Talkin' Cowboys: Matching Up With Denver

I don't know if you guys knew this, well I'm sure you did, Mick, but the Cowboys have not been able to win at Denver since nineteen ninety two. Dak Prescott, as you feel it weren't even born yet. Whoa, that's a Statick, you know that. Mick joining us today. I oh, I gotta have this thing here at your or pay attention, whatever you want to do. We are on the getting organized, that's what you do before the show. Well, they haven't

beaten them since ninety five. Yeah, so at Denver at Oh I'm saying any time, No, I know, but I'm talking about Thank you Jason, because by the way, Jason, it's four straight that they've lost to them too. Yeah, well, let's get into it in the SWBC Mortgage studio. The Cowboys are looking to get that win no matter where they are. But they are at Denver their first road

game of the twenty seventeen season. And I thought an interesting thing that happened yesterday in the locker room because I think this will make a difference in the game turnovers. Did you hear what Anthony Brown said about what this team considers their goal for turnovers? I heard coach say something about forty takeaways. Forty takeaways? Huh? Last year Kansas City led the league with thirty three? Am I right? I think that sounds right. Yeah, you get forty, you're

probably leading the league every year. You're winning a lot of games. It averages out to two point five per game. Oh so that's not Louisiana math Hey the year before, when did they finish? Remember they had like thirty something. I remember maybe it was twenty fourteen. Yeah, I remember a time when they had twenty fourteen because the four and twelve season, I think that was like at eleven one time. Yeah, I think it was a history making league.

Low a couple of years ago. Absolutely, yes, So does can this team do that? We will have to see you think, so, you think I mean forty I think is okay, that's I understand the lofty goals there, but it is it's thirty realistic, thirty two realistic? Yeah, I think. So what did they finish with last year? I'm looking it up right now. We'll get you. Man, it was like twenty twenty maybe it was one of them twenty So it's more than that, wouldn't you anyway? I just

I don't know. I mean, if you look at the way they created a lot of turnovers in the preseason, you know, the fumbles and things had cost fumbles, recover then recover them all. Yeah, they had one game where they had five that they they caused and couldn't get on one of them. But you know, is you talked about this defense yesterday? They're capable? Yeah, I think so, because I think are we just dreaming here now? Well, I guess we'll find out. I mean, one game is

one game, right to be consistent. But I think what's going on up front can help what will end up havinging in the back end if those guys can continue to apply pressure, and then once you get back David Irving and uh Demontrey Moore got some nice rotation, and with the addition of Price and Paya, I think you could make an addition, I mean a difference up there. They were very close to getting two takeaways the other night, which you average that out, that's thirty two for the season.

So I mean, I almost had that fumble recovery with Jalen Smith with the swipe. They kind of had it. They tied for nineteenth last year, and takeaways with twenty they go. Mickey was right right in the middle of money. I'm just happy that finally a player is coming out there and giving us some heat with their words and saying, hey,

we're ready to go after these goals and get them. Well, you know what they Mickey's right, though, I think that if you find a way, this is gonna be not so much on the defense, it's gonna be on the offense. I know it's gonna sound weird to say it that way, but if the offense can continue to provide pressure on defenses to have to throw the football, you know, if you get into a game all of a sudden and

Dallas is scoring and continues to score. This is the Denver game is gonna be a great example of this. I put as much pressure on that quarterback Simeon to have to match me to score. That's what I mean. If the Cowboys they get into a game all of a sudden where it's four drives, three touchdowns, make him have to make him have to play play in a game where he has to put the ball up. I think that's overall with the NFL. You get a quarterback that has to force throws to get his team back

in the game. Don't just drive the bus, right Yeah, yeah, you're gonna you're gonna get some turnovers. Yeah, because if you're not scoring, they'll just play cozy football. Oh there's no question about no sense taking a chance, right because you say, okay, this possession, well we'll live to Yeah, you know, well we'll put punch ball live for another possession. But if you're if you're scoring, the quarterbacks got to

start taking chances. I remember talking to Romo about that when you know they were so so, and he was like, well, I can't give up a possession. I gotta go for it, right, I gotta take a chance. He goes, Okay, I threw an interception on third down, big deal, But I had to do it because we're we're behind by behind, Yeah, behind behind by a couple scores. So yeah, you put pressure on the posing offenses by scoring yourself, right, not

kicking field goals. Yeah, I just that's to me, that's gonna be if they want to get some reasonable goal of thirty or whatever. For I mean, forty I don't think is realistic, but thirty, I think it's going to come down to, can you put enough pressure on your opponents to have to play football with you? Hey? And if you do, you got a shot. I'm all for that. Let's get into a new game here. We're going to

have on our Wednesday and Thursday shows. Wednesday being today, we're going to be discussing the Cowboys offense versus the Broncos defense. So I asked these guys to give me one guy on the opponent's defense, Bronchos defense this week that they'll be looking at us and to tell me a little bit more about him. So I'll start, since you know, we'll get this game going and tomorrow we'll switch it. They'll tell me guys on the Broncos offense that we need to know about. So you're talking about

them scoring. Dez Bryant might be a big help for this Cowboys offense this week. I think that he will be hungry. He's a good receiver when it comes down to having to beat up certain secondary guys. Sure the guy I'm looking at him to kind of beat up in his match as a keep to leap. I think that a keep Delibe obviously is an aggressive kind of guy. He's from Texas, so I think he's he's looking to have this matchup be a little bit of a personal thing,

personal from Garland. Yeah, which I like to see because then you get a real energy and Dez feeds up that after we saw it last week. I think he'll be upset with his performance that he had week one and want to go in here hungry. But to keep de leip you gotta know that he likes to play that that tight with the receiver. Yeah, so his Dez this is going to be good. I think there will

be fireworks again. But he's good with following the receiver but then looking at the quarterback right, so keep Delibe will want to be focused on Dak seeing his adjustments. He's the leader of their corners. I think, yeah, big guy in their super Bowl will win. So this is a guy. This a good matchup there, Tay are good, good,

good thoughts and all very correct. I think this is one of those things where to Leib, Dez has a chance to get really pissed off in this game, and I mean pissed off in way maybe frustrated, because what happens with Talib, Like you said, he plays such tight

coverage that he gets away with holding. He gets away with a lot of holding, and you know, and we've seen when Dez gets into a match with somebody that is tries to be just as physical with him, then it's a you know, it becomes a frustration factor, especially if the referees call the game very very loose. You know, if he doesn't get his due of going down the field and having the opportunity to go get the football. We've seen Dez with a lot of contested catches are

having to make contested catches. That's what Talib will do here. So this is this is one of those games that could go either way for Dez. It could be a high watermark game, you know, productive super be hungry, or it could be a Volcano game where he just erupts, Yeah, and I mean erupts in a pissed off way. Yeah. And we saw he got into it with the Giants, Corners,

