Cowboys Break: Wrapping Up #CowboysCamp

Welcome to another edition of The Break. We arrived from Forts Center at the Star Cowboys are practicing today here. It's the final practice of training camp twenty eighteen. UM, and so we're gonna we're gonna take some time today to break down training camp. Look up the big picture of training camp. Um, and we've got I got my normal cast here. We're gonna talk a little bit about this team. How's everybody doing today? Great? This is like this is like the best view right here. Yeah, it

is the best view. We're at the fifty yard line of Forts Center and a team is warming up and stretching right now. So we'll be talking to you a lot about what's going on out here. But at the same time, we want to talk about the big picture

of training camp. Heading into training camp, the writers for Dallas Cowboys dot Com put together a series of articles that they call twenty Questions, and it hit on twenty of the most important questions I guess for the Cowboys heading into training camp and into the season that the Cowboys were going to have to answer good or bad one way or the other. We're gonna find out and I don't know if some of these questions can even

be answered until we get to December. However, we're gonna try to day to see if we will learn anything more during training camp that helps us answer these twenty questions. So let's get started. I'll start with the first question. Let's start with number twenty. The question was who has

higher expectations, Randy Gregory or David Irving. Which is interesting because at the time when you pose this question now before the suspension, Yeah, yeah, well no, we know about the suspension at that point when they answer this, yes, they hear about they knew about the suspension at that time. However, most people probably felt at that time like, let's just wait and see what Randy Gregory is like. We have not seen him on a football field in a long time.

That's exactly where we are right now. Let's just wait and see. So has anything changed for you as far as those two in the expectations again knowing also we didn't know that David Everyone wasn't going to be a camp at all at that point. I'll tell you this. I mean, the change for me is that now I do have somewhat of an expectation. Before as far as Randy Gregory goes, I didn't really have any expectations. I'm like, Okay, well let's just see how he goes and what happens.

And clearly he came in here looking like a beast and he's doing great so far. So now that gave me some higher expectations. It's I forgot we answered that question. And it's insane how much can change in six weeks, Because I remember I wrote like anything Randy Gregory can do is a bonus. Honestly, Like my expectations for him are that low between not trusting his availability and honestly, if we're being real, not trusting that we know that

he's actually that good of a player. Like it's people act like he was like DeMarcus Ware when he left this team. That's not true, like he had three sacks in his rookie preseason. Injuries limited him for basically half of his rookie year, and it took him the rest of it to catch back up to speed. And then he had a sack in a meaningless game in Week seventeen of twenty sixteen when nobody important was even playing,

Like that's all we had seen from him. So for him to show up and look as good as he has, like, I still can't wrap my round my head around how crazy it is, how good he looks, how much progress he's made to the point where, yeah, like it's hard not to have crazy expectations that he could be a really great player if he can get on the field. Okay, I'll ask this, who's gonna play more games this year? Randy Gregor David Irvy. Good freaking question and Randy running

out here right now. It's funny because we talked about I mean, we talked about this yesterday and again for the third day in a row. You know, Cowboys officials are say they have no reason to suspect that Randy

Gregory has any trouble coming his way. But as Jerry Jones pointed out this morning, like that's just probably going to be a thing that they wake up thinking about every day that Randy's here, whether I mean, you know, whether whether there's trouble coming or whether there's not the potential for it to be, there is always going to be around. You know. I had talked to Stephen Jones yesterday for just a little bit and exactly what you had said earlier in the show yesterday a day that

they're always the last to know. You mean, we think the Cowboys the front office is going to know, and yeah, they might hear about something the day before the announcement, but the NFL league office knows things that's that's happening seemingly before the Cowboys do. So yeah, that everyone over here is saying, you know, we know what we know,

but doesn't necessarily mean that there's nothing going on. But that's exactly and again, even if nothing is going on, that fear is just gonna be around Randy Gregory for the foreseeable future. That's just something that you have to be mindful of. And so I don't know, everything I'm looking at suggests that day Randy Gregory is going to be a big part of this season, and it would be big for the Cowboys. If he is David Irving, I haven't even thought about him in three or four weeks. Yeah,

who will be the backup quarterback for this season? You guys At the time that the conversation was really about Ken Mike White actually step up and surpass Cooper Rush. But my question for you guys is is Cooper Rush your backup? Is Mike White your backup? Or is this someone else that will be your backup? At this point based on what we've seen, Cooper Rush is your backup quarterback. I said it then, and it's true today, and it would be true next week as well. Okay, Cooper Rush

is the backup quarterback. Cooper Rush is not next in line to start though. That's that's that's the Okay. He will be the backup quarterback on a game day, He'll finish your game. If he has to start another game, that won't be Cooper Rush. And then I don't think I can get on board with that A lot like twenty fifteen. You know, he gave Brandon Weeden his very brief shot, and then you did a trade to bring

a guy in here. I don't think I don't think this team would feel good about Cooper Rush needing to start more than a game or two, right, Um, But again, I don't think And that's you know. I was kind of going back and forth with fans here this morning because Jason Garrett said this morning within the last half hour that he feels good about Cooper Rush as his backup, which people predictably lost their minds because Cooper Rush looked terrible on Sunday night. Yeah, but again, I mean, I'm

sorry if what's going to say though? No, well not only what else is he gonna say? But again, what else do you want? Like, I'm sorry if I sound like the company man right now, but like, what do you want? Do you want to go give up a draft pick for Teddy Bridgewater? Why? This is a team that expects Dak to be available for sixteen games and I do too, And so I don't care. I really don't unless you know, we'll deal with that when it happens.

