Talkin' Cowboys: Solutions On Offense - podcast episode cover

Talkin' Cowboys: Solutions On Offense

Dec 16, 202147 min
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Episode description

The crew breaks down Sunday’s matchup against the Giants’ defense, but more specifically, what’s causing the Cowboys’ inconsistencies on offense lately and what can be done to correct it.

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Transcript

Speaker 1

The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. Cowboys. This He's Talking Cowboys Screaming live from the Dallas Cowboys World Hours at the Star in Frisco. Say, and now your hosts Isaiah Stanback, Heck Maharrison, Rob Phillips, and Kyle Yeomans. It is a Thursday on Talking Cowboys. Here from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star in Frisco. Rob Phillips, Isaiah stand Back,

Heck Maharrison, Chris Beam. I'm Kyle Yeomans as we continue to preview the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. It is Week fifteen of the NFL. Isn't that wild? Wow? Last year? Guess what? This would be the second of last game? Whoa would be the penultimate game? Possibly? I guess Yeah. We've been at you would have three lass, We've been at this for five months. Been a minute, could be two more months? Hey what you did there? You never know? You never I like you? I like

that or no? I like that shirt? Rob Pie, Well, thank you, it's nice. I like yours. I like heck sweater. Yeah, hex sweather is is what I was going to point out the cream. Is that the way from Jonah? The Jonah story? He said, what it was? Everybody ends up dressing nice on Thursdays. I think that mostly because I'm your security on Thursdays. You're my security. Absolutely. Have you seen him? Assume that You guys haven't seen the lines of people that walk out this door, down the hallway

and into the garage. You've seen it, Rob, Yeah, yeah, we've all seen it. Yeah. Not not the truth? Not the truth? Are you calling me a fibber? Yes? You are a liar. Friend. You have private transportation when you cover these games. Nod over there, you know he does. I don't get those same types of heart all the unfortunately. But how's it going, heckman peg? Yeah, you're feeling good, feeling wonderful. What about yourself? I'm fantastic friend? Yes, well yeah, yeah,

we want to talk about dak. You want to talk about this office. You want to do some news. Let's start. Let's start with news and those that stacks all right, news and notes. Pretty clean injury report for the Cowboys. We've covered the names already. Zeke was and they did a walk through yesterday because Isaiah GPS numbers. It's a different time in era these days. Um GPS numbers. Yeah,

Mike McCarthy says, they're GPS numbers. A lot of guys on the team were through the roof in the Washington game, so gell it back a little bit, back a little bit, so I would imagine a more normal practice today. They were inside yesterday turned out because of the wind. It looks like they're gonna be outside today. Zeke was a full participant, so was Um. I'm blanking, I'm blanking. Tony Pollter did not practice, and it sounded like Mike thought

he would. Yeah, he did not participate in the walk through. Who's working off the side during the open portion. Sean mcun was a full participant. I believe he's dealing with a nick Yeah, okay. And Tyron Smith did not practice obviously with the ankle injury. So that's all they got on the active roster right now. It's pretty good. It's

a short list. It's definitely guys that you're thinking maybe there's something more to that, or at least with Tony Pollard, it's that's a big miss in a couple of different areas. But outside of the fact that it's not a very long list. You have to feel pretty good about it. Yeah, yeah, we'll see what Tony can do today. They sound, I would say, maybe cautiously optimistic. But if you can't get into practice this week, I don't. I don't know if

he would go again this week. So basically you're thinking limit today, if he's going to try and find his way back or if he's not on the field today, do you think he's probably going to be out this way? I mean, Mike always says take it up to Saturday, but I think, yeah, this would be an important day. Of the fact that he did not participate in the

walk through, it was kind of strange, I don't. I mean, you know, Mike thought he would do something, but I guess maybe they just want to focus more on the rehap stuff with Britt yesterday and today's more of a padded practice, more of a full deal should be. I'm not sure if it's padded, but yeah, more of a full practice, gotcha? Gotcha? Well, hopefully you get at least one of those two guys fully healthy and ready to go.

We talked about the possibility of sitting Zeke yesterday, and I feel like that was probably the most hot button topic on social media yesterday was I mean, I feel like my mentions I don't know about you guys, was filled with fans either expressing concern of one game's not enough for saying no, their competitors get after it in play. So it's definitely a debate amongst Cowboys Nation. But anything changed for you guys if Tony Pollard's not available either,

because we talked about it a little bit yesterday. But the more I sat on it, the more I thought Corey Clement and Jaquan Hardy does not make me feel comfortable with this run game period. However, maybe not a healthy Zeke doesn't really make me feel that great either. Up at the top of the depth chart, I say, sit them. You haven't having budget, I having Budge, not one bit. I don't have as many followers as you.