Jenkins and all them last week. That's a good matchup tape because as good and we'll talk about a certain pass rusher here in a minute, but as good as they are upfront, that no fly zone that they talk about, that secondary is might be the strength of their defense. Yeah. When you think about what they've been able to do holding quarterbacks Philip rivers one hundred eighty five passing yards last week. I mean, they've got guys who can make plays,

make plays on the ball. And it's not just to leave. It's it's Harris, it's Roby, who had an interception the other night too. Yes, all right, well you hinted at it. Yeah, who's your guy? You're gonna tell you? Yeah, Rob. I'll go with another Texan, a proud aggie who is probably the best overall pass rusher in the NFL, one of the best we've seen in a long long time, and that's von Miller. I don't know if there's anybody in the NFL that can match his combination of first step, power, agility,

and he's rounding out his game too. I think he's become better in coverage. They've tried to do things to be better against the run, but the main thing for him is that first step. And they'll move him around. They'll start him on the week's side, they'll move him to the strong side, he'll play left, he'll play right. So there's a chance Tyran Smith season Lyle Collins will see him as well. And he's just he has the agility of like a skill position offensive player. I mean,

he moves like a like a running back out there. Um, it's that first step that they've got to be careful of. He's got over twelve tackles or up sacks per per season over his first six seasons in the NFL. And he's just a blur. I mean there's a play in preseason a couple of weeks ago when they played Green Bay where they tried to ship him on the left side and he spins inside, makes an inside move against the tackle and just moves away from the I mean,

he's just he's he's a blur out there. So I kind of do I kind of do Miles Garrett, come on selfish their defensive end. Yeah, Soda wishes he was still there. I'll tell you this quarterback. I like what Rob's talking about there absolutely, I think you know that's gonna be. I don't see them wasting snaps against Tyrn Smith with with von Miller. I think that von Miller goes the other side, even though it needs right. I

think you'll see both. But I would be real cautious to find the broncos of having to play von Miller down after down after down against Tyrn Smith. That's good. Collins is his match. I think Colleges they're gonna beat up on the right tackles. I think they're gonna try. I think they're gonna try. Yeah, and but you know this is where And to Rob's point, if you look at he's got thirty seven career sacks at Sports Authority field, twenty three of them have come in the last three years.

So if you talk about home sack, they take great advantage of the home field they have with the crowd noise. So this is gonna be. Yeah, you're gonna you're gonna have to the tackles are gonna have to be right on the screws to get this one taking care of because again, you're getting some long yarded situations are bad down in distant situations like Rob was talking about last week with the Giants, then all of a sudden, he's

screaming off the corner. This guy is not as good of a run player as he is a pass rusher, and I think that's where you got to hammer him when you get that opportunity. And I think that's what you got to do when you play three four defenses. Yeah, they got those skinny little defense outside linebackers who are essentially defensive ends, and you got to keep them occupied stopping the run. Right, Just think they're gonna pin their ears back the one area of their defense where they

haven't been dominant. Do you think this will be a game where Dak will really rely on his mobility making sure that he gets the runs. I mean, we've seen him do it. If he can't find that open pass and it wasn't a run play, he's gonna go for it himself. Well, I think he has to be careful though. This is a defense that can rally to the football. They're, like coach Garrett said, are they're a good tackling defense. So you have to be careful about. We know, pick

and choose when you're gonna run. But like what you said, Mickey was talking about, you've got to take the football at these guys. I make Von Miller play backwards. You know, I've seen him die. I see him in the San Diego game retreat. You know he does not want to take on and offensive tackles face to face a lot. I mean, yeah, that's that's he's a he's a backup and then you know, let somebody else. That's why they got those defensive ends. They added some bulk to their

defensive ends so they could play the run better. They were twenty eighth in the league last year in run defense. So you have got to hammer Vaughan Miller every chance you can take to hit him, hit him, slow him up, whatever you have. See more of that, Chase Green pulling to the right. Yeah, whatever you have to do to beat him up, beat him up. Yeah. No, I like what you're saying. You're talking about these defensive ends and you have one two bra And why don't you tell

us about yours, mister Derrick Wolfe. Yeah, Derek Wolfe is And I mentioned about Derek Wolfe and Jared crick are the two crick didn't play last week in this game. But Jared Wolfe is a guy. When the Broncos got him, he was a slender built defensive end, probably at two eighty five. Well, they've bulked him up. They've average added twenty thirty pounds to his frame. He doesn't look as quick,

but he plays as a head up defensive end. He's he's lightly you know, you'll see him what they call five technique, so he'll be up over the top of the tackles right there. So get ready for some of those battles. He's a much better run player that he used to be able to rush the passer. Now he's more of a kind of a guy that's hard to move in there, slide down inside. If you run the ball inside, he's not gonna let you do that, you know.

But he's a he's a protector of Miller and these outside linebackers because he can hold up at the edge. But they had to bulk him up. And he's looks way heavier than he than he has and and and so I think Dallas is catching these guys really at the right time, especially him, because you look at he's trying to learn how to play with the extra weight. You know, he's not as quick and as fast and getting off the football, and I think that's going to

play the Cowboys advantage. But what I has seen is the power at the point, extend the hands, get off blocks. Can't allow him just to control. If you're gonna run the football, We're gonna run it at Miller. But you can't allow these Bronco defensive ends to control the game inside if you're going to continue to do that. And they have another inside guy because Rick has been hurt. Right, he didn't play. Uh, they started Shelby Harris, right, but off the bench comes not a Texan, not an Australian.

