Talkin’ Cowboys: Needing A Referee?

on Dallas Cowboys dot Com. Coyle Yeoman's alongside the back to back days of Nick Eatman and Nate Newton, our six time pro bowler in our Dallas Cowboys dot Com specialist, What was the laugh? I was just like, where are you going with with you? Yeah? He's the pro bowler and you're you've just been here? What what did Nate call you yesterday? Everything? Oh that's right? Yeah? You okay, Nate? You could what's finer? Nate? Well you look so sad? Oh? Well, I just want to here we go, you guys, it's

under You know what I'm going. Yeah, you said, you say you do that on the show to nothing and I'm glad to be here once again with you guys. Man, great seeing you. What's with the space suit you got on space. You think this is a space suit. It's just so I think you're you're gonna feel bad, Nate, in a few minutes. If if you do ever feel bad, you're about to feel bad. So so the space code. It was a little chilly this morning, but it wasn't

necessarily crazy. And I got made fun of last week for wearing like multiple layers in thirty five degree weather when we did talking outdoors and they were there were multiple people that were in the messages saying, man, you're dressing like it's five Well, this looks like it's five below, right, Nate. And the reason why is because you guys brought the

heat yesterday. So I wanted to be ready today. And for those of you who didn't watch yesterday's show, Nate Newton, Nick Eatman, it was a battle for the century in terms of moral victories that went back and forth, and I wasn't caught off guard. I had I had a feeling it was coming. But today I'm better prepared for this because I want to just make sure are under control. I want to make sure that things are good to go. I even brought a whistle just in case I'm not

gonna blow it because we're on air or something. But I just wanted to make sure that we were we were we were civil today between you two, that we're all friends, we all are on the same team. Wow. So I went out and I don't know if it's a soccer tag on it, don't don't tell academy. But I'm gonna try and return this way. Yeah yeah, yeah, but yeah, so I'm calling ever Dare. But it was a fantastic show yesterday. Sponsor. It is a sponsor. Yes, the Academy is a sponsor, and we love academy s

fortune outdoors. So always with that being said, I loved yesterday's conversation and I want to bring more debate. That's why I brought the shirt. Yeah, because I just want to be I want to make sure and encourage this. You know what I thought it was when I said, what are you wearing? Because I see a Navy shirt under the Navy under here. I thought you were going to wear the Nate Newton shirt. D don't they have that from the pro shot. I don't know if they

have one up there, Nate, pretty sure they did. I need to get a Nate Newton. Yeah, there's a n Yeah, I thought you were going to wear that. I was like, Okay, we're gonna really suck up the Nate here. No I like it. Yeah, No brought the referee shirt because of the back and forth Nate. Just remember though about the back and forth. Everybody's tough on WebEx. You know, like I could say whatever I want when Nate's sitting over there, but Nate's sitting right here. I've been like, you know,

who needs a moral victory? Right? We don't need that. Okay, but you know what, if y'all see me, look look over, I'm looking at the Dallas Cowboys, and I'm looking at them versus distillers. It's the first time I looked at the tape this week. You're you're watching it while we're on the show. Yeah, And some of these guys are playing well now that's all. That's all. Some of these guys individually are playing well. Well. Go ahead on Nick. It's nothing. There's no such thing. We're not gonna get

into this today. But I just want to go wherever Kyle Yoman wants to go. So he's great followers today. I appreciate that name. It's all yours, kay, And I'm gonna take a moment here because I was just asked this question on the fan about Ezekiel Elliott, and I kind of wanted to carry it over because I thought

it was a very good question. But whenever it comes to Zeke and the splitting of carries between Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliot, and I also asked this on Talking last week, But I want to hear you you guys's opinion, But is Tony Pollard just better suited to run behind this specific offensive line or is there a chance that Zeke just continues to get twice as many carries even though the production hasn't necessarily been there like it has

in the past. Well, for me, I think that this is exactly what the Cowboys wanted out of Tony Pollard when they drafted him. They wanted him to be a change of pace back come in here, you know, Zeke kind of wear them down a little bit, have to get those tough, dirty runs or muddy runs, I guess is what Kellen Moore called it. And then they wanted a quick guy to come in here and really hit the hole and give the defense a different look. So I it's never you don't need to have a debate here.

