Hangin' with the 'Boys: Checking in with Will McClay

How are you today? Name? I wish this dude could get another We've got Douglas behind the wall working his magic out today. Shannon Gross real in today for at least the first segment. Special guests, the great scouting guru here at the Stars, Will mc hey, thanks with coming or who that's a there's a connotation to that many for us. You are, You're the man all things scouting here at the Stars, and I know you don't have

a lot of times. We'll get right to it. Um. First off, just easily, what what are you impression so far with this rookie class. I'm enjoying watching them play and grow. Um, we we got guys that we felt like could fit in certain spots and do certain things. And then they're a very mature group, so they've been able to handle the things that you know, come with the NFL, and they've been able to handle them well.

So seeing Dorn's armstrong coming and contribute, Layton, vander ass, Gallop, you know, all of those guys coming in and doing some things to help us. With Connor starting and it's in the NFL starting at a guard coming out of college with some of the stuff that he's grown men due to you, it's a learning experience. But he was better last week than he was the first week, and we hope to continue that growing through. You know, with Layton,

I said this off air. I thought by him being a little injured, you know, doing training camp, that we wouldn't see much him. I thought it would be Thompson, Joe Thomas, Joe Thompson or Thomas Thomas. But he's been playing talk about about Layton. I mean, we haven't blowed him up since we got from training camp. What are you seeing Layton? I think the most uh, the most important or his biggest feature is the fact that he's

big and he can run, and he covers up lanes. Uh, and he reacts very well to things in front of me, closed the space, like he made tackles last week on Barkley where you know it was taking two or three because he's so long, because he's big, he's athletic, he can make those tackles. And then his ability to pick up the defense and know all three spots and also playing sub packages. You have a comfort with a guy that's gonna do the right thing, is gonna do that

at a high level. Wow, man, I just I'm telling I'm telling everybody what I saw. I'm thinking Joe was gonna be backing up all three spots. But when I when we had a little hiccup with Sean, he was in there. He was he was doing his job. He mightn't even start over Wilson. Wilson had a good game, said, Damien's playing really, really well, and we're very fortunate to have six linebackers and seven when Covington hadn't played yet that can play on special teams but really help us

on defense. And we have a plan for him. We're rotating guys through to keep Jalen uh you know healthy and um you don't even word about that normal. But the number of players. Yeah, there's a lot of plays in football games. And to play the way that we play, where you have to run to the ball and it's vitally important that they we get around the ball. You're

gonna have to rotate those guys through man Jalen. And last year, like I told these guys, I'm not greating these kids because I thought it was unfair to try to grade a guy who's not there yet, even though he was getting reps. But this year here, man, he is growing by leaps and bounds each game. You know he's getting better and better. But now move on to my man. Darren's arm strong. You love him. Yeah, he got violent hands. Did you see him want to run?

Play man? When he did, got to hold it on him out he stuck his hand in his kid's chest. That's that's really the most incredible thing about him, is uh. And in Rod's defense, you gotta play tough, you gotta fit where you're supposed to fit, and you gotta play with some fortitude. And it's a young kid that you know, he's outweighed by twenty five thirty pounds sometimes and he

plays with that natural leverage. He plays with instincts and intelligence, and he does exactly what the coaches asked him to do at his own way. He's got to bend about him. He's able to bend, he's able to use his length. And then when it comes to pass rush, he's just he's always he's he's getting there, Yes he is, you know. It's he just needs that step and the reps that he gets an understanding how the game is played in the NFL. He's gonna be a big piece for us

going down the stretch too. What on the on Gallup? You know, he's I've always heard the receivers one of the toughest positions for a rookie to play. And here he's surrounded with all new guys. You know, there's a lot of a lot of It's kind of a wide receiver by committee and someone respects. Is that good for him to give him more chances? I guess I think it does. It gives him more chances, he has more reps. Well,

there's not all this weight on his shoulder. So if you know Cowboys need receivers, you draft a Gallup, put him in there and let him fail, or you know, it's all on him. Now he's in the mix with the other guys. He's fitting in. And I'll tell you the most incredible thing about him is, while yeah, he didn't have an overproductive game catching the ball, he had three pancake blocks as a receiver in the run game. And so that's part of the identity that we're building.

But him buying into it as a receiver as a young guy, that only tells that that ceiling is gonna be very high because once you get that part down, now, the routes and everything is gonna come a lot easier. The dbs are gonna be Wait a minute, this guy's gonna come after me and it's gonna be a little

bit different. So he's learning every day. Great. Well, you know what's amazing is and see, I have a little different deal because we are a young team and we kind of started that last year by the guys that we drafted. It's just I'll be wanting them to play. Whether they fail or not. Don't bother me as much as most people. But you know, Michael Gallup, and what I'm leading to is we went out and got Bryce Butler. Does that take away from some of the other reps.