I think I have five, and I think I got one person that mentioned this, So I'm at like twenty percentile right now. Wow. Man, But I think, just like I staid yesterday, I believe that Dak and TP they both need to sit their buzz down right. I'm not

coming at their willingness to play. I'm talking about the training staff and the coaching staff, their decision makers need to take it upon themselves to take those guys competitiveness out of this particular game and ensure that they can get as healthy as can be going into the next week, because we already know TP's injury that's not going to get better by wearing, wearing and tearing. Obviously, he's not

even in walked through. Okay, now you got Zeke. We've seen what happens with Zeke over these past few weeks. He's not Zeke and that's no fault to him. He's injured. He's not hurt. He is injured. There's a big difference. He is playing through an injury, and every time he takes a shot on that particular portion of his body, he feels it and he has to go off the field.

He now, what's that takes place? He now is really good to simply just pass blocking and we don't need Zeke out there as just a pass blocker when he could be usiizing that time to get healthier, and he's gonna continue wearing a brace on that knee, right, Yeah, got what news was coming out yesterday? Yeah, he says the first time he's worn a brace since high school and it actually helped him out. It didn't really constrict him that much. Yeah, he did say this is the

best I felt in a while. So he said last week, you're gonna have to drag me off the field. You know. That's one other thing he has said recently is he thinks in a few weeks this will get back to one hundred percent. I don't know. I mean, it's something obviously that's affecting him, but I don't see him not playing in this game. And I would I would play anybody who's healthy enough to play in this game to try to offensively, to try to get everybody back rolling again.

And this is an opportunity we'll get into it where I think maybe they can get the running game going this week. What do you think now, you did say that you don't trust Corey Clement and this offense. Are you saying that you feel much better with obviously, Yeah, obviously feel better with the starters, even maybe a hampered

Zeke over those two guys. Yeah. And I think in place of Tony Pollard and everything he's going through with the Plantar, the Corey Clement, to me, especially in these games right here, I feel comfortable with him, uh, you know, coming in to spell Zeke. I think he has some really good runs. I look for him to have better production against the Giants if they decide to sit Pollard. I think Pollard is the X factor in our running game right now, change a pace that we definitely will

need going into the playoffs. Whatever's being said about Zeke, I think I leave it up to Britt Brown and all the people that have said so many wonderful things about him as a trainer this staff, and then protecting players, and with the way that this team has talked about Mike McCarthy as a coach, they labeled him as a players coach, and I guess that's a good sign from your team, just basically saying that he looks out for us.

I don't see him putting Zeke in a situation that if it wasn't gonna get any better, he had any chances of hurting himself, he wouldn't be playing. So, I mean, we talked about that at length yesterday. But this running game going over the next four going into the next four games, we've got to get some type of synergy going with that because we haven't had much. Now, do you think the offensive line up front is better suited

this week, with the exception of Tyren Smith. If they were to go with Connor Williams at establishing the run game, well, I mean, come on now, just be honest with yourself when you know Connor McGovern hasn't given you much better than what Connor Williams was given before, and he struggled last game. If you just watch him, he you know, a lot of the pressure that was in Dak's face was coming right over the top of that left tackle position.

We still have to play Philly, and if you guys don't remember, we had some problems with them upfront as well, even though hey, they may not be a game with much ramification, but when you go into the playoffs, look, the front of your offensive line right now is struggling. And if they don't want to give credence to that, at least look at the film and see how Beatish and mcgovernor are struggling the last three games. After this

Giant's game, Washington's front still gonna be nasty. Yeah, the Cardinals front definitely nast And then of course you've got the Philadelphia Eagles, who we have seen that so far You're right, this is the one week where you feel like you have an opportunity to set your stage for

the final three games on your offensive line. And Jerry Jones talked about it on the fan earlier in the week, speaking to there's got to be some sort of continuity here, There's got to be some sort of thought process, comfort level, and they don't have that right now at the offensive line. Yeah, Mike said something interesting a couple of days ago where, because he's been mister Continuity, like you could just give him that nick name, so well, yeah, would I say

complimentary drink or yea one, either one. He wants continuity on his offensive line. In fact, he went as far as say, last year, when everybody broach the idea of, hey, everybody's banged up, maybe kick Zach Martin at the right tackle,

he called that fantasy football nonsense. Now they've switched a lot around the line this year, and he did say recently that like, yes, continuity's important, but in so many words like you got to have the production too, So he's not opposed to switching things around if they need to find the right mix. They're still looking for that

right mix. They have not figured it out since I don't know, four or five weeks ago, and part of its injuries, you know, and there's tiring out again, so you're just gonna have to make do on the left side.