I mean this, in the NFL, you need two backs. Yes, it's great to have a lead back, but I mean Pollard I think has given them a spark as well. I don't think you have to change it too much. If he needs more carries, that's fine, But I mean I think it's going the way it should go. Actually, Okay, I don't see because I'm sorry, I don't see Pollard. I don't see it being flipped. I don't see Pollard getting all of the tough third and one third and two runs. It's a good point, you know, And I

agree with your hundred Nick. The thing that makes uh Zeke a big issue is that he got paid, and so that makes it a big issue. You have a running back that you know makes I know meal, and you have a running back that makes over twelve meal per average. So uh that that's that's the big issue. But men, you see it the same way here, Nick, I mean, Zeke gets the dirty runs. Zeke. Zeke comes in at the beginning of the game, and you see the safeties up. Uh do you see the tight ends

come in closer. Everything is geared to stop Zeke when he's in the ball and when he's in the game, and obvious rundown situations to ask Tony Pollard's to say, hey, we want you in the game, and obvious rundown situations. Starting the game, you may not see the reduction that you think because where's Zeke. Where's Zeke? May look like he got a loss. You always seen the getback to

the line of scrimmage. And what you're trying to do for all offensive coordinators is never putting them behind the chains, because it when a quarter, when the ovens a quarter, Nata sees that he's behind the chain, you thought pass, it becomes the only thing they think about after that, You know, Nate don't want to ask you this question. I thought about this during the game because it is obvious that wherever you're watching on TV and the and the at the game, you can see a burst that

Pollard has that Zeke doesn't happen. So here's my question too, especially an offensive lineman who's who's been right there and on third and one, here's the play. Would you rather have the bigger, stronger, tougher back that can maybe hit that linebacker and push forward, or the quicker back that's going to hit the hole faster than Zeke, and you don't have to block as longer as quick because that guy's gonna be right there. Does that? Let me tell

you something. Let me tell you something right now. I won't Zeke. I won't Zeke. And until they give it to Tony Pollock, if they give it to Tony Poller, because I see, if they get rid of Zeke, they're gonna go out and get them another back. They're gonna go out and get them another back. And until I see it. You know, we had a saying here when I played, it's one thing to play twenty plays, it's another play. It's another thing to play sixty plays. It's

a whole different animal and a whole different beast. When teams say, hey, this is this guy, how do we stop him? Now? Can you be elite? And so until I see an elite Tony Pollock twenty twenty five carriages a week. This all about Zeke still right now, Because every time we needed a third and one, a third and two, it was Zeke. It won Polot. They ain't dumb. I mean, they give this kid his series, and they give him his plays, and they and they give him

they and they cater to what he does best. I mean, and Zeke still got some punch because it takes a little punch to get that extra yard when somebody in the midstate block. I don't think we're disagreeing, as he may not be as fast or as quick as this kid, but he has some punch, so it's explosive. It more like more like a Bruce Bee two inch punch, you

know what I'm saying. I'm just saying so you personally would take a bigger, stronger, heavier physical back than maybe the quick, agile back as in terms of you as an offensive lineman, that's what you would prefer. I know, I take backs as they come like it. Like Bell that used to run for the Stellers in the Jets, now with Kansas City, he runs a totally different style.

I'll take that site. He's very patient. See the Holy explodes ste it where Girla used to be where Girla had a thousand different speeds when he used to be with the Ram. Each back is different. And you look at that kid from None of Soda, you know he has a different style. I mean, he don't always hit it ninety going north, but lately his hole has been big enough to when he hit it, it is ninety going north. So each back brings a little bit different.

I mean, I was blessed enough to see Barry Sounders up close, and I was blessed enough to block for him and Smith, two totally different backs. People keep saying, hey, when you rather block for him for Barry Sounders. Now, I don't want to block for Barry senderc Barry Sunders. If I said we're going to the right, Barry gonna be over there to the left. So to each his own brother. So just what the punish young man? Yeah, I see this young man go twenty five, twenty twenty

five reps a game. You know, I don't think he's that type of back. I think he is great at what he's doing. I think Kelly Moore and the head coach is doing a great job. And how they're using it. Man, so y'all keeping them mixed blow it sounds like where you need man nick man niggas And he's not. And I don't think Tony Pollard is trying to look for moral victories. I think he's trying to get to but

he is trying to get to the end. Everybody's trying to get to the end zone, but specifically with with the fact that you do have these two guys, and that's what we wanted going into the to the season, That's what we wanted going into training camps. You wanted the lightning and the thunder from Zeke and Pollard. Now one of them is getting paid more than the other one by a lot. And this was the question that I was asked on the fan that I kind of

