got Ted Ginnu still run and they can still run. Where do I

want to start? Which, Okay, if you go watch this game, though, it was like it was a perfect storm for Teddy Bridgewater to succeed because their undrafted punt returner Deante Harris returns a punt for a touchdown for an early lead from the get Fifteen minutes later they break a seven seven tie with a defensive touchdown. Chris Carson fumbles for Seattle, so you get fourteen of your thirty three points from

your defense and special teams. And then the rest of this was trying to not put this game on Teddy Bridgewater. I've said this a few times, but I retweeted it earlier this week. Somebody cut up every completion, all right, No, actually every throw of Teddy Bridgewater's game. He threw one hundred and seventy seven yards, which should lead you to know this was dink and dunk city, Like I think. I counted three balls that went further than fifteen yards downfield.

Michael Thomas five catches for fifty four yards. I wrote this down last night. Where's he at? Where are you at? Michael Thomas crossing route for I checked three reception quickly, a quick slant to pick up a third and fourteen, a ten yard out route, an eight yard curl six yard crossing route and then his touchdown was a bubble screen on the goal line where he caught it at the half inch line and fell into the end zone. Which I don't blame Michael Thomas for this. I think

it's just smart play calling. You talk about putting your quarterback in a position to succeed. Again. You know, Drew Brees is a guy that can manipulate the pocket, throw down the seams, put the ball anywhere he wants to. Teddy Bridgewater is not that guy, at least not in his first start in three years on the road, and they played that way, and it's amazing to me, you know, I know Alvin Kamara is really good, but it's amazing

to me that it worked that well. That's my main impression from this game is they were like, let's manufacture as many touches as we can for this running back and see how far he can carry us. And he carried them to a pretty lopsided win. I know they won by six, but Seattle scored that last touchdown literally

on the last play of the game. And one of the interesting things in my opinion about that is when you look at Seattle, I would think the part of their defense that's probably the best at this point is their linebackers. And so you would think a game where the Saints come in and say we're going to rely on this running game, you would think that that flies in the face of what Seattle does the best. And you're right, they were getting just like blown away. I

mean I was. I was shocked on one play with kJ Wright just basically got got bulldozed and and I was like, that's that's kJ right. I mean like it just didn't it didn't play the way I thought it would play. And it made me think again, going back to what you were saying about this offensive line. I think they're a big part of it, but I think Kamar also runs with some power and teams have to be aware of that. Yeah, but you know, grows to sixteen times for sixty nine yards. I mean we're not

talking about, you know, a great day. Actually, now, he that's not what those nine catches, yeah, and a lot of those are round the line of scrimmage and he's making plays and all that. I look back at this game and think that, you know, Russell Wilson and and then saying the Seattle offense didn't do what they needed to do early. And so that's what the Cowboys. If they can put Bridgewater in a situation where you just can't denk and dunk like this, you're gonna have to

throw it. And that's what Seattle didn't wasn't able to do. And I do think that's that's important. Is I mean fourteen I think the Saints went into Yeah, Saints went in a half time with twenty points. Fourteen of them came from defense and special teams. They get down, they get into the end zone in the last possession of the first half. I think that's huge, just putting them up and allowing them to play this conservative game plan,

because I agree with you, they do have weapons. But like all right, outside of Kamara, this is this is what they did on offense. Bridgewater scrambled three times for twelve. Taysom Hill had a gadget run for five. Latavius Murray, who they brought in to be their new ingram. I don't think that's going to happen, by the way. I just whether he's just lost it or whether Kamara is just that good. He carried the ball two times for two yards. Zach Lyne, their fullback, came in on the

goal line and got stuffed. In the receiving game, you got Thomas and Kamara. Then after that, Ted Ginn caught two balls for fifteen yards, Jared Cook caught one for seven, Hill had a gadget catch for five yards, and then Josh Hill, their tight end, had one catch for four yards. Like lots of star power up here. And then honestly, I don't like, they don't have anybody else that really scares me. And I think it would be different if