Where does it change in that mindset come from in a coaching staff in regards to what going from one year of saying, hey, there's an entire thought process of having the same five guys, same five was the big cat topic of the conversation last year, and then this year it's let's just pick and chooes back and forth. If you're if those five guys aren't getting it done, then everything's on the table because your job as a coach is to put the best product on the field.

You could argue they didn't get it done last year, though everybody was getting sniped last year. I mean last year was just like, man, I don't even know what you want to call that. But if you're not being successful, that doesn't mean continue to beat your head against the wall. That means continue to try to find a way to be competitive. You know, there's a culture of competitiveness now

within this organization. So if you're not doing your job efficiently and effectively so that everybody else around you can be successful, then you're you are in a position where you can lose your spot. So that's exactly what happened with Connor Williams. He brought in his Connor Bro. Connor Bro came in and connor Bro got beat up too. You know, I think we saw that last game he was getting he was getting got driven into the backfield. So guess what now, you're not doing what you need

to do. So we're going back to connor Bro number one. Okay, he'll possibly right and he could be having an opportunity that he lost originally and hopefully he won't want to lose that opportunity again. So that's that's just the position that you're in, and I think that's how you change that mindset. Mike has said the status he's big stat analytics guy. You win more games when you've got the same five all season long. The continuity on the offensive

line is maybe more important than anything. But it's easier to say continuity five years ago when you got Travis Frederick as your center and Tyron's not missing games and Lyle's not suspended all pro games. Yeah, seriously, and then don't let's not forget Lyle Collins had to sit a few games with the suspension, so it just hasn't been the normal deal. And it's and they are young up the middle too. You just want to drive a steak into the heart of all Cowboys fans of reminding them

the days of old of this offensive line. I mean, they were that was as dominant an offensive line since the nineties. Are you and Isaiah was on the team in the midots, are you saying that this offensive line isn't the same old Cowboys offensive line. I think they're in transition in a couple of spots. I think they're still very good in certain spots that Zack Martin is a probably a future Hall of Fame and Tyron Smith

is still very good when he's healthy. But they're young in a couple of spots, and they're still trying to figure things out. And they've even tried to figure out the right tackle position because Lyle has missed so much time due to injury the last couple of years. It's been a line more in transition than the stability that they enjoy us when Garrett was here. It's Lyle's time coming to a close in a Cowboys uniform. No, No, no,

I don't believe. So. I believe that Lyle has an opportunity over these we talk about the next four games to solidify himself and get maybe out of the doghouse from some of the coaches. I think his reputation may have taken a hit with what happened the suspension, But you saw him being a missing piece last year. Let's not fool ourselves. Man still did the best he could last year and we saw the same musical chairs of

the offensive line. That continuity take a drink didn't happen last year and we're seeing a lot of it happened this year. But still going back to Tyrn Smith, Look, man, he's when healthy, he's the best in the business, period all right. And there are a lot of people obviously when the draft show starts, that's where they're gonna pinpoint, Hey, we need to start getting the tackle in that transition that you're talking about. Maybe it's time to start thinking

about the air apparent to that position. But right now, man, I just like making this run getting guys healthy. We've gone through this season without giving any credence to how much this offensive line has been hurting in certain positions. That's what sucks. I think about this specific instance because you said when healthy. I hate that asterisk because Tyren Smith has not been healthy and that's a not just a twenty twenty one deal, that's over the last five

six years of his career. But you're right, number two rated pass blocker in all of football when he is available and ready to go, and that's what you're missing whenever he's not available. I mean that it doesn't get much better than that. I am going to disagree with my young cello over here, mister oak Cliff. I believe that that guy that Colin's job is ons on Rocky Rocky Road right now, and a reason being is because the inconsistency. I think the reason being because of what

happened with his appeal and all that jazz. And then also when you look at the comments last week, the might post a question to Jerry Jones and said, Hey, you know who's gonna be playing right tackle? Iss gonna Still it's gonna because I don't really care who's out there. I'm kind of paraphrasing, right, he said, I don't really in so many words, I don't really care. It doesn't matter to me, Like, oh, that's not what Jerry would

say about Collins in the bast right. So that leads me to believe that if there, if he's if he's able to comment that easily in response to a question and not say that, hey, Carl, you're not as Collins for sure, that's mine, that's my guy. He said, it doesn't really matter to me. Oh now, lets you know that your job's up for position for graps. Yeah, I don't know if perception is always reality in a situation

like that. With what he said, all I'm saying is, if you look over the league and you look in college, it offensive linemen don't grow on trees. They're not the easiest to find, especially guys that can run block. Leo Collins is a strong, able right tackle. He's had his struggles coming back from the labroom surgery, but he is not a talent that I'm willing to say just because you had this problem, we're gonna toss or you know, reading between the lines of what's being said about him.