Adam Gotsis. Yes, ended up playing thirty one plays at the defensive end spot in their three four right alignment. Ended up with five tackles in thirty one plays. That's pretty darn good. And he's only a second year player. So he's a guy I just thought, interesting story. He played eight years of Australian rules football. Guy for the Monash Warriors, by the way, not the Sydney Swans. He's from Melbourne, so keep an eye on this guy. He's Awthorne Hawks. And as Brian said, they were trying to

add some bulk now. Replacing Krick was Shelby Harris, right, and he was on our practice squad here he was, Yes, I thought that name week sixteen seventeen, so he was through in the playoffs and he was the guy that blocked the field goal at the end, I believe, yes, But Delby Harris, both of those guys got Street free agent. Yeah, they both got penetration and got up in the air and he was able to block the Black the field

goal that would have tied the game, sent it into overtime. Right, was a three point game, three point game point So keep yeah, keep an eye on these guys inside because go back. Cowboys need to run the football. That's part of what they do. And the Chargers only got sixty four yards rushing, so the Cowboys need to be able to move those guys. Now when they go to their four man line in nickel, you know, some of those big,

bulky guys come out. And that that's when I said they had Shaquille Barrett as the other outside body taken over taking over force guy named Sean Shane Ray Right, we know, well right mass ye right, Yeah, he heard himself. So that that so I don't know how good beartt is.

That gives the Cowboys a break because now that you don't have the bookend guys, because with Ray and uh von Miller coming, you got your hands full where being gone there where as he was he was, I mean he was the guy that took over for where when he went when he left. So um, yeah, that that defensive fronts pretty significant. So the Cowboys have to do a good job run blocking, uh, take care of these guys. Send the Australian back to Australian football. You know, a

great story though, I like hearing about that. Hey, I'm gonna say I'm gonna play that the Giants defense. I feel like watching them play is better than what the Broncos played with it. That makes me feel a lot better after what we did to Cowboys second I did. But no, I feel like though that if you look overall, you know that now of course they've got von Miller that there's no doubt. I mean, that's that's one player.

But yeah, if you could find a way, if you get if you continue to get what we've seen from Collins on the rise, you know, I think that You've got to find a way. Mickey said it, run the football, be successful at it. This team is still trying to find their way a play and that I know the Chargers. See the Chargers got behind in this game. Yeah, and once you get behind, then you make them a one dimensional football team. And they weren't able to do the things.

Dallas has got to stay on schedule and make this Denver defense have to be physical down after down after down and take advantage of your offensive line. Beat up on these guys when you can. You buy into the altitude factor, guys, and to let go ahead, hold that, hold that thought, you guys start thinking about altitude. Get your minds right for that, because when we come back from our break, we'll discuss Rob's question and we will discuss Cowboys offensive players that can help all of your

guys's troubles. They just laid it out for you. This is a strong defense. But when we come back, we will have answers for you. The entertainment loving people demand the best unlimited wireless plan ever from AT ANDT. What else do you want? Are you in a car? Maybe? Only AT and T offers you unlimited data with Hbo included and never payoverages. Get ATNT Unlimited plus our best wireless dealer, Unlimited Data Plus save twenty five dollars per

month on Direct TV. It's entertainment. You're way after twenty two kiddys of data. Use a TAMY Slow Speeds plan includes stream saving videos, will stream and standard definition unless you're turned it off. Twenty five dollars Direct d savings across AT and T Unlimited Plus credits start within three bills. Service prices subject to change, other usage speed fees, charges and restrictions. Supplies the att dot com slash unlimited for details.

Hey Cowboys fans, did you know that over the next few years, more than a million service members will transition from military to civilian life. Veterans face unique challenges when they get out of the military, and Bank of America and the Dallas Cowboys are teaming up to help with financial education, career opportunities, and support of military nonprofits and

organizations locally in North Texas and across the country. We're proud to support our troops and are deeply grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of our service members and veterans. Bank of America Official Bank of the Dallas Cowboys invites you to join us in our efforts to get involved by tagging game day photos on social media using hashtag troop thanks. That's hashtag troop thanks, and by learning more about our commitment to veterans at Bank of America dot

com slash Military Support. Together, we can thank our troops and ways that make a real difference. Copyrank, twenty sixteen, Bank of America Corporation. It's polling night with brands and you're hanging out together. Pit up us there, but you're craving something better, But they're frost deep inside. You don't know what to do. He the same doctor Pepper, when you pepper. When you crave a doctor Pepper, nothing else will do. Pick up a nice cold twenty ounce bottle today,

doctor Pepper, you crave. I hear all this talk about what it takes to be a cowboy. Everyone's got their ideas, but I just say to myself, it's what's up top that matters. Sure, you need men with the muscle and heart to get her done. But if your scouts and coaches are listening out there, a word of advice. Pick the man with the most well worn stetson. That's the one most cut out to be a cowboy. Stetson hats are handmade right here in Texas and have been on

cowboys heads for over one hundred and fifty years. The rest of you can visit Stetson dot com slash Cowboy to find a retailer nearest you. This is talking Cowboys. Make the switch to Tommy John, the innovative men's underwear that never rides up. I wear it. It's worth the hype. Plus it's back by the best pair you'll ever wear.

Or it's free guarantee shop exclusive Cowboys underwear at Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys for twenty percent off your first order Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys. Back in the s OFBC Mortgage Studio rock great. Great way to bring us back in excited. And before we get to your question about high altitude, because these guys have been simmering on that thought, Nick, why don't you update us on some player availability and what coach Garrett

had to say earlier this morning. Well, they're going to continue to say that Orlando scared Scandrick's day to day after he had his surgery to fix the fracture in his hand. But I would imagine he misses today today, he's going to miss this week. I can't imagine he's going to even try to practice I think at the earliest next week. So that'll open up a roster spot for another corner. And it looks like Jordan Lewis is

getting closer and closer to being ready. I don't know if he has a role on the defense, but maybe special teams, so that would certainly help out. And I think the other guys that were kind of left the game or temporarily or limped around, Bryce Butler, Terrence Williams, Cheeta Awoozier, I think those guys, they may be limited him practice, but I think that they end up playing on Sunday. I don't think anybody has suffered anything significant enough to keep him out. So from an injury standpoint,

