Talkin' Cowboys: Rush Hour

Kyle Yeoman's alongside Isaiah stand Back, Rob Phillips and heck Ma Harrison. I won't call Heckma the sultry voice of heck Ma Harrison today because he apparently doesn't like that, and when we learned that yesterday at the start of the show. So I'm gonna I'm gonna retire that nickname officially starting now. We got some other ones we're gonna come up with. Yeah, we'll get to that point at some time. I mean, I personally like the Arby's man.

I personally like the Arby's that we have. The means up, I don't know, I don't know if that's a sponsorship issue at least, but well we'll throw it in there. But glad you're with us here. I mean, we got we got to Kyle before the show. If people can listen to the show like three, we may not have jobs good. It might might be the case if we're being no, no, no, you you know you you guys that brought it to me whatever. Okay, that's not true at this point. Oh, but we're gonna talk about this

Cowboys offense versus the Steelers. It's pretty good, Uh, the Steelers defense, so it's just one of the best in the NFL against this Cowboys offense, who at least over the last couple of weeks has not gotten off the ground. But before we get in to the matchups there, Rob, we did see the Cowboys yesterday in practice and a little bit of an injury report surprise yesterday. We heard about Chris Jones from Mike McCarthy on Tuesday, But Ezekiel

Elliott showing up and he was limited in practice. Have you heard anything further on what Zeke's situation is at the moment. Well, Zeke was limited with a hamstring. I believe it was on the injury report and Alden Smith with a knee, both limited. Doesn't sound like anything to be alarmed about going into this week. It is twenty twenty, it is the Cowboys this season, so you know, it always raises your eyebrows, like what else can happen to

this team? But I don't think at this point. It sounds like they're probably just trying to manage both guys, get him to the game. And you know, Zeke talked yesterday about having to chop wood, you know, keep coming at it in the run game to try to help the Cowboys get some balance in this game, and obvious

they're gonna need it in this game now. Injury report was not good when I saw Zeke there with the hamstring, But you know, as you said, man, it's just maybe one of those things where you're getting guys some rest, especially if they're nicked up. For me, Aldon Smith the knee, and Isaiah said something about this a couple of shows ago, about him possibly being heard and maybe he's dealing with the knee issue. But we'll see it. Sounds like both

of those guys will be ready for game time. Yeah, I think it's more so on that heck than anything I think Alden has. I think we've obviously seen a drop off of his production over the past few weeks, so I think he's probably a tough dude. He's already quiet dude, so I'm pretty sure he just internalizes it. He's just dealing with, you know, dealing with the pain

of whatever he has. So I'm pretty sure they're trying to get him right in terms of in terms of Zeke that way, he about to have to carry the whole team like a jam sport, So I'm pretty sure

they just make sure his legs right. Yes, well, and Mike Tomlin on conference call with local media in Dallas yesterday, said that he was asked, how do you approach the week whether it's Cooper Rush or Garrett Gilbert a quarterback, he said, either way, we're preparing for Zeke, and that's the Steelers mindset because they know exactly what the Cowboys need to try to do to have a chance in

this game, and let's get the run game going. Well, he's probably also got a little bit of PTSD whenever it comes to Elliott and what he did in his only career game against Pittsburgh Week ten, twenty sixteen, two hundred and nine scriptman yards, three touchdowns in that thirty five to thirty win. That's the last time these two teams have met, and he also had a career high

ninety five receiving yards in that game. That was I mean, you could argue that might have been the establishment of Zeke or maybe even his best game of his career, but he hasn't had anything close to that recently. So what I get the point of Mike Tomlin of showing, hey, we need to play him for Zeke no matter what, which is kind of the case right now due to

the one sided offense. But Isaiah, whenever it comes to Zeke and his protect this year, has not hit a hundred rushing yards this year, hasn't done it in fourteen of his last sixteen games. At what point do you stop blaming the offensive line and you basically just say, Zeke, you've got to be better. Well, the running back is nothing without their offensive line, so we could say you got to be better all day long. I think the thing that he has to be better at it, and

he obviously already knows this is just protecting the ball. Obviously, the opportunities that he has had to be productive on the ground, has been halted by his ability to hold on to the ball. We've seen that visually, how he's been visually frustrated from that. That's a point of emphasis for him. Um, I think that's more so his focus

in anything, I mean, running the ball yardists. I don't think he's I don't think we were sitting up here saying he see we see a hole that he that he doesn't see, or he's hitting a hole and he's slow, or whatever it may be. It is just he's getting what he can get, Um, and try not to throw a fit because because right now it's slim pickings out there, and you know it's gonna be even more shading probably

this week. Rob. Yeah. I mean I mentioned yesterday or the other day that I know his production isn't near what he expects or what the Cowboys are used to. He's up there in terms of ten plus yard runs this year, you know, I know that's I know everybody talks about they want to break off the big runs, the twenty plus yard run. He's still moving the chains when they actually have a chance to run and are being balanced, and some of that is he said, it's