I'm looking at the production on the field. He's had some struggles, as they all have had struggles. We've even seen Zach Barton, the guy that we say is a Hall of Famer straight up have struggles this year. So look, I'm just looking at it from this approach. Let's get these guys, let's get time and Smith healthy, and let's make a run. All right. That's that's my whole thing. And if Leo Collins is a part of the conversation next year, then obviously we'll start talking about that next year.

But right now, right now, you know we have him. I think y'all both right, because I think go back to Thanksgiving Day and Mike McCarthy said that Terrence still had earned the right to start it right tackle, So I mean there's a competition there, but I'm I'm with Heck in terms of like going forward. I don't know what the cap situation would be if if they were to move on from Lyle Collins. But to me, with

tiring with those those injuries. This is a popular topic this week, along with is Michael Parsons the next LT? That's wrong with Dak? Those are the three things. What do you do with tyring an offensive tackle next year? Yeah, I'd look at draft in that position for some death. Keep developing Terres Steel. How about Lyle Collins taking some reps at left tackle? Starting way back in the spring and get him ready to be available on that side,

because yeah, because I mean, he's a Vet. You know, he's a vet that could play that position, has played that position in his life, just not in the NFL. No, that's a really good point because if you want to look at that continuity, take a drink. Moving forward, you feel like there's an opportunity there for maybe Lyle Collins to fit into that spot left tackle, not left guard

either one I just makes following as left. I'm just thinking, you know, if you're trying to shore up that position knowing because to me, Tyrn Smith is the starting left tackle again next year, but he has miss games every season since twenty fifteen. So have him ready, have have Lyle ready more ready to play that position? I think, you know, maybe this year they're just trying to get him back from the injury last year and then came to the suspension all that. You know, let's maybe give

him an opportunity on the left side. That's just me talking. I like that idea either either or honestly, I would put him in left guard if if you had more time, if you had an offseason to train him into that and get him ready for that. I would put him in left guard, but that's just me playing fantasy football like my You know, all right, when we come back, what's wrong with dak it's a hot, hot button topic. We're going to talk about it when we come back

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Visit unantaginturf dot com to Talking Cowboys. It's a great people, great pay replay here on Talking Cowboys. You've heard it already that Jason Witten has joined the Caliber Collision Team. You can join him to do great work with great people for great pay, and apply right now at jobs at Caliber dot com. At jobs at Caliber dot com. You gotta be easier with that wallet, nice bam right on the top of the tay, earthy, earthy. If you guys, don't hurry up and join the Caliber Collision Team, Isaiah

Stamback's gonna go do it for you. I'm trying. I'm trying to tell you, man, y'all break go get this money. They spending money making sure that y'all know that they were willing to give out money. M who doesn't need money at the holidays too? Man? Exactly exactly the holidays. Christmas is less than ten days away, Bam Bundy, Ye nine days at check your h No, I'm not done yet, what no? Yeah, No, I've got a little work to do. Yeah, I've got a sound heckman, got it done. Oh man,

you're the only one. I just knew you was gonna have you this like done like two months ago. That's a that's an anxiety field thing up. Normally I'm that guy. Typically I'm that guy, right, but I think with all the distribution and issues that they that they're having, I knocked it out like a month and most of it a month and a half two months ago. Oh yeah, yeah, screwed. I'm I'm screwed. You're gonna be the guy in the store. Yeah whatever, sponsor whatever, Yeah yeah, last second, that's mean.

I love it than a couple of other news off the note or off off of the field yesterday for the Cowboys. The Cowboys are planning to submit a proposal detailing what a combine in North Texas would look like twenty twenty three NFL combine. They want to host it here at the Star in Frisco. That would make me really upset. Yeah, I would love it for for Cowboys fans that are here because the combine is a lot of fun and I'm hoping that there that brings a

level of fan engagement. But as somebody who loves Indianapolis, I would be late. I'd be pretty sad. Dude, this is a boon. This would be a boon for the Star. No, it's huge. I'm not saying. I'm saying for myself, for me personally, for everyone, that's a Cowboys fan. It is phenomenal. I think it'll be really Jerry listening to the show, righty, what's what's up with you in your love? Yeah? Why Candy? I like that trip, going out there, going out there

for the combine. You were in a common mine and you were in probably the medical checks for half of the week's exactly, and then I had to go back. You had to you had the injury coming in. It was me and Adrian Peterson sleeping back to back waiting for MRI. Look like it was god fun. That's interesting. Yeah, see, not as much fun for you, no more fun for us? Yeah, yeah, for sure. You just want to go back to Saint Almos huh oh, yeah, so bad. Don't even mention that.