wanted to get to. But is Ezekiel Elliott the worst contract on this team because of the lack of production that he's shown this season and of course the kind of salary cap chunk that he takes up. Well, yeah, I mean as soon as he signs the deal, it's a bad contract. I mean, you know, that's just the way it is. Is is great player, bad contract. That's that happens. I mean, Um, that happened because you wanted

to keep him. He wanted to keep him, and he's sitting in there in Cobo as you're in training camp and you're trying to sign I mean, they leverage that. So, um, is it the worst contract? Not on the team? I think we know on the defensive side of the ball, there's probably a worse one. But but that's that's not because I mean I'm talking about Jalen Smith, because I think I think Jalen and well or d Law. I mean yeah, I mean he's playing really well last few weeks.

He seems like he's healthier and all that. But man, for the contract, twenty one million a year, I mean a lot. You're you gotta have a double digit sack guy there. So there's some there's some challenging contracts, without a doubt, and the same thing is gonna happen to Dak. Dad's gonna get paid, and every interception and every lost fumble is gonna be magnified way more than it is

right now. It's a good point, Nate. Do you agree it's there's some people in with the Carolina Panthers thing today a guy who's just signed a new contract is it was a wasted contract. All you gotta do is get hurt, FuMB of the ball, a thought interception, and it becomes the worst contract in the Zeke case and

Ezec case. As a running back, Uh, when you were a productive his first two years, the way he was very explosive making those plays offensive line, I mean he leveraged it, and uh, now things ain't working as well. But we'll see. Man, we got a long ways to go in this season, and there's always next year. I don't think they'll get rid of Zeke next year, at at least I don't know. I don't know how the money works. Uh, stuff like that. You're a little more well.

I did look at him when it comes to stuff like that, Nick, I did look at it. It's it doesn't and they get rid of him next not no, especially with the solar cap expected to go down. It's really not good. It's not even good for Jalen Smith either. I mean, Jalen Smith would be an absolute wash. I believe if you cut him at June first and first year, So is that better to just have him off the team? I mean, that's one thing if a guy's a bad locker room guy and you gotta get get him off

the team. But I don't see him that way. So it's like, would you rather or just you know, pay It's like nine million to keep him, nine million to cut him, plus you got to get another guy on top of that to fill it. So I think you got to roll with that and roll with Zeke as well. But I mean, I'd like to get this offensive line back rolling, to get the healthy guys again, and I think Zeke would would look better well. And I think the whole mindset around this front office right now is

let's run it back. I mean, we've talked about that on this show before, and Rob Phillips was the one that kind of came up with that and talked about it. But whenever you went into this year, you looked at the talent at each position offensively and said, we're good enough to make a run here. We're good enough to win a lot of games with what we have on the offensive side of the football. Now you get a

chance to add to the defense this off season. And I know we're a long way from the off season, but you can already see the growth of this defense. We're gonna talk about that coming up in the next segment. But there are so many different things on this offense that went wrong this year that you feel good coming back. You feel good because your offensive line is gonna get healthy. You feel good because there's a chance that a Elliott plays better next year, that Dac will be back and

healthy and you can build around him some more. So, I think whenever it comes to this defense, Blake Darwin, there's another one exactly. So there are so many things that went wrong. You don't want to make these ratch decisions right now. And I think that's probably the smart way of going about it, and that's why the front office thinks that way. I'll tell you like this, Yeah, okay, we're having a bad season, but I'm like, I say, I look at this team totally different this past game.

You still had the same right tackle issues, but coaches did a better job of helping this kid. The left tackle, cam Irvan played better than everybody thought. The inside guys played good. We know what the right guard is, we know what the center is. The left guard played Okay, brother, I'm telling you something. The quarterback is always gonna make the difference, and we had one in there this week that helped make a difference. Yes, and I hear a

lot old the Pittsburgh still has one enthusiast. Hey man, you know what crush that. You know, that's why we got to get his kid another chance to see if if if he's a worthy opponent for the backup position

next year. I mean, this offense moved the ball, this defense played well, so now let's build on that and try to see what we can do this after this bye week man with Minnesota, because this offensive line is not as bad as everybody want to say, and yes, getting those pieces back to solidify a lot of things

and help in a lot of different areas. But I'm telling you, coach Philbin, he's my coach of the year, you know, which I thought the special team coach would be, but the earlier people was kind of threw him, kind of threw it off. Well, you mentioned the defensive improvement and I teased this a moment ago. Let's let's talk about that defense and how exactly they've improved in some things that even with injuries, you can look forward to in the second half of the season when we come