his own fault. Like Isaiah mentioned, the turnovers have hurt their balance, and defensively, their struggles have hurt their balance getting behind on the scoreboard. Man, But I was encouraged by the way they were able to run the ball against the Eagles again again, yeah, again, against the good Eagles front. You get Zack Martin back, you get some of those combo blocks going inside between the tackles, And I thought Zeke had some success. But Tony Pollard looked

awesome last week. I think he you know, seven carries forty yards. Maybe you see more of Pollard and Zeke together to try to help whatever whoever quarterback is in there going or the next week or two. No, I absolutely agree with both of you guys. And I think for Zeke and people not wanting to hear the excuse

about the offensive line. Look, man, when you go to the injuries on the offensive line, it reads like the end of a pharmaceutical commercial with all the guys that have been hurt, and so you have to consider you have to consider that. But I also think with the combination of the you know, the musical chairs on the offensive line, I think that's also impacted him. Look, no one wants to hear that excuse. They want for Zeke

to be dominant. But like you said, Rob, the balance just hadn't been there offensively, and the turnovers have plagued him. Now thankfully he didn't have any against Philly. But also you have those those broadcasters like Chris collins Worth that are, you know, showing that Zeke may be missing a hole here or there. Look, I attribute a lot of that too. Just Zeke, as soon as he gets the handoff, he typically has someone on him the first man to miss,

so that hadn't been his emo. We've been using a guy like Ezekiel Elliott running downhill for four quarters and we hadn't seen that. So look, a lot of a lot of the criticism is warranted, but just the way that this season is going, Look, I just want to see Zeke be healthy coming out of this season. Uh, nothing catastrophic, and just get those fumbling issues under control.

I have a question. I have a question. I know, I know this is usually out the ordinary, but just what if what if obviously we saw the production difference last week by Martin coming back right, what if we put Looney left at left guard and kept be honest that center. Now we have our guard shirt up right and our tackles are getting better. What if? What if? What if Looney bumped over to left guard? Could he do it? And what do you guys seek the production

would be if he moved over there. I've been saying it. I'm fine with that. I'm fine with best five man like whether it's I guess that'd be moving Connor to right tackle. Is that what you're thinking as a like do that or you know? I know Mike McCarthy is basically he said, it's what fantasy football to think about moving Zach to right tackle. But I mean he's done it, he did it in Seattle. I just would be especially with this matchup. I know they're not gonna do it.

You know they're gonna keep Zach where he is what it sounds like, But yeah, I would be looking at shoring up the tackle spots. And they've got with Looney coming back, they got depth. I didn't think Connor McGovern was that bad at right tackle a right guard, excuse me, when he was in there for Zach. So I just feel like their their interior depth, to your point, is better than their tackle depth at this point Yeah, we continue to go back to that continuity and that's what

your offensive line is gonna need. And this is our eleventh combination of guys starting at the at the offensive line, and at some point these guys have got to get used to playing together. Now. Still look, it's it's the tape is already out, so we know and the questions have been asked, how does this guy continue to start every week? But if the coaches trust him to be out there on Sundays, then we have to Also, I

want to see Zach where he is. I know he he is all world right there at right guard, but we know what our issues are at left guard as well. Connor Williams. I want to say he's getting better as the season progresses. But one of the things that I am just really I think it's positive. It's just to see Beatish be able to get to the second level and what they did last week against Philly. So another week of these guys together all you know, look, hopefully

it can get better. Hopefully doesn't get any worse, I think. And that is the Devil's advocate point. Sorry, Kyle, That just that Mike McCarthy wants to preserve any type of continuity has If he could get the same five starting two weeks in a row, that's a win for him. So that's I think that's probably what he's pointing too well.

And I think whenever it comes to that question, Isaiah, and you're you're talking about replacing the left guard, it would have to mean that Williams would move to tackle. If you're just doing it to replace him, I don't think Looney's an upgrade over but if you're moving him out to tackle, then I'm there with you. But I also think the reasoning behind Mike McCarthy keeping this continuity with the interior of the line is because he thinks

these are the guys moving forward. He thinks that Beyondish would be at center, Williams at left guard, and then Martin had right tackle, win Lyle Collins and Tyrann Smith come back at the tackle spots. Barring any big draft picks coming up this offseason or any signings or whatnot, whenever it comes to the offensive line, I think that's

his plan with the offensive line moving forward. I think it's those guys that he could see a little bit of continuity with and I feel like that's at least part of his reasoning with maybe trying to get Tyler Beyotish in a rhythm with those two guys around him. Yeah, now I get that, and I understand it from the coach's perspective. But however, I don't find security in knowing that there's a man that could could help you out substantially on the office of line and he's sitting on