That made me even more upset. That place is awesome. So we went there. That was the steakhouse, right yeah. So during the Super Bowl we our offense went to dinner at that place. But we had to walk from the hotel down to the Saint Almos or whatever the

place is called, down the middle of the street. Can you imagine trying to walk the entire Giants offense football team all the way all the way down there and we're all all the office of Linemen are like surrounded around ELI and try to block people off from getting the ELI. It was hilarious. It was. Yeah, you got a lot of large humans walking out the middle of the street. That's what it's like walking David Hellman down this. I believe it out there. I believe we got to

walk into the parking lot. Same not so much, not so much. You know what. It's it makes sense that the Cowboys would be in the mix here because Dallas Century located just like Indianapolis, middle of the country, Baylor, Scott and White right here. They got the medical facilities. So yeah, it's it's cool that they want to get in on this. And they've got the hotel, they've got

the entertainment. There's so many different things to do, and they've got like four different fields they can work off of. It would be an ideal place for the Star and at the stadium, at the stadium, the Star, it would be right outside these perfect Oh, it would be awesome. Yeah, it'd be phenomenal height right there. That's awesome. Yeah, So that's that's interesting. And the other one was that the fact that the Cowboys signed a deal to become the

second Earth. Mexico is now the second home of the Dallas Cowboys. That's a lot of exciting things off the field. As for on the field, what's going on with this offense and what are they going to look like against the Giants defense? So HECKMA, when you've been diving into the film this week and looking at the Giants defense going up against the Cowboys offense, where do you feel like they can get back on track quickest the run

game or through the year. I think both. I think this is a this is a game where you can get them both going. But I particularly would enjoy the running game getting back on track. I think that would answer a lot of the questions that we've been contemplating about this team. But running game is going to be first.

I think they have a lot of guys that are heard up front, Austin Johnston, Lennard Williams, a lot of questionable guys, a lot of guys that are out on ir Just team just does not look the same anymore roster wise. UM. Look, I just feel as though for

all of the criticism that Dak has been getting. UM obviously we've talked a lot about the offensive line, We've talked a lot about the running game, the miscommunication that's going on with the receivers, and and I really, Isaiah, I think when when you look at this team and just the simple high school read option routes, you know, the combo routes, things like that that you see. Even on the one where you were saying where Dak threw it into coverage it look bad, that was actually a

read about Michael Gallup. He was supposed to run the slant that on that route. Where is How is it that now, at this point in the season that these wide receivers were starting to have miscommunication. I can't say is it practice or just not having the same guys on the field and not understand the X, Y and Z position. Yeah, I don't I don't know. I really can't stand on a pedestal right now and say that

they're having miscommunication. I don't want to stand on there and say that because I don't know all the ins and outs of what happens in that locker room in the meeting rooms. But I do know that the running game they're lack thereof is having a major effect over this offense's development. And I went back and I watched I think like four or five games last night and

went back to the Tampa game. I went back to the New England game, just some of the better statistical games for the offense and DAC and I also went back and looked at some of the not so good games as well, where he had fifty some odd qbr rading. But I went back and looked at those things, and I looked at it in what I'm going to what I'm going to say coming over to our side, what I'm going to say is not going to be received

well by most. Say it with you. As I go back and look at the games, even going back to week one, Dak and I'm saying this in the bad I can stand. I can say this, Dak was not the most accurate guy on Earth. And I look at hit, the velocity of his balls, a lot of the it is going back before the calf injury too. So I was trying to walk about I'm talking about game one Tampa Bay, I'm talking about New England game, talking about all these you know, all the games where he was

quote unquote balling out. I'm looking at the balls. The balls are dying out, the receivers are making great plays, they're making great catches. Opportunities were missed in terms of location, and I'm looking I'm like, okay, so that's when he was having good games, and I wouldn't looked at the bad games. I'm like, it's more of the same. The mechanics weren't really weren't that much different, right, His release point is a little bit higher now in terms of

not finishing the throw. Okay, he's releasing it higher and not really pulling it down to be able to get that thing on track like we saw last game with the intercept in the Callus. But mechanically and fundamentally is his footwork isn't much different. His drive off his back leg isn't much different, his delivery is. He has all the same mechanics. So I'm looking at I'm like, what the heck is different New England majority, I don't have an exact percentage. Majority of the passes in the New