Drew Brees was there because he can make anybody look good. Well, the one thing I went through out there, I think you have to remember that they were on the road and playing in one of the loudest stadiums in the league with this new quarterback. So I would say that that's gonna be a little bit of a different situation than them playing in the Dome. And the one thing I know about their head coach, he is a guy that knows how to manufacture offense using a lot of

different weapons. And so we were there years ago when I remember a fullback that I don't even remember the dude's name, but he just crazy over out boys Carney, Yeah, and it was it Carney. I don't know who it was. It was. It was a fullback, and the point was the point I'm making about Yeah, the point I'm making about that is this isn't you want to talk about all these young guys in the NFL who are considered

to be brainy acts and know how to manufact your offense. Well, Sean Payton's been doing it before those guys, and he's every bit as good as those guys in my opinion, and knowing how to get his offense to function. That game was in Dallas, I believe. I think Ridgewater is going to have longer passes. So I think this is going to be very different than what we saw because, first of all, he has the confidence from that first win. He now has more time practicing and more comfort with

with his players. I think it's going to be different. I think it's not just going to be the what you get the dunk City what you call it in conduity. Yeah, I think it'll be different. I think you're right. I don't think it'll look exactly like that, but I do. I feel silly saying it because it's easy to argue Michael Thomas is one of the three best receivers in

the game. But I just don't know that they have the personnel to just go downfield on this defense, like I mean, which ironically DeVante Parker hurt them in the first half of that game against Miami. But I would be surprised to see them just chunking it downfield often at least I don't know that that really is. Honestly, that's not even a big part of the offense. When Breeze is there over the last year or so, I mean,

he's a guy. He can still throw. I'm not saying he can't throw, but I don't think that's the biggest part of their offense. I think there's the type offense that can work their way down the field and they can use every part of the field. And that's what I was meaning by by what their coach brings them.

He'll he really forces the defense to cover every single part of the field because he'll use the tight end in one area, and he'll use a running back in one area, and he'll use this third receiver in another area, and so it forces defense is to really be able to spread out. And that's what I think creates a lot of opportunity for them. Here's where I'll disagree, and this is I mean, I've got a lot more experience watching Drew Brees and the Saints than a lot of

other NFL teams. That's where I grew up. And I think this is a cliche, Like you're always like, oh, quarterback can throw him open and blah blah blah, and yeah, like no NFL team just launches the ball downfield every down. But Drew Brees really is so accurate that you can be completely covered and he'll still get it to you,

like he does it with Thomas. He's gonna put Marcus Colston in the Saint's Ring of Honor because he can just throw it on He used to just throw it on Colston's back shoulder and he would be absolutely blanketed and he would just use his body to make the catch anyway, and like it was not an advisable throw ever, and it worked every time. I don't think Teddy Bridgewater can do that, and so, and I don't disagree with that.

I agree with everything you just said. And so that's my point is, like those fifteen to twenty five yard routes that Breeze could throw to Thomas time after time after time. I don't think it'll be there for him, which is why I think you look more at Alvin Kamara and it's like we got a rally to this guy, because that's how they're going to generate most of their offense, is trying to put it on him, in my opinion, But I also think that they will have They will

have lots of gadgets for this game. I just knowing that coach, they're gonna be a lot of things that they're gonna try to come up with that will look to take advantage of this defense. And by trickery or whatever you want to call it, I don't think it's gonna be they're gonna line up every play and just look to throw the ball or even just to run the ball. I think they're going to do a lot of different things and mix it up enough to where

they try to keep this defense off balance. All the stuff that we are excited to see the Cowboys try with Tony Pollard is stuff that they do with Alvin Kamara. He lines up on the boundary, he lines up in the slot, he motions out of both of those spots. They gave him the ball on jet sweeps in the Seattle game, they faked the ball to him on jet sweeps. In the Seattle game, they used receivers. There's a play I think it is in the third quarter they motioned Kamara.