that's good. You know, you hate to lose Scandrick obviously, but Anthony Brown and Woozier got a step up. Let's Sam step up. You're talking about a Woozier played college football at the University of Colorado, decided to go back to Colorado, and it gets us into your question, he's gonna be just fine with the outside. Yeah, it'll be okay, right, But what about it was a fair question. I thought that Archer asked Jason Garrett a few minutes ago about

particularly the running game. Was Zeke sixty plays? He played sixty out of seventy four offensive plays, had a bunch of carries twenty something carries. Do you guys buy into the altitude and maybe having to watch Zeke in terms of his workload because of the change up there in the thinner air one of those one of those deals is that it's in that book of questions. Yeah, because comes up every eight years now every time they play

in Denver. But it's a fair question. No, it is. No, but it's not like you're going it's not like you're going into the mountains and going ski at nine thousand feet. I think it's worse, You're right. I think it's worse for teams that are like in the NBA when they come off a back to back, when they make you play in Utah the night before, which is hard enough as it is, and then turn around and play in Denver the next night. I think that's I think the

key word here for Garrett was hydrate. Yes, absolutely, And we all know that nobody in life really hydrates enough. And I'm I think we're all guilty of you know, we just say hydrate and we don't. They try to yas, that's a soda that he's drinking, not water. It is not Oh it is water. Fool everybody, doctor. But I'm just saying, though, I think that. To me, it's one of those things I know from experience. We played a game, a college game one time in Wyoming, and Wyoming is

like eight thousand feet nine thousand feet. You do notice it, you really really do. But if you're kicking somebody's ass, you don't notice it. You know what I'm saying. If you're running the football and you know it's out. Altitude is only an excuse when you're getting beat. You know, you using locker room exactly. You go out there, you play. Are your players better than their players? Yes? Or no? So I thing in Mexico there exactly the same of Denver.

Actually some parts are a little bit higher. Obviously. I know most people know this mile high city. It's because of the mile high altitude Denver. I mean, Denver is a great city. All that stuff. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, Because

you're talking about losing. Plenty of teams and I'm not putting down on New Mexico have come into played a three hour college football game and come out on the winning side, one of those being Kellen Moore, Chris Butler, a lot of these guys who were in the Mountain West. It does not affect you at all unless you're losing. Yeah, if your team is bad, altitude sucks. It's really in your head. It's I think it's the same thing as playing on Thanksgiving here. When the Cowboys were good, they

want on Thanksgiving. When they weren't good, they didn't win on Thanksgiving. Right, all the teams coming in, we're like, oh, this advantage, unfair advantage. We got to travel on a short week. Yeah, well, all right, go ahead. But the Cowboys when they were bad, they lost them. If you're running, if you're doing a triathlon this weekend and you're gonna

be out at Denver, definitely affect good luck. But I think for certain players, I think you see a lot of times with the Dez he wears that mask where it has the oxygen. They understand they need to do that. I'm sure there will be a couple of guys who are doing that pregame. Yeah, well that's you're right, and coach said at the you know, Colorado Springs is where

the Olympic Training Center is high altitude trainings. They talk about Kenyons as being some of the best distance runners in the worldwide because they live in a high altitude environment. But I've my experience of only of playing in altitude conditions. When our team wasn't better, we lost and it didn't matter we were playing in New Orleans below sea level or in Denver, Colorado with it over a mile high. If your team is good, you find ways to win.

But let's get back to what you're saying about Zigelia. You know, how is he going to do in this game? The Chargers have Melvin Gordon. They don't have this offensive line though, take exactly. But what I mean, yeah, the physical side of the running game I think is important here. The tight ends they're willing to you know, the what did the Chargers do. They drafted two three guys last year to play on the offensive line, and none of

those kids they all got hurt in training camp. I mean, they tried to remake their offensive line, and we talked about it as well. If you get behind against the Broncos. It plays right into what they would Yeah, it's it's you find Yeah, you find a way to you find a way to make it an even game. I will take my chances with Dak Prescott playing against Simeon, I'll

take my chances all day. I will take my chances that that that the Tyrant Smith and Lyle Collins can block one of the best path rushers in the National Football because I have one of the best left tackles in the National Football League playing there, and I'm trying to that's my neutral That's how I'm going to neutralize him. Would you limit Zeke? Would you what do you mean? No, I'm knocking to Rob. How would you limit Zeke this week? Or how would you play? What? Limit? Number of cars?

I mean? Would you know he got how many touches did he get? Yeah? He had five catches? Why he had? He almost thirty touches in the game. That's a lot, I mean, especially for a guy that he you know, he didn't have a lot of preseason work. He's been going through a lot of stuff off the field, but obviously he was ready to go sixty snaps. I would

just I would play him. I would just play him as you normally would and bank on him being a pro and being ready in terms of conditioning and because you're gonna need him in this game, Brian, Brian's right. The one advantage I think you do have is that offensive line and be able to run the ball against a three four defense, which really they've shown cracks the last couple of years. If there's one weakness that's been

that one. How was that confusing, did you, Mickey? Because I don't know why you would limit him and not limit somebody else. He was talking about the high altitude of it. No, no, but I'm saying everybody else is playing in high altitude. You know, maybe we can go to UFC and train in that little room. Yeah, talking about you give him the ball down after down it weary, You do get it? Okay, let's move on. Let's move

on Zeke. Now, who will be the undercover weapon? We talked about Dez Bryant, but receivers this week Cole Beasley got some of the action. Terrence Williams. Mickey told you guys, he's going to be limited today. Will he be able to have the same production as he did in Week one? Fair question? It is I think somebody's got it. You've got to find somebody to step up in this game.