And if you need to go get Teddy Bridgewater in October because Dak has something happened to him, knock on wood, worry about that, then why do I care? Right now? You know what I would have you said? What do you want? What I think should have happened here. And it's not like I was screaming for it too much in the summer, so it's hard to come back now and say it. But I do think that they need

a little bit more veteran experience in the room. Not anyone that's going to challenge him or he has to look over his shoulder every interception or every bad play, but just somebody that can he can walk off of the sidelines too. And you know, maybe it's a m account type of player. And I know there's fourteen of them, so one of those guys, but um, you know, just

somebody like that. But at this point, I don't know if you can go get that guy for the record for the fifth time, I agree with everything you just said, but they don't. They and he feels good about it, said this morning they like having a young room and that's what they want. Again. I think Dak's gonna start sixteen games year or so. I don't really care. It's a moot point. Who is the bounce back candidate, the

biggest bounce back candidate on this team. You guys threw out Dan Bailey, and I think it was you Dave that also throughout Cole Beasley as as your guy, Um, who would you guys say, is the guy that you think will have the biggest comeback season based upon what they did last year relative to what you expect him to do this year? If you can promise me, Randy God, I mean, yeah, you can't be better than that. You

can promise me he's gonna play. I mean, and I'm the guy that I hate to put those expectations on the guy, but like, double digit sacks doesn't sound that crazy based on what we've seen. So I mean, with what you saw the other nine in him, if he were able to play every game, like, how could he not get to the quarterback once a game? I mean, I know that that doesn't happen, but well it does. Actually some guys that get more than that on an average tank did it last year? Yeah, that's true, he

got he was right there. Um, you know some other candidates for that. Dan Bailey was kind of what the question was designed to be around, and that's what they're hoping that he's the biggest comeback player. But you know, you ask a lot of guys. I'm looking at Tavon Austin catch a little swing pass around for him. You know, he's looking to have a comeback season had some injuries. Terrence Williams would be one. Cole Beasley, uh would would be another. Um you know, in their own weird way.

Tyrn Smith probably wants to have a bounce back year, even though he made the Pro Bowl, uh, you know, but wants to play a little bit more than he did or better than he did. I don't think that for another team. I don't think Jazz makes this team

at all. But uh, we we're actually gonna shoot a video today that's gonna be posted hopefully tomorrow where we're gonna break down the roster and we had to kind of go through it a little bit, and surprisingly we didn't even We didn't even want to waste any time on Chaz. And I think he's gonna get it. He's gonna get a cut and we're not even gonna discuss it. He hasn't done anything. Byron, Yeah, I thought him. I thought about that. I think it's it's a good answer.

Although you know, when I think of bounce back, I mean, Byron wasn't great last year, but he started and was productive for you. He wasn't great, I know, But when I think of like Cole Beasley has to be disappointed with the year that he had Damn Bailey again like

most accurate history. But I will say this Byron to me is more like a career bounce back, because I think he was all but washed up as a safety from the standpoint when you start thinking about a second contract, I don't know that that the Cowboys were really thinking, Hey did we definitely got to do a second contract with this guy. That doesn't mean somebody else doesn't pick him up, but I don't think he was due for

big payday. However, if he plays this season as he's played during training camp, then he will now create a conversation for himself, either here or somewhere else for somebody to sign him as a cornerback. I don't know if this is fair for bounce back, but you know, Zekiel Elliott is obviously entering this season with a chip on his shoulder, and we will get to that one. Okay, I don't know you did the twenty question. I know,

I don't remember. I'm surprising you guys with all of these aren't kind of yeah, they're all relevant right now? Yeah they are, they are. So let's move on. We talked a little about Dan Bailey, But the next question is the special Will special teams see problems due to all the defections you lost Rich Pasacchia, you lost key players like Keith Smith and Kyle Wilbur on your special teams. You now have Keith O'Quinn running that group. Do you

think that special teams? Has there been anything that you've seen so far to suggest that special teams takes a hit. I'll answer that I don't think that you can ever judge as special teams in the preseason. I always say that when fans go crazy because a punt return comes back for a touchdown, they're just trying to get by right now. They're trying to figure out who goes where. It's kind of chaotic for them. I think they're going to be pretty good on special teams because they're very deep.

What position are the deepest that right now, it seems like linebacker. When you're a deepest linebacker, you're gonna be good on special teams. And like we've said before, they've got a running back probably gonna make the team in Boscarborough who's got a linebacker type of body. He'll play some as well. I think they're gonna be okay there. I think they're gonna be better than ok I mean,

the three specialists have looked really good throughout camp. I mean, Bailey had had his moment where everything looked bad, but he's been rock solid ever since. And then yeah, I think of guys like Damian Wilson, Cavan Frasier Vett, and Jamazola. Wally is another one like those three guys. Keith O Quinn's been here forever. I mean, it's not like he's new to this thing. I think they're gonna be fine now.

Of all these questions, there are a few that stand out as questions that we can really sink our teeth into that I don't know that we have answers for yet, but they're worth discussions. This is one of them at number sixteen. How will the tight end position sort out? You've got Jeff Swain, You've got Blake jaw When, you've got Dalton Schultz, You've got Rico Gathers, And they all have something about them that they all have certain people that are pulling for them, I guess is a good

way to put it. And they have different unique things about each one of them. Did you have something to say. Yeah, for the record, and I think they put this list together some of the writers. I remember saying to Rob, how is this number sixteen? Like? How is this like number four? Yeah? I thought this would have been a lot higher on the list, Uh, not knowing that that we would get to this point in trading camp and

nobody would separate themselves at all. Yeah, but uh, but I do this sounds funny coming at number sixteen, because I can't imagine fifteen more questions more pressing than this. Um but um, I don't know where I was that there. You were you risk the cos you honestly you weren't here. I don't remember where you were, but you weren't here. I don't know you were on. So has it sorted out?

Give me, give me count? Has It's fair for the fan that's just kind of coming into this thing and trying to figure out what's going on for the season. Who's gonna be your starter? Who do you expect to play? What roles? How do you expect this thing to playoff? Okay, clearly Swim is gonna be your starter. Absolutely, Jeff Swam is your starting tight end. He's gonna be He's gonna be the tight end on the field when it's eleven personnel, I would guess he's gonna be your first guy in

Blake Jarwin's your two. He'll be there when it's twelve. Those are the only I mean, swam is the only one that I remotely trust Block in all honesty, but Jarwin would be after that. Dalton Schultz. I'm intrigued because this front office doesn't cut fourth round draft picks. But he's had his ups and downs. I don't I've been underwhelmed. I don't know that he's a guy that they're going to trust to do those types of jobs when when it's on the line. But honestly, that's all I feel

comfortable saying. Right, I don't know what to tell you about Rico honestly, like and I said last week, like I've said all I can say about it, Like they're gonna make a decision this weekend what they're gonna do with him. We'll see if he's on the team. If he is, I would bet that he has a maddeningly inconsistent role on this team. Like I can't imagine he'll be active that often if he's here, or if he is active. I can't imagine that he's going to have

this huge role. I think Jarwin and Swim are the two that they're gonna lean on to be their guys. Yeah, I think you know, five receivers in four tight ends is what it is looking like here. I just I just well, I say that, is that what you want or what you actually think they'll do? No, I actually I changed my mind. I don't think they'll cut Deonte Thompson. I don't I don't either. I don't think they will.