He's killing him. At this point, they motioned Kamara on the jet sweep. kJ Wright takes three steps toward the hash mark watching Kamara, and the running backs passed him by the time he even realizes he doesn't have the ball. And that's what you gotta watch for, is not only what he can do, but the threat that he brings. And it's sorry, it's easier said than done, but I

just I don't know. With Teddy Bridgewater in there. It's a different story with Breeze, But with Teddy Bridgewater playing quarterback, I think if you can limit him, you can really limit this offense. Let's take our first break, we come back. We have some questions about that I want to throw at you. I'll have a little more discussion on this offense when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys

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on Twitter at Derek eagleson one thought. I had a question that I had was let's talk a little bit more about Teddy Bridgewater. If you had to narrow it down to what you think his greatest asset is and then his greatest weakness is, what would you say that would be. I think he's very cool under pressure, Like you know, I don't think he's going to be super easily rattled. I mean he went up and played extremely well at Century Link Field, which is a testament to that.

He's he's not a running quarterback, right, like if you think that you're not paid lunching. Yeah, but he is heavy enough to scramble and you know, move up in the pocket. And he converted a third down or two that way twelve rush yards but hidden yards, right, And I don't think he makes a ton of mistakes. He did almost he almost threw a pick six in this game when he had one of his guards fallen back into his lap. But I don't think he's gonna make

dumb mistakes. I think that's his best attribute. I don't really watch him enough. I haven't seen him. I know. All I know is that, you know, for a little bit with Minnesota, he was he was a guy that had him excited, and then he didn't, you know, he got hurt and then they were ready to sort of move on, and so you know, he hadn't had a lot of opportunities. But he doesn't seem like the biggest guy to go look down the field and you know,

survey the scene. But then again, he's replacing a guy who isn't either, and he just he's headed to the Hall of Fame. So, you know, I mean the way that they have the structured on the offensive line protects shorter quarterbacks. I don't think he's like really short, but he's not like a big, big guy. But I can't

say that I've seen him play a ton. I just know that there wasn't a lot of teams that were like wanting him to be their starting quarterback most of that the injury though, coming off the injury in Minnesota, and also there was just a video that was posted of him in the locker room after that win, just kind of like saying like I don't want to tear up, but like we need to cherish this moment after win,

like never take this for granted. And I think that's something he's playing with that maybe he hasn't played with in the past of because he was in Minnesota and then he was hurt and hasn't really played. He has this opportunity, and I think the weapons he has around him knows he can be good and he really wants to perform. I feel like they are quarterbacks that just maybe don't don't have that certain like that extra piece of heart or not that they don't want to play.

But he's he's fighting for something that he still has it and I think that can be pretty powerful too. And I think he's he's beloved in that locker room. I think if I remember right, he had a chance to sign with the Dolphins and and you know, compete for the starting job there, and he's from Miami and that made a lot of sense. But he decided to stay with the Saints and be their backup. And you know, I think that loyalty means a lot to the guys

in that locker room. Yeah you got foresight, Yeah that's true. I mean also like be the backup for one of the best teams in the league or start for a dumpster fire. I mean yeah, Well, knowing that Drew Brees we think is not going to play forever, right, you don't know, sure, maybe he will. I just I mean from what we've seen of him. Again, this is first start in a long time. But I don't think he's gonna come out and beat you slinging the rock. I mean,

he could, but this is a good secondary. Even with Cheeto's struggles last week. In the beginning of that game, Byron Jones has looked really good, Like Byron Jones doesn't necessarily look like a guy who missed all of training camp. So with all of that, yes, Michael Thomas is something to watch, but I think that's a net win for the Cowboys secondary because again, and I know Ted Ginn can still run a four four. I get that, But like out, this is not a receiver corps where you're