England game came off a play action. Majority of the plays that they had passing wise that were successful came off a play action. And the reason why those plays open themselves up is because of what the running game. So as I dive more into this this running game is having a greater effect on Dak than we are led to believe because Dak hasn't been the most accurate passer that his statistics are gonna say something different. Yeah, I'm talking about in terms of just being detailed as

a quarterback, delivery, location of the ball. His receivers have been making plays and there have been a lot of missed opportunities because of his lack of velocity and accuracy. That's I'm just standing and say that. No, And I think you have a fantastic point, because we talked about it on this show following the Tampa Bay game and

we kind of got killed for it. But you would normally think it would be reversed, right, You would think that the rust of of coming off of an injury and kind of finding a groove would have happened in weeks one through seven. Well, weeks one through seven they were the number one offense far and above in all of football. So why is it now that that's the point? And I think you brought up the point of the run game not being strong, not being what it was. I think it does. I think it does have an

effect on Dak Prescott moving forward. Yeah, there's more pressure on him too. Um, when you're in second more and second and longs more, third and longs. Is you know the third down percentage has been really bad the last five games, and I think it is related to the run game. So um, and I think, look like the gentleman from Wyoming crushed us, not crushed us, but he got after us. And I don't think I don't think this show is making excuses for Dak Prescott. I think

we've said he made some really bad decisions in the game. Obviously, two picks in the game. He's got to make, you know, cleaner plays in the passing game, no question about it. But we talked about the offensive line, the protection, establishing the line of scrimmage, getting the run game going. Mike McCarthy said, on the last interception where Dalton Schultz was open, the spacing with the wide receivers wasn't as good as it should have been. You mentioned one miss play there

Saints game, Ceedee Lamb didn't run the right route. Apparently they would have had a touchdown the first quarter. Brian Baldinger's an independent media guy, and he broke it down. He said, there's a lot of other stuff offensively, that's not going right, in addition to the fact that Dad

can play better. So it's a lot of things. I'm not afraid to be called an excuse maker though, just because you're pointing out that there's other things in addition to Hey, quarterback that by the way, and everybody wants to point this out. He makes forty million a year. He's got to play better. Yes he does. No the criticism, and I think he would welcome the criticism. We're nine to four, all right, We're at the top of the division.

I love having that as the thought process and not like last year when we was like, oh, we've got a three game win streak, but we were three and nine. No, it's the opposite. We're nine and four. We're a little upset. And and to the people that obviously don't want to use the statistics and where we are offensively second in the league total on offense rushing, that everything that's missing.

Were six in the league in rushing. Here's my problem with the criticism of Dak and I feel like it becomes heavily subjective as it goes along, and everyone starts to move the goalposts whether they want to take a sample size of five games, six games, whatever it is. Right now, he's still on pace to have a four thousand passing season. Even with all of that, you go back to his first season in the league, he's thirteen

and three. You get a home field advantage and a buy Obviously we lose the Green Bay in that game, but still a lot of that was due to the quarterback play. A lot of people want to say he was an overglorified bus driver, but still Rookie of the Year accolades all of those seven multiple seven games with multiple touchdowns, and he's on He built on that over the season. Mechanics be damn it. This what I'm saying.

He's one of those guys that has to work harder than most because of where he was drafted to be better or even be considered amongst the elite in this league. But he shown you time and time again, even with people that just want to say, oh, his leadership skills are just uncanny. Now he is. As far as fourth

quarter comebacks, he's one of the best in Cowboys history. Okay, so something about Dak Prescott has earned him the right to be the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, but also all of the criticism that comes with saying, well, you know what, Kelly just needs to take some of those audibles away from him and just call the play and he has to run the play. You wouldn't say that

about Aaron Rodgers. You wouldn't say that about any of the other court Patrick Mahomes, You wouldn't throw that out there. Nobody would say, oh, well, Dak he said he looks a little overwhelm. Since when since when, you know, from from what? Taking over this seam for tone Romo and keeping him on the bench overwhelmed? Then I'm just i mean, come on, but but look, Tony, he was awesome. I'm not saying it, no shade it, Tony, but I'm just saying everything that he's done, Why now when you get

to this point is oh, he's broken. There's something we need to think about about did he really deserve it? Everything is moving back and forth, but nobody gives creatius to the numbers that he has and what is scheduled, what the nine and four record is right now? And it's always been that way for Dak too. Why it was that way for Tony too going back as well, because not as much for Dad, but also Dak Prescott

the contract deal. That's what has everybody up in arms, is because there was a solid contingency of people that didn't believe that he had earned that right. I wasn't one of those. I wanted to pay Dak. I agree with everything you just said, but now it's an opportunity to say, hai, I told you so as quickly as they can. But it's too early. It's way too early for them. Everybody here believes Dak's gonna get back on track, right.