So y'all just trying to see where Bryce fit. Trying to see where Bryce fits. I mean, we're always, you know, the NFL is you're always trying to improve and you're trying to find the pieces that can help you continue to grow. And you know we're in game two. It's a long season, so let's find out as we continue to go through and find out what fits best for us. It doesn't take anything away from Gallup because we're committed to Gallop Gallop playing and Gallop being here and being

productive for us for a long time. Now. You constantly are bringing guys in for tryouts and nothing on the pro side of things. Is that a situation where the coaches say, hey, we need we're weak here, we need some look at somebody, or is it where the scouts say, we think this guy can play, you need to come see him. I think the number one thing is knowing what's out there when something happens, and we're always trying

to improve the roster. That's competition. If those guys know that um our department's objective is to bring the best guys in and then it's on them to stay on top of things and do that. I'm we're always going to try and get better. Now, the coaches, you know, there are guys that have been on the team and they know what we're doing and all that other stuff. But what I'm always trying to find guys that can make this team a little bit better and make the

competition a little bit tougher. I'm gonna tell you, Jimmy Man, Well, Jimmy you man. I mean, we'd be fifteen weeks into the season. You you may come in. It's a old veterans. You come in, manduce in your locker. Real you'd be like hating to do Hayes Houston Man, just you and you lock them working out and make so bad be offensive line. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. He did he know I was hanging out at the local Barlow.

Then today's NFL is Darwin doesn't matter, purists, vival of the fittest and and um, we want to put ourselves and situations to never be Oh we don't have anybody. I want to know who's out there on the street, what do they like? Give our coaches the opportunity experience. I mean, if there's you know, if we need to upgrade, we will now tough question. Three quarterbacks and you don't have the answer, but I'm gonna answer. I don't like

three quarterbacks. Four tight ends. I don't like four tight ends. Seven wide receivers. I don't like it. I'm gonna tell you why, coach, because they don't play special teams. If they all play special teams, I would be happy because the more guys that can play special teams, that are backups, that alleviation starters and get and keeps them fresher. Just

I don't understand the theory behind it. I think it's part of building a roster, and building a roster the way that you have to based on the conditions that you have. We don't have a number one receiver. People say, so you've got a file that number one receiver. Then the other guys have to find their roles. We do have to make receivers play on special teams. We do. I mean, we're very fortunate that we have, as we were talking before, six seven linebackers that can play on

special teams. We have corners and safeties that play on special teams. And they've changed the rules a little bit to take some of that stuff out of it. You know, if you had you need a special teams receiver, linebacker dB. Because of the kicking game, that's kind of taking that out of it. But once we find the mix that we have to make the roster healthy based on numbers at different spots and what we have to do. So it's part of the finding out phase and we have

quality players there. Now guys have to get in where they fit in. If you're the fifth receiver, we're gonna have to play on special teams. We're gonna have to do that. And as the season moves forward, I think we'll continue to find out who can do that right. The hardest for me before you out, I'm gonna give mine. I want him to get the hardest spot to find players once the season started, even in training camps, I

believe the hardest position to find this offensive linemen. For you, which I have to take your you're an offensive lineman the hardest. What is the hardest spot to find? It's offensive and defensive lineman. Offensive lineman more so because when you look at college football today, the way they play doesn't prepare them for the NFL. So if you get a guy coming in and you're trying to find they don't know what you do. They don't know how to

play it. In to play the NFL game at a high level, you have to have a number of reps and you got to have a lot of ability. So there's not a lot of offensive linemen out there. Everybody's playing seven on seven in high school. Nobody's playing five on five, So you don't have guys to develop those skills. And that's the hard And I'm I come from the old school. Hey, I went up front with offensive and

defensive line, so you're always trying to find those guys. Wow, I do before you leave, I do want to ask you about the amateur side of the scouting that's obviously blowing and going right now. It's huge, how crazy it's. It's the college scouts. We got six areas. Guys, they're on the road. They're going to schools and games. They started right after training camp. They were there for a week and a half, two weeks. Then when colleges started hitting two days, they started hitting the road and they

go to campuses, they go to games. We're sending in reports. Now we're starting to get a feel for who the guys are and then starting to put a board together a little bit now at least on very general terms, and continuing to find out where they are, and it's a long season and staying update with all that. At this point, it's you're obviously I wouldn't think you're specifically targeting guys that you're still just just overall. It's it's fact finding. You want to find out where especially you

want to know where the seniors are. And so much of this draft now as juniors that we don't talk about. We can't talk to them, but you know, if schools will mention them, it kind of gives you a headstart on them. But you ask about the seniors, the guys you know that are coming out, start gathering that information and we find out who they are, and then you know, whatever juniors you can. But we're just trying to evaluate the country and the best players in the country before

we put the board together. But you got to start so we can say, okay, who's being cross check, where's the strength of the draft. We want to start ahead of time to kind of look at where we are getting into free agency and everything else. It's a it's a you know, three hundred and sixty five day a year job. Now one one more questions before we take these break and let you go. And this just don't you have to draft a offensive linement if it only

the fifth a sixth round every year? Now, I really think you have to because you know the way that salaries go in the salary cap, and you have guys that are starters, Well, you got to have depth. You can't. You can't play everybody, so the young guys have to grow, So you have to draft. You know, it's you know your question about the quarterbacks. You have to have those people understand, Yeah, do that end up costing you money

in the long run. You have to draft them and then keep them to build so that you can have backup depth. It doesn't cost you a lot of money or else you're going out and paying two and a half three million dollars for a backup quarterback. You're going to get a three million dollar backup guard. That's you know, you know Jonathan Cooper left here in bad five million dollars, Yes he did, who was injured? You know what I mean? So that that's that's really how we have to build it.

