Talkin' Cowboys: Defensive Adjustments

Moving in to week six of the NFL campaign. Glad you're with caw Yeoman's, Isaiah stand Back, Phillips and mister My Harrison joining you here on Talking Cowboys and Boys. Uh we We've got a lot to get into in terms of this defense for the Cowboys going up against this Washington offense. But I mean, I say, I asked the question before even went on, and he said, how do you break down this Washington offense? Because they're pretty bad?

And I want to do you think do you think uh, talking the football team Washington is saying that same thing about the Cowboys defense at this point right now or vice versa. Oh yeah, I think so. You think it's gonna be just kind of tough to evaluate. There's a high probability of that, there's a high probability to just say, um, I'm not sure how they feel about it, but uh, we're gonna find out. We're gonna find out. New York

Giants thirty oh, a couple weeks ago. You had to bring that up, right, Rob, You gotta take care of our own house, you know what I mean? Fromorrow show? Speaking of ter tomorrow, say it with your chest Friday, we'll say it with our chest here on Thursday as well. We did a little bit of that yesterday on Wednesday.

But probably we did get a look at the Cowboys yesterday, even though it was a later look, a little different schedule with the shorter week and kind of what was mentioned as a jog through style practice by Mike McCarthy yesterday. But there was a new name up on that up on the injury list this week that did not practice yesterday, and once again it was a neck issue, Alden Smith on the injury report yesterday, Rob, anything else to update on him so far, Well, we'll see what I can do.

If anything today, I believe he got checked for a stinger during the game against Arizona, came back in the game. I think he finished the game, so we'll just see the status is. I think he played forty something snaps in the game. You would definitely hope to have him in this game. He's been your best pass rusher. A little bit of good news for the Cowboys. There's not a whole lot of good news at all period, especially on the entry front, but Cam Irving did get back

into practice. He's still on ir but if he's activated this week, that gives them some better an option at one of the tackle spots. With Brandon Knight out and of course Tyrant Smith and Lyle Collins outs, there's just a there's a teeny bit of good news. So you're saying there's a chance, I say there's a chance, Lloyd. There's a glimmer sunshine there, and it's against the team that isn't very good in terms of allowing sacks per game.

They've allowed twenty four sacks over the first six weeks of the season and they're tied for thirtieth in the category. So you get Randy Gregory back, but Alden Smith is now a question. Mark, guys, are we gonna see a resurgence of this Cowboys defense line in terms of trying to get to the quarterback and pressure Kyle Allen or so than we've seen them really pressure any quarterback far this season. I'll take a take somebody at one of these old R and B group they said, please please please,

I hope so, man, we need a spark. Man. We obviously thought that was gonna be against the Giants, and we did not try to spark against the Giants. Um, we hope that is if there's ever if there's any opportunities on our on our season, our remaining season, this is this team. This is a team that you have to get going up against. UM against inexperienced quarterback who holds the ball too long, whos the ball into coverage. UM,

this this is the greatest opportunity that we've had to date. UM, you know, taking aside from the point that we thought the dance were too So I hope, God, I hope so please please Yeah, I mean we've been waiting for a spark. We've been we need a flame. We have full on forest fire right now. From my defense, because

of the way that they've been giving up numbers. It's like it's getting to the point each and every week and it's like a bad joke continuously to say that our defense is not any good and that the numbers are there to prove it. But we talk about this team in Washington and how they're the gift horse for us and trying to get this defense on track. It's hard for us again to to hang our hat on anything that we've seen to say, Okay, this is the one thing that we do better than anybody else, and

we haven't found that yet. Just as a collective, as a group, Um, I'm looking for this secondary because obviously when you look at Washington and their receivers, there are not a lot of weapons there and so coverage communications, things like that. Man, just just doing your job, as Isaiah keeps warding out to these guys, do your job, be assignment, sound, the linebackers, late Vandersch coming back, and just getting this defense lined up properly. Look, this is

the game for us. This is obviously the game that the defense should have some good vibes. Can I just take it back real quick to twenty fifteen at Kyle Field in College. Last two weeks, it's Kyler Murray. Now it's Kyle Allen. I watched them both play for my beloved Aggies in twenty fifteen and Derek Henry smoked him for two hundred and thirty six yards. Aggie's lost that game. Now they got two quarterbacks back to back weeks in the NFL playing My Aggie's still looking for a national championship.