like they just have so many guys. I think most people who pay attention to the Saints would tell you that's a weak spot for them, and Drew Brees's ability kind of helps paper over it. Yeah. All right, let's we got a question actually here from DC Blue Star. The question was, do you think that twenty seven gets Kamara duties again this year? And I think a lot was made of that the last time the Cowboys played them. Jordan Lewis, you know, he had some plays where you know,

they kind of used him with Kamara. But I think one of you guys said earlier this week he played it was what seven plays that he had total in that game. So I don't know that it was as much of a part of the game plan as people as you know, history tells us, right. Yeah, But that being said, what do you think the Cowboys do to try to negate some of what Kamara brings? Well, they scored ten points in the game and the defense was

getting off the field a lot. So part of the fact that he didn't have a lot of numbers there is he was probably you know, the third down spy, third and long, and there wasn't a lot of those situations because they were stopping him. So he did well in that, but also nobody was expecting it, and I don't think you can come back and do it again. And so I think that was the element that made it work, is that Jordan Lewis, he hasn't played a lot and now all of a sudden, he's the guy

that's shadowing. It makes sense, but I doubt that they'll They'll just say we're going to do that at least for as many plays as they did in that one. But if it's on him, it could be somebody else. But you know, I just think Kamara's role is different than it was. That's what I was gonna say, is I'm looking at last year's box score right now. Kamara did lead the team and carries he had eleven, but Ingram was out there. Ingram had seven carries. Ingram had

two receptions in that game. I just think there was a more even split. And again, Kamara has never been a typical scat back, but they did used to split that workload a lot more. I don't expect that to be the case in this game, like Latvia. Like I said, Latavia's Murray hasn't shown you anything resembling what Mark Ingram can do. This is to me what I mean, I'm

not saying the same back. But whatever plan that they had for Barkley, you know, what they wanted to do to stop a dynamic, featured running back is something they should do, you know, in a similar way. Now Barkley. Maybe they should do better than that because Barkley similar well I mean way, but if you can't stop him, you can't stop him. But I meant treat him like a running back that can hurt you, you know, inside

the tackles, announce them. This is gonna be a fun litmus test because there's kind of a you know, the storyline going right now, is Joe Thomas got involved against the Dolphins, Like, is everything okay with Jalen is Layton vander esh playing up to his ability? Well, we will, we'll know. We'll know at the end of this week, probably because and Jordan Lewis might have something to do

with this. But for the amount that Kamar is going to be playing, you know, I don't I don't think that's going to make the difference in this game, even if they did do it again, I think it's going to be about how your linebackers and safeties rallied to him and tackle him because again, I mean, please if you can go find the highlight package, because like it's I know he's a good player, but it's embarrassing on the Seahawks part, like how often he was just able

to shed them and I mean, like you know, running into linebackers full speed and kind of just spinning and off to the races like he did it four or five different times where they should have had him stopped for anywhere from zero to four yards and he turned it into an eight to fifteen yard game. There have been a little rumblings I think I've seen on Twitter. You guys may have seen him as well. If people talking about the linebackers this year, I think mainly because

they haven't made the big splash plays. What do you guys think overall, just in the play of Layton vander Esh and Jalen Smith this year so far, I mean, I think that they are the core of the defense in my opinion, and they're right there in the middle. And the defensive line has been good at times, a secondary has been pretty good. I mean, they've all had their moments, but I just think those two guys are the ones that get it done. Now, they haven't had

those huge turnovers. Well, Jayden Smith had a pretty big turnover last week and force in that fumble, But it's the tackles. They're not all over the field making you know, a ton of plays twenty tackles or a game or anything like that. But I still think it kind of starts with them their ability to run sideline to sideline. Yeah, it's kind of what makes this defense goes. So I think they've played pretty good, but we've we expect them to be like the best linebackers in the league, and

when that happens, you expect bigger plays. So we've been saying about the defensive line to the first three games. The standards with Rod Marinelli and the defense in general is so high. And you guys were talking about on Cover four this week of just people are being so critical because they know what this team can do. And it's not that they're playing terrible, not, you know, but it's just we've seen what they can do and I don't think they've hit that yet. I haven't seen the