The right way. The long way is doing that and playing the guys that we draft. Now, you're always pushing those offensive linemen. You're well. The thing about it when the first time you get into three point stands is in the NFL. Yeah, that's bad. Yes, that's bad man. Yes, and you've got some angry men coming. Well, we know you've got a lot going on today. We appreciate you taking a few minutes with you. We're going to take

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quick repeating that manly is uh. I don't even think the fans, Miss I think he's got a rash that blurred up again or something here. Let me let me's right. Pick your plays, not your weggies. Tommy John is the most comfortable underwear on the planet. Comes back by no Weggie guaranteed. Shop Exclusive Cowboys Underwear Tommy John dot Tommy John dot com, Forward slash Cowboys twenty percent off your first dader Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys. Do

you think old will there like what he had to say? Yeah? And he don't one thing I like about this administration. And Jason is not in this because Jason is a coach. Garrett is not in this. What I'm goin to say, I've never seen mister Jones with Stephen Jones and Miss Charlotte Anderson. Jones Anderson all will show a way we could have got tougher and tougher with the questions they won't show away and that you know I didn't bring

him here. Asking about what's happening with with Dak You know you didn't bring We want to know what this class is about, what what what what this draft is about, what our players to come is about? In little situations like I want to know tight ends? You got four

of them? Interesting? Was the roster construction? Yeah, we'll necessarily talk about a whole lot, but um, you got a question kind of how this rostam and you brought it up receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks, And the thing about it is, I understand why they brought if if you feel good about your receivers, you don't need an extra right, so they're bringing him in to see where he's at and how can he help if at all? If not, he may not be here long are they made got something

long term. They're looking at the tight ends. Dalton shots enhanced Cold Gathers by him not being where they thought he would be as a blocker and as a pass catcher. That enhanced Rico Gatherings. I understand what's going on. And

the three quarterbacks, that's true to understand. It's like we're not bringing in another veteran, pay him four million dollars and we and something having to dock and all of a sudden, we were still gonna be uh five and whatever, you know, and what that quarterback gonna give us a six one one more win or were able to keep our low place in the draft high place in the draft, and they had that one more wine. But you did, like you mentioned the domino effect where the special teams

takes a hit. Oh yeah, when you when you have linebackers like our linebackers, you got all of these guys can play special teams. But now that we have Covington, we have Wilson, uh Leyton, the backup guys can actually get out there and beep effective special team players. Last year we didn't have that. Durant didn't play special teams, Sean Lee didn't play special teams. But also the guy that we lost that went to the to the Raiders, uh,

a good outside linebacker, Wilber. Wilber, he couldn't. They didn't want him on the field as a linebacker. So that that was a waste. Because when you when you when you can have one or two or maybe three starter, specially guys that impact starters, not worrying about those fifteen to twenty plays. A special team. Now they're even fresher with the rotation, they're even fresher. So when the fourth quarter come, you ain't gotta be like how you feel.

It's like, hey, let's line up and go get them. Yeah, man't worry, I guess. Yeah, you're gonna have guys that can cover special teams. But then you're just wearing out your you win out to start you win. See we had when when we played it was a select few, you guys that were starters and played all four. Darren Woodson, you know he's played all regardless, he played all four. Uh, Moose Johnson, he played all four. You know. But these

were unique guys. Jimmy tried to limit. Okay, if you got my guys started, I don't you know two you know, one of them on two special teams. Pick you two, He'll give you all he got for these two, you know, and uh backups truly had to not only be a special team guy, but an outstanding special team guy like Kenny Gant. You know, he made this team because he can I only could play the slot safety, but he could also be just a hellacious player and special teams and that kept him in the league a year or

two extra because he could do that. I hope we have a few of those guys. They'll show up. Cavn Frasier, Yeah, he got a sack last week. Maybe two. Yeah, come on, now, you know heath Man, he you gotta tack a little better, baby. Come on. Well, Douglas, I think you said we had a caller, and I'm sorry I missed the name. Hello, Hello, are you there. I'm sorry I didn't get I didn't catch your name. I missed Douglas. I'm sorry. James in

New York, James, All right, how are you doing? James short? Today? James, we got to get into the offense defense. Actually, my name moam James from West Virginia. Okay, Ja, Yeah, I had a question for Nate. I think Joe Looney's doing a fairly decent job, you know, for what he's been put into and have to do a specialist, somebody as

good as you are. What do you see from him do you think could make him get to the second level that we need to make our running game a little more productive than just secure the down block of him in the left guard. Our right guard can secure the down block on a linement. Secure that first and then uh then then go up to the next level. A lot of times guys a seal linebacker and think that he's going to the left side and taking that instead of taking that extra step, you know, to make

sure he's going to the left side. They come off and both guys come off thinking and all of a sudden that that down guy gets through a leaks through and that districts to look for the running back. Whereas you secure that down block first, and all of a sudden they make that linebacker commit that you just get a piece of him because the back of run through the rest. I'm guessing that's thanks for the call, Jay,

appreciate it. I'm guessing that's the biggest you too. I'm guessing that's the biggest difference between Looney and Frederick is Looney can probably handle his man one on one just like Frederick. But it's the other, like you said, moving the next level or or whoever the thing is. Uh, we've played some good uh snacks Harrison, h K one Short and Dontario Poe. Man. It ain't too many that you can you can you can't call three other guys