We recruit well, we just don't seem to finish it. But I've seen Kyle Allen on the field somewhat uh, like you guys said, like Isaiah said, he's he's got talent um, he's and he's familiar with the system because he came from Carolina. Scott Turner their OC and Washington did two. But he is turnover prone. They haven't, you know, we kind of said this about Daniel Jones. They didn't. You know, they don't go down the field a lot. McLaren's their biggest weapon. But again, like it's it's it's

like Heckma said, it's about self scout. It's about taking care of your own business and your assignments. Because we can talk about how they don't have a lot of weapons, but they the Cowboys continue to give up these backbreaking plays. If you take away three plays of sixty plus yards last week, I think Kyler Murray's got forty eight passing yards and they've got just over two hundred total yards in the game. It was three plays that really just

crushed the Cowboys defense. And that's that's on them. I mean, that's not so much the weapons that Arizona has. To some degree, it is, but it's about your assignments. And that's that's what it comes down to for me. You know, more than the matchups in this game, are they going to prevent themselves from giving up these big plays. A lot of its communication in the secondary, it's gap assignments in the run game, like we saw the last touchdown

of the game. It's all those things that they got to take care of in house themselves and Kyle and before we proceed, there was a glimmer of hope last week, right, I think we all can admit that. Please tell us, Please tell well, in the first quarter, in the first quarter, the first part of the game, I mean, the defensive really well until until we started, you know, dropping the cookies on the ground again and giving them their office the ball back. So I mean there was there was hope.

I mean, I'm being real real. I know we've been dragging this team, dragging this side of the ball all season, but that first quarter was the best this defense has looked all year long. And they looked like a defense that was collectively coming together and playing well. Vander esh was getting guys lined up seemingly, guys were clear on communication. Everybody was playing sound assignment defense. And then we just

fumbled the ball on the opposing side. Once we got the ball back, and they demoralized everybody, right, and then you saw the old Cowboys defense come back. When I say, oh, what, I mean like the week before. So I mean I think there is hope. I think they have something to build on. It's not like they haven't shown up at all. They did show up, but they reverted back to what

they were before. Sean Lee was on the conference call yesterday with the media and he said he's hoping to get back from my r soon, but he said, to your point, we've had stretches or we'll do a good job against the run, but not the past. We have not put together a full game yet and really not even close. I mean I think they came close to putting together a good half last week. Yeah, but they

certainly didn't. They started the game strong, that's been that's definitely an improvement, they certainly didn't finish the game strong. And they can't allow they would never say this publicly, I'm not saying that's the case, but they can't allow offensive mistakes from their teammates to impact their confidence level when they get handed short fields, because that's got to be demoralizing. But they can't let it affect them. And I was talking upstairs with Nicki and kind of about

that yesterday. Is we can blame the turnovers for poor field position and short fields for your defense as much as you want, because that does put your defense in a tough situation. Absolutely. However, there's gotta be a time and there's got to be a place where your defense bows up and your defense grabs your helmet off the sideline says we've got a job to do, and heck, we really just haven't seen that yet. And is that something that we need to see once or twice for

this defense to finally gain a little bit of confidence. No, I think, man, that's a good question, and I believe that collectively we should just you know, look, relaxing tech note of the fact that this defense they haven't had a preseason. They didn't have any OTAs, they didn't have any of that right everyone else also, But I think when you have a new coach that comes in, that's teaching a new scheme and you don't have an opportunity to draw it up and go out there and practice

and execute it. You can't just draw it up and expect for gods to take the field and do it exactly the way that you envisioned it. And I think a lot of the teaching process it's just taking a lot longer. Look, no one is going to give them a mulligan for COVID nineteen, but I think that if you just look at the football in general and how gods get prepared for the season, I think that that's where this defense is. Isaiah has a point really about

the first quarter. They played a lot better than people are giving them credit for. All Right, some of the yes, the big plays plagued them. You don't want to see a guy go one hundred and sixty one yards. But at the same time, where we had been seeing them just getting misused in certain and certain coverages, they corrected

those all right. So look, hopefully as we continue to go, and I don't want to give them any excuse, but I just want to point out the obvious that week by week they should start taking those strides to do

what you said, Kyle bow up and make stops. And I just think collectively as a group, as Sean Lee said, look, putting a game together where they stop the run and they stop the pass, they're due for that kind of performance, but it can it's you know, when your offense is turning the ball over, it's two players that can that can cost you the game. And that's really I know, I say, you broke these down, but you know, Trayvon Diggs,

whatever happened there with communication, letting Hopkins run free. It's a sixty yard game, and then what looked like cover three with Daryl Worley. He stops his feet and now he's gone, Kirk has gone down the field you give. I mean, that's that's fourteen points right there. You put up ten offensively because you can't get out of your own way, you know, the defense, it's just you take away the big players. Yeah, it's really it is bad. It is bad. But if they can take them, those away.