I think they'll cut Lance Lenore um by that. But but ten, that's that's ten for that position right there, or for those two do positions. And you know I've said all along, I think jamaz Ola Waldi could help them a little bit from an h back tight end spot that maybe you didn't have to go along there. But they don't want to cut fourth round picks. That just that just shows that they made a mistake. They

don't want to do it. They're gonna have a hard time cutting Tapper for some reason, so and they're gonna have not that hard of a time cutting Chaz Green. But they don't like to cut draft pick, especially if the rookies um, I don't think Dalton Schultz had done anything to make me say we got to keep him. But you know, he'll develop just like Rico will. You know what I find disappointing is how much we heard Stephen Jones and the Jones and all of them talk

about Lake Jarwayne. They spoke about him so highly right before, you know, we started the whole training camp and as of right now, I mean I came in thinking or expecting to see something that maybe we just haven't seen before or like notice on Blake jarwayn as far as practice and stuff, and I don't know, I don't know where it was coming from because I haven't seen anything to give me that confidence to, like, you know what, I'm betting all my money on Jarwin. I apologize in advance.

I'm not trying to go down this rabbit hole, but it reminds me a lot of safety. Like they love Xavier Woods, they are optimistic and they hope that he's gonna be this great player. There's no proof that I've seen that that is true. Yet I hope like hell it is, but there's no proof of that saying I mean, she's absolutely right, Like they raved about Jarwin oftentimes was like the first name out of somebody's mouth when you asked him about tight end before Jeff Swain. And I'm

not dogging the guy. I don't think he's been bad, but he I mean, I'm not telling people to draft him in fantasy football, you know, like, oh, I'm serious, Like he I haven't seen anything to suggest that he's gonna have this just blow up year. He's fortunate because Swain hasn't been that great. He's been solid, but it hasn't been that great. And the other guys haven't really done anything because if they had, Like he's he's a

guy you could cut. I mean what I mean, what does Blake Jarwin you know, do now he'd be pretty pissed because the Cowboys have cost him a Super Bowl ring because the Eagles Eagles for trying to get him. You don't know that he would have made it all the way to the Super Bowl. I mean, he might have gotten cut. No, but it was kind of later in the year, right, and you have to it was like November. You have to keep him for three weeks, so he would have get your point, you know, he

probably would have made it. I think I think at the end of the day. What's happening right now is fans and everybody's gonna have to adapt to the idea that the Cowboys are now. Like probably I would guess twenty two twenty four teams in the NFL where they're tight end is just a guy. He's not a guy

that's an intricate part of their offense. He's gonna catch a couple passes who he'll be asked to block, who'll have some different things that he'll be asked to do, but they're not gonna have This is just not that we've been used to sing that with Winton. You're just not gonna see that none of these tight ends or that caliber tight end where he's gonna be out there every play and you're gonna he's gonna be an intricate

part of what you do offensively. I'll tell you this is on Saturday or Sunday, a twenty eight year old tight end who's not special but has been through some wars is gonna be available. I would try to go get that guy, like not any He's not gonna be special. You're not gonna be excited when you hear that they added him, but he has knows how to block and do that type of stuff. I don't think they'll do that because I think they like these guys, But that's

what I would do. Yeah, honestly, it would be a guy like a like a James Hannah. Like if you told me there was a guy like a James Hanna out there, nothing special can block, and that's more important than anybody can block. That's the kind of guy would go get. He's not in the league anymore. But I always think of Dante Rosario. They had him here, they had five tight ends, and they traded him because they had they were good. So all right, we're gonna go

ahead and take our first break. We'll come right back when we get back. We're gonna ask answer the question who's gonna be the first time pro bowler of this group. I throw out names like Keto, Cole, Lyle Collins, Jalen Smith. We'll talk about that when come back back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. It can be hard to find the right resource for learning about important financial matters.

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limitations apply, so you move for details. Back to the break segment of the Break Live from Fourth Center at the Star, Cowboys are finishing their final training camp practice as you guys have seen right there on the on the video, we got the running backs doing going through some drills right there with Gary Brown, the running backs coach. We'll have we'll pop back and forth between looking at Nick and Dave and Amber uh and then looking at

the players. I'm sure you guys would prefer to see Nick, Amber and Dave, but we'll show you, guys lots of things that are going on out here at all there. Yeah, right, and we'll show you a lot of things that are going on out here today. You can see these players getting ready for their game this Thursdays right there. I remember Mickey rhoda column and said, get to know number forty three Joel Lanning. That's the last anyone's ever as as Kent, Yeah, it was. Yeah, hasn't hasn't done much

at all. I mean, but you know what, he seems like a guy that could be a practice squad type guy because he can do I just haven't seen any of them. You're not wrong, and it is one of those guys. This is bizarre for this team, but all of a sudden, linebackers a place where it's hard to get time. It's true, I mean it used to be like you would have three linebackers that had a chance to make the team. Go ahead and find me one. That ain't the way it works when you got as

much talent as this team does right now. I mean, this defense has done such a such, you know, good things in the preseason, and the fact that they have not their first round pick a middle linebacker hasn't done anything really other than a few snaps in the first game. But you know, I doubt he was gonna play this week. He's not Jason Barrett, so he did already say it. Yeah, you were asking about first time pro bowler. Yes, that's gonna be our next That's why we vote for. We

just saw Jalen Smith on screen. I thought you're gonna say Joe Thomas, like, dang, what happened to Sean? Well, Sean stopped there. I'm saying, no, that would be my vote, Jalen Smith. I think who my vote was? Yeah, who did I say? Derek? I don't recall, I don't I wasn't looking at your answers. I was just looking at the questions. I think I said Cheeto honestly, and actually Cheeto was a popular answer. I do remember there were several people that mentioned right, there were two or three

that that mentioned Cheeto. Um, and I think that would have been a popular As a matter of fact, I think Dave mentioned. Dave actually said two he said Cheeto, and Jordan he said CO MVP. I guess co Co Pro Bowl. That's not encouraging. No, Actually, you know something. I take that back. That was for another question. That was for question we're gonna get too later about camping VP, And you said to both of them, but go ahead. Chris Jones is a good pick there Byron Jones. Maybe, Um,