that I'm talking about versus the run. Yeah, that's gonna be that much better than what they have just faced. All they gotta do is keep that in them, in their memory of how hard it was and give that same great effort on the rest of the league, and they're gonna move most of the people. Well that that brings us to the Seattle Seahawks defense. Then they've got a pretty good John Reid defensive tackle six three three or six? Yeah, what's his number? What's his number? He

is number ninety. Yeah. A good player, good player, solid player. Uh these guys. Arena has got two two guys, two guys coming back. Uh you said, uh right, Bobby Wagner and kJ Right have missed both of their first two games, and that's two big key. Oh my god. They are They never leave the field. They can rush the passer, they can stop the run and they can cover. So these two guys going to be a great impact on

this team. But I still think with our offensive line, with our ability, with our back and our offense not we still should be more than enough for this team if we play our game right and don't turn the ball over when you go on the road. This is where this is where I tell people, this is where you they're smart customer, and that's the fan say this. We win this game because we have number one, a quarterback that don't turn the ball over. Seattle in order

to be in any and it's just my belief. In order for Seattle to be in any game this year, they're gonna have to have turnovers. Yeah, I think the defense have five. I've up until this point that they had two intercessions, but she killed. Uh what's the young Griffin should Gil Griffin two interceptions last week? Fell into this and they have to have turnovers to win because their offense is not going to generate those many points. At least it hasn't happened yet. Uh. If we get

some turnovers, it's gonna be ugly. But if we just continue to grind offensively and don't turn that ball over. We we we we we beat this team. Yeah, that's what worries me about this game. I was looking at last year's game. You know, Seattle came in here week sixteen and beat US twenty one to twelve. They had with largely the same group on defense. They had four sacks, two interceptions, and then recover the fumbles those turnovers that were the difference in the game. Yeah, touchdowns to four

field goals. Yeah, that's how I broke down. I mean that was and again it's other than Michael Bennett's gone, but you look at the rest of the group, it's pretty much as what they what they are truly missing is their playmaking pass rushers. April is gone, Ben in his gone. Those were the playmaking guys. Now they have Clark, young guy Clark, he is left somewhat of a pass rusher like kJ Wright and uh and Wagner. They can get out of the path they maybe but linebackers, but

they can get out of the past or two. And that's that's that's really I think gonna be the kids if those two guys playing, And I guess Carol, their head coach, said it's possible they'll come back this week and that Yeah, that's gonna be a huge difference. I mean, how how does the team prepare, not knowing if they're gonna play or not prepare to You always prepare for the better player because in this league you rarely have, Uh,

we don't have two shann Lee's. As much as Jayalen Smith is coming to the forefront, you know, you don't have when you have to to. That's say Jayleen becomes an equal or better than Seann Lee, and Sean Lee can get this tackling form back at what That's hell? You know what I'm saying. You know that that's rare.

You know these two guys right, and that's round brother, that's rare ar and didn't have a safety like you know who we didn't get So that's rare air that you're dealing with the like eight of these crazy men running around. So but now they only got three Clarks trying to make a difference. Uh, Juran Reid trying to make it diff Did he come from Bama? I'm not sure where to read come from cause this name is so familiar for me not to see it a lot.

But anyway, Yeah, that Frank Clark. He was one of the guys that had a sack against the slash trip. Yeah and he had, Yeah, he had. I'm telling you the Bama guys come to my mind, bro, because you know I'm about I tell my wife this. You know, I like to look at I like to look at winning programs and try to figure out, besides the great athletes,

why are they winning like the Rams. It hurts me to miss the game watching the Rams play, you know, because besides having great players, because people say, hey, and I know I'm a little off key, but people say, God, that coach is so innovative. And when I saw the running back motion out to the slot then come back cross, and they gave him the sweet. We call it the jet sweet, but they call it the philosophy. And they given the ball and they say that's so innovative. No,

I think it's just so todd. That's what I think. But you get what I'm saying. So I'm like, let's run Zic out that's to the slot, then come back cross. You know. But the only difference in this play is they got who outside, they got cook, they got to get a call and they got another. So you can't say oh man, I'll put an eighth guy in the box. Right. So yeah, I tell people, you can be as it innovative, is as you want if you have the talent to put it there, right, you know. So I ain't gonna

go there. But anyway, five two ninety seven, but you get what I'm saying, Kurt do Yeah? Agree again. We got James back in New York. James and New York. Okay, keep it short now we're talking. I'll keep it shot point. Thanks just taking the call. I just had three quick points in the game. I'll get to him real fast. One is I think the Cowboys need to survive this first quarter. I think Seattle is going to come out

with everything that got seasons on the line. Oh and two that crazy crowd, you know, I think if they can take that first punch, I think will be in good shape. The second point in this game is Mickey brought up I say on the show. It's something that call Banks always says. Two when he does a little show in New York, talks about lane discipline and gap integrity.