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on a beautiful veterans day, really nice day outside. I'm glad I got to shed the coat for the to get the referee jersey out here. Make sure that that was that was not as hot as it was. But we mentioned the defense last time. By the way, Nick Eatman, Nate Newton, Kyle Ooman's here on Talking Cowboys second segment, and we talked about the defense, and Nate you mentioned hollo Okay, hold on, okay, okay, hold on man, hold on. It ain't by the way, it's Nick Eaton and Nate Newton.

And by the way, as you okay you by the way, oh I know, oh yeah, no, I know. I'm the by the way. I was introducing us all in that that that that thing, because I usually do it at the beginning of the segment and I didn't, and so I just wanted to slip that in. No it's good, no, no, yeah, I'm the only one here. You've gotten him for a zebra though I ain't got Oh, you just don't have any respect for them. For the rest, I mean, you're

you're the official one throwing the flag. False start. That's true. That was a delay of game. Goodness, gracious, Nate, Nate, I'm gonna come with you at this question then, just just since you you wanted to wanted me to be the by the way, So whenever it comes to this defense, we've seen improvement on the defensive line, a little bit in the secondary, but they've kind of been banged up

at different times this year. Which one of those two units have improved the most since Week one and which one do you feel better about moving in to the second half of the season. D line has improved the most by subtraction. M the day they got rid of a couple of guys, the day they traded a couple of guys, that the defensive line got better tremendously. And if we would have done this six weeks ago, seven weeks ago, our secondary would not be in the shambles

that it is in now. And that's just how I feel about that. So you think the defensive line earlier in the season, if they would have played the same exact way, that we wouldn't be talking about three weeks ago, Yeah, okay talking about this defensive the same light. Okay. It would have taken them time to acclimated themselves to the system and the coaches. It took them time to see where these players were in the system. But by now

these young guys would have get gotten more reps. And minus Randy Gregory because he couldn't be here because it's a suspension. But the other guys that Gallamore's uh, the Antoine Woods, how he adjusted the plan in Tynrone Crawford, he would have got more snaps and maybe that maybe they was trying to get these guys acclimated. That's why they kept the other guys as long as they did.

But when they took away those other guys, these guys here saw their opportunities and they're taking it and they're growing within the system. And I'm talking about the defensive line. Yeah, I mean the question is about the whole defense the right, but yeah, which one you feel better about, Well, I think it starts. I think it definitely starts the secondary or D line. And the reason the reason is, like you said, Poe and and Griffin. I don't think everything

Griffin ever bought into the system. This was this wasn't what he is used to doing, and he made it clear, and you know, I guess he after a while, it just it just wasn't clicking, and they knew that, and they got they shipped him out of here. But um, I think d Law's health is better, way better, and I think you're starting to see him be a lot more active. Um. I think that's one of the reasons. I think that getting po out of here, putting Gallimore in, even um Hamilton when he came in, I mean he

was he was better. Those guys are just better. Those are So that's where it starts there. But I also think you can't overlook the fact that Trayvon digs his confidence got He's getting better and better each game. Yes, he gives up some plays, He's starting to make a few more plays. Donfrid Wilson's made more plays in the back end. So I think it starts at the d line. But I thought you're starting to see the ripple effect. Now I think it maybe just hurdled the linebacker position

because I don't really see a huge difference there. But um, you know, but hopefully the defensive tackle position, Gallimore can if he keeps making plays like that, knocking Pouncy back on his ass like that, then those linebackers are gonna be, you know, free to do more things and hopefully you'll see a benefit there. Now, you mentioned Donovan Wilson back there, and I kind of want to talk about him as well. What have you seen differently from him from a safety

position that he didn't necessarily have early in the year. Well, he's physical. Well I'll say this. I'll say this for the first time, and you can ask Chris Beam. I screamed in there because for the first time I saw a safety back deep with the with the with with a cornerback running with the wide receiver down the sideline and I saw a safety early in the game back deep making a play on the ball. When the last time we've seen that here this year? Something simple? Is that? Man?