I think I think I said Chris Jones. I'm on a I don't know. I'm on a crusade to get that guy out of the Pro Bowl. Le Collins. While Collins is one of the ones I was mentioned, I have no I'm gonna do it again. I can't count on them to be there for me. But if it is is freaking Red Grandy Gregory, Mike God. I cannot say enough about how blown away Way I am by

that he's been fantastic RG three. Yeah, I think I'm with Amber, though I think Jalen Smith is going to be the guy that I think ends up turning enough heads to get to the Pro Bowl this year, because I do think what we've seen from him, I don't think it's a fluke. I think that guy's back to being what everybody expected him to be before the injury. And uh, and I think he'll play like that. This great story. No, no, Jalen and Gregory one, right, I've

got one. I answered this last year and it didn't work out. But but I, uh, what about Jeff Heath. If Jeff Heath makes a few few more plays, then he's done. I mean, he's usually three or four turnovers a year. If he can get to five or six turnovers, there's a chance there's It's not like a ton of safeties. Yeah, I think Jeff Heath, I think the thing about safety, and I think the thing about Jeff particularly. I think the way he gets to the Pro Bowl is through him.

It's through the team having success and him making some places as a part of that. So you remember when what was that? I don't you'll know the year you know what I'm talking about Ken Hamlin, When Ken Hamlon made the Pro Bowl. I think of it in a similar way. Yeah, I think he made the Pro Bowl because their team is good. That year, the defense played pretty well and he was pretty good. He made a couple of plays for him, and so he got into the Pro Bowl. I think it's the exact same way.

If the team is good, I think Jeff will have a chance. If the team is not good, then I don't think he has a shotter. And if your interceptions go on Sunday night in football and Monday night all the that's even better, right, don't do those noon games. I will never shut up if Jeff Heath makes a Pro Bow. I don't get you. Just get a goat tattooed to your forehead? Thank you? Ever going to shut out? On?

Would you? Would your forehead? Now? Come on? Maybe it's maybe my back or something, Yeah, like the small of your back now, I was thinking, like my shoulder blade? Yeah, what Jesus Pro Bowl for the Cowboys. Really we're gonna go there. I bet you can actually go through a natire show without mentioning him. Number fourteen. Here was the

question most impactful new coach. I really don't know that there's much of a discussion, but let's talk about Christoph shad uh Sanjay Lyle, and Paul Alexander because I do think you can make the argument this wide receiver group has been better technically than they've been in the past. Yeah, I mean, Tavon Austin said that, you know, this is

the best camp he's ever had. He feels more like a wide receiver than ever before because of Sanjay Lyle Cole Beasley has made a few comments like that too, like it's back to basics and stuff. So really, you know, they're really taking shots to Derek Dooley. But um, either way, and maybe shots were due maybe I don't know, maybe,

but I mean, they're in that room. I think I think it's not a slam dunk for Christopher Shard because these other guys, Paul Alexander's having to do some work now, He's having to you know, get Connor Williams ready, to get Joe Looney ready, So it's not as easy for him either. So I mean, the guy that's really have to do the most work is Doug nust Meyer, the tight end coach. At what is he has? What's been

the result? I mean, I think part of this question has to be our guys playing above what you thought they were. Because Chris Richard, you can tell you whatever you want to say about him getting a lot of the press. The fact is bron Jones is playing out of his mind, right, And that was a lot about him saying this guy is a better corner than he will be a safety, right, So so you have to

look at the results. I don't know that the tight Ends have done enough in training camp for me to really point him out as as a goal coaching job. What was the wording of the question, I'm sorry, best, I think it was best additional the best new coach, Yeah, assistant coach, Well, no one else. We're not begging anybody else to be the next head coach for the team. You made definitely week one of training yet who you're

preken to us? Hey, go look at the comments on that video of him laying into the defense on Sunday night that it was pretty interesting. I mean it was something. It wasn't not interesting. All right. Let's be question number thirteen, most challenging quarterback opponent, and this is one that goes a little bigger than I normally have been talking. Yeah, Zach Martin is going through some practice. I'm sorry, he's

not doing a ton. This isn't a padded practice, but it's still encouraging though to see him actually doing You're still more than a week away from the first game. I did not expect that he would even be running around doing that kind of stuff, So hard about it. Go ahead, Um, Actually, there's Travis out there too. Travis is he's not He didn't have on a helmet, but

he was out there. Yeah, he's not doing football stuff. Yeah, I mean, he might be working on snapping with Zach, but he's no. Just to not to give anybody the idea that he's like doing for no, not at all. Yeah. Okay, so let's move on question number What was that question

number thirteen most challenging quarterback opponent? Some of the names that got thrown out Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Russell, Wilson, Carson Wentz and you those strike you as I mean, there's an obvious answer when you talk about the history of the NFL and and the last several years the

top quarterbacks in the league. Obviously, Breese in a different category than these other guys, But year statistically, Breeze was not the quarterback that he'd been in the past, mainly because they found a running game, a really really good running game. But all that being said, what quarterback most concerned yet the Cowboys will face this season. It's an

interesting question because like quarterback or team. Because if I had to pick, if I had to pick right now, and I hate saying this as a New Orleanian, if I had to make a Super Bowl pick, I think the Atlanta Falcons are going back to the Super Bowl. I just think they're nasty. They're talented everywhere, and Matt

Ryan's obviously an MVP caliber quarterback. But as far as like a game like the one game the Cowboys got to play him, nobody scares me more than Russell Wilson, to be honest with you, Like, and I know the Seahawks don't have any talent, like they're so their roster is so much worse than it was when they were in those Super Bowls. But he's just a beast, and he's that type of quarterback that he can make life miserable for you, and I think he probably will make

life for a miserable. I was gonna say, Russell any in my mind as I'm thinking of guys, I'm like, oh, okay, sure they're not gonna I thought you. I thought you did a good job of saying that the team that scares you the most out of that is Atlanta. The quarterback who's the best of that group is Drew brees Um you know historically. And then the guy the one quarterback who could just beat you by himself because he doesn't have a lot of talent, as Russell Wilson. So

we're probably missing some guys in there. But actually the one I would throw out would be Carson Wentz. And the reason why is because people forget how he was playing before he got hurt. That dude was doing a lot of different things. He was moving around, he was running a little bit, he was throwing some lasers. I mean like he was really playing at a high level. If he comes back healthy and resumes where he was, I think he becomes the guy that you really look at, say,

can do some real damns toe there. I mean, there's no doubt. And I'm sorry Cowboys fans, but I would have voted for him for MVP if he hadn't gotten hurt. He had to vote. He's well that too, but he's got the I mean, he's got some Russell Wilson to him too, Like he's he's not a statue. That's what I was gonna say is if this Dallas pass rush is as good as it looks here, that's great against guys like Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. You can fight those type of quarterbacks with a pass rush like that.