You can't let this guy shake loose and you know, slide in that pocket and extend plays because if he does that he can kill guys and down the field, guys shake loose. And that's one thing I'm worried about this office. I think if we play disappoint on the defensive line, we should be fine getting pressure on him. And I think the third thing, and they were talking about this about not turning the ball over. You know, there's a recipe to say, you know, for winning when

you don't turn the ball over. You can pack a running game and a pass rush on a road trip and just play a game. You know, Cowboys playing some good special teams pinning them back play that long game. I think we will be fine. As long as we don't turn the ball over, we should easily, you know, come away with a victory up in Seattle this weekend. So great points, James appreciate the call man. Thanks, Thanks when you when you when you you know what I

was going to say to me is so simple. Now, if if my team was playing, it would be simple. If if the nineties Cowboys playing, it will be simple. But but I don't want to insult nobody. And because I made a few guys mad this morning when I when I said it on the show that were doing the Insider it's eleven to one, and I know we sped be talking. It's one guy named Russell Wilson, eleven guys on our defense. And I will get back to

all you know up here, but we'll get back. Let me say this right here about we changed our whole coaching staff and kept our defensive offensive coordinators. They changed their defense and offensive coordinators. Bevill and our guy that we have here with us. Our coach was there, Chris Shark. We Shar was their defensive coordinator. He's with us now, Beville. I don't know what coach Beville at Marty Schardenheimer's kid is their offensive coordinator. For some reason, they haven't clicked yet,

getting a lot of complaints about play calls up there. Yeah, they haven't clicked yet. So but it's amazing that we're similar teams and that they have, through their choice, like us, gotten rid of a lot of older guys, whether it be the money or whether it just be a locker rooms disruption. They had the same thing up there, but they did it by keeping a lot of their assistance and getting rid of their coordinators. We got we got rid of a lot of our assistant and kept our

coordinator and we're trying to figure out. They have a virtually new defensive line, whereas we have virtually a new wide receiving call. So everybody's going through their growing pains. They're ow in two. The league did them an injustice by having I didn't know that two road games. Yeah, yeah, and they did that somebody else when they had in these bad which is climate and all that, and then you and this is one other team they had two that the Houston Texans two road games. How do you

do that? Well? That that that's one of my words I wanted to ask you about this. As far as our offense, Um, I agree with James. I think they're gonna they're desperate. Seattle's desperate. That are home in front of a crazy opening opening day crowd. How do you withstand that initial push? How does the offense deal with? Man, they're gonna come out firing. But but see this is

I understand that totally. You're gonna come out firing. And Jimmy would tell us, Okay, we we we they're gonna come out firing, but we're gonna keep We're gonna be us right. We play hard and we play smart, and we're gonna be us because by the middle of the first half and all this rush ain't happen, and all these great players ain't happen, then they settle down and become who they are. Yeah, they are a team that's

trying to find themselves too. We are too, But I think we just a little bit ahead because we got that win and that confidence. Don't don't buy into eventually they're gonna win a game. Don't buy into that. You let I was gonna call the fans idiot, but I'm not gonna do. You let those in the street buy into that. Don't. Don't as a player, And that's one thing I respected by coach Landry, and that's one thing I spect a boy coach Coroach Johnson. We are a

better team. We know who we are. Just because they don't lost four in a row. It's gonna be five in a row, and it's gonna be worse because we're gonna beat you so bad. You're gonna have six in a row to the next week. Yeah, it's just I don't buy when I hear people say that, Well, I'm so nervous because even in my house, my wife and I ain't What are you saying in this house. What are you saying? Yeah, what are you saying? So that means that Alabama should never win two in a row.

That means that Clemson should never win in two in a row. And that definitely means that the Rams should not be two and old because that team that they beat lost last week. Come on, man, come on? Does the crowd noise though? I mean that's how that hurts? Yeah? Now, how how do they deal with that? Is it? I guess they're just practicing hand signals out there? Hand signals. Uh, that's where your run game have to be, even you know, one or two yards. You know that won the lost

because you don't want to be in the past. Pass the situation unless it's it's third and two, third and four, third and five. Okay, you can handle that a little better, But you don't want to be third nineteen, third and twelve, you know, because that crowd gets that. The offensive line is legitary. Now, even though you don't work on your silent count, you don't working on holding hands, you don't working on you know, whatever the center calling the snap count,

it ain't the same. So you have to be smart. And that's where the smartness come in at when they call a run play, get that running back at least back to the line of screamings. Do not have no, no, no that Tony Wise and coach Hey, we will not have any negative plays on first and second time. You never want to be behind the chains, but it's even worse when you've got to deal with that count. Yes, yes it is. Hey, all right, we got Tim and

Boston on the line. Tim, how are you to do today? Sir? Hey, guys, thanks taking my call. I appreciate Hey, I'm one hundred percent with Nate too. You remember, and Nate told us two things to travel, a running game and a defense. Also told us the first four games, we're gonna find out what we're gonna be. Now, this is a very young team. We had one of the highest percentage turnover on our roster. I think we're gonna be you know,

maybe five hundred going into the earlier. Told buff then we're gonna let the clutch out and we're gonna be okay. But I I'm a little nervous about Seattle as far as that desperate team. But I also agree that first quarter they're gonna come out, theyre gonna punch us in the mouth. They're gonna try to do those things. But I think we're a better team. We have a great defense, Um, we're healthy. I think our offensive line is gonna do something.