Something as simple as that. I'm looking at it again. I'm like, even Donovan Wilson went crazy, like, man, I made it. Back here, they sitting up looking at the end of the quarterback ten yards behind the receiver and you're talking about that one, the one where it was basically inside the five yard line, down the left side line and yes him, yeah, a light in front of

Deontay John and digs. It was funny being and Jim Nancy even said this, but he was like they kind of or Tony said it actually that they kind of hurt themselves because they were both in the same spot to make a play on the football and Deontay Johnson was back. Yeah, and I think that's something that has improvement. You mentioned. Turned out to be a good play though, just because I'll tell you this, because they catch that ball,

that's first in goal. I mean, I'm sorry, that's first down, first and ten at the two or three yard line for Garrett Gilbert to come out and make his first play right there in the end zone. Instead it was a punt. I think it was a touchback twenty yard line or maybe what space maybe was a touchback, but it was definitely a lot more space for him to come out and his first you know, the first thing. So I thought it would have been cool to having an interception, but it would have been almost like a

punt for Pittsburgh to have him pinned back. Was that on third down or second down though, because I think there was a play in between that. Yeah, second next play, what's cool. Almost got beat the next next play, he almost got twenty six, almost got beat by Chase Claypool. You're right, George Lewis on that scene route up to the right side, and Claypool was the receiver there. So le me, I ask you this. I don't know where you're going next. But but thirty seven he's playing better, okay,

He's making some plays. You see some interceptions already, see a fumble, you see some places in the two point conversion. The other safety? Is he the most neutral player you've ever seen? Talking about Xavier Woods? Yeah, I mean, just name the bad plays. I can't think of a ton name the good plays. It's just a neutral player and you need more than that, obviously, But I mean, I mean,

I'll ask, I'll ask name that as a safety. The last line of defense is that, Are you okay with having a neutral player because no, no, no, he ain't the same guy selling college man. Well the man competition might be better. Yeah yeah, Louisiana techasi no no, no, no no no. Let's and to me, you went to the senior boor now I went you to Florid. I went to Florida and him I was a free agent, true, Barry Church was a free agent solo. It don't matter

once you get here. But you asked, dud I like a neutral safety, you either gotta be back there knocking down balls or making interceptions, up in the line, making tackles, And when you're doing neither, you're talking about neutral. No. Nine times out of ten, if you put him on top of a hill and put him in neutra, you're gonna run down to hit something. Ain't gonna be. Ain't gonna be what It's long And that's what should happen.

Isn't that What isn't that what a safety is supposed to be though, isn't it supposed to be that safety blanket the fact that you've got him back there. I know you want plays to be made, but if you have a strong safety for the season, though, I want plays to be made. That's what I'm saying. I can't think of a play. And I don't dislike him or anything like that. Um, I don't like the comment that he made. Yeah I was that that wasn't a good comment. But I don't dislike him. I just he just doesn't

make any plays. You're not right. But it doesn't make any plays really for the other team either, which is that's a big deal too at safety. I just I think I think you would probably prefer a little bit more. I mean he had a chance to make a diving interception. Would have been a great play. Yeah, didn't didn't make it. Now let me ask you guys this, just because he's been a neutral safety doesn't mean he's a neutral player.

He just may have to be a neutral safety because he doesn't have a whole lot of help back there. Now you're starting to see some help with Donovan Wilson. You're hopefully seeing in emerging of Wilson as maybe that other safety. You're a sense bro, Well, let me get to my plot. Haven't gotten to that point yet. I haven't gotten to the point yet. He hasn't had he hasn't had help safety wise. He's been the only solid player back there. And I'm saying solid as as in

non mistake, non big play safety. Is that maybe him playing conservative overplaying aggressively. But now you can start seeing them to play. He had a running back coming here. We had Cleveland come in here and hit us for almost eight thousand yards rushing. They put him in there, They put him in the box. He he they put him in the box. They put him up in the box.