instincts yet this season. Like Sean this was Sean Lee's hallmark when he was at his peak and vander esh and Jalen have both done it. At times, is like the quarterback is dropping his arm back to throw and they're already on the move, like you can see it in real time. You're like, oh, he's gonna blow this up and the ball has even left the quarterback's hand. Yet we haven't seen that yet. I think there's room

for both of them to improve. I do think it's it's at least curious that Joe Thomas got involved as much as he did on Sunday. You know, Jalen spent a series on the sideline. He didn't appear to be hurt. I know, you know, there's people saying he rushed the passer more in that game, but linebackers blitz all the time across the league, So I don't know if I buy that. But at the same time, you know, it's it's the Dolphins that you know, they took care of business.

Jalen forced to fumble in the red zone. I think it's a lot of handwringing, and I haven't seen enough evidence to concern me yet. I think I do think they need to raise their level of play to meet the expectations that they have put on themselves, but it's not something that I'm losing sleep about right now. But again, sorry Nick, but this game will be a great litmus test for how far they actually have to go. Jalen Smith is eleven tackles in each of the first three games.

I mean, that's that's that's a pace for one seventy six um last year I think it was one fifty one. I think Layton was at one seventy six. He's you know, he has the force fumble, he has a fumble recovery as well. I think that that's pretty solid. I mean, that's that's really good. Vander esh is the one that had his tackle numbers are down a little bit, uh nine, five and eight. He did have the half sack, forced fumble, recovery and all that. But I think the style of

the game too is a part of it. You know, last year, you know they were winning these closer games where teams are playing you know, and their their base offense a lot more now with with having a second half lead the way they have and playing a more of a ben But don't break defense. You are going to have take less chances. You're gonna keep the guys in front of you. More, make the tackle, keep the clock going, and I think that's just not gonna not

conducive to making as many impact plays. I agree with. And yeah, I'm interested to see what the defense looks like in a game where the outcome is endowed in the fourth quarter. I still, I mean, they were ugly in the first half against the Dolphins. I just there's no way to get out from under that. And they deserve credit for being much much better in the second half, but they You still don't want to see a defense that's supposed to be elite struggle with such a bad

team like that. So um there, I mean, there's plenty of room for improvement. It just hasn't been as bad as some people want to have, you believe in my opinion. And we say struggle relatively striking. They gave up six points struggling as much as you can struggle when you hold him to two hundred and sixty yards and win by twenty four points. Jose, we're gonna talk about the pass rush at all? Yeah, why don't we do this.

Let's take our final break, we'll come back. Let's talk about the pass rush setwood Nicks has cooked over there. He should have something for us woun when we come bright back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com Radio. Your new apartment's big, such a great deal. It's okay, just okay. What's right above the subway? Well, I bet you don't even notice it after that's my neighbor hangs. A deal that's just okay is not okay. Get a great deal

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like a pro. Visit Cowboys Travel dot com to book your travel package today. Back to the break, Welcome Back. It is the final segment of The Break Live from the SWBC Mortgage studios. At the start, just before we went to break, Nick had a little something. It's tell us about the pass rush, Nick, what you got? Well, you know, they got Robert Quinn to be a complimentary guy, just be another pass rusher on the other side of d law and in one game, I mean, he's doing

the exactly that they have a stat here. I don't know exactly when they started keeping pressures as a stat and I get it, Harvey Martin, Tutall Jones, Bob Lilly, they probably did it all time, but they really started keeping this about fifteen years ago. And since they've done that only four times has somebody had seven pressures in a game. D Where did it twice? To Marcus Lawrence did it once and now Robert Quinn has done it.