We're gonna start doing pulling things like that. I just the only thing that makes me nervous is if our defense is too aggressive on Russell Wilson, will he make us pay? All right, guys, thanks for taking my call. Everything you do, I listen back in. All the back at gotta do is understand that they gotta cover. Don't don't come up even if Russell scrimmage, break the line of scrimmage. Make sure he's six yards down the field before you come off, you man, because he'll run like

he's gonna broke louse. He'll come out here black. So you come running up and you just throw how many times have you seen him done? So sometimes you have to give up that little run in order to make sure that everybody's covered. Because what the Bears did was they were all out, they lane shoe, they were, They was all over the place too, but they would not

come out of coverage. And eventually, when when when when when When Cleo macnam finally got it tapered down the way they could figure out where he was gonna be he threw that big interception. I it's nowhere in the world. You can calling him what every theory you need, it's nowhere in the world. And I Okay, the Cowboys lose to them, but that'd be a bad loss. That would be a terrible, terrible loss. That would be a turl Yeah. Yeah,

you know. I was talking to Broadness and other guys on the half hour, and Broadest was telling me, you know, well, you gotta be weary. We're real what I'm serious. Tell me from the next callers, from the callers that we have in these next few minutes, tell me what should I be scared of? Tell I want to know what calling him. Tell me, Nate, this is why you should be scared. Well, I think you do have a caller. Okay, well, okay, well Douglas before we get the caller, tell me what

I should be scared of. Douglas as far as Seattle, Yeah, tell me the crowd. Tell me I need to know. I'll tell you. You'd be scared of beating yourself. There you committed in game one. You know, don't let Dak be a football player. As you said last week. Let him be a football player. Don't make him feel like he's seat belted into the pocket. Now. I don't want to expose him to brutal hits, injuries or anything. But I think he can navigate that. I truy steam. So yeah,

don't beat yourself. Okay, now, now you've been chopping at the bit. I mean, I'm not scared of their offense, and you know, Wilson, I think you cover hid, but their defense again, this if right, if right, and Wagner a bag that's a you know, you got a pretty good inside when you got Thomas and which so which there is some concerns, Yeah, going into their field and play playing that defense or those are my concerns too.

If going on with what Doug said, if we going there and give up a bunch of penalties, yeah, and turn that ball over, we're gonna be in trouble because they're gonna feast because they do have a great fan base that's gonna be very loud, gonna be very desperate hard. I think the fans gonna be more desperate and hunger than the play. Okay, that's on to the college. I want to see how we got on the line. We have Ernesto in Virginia beach a. How are you today? Hey?

What's going on guys? First of all, Kurt, much love here for yeah, U time listener for you guys for quite some time before you've changed to hanging with the boys. Awesome. So you know I'm a big time Cowboys fan. So I gotta go with what how you knowing? How young cats don't know who number sixty one is? Man? It was young, I hear my friends for you, dude, Thank you, sir. So big NERD is right though, we ain't got nothing

to be scared about on the SUPERD side. We just got to be scared of ourselves, you know, penalties, shooting myselves in the foot, you know. Lyle Colins, he's kind of worrying me a little bit. I thought he was. Yeah, he's been. He's been shaking nerves on me too. Now you you got me there. I was for to cut you off, but you brought out these shook me a little bit over that. I mean, I expect Floa come into in the shape though, but he's still better than

what these these last few guys have seen. I promise you, oh, I agree. I fully expect lying out of bounce back. Yeah, you know he's definitely no chance, that's for sure. Wow wow, he should man cutt this dude off, get man. But yeah, you know he's gonna bounce back. You know, I'm Connor Williams. He had a nice sweet two you know, playing against snacks that ain't no small feats. So you know, I think we'll be fine. Just you know, we can't shut himself in the foot and take whatever defense gives us.

Thank you, I appreciate it. You have a good day. Hey, Hey, you know it's only baby two or three times a year. You hear me say why, why tell me why? You know, I'm always very respectful. I love Carol. I think he's a good coach. I see what he's trying to do with his offense and defensive coordinators. He's thinking people tied him the same voices or whatever. I understand what he's trying to do. He's trying to bring in young players and but he's But the one issue I have is

you're not covering your quarterback. If you if you have a franchise quarterback, you cover him either by great weapons like New York trying to do, or a great offensive line like we are trying to do. You know what I'm saying, Dak is a franchise quarterback now. But if you do become a franchise quarterback, you're talking about sinking one hundred million dollars in a guy. And you got and you got a twenty five line, I mean a blowpop line. Keep second art inventure, you're gonna get to

the middle and it's very soft. Come on, man, all right, yeah, what do you think? Dug Well? I was gonna say that you've got another caller and this we've got Phil and Lafia Louisiana who is cheating on Shannon fellow Louisa Louisiana. Right, Phil, how are you doing? Man? Pretty good? Great? Great, I'll be I'll be quick because I know it's getting near the bottom of the yard. But Nick, I'm with you

on there's no reason we should lose this game. But I think what's happened Nate, And I know that sounds like a little too philosophical, but for twenty three years, it's almost like, after all the inconsistent seasons of victories and losses, there's like, on paper or in theory, we should we should win this game, But the fear that people have because they didn't know that the team that you played on, and the and the greatness of that

era they y'all got. You guys went on the field expecting to win, and I sat in front of the tube expecting to win even if you were down at the halftime. That's the difference I think. I think the culture and the mindset of the fans now is, uh, you know what, there's a chance we might lose, rather than Hey, we're gonna win this game. And I know that sounds simplistic, and that's how most fans feel. I mean,

we do radio shows, we do hits. All of us guys run and and and you know, I had to literally talk a few people off the ledge because that didn't throw for three hundred yards, right, you know? And so uh you know, one guy said, hey, man, well I just don't feel like that can throw us back in the game. Well what about the Eagles game two years ago? What about throwing us back into a game that we lost at the wire with Green Bay. I think this team is capable of doing what it needs

to do. Yes, question Mark, I give you one. It's Connor Williams gonna be better. He's shown to be better? Can can can backup? Center? Hold up? He's showing to get better every week. Is our wide receiver is gonna be a threat? Okay, they've shown to have prospered from one week to the next. Now who is gonna be the guy that's gonna step up and give us that consistency? Where that seems to be Thompson at the end of the game. I mean they keep, you know, giving him opportunities.

