Talkin' Cowboys: Turning Point Up Front?

And this is Talking Cowboys. Bill Jones along with Brian brought us, Rob Phillips, Mickey Spagnola, Kim Garrison taking your phone calls, and we will take your phone calls today as there's lots to get to eight eight, eight, five, two two nine seven. And of course we were here yesterday wrapping up the weekend and then later in the day yesterday the Cowboys break some news as they get set to start their work week here at the Star. As a change has been made on the coaching staff.

Paul Alexander is out and Mark Colombo promoted from assistant offensive line coach too offensive line coach, and Hudson Howk is coming back of course, the forty year or so veteran of coaching is coming back. He was with the Cowboys from ninety three to one and then again from eight to through the twenty eleven season, and he's going to be an advisor on the staff. We'll see how what his role actually will be once we start seeing some practices out there and so forth. But let's get

some initial reaction right off the top. Rob you want to start, something had to change up front. I think we've talked about it at nauseum. Really that everything starts up front. If you want to talk about out the passing game not making plays downfield consistently, the running game not being consistent. Mary Cooper coming in can help, but you gotta have time, you gotta have pass protection. You got open holes. And they decided to go at the top in terms of coaching staff and make a move

with Paul Alexander and see if that can change. Now the question is what changes with him coming in. Do they just go back to what they used to do in terms of techniques and things that they've worked in the past. We'll see, but this is two o line changes, coaching changes in the last two years. So regardless of who's involved there. They've got to figure out what the differences between the road and AT and T Stadium because at and T Stadum has been okay, it's it's it's

fixing what's been the issue on the road. And I think what happened when the running game, specifically against Washington was really alarming. Let's say that was a big concern. Ye I'm gonna let you finish, Okay. I want to go with Mickey next because I want to give the proper introduction to Brian here in just a second. So Mickey, your initial reaction. We gotta reason for this, Okay. I would just wonder what proper? Was nothing proper with this group.

I think we kind of beat around the bush last week about this possibility and a possibility to me and I sensed it. It's like it just seemed to be a bad fit. It was like a disconnect, and I think they finally decided, Okay, we got to do something. We the last two road games, Zekiel Elliott ran the ball thirty five times for eighty eight yards. Something one working up front. They've Dak Prescott has been sacked twenty

three times. Only four teams in the league have given up more sacks going into this past weekend, and three of them were Buffalo, San Francisco and the Giants, and those teams, Buffalo has the most wins of all those three teams two. The fourth team was Houston, and I believe they suffered seven sacks in one game before the Cowboys played him. So the average going into week eight of the season, where teams were suffering sixteen point three sacks to that point, Cowboys giving up twenty three and

they still got nine games to play. Figured out the pace is fifty. Yeah, So I just think something had to change up front. The guys were not playing, and I'll just use Laylee Collins as an example. I know Travis Frederick's not there, and I understand Joe Looney is not Travis Frederick, and I understand about the rookie, but Laal Collins was looking like he was getting it last year the second half at right tackle, and I think

he regressed. Now why he grew regressed, I don't know, but I think obviously they were looking for reasons why this offense wasn't functioning. They brought into R Cooper and then they made the change on the offensive line and Frankly, I thought from the beginning that Mark Colombo should have gotten the job. I thought he looked the part, he sounded the part I think the players reacted to him.

And the fact they brought in hud It's like, Okay, Colombo's never had the room by himself, and maybe he just needed a sounding board to bring in a guy that you've been around for thirteen years over two different stints. So and it wasn't like they woke up Monday morning and said, oh, let's do this, right, HUD's already here yea, yeah, he was here yesterday. And we'll talk more about Hudson here and just here just a second, okay, Brian, I want to get your thoughts on the change. But also

you've have a unique attire today. Yeah, just before we get started, though, I know we have a lot of fans in the UK and you know, tragedy happened for one of our We have a lot of fans in Leicester City, in London, all over Europe really, but I just wanted us to know that, you know, we're thinking

with our English side in Leicester City. You know, they tragically lost their owner in a helicopter crash and you know, Dan Turner is one of our great friends over there who you know, we've really got to know, and he's a long time Leicester City fan, and I just wanted to know that all of us here we're thinking of you guys. We love all you guys over there, and we're sorry about your loss. So today I'll honor you with the scarf and and hope that this getch you

guys through a little bit. And the sixty year old owner of the team was one of one of five people on board the aircraft when it burst into flames. If you're crashing in a parking lot next to King Powers Stadium, I think after their match on Saturday, Yeah, a statement described the chairman as a man of kindness, of generosity, a man whose life was defined by the love he devoted to his family and those he so

successfully led. I'm not about to try to pronounce. It's very difficult online, but yeah, if, yeah, if you go on line and listen to and read the story about Leicester City and this is a team that was five thousand to one to win the Premiere Championship, Premier League Championship, and they did it a couple of years ago. It's a it's a great story, greatest underdog story history of traditional sports, honestly, but they're they're going through some tough

times right now with this loss. So we just want to let everybody know here with you. Yeah, we're all thinking about you over there, and that's why we're doing this. That's why were my shirt. I didn't think of it now, it just Dandy gave me one when we went over there, says Mickey on the back too. It does really where tomorrow great we can kit um my thoughts on this, and I think Micky hit the nail on the head. I think Rob is very good with his assessment as well.