And the fact that he's done it, you know, in one game, I mean the fact that he just one game and that's is that what we're going to get out of him? No? Probably not. The Dolphins are probably don't have the best offensive line where it sounds like they's gonna face a better line this week. But to come in and tie the Cowboys record for pressures in one game. I mean that just shows that you know, that's what you want. You want him to get around

the edge and be that kind of player. It was good timing he came back with Crawford being out with the hand injury, and we've been talking all week. I mean, three wins are three wins regardless. These are good players on the teams. I do think this is the point in the season when you start hitting more balanced teams and teams who I've been performing better. So it'll be interesting to see how Quinn can handle the next few games since we've only seen one game with him with

the Cowboys, and see fracture's hand through training camp. So and also take into account when and if Crawford comes back. Yeah, act that decision, you know. I think another thing that seems to me anyway, I don't have any empirical proof of this, but seems to me weeks four or five six, that time frame of the season is when teams that are that have good veteran players, whether veteran players start

really showing up. I think I believe it's because in today's NFL, a lot of veterans don't get a lot of time during the preseason to play. But I think this is when you start seeing kind of those teams that you see it every year. I see it in fantasy every year. You see it the beginning, like there are these players that are kind of showing up and

you're like, oh, so, who's this new guy? And around about four or five is when you start seeing the regular mainstays, those guys that have been around for a long time, been doing it really well for a long time, they start to kind of show up. And so that's where I look at this and I say, I think this is coming out a good time because you know you're about to match up two really good teams that

should be hitting your strides. About nine, you know you've played enough games now where they should start figuring out what they do well, what they don't do well, hide the things you don't do so well, and do more of the things that you do well. And that's where I think teams start kind of getting on these roles.

So I'm interested to see at this point, hey had these three games, like you said, against teams that may not be great, but at this point they should know a little bit more about those things, so they should go into a game like this, I think, very well prepared, hit their stride and do some things that maybe they kind of have figured out that this team does really well,

do them more often regardless. I mean, even if they lose to the Eagles tomorrow night, the Packers will be three and one heading into this to the next game. So I mean, yeah, I mean, this is this is where it gets tough. I mean, I know it's the NFL. We keep saying that they're all tough everything, but I mean, shoot, I study the Dolphins, I study the opposing team. I already forgot who plays tackle for them? Do you all remember? No? I know, I know Armstead and Ramcheck are two of

the best. And then I know the week after that they got Bactra and Bulaga. Like you start to play guys the boy that are right among the best. Yeah, yeah, it's we're gonna We're gonna have a much better idea soon of I mean everything, Like I said, can Jalen and vander esh handle a guy like Album Kamara, Can DeMarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn get home against Pro Bowl caliber tackles? I mean it is a difference. You know, I was looking at this list of seven pressures and

there's some six on here as well. Sean Lee got six in a game against Baltimore. Like that just seems weird that you would blitz enough six blitz is in a game. But then to what years that? Twenty twelve? How about? I mean, I it feels like it feels like another lifetime. In twenty thirteen, my first season, Shawn Lee had six interceptions and took two of them to

the house. Really, yeah, that's that's what I'm saying. It's like that, You're like, that doesn't sound like him, That doesn't sound like it didn't the Dallas defense returning an interception for a touchdown a Pro Bowl, I'm gonna I'm gonna call a little high on the six. It was. It was either five or six. I would bet my life and I just that's a lot. That's an I don't remember the touchdowns. I mean he had eagles. He had one, all right, I got it right here, and

two of them would pick six as well. Twenty. I don't call that, damn it. It was four. I was close. He had one touchdowns one and it was a nope. Chargers they lost that game. It was when Terrence Williams fumbled stretching for the goal line. I remember, yeah, And I do remember his first pick six was against Peyton Manning Scandrick had one name had Sewn had four picks in two different seasons. He did it in eleven two. He's I mean, I don't know where he ranks on