Now my question is tight end. We gotta tight end in Jeff Swain. Now, whether they want to throw on the ball or not, that's up to them. I don't know what Blake gonna do. I don't know what Rico gonna do, and I don't know what Show's gonna do. But we do have one tight end that service. But that's more than service. I think he's a good athlete and a good player. But you know what n can I say? Can I? Yeah? Real quick? Brother, Yeah, it's

about to run out come home? Okay. Yeah. This morning brought us brought up what players would what position would you want? What your position would you trade for if you could? And he said tight end? And I agree. I think what we're missing is a Jay Novachek kind of tight end, not necessarily one that's going to bruise in blocking, the one they can go out and catch passes, and we just don't have that right now. I think that's the missing ingredient. I agree with you than they

Blake has not came. They thought Blake was really that guy. Yeah and uh, and they don't have the all around tight end. They can do both. You don't you know what that is? Overplayed? Think? So? Yeah, because if a guy serviceable as a pad as a blocker and he and he's great as a route runner, you give up a little something, but you gain greatness. Yeah, you get

what I'm saying. When Hernett before Hernandez went crazy and remember Hernandez and and Grunk and h there was like take pick your paws even though Grunk is a great blocker, Hernandez was okay, but you put him in that semi slot. What was you gonna do? And so that's what they're hoping Blake, what what round in two? But when you don't play together, he's he came off of the practice squad last of last year. When you don't play together, when you don't have reps running on an auto bun

at one hundred miles an hour. What you've been doing out there at thirty five miles an hour ain't gonna work. You see what I'm saying. And and my man was so right. That's what I'm saying. If you got four tight ends, how many do you really have? Right? You know? That's about you know that. That's like the quarterbacks in college Unlessue Clemson Dogs, we do. We have to take another break now. I think we can just yeah, all right, we got Oh Christopher in Tennessee. He says he was

at the ball game on Sunday. All right, are you doing the right today? Yeah? I'm good. I'm good, man. My wife was there at the game. Uh dial heard Cowboys your first game at at and T Stadium's first game, which you think, sir, Oh man, it was awesome. It was. It was unbelievable to actually be there, man, and and just see see the action, and I mean, I was just overwhelmed. It was. It was great. It was a great feeling. I wanted to see the offense open up

a little bit more. I mean, I was excited to see them come out and and uh open up the way they did. And I was hoping they just keep keep the hammer down. Uh. But I'm I'm I'm just a little concerned that that they're gonna go back to the old ways man. But I just hope they they keep I just hope they keep the hammer Down't ain't no old ways, ain't no old ways, man. Uh we from the ball man. Like I said that, in but two three times a year, you'll see me sitting in

this chair. And like I said, I can't guarantee you no win. I don't do that because I respect the other teams. But I and tomorrow my whole mantra gonna be atleven to one. Really, I love the feeling good about this one. I love them to one. Come on, we we have a player that it's not Cleo Mac, but our player is just that one year away from having those same type of stats in d Law. What Kleio Macs done for the Chicago Bars is opening it up in Chicago. Barts got a number, a nice player

in number ninety nine. I can't think of big inside typing but que Jefferson. Yeah, but now no, no, I'm talking about for the for the Bears. The uh uh, you gotta stand. The Bears were a nice defense. But Muka Hamara, whoever prints whatever. He came from back three teams, starting with the Giants as the first round pick out of the brows. He wasn't he won special. But guess who closed out the game the other night? He the Prince closed out the game. It's the first time at

forty one games he's got the interception. Why because he got clear, old Matt? Why because we got d long baby? All right? May nine gets one? Nine gets love and come on, man, I ain't trying to hit. I ain't trying to brother Bob Man nine again, love and give one. Come on man, all right, So I gotta before we get out of here, you gotta attack. I gotta attack now. Okay, we you know the elephant in the room back there at the back end, Earl Thomas. How do we neutralize

this guy? He's he's rated right now by prof Focus the number one safety in the league, and Bradley McDougall, the other safety is like in the top five. The way we mess with him is, don't make a mistake. Yeah, don't make a mistake. Make a mistake, ain't gonna make you bad. Yeah, Well that's what I'm saying. The smart players. And this is what Dak is. If Dak see that's safety leaning over that way, he want to throw that ball. He know even if he he know, even if he

looked right, he knowing he come back left. You better pack that ball before he turning loose, because that dude is sitting there saying, I know the route tree and I know what player is likely to be thrown against his coverage. So if you ain't one hundred percent shore that you ain't going over in this right tis left waiting on you. So just smart play would keep you honest. When we faced them last December, Thomas led the team with the eleven tackles. He was he was a beast

on Yeah. Yeah, but don't turn the ball. Yeah, last year, last year we had two turnovers right to two interceptions in the fumble. Yeah, we can't have that. We cannot have that man. How big is he in the run game? Obviously the passing game, he's all everything. Yeah, and now that camp Chancellor's now back there, that's stressing. Let's make him out to cover the run in the pass that's that's makes you. He tired. He missed all the training camp.