a bench. I don't like it. And so I'm all about trying to find a way. Now you've been doing music with chairs for this long. Let's go ahead and make sure we get our best five guys out there and we'll figure it out. Right, Like I find security, And the fact that Beyanda is holding the center down and then you have Looney and freaking Martin on each side of him, right, that makes me feel a lot better. I'm sure it makes it. It It makes the rest of

these quarterbacks feel a lot better too. And then the counter and then the counnor. Yeah, he could bump out, right, I mean, he hasn't been that that successful at the guard position, so let's put him out there a tackle. I think he's a smaller officive linement any way, that that's probably quicker than the rest of the guys. So put him out there, you know, let's see what happens. But I like those three guys being on the inside. Beyanda has proven himself to be a starter in this league.

Now kudos to him, young guy coming in and taking care of business. Now, let's make sure we put some some veteran guys on each side of him to help him out. No, that's that's awesome, I said, And that may be a wrinkle that these the cowboys look at. And I'm offensively, I'm looking for whatever new wrinkle calling Moore is gonna have this week, because last week was disastrous.

And if you have a guy like Looney that you can move, like say, to a jumbo package where you put him out like a report is a tight end. So you know, so to speak like that to whatever side we're running to instead of doing a wildcat sort of situation like we had last week. But getting Looney involved one way or another with this offensive line, I'm ford Brandon Knight is still he's still on ir I guess yeah, coming off he had the scope I believe,

was that correct. I'm losing track of all these entries, yes, yes, yeah, So maybe when he gets back maybe there's a competition at right tackle with steel and if they're happy with Cam Irving at left tackle. But like Isaiah brings up a great point, and I've been saying it to that,

especially with this matchup. You know, you go back and you watch a little of the Steelers on tape and you see Bud Dupree and t. J. Watt meet at the quarterback on some of these plays and just kind of high five each other like that's it's a huge problem. It's a huge matchup problem that they've got to figure

out how to address. And Isaiah, I'm glad you brought up this question specifically because kind of going off of what Rob said earlier, there was some positive moments in the run game against Philadelphia and the way you were able to kind of control the line of scrimmage from time to time, and what is what is really a good front for Philadelphia. But now you go into this matchup and if you make those moves and you shift around the offensive line, it'll shure up your pass protection.

That's really kind of what we're talking about here is pass protection. But is it really the kind of move that is going to help the run game against a front like Pittsburgh. I think so, you know, on an interior, I mean that's the most uh, that's the most amount of weight that you really have, right, I mean, Connor is probably the ways least less than than Luney. Um, And I think that I don't think he's Probably if I had to put those two in the weight room,

I would assume that Luney would be stronger. I'm not sure. But the fact that he's just yeah, the fact that he's just a vet alone. Um, you know, putting those guys on each side of Beadest makes me feel secure. I'll run the ball up the middle with those three guys, I would. Um. Now, as we talk about the outside, that's something different. But you know, we run his own scheme anyway, So that shouldn't matter that much. The fifth rated rushing defense in the NFL are the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Are you guys worried and the fact that Zeke may not be able to get off the ground this week at all and even see any kind of improvement based off of what we saw last week? Why would you let him? Yeah? Why would you let him get off the ground as a defensive As a defensive coach? Why would you let him? Yeah, I mean you you heard what Robers said in terms of you know Tomlin's interview. That's that's number one numero Oh No, nothing nothing else matters, right,

nothing else. If I'm playing against hex my son, who's out there, Moss and everybody, guess what I'm putting all attention on a little heck, that's all. That's all I'm worried about. Exactly if something else manifests itself, and guess what,

we'll figure that out. But this is what's not gonna happen tonight, right, Yeah, the couples are bare, and it's like Schwartz last week, it was the easiest defensive call for him, knowing that at one after the first quarter, it's like, look, this guy can't get the ball to his receivers to save his life. It's gonna be the

same situation with the Pittsburgh Stillers defense. And you when their film study that you guys did, which was awesome and amazing as well, just showing that zone defense that the Pittsburgh Stillers playing and the zone blitz package that they're going to present to the Dallas Cowboys. It doesn't matter who starts, they're going to confuse our quarterbacks and make it increasingly difficult to try and stretch the field

and get the ball down the field. So it's gonna be important that we established a run game one way or another, win, lose, a draw. This is gonna be the part that we have to stick to if we want to have any success. It not looked like a complete whatever show you want to call it, dumps the fire. It's just you know, but we have to we have to stick to the running game. And I would go back to say that, look if the if the quarterback throws the ball thirty five or forty times, we lose,