It's the mobile guys like Russell Wilson and to a degree, Carson Wentz. Yeah, the thing with Winz is it's such a big caveat he's not cleared for contact right now. And also the Cowboys aren't going to play him for the first time until November, so which by then he's had a chance to come back get healthy being back on them absolutely, and I would imagine he will be and that'll be a hell of a challenge. But this team plays Russell Wilson in a month, So watch out

for Andrew Luck at the end of the year two. Yeah, yeah, I do. I think that he's I think he could be comeback player of the Year. Yeah, I really do. Good. So you know, he's not a guy that's really in the radar. But by the time, you know, Cowboys don't play him week two, they play him like week sixteen or fifteen or something like that, he'll be He'll be fine by then, and he's you know when we've seen when he's healthy and ready to go, if he's got

guys around him. You know what, I'm kind of surprised nobody throughout was Deshaun Watson because again, you look at him before he got hurt, that offense was moving the ball and they were putting up some big points and he was responsible for it. If he comes back healthy, that's another guy that I think is really really gonna be a tough out of the Cowboys. That game is gonna be amazing. Yeah, he will be. I think. I

think Sunday night, yeah, you gotta win that game. I think just for the Texas pride thing, He's just ya, It's it's gonna be crazy. It's gonna be began as in Houston that weekend. You gotta win that game, I think. I don't know, I don't know how. I mean, they're a good team. They're good, but you know, this is a good football team too. I'm not saying they're not.

I'm just saying Houston is a really good team. I'm glad that we're having this conversation because I don't I don't pay particularly close attention to the Texans, but I don't feel like if Deshaun Watson is getting an iota of the scrutiny that Dak got following an amazing rookie year, and Watson played six games like I would like to see a little more, especially coming off a big time end. I think the world of him. I think he's gonna

be a great quarterback. But I'm not just ready to lump him in there with MVP cow He's had nothing to scrutinize yet. I mean, he was, he was like the most electrifying rookie quarterback in recent memory, right, but the Dak was too. And then but even I mean, just wait for them to go nine. If they hit nine wins, then the Shaun will give it. He just hasn't had anything happen yet. I think there and I know, I mean, Dak took the Cowboys within a game in the NFC title Game. I get it, it was a

bigger stage. But why, I mean, I feel like people are just kind of assuming Watson's gonna pick up where he left. I think part of the reason why the maybe people I think part of the reason for the difference though, is because I think there were a lot of people that looked at that looked at Dak's rookie year and said a lot of his success was due to Zeke, not necessarily due to him. He did some things, but I don't think people gave him his due, and so I think there are a lot of people that

were naysayers going into a second year. I don't know that the same thing happened in Houston because forever they had had an offense that was just is kind of fledgling along, and all of a sudden, Sean comes in and it's moving like it's actually has life, And so I think that was probably the difference. You're right after the first years, when defenses have an opportunity to see what you like to do, they try to take away those things. See if you can adjust to it, all

those things he'll have to deal with. If he is what we think he is, Deshaun Watson, then that my super Bowl is like Houston verse Atlanta on it. I mean, they if he's as good as people think he might be, then they're this guy's the limit for them. If they can keep their defensive guy. They got the talent everywhere. Yeah, right, They've got some talent on that team. If they can stay healthy, all right, let's move on. Let's go to a question number twelve. Can Xavier Woods hold on to

the free safety starting spot? I mean the answers yes, but do any of us feel good about that? Serious? And I feel terrible because, like, I like Xavierwoods as a guy. He's definitely not a bad player. But how can you sit here on August twenty eighth and feel good about the safety spot. Jerry Jones said this morning that he thinks he'll be back for a week two, but again, he is yet to start a game and in the regular season in the NFL at safety. Like,

it's not like this established veteran it's coming back. It's like, oh, we'll get Xavier Woods back and we'll get to see if he's a good player. Like that's what we're saying right now. So yeah, I don't like it. Can we take a break for a second to look at the um? What what they're doing here on the field? H Randy Gregory started the game right on Sunday night, I believe so, and opposite A D. Law And then here we're seeing the first team offense and defense here. Um it's going

to pan over. Their taco is actually on the right end. Spot and Gregory like was standing in the huddle like he was about to do something. But I don't know if that that means anything or what they're working on here yet, but um, you know he had been doing stuff. If there's Zach Martin practicing right here, like he's definitely practicing. Yeah, so this is this is a great Yeah, this is a return to practice for for Zach Martin. I wouldn't expect him to be in there. Yeah, right, is impressive. Um,

let's move on to the next question. Can the offensive line return to form? Talking speaking about Zach Martin? Uh, you last year they had some really issues and really their issues came from depth. We thought those had been out answered with the addition of Cameron Fleming Marcus Martin, and I think right now there's probably questions. Obviously Marcus Martin's now on IR, but I don't know if Cam Fleming still feels like the get that she thought he was.