all time linebackers for interceptions. I feel like Leroy Jordan, Chuck Halley, those guys had some. But he's he's up there too. Dextra Cokeley got a lot of picks. Yeah, I didn't Dextra Cokely go to a Pro Bowl one year after he had a couple of picks two two on Thanksgiving Day and we were like, you know, well that'll help him make the Pro Bowl and he did. You know, but and you know in vander Esh's I guess he's got two yeah, two back to back games

last year Atlanta. Those those were big plays in the game too, So that's I think. You know, we talked about the instincts and the tackling, and that's super important, especially in a game like this, but people will probably forgive some of that if you can start getting your hands on some footballs too, and that's chances. You know, they had had plenty of chances. I mean, that's the story of the Dallas defense as long as I've been here,

is like almost just almost. We were talking about Luke Gifford earlier and I wasn't going to bring this up again, but you know, he he's in an absolute perfect to be a Really I don't know if he's got the talent to be a good linebacker, but he's in a perfect spot. Any young linebacker is because when you think about instincts, preparation, desire, will all that, there's probably nobody

better than Shaun Lee. It's just unfortunate with the injuries and all that, but he from preparation standpoint and knowing where you're supposed to be and lined up, Shaun Lee is perfect to be there with. How about hitting, tackling, flying around the ball, Jalen Smith does as well as anybody. The hardest hitter might be Joe Thomas when he comes in the game, he's just pissed off one to hit people.

And then you got the combination of all of that with Layton Vandersch, It's just a great spot for a young linebacker to be to maybe learn from all of those guys, and you know, especially Joe Thomas being ready when you come in the game, get in there and make an impact. That's and I look, I get it. They just gave Jayalen a lot of money. You want to see him play up to it, but he hasn't.

It's not so drastic that I'm worried about it. And if the upshot of that is that there's their fourth linebacker is good enough to come in and take some snaps and play well against an overmatched opponent, I'm just not worried about that. Let's talk again in two or three weeks and it'll be a different conversation, hopefully for the better. But it's just not at a point where I'm losing sleep. Wasn't just like a Zeke Pollar thing. Yes,

That's that's why I look at it too. Is when you're playing a game like this with Cowboys got by the third quarter, they kind of put this game out

of hand. I mean it is that just a situation where there's just kind of giving my counter Like Jalen came out in the first half when the game was still not put away like that, But in a game like this one, they would expect that They're Yeah, it's totally what could they have gone into the game saying, hey, let's let's kind of use these other this other guy a little bit more just because we feel like we

can do it. It is possible that that's what happened. Yeah, we don't know, um so yeah, but I just I'm I'm struggling to get worked up about this based on what we've seen so far. Net is, it's not a concern right now, and I think Jalen's played Okay. I think again, as I preface this, I think they're just rumbling people on Twitter like they're expecting to see more

of these big players receivers over the middle. Well, but you just mentioned it eleven tackles each of the three games, Like, that's not equibal with that, because if you're catching guys twelve yards down field, it counts as a tackle. But it's not one that anybody's pumped about. Right. Yeah, But you're catching guys down the field at the linebacker position, right, That's that's a good thing. There's not a lot of

linebackers that can catch people down the field. My point is, what if he's twelve yards downfield, because it's something you miss, right, But will you go to the games like you watch it. I mean like he's playing pretty well. He's around the ball, he's doing what your middle linebackers, I think is supposed to do. Eleven tackles. What is the line Number one for a linebacker person, most important job is you gotta tackle.

And I think if you're getting eleven tackles a game at linebacker, if a safety is getting eleven tackles a game, now, I think you're probably in a little different situation. Yeah. Before a linebacker to get eleven tackles per game in the first three games, that's significant to me. I think he's doing his job. I am. I am not worried about it. I'll say it again, but you know, these these next two teams will provide a much clearer idea of whether or not it's a problem. Absolutely all right, Well,

we appreciate you, guys, Jonas. We're back tomorrow eleven forty five till then for Nick Eatman, Dave him Hellman, Danny Serect. This is Derek Yulton. 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.