But hey man, that's just been a going thing. We go to throw the ball flenty times no matter what. Anyway, you know, Baltimore had some success last week many I think they had two hundred and sixty five yards rushing and it wasn't all Lamar Jackson going crazy. So I would say there's a template there, but that's Lamar Jackson

that prevents presents that that threat back there. And that's why that's why I'm sure the coaching staff looked at it with their quarterback situation and said, we have to have a veteran guy even if it's a veteran guy that's had three career pass attempts, whether it's Gilbert or Rush, we have to have a guy that's played a little bit in the league because it's and it's no knock on bend Nucci, but they the downfield passing game was there was zero threat. No, there was no threat in

the game last Sunday, and he just wasn't ready. And so I've at least watched Cooper Rush in preseason games with starting the starting offense. I've seen him move the ball, you know, with Kellen Moore here, with some form of this offense, I've seen him do it. It's not an ideal situation, but that would be my pick, just because I know more of him than Garret. Gilbert will see what they do. But that's why they're doing that, because you have to give it. Try to give some kind

of threat for both run or pass. Rob being one of the few that have, I guess seen Cooper Rush every single snap of his preseason career and then his limited action in terms of the regular season kind of give me a synopsis on what he brings to the table as a quarterback. What kind of person is he behind center. He's you know, he's solid backup. He was

a solid back up for a couple of years. I mean, you know, I don't think he's gonna I don't think you're gonna build a game plan defensively around him necessarily. But but I he to me there after his first year, you could see progress in terms of it. Again, it's training camp in preseason. We're not talking about big sample size here, yea of cutting it loose a little bit more, and you know, he can make those intermediate the deep throws.

It's not gonna be just Dick can dunk. So I guess that's somewhat encouraging given a situation that they're in. But like Isaiah said yesterday, there is no just great answer here. I mean you're talking even for him. He's coming in I think this week. You know, he had to go through the COVID testing protocol, so like he literally just got here technically. And if it's Gilbert, Gilbert got here two and a half weeks ago something like that too. They signed him right after Dak got her.

So I mean, this is just kind of the situation they're in. It is the situation they're in. It's the one they're faced with, and they're faced with possibly the best defense in the NFL coming up on the other side of the football. So coming up on the other side of the break, we're gonna talk about that defense and just how the Cowboys can help out in terms of maybe moving the football a little bit against the AFC defensive Player of the Week. And I'm not talking

about Cameron Hayward or JJ or t J. Watt. Rather, that's how deep this defense is. We're gonna talk about it next. On the other side of the break, you're on talking Cowboys. There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why Selor Pioneers Weighs to make lenses as unique as you. Varilux for super sharp vision, Essential Blue for protection, and Crisolve for freedom from glare, three cutting

up solutions in a single unique lens. So whatever your needs, insist on Selor visit your local slor experts and find a perfect lens for you. Seemore do Moore Slore. Since eighteen sixty five, Stetson hats are American, made with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Want to show your Texas and team pride too. You can by purchasing your own stetson. You can look just like how the flag

guys do on field at every home game. Stetson hats the official crown of all self respecting Cowboys and your favorite football team. Get yours today at shop dot Dallas Cowboys dot com or at Stetson. I'm Jay Novachek, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Back in the day. I was the guy who always got the tough yards and that's why I run with John Deer today. In fact, I have a John Deer three zero twenty five E tractor that can handle any yard work I need to do,

even the tough yards way out back. So if you have one acre or a thousand, John Deer has the equipment that's just right for you, visit a John Dear dealer today and run with us. We are the official tractor provider of your Dallas Cowboys. Here it's nineteen o eight. Don't you think we should get electricity and stop using candles to see at night? It's just electricity lights up the room fast. It's more reliable than candles blowing out, and people seem to love it. Nationwide. Well candles, Dear,

did you just run into the wall? I have a new candle please. Historically, switching to new technology is a no brainer. Today it's AT and T five G fast, reliable, secure and nationwide. Switch to AT and T five G. It's not complicated. Five G requires compatible plant may not be in your area. See att dot com slash five G for you for details to talk in cowboys. Looking

for something to change up your dinner routine. Help support local Frisco businesses by choosing one of the Star District restaurants. For more information on delivery, take out, curb sign, pickup, and Dianan availability, visit the Star District dot com. And heckman, I went and got some sushi Marquis last week. We tried to invite you guys, but I forgot to press end. It was a whole completely three times a week. I know.

It's unfors teriscope peop y'all, y'all see how he does this, right, Y'll see how he does me and rot P. That's what you that's what you get for the pre show Shenanigans. That's the retaliation for that. But that's okay. Hey, we'll invite you next time we might go. We might go somewhere over there school. I mean, it's cool. I understand, I grew up in a bad neighborhood. Rob has a has a you know, rapper's name rot p. It's all good. I understand. How where the direction is going, we see it.