Maybe when the Cowboys signed him, what do you guys started the thoughts about the depth of the offensive line. Wanted him to be better than Chads Greene, and he has been, so you know that is a step up. But when we answer that question and we had no idea. I don't think anyone had ever heard of g BS or whatever. Yeah, yeah, good point. I don't you know. That's changes everything. It does. It does change their things. As for the other things, I mean, Zach Martin was

just scare. They look like they've overcome that. Tyrant Smith, he's you know, he's dealing with a few things. I still think this is or I still think he's gonna be okay uh to play. And Lael Layla might be the toughest player on the football team. I'm serious, Like, he gets banged up all the time, he never misses anything. He's a tough son of a gun. Um, I definitely don't. I don't feel like the Cowboys just have like these

three studley tackles. Like I haven't seen anything from Cam Fleming that makes me just completely forget about Atlanta last year. But he has been better than Chaz Green. So that's a step in the right direction. And you're right, hopefully. I this is ironic because I say this as Cam Fleming is currently your first team left tackle. Tyrn's not practicing it looks like um, but hopefully he won't have

to play a lot. I don't know that that is a realistic hope, but hopefully they're rotating the second team defensive end or defensive line. You see Brian Price here and Randy Gregory's on the right end spot. So all right, we're gonna take a final break. We're gonna come back. We'll give you guys more sights and sounds from out here at Fourtcenter Cowboys having their final training camp practice.

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Back to the break, Welcome back. It is the final segment of the Great Glide from Ford Center at the Star Cowboys having their final training camp practice here and we're talking about it. We're talking about our top twenty questions. These are the twenty questions that the Cowboys writers had heading into training camp, and we've gone through half of them so far. Don't know that we have a lot of great answers all the way around, but we're trying to give you as much inside we as we've been

able to gather from training camp. How's just coming called Timeline real quick and say this one good underwear. Go to Tim at John dot com Forts slash Cowboys. You get twenty percent on the first order. Tim and John is a really good underwear. Thank you, Nick. That's awesome. All right, let's get back into our questions. We can see if we could run through these top ten. The tenth question is most impactful rookie, Layton Vanderesh, Connor Williams,

Michael Gallup. I think those are really the only three that are worth mentioning in this category. What do you guys say? I think Dorian's arm is going to contribute a little bit more than Vanderesh okay at this point and look more than those other two. But but to answer the question, I will say Connor Williams. I've said Connor Williams all through the preseason. I'm not changing that answer now, but I do I would caution people against

like and I get it. I understand why people would write Laton Vanderesh off because rookies need playing time and he's missed a lot of it. But Malie Collins didn't get a ton of playing time and was a productive rookie. And honestly, none of the Cowboys rookie defensive backs had much of a training camp last year, and they all went on to play pretty significant roles. I mean, it

is a it is a seventeen week season. The fact that Laton vander Esh can't play right now doesn't mean he's going to be on the shelf the entire year. Are you at all concerned? Know that he was a guy who had injury problems in college and now in his first training camp piece he spends a lot of time. That was the rumor with that was it was like his spine and this is growing. I mean, no, I'm

not ball players get hurt. Yeah, I understand that. I'm just saying though, it's it's a very similar thing in my mind to what you look at a guy like Sean Lee there. I think there's a certain thing certain players that for whatever reason, they just their bodies can't take the punishment, the regular punishment. I got to see a lot more before I want to label him that way, because I mean, honestly, I think again, I know rookies need to play, I get it, but you're talking about

an insanely talented player like the Cowboys. As much as they would like for him to be out there, they want him to be available in September and October, and that's part of it, Like they're being careful with when they bring him back. I think, based on what you know now, would you have traded up to get Darlin James, Yeah, I mean I wanted to do that. I wanted to do that on a day right, Yeah, but I would,

But you don't. You don't have Michael Callop because you have to go third to do it, and that that's as complicated because I really like Michael Gallop so that I'm really impressed from with what I'm seeing from him so far. I expected him. I expected him to be good, but I guess not to be as far in advance. You know, you when brookies come in usually takes them a little bit to get a custom or used to things. And he, to me, he has figured it out. He

knows how to bounce back. When he makes a mistake, he comes back and does even better or tries to do even better. And I think the relationship between him and Dak has been really good. And when you see them working on working during the off season together and all that and putting in that extra time. It's it shows off and it translates on the field. So I was just looking at the defense. So you're you're starting

safety right now as Tyree Robinson. That's kind of that's kind of where this team is right now, Tyree Robinson, who looks apart, tall kid from Oregon, which Jerry Jones said this morning he expects cave On fres be fine for the season opener, But that in itself is I mean, it just doesn't sound like a good situation to have your third safety and special teams ace be the guy you're counting on come the game day. I refuse, I refuse,

refuse to think that this is it, that that something. No, No, there has to be something and not just the guy that gets cut this weekend. And it's just like, why does there have to be something? Because Robinson that's what start happen. He's made zero plays, but but there's no I just I find it really really hard to believe that the Cowboys do feel confident with what they have in Like Davier Woods came on Phrasier and and I'm

not saying they suck or anything. You know, I like that both of them, and I think they're good players. But again, when we talk about that that um high level and the guy you would expect that safety that they're just not there yet because they haven't been proven on the field. So let me be clear. Are you saying that even if Xavier Woods was healthy and Frasier was healthy, completely healthy, you still think that they don't feel good about their safety positions that what you're saying.

Are you saying right now, based upon what's out there, they shouldn't feel safety. I mean, they shouldn't feel feel good about that. I'm saying that even if Xavier comes back Quake two and he's good to go, still I think that down the row is just it's just not really gonna turn out how they're expecting it to be. I don't know. I'm just not one hundred percent confident about the position right now in the guys that they

I'll answer it this way. I think that if if if Woods came back healthy and he's been playing okay, and Frasier comes back healthy, and Seattle met the demand that the Cowboys were asking, the Cowboys have a price in Seattle, has a price of Seattle came to them, came down to them. That's two catches now for Deontay Thompson team. Yeah he is. That's if that happened, I think the Cowboy would still do it regardless of what Frasier gives you, what what Woods gives you, which I agree.

I think we all kind of agree there. I just I don't know that the Cowboys feel like if they have all three of those guys healthy, I mean they win in this far saying that's who we feel comfortable with. I don't know that they that anything has changed from that standpoint if those if those guys are healthy, that's this team has had six months to do something and they don't. They don't want to. They think they're fine, and Xavier Woods is supposed to be back by week two.