That wonder he wants a pay raid. I've been reading they've been running three safeties out there and using him as a slot corner sometimes. Oh he good, he this this dude is special, man, and uh, I want to be surprised they find a way to keep him next year. I just wouldn't. He's special now. See see this is what's amazing this year. Here Who is Seattle Pan beside him? And Wilson? Yeah, I don't know who they paying nobody else. Bro, No,

they don't have anything. They're gonna they're gonna be up under the cap like you would not believe out of this year. You know, they got a lot of dead money because they got rid of guys early. But man, in another year or so, man, they're gonna be floating the hot cotton and anybody the free agent that's got something, we're gonna be trying to get to them. We need to go up there. See, we need to beat them, make them. Oh three, yeah, they'll be done, that's right,

and then we get we trade for Earl Thomas. No, I don't think they're giving them up man, even after that. Yeah, but see I want I'm off in the three nine. I'm off on the two hey, man, y'all ain't doing that. Yeah, yeah, y'all, y'all garbage man. You know, after this game, I don't know if they win this game, I don't know what they are. If they win this game and be like wow, really that changes things a little bit. But one against eleven, really, I got another one more question for you here. This

is probably a simple one. We just came off the Giants who played a three four. These guys play a four three? Is that change much as far as the read option and that kind of thing with what they're trying, not not for the quarterback. You're still reading in man on the line and seeing where he's going and making his determination, but uh, it puts an extra guy right on the line for your linement of block from Zeke

that way. I don't know. I don't know, because we used to struggle with the three four, like especially Pittsburgh with all these different angles they used to come and different lines handled it different ways. So I don't know what what I'm never asked them what do they like to run against the most? When you lined up a four four man line against it, I loved it. I knew what that dude was gonna be stripped there in front of maybe you right him, let me let me

gobble you up there. Weren't that many three fours back in your day? Where now it was Pittsburgh or maybe one or two others wherever Wade was. Yeah, probably where was he back then? No, no way, it was Philadelphia. I mean Scuben Houston. He was running around, you know what, diapers on with his dad. But we haven't. We didn't really get into our running game much. I mean, Zeke had ninety seven yards against him last year. I mean you new year, New time, and this is this Zeke

third game? Is you the way his feet done got up under pretty good and he's shaking and Bacon has been a stand up and run tall with. Before he's shaking the bacon, he would get two yards and fall. You know what I'm saying, ain't trying to rhyme and that, and I'm just letting you know, you see what I'm saying though, to lie crew, baby Bud, He's say yeah, yeah. And you know Zeke when he was a rookie, that was kind of his statement game before a real game began.

He yeah, he you know, he took on Cam Chancellor head on in that game, even though it was preseason. It might not have been the smartest thing. But anyway, that not Cam anyway beginning, I guess and and was last season. Was that his first game back after suspension, when yeah, I think it was so and that didn't go as planned. So maybe he's got something to prove

heading back up. There's hope so well. I liked their you know, I liked their chances with him and Seattle's defense is twentieth in yards per game, they're tieder twentieth and points per game. I mean, they're just they're not they're not clicking, right, Yeah, they only have three sacks this year. I mean, they're just But they got five turnovers. Yeah, turnovers.

That's what Kevim in the game with the bars. I'm telling you now, yeah, but I just think now again, if you've got kJ right and Bobby Wagner especially in there, that could change things a little bit. But this is a team. They will it will, it will. You know, they're gonna be pumped, they're gonna be hyped, but we gotta stress them. We gotta make it. We don't let them see in the fourth quarter. These guys have them play. I don't care stress them keep them on the field.

Make it where when they put the other guys in, we just grind them up. Keep them on the field. We will stress them out, and that's where the soft tissues get to pop. Yes, sir, well, I guess our soft tissues out to wrap this thing up again before you do, skip that last break? Did you have another livery that we owe anybody? I don't know. I can talk about Jack Black here, Yeah, talk about blows out with Jack Black. Want to use what the pros use,

Jack Black's officialmen's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys. Get your Jack Black Playmaker for Jack Black Faves plus a full size lip bomb for just ten bucks for free shipping. I'm not sure what a full sized lip bomb in. You're gonna put one on a full size? All right, full size lip bomb on the Seahawks. Get you Jack Black products at get Jack Black dot com. Use the code Cowboys. All right. I guess we'll roll on out of here. I appreciate it. Thanks for putting up with

me today. We rocked it. Shannon was out of town spouting his wisdoms to some kind of conference, so he'll be back tomorrow. Douglas, thank you. For your working your magic back behind the scenes. Will mcclay's big special thank you for him. He's a busy man. It's nice to have him come out here today. Yes, it is KNT and all the other boys back there pushing buttons. Thank you very much. I'm Kurt Daniels. We'll be back here tomorrow,

twelve thirty on Hanging with the Boys. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club GOL