I mean you really, really really do. If running the football, I think it's all about balance, but you're gonna have to make some plays in the passing game as well. I like what I've seen from Terrence Williams, I really really do. And I think the player that you attack for the Broncos is Robie the nickel corner. I think you know they're gonna yeah, they're gonna kick. You know, they're gonna kick U Harris inside on the slot. So that's gonna be you know, you might lose Cole Beasley

there for a little bit, but that's okay. But somebody else has got to win. We talked about Bryce Butler. Gotta finish. He had one one big play, three targets, had a couple other opportunities. Got to be better than that. You know, Bryce, We're gonna talk about him, brag on you and get you to this level and say, hey, he's good, he's good to go, he's gonna make plays, he's a finisher. We'll go finish. So if the ball comes your direction, go finish. So but they're gonna need

and I like Williams. I do like Terrence Williams in these types of games, even though he might be a little bit banged up. Him running routes. Yeah, him running routes, he finds a way to find space. And that's what you're gonna have to do in this game. You're gonna have to find space, but you're gonna have to find it quickly. See. The other thing that I think affects when you play at three four defense is they've got to cover the Cowboys tight ends. So you can't just

be thinking, Okay, these guys are all pass rushers. You know, if you line up Witten to von Miller's side, you know what's he doing right, because is the safety coming in and covering Witten? And if that's the case, then they're not double team in Dez. You know he gets single coverage. So those three four guys, now, you know, make them play your tight ends underneath and you can nibble, nibble, nibble, and they'll have to change what they do and not

be as aggressive in the pass rush. But again, if you're in Nickel, they're going to go to a four man line right just like everybody else does, and balance them up and yeah, so to me keep an eye on the defense, the tight ends underneath forced those inside linebackers to have to play pass coverage. How did you think that James Hannah did in his first game back. Well, the offense did pretty well, so I thought they did a good job of going two tights helping out their outside, uh,

their tackles on the outside. And I don't think the Giant, you know, JPP was a load, but I don't think he ruined the games. No, yeah, Olivier Vernon didn't ruin the game, right, So they controlled those guys. They got to do that again. Yeah, this is gonna be. They got in thirteen personnel in the last game ten times,

and seven times it was on first down. I mean it might be some more thinking about Okay, let's load up and again, like we're talking about, make von Miller and these outside linebackers have to play, make the inside linebackers run his point about the tight ends. This is one of those games where you get Jeff Swain going. I mean, Hannah had some productive catches in the preseason. We saw him in some practices actually do pretty well when they were doing the compete drill one on one.

He has the capability of getting open. It's just a matter of him getting open. But this is the type of game that maybe that Witton Swain those guys can kind of help you a little bit. It looked like to me watching the Los Angeles Charger game a little bit they had problems. The Broncos have problems covering backs out of the backfield. There were a couple of times where Gordon was i'd open, they just couldn't get the ball to him in the flat. So you know, a

lot of space. I mean, one time he throws out Philip Rivers and he just looked like Rivers wanted to cry afterwards because there was so much space on the outside. But you know, they were able to make some loose plays that maybe we're talking about Zeke get him going a little bit in this passing game. Throwing a football five catches in the game the other night. That's actually

a career high for him. And we talked all offseason training camp about maybe Zeke can increase his touches without being a load, you know, overworking him in the running game because of the passing game. Took a thirty yard swing pass down the field and we saw what he did in Pittsburgh. He can be kind of that blitz buster for you. At times, the screen has been their blitz busters. Yes, that's that'd be important against a team like the Giants and Denver two possible, And they tried

running the screen a couple of times. The one time they tried to fake it and Dez didn't run his route, confusion there was sure because that's where that's where that's that's where Dak was looking. That's defeated. It's like I didn't run the he just kind of still well the one third down and twelve play they were able to make. They threw the screen to beat the slot or the safety blitz or corner blitz, and it got Williams out the gate. Now, if they got that one block, they scored.

So we've seen a priests in the training camp. That's how they've used to beat teams that will blitz. They will use that screen to their advantage. Hey, I like you, Yeah, I like the way they're running a lot of different things. Like they went three tights, but they still threw the ball. Third team personnel right, they went two wide receivers in a tight end. I think it was to the right side and they threw the bubble screen to Terrence Williams.

So not let thing teams think, Okay, here's how they're lined up. This is what they do, no kind of change it up. And I thought they did a good job. Lenahanna did a good job of not letting teams anticipate what you're gonna do just because that's how you lined up. Hey, I like hearing all this. We have a Twitter question, and you guys can still call us the numbers two, one, four, eight seven into twenty one or two call us Kent.

We'll get those calls. But we do have a Twitter question people asking you know, I think Mickey did a good point about bringing up the tight ends, but could someone like rod Smith have an impact in this game just a carry standpoint, Look at you increases carries, That's what they're asking him. They don't. They So what people would like is they don't either McFadden or Morris. They want to go away from that and just go with

the physical game of rod Smith play physical play. No, no, absolutely, And he actually got the three snaps three or four snaps on offense that I saw, But they put him in there more on a third down than they did playing as any other down. So yeah, I mean, I I just I'm to the point where I'm I'm I'm loading the wagon up on Zeke. I'm just gonna load the wagon and I'm gonna keep and I'm gonna run him and I'm gonna I'm gonna hopefully the oxen will

make it across the river before we all drowned. But you know, I mean, that's that's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna load him up and i'm gonna make I'm gonna make Denver second dairy and their linebackers have to cover or tackle him down after down after down after down. If you want to come a guy with down in the in the box with the safety and try and play that way and play that extra guy, fine, but that's gonna hurt you on the back end somewhere. So

I'm loading the wagon Smith. Yeah, it makes sense. We saw him physically finished games. But I'm going with it. I'm going I'm danced with the guy danced, you know with, and it brought me. And you're gonna make sure he doesn't go into those shops with have the Red Cross on it. Yeah, Yeah, Okay, that's your job. Mickey, you're green cross Mickey Green Okay, hold his hands cross on

my mind? Yeah yeah, Kenat knew what color the cross was. Okay, I got a different shape between that in a hospital, because there can be some bad things can happen on how you look at it. Oh, they're both medicinal. Okay, Nicky, aren't they you crazy? You tell us? Oh, I don't know, you think they? Or we have a caller on the line, Mark in New York. What is your question? Hey guys, this is Mark from Staton Island. But actually I moved to Florida, so we're just is that a good move

or a bad move? This week? Nick, let me tell you we just got power back yesterday. It's really my first experience, and it was pretty darn thing, you know, thinking this thing was one hundred miles away because I'm on the East coast and looking at just hearing the hurricane shutters rattle, you know, and you can't see, and it's dark. It's just really intimidating. So but thank god everything is okay. And yeah, and we got a power

back yesterday, So today's a catch up day. So I couldn't watch my boys against the Giants, But I'm looking for replays. I just haven't had the time to sit down and watch it. Obviously we've been busy with other things. But from what near as I could tell, uh, you know, I call about several issues. But Rod Marinelli, you know, I mean, imagine if this man had you know, four or five good to great players. I mean, what he does with the personnel he has, to me is unconstable.