It made as soon as this week. They had a season high forty four points against the Giants the first time around. They also ran the hell out of the ball in that game two yards on the ground two one, and Giants have not defended the run as well as most teams in the league this year just by the stats. So maybe this is it. But that brings me to my next question of how imperative is it for them to get back on track this week because of what they know as ahead of them the final three weeks

of the year. They have to Yeah, and that's I mean, I don't have any any rebuttal to anything that heck was said in terms of stats and the records. And that's all fine, and Danny that my thinking. I'm I'm very analytical. I'm analytical with myself, I'm analytical with anybody else. Is actually my job to be analytical? Right, Yeah, big stats guy, I've been. I've said for a long time. I've spoken in regards to Dak's accuracy, even going back to when I said Andy Dalton is a more accurate

pastor all the say. I stand behind all those things that I've said previously. Again, as I go back and I watched this film, there these are his guy are making plays, and there are a lot of balls that were falling as incomplete back then that are no longer falling as incomplete. They're now falling as interceptions. And the luck that you had early on with those early mistakes, you're not getting as lucky anymore. Compound that with the

fact that you don't have a running game now. Defenses now have enough film to know what frustrates you and what causes you more issues if they know that you're not throwing as accurately as you possibly could can be right, if they know that you're now having a lack of confidence? Was he he has right now? Believe he doesn't have the confidence that he had when he was balling. It's just not there. Hopefully gets that back this week. Right,

players go up and down with their confidence. He right now, he's not that confident. Wise, they compound that with the fact that they know he's not confident. They're going to present problems to him, and those opportunities are going to become more plentiful. They're going to start taking more advantage of those opportunities to balls that were falling over their heads.

Now Collins is jumping up and grabbing them. Right, there should have been two more interceptions in that particular game against Washington where he threw it right in guy's chest, not even just guys had to go make plays, right. I've talked about how some guys earned interception and some guys just fall into him. There was two right there that guys really could have just fell into. I go back to those games where he was bawling and there was still those same things were popping up and they

were just falling in completely. Nobody looks at him. But do you validate the drops by the absolutely know that the drops are the drops have to stop. Yeah, the drops have to stop there. I'd take no responsibility off of those guys. There's been a lot of drops, a lot of jobs. CD's had a lot of drops. Noah Browns had a lot of drops. These guys are dropping, and they're dropping him in key situations. So that is

the city game sticks at him. Absolutely. Yeah. No, this is to Rob's point, and we said this yesterday too. This is not just a Dak problem. This is not it. This is an officive line not blocking up getting too many dog on pressures in Dak's face. This is not our an unhealthy backfield where the guys can't run the ball. This is guys dropping the ball. This is a quarterback

not throwing the ball accurately right. Maybe though some of those drops are coming because they're on the back shoulder, and when he does throwing on the money, they drop it right. So now he's trying to figure out, how can I make it easier for these guys to receive the balls? It too much velocity? Do I need to take some off? I need to put it ahead of them? Do I need to put it behind There's so many elements of this game in terms of being successful with

throwing the ball in the air. That's why teams like running the ball on the ground. Yeah, that I mean, I appreciate that from you know, the aspect of it's not all on Dak. There's so many things that happened, and I like what Zeke said, Man, it's eleven of us out there. You know, we all got to get

involved on fixing this offense. And I just don't feel as though, you know, it's the weirdest thing for me on this side, guys that every week the narrative has changed, you know, whether it be you know, dan Quinn's defense needs a lead in order to win. You know, this offensive line is all Dak is still hurting, you know, all of these things that it changes each and every

week till we won the game on Sunday. And this is the first week that if I've ever felt like, did we win you know, coming back because of the criticism, and I want for it to be noted that I'm just like, when I look at it, look, there are so many other things that are happening behind the scenes, are in the game that I don't think people are pointing out and saying, how in the hell can he

get rid of the ball? How can he be pimp wint accurate with Alan literally in his lab and I just can I disregard those plays when I when I'm being analytical about this team, right, and not even just about that, I'm looking at it as is this type, Is this quality of play good enough to win playoff games? That's how I look at it, right. I don't know about everybody else. I think that's how That's how I look at it, and I have a different perspective than

just fans do. Right, this level of football does not get it done in the playoffs. And that's my reality, and that's gonna that's their reality. They have to play better in a lot of positions. But if you're not playing good ball at the quarterback position, name one team that goes for on the playoffs where that doesn't have a quarterback that's playing well that and they did create a standard the first half of the season like they can be unstoppable if they play a certain way, and

teams have adjusted defensively. I think you spoke to it. I mean it does seem like less splitzing, more coverage and you know, take away the big stuff, and that's that's that's what teams are doing. And for the most part since the bye week, teams have had success doing that, especially the better defenses the blueprint at some point, I mean, you know, like we kind of I kind of laughed at that stuff, but you know what teams are having success. You know, so you did laugh at that when I

asked that question. Yeah, I mean because while they came back to next week against Atlanta and one by forty, then after that it wasn't so easy sledding. No, we'll see what it is on Sunday when we come back. Let's talk about the Giants and what kind of defense they're gonna throw at the Cowboys and what kind of adjustments they can make on that side of football. When we come back on talking Cowboys, I want to use what the pros use. How about the official men's skincare

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experts and see what esselor can do for you. See more, do more, talking cowboys. Oh, go to get it, to get it. I thought I thought we were gonna wait for it. I thought it was gonna be finger pointing final segment here talking cowboys. We're running close on time.