Somebody salting my Harrison, Isaiah stand back, Rob Phillips, and guys, I'm gonna go through a couple of names for you here on this Steelers defensive side of the football. How about this Joe Hayden from Florida cornerback, Minka Fitzpatrick's safety from Alabama, Terrell Edmonds out of Virginia Tech. He's a safety as well. T J. Watt, we all know about him. Devin Bush Junior, Bud Dupree, and Cameron Hayward. Those are all first round picks starting just the first string on

the defense for the Pittsburgh Steelers. All first round picks. So I guess one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, seven of their eleven starters first round picks in terms of this Pittsburgh defense. Oh and by the way, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week, Stephan two it is coming off that left edge and so you've got quite the task whenever he comes up against the Steelers defense this week, but whenever he comes to the front seven or the secondary, which one scares you the most.

In the matchup with the Cowboys, this weekeck, But whenever, it really could go either way. Man, When you go through those names and all that, it says to me, it's just the legacy that the Pittsburgh Steelers have had on defense for so many years. And it just started from I mean from you go back to the Steel Curtain and more recently the Dick lebol defenses with Troy, Paulamalu and Porter. I mean, they've all with Harrison, They've always had some guys, and now they just continue that

legacy with more dogs. And you know, we talked about Joe Hayden yesterday and his ability to you know, cover guys and he's just the master of that zone defense that they played. But also Mica Fitzpatrick. Mica Fitzpatrick is from Alabama's man, He's about as hard hitting as they come, and he's going to be meeting Ezekiel Elliott a lot at the line of scrimmage. So you go through those names, but I mean guys like Kevin Bush who's hurt and

is out for the year. But man, you talk about a young linebacker that is a dog and flies around TJ WHT Bud Dupree, all of those guys. Man, And it's not just, uh, those guys, it's just the rotation that they have with additional guys. Cameron Cameron Hayward, Ironhead, Hayward's son, another guy with it been in the league for I believe eleven years, but has a motor, has a motor and is a big part of what they

do as far as being a run stuffer. So the Cowboys offensive line, I know that's not fancy talk, but they're gonna have their work cut out for him. But that secondary Mica Fitzpatrick, but also Terrell Edmonds. You talk about him out of Virginia Tech. He's a big part of He's like the glue to that whole thing. So, I mean, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is like, you know, release the cracking every time they take the field. So this is gonna be interesting to see how we, uh,

you know, gain any success on this defense. And it's gonna have to be inch by inch, right. Yeah. Actually, heck, I was gonna hit you with what you just said. Going back to your guy me and Joe, like, just watching them on tape, is there any like we've talked about just a general thought about the Steelers. We talk about identity with the Cowboys under Mike McCarthy, like, who do they want to be? What's their culture? The Steelers on defense, they've had the same identity for fifty years.

Fifty years, it's the same thing. You watch them on tape, and I'm not comparing them to the Steel Curtain of the seventies, but you just watch the way they play, how physical they are, and how much speed they have on defense, and it's every decade they've they've had the same type of identity and they've got They've got it now, Kyle.

To answer your question, I would say upfront is probably their bread and butter, because I think just watching them a little bit of them on tape, it just seems like the secondary feeds off of their pressure and the way they get after the quarterback and the way they stop things in the run game. You know, the two leading the two leading guys in the league and tackles for loss or on the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's TJ wat and I'm blanking right now. No, No, it's Vince Williams.

Sorry guy, another guy. And like I thought of I thought of Isaiah when I was watching it the other last night where Isaiah you said they're bullies like Vince Williams. Bullies. Guys you watched, I mean Ryan Tannehill trying to take off and scramble and he got blown up by Vince Williams. He looked like one of those tackling dummy toys back in the day, you know, just getting thrown around like

these guys are. They're really good. And I think it comes down to though, their pressure upfront really allows the Joe Hayden and Mike and Fitzpatrick and those guys to really fly around and go make plays on the football. If you if you get in third and long against these guys, you're in big trouble. Big trouble. Absolutely correct man, and phrase the front seven for me, Kyle, to answer

your question. The front seven is they're relentless. That There's there's no other word that describes these guys except for that they're relentless. They don't stop. You guys talk about the idea. You know, we've talked about. I brought it up about identity and culture. You know what you're getting when you play Pittsburgh. You know exactly what you're getting. There's only a handful of teams that can run with Pittsburgh, and that's Baltimore and you know Baltimore probably you know