It's it's it's solid enough to win with if your offense takes care of the ball. Hey, Rob, let me let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. Rob, Like a lot of those communication eras that you see a lot of that would have been corrected in preseason also, I mean, and you would have had four games to correct those communication eras. They're just it's just playing that

live on actual games that that hold weight. Yes and no, heck, yes and no. And And the reason why I say that is because those those guys that were referring to those starters, realistically over a duration of an entire preseason, um it's you know, preseason schedule, they they might have played four quarters, maybe maybe throughout the whole preseason, um, had had they played in that just because starters are usually held out of that guys that are they're knowingly

going to be on the roster where I'll see a big issue as as a former player looking in, I don't see a lot of continuity. And I think I've mentioned this before, and I think it might be undervalued in terms are just from the fan perspective, and there's not enough being put on it. These guys look like they show up to work. It looks like, seriously, this defense looks like they show up to work, sit in meetings,

go out to practice, and then go home. And you know, when you look at it from the outside, that's your job. But when we talk about football, and we talk about the NFL, in college, whatever else you want to talk to, the better, the best teams out there are teams that spend the most amount of time together. And you're not going to get all that time. You're not gonna get the continuity. You're not gonna get the brotherhood, you're not gonna get the nonverbal communication and all those other things.

You're not gonna get that with just the hours you spend at work. Some of the best teams I've been on, I've been spoiled to be in great organizations. Right when I went to New England, guys were studying together, Guys are watching film at each other's house. When I was in New York, guys were kicking it with each other all the time. Seattle with Earland On, those guys, those

guys hung out together all the time. So when you watch these when you watch some of these better teams, and they look like they're having fun, like that's because they have fun off the field together too, and they're hanging out with each other. They're kicking it, they're watching they're watching you know, sitcoms together and watching film together and going bowling and doing movies and then whatever else you do here. You know, um, and you can see

you can see that symmetry. Um. You can see that brotherhood on the field. And if you watch closely, I don't have to watch that closely. When guys are making plays, you see like a vanderash and Jalen Smith, right, you could tell they hang out a little bit. Right. You don't really see much of anything else really going on as far as guys celebrating together. In terms of the whole team being energetic together, it's just not what you see.

Look at some of the other teams. Look at the Baltimores, right, look at the Green Bays, look at some of these other teams, and look how they how they how they revolve around each other. I mean, you'll start noticing that these guys just don't spend enough time together. That's my that's my notion. AAA. Are you saying that our defense they're not they're not cool with each other? No, No, No,

I'm not saying that. I'm saying I'm saying time off the field matters right at the time about the field matters. And it's just no different than if somebody that you stay with inside in house, right. If you stay with somebody in house, right, your brother, cousin, whatever, you're gonna know, you gotta know what they're gonna do. You can anticipate what they're going to do because you know their tendencies.

If you're just showing up the working clocking in and clocking out, you're doing your job, but you're not doing it as effectively as you could have well. And also you gotta remember that in this current climate, you can't necessarily do that. The NFL has sent out memos saying you cannot hang out basically outside of outside of work. You gotta be safer, got to be socially distant. Maybe that's actially have that. Maybe that's the go for it.

I'm sorry, Kyle, I was interrupting you. Uh, maybe that's the case. And you know, look, man, and you're experiencing in NFL locker rooms, in that camaraderie between guys. I think that's that's that's great, right, But at the same time you you make mention of the fact that cover three is cover three, cover four you learned in middle school, right, that's these are just little things where guys are ad

living and doing their own thing. And so wherever the frustration is coming from, whether these guys got to, you know, play Duck Duck goose together afterwards, I don't know what what what the what? What's hell? No, you are not don't play with me, don't even play with me with goose. All I'm saying. All I'm saying is, no matter what the relationship is, we are getting torched. And these guys, to me, I believe that NFL players are guys that

are full of pride. They don't want they listen to see what the media is saying, and so regardless of the love that they have for one another, they realize that as a collective eleven guys, they are getting drugged through the month because they are giving up astronomical numbers every Sunday. I mean, our offense would like to play our defense to get their numbers back up. So we gotta figure this out. And no matter if it's hanging out afterwards or whatever they have to do, We're just

not clicking in the system that we're running. All I can attribute it to is the fact that they hadn't had a lot of time to go over the scheme with Mike Nolan. I don't they haven't, but you got then you gotta go overtime. And I'm not saying they're not, but you know, that's another thing Sean Lee spoke to and it wasn't a critical point. It's just what they need to do is just you have to know the defense inside and out to be able to play as fast as you need to play, to play confidently. And