When you come up in the box, you are being the the these You are the seventh guy in the box, and you normally got the back the back gaps when he ain't tacking nobody yet. So if you're up in the box and you're missing tackles, how how how are you new? How are you okay? So what I'm trying to say here, what I'm trying to say here is whether you're back deep up close, you have to make plays to help your team win. If you're a neutral guy. If you're a neutral guy, always you're not You're no

good to your team. Thank you? Okay, it's no. So you're either going up and helping your team. Are you going down? Because when you're neutral, you got to go Yeah. Well that's my next That was my next question here is that he's a free agent, you know, I mean, you got a lot of holes on defense. You got to figure out stuff on the secondary. But like, is is he in your future? I mean, what do you do with with Xavier Woods? Do you let him go

to free agency? See what happens? I mean, he's not a top priority to resign, but then again, you don't have a lot of guys behind him. How much is he gonna be on the open market though? How much? What is his value right now to not only just the Cowboys, but any other team in terms of contract. You may be able to get him back for a bit of a discount. I think that's going to be one of those. After a week or free agency, we'll

see what happens. He was up happening. I know we're getting ahead of ourselves, but I mean he's been here with what three years? Yeah, he's you know when I say about neutral though, he doesn't feel up A lot of players just doesn't make it any fellas. You know, you know, Kyle, that's why, uh men, you gotta watch.

You watch a game together. You know that you know that has been played and watching men, we watch it with church from a from a defensive back perspective, and we watch it with stand back from an offensive so we so we all know what they are thinking and what they are seeing. And when you have a guy that you can go a whole game and you and you never hear his name, You expect that from offensive

lineman only. You don't expect that from secondary players. You want to hear secondary player's name one way or the other. You want to hear your linebacker's name one way or other. That means plays either being made or players are being made on you. You we are two and six talking about a guy that's neutral, and then we talk about Donovan Wilson and we're talking about guys trying to make plays. It's a difference there, right. I told you took that

moral victory, didn't even give him a loss. Two and seven eight, two and seven. Yeah, we're two and seven eights unless you counted that. Okay, we're two and seven. And now you're two and seven or two and six or whatever. You are seven you you are, you are looking to be better. And the players you got on the field, you went and you got Donovan Wilson. It took y'all scrape in the bottom of the barrel to find this player who is trying to make plays for you.

That's why I say there's no more victims cause players. You're looking for players and our guys that are improving weekend and week out. And Donovan Wilson, remember a couple of years ago, he was our best player, doing it, doing the doing the training camp, and all of a sudden the season start, he disappears. Why did he disappear? Was that a coaching thing, a scouting thing he just didn't couldn't play because like to me, he can play. It looks like that. I mean, every time he's back

out there, he's at least doing something. Like you said, it's not a neutral thing with Donovan Wilson, and I think he's made a couple of plays that have really stuck out and have made you really feel better about the secondary position or excuse me, the safety position. Now, Nate, you mentioned how that evaluation process is ongoing, and especially in a season like this where you are two and seven,

that evaluation process is crucial. When we come back after the break here, I want to ask about these coaches, specifically on the offensive, defensive, and special team side. Whenever you're talking about all three phases, which phase has done the best at evaluating their players. Here in twenty twenty, when we return here on Talking Cowboys, we're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and creep soda. Let's take a listen.

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compatible plant may not be in your area. See att dot com slash five G for you for details to Talking Cowboys final segment here of Talking Cowboys here on this Wednesday final Talking Cowboys of the bye week with the Nate Newton, the fantastic Nick Keatman, and the by the way Kyle Yeoman's here. Whether you're watching from home or cheers, you'll see every exciting playbook and appointment at your local or experts and find the perfect lens for you.

See more, Do more or as always sponsoring on Talking Cowboys and final couple minutes here guys, and I tease this going into the break. You're speaking of the coaching staff and two and seven. Your your record is or you are what your records say is as you are, and you're two and seven, so you're not a very good football team right now. However, there's been coaching that has started to turn the corner a little bit, or at least it looks that way over the last two

weeks against Philadelphia and against Pittsburgh. So, Nate, I ask you the question to start us off, which unit offense, defense, special teams has seen the biggest improvement and has had the best coaching job through week one up until now here in the bye week. Off A line, baby, officsive

line both. Oh, we lost both tackles and and and during the season, we've lost guards, we've lost centers, and coach Philban has kept this thing going and and and that connects to the offensive coordinator, who I'm very critical of, and to the head coach because this is an offensive minded thing we're talking about here. They have kept this thing going except for one game, a couple of games, but where it all fell apart when the president felled, you know, failed to blow to the head, you know,

a long shot, riping shot to the head. But yeah, right now, so this thing is good, you know, not just the concussion. They tried to assassin. They tried to assassinate the president. It didn't happen. You missed one week, Yeah, man, really that's probably not a good one. Um, it was