Tampa and KC. Just because of the speed of their offenses. Right, just because they can run with these guys, they can they can move them, they can make them move off their mark. These guys trust their front seven. Their front seven knows that their job is to get pressure. If they get pressure, then quarterbacks are gonna make mistakes, right, and the quarterbacks make mistakes, they're gonna throw the ball up and probably gonna land in the hands of the

defenders of the Steelers. Simply because these Steelers defenders, as good as they are in man to man coverage, as we talk about the Joe Hayden's and you know, and all these guys right, as good as they are in man and man coverage, guess what, they're not being asked to play man to man. No, they if they wanted to, They they can play man to man and lock you up if they wanted to. But guess what in a heartbeat,

why why? Why I put this pressure on you? Hell, how about I take this guy who's an absolute dog at man to man coverage and guess what, how about I give him a ten a ten yard box that he has to cover. How about that? How about take the pressure off you and just say I need you to own this ten yards and I need you to trust the teammates next to you to that they that they're gonna do their job as well. And guess what,

when opportunities present themselves, take advantage of them. If somebody presenting stuff to you, knock the win out their dog on a chest. And that's all these guys are being asked to do. And they are having fun doing it. They're playing balls to the wall, they're just it's just it's NonStop, right these guys. And it's it's deflating as an offense. It's very deflating because there's no point in the game where you feel like they're gonna wear down, right, Oh,

they're gonna give up guys. As you guys talking about, there's a whole new wave right when the guys do when you do see them get their hands on their hips, guess what their coaches pulling them out, and they're bringing in a couple more dogs that are gonna bring just the same amount of fire that the original guys did. So you're gonna have to deal with it all day long, from snap to snap. And as you guys talk about those you know, talk about that pressure. He's talking about Rob.

The bullies on this defense. That's what they do and they feed off of it, right, They feed off each other, the energy that they have. They know that they're the heartbeat of this team. They're really connected defensively when you watch it. Yeah, that's when we talk about being connected defensively with the Cowboys trying to get to that point. The Steelers are at that point. They just work so well together from the front seven and the backs in

the back end. And the first thing I thought about it, coaches, God, No, I was gonna just the football cliche of guy's defense being like a link in the chain. You know, they played very well together. Everything, all of these positions are strong. But I just wanted to go back to what you said, Rob, as far as just the culture of the Pittsburgh Steelers man. They've been practicing at the same the two of days

is at Latrobe. It's every year they don't and their football organization is filled with football people, right, and so this team last year lost Ben Roethlisberger, but still was a game away from actually making it into the playoffs. So we look at your circumstances and you look at other teams and you see how they've overcome as well. Now, all be it not in the pandemic and all of those things that go along with it. But that's the culture that you say, next man up kind of mentality,

even when you lose your number one guy. And so it doesn't matter if you lose your middle linebacker or a defensive end. The product, the product that you're gonna get on the field is gonna be hard nosed, and it's gonna be hustling, and it's gonna be bullyball no matter who puts that that helmet on. This is always a this is always an intense week for heck Mon because he grew up in a family full of Steelers

fans with Cowboys fandom oozing from himself. But I will say I completely agree with this point, and I want to add to it is the fact that they're bullies on the defensive side. Of the football. And I know we're not going to start a rookie quarterback, but we're gonna start a very inexperienced quarterback no matter what. But rookie quarterbacks are owing five versus the Steelers since twenty seventeen, and rookie quarterback versus the Steelers since so four since

two thousand and four. Four and twenty four is their record against the Steeler's offense. And this is just talking about there is a chance. And guess who was the last one to do it. Guess who was the last rookie quarterback it was. It was Dak Prescott. Now, unfortunately, that one of the best games you'll ever see. Oh it was such a good game. That was the Goodbye Zeke call from Bradsham, the great Bradsham on the Cowboys Radio Network. And man, I remember I was listening to

that in my car. I don't know what I was doing. I was still in college at the time and I was listening to it was in my car, goodbye, goodbye, oh whatever, stop it. I think I was at church. It was a Sunday night. But anyways, whenever it comes to inexperience at the quarterback position, this team feasts. This team feasts on inexperience at the quarterback position. When we come back after the break, we're gonna talk about how the Cowboys inexperience can find a bit of a hole

and maybe some mismatches the Cowboys can exploit. When we come back on Talking Cowboys, we're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping air waves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor and Cream Soda. Is he a new combonet's music to my ears? Okay, doctor time already music to my ears and mouth. New Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda a delicious doe. There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why SLOR pioneers ways to make lenses as unique as you.

Varilux for super sharp vision, Essential Blue for protection, and Crisol for freedom from glare. Three cutting edge solutions in a single unique lens. So whatever your needs, insist on selor leave your local essel or experts and find a perfect lens for you to see more, Do more Lore The Cowboys Way, where sixteen Hall of Famers and five

championships shows us what success looks like. Where Turkey is always the second best part of Thanksgiving Day, where we are all defined by one single thing, the star, where we as fans know it's our job to keep the tradition going. Bank of America is proud to be the official bank of the Dallas Cowboys and to support the quest of living life the Cowboys Way. Copyright twenty twenty

Bank of America Corporation. Dear, it's nineteen o eight. Don't you think we should get electricity and stop using candles to see it night? It's just electricity lights up the room fast. It's more reliable than candles blowing out, and people seem to love it nationwide. Candles, Dear, did you just run into the wall? I have a new candle please. Historically, switching to new technology is a no brainer. Today it's AT and T five G fast, reliable, secure and nationwide.