I think Joe Thomas, yeah, can't be thinking. Joe Thomas spoke that a couple of weeks ago too. I thought, like Isaiah said, I thought they played faster. I thought they were more decisive in trying to stop Kyler Murray. And I didn't even have a problem with some of the runs he had because he's gonna do that. He does that to everybody. But those big plays, man, they

will just kill you. They will kill you. And if your offense isn't getting the big plays because Andy Dalton is is not having guys open as much, or the protection's not there, or they're not on the field as much because of their own fault, because the turnovers all just bundles together in one big nasty loss again, and that's what happened. Yeah, I mean, there's there's definitely bigger

things that you could point out. And when we come back after the break, I'm going to ask a couple of film questions to Isaiah and Hekma and kind of get their idea on why certain things happened there. But also we mentioned a couple of weeks back that the New York Giants were the pharmacy for this Cowboys defense. If they were the cvs, then we might have the Walgreens coming up on the other side of the corner

this week in the Washington football team. So we've got that competition back and forth, and we'll see the bass tests false test. Yeah, there you go. We'll see exactly what that means. Coming up next. We'll be right back here on talking Cowboys. Sam's eighteen sixty five Stetson hats are American maid with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team.

Want to show your Texas and team pride too, You can by purchasing your own Stetson, you can look just like how the flag guys do on field at every home game. Stetson hats the official crown of all self respecting Cowboys and your favorite football team. Get yours today at Shop dot Dallas Cowboys dot com or at Stetson dot com. Want to use what the pros use? How about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys,

Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Black skincare favorites plus a full size intense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code word team JB. That's get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys the Jack Black Starter ten bucks

free shipping. Esselura is a proud sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys, helping fans seymour and do more with our best vision solutions. Our lens technologies reveal a world more beautiful than you can imagine. For a limited time, get the Esselur next Gen offer for you buy the late generation of Transitions lenses. Would select slur Lenses. You can choose a second pair of clear lenses for free with qualifying frank purchases. Restrictions apply.

Find a participating eye care professional by visiting slur usa dot com. See more, Do more. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor and Cream Soda. Is he a Newcombonet's music to my ears? Okay, Doctor Pepper time music to my ears and mouths new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Delas just do by to talk in Cowboys number two here of talking Cowboys. Glad

you're with us here on this Thursday. Looking for something to change up your dinner routine tonight and this weekend? Go over to the Star in the Star District helps support local Frisco businesses. For information on delivery, takeout, curbside pickup, and dining in availability, visit the Star District dot com. Fantastic choices over there had some Wallburgers this past weekend during the game and Isaiah where man Isaiah was just just oh yeah, oh yeah, that's what I was waiting for. It. Yeah,

what about what about Trot Tip. You come on, man, well, no, they catered it. They cater Wallburgers catered. Okay, okay, okay. Yeah. Also, don't think o vegetarian and options for me too, that's true, you are a vegetarian. Uh. And heck, when I are not very vegetarian, we go check out the Try Tip Grill almost every week. Uh. And it's fantastic over there,

So go check it out. Lots of fun, lots of fun already here on this uh, this edition of Talking Cowboys talking about the Washington offense as the football team comes to down one and five, tied for last in the NFC East and uh. And then you've also got the Dallas Cowboys defense, one of the worst defenses in

the NFL. And I mentioned this a moment ago. I wanted to ask a film question, and this kind of goes based off of what we were talking about in the first segment, and Rob brought up the fact that they were playing faster and it seemed like they were better with their assignments. But there were some different lapses on film that I saw, and Isaiah asked this first, but a heck, and I definitely want to hear your

opinion on this as well. But Isaiah on specifically the Christian Kirk touchdown wide receiver sweep that he came across, and it's categorized as a pass, but it was really kind of a run off of the edge and he just basically beat everybody to the pylon. Jalen Smith had his eyes in the wrong spot, and then you also had Anthony Brown that just didn't have a quick trigger

and it was noticeable on film. But is this something that's more of a broad problem on that defense, just not having a quick trigger and continuing to have your eyes in the wrong spot, which is something we talked about week one, This defense, Um, and it's I want to say, I guess and it's an entirety. Right. They're aggressive in nature, right, everybody knows Jalen Smith wants to come downhill and hit you. Um, these guys. Joe Thomas

wants to do the same. I think he's a little bit more patient, but Jalen Smith for sure gets caught up because that's it. He's like the juggernaut, right, he just wants to run through a wall. When you're that aggressive, the things that make you greater, the things that are also your weaknesses, teams recognize that us. No, it's no different than than our secondary with cover. Four. Teams recognize that guys are getting getting locked in on certain receivers.