good for me. Yeah, yeah, right, that's right. Make sure clarify. Um, you know, that's a tough one because he's right, there's no position that's been you know, changed as much as that now quarterback position has changed a lot, but we've seen some really bad play at time too. Like now, I'll say this, I thought Kellen Moore and did a really good job of managing that game or or or getting a system for Garrett Gilbert and that you know,

it was it was. There was a combination off. They had tricked it up a little bit, but they also was kind of old school as well. And I thought I thought Gilbert did a really nice job for him to be as comfortable with the checks. I mean, he was changing plays at the line of Scrimmont him. He looked very very comfortable there. Um. I think the one reason why I don't know, if let me let me answer the question, though, I think I'd have to go with Nate on that on offensive line because there's no

other position. Wow, what who else is? Who? Who else? Would it be? Like my thought process, I mean, maybe defensive line, go with Jim tom Sula. Just the fact that the defensive tackles are young guys that are the ones making the plays. But you could also fault him for not getting the best out of a pro bowler and every driven a veteran and Dantari post, so you could fault him at the same time. I'm just interested.

I was. I'm surprised that both of you went with offensive line though, because right now, if you look at twenty twenty as a whole, what is the number one biggest detriment to this team, and it's the injuries to the offensive line, Right yeah, Well, who do you give to Adam Henry the receiver's coach. No, no, you can't do that. These guys were talented already. No no, no, no no, no, no, no no no. I mean that's what I'm saying. It's I agree, Nate. It's offensive line by default, by fault

because they did get their ass kicked in Washington. I mean, oh they did big time. Oh yeah. But but not having Zach Martin was was big there. And that's why I think Andy Daltons, okay, should be the starter because Andy Dalton has never played with Zach Martin. It's true. I mean he hasn't played with him o there for for five games. Did our offensive line not get they ripped they behind ripped for five straight games, starting with the Rams all the way to Washington. Sure our defensive

line got ripped. Yeah yeah, yeah, they bro No. The best thing we've had except for the one game against Washington where the president they got hurt. The offensive line is played nice and the coaches have have have ad gestured their schemes and how they do things around this, and it may and it makes it looks even better our offensive line, I mean our defensive line that was that was na none. What's that NA now an available and pronouncing that right? Yeah? Yeah, they didn't. That didn't

even that didn't even apply to them. I mean, they didn't do nothing. They all they did was beat up our secondaries and linebackers. That's all our defense in line allowed. They allowed our linebackers to get beat up in our secondary to have to make unnecessary taps, okay, and just

to continue to continue playing Devil's advocate. Here, what's the one coaching decision in terms of personnel all year long that has been the most questioned and the most scrutinized in terms of who you're starting instead of insert name here, Terrence Tarren Steele. So you're you're saying that is this a is this a Filbin decision or is this a McCarthy decision. We don't know. We don't know if that's

the case. But you're still giving offensive line coaching the nod in terms of the most improved because of Terren Steele name, yes, sir, yes, sir. You know in the last two or three games, I was telling Chris mean before y'all got here, is I'm liking how this coaching staff is realized. Okay, Tara Steele is your weak lend. Okay, but cam Irvin has played nice. The left guard has played okay, both centers have played good, and your right guard is all pro. Well, you know, y'all all pro.

So now you finally realize that you can help this one guy instead of have to help five guys, you can only help you up this one guy. And now if they've done that the last two games, and realize, okay, this is who this guy is, things that work fairly well, yeah, I mean, you know, and before things have worked fairly, let tell y'all something, man, tell y'all something. We just a Garret Gilbert away from from making something happen. I mean, excu man, wait, what hold up Garret Gilbert to the

Promised Land here, Nate, that's what it sounded like. Now, not to the Promised Land. But but he I mean, he gave us a spark last week. You know, whether it was against a team that didn't care, a team that did care, in this tell us, he gave us a spark buying that crap. Who's saying that they don't care? But is that a narrative people are saying, yeah, I think it's it's kind of a league wide thing where it's like, oh, they just weren't ready to play. I mean we mentioned it in the pre or in the

in the studio on Sunday when we were watching. I don't believe that Mike Tomlin has been in this league that like he gets his team ready to play. That's what they They were ready to play. There was a neutral site game that they you know, they there was a lot of energy there that been in that stadium hardly any player on that football team's ever played stadium. They were, you know, fired up, ready to go. Give the Cowboys credit for that. I mean they matched the intensity.