I don't know how he does it. Your thoughts. He gets every ounce of out of the town he has. There's no question he likes his orphans. He does. And your next one, Mark, I think that he lost him. We lost him. How is it? Well, Mark's safe? Mark for sure? Yeah? No, yeah, And you know Marinelli, it's funny. He he likes to call those guys the orphans, but he has a lot of He has a big hand in getting the orphans here. You know, he's the one.

I mean, I don't think there's many scouting meetings that they have where they don't ask him his opinion of who would you like to select? So before you know, you gotta be careful of calling him the orphans because he that's his guys, you know, And and he's done a great job, and yeah, absolutely would you love to have Simeon Rice and Looger McFarland and Sap and John Lynch and Brooks and Ronde Barber. Heck, yes, he has

had some of those guys. Yeah, yeah, but I think that to me, I'm interested to see how this defense now will play with it when you start getting Lewis back a woozier going a little bit, Scandrick healthy, if Anthony Brown can continue to do what he's gonna do and Nolan Carroll doesn't screw things up, you know, and the safety play we got some young safeties too. I think if he gets I think if he gets that secondary go and then we're going to see a better front.

And you know, those are guys that I can say that he had a he had a hand in. Nolan Carroll didn't miss a snap the other night. Yeah you're surprised by that. No, he's a veteran guy. And you know what, Demarius Thomas will be a good matchup for him this week. Hey, because Thomas doesn't run great. After you lost Scandrick, I mean kind of forced to Yeah,

well more anti Brown. Anthony Brown was the one that had to take up the share of the word saying, so Carol had I mean he had to Carroll's your starter anyway, He's gonna play nickel, He's gonna play all all packages. So yeah, the one the guy that was amazing was Anthony Brown. The fact that he went in the slot and played thirty five times. And I know it wasn't Odell Beckham, but still Shepherds. Still, yeah, exactly. And by the way he told us yesterday too, wasn't

just college. He never played slot in high school. He's been an outside corner his entire life. And a year ago he gets out there on the Ox and Ard fields and they're like, oh, go play inside, and he had done it, and he's really impressed the coaching staff. Hey, hats off too. Yeah, we're gonna take our final break here on Talking Cowboys today. You guys join us. When we come back, we'll have a little bit of Rob's pole and hopefully some more calls from the fans, so

we'll be right back to work this big land. You need equipment with values rooted as deep in Texas soil as you are, like John Dear compact tractors with a six year power training Warren to hit big features that help you work less so you have more time to do it to love. John Deer was first in the Texas fields, and we're proud to be on the field as the official agg and turf equipment of the Dallas Cowboys. Find Texas sized deals at my John Deer Dealer dot com.

Slash Football terms, conditions, exclusions, and warranty limitations apply so you can you love for details. We the entertainment loving people, demand the best unlimited wireless plan ever from ATNT. What else do you want? Are you unicorn? Maybe? Only AT and T offers you unlimited data with HBO included and never payoverages. Get ATNT Unlimited Plus, our best wireless deal and unlimited data plus save twenty five dollars per month

on direct TV. It's entertainment, You're right after twenty two three devices of data USG A, T and TAMA Slow Speeds plan includes stream saving videos, will streaming standard definition unless you turn it off for twenty five dollars DIRTD savings across AT and T Unlimited Plus credits start within three bills. Service prices suchet to change other usage, speed fees, charges and restrictions. Supplies the att dot com Slash unlimited

for details. Star Sports Tours is the only official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, offering exclusive game weekend travel packages with sideline access and photo ops with current players, alumni and cheerleaders. That's not all, though, You'll get to talk XS and was with Senior Director of Player Personnel Will McClay and of course with yours truly me, Brian broad Us. You can trust the official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, and with us you'll travel like

a pro. Visit Cowboys Travel dot com to book your travel package today. This is talking Cowboys. Hey, we know why Papa John's pizza tastes so great. You know those ingredients, especially the veggies freshole, never frozen, and the pepperoni, pork and beef. And when you have ingredients like that, you absolutely have better pizza. And it's gotta be Papa John's. Hey, that's great stuff. And you know what else is great.

There's Rob's poles. Yeah, got an easy one for the fans today, and we talked a lot about this, guys that the Cowboys offense are gonna have to account for when they go to Denver. Chris Harris junior a keep to leap two of the cornerbacks, elite cornerbacks in this league. Or von Miller. Who's the biggest challenge Sunday Surprise, surprise, Yeah, von Miller was a one. Our fans are getting smarter and smart smart. I don't know though, But think about this.

It's actually it's actually a fair It's a very fair question. Where did Talib show up? Was he second? Well, of course at eighty percent? Make you do the math? Who was second? Shane Ray did say what the percentage was? Let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. I would have written in Shane Ray, who do you feel better? Okay, let's put it this way, whole question Okay, Tyrn Smith verse Tyren Smith and Collins verse Von Miller one U Talib Akim Talib against des Bryant or Harris first,

Cole Beasley? Who do you feel? Who do you feel I can really take you out? That's kind of where I was going initially. That's a better Oh wow, think about that, think about them, you think about the matchups. Who gives you the best chance to win the matchup? Well? I think Tyron he neutralizes Miller. I want to see that. But like you said, they may just put him on the coins Collins, Colin. You don't trust Collins at all? Day? Do you trust him? No? I think he's getting better

and better. He is two weeks into his job. Did a nice job against Mac. He did JPP a couple of weeks. He's been pretty good. I see where you're going with Oh, you surely see where I'm going with this. Yeah, you gave the fans a little credit. No, they're not thinking because what are the matchups that you can possibly win. You can win the Tyron Smith matchup. You can win Chris Harris Junior you can win, well, he hits in

the slot against Beasley, you can potentially win that. Like Beasley has the upper hand, and that Bryant and Bryant first to leap. And I wouldn't underestimate Collins if especially if they can give him some ship help at times, which I would imagine they would do. Only think Brian could beat till. I'm just saying, which one do you? Now? Now put that poll up? Which one do you feel the worst about? What's the worst matchup you feel about? There you go, there's your Paul for tomorrow. There we go.