Switch to AT and five G. It's not complicated. Five get requires compatible plan may not be in your area. See at doc com slash five G for you for details. To talk in Cowboys, Oh goodness gracious, Whether you're watching from home, were shooting in the stands with Esler lens, as you'll see every exciting play book an appointment at your local Esler Experts and find the perfect Esler lens

for you. See more, Do more. Essler. I'm red in the face right now because this past commercial break is one of the funniest things I've experienced in a long time. But oh, Kash got a reset talking Cowboys here, Isaiah stand back, Rob Phillips, heck Maharrison, Kyle Yeoman's with you. Glad you're having fun with us. Hope you're having as much fun as we are breaking down this game. Somebody needs a little positivity in their in their life right now.

Of course, we have a lot going on in our country, we have a lot going on in our football franchise at the moment. But hey, we're staying positive. We're smiling through it, and we are glad you're here with us. And heck well, you you brought up a great point yesterday. You brought up a point of we need positivity right now. We need to bring some positivity. So let's do that with this Cowboys offense. Let's find the positive side of things. Is there some place that the Cowboys could have some

success against the Steelers come Sunday? Heckmah Well, you're gonna make me earn my fifteen dollars earning. I want you to day. I think that's about where you guys are. So you're my cameo numbers. Now, that's what I'm talking

about it. So, man um, if I'm looking for anything, it's gonna be and just based off of And this may be a complete fantasy to even think this, because you know in the Baltimore game that the Pittsburgh stealers were keying off on Lamar Jackson as well, and that's why that other running backs were able to have success. But that's it. I'm the only thing that I'm looking at is for our running game to try and get established.

And if Zeke can't do it because of what Tony Pollard did last week, hopefully him as a changeup can have break off some big runs because that's the only place that I see it, especially with the Pittsburgh still

a defense being the fifth ranked defense. Keith Butler, the defensive coordinator, has these guys playing lights out, and like we said before, you know, once the running game becomes obsolete, all they're gonna do is pin their ears back and come after us and you know, and crowd the line of scrimmage and once it gets to that point, it increasingly becomes difficult to run, and so it's gonna I'm hoping that we can have those big gash runs, but

also looking at Ezekiel Elliott out of the backfield, and I know that they're going to be keen on that as well. But trying to get him involved in the passing game, and also Tony Pollard involved in the passing game. We talked about him coming out of Memphis being looked at as a flanker receiver type. Hopefully we can get him involved because everything else, as far as getting throws down the field, I don't think Rush or Gilbert is

going to be effective there. Rob I want to see I want I want to see Scholtz in our movement. That's what I want to see. I want to see Schultz cotches in somebody these underneath routes and and breaking a tackle. He needs some yack yardage. I think that they're gonna do a lot of two tight just like we did last week. In turn, trying to keep guys in the box and try to block it up as

much as possible to give this quarterbacks pressure. I'm gonna give these quarterbacks somehow give them some relief from the pressure. But I think, I think that whatever we do get on the move, you know, in bootlegs, nakeds, you know, spread out stings of that nature, I think Schultz has to be that guy, um that's that's gonna you know, be the outlet for him. And you know, you turn those five yard players, right, those easy little drop offs um into into twenty yard games if you could break

a couple of tackles. They actually, you know, Benda Nucci actually when he got something going late in the game, he seemed to settle in just a little bit. And Schultz was guy he was looking towards late in the game against Philly. Yeah, I mean, it's got to be the run game. And I again I'm encouraged by what they did against Philly last week. I still feel like, you know, the Cowboys receivers can win matchups one on

one no matter who they're up against. And to Isaiah's point, they did go more too tight to more twelve personnel last week. I think Cede Lamb only had maybe thirty snaps in the game. But I still think maybe maybe with a more experienced quarterback, whether it's Gilbert or Rush. The timing and the rapport isn't there, but there might be more of an opportunity to get the ball down the field if they can protect, and that's a huge

question mark. But if they can protect, I still believe, you know, we just haven't seen it because of the just the lack of continuity upfront and the lack of continuity at quarterback. But I still think they've got an opportunity to win their battles, get separation, and I think it's going to have to take a chunk player two to win this game. These give yourself a chance to win this game and move the ball offensively. I don't think you can have fifteen play twelve play drives against

the Steelers defense. They're eventually going to force you in a mistake. You know, I was watching that game very casually last week against Baltimore, dealing with the baby and everything, and every time I looked up, they were stripping the ball and they're picking it off. So they are they are a high turnover defense. Rob Whenever you talk about the timing and the continuity with an offense and a quarterback, is there going to be that much of a difference?