I mean Cowboy fans too, Like everyone talks about the Steeler fans, but when you're at you've ever been to a sports bar where you're watching the game and you got fans on both sides, the intensity is you know, raised, especially when the Cowboy fans are sitting there like this is our house, and so they were. They were jacked up too, So it was just a great atmosphere. And I think the Cowboys played, you know, obviously they played their best game, but they're gonna have to do that again.

They have to do that in Minnesota. I don't believe Minnesota has any fans right now. They haven't haven't this year. That's one thing I have seen. The Cowboys have looked super flat in those games against the Rams. No fans. It was it was like, you know, bedtime story. There was terrible. Same in Washington, there was like forty six fans there. So they they're gonna have to bring that intensity in Minnesota when it's gonna be difficult to do well.

And I know they haven't won a whole lot of games in the first place, but they haven't won a road game yet, so I mean, it doesn't pay. It almost did, and they almost did, but they they It definitely pays some kind of dividends now we're a little bit over time. But I want to ask one final question since I won't have you guys on the show for the foreseeable future, maybe never, we'll see, but whenever it comes to the second half of the season, what is one thing you both want to see from this team?

I mean it could talk about anything from from losing and getting a draft pick to going for the title, anything specifically you want to see. It could be an individual What is it, Nick, I'll say, win games. Win games. I'm not I'm not about the tanking crap. I'm not about that. I think it's important to build a culture and win games. Somebody on Twitter sent this to me. I don't know the name, but a great job. Just

look at the Dolphins last year. Look at Miami. They were and seven, I believe, came down the stretch one four or five games. They still got a high draft pick and they still got the quarterback that yeah. But but I'm just saying, but they were able to build and now and now they've got at the culture there. I think it's important to win games. Trust each other, Coaches, trust the players, players trust the coaches. Build something together here.

If you're picking sixth or you're picking eleventh, You're still gonna get a great player on a good football team, I think next year. So try to build some culture, Nate. I agree with Nick. I agree with Nick Man. So you take off the old zebra shure of yours homeboy? You just does it just make you angry? Is it? Like? Is it just the fact that it's the referee? And do I need the hat the NFL to go with it or no? He's probably madly he's agreeing with me.

Where do you think I down the stretch? I just alignment and assignment, and these guys are hustling, these guys are playing hard, and just line up the right what blight place? Learn what you have to do within this system that the coaches is put in place. And like Nick said, I learned from the coaches, and the coaches got to learn the players and do little nuances that they can do well and can't do well, and magnify the ones that they can and try to neutralize the

ones that they can't. This team is okay, man, This seem is better than a lot of people want to give it credit. Man, Just you don't have enough of those guys. Shit, Uh, this next draft should give you you know enough of those guys man, and it may be ugly starting out next year. But COVID or no COVID. I don't think teams. I don't think training, campus and stuff like that gonna just it's not it's gonna be closed this year. Yeah. I don't think people just gonna

close they can and doors this year. Yeah, keep it, keep it very tight knit. But I agree with both of you. I think if you do what Nate just said, and you learn the system, you continue to grow from an individual perspective to do your job, you're gonna win some games down the stretch. You definitely will the tougher

part of your schedules. In the rearview mirror at the moment, you're gonna win some games down the stretch, You're gonna start building that culture a little bit, and you start trusting each other, coaching staff, players, You start finally seeing that cohesiveness to allow you to build a culture heading into twenty twenty one, and then you run it back with your healthy offense and a couple extra pieces from the off season, and all of a sudden, you're right

back in the thick of things. So that's gonna do it here for Talking Cowboys on the bye week. Do you want to send a special thanks to mister Nate Newton for joining us. Nick Eatman, it's always fun talk with you guys, and we talk all the time, but I've really enjoyed having you guys on the show the

last couple of days. Make sure and tune in to their show's Nick normally on the break, which comes up a couple of hours or I guess an hour after we're over with here on Talking Cowboys every Monday through Friday. And then Nate of course with Hanging with the Boys. He's hanging with the Boys man and always has been, always will be. Shannon Jesse, Holly, Kurt Daniels. They do a great job on that show as well, so check

them out throughout the rest of the season. But that's gonna do award winning Hanging with the Boys as all. We don't have moral les on the Hanging with Do they have them on the break? Morals over there? That's what I want to know. Okay, that's true in the history of show titles, that's the award Hanging with the Boys. That's right, Boys for Nate Newton, for Nate Keepman and Chris Beam in the backup Kyle Yomens. That will do

it for Talking Cowboys. We'll see you next week. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club h