Nobody's answered my question a head, so I'm kind of thinking, thinking, yeah, I take a little faster. This show's only fifty more minutes long. I feel more confident in Colby's the out of all three of those. I think Cole Beasley and Chris Jarris Junior is going to be You're gonna not even worry about that wash. I think not wash, But I think that's your most confident in Cole Beasley outmatching

Chris Harris Junior. Okay, now I know what you're saying about Tyrn Smith and Lyle Collins, and yes, Lyle Collins has proved himself against JPP and Mac. But okay, yeah, Cowboys, Cowboys tackles. Cowboys tackles first, First Miller. I'm gonna say I'm still going von Miller because he's still arguably the pound for pound, the best player in the NFL. I don't care who you have, and you have good personnel, but it's still one of the best left tackles in

the league. You do, but it's still it's still a concern because he's gonna move around, he's gonna line up in different spots, and he's gonna make up play it promised. But you're gonna chip him. Mickey told me he's gonna play with more tight ends. So I just told you about to play in preseason where he sat Aaron Rodgers when they try to chip him and he just spun the other way and before Rogers knew what he was on the back. Let me ask you two questions and

just whatever you think at the top of yard. Do you think Dez brand is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. I think he's one of the top ten. Top ten. Where do you rank a Keeb to leave in corners? That's what I'm saying now, you're probably top talking about one of the top ten corners in the league. Will they trust a Keeb to lead to cover des one on one or is that safety hovering over in the way doing double team? I think that, Mickey, We've got to figure out a way to stop the

running game for the Cowboys. We better have a safety playing down. Okay, one's down and one's on Daz. Yeah, you did somebody else Beasley and they're outside linebackers, were they because you saw what the Giants started doing with their one linebacker right he was kind of cutting off their slam route. Yeah, and they and so through behind him one time, right because the linebacker kind of came

in a little bit more. And so that's one of the things that I kind of goes unnoticed, Like Generis Jenkins gets credit for one on one coverage while on some of those deep ones, yeah he was in one on one, but a lot of times they eliminate the slant by how they line up, and so Dez is his alternative is Okay, I gotta go down the field. So I'll be interested to see how they play that. I would love to see just des one on one the whole time with a cornerback. Do you have an

answer feel worse about with those three matchups? I think he feels worse about to leave covering Dez. I do he thinks he can take him out of the game. I do, and frustrate him. And that's what you know, that's what's happened. We all love Dez. Yeah, but question But if you're being but if you're being realistic, what is the one thing that you you know because you feel I feel like that Tyren Smith or Collins can handle Miller. I really do. I worry about Collins for

the whole game. If that's the side they choose to put him on the entire game. You know what I do with him, I put a tight into his side and make him, make him line up at least wider. I him line up wider. I have confidence in which I really do. By the yeah, make him, make him, make him play a whole man removed because a couple of times I thought, I'm sorry, I thought Olivier Vernon was a linebacker. They had him so far outside. Absolutely make him. Don't don't let him have a path to

the quarterback. They about wanted him to have a three step run at at at Tyrant. There's just always a chance over sixty plays, he's gonna wreck something. You know, Von He's gonna he's gonna he's gonna put your quarterback on the ground. He's gonna cause a fumble, He's gonna do something. Somebody just somebody just tweeted there while you're

talking about this, there's much talk this Paul Williams. I don't know if he lives in the Denver area, but he says much talk on Denver radio that Von Miller has had zero sacks in the last five games. So what we double team Obviously they're talking about regular season games. Yeah, yeah, See, this is the thing about with von Miller though, and

we talked about home. It's a huge advantage for the Broncos to play the when they play at home, they have a great, one of the best home field advantages, and if you get behind them, it gets even better. I mean, that's that's what it is. It's about because it's loud. It is loud. It's like going to Minnesota for a playoff game in two thousand and nine when you know the Cowboys offensive line couldn't get off the dining line of scrimmage because they couldn't hear, and the

defense is just running right by them. Don't think, don't think Von Miller will not be jacked up for this game. I would give I would give the Cowboys the advantage in this though, because these guys they beat lambeau Field last year and they beat Pittsburgh. Absolutely. The running game travels and hopefully, well that's that, and Pilot running the running game controls von Miller. That's how that works. Okay, von Miller is just the link right here, but we

do have a caller who is also our link. Gordon, give us your question. What's going on. You guys do an awesome job. Thanks for taking my call on two things. One is not what you do, is what you're doing't do. And the fact that Des didn't get frustrated like Brian would say Tornado, Des didn't didn't show up that helped us side. I think these guys are really buying into what's going on over there. A couple of years ago, you would have seen Dez flipping out on the sidelines,

yelling his green man, talking to the referee. The fact that he gets right back, he goes back out there again because he asked, was opened a couple of times, got held a couple of times, and asked the bad passes thrown to him. But the fact that he wasn't a distraction really helped his team on the lot. Also, Brian, you do a wonderful job. I have a quick question for you. I went to that green Bay game and number eighty eight for green Bay started off as a

running back and slammed it over. Yes, they took Shawan Lee out of that game so many times. Every time he was sliding over, Shawn Lee would move and I'm sitting there like and I see him get caught up, So I want to know what you feel about that, and you guys do awesome job based to take up a call. Thank you good questions shun Lee by movement right is what he's asking. Did they change his number? No, it's still eighty eight. How do they get away with that?

Because he was there starting running back again now he's he came in the league. He came in the league with number eighty eight, and that's without that's how they get away with it. Yeah, not a big deal. Packers and packers to cheat, No, but but that's but that's part of that. That's part of understanding though, that's part of understanding. You know, when you go into a game personnel and what teams like to do, you know, and that that you know, if you could get somebody out

of the way. I broke it down on film on the interception Brown. The Giants tried to get Brown to stretch on the outside to h with Shepherd to go wider and so they could throw the ball behind. But he didn't do it. So sometimes by alignment, you can get people to do things just by maybe flashing there at their eyes on the pick you're talking about right on the pick? Yeah, stay at home. Yeah, he stayed home instead of going, instead of widening with the flat route.