They think they can make do with Cavon, Frasier and Xavier. Like I they'll probably add a guy this weekend. Like I don't think they're gonna do anything significant and safety. I think it would have happened by now, telling what ninety four changes a lot of things. That's yeah, if you can get him. Look at ninety Randy Gregory and Jalen Smith are just like bomb rushing the passer right now,

Like that's and they're gonna say stuff like that. They're gonna be like, this pass rush can make any safety look good. But but but if you've got that those guys rushing the passer and at that level, it changes what you need the safety, right And I mean if you even throw out the Earl Thomas stuff, like if you even want to talk about it, it's gonna take multiple weeks of Earl Thomas being willing to miss game checks before Seattle's gonna budge on that they're not relenting

on that. Literally, the season starting changes nothing, because the whole thing comes down to whether Earl Thomas is willing to give up his salary. And until the Seahawks see proof that he is, they're not going to change their minds. So forget about that until at least like week three or four. Yea. So this is what it is. I really don't think it's going to change on a significant

level in the next month or so. And not only that, Nick, you mentioned the pass rush, but also when they look up their corner if they get the production out of those cornerbacks that they think they're gonna get, then they really think about the fact that, hey, we think we can leave those guys on a island by themselves sometimes, and so it does change again what you need at safety when you have a pass rush and you have really good corners, if you're looking to have a good defense.

But when you look at Seattle had a ton of pass rush, they had really good corners, and they had even better safeties, and they were one of the best defenses in the history of the NFL. Really And you know, okay, star practice, you still want to cut him to you said you didn't think they were gonna cut him. That's right. Sorry, yeah, I don't think that they want to cut him. And we've said this all along. Don Deonte Thompson just gives you something that no one else has from a speed

element like that. And I think, you know, Lance lan Or, it's just one of those situations where he's been really rock solid. Other than punt returning, he's been a rock solid at receiver. But I don't think that gets you on the team. If if you're just solid, you have to do something that stands out. Yep, Okay, give me your camp MVP, uh Man MVP. Some of the names that were thrown out were Cheeto Bay interesting. Jihad Ward

was Mickey's pick for for Camp MVP. I think Lindsay was the one that said tackle Charlton, which is not a bad pick. Um, Dave, you said Cheeto and Jeoid would be your cot your co MVP. See pretty good about one of those. What would you guys? What would you guys say? Now? Jack Martin is the guy we pick. That's it's it all goes back to the curve. Like when he's been healthy. Nobody's been better day after day than Zack Martin. But a couple of names that jump out.

Byron Jones playing a new position has been phenomenal way more often than he hasn't been. Tavon Austin was good, and Kavon Austin, Cole Beasley, Jalen Smith just day after day of really impressing and then God call me crazy. Randy Gregory for the two weeks that he's been out there, he's been awesome. Joe Thomas was really good because they

didn't they started out not practicing. Shawn Lee and Joe was in there and they really didn't miss a beat on defense, which is something we're not used to seeing with Shaun Lee's out of it. So I thought Joe Thomas got some votes on our top ten list as well.

All Right, the Tyrn Smith, he's the guy that just because of my thoughts and you know, I've always been worried even since last year injury wise, that has been concerning to me, and the fact that yes, he's being a little banked up right now and here and there, but from what I've seen, he's still one of the most powerful guys here on the whole team, and it's amazing when you see him play and at the level

that he plays. So anyways, based on my thoughts on him and injury wise and all that, just what I've seen from him at practice, I would name him as one of my top ones. All Right, I'm gonna skip through some of these questions because we've kind of already talked about some of them to Jalen Smith, Tavon, Austin d Law. I want to get to the top three

questions and see if we can get these in. Number three was do the Cowboys need a number one wide receiver based on what you've seen during training camp in preseason, do you think are you buying into the concept that they can roll with having a lot of receivers that are just kind of all at the same level, rather than having one that is much better than the rest.

I really do, I really I haven't seen anything at this training camp to dissuade me that this strategy can work, because I am we didn't even throw him out there for MVP. I'm so impressed with Ezekiel Elliott. Yeah, we haven't seen him playing in the preseason. I don't give a flip. He has looked awesome. I know I could have said something. I wasn't sure he's been He looks like he is ready, which how can you even take a step up from being one of the best backs

in the league. But I really think he's gonna take a step and I hope this coaching staff is willing to use him as creatively as you see with guys like Levion Bell, because he can do that. Somebody, though, is gonna have to force their hand. It's gonna have to make the defense play a little bit, play on us with them. If they just go standard bass and I got this guy, and you got this guy, and we don't have to really worry about this player. It could be it could be problematic because you can't sta

stack the box when you do things like that. So I don't know if it's if it's one particular guy, but somebody when they're out there is gonna have to scare them. And I don't know who that's gonna be. I haven't seen it from Herns, but he's got to do some more things Verle. Yeah, I mean, honestly, it's one practice, but I mean Deonte Thompson has got to be able to do something like that because Bryce Butler at times could scare the defense because he could get

by them. They just wouldn't throw it a lot. On two of the three preseason games we've seeing Michael Gallop down Phil. One of them was a touchdown. One of them was a little bit off, but it had the potential. He had the guy beat. I think Michael Gallop is a guy that maybe feels a role for you like that. I don't know why I keep forgetting him when I think in receivers, I just don't. And he's been the

best one. Yeah. Between between the six of them that I think they'll carry, they'll they will get the job done. When combined with Zeke, I mean I have confidences and even take away Zeke if just even with Ron Smith coming in us, let's not take away no, no, obviously obviously no. But you think here's the thing a few months ago, let me explain. A few months ago, I think we talked about this and I'm like, oh, you need a number one wide receiver. That was my answer.