So when you get locked in, you're you lose track of your responsibility, so I can sneak behind you. So when Jalen Smith and his comrades are getting their eyes in the backfield because they want to come down here and they want to stop to run or I'm gonna

stop Kyler Murray. Right, so I'm really locked in. Guess what whoopstee, I'm gonna come right around the edge on you, or I'm gonna do a short motion just to gain some leverage on you, because I know that you think I'm gonna show you something that you think that you know the play on film, right, because we run this consistently, I'm gonna make it look exactly the same, and I'm emotional somebody in position to gain leverage on you, and all they need you to do is take one step.

That's all we need time. We need one step, one step out of the out of position, and I got you. Yeah, And those are those false steps are definitely killing our defense. But when you talk about that player on the goal line.

If I remember it correctly, I believe that Anthony Brown just lost outside leverage, and yeah, and that was his responsibility, and then there was Its defenses are layered, man, and so if you lose contain on one part, there's another guy behind you that's supposed to support what you do. We just didn't have any of it to show of, but you know, using our defenses aggressiveness against them is

one thing. Taking false steps is another thing. Guys not knowing their assignment and can't play fast because of it

is it's also another thing. And so you just see them getting off the ball, not getting that push, but also not firing off the ball also, so and I don't know if we're just used to seeing that from last year to this year, but nothing about what they're doing is saying that, Okay, we know assignment and alignment to be sound, because you see guys over and over and over again losing outside contained and just putting themselves in a situation to be beat. Rob you have anything

to add on that, Yeah, No, y'all nailed it. I mean of some of its aggressiveness and some of its recognition and some of it is Yeah, and some of it is just speed and quickness from God. Yeah, I mean we've seen it. You know, it's a combination of both. But I think you've seen in some of the play actions, some of the rollouts Cleveland did, the teams are trying to stretch the Cowboys sideline to sideline and see if they can move laterally and stop plays like that. And

they haven't been able to do it. It's been for a variety of reasons. But I think some of the team's speed is a factor too. Um So, but if your assignment sound, you can mitigate some of that stuff. Absolutely, yeah, absolutely, Rob. And to that point, these guys don't trust each other, right, So when we talk about these assignments, right, if I'm like, heckman, you got outside contained, right, I'm got the inside right. Guess what we were in and out certain things? Right?

So you know, I'm not gonna go outside of my responsibilities because I trust that my dog got me right. I trust that he's gonna be where he's supposed to be. When I don't trust that right now, I'm hey, Rob, the heck of what we're running, I'm going in here right and I'm gonna go make a play, and when I don't and when I am a freelancing and when I don't make a play, guess what, Oh crap, he's he's He's where I was supposed to be. Right. So that's what I'm talking about in terms of this continuity

is symmetry. There's there isn't any right now. And when you're tight and when you click tight with your boys and all that stuff, you know, hey, I'm going to do my job and he's gonna do his job. And if guess what, if we get got on this, we get we get got together, right, But we're not gonna I'm not gonna We're not gonna mess each other up. We're not gonna put each other in bad positions because I want to be Superman on his play and go outside of what I'm asked to do. And you know what,

though that you're right. But that's the same stuff Jason Garrett spoke about last year with the defense that the thought and guys and guys trying to do too much. And so that's why when I when we talk about this stuff, it's like, yeah, it's a new defense and this new scheme, but it's also we saw this last year. So at some point, like it's just part of the defense's identity that they have to fix, you know. So, Rob, Rob, what are you saying if you sucked in the old system?

The system? Right? Oh wow, it's a problem. It's a problem because it's if your assignment sound, you at least give yourself a chance to where it's not a twenty yard game, it's it's an eight yard game. Whatever, you know, Just cut it down someone why Jay? Yeah, simple, man, it's simple, and it's it's simple, but it hasn't been done yet. And I don't know some of the some of the guys in in in in the periscope chat, we're kind of talking about Cheetah Elusier and and what

he brings to the table. Do you think he maybe even adds a little added uh element to it And the fact that he is a faster defender and he's able to get that outside leverage Isaiah that you were talking about, and even just the fact that he's been around this team for a couple of years now and he's not one of the newer additions. He may be able to communicate a little better in terms of in

terms of his speed. Some of these dudes that these that that our defense has faced, I mean we faced them some of the best NFL has has to offer over these over these first six weeks. So I mean, no disrespect to our guys, but these these dudes are amazing on the other side of the ball too. When we start talking about some of these individuals that Rand laps around our guys, guys and me, I've talked with me and Heck kind of went back and forth about