Then they you know, he was able to make the interception. So the Giants went empty and they sent their running back out into the slot and Shaun Lee went and covered him. That's what you do. And what else Who's gonna Who's gonna go cover that guy, especially if you're in I mean, it's not like it's a faulty defensive alignment that Shaun Lee has to go cover the running back. Right. Hey, I like what you're saying. And you brought up earlier. We talked a lot about Denver Front seven and how

they compared to the Giants. Somebody says, Okay, if they do compare, how can we expect the same dirty runs from twenty one? Roger wants to know, how do you expect the same runs? Can we expect the same kind of dirty I think that I think with the Broncos and that than the three four, I think you're gonna have I think they're gonna have more success running in the football than they do against the Giants. I don't

think there's gonna be dirty runs in this game. I like the Cowboys blocking these guys straight up, I really really do. It's again I keep saying this, if it turns into a passing game, then they're gonna probably take an ll you know, if it turns into that, that type of a thing. But if they could stay ahead of the change, I feel like they could block this three four front. You know, Pittsburgh three four front, difficult front able to run the football just inherently is a

three four. It's easier to run on gaps, gaps, more gaps. The advantage is from a pass rushing standpoint is you don't know where that fourth or fifth rush the fifth rusher, right, But yeah, against the run, there's you know, you could count it off and then if you do, you get hats on hats. But yeah, I don't think they're gonna be dirty runs in this game. I think, well, I'm not saying they're not gonna be some tough runs, but I like, you know, I like the Cowboys chances to

run the ball here. I think, you know, I think San Diego wanted to run the ball. They popped a couple of runs, but their offensive line is not good enough. You gotta lean on this offensive line in this game. You want to take on Miller out of the game. Run the football, make him have to be a run defender the whole day where his ass out, and specially run it when you go three ye yes, because now he's a hand on the ground right pensive end, go

right at him. They want to if they want to, if they want to get guys up the field, take advantage of that, if they want to get those outside linebackers, take advantage as if you notice one of the things that Cowboys were doing to see because the Giants started a lot of blitzing, they started going empty or they started going four wide, and so now you could see

where the blitz is coming from. Because I had more guys to cover, you couldn't sneak a safety in, or you couldn't say, oh, I'm giving up my linebacker to go ahead and blitz and leave one guy uncovered, and it's up to DAC to be able to find them. So there's way to formation guys out of them at blitzing and not knowing where that extra rusher's coming from

if they're in base. And I would wonder how many times the Cowboys actually lined up in base because they were a lot in three wide and two tight ends in that game. Again, it's the Giants. Now it's a different opponent. You know, when you were talking about the quarterbacks and throwing the ball, does the L two never affect the quarterback because the ball sails out of him. I've heard people talk about then makes a different kicking game. And I don't know about a mile high if it

affects the quarterbacks. Now, if you were playing at nine thousand feet, you know, in veiled Colorado or something, then it's a different story. Because I've played tennis in that and it's like, boy, I never served better in my entire life. If I get it over the net, are going to finally have our big tennis That's right this weekend in Colorado. Let's see that. The funny thing is is when you come back, you just feel like you're

just serving like crazy. We're hitting golf balls way yeah yeah, and then all of a sudden, you know, gravity takes effect here back here at home. It's just not good for you. But another question from Twitter, how is Ryan Switzer going to implement this offense this week? Well, we need to see last week, you know, we thought maybe he would get involved. He was the jet sweep stuff that plays. Yeah, that the screen stuff. There was a couple of packages, empty packages. I heard they were looking

at primer. I think until it's gonna be a game, game to game type of thing with him. You know, if you're expecting Ryan Ryan Switcher will make an impact on the kicking game before he'll make an impact I think as a receiver, Yeah, yeah, I think he's going to give you secure catch and then you know, hopefully, and it might not be this weekend because we were talking about the ball getting knocked out of the you know,

the park, But yeah, I think he's gonna be. It's gonna be more as a as a returner than it is as an offensive player. From a depth perspective though, I mean, it's something to keep an eye on this week with Terrence. And then there's reports also that Bryce might be a little gimpy with the ankle this week too, in practice, so I mean they might have to call on him. Get some reps. Yeah you're ready? Oh or Brown Brown there's a name Mick for Friday's show and

we'd start predicting the inactives. Now, everyone keeps talking about this home field advantage and we just said, you know, Dak and Zeke. Getting their big wins last year and being kind of a team. I just don't think that that really affects them anymore. As much as people like to talk about no I mean and both both played in the SEC. I mean, Dak Prescott was really good on the road. I remember games. You know, he's gone Georgia, Baton Rouge. I mean he's been some games once plays. Yeah,

he's playing some big games. Zeke of course, yeah, I mean that doesn't bother these guys this. You know, it's the noise that's the difference. It's not just being on the road. Yes, you know. And I forgot who said it. Maybe he was Dak last year. I can't remember who said. It's something about the home field advantage in a crazy crowd, and they said, yeah, it's fine unless they let him on the field, right. Yeah, I thought Minnesota was the

loudest game. The Cowboys had a tough place to play. Yeah, tough, you're talking about it last year. But the way that they've made their new stadium, it's it gets very louder Stimber Scott, very passionate fans. And then two they helped their team. They know when to help their team. But you've got to take their their crowd out of this

and successful play staying ahead of the chains. Right, you start running the ball five yards of pop, six yards of pop makes yeah, make Simeon have to play down for down, score for score with you, and you'll take a crowd out of a football game. And at least it's not a night game. Right, that's true and ready for the game. Right, And if they want to get their fans rilled up, show a shot of DeMarcus Ware because he will be honored at this weekend's game. Obviously

warmly welcomed by both Cowboys fans. Mixed feelings about this whole thing. Mixed feelings, a little bit awkward you or him me about him being honored before this Denver, come on, is cheap, this is money. It's where I hate. This is where old man get off my lawn. Bitte's cutting me off. No finish, hurry up the lawn. He's gonna be in their ring of honor. It's time for Brian's minute. I mean, think about that. He's gonna be DeMarcus Ware and in the Denver Bronco Ring of Honor. Think about that.

You want a super Bowl there? It's Okay, if I have him on the Legend show here, sure, why not. He's a legend right to work out the Dallas cow Maybe I'll run out the midfield, run out there. Thank you guys so much for another awesome episode of Talking Cowboys. We'll be back tomorrow, same time. Join us