But that was with the mentality of you know, me thinking of wearing off Zeke can throughout the game and maybe going downhill a little bit if you have him so much out there and you're using him constantly over and over. But when I say takeaway and seek, when you look at the backup spot that you can rotate him too, and like a certain scenarios you throw in. Rod Smith is the guy that has been doing amazing. He's doing a great job. So that's what I basically

what I'm trying to say. You got Rod Smith too that can help in there, and the running game can keep being really good even when z comes off the field. All Right, there's question number two. Who's under more pressure, Dak Prescott or Jason Garrett. Garrett We've had We went on a point counterpoint on this, Dave and I did so I said it was Garrett and you say, Dad,

give me some reasons. My reason is is that I just feel like, you know, the pressure that Dak is under states to get a new contract has been proven that you do not have to have a winning record to to to get paid. I mean, he could be pretty good and he's still gonna get paid. And if this team doesn't go to the NFC Championship game, I don't think Jason Garrett's the coach next year. So I don't think the seat can get any hotter for him

as a coach. Here I go grading on a scale again, But you know, obviously we're coaching this team is Jason Garrett's lifelong dream and nobody, nobody's more like bread for it than he is. But he's made a ton of money and has gotten seven years coaching this team. And if he gets fired, he'll be an offensive coordinator or a quarterbacks coach in the league in a week, Dak Prescott, he could be the face of this franchise for the

next decade and a perennial Pro bowler. If this goes the right way, or if this season doesn't, he Cowboys could be looking to replace him in eight months. And that's just I think that's a different kind of pressure. Like I really, Dak is at a fork in the road in his career, Like Jason Garrett's gonna be fine in the grand scheme of things, even if the Cowboys

fire him. But this could be the difference between Dak being the face of the Cowboys for an entire generation of fans or a guy that we talk about in five years as like, man, remember the Dak era. That's that was crazy, you know. So I just I think it's a different kind of pressure. I don't necessarily agree with you, but I think that was well put with what you said about Dak. I mean, you're you're right about you know, it is what Garrett's gonna get, what

would he would do and all that kind of stuff. Yeah, but that makes sense what you explained. But but and I get what y'all are saying, though, I mean, not the aftermath. None of that happens next at the moment for the Cowboys and the team. And honestly, I wrote Dak,

but in that regard, you're probably right. Like I mean, the it's gonna get it's gonna be uncomfortable for Jason Garrett if this team doesn't perform well way more so than Dak if he had to guess, eight and eight, nine and seven is where this team has lived, you know, for for a while. If that happens, I think Dak's the quarterback next year. I don't think Jason it's the coach. It's a good point, and it's a good point, and that's kind of what we've seen from this team this

year and other years. All right, let's get to the final question. This one is an easy one, but a hard one at the same time. Do the Cowboys make the playoffs? As I just said eight and eight, nine and seven, I think they. I think they do. I think they do make the playoffs. Travis Frederick injury is really big, I answered, I would answered that before that. I think this team can go ten and six, and it's it's gonna be tough, but I think that they

What they do best is they run the football. They got the best player on the field most of the time when Zeke's out there. They can run the ball. That keeps you in every game. And I think this defense will fly around enough and make a little bit more plays. Yeah, I think they have a chance to make it. I think they do it. Ten and six I absolutely think they have a chance to make it.

And I said this before training camp. Obviously a lot of stuff has happened that I couldn't have foreseen, but I you know, the defense has looked a lot better than I expected, you know, Michael Gallup. A lot of stuff comes to but I haven't seen anything that convinces me that this team is drastically different than I thought. And I think they're gonna be good. I think they're gonna finish with a winning record. I think the NFC is strong. I mean, the Rams, the NFC East is

just the strong, the Vikings, the Eagles. I just there's there's so many the Saints, the Falcons, the Panthers, there's so many teams that have good squads. I just I don't think they're gonna make it. I think, but I think it's it's not gonna because they're bad. I just think there's only so many spots. You don't even throw in the best quarterback in the Aaron Rodders. The conference is stacked, and I think the Cowboys are gonna be a good team, but there's only so many spots to

go around. I'll be I won't be surprised if they make the playoffs. I just right now in August, I don't think they will. Yeah, I think they have the capability and the ability to make the playoffs. They They're a good team, they really are. They have a lot of really good guys. Now what I'm missing is seeing it all come together and seeing what's going to happen with the line, With the changes that have occurred injury wise, Travis being out, can Joe Looney handle a whole season

taking care of the center position. I don't know. I still need to see all the pieces come together. But do they have the capability absolutely. The one thing I will say is, and I think I've come to this

conclusion about this team under Jason Garrett. When things go well, and what I mean by that is when you don't get the unexpected, when you don't have this major player that goes out for a significant amount of time, when you can keep all that stuff kind of afloat, they have a chance to be a really, really good team.

That's when they have their best seasons. So you put it in that context, and I think what Nick said really resonates that Travis Frederick injury becomes huge if Joe Looney, as I suspect is good, is appreciably close to where somewhere close to where Travis Frederick would have played, and he doesn't. It doesn't create problems for you that Travis Frederick isn't out there. Then I think this team that

may be a good sign for this team. I think if they lose guys like Tying, if they lose guys like like Sean Lee, what what we've seen over the last few years is when they lose their best players, they are not the team that then gets to the playoffs. So I think it's going to be all about injuries for this team. I think that's the Jason Garrett error as I see it is it's all about injuries. So

is that a yes or no? So right now, I'm gonna say they will make it based upon what I know right now, and I will say that that will change if we start seeing injuries, and I'll change in my mind. But right now I will say yes, they can make because they have enough talent. I think they have more than enough talent to make it. Because all those teams that Dave just mentioned, one of them, maybe two, are going to be bad. I mean's just the nature

of the league. I think somebody's gonna be really good. And because if they have injuries, Yeah, that's why you got to give so much credit to what the Eagles did. They suffered a lot of them still went in there. And you know, a lot of a lot of fans will say, what about the coach comes down to coaching comes down to that. But you know, say what you will. I mean he's been he's kept them pretty competitive for the most part, and and a little better than that.

I think he'll have him right there again. Yep. And they ended up nine and seven last year without their three best players for a good part of season. That though, is the difference between them and the Eagles. The Eagles lost arguably their three best players throughout the season and they ended up winning the Super Bowl. So there's no doubt in my mind they'll be in the conversation because

they only haven't been one time in Barrett's career. But again, that's a steep it's a steep hill to climb in the NFC this year. All right, guys, we appreciate you joining us. We are back. Actually, we'll have some joint shows coming up for you guys tomorrow and on Friday, we got the game in Houston on Thursday, so there won't be shows on Thursday, and then on Monday we'll be back on the air, I'm sorry. On Tuesday, we'll be back on the air ready to go. Heading into

the season. We'll start getting you guys ready for Cowboys versus Panthers Week one the NFL season. And I just wanted to a quick shout out to our our video staff that I could put this together unless notice noticed a great job. And you know it looks like it's going over well, so really good job turning nice way. We might be doing this again next year a training camp maybe, So we'll see you guys on Tuesday. Till then for Nick even Dave Hellman, Ama Garcia, I'm Derek Eagelton.

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