leverage and griffing all these guys. I'm like, look, sometimes you just they just got better athletes on, you know, who have the ball in their hand. Right, So it is what it is, you get beat. But when we talk about his ability to communicate that it's needed. We need veterans on this defense, and I think we've been whistling that for a while now. We need some veterans that can come in and establish a new culture, right, establish a new culture. Just because you change coaches doesn't

mean that you change cultures, right. So um, and that's very important because I can remember being on teams were defense and defense and special teams, drills, all the communications the same, Right, if we're running down there's two on one and you got one man on the outside, I'm yelling out out, out, out out. You're running INNN and inn right. There's a lot of communication things like that that you see somebody doing. You're like, oh, that's what

we're doing. Okay, cool, let me do that then, and let me work on it so I can get better. So then when you're in the games, guess what when you're in those possessions, when you're in those positions out out of inn and in right and you're in you're closing in on a guy, and guess what, cool, good job we did we're supposed to do. We over communicate it, because there's no such thing as over communicate. But Isaiah, you know that that's muscle memory, right, being able much

read and reacts and not even think about it. But we don't have a lot of that. And even you know, I don't know who Maybe this is Jogie Barrow that said wherever you are, that's wherever you go, that's where you are. You know you are who you are basically is the same. And this is this is it. I mean everywhere every stadium that we go to, we're gonna take these problems with us. When we're in Washington, that's

what's gonna happen. And so I mean, look, when when you go into this this team, uh, the Washington football team, and I'm just trying to fight the other word, the Washington football team. Uh, you know, they have a lot of things that would are to be desired for this defense. Kyle Allen, he's a guy that you said, Isaiah, he'll throw into coverage. He's pretty much a dump a dump passer.

But he's coming from that Scott Turner, who is a North Turner disciple, actually his son, So I guess he's from the basement of North So he knows a thing or two about formations and using the tight end. And so this is gonna be for our defense. They don't have to worry so much in this game about the d ball. But I guarantee you the Washington football team are going to test them deep because they know that they're susceptible to the big play. And that's why you

can't give them time. That's why we need our defensive line to show up and present. I feel like they were kind of playing, um, they were, they were doing their responsibilities in the first quarter right when we were alluding to them playing well. They can't You can't be overly aggressive. You can't be just go crazy against a running quarterback. You just can't with the ability that kind of Murray had. But I think they were being responsible, they were being gap savvy, they were being sound on

the outside with the edges. Um. But this team, with this quarterback, go get them right. And because if if he has the time, any any quarterback in this league can throw a ball down the field. So let's let's respect the thirty two guys that have positions, have have jobs in this league. They do what they do through the best in the world at it summer just better than others. But if you give anybody time and give them their receiver's ability to get open against this secondary,

they're gonna they're gonna be successful. So our our d line has to show up. Um. And yeah, and I know Kyle wants, you know, Bradley and to come in here and do work, So I do. Let's give him a chance. I want to come in six. Well, you're gonna say something there, Rob, No, I'm just gonna say I mean, to your point. He had a big Kyle and had a big fumble at the end of the game that cost him against the Giants, and when he's pressure, he'll put the ball in the ground, kind of like

Daniel Jones. But if you give him time, He's had enough starts in the league where, especially against the Cowboys defense, if they're not communicating back there, they will test them deep. I fully expect Dad McLaren can get deep on you. So I you know it's copycat, but yeah, pressure, pressure can really affect him for sure. I've got good news

for you guys though. If you look at the history, or at least the start of the season for Washington, they rank last in the NFL fell in big plays on offense that means twenty plus yard rush or a forty plus yard pass, registering only two big play rushes and one big play pass for a total of three big plays on the year so far. And credit the Cowboys PR department on that. Sea. Let's talk about those numbers after Sunday. Yeah, are they gonna match that number

on Sunday? Or are we gonna We're gonna see a lot of the same here? Uh? When we I mean, it's go ahead. I was just gonna I was gonna send it to break. So you you you tell me what you want to say. Here. Heck, you go go to break man, I'm good. Okay. When we come back, we're gonna talk about about how that offensive line for Washington can slow down and match up against this Cowboys defensive line, and if we can continue to get a

push in the middle. But not from veterans, how about from a couple of the younger guys when we come back here on talking Cowboys. I'm Jay Nobacheck, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Back in the day, I was the guy who always got the tough yards and that's why I run with John Deer today. In fact, I have a John Deer three zero twenty five E tractor that can handle any yard work I need to do,

even the tough yards way out back. So if you have one acre or a thousand, John Deer has the equipment that's just right for you, visit a John Deer dealer today and run with us. We are the official tractor provider of your Dallas Cowboys. SLOR is a proud sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys, helping fans see more and do more with our best vision solutions. Our lens technologies reveal a world more beautiful than you can imagine for

a limited time, get the slur next Gen offer. Fore you buy the latest generation of Transitions lenses with select Slur lenses, you can choose a second pair of clear lenses for free with qualifying frame purchases. Restrictions apply. Find a participating eyecare professional by visiting slur usa dot com. See more, Do more. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor pepper and cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor Baba cream soda?