Heck my Harrison, Isaiah stand back, Rob Phillips, Chrispine, Kyle Yeoman's and let's finish this thing up on a strong note and actually talk a little bit about the giants, because we've talked all cowboys today, which is not a bad thing by any means, hence the name of the show. But let's talk about what the giants bring to the table, Isaiah. Where is the strength of their defense front? Seven secondary, none of the above, all of the above? Where is

it all their defensive front? Their defensive front? Is the strength of their team? Their defense? Um, they have some guys that can present some problems, you know, uh, Leonard Williams and guys of such. Um, who's the other gentleman that dexter Lawrence Dexter Lawrence yep um, who's a young buck though as there you go, I wasn't gonna be able to say that name. So, um, he's he's bawling. He hasn't get into what six sacks I believe, So I'm like that. So he's a he's a problem. And

they have to obviously officsive line. Right now, nothing on offense can get going without offensive line. Can we just stay staying on that statement? Please? All right? Agreed? The running game will be nothing without office line playing with continuity, okay, and passing game is slim to none, and then that falls back on DA's ability to deliver the ball with confidence and accuracy if the office line isn't playing well. So everything starts with the offensive line and it triggers

down from there. If they could take care of business, I feel very confident that we could put up a forty burger as long as Zeke is resting eight sacks for a z Yeah you really quick? Really, I didn't even hear it until he said something about three three sacks against Carolina in a game for his Zzojulari. He's had eight on the season, but it's lowest grade as a pass rusher all year long has been against the Dallas Cowboys, according to PFF's own you yeah, so he

he at least didn't have any like the Firth side round. Yeah, yes, he is on that switch sides this game. Yeah, he may flip back over and go to the left this time. So what do you what have you seen? Rob? I'm just curious to see if they can run the balls effectively the Cowboys as last time, because you know the Giants are gonna say look, not not this time, not two hundred yards again? So can they get it rolling?

Are they gonna allow them to get it rolling. And uh and Mike spoke to this yesterday and they did want the problem. In the first game, they put up forty four points. But the Giants do play all these all these different fronts and give you all these exotic looks. So how does that, how do they handle that? How does how does that young group inside handle that? Up front? Got it? Yeah? I just want to break their will, um and polls our will on them get this running

game back. Like we've all stated, Um, what Isaiah was talking about the strength of their team is definitely the defensive front aziz Ojular as you mentioned, obviously coming off the edge, and the exotic looks that they have. They go three four, fourty three, they play at all, Um. But I just want to see Dak take these guys out of this to safety high. I think it's just disrespectful the way the teams are playing him and loading the box, and I think that a steady running game

is going to give them that. It's funny to me, how once we came back from the Saints game, now Kellen is starting to employ more, employ more of the jumbo package, and the Saints is a team that has you know, they come with six seven offensive linemen up front, and now we're doing the same thing. So if this is a copy and pace league, we're gonna take that and add that to our playbook. But I want to see I want to see us do a lot of that, and I want to see Kelln get back in his bag.

And whether it be from just you know, and I said this, and I don't know how well it was received, but dolling the playbook back because you're gonna play the Washington football team twice in three weeks, maybe you don't want to show them everything all at one time. And you also have noticed that the entire league is adjusting to your playbook, so you know, look, maybe they're they're dolling it back a little bit to obviously ramp it

back up in the playoffs. But right now, with the way that this offense is look is looking, man, you just got to go back into those back pages and get those plays going again. I think Kellen getting back on track is my number one thing, hello, because that's it's got to happen this game. I mean, you're gonna face a team that just shut you down last week in Week sixteen, so get back on track. Here then crescendo that to the rest of the season. That's all

you've got to do. And Dalton Schultz named Dalton Schultz. Yeah he needs to play better as well, But let's talk about that tomorrow. We've got a say it with your chest. Friday on the docket. It's almost Friday, already, week fifteen. Already, we're gonna be back already nine am Central time tomorrow morning here on Dallas Cowboys dot Com. So for Chris Beam in the back, for Rob Phillips, Isaiah standback, heck my Harrison, I'm Kyle Yeman's we'll see

tomorrow on Talking Cowboys. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club m

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