Is that much of an improvement from Ben d Nucci last week to either Cooper Rush or Garrett Gilbert. Whenever it comes to them playing as the starting quarterback, can you get worse? Yeah? Yeah, there you go. I wish I knew that answer. I don't think we're gonna know until we see it. Yeah, but that's just right. Yeah.

I think I think those guys have a little more experience, just in terms of well, Cooper Rush in this in this offense to begin with, but Danusci's pop presence, I just think he wasn't ready for the speed of this game. And maybe these guys are a little bit more And maybe that's maybe, you know, and that Mike basically said yesterday again against the defense of this caliber, you've got to have more experience. You absolutely have to. That's that's a that's a loaded question, uh, Kyle, And I don't

know how you answer it. And the thing is is like, if if these guys are any better than Danucci, hopefully they're better at not getting sacked and fumbling, you know, like hold on to the ball. The the offensive play calling has got to be better this week for Rush, our Guilbert who whomever it is, and if we get into the red zone again this week, we gotta punch this end. We gotta get we gotta get points and not a field goal. So that's gonna be very important.

But what you say about the Pittsburgh stilla defense is it's also true. Man, these guys are punching and ripping at the ball. And with a team like the Cowboys that has just been a fumble turnover machine, that's not that's just not a good thing to walk into a game like this knowing that this Pittsburgh still offense turns those turnovers into points. And that's been that our Achilles hill all season long is turnovers and team scoring point

telling those turnovers. So look, ball security, getting into the red zone, if we get in the red zone, actually get in points touchdowns and not field goals, it's going to be important for the Cowboys for sure. Uh yeah. So as we talk about which quarterback, it doesn't matter. I already said that the rock it really doesn't matter. The thing I'm more concerned about is these quarterbacks trying to get the ball out when they when they sense

and they see pressure. Right. The reason being is when when Pittsburgh blitzes, they're not blitzing and playing man coverage. They're doing zone blitz. And this is probably the first team that we faced this year that runs a true zone blitz where they're dropping a defensive ends altu into coverage. And Isaiah Isaiah Isaiah Tell explain because people, I don't think they understand the difference between that and actually being

in man and how a quarterback processes. Now. Yeah, so typically whatever you see a blitz right, a lot of times it can be man coverage. So if you if they have you know, three down lineman or four down lineman, they'll bring the line backers up the middle right and you know that everybody else is all your receivers, your two three receivers and your tight end are gonna be a man coverage is gonna be one person sticking them

versus a zone blitz. Say I step up to the line of scrimmage as a quarterback and I see two guys looking like they're about to come off the left side right, Well, my eyes go where my eyes go to the left side, and I'm in my head, I'm thinking, okay, blitz, I have man and man coverage. Maybe one of my inside receivers can now run a one step slant. The whole middle of the field is open, right, So all he has to do is get inside that defender. I

can throw the ball to him really quickly. You can catch it and take off for twenty yards if you get some yack yardage. Pittsburgh knows that. So what do they do. They bring pressure back. They bring pressure from one side. Right, they bring pressure from one side. All the linebackers shift over to the side that just vacated

and where they just vacated. Now the defensive end, the defend line defensive lineman, who has his hand in the ground now drops back into that void into coverage where you typically would throw your hot route or your your route, you know where you you know, you kind of like your your safety blanket. So a lot of times as a quarterback on the line of scrimm, you don't see that because you're in a panic. More. You're like craft they're coming. I have to get out of my hand.

I got to get it to my my nearest guy. Well, typically your nearest guy is exactly where that defensive end is looking up for it. He's going towards that guy because he knows that's the only place you can go. With the ball. That's that's the only place you have time to throw the ball. And Lamar Jackson threw a pick six just like that, just like that, and you know, actually didn't and just generally having that clock in your head.

Danusi's first fumble, it's that pocket awareness we're talking about, like he had. I don't know, maybe you shouldn't dial up a passing situation like that with a young quarterback in the red zone, but he should have gotten rid of it. And so that those kind of things you think where a quarterback he's been around a little bit longer, they can they can sense those things and be a little bit more mindful to football. It should be interesting.

Cowboys are gonna have to figure it out on the on the offensive side of the football to slow down that Steelers defense. They did it in twenty sixteen. I mean that was a different season than twenty twenty. But Ezekiel Elliott had a really big game and we mentioned

it a little bit early years. So I'm gonna ahead and sign off for heck Ma Harrison, for Rob Phillips, for Isaiah dan Back, I'm Kyle Yeoman's a special thanks to Chris Beam in the back because he's gonna play us out with one of the best calls that I've heard from Brad Sham, and it's the touchdown run from Ezekiel Elliott is twenty sixteen. Let's go and play that out. We'll see you tomorrow, talking Cowboys Today, here we go.

Run Zeke uptmentally's gone. Jakes talk goodbye, Zeke. Touchdown, short yards, pinched in, the dogs got out. The Cowboys are gonna steal one in Pittsburgh, thirty two yards. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.