Is he a Newcombonut's music to my Ears? Okay? Doctor back time? Pandy Glass Music's my Ears and mouse new Doctor pepper and cream Soda? What delas? Just do bad? Want to use? What the pros use? How about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten

bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Black skincare favorites plus a full size intense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com, slash Cowboys and use the code word team JB that's get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys the Jack Black Starter ten bucks free shipping to the Talking Cowboys whether you're watching from

home or hearing in the stands. With LA lenses, you'll see every exciting playbook and appointment at your local or experts and find the perfect sel or lenses for you. See more, do more, essel or Cowboys could use some or lenses to see on that defensive side of the football a little bit better and read the plays a little better. But we'll talk to them about maybe we can get some ESSEL or advisors or something for them to have it worked out, because then I think they

would have that clear eye view. Anyways, moving on to what we kind of teased a moment ago, whenever it comes to this offensive line for Washington going up against the defensive line for the Cowboys, and we just talked about the edge rushers a little bit, but I want to kind of dive into the defensive tackle position. But first let me give you some offensive ranks for the Washington football team this season. Thirtieth in points per game, thirty first, so next to last in total yards per game,

They're last in rushing yards per game. They're thirtieth in third down percentage, so bottom three in the league in those four categories. Oh, and they're tied for last in terms of thirty point games allowed. As we're given up or scored, I guess at the same time, who's who's last? Uh? You gotta flip over to the defensive side and give out rankings on those there as well. How about points per game? Points per game? Last, of course, one of the historically bad defense is actually one of the worst

defenses of all times so far. Uh. Total yards per game twenty seventh is the Cowboys defense rushing yards thirty first allowed, uh, twenty seventh in terms of third down percentage. And then they're lasting turnovers per game and tied for lasting thirty point games allowed. So who's last name? Who's lasting against the run man? Who's worse than the un I don't know if we want to know, I don't know. I can look it up here in a minute. But uh,

but yeah, not not good. Let's just say that for me in either one of these two sides of the football, So it's not pretty. Tomorrow we get to preview the Cowboy offense against what is one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, in my opinion, but our defensive line leaves a lot to be desired guys and rob we saw guys like Justin Hamilton get more playing time.

Juice came in off of the practice squad and really actually provided I thought a little bit of jolt, a little bit of Juice himself in terms of the way that he played on Sunday or excuse me, Monday. And then also you brought in guys like Neville Gallimore who

had some more playing time and things like that. Do you expect to see a full time change here in a shift of the guard in terms of not a lot of Don Terry Poe or Antoine Woods, but maybe get a couple of younger guys rotated in there more often. I think the coaching staff agrees with you about Justin Hamilton, man. I think they liked his energy and yeah, I mean, I don't see any reason why he couldn't continue to

get a few more snaps. I don't know what that means for Don Terry Poe, but you know Antoine Woods was taken snaps from Poe before that. Yeah, So yeah, I mean, I think at this point, regardless of name, regardless of experience. Whoever's most productive in the middle, they've got to get in there and us and Isaiah made a great point yesterday about just adding some competition, just adding competition through high motor effort guys. That's what Tristan

Hill brought more than anything. You know, he's a young player, still learning, but his motor, his effort was what got him a starting job after Jerald McCoy got hurt. That's what they needed in the middle. There guys that are going to just continue to get after it and try to get up field. Yeah. I like Hamilton. I like him a lot. And like you said, Kyle, he has some plays where you just saw him just pull and

pushing guys off of him and making a tackle. Those are the things that we need on our defensive line, the rotation and guys. We've alluded to this before about the competition, but getting more guys in rotation. I think once Tristan Hill went down, that was one of the things that we talked about, Who's gonna be that energy guy in Neville gall Moore has feeled that has feeled that void. We just are not getting the plays that

we desire, the pressures and things like that. And maybe the situation hasn't been ideal when you go up against a mobile a couple few mobile quarterbacks. But we just hadn't had any of it and at all, whether it been the first quarter or through the fourth quarter. And these are the things that has to get better. And I don't call you, you pull out the rankings, but still you know, JD. McKissick and Antonio Gibson are guys

that can if you give them confidence. For four quarters man, one or two of these guys may have one hundred yards at the end of the game. We talk about McLaurin and his big playability, but Dontrell Edman, he's capable. He's a possession receiver. And I think those are the things that are plaguing us as far as allowing teams to continue to move the chains and put drives together on us, I say, yeah, I don't have much to add. I mean, I really touched on the yesterday in terms of,

you know, the competition side of things. So I think the young fellas to keep getting in there and keep applying pressure. Um. You know, it's never a bad thing when you have some young guys that are that are capable. UM and that are that to have a motor and that are driven. Right. Um, it's never It's never a bad thing ever, Um is he is? He gonna do two things for You're gonna make your team better, and it's gonna make your your veteran guys that you have

that you were originally dependent on. It's gonna make them step their game up or make them step step aside. So either way, it's it's all positive. So it's hopefully they do get some more snaps. Okay, So I'm gonna give you guys, uh more more likely between the two scenarios and the two defensive lines that are going to be showcased in this game. So the Cowboys, of course, they give up their fair share of sacks and their

offensive line is banged up right now. So is it more likely that the Cowboys offensive line allows let's say, four sacks to Andy Dalton from this Washington defensive line, or is it more likely that the Cowboys secure two sacks of Kyle Allen in terms of what they bring to the table from a pass rush per active? Which one would you choose? There? Both you which one is more likely? Though? Which one is more likely? I think there's gonna be a lot of sacks on both sides

of this game. Well, I think, I mean, your mind immediately goes to, oh, gosh, you know, four sacks on Andy Dalton got sacked three times last week so against this D line. But they're gonna have to They're gonna have to get the ball out quick, and Blake Bell is gonna have to be, you know, just handcuffed to one of the tackles or something. You know, they've got to do something to prevent that from happening. And Andy's got to make quicker reads and get the ball out faster.

So if they can, depending on their game plan, maybe they can avoid those sacks. But I mean that's the first thing to draw that that matchup. We'll talk about more tomorrow. That's the key to the game. It really is the game, no doubt about it. And I think this is also a key to the game. On the other shot, even though it's a much I guess less pretty matchup overall. Whenever you talk about the Cowboys d defensive line versus the Washington offensive line, but Washington gives

up their sacks. They're last in the league in terms of giving up sacks twenty four sacks allowed, so they get their fair share on the defensive side of the football, but they're gonna allow some at the same time. Hack muh, I mean, come on, you talked about it. I won't say Walgreen's if Alberson's our X all right could need it, and and our defense and our defense has to to have a feel good about themselves. Finally, they have an offensive line that is they don't have a lot bunch

of dudes on it that you worry about. This is an average offensive, that below average offensive as a giant. No, no, And that's my point, right, that's my point, And that's where you have to finally take that next step as a group if we're doing this week by week by week, to actually do some of the things that the numbers say that you're capable of doing. And Tank Lawrence Alden

Smith hopefully his neck is better. But Randy Gregory we talked about him also, and Kyle kind of tempered our enthusiasm about him, but not we just need guys that are going to get after he is right, and and we just need a guy that's gonna be actively around and having Kyle Allen hear those footsteps of guy's coming. We just hadn't produced that pressure, and we don't want a below average team to start to feel above average.

And the contest versus us that reminds me heck, but did we didn't get to ask this earlier in the show. But do we have the disaster that we thought we might have had on our hands at the end of yesterday's show happened? Or were we able to avoid that? In terms of the Santa Claus things, I am no, it was a disaster. I monumentally Uh yeah, stuck my foot in my mouth. I'm on a bit of a husband punishment right now, you guys. Sticks Oh no, oh and ms melly stick is not a good sin. Oh no?

Isaias Isaiah's looking guilty down in the bottom bottom left hand corner. Wow. Hey, Well for the kids out there, man, Christmas is the real things. It's awesome. It's a it's grantas comment a couple months man, thank your list. Check them twice, Yeah, check it twice, and make sure that we don't talk about that kind of stuff on here. Twice, I guess. But that'll do it here for talking cowboys preview in that Washington offense versus the defense of the

Dallas Cowboys. Hopefully the Cowboys have an uptick on the defensive side of the football, because we really needed moving forward. But we're glad you've been with us here over the last forty five minutes. We'll be back tomorrow. Say it with your chest Friday, and we've got an offense defense preview, So hey, come join us nine fifteen on Dallas Cowboys

dot Com and the rest of the streaming platforms. But for now, for heck Ma Harrison, for Rob Phillips, for Isaiah stand back, and my guy Chris Beam in the back up, Kyle Yeoman's saying so long from the Star in Frisco. We'll see you tomorrow. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.