Now it's on the players. This is this is really on the players that you know, we've we've talked about throughout though that that they need to play better as as an offensive line. They don't need to give up hits, they don't need to give up pressures, they don't need to give up sacks. They need to do better in the running games. So Mark Colombo, I think we'll come in and do an outstanding job. I think he's prepared. I think he's ready. I think he has the respect

in that room. I like them bring in Hudson. How long time guy Hudd will be a great sounding board like Mickey's talking about. Had a chance to visit with him yesterday. He's excited about being back and back and potentially helping out here any way that he can. But now this is on As Rob said, the last two years, this team on the offensive line has had two different offensive line coaches. Okay, you know you don't do that unless you know you talk about what's going on. Is

there a fit? Is that the fact the players aren't responding? You know? I think now that to me, there's really not any excuse. There's not any excuse. You know, Mark Colombo will get them prepared. Hudd will get them prepared. But now it's on Lyle Collins to be better. It is on Smithy Smith to be better. It's on Da Martin to be better. This group is a very capable group. They just have not played like a capable group right now.

And I think that's the biggest problem I have. You can change out the coach, you don't always get to change out the players. I don't know if you necessarily want to change out these players from what we've seen in past. But I will put the ball now in

their court. They have got to find a way these last nine weeks or so to play better as a unit, find a way to protect the quarterback, run the football better, and get this offense going to the level it needs to play at so that they can make some type of a run for the division and then get into the playoffs. Because from a talent standpoint, there's a lot of teams in the NFL that would take this this group this talent, no question. But you know, Brian said

it again, Frank Paula got fired last year. Really for those last eight games of the season, right, Dak got sacked. You know, Mickey pointed out the stats, thirty two sacks for Dak last year. I think twenty two were in the final eight games. And now you've got a seven game stretch that's very s He's just not getting enough protection and uh and when Zeke is not is kind of on again, off again home road. Look, something has to change because everything, the foundation of this offense is

what they do upfront. And that's why partly why they kind of went with a committee at wide receiver to start, because I think they felt like that, well, we can control the line of scrimmage. Yes, it hasn't happened, at least not consistently, and again not in those four losses they've had away from home. You know, um, and I

agree with what all of you are saying. Colombo with a candidate for the job back in the spring, and I think one of the big things is recognizing quickly that Okay, you made a mistake or whatever it might however you want to term it, and go ahead and make the move. And maybe they're making this move in time to salvage what's going on. I think Nicky's absolutely right.

I thought it was a very odd fit considering that, yeahs is what is Paul Alexander in his history and Incinnati as far as his coaching technique and one of them when everybody talks about what his the way the hand placement thing was like high hand, low hand. You know, they talk about zone blocking, power blocking, they talk about all the different things that the changes that they've had

to make. They you know, this this one to me and I need to dig a little bit further, but you know, I felt like that that Jason's brother John coach with Paul Alexander while they while he was at Cincinnati and so you know, there's probably probably a connection there as far as what's going on. So you know, I was I was hopeful that Mark was going to get this job. And I'm not looking at this as hindsight.

I'm just thinking. I was trying to think of how do you keep consistency, how do you keep and so to come in and say, okay, and Mickey's right about Lyle Collins. His his technique has gotten worse from last year and I think a lot of it, and and talking to a couple of players about it as well, they were saying, the worst thing that could have happened to Lyle Collins as they changed coaches, that's the worst thing that could have happened him because now he was

having to think everything out, rethink it again. And even Paul Alexander, if you go back and listen to his interview, he's like, well, some guys get it and some guys haven't got it. I think that interview last week to me, if you go back and watch it on Dallas Cowboys

dot Com, I think it's very telling. I think it's very telling that that, you know, and I'm not saying he's going to rip his offensive line and say oh, this and that, and you know, we have to do this and do that, and you know Tyrn Smith's gradeni. I don't think you need to be a former NFL scout or a writer or a TV man or anything to see this offensive line wasn't playing well enough, just wasn't. And you know, for him to stand up there and say, oh, no,

everything is okay. Yeah, it's kind of a big shoulder shrug. Yeah, it's it's like, well, you know what they I just teach, that's all I do. No, you're more than that. You're more than that, you know, and find a way to get this This group right here is at one time was one of the top five lines in the league, and right now they're not. They're not that and this team and if you listen to the owner general manager talk this morning, he expects a lot from this offensive line.

He expects the way that he has, the way he used resources to get them, and the way the resources he's used to pay them. He expects a lot. And if it's not living up to his standards, then by all means, make this change. But I agree with Mickey though it was a very very bad fit to begin with, because I think it compromised some of the development of the guys you had that you were counting on. One more stat that, Mickey, I don't know if you pointed

this one out. Dack's rookie year twenty five sacks the entire season, and again, every sack that he takes is not solely on the offensive line. Sometimes he's holding the ball too long, yea, but or guy's not getting open. Yeah, there you go, covers sack or whatever. But that's that's indicative of the shift we've seen with this old line since twenty sixteen, when this was a dominant offense. See, this is all new to us. I think. I think this is new because we didn't expect and I'm sorry

I shouldn't speak for everybody. This is new to me because I didn't expect this offensive line to have the struggles that's having. I didn't expect them to go out there and be the Oh, wait, they're giving up pressure, or they're not running the ball. Oh they're not. You know, I didn't expect it. I expected, you know, with the loss with Travis Fredick, I was worried. I'm not gonna sit here and act like I wasn't. I was worried help. But Joe Looney has not been the problem. Joe Looney

hasn't been the prompt. But as a group, they have not played as well as I thought that they would play. And I think that I think that's why you make the change. I think that's why the front office said, no, we need better from this group. And if it means Mark Colombo coming in here and saying, all right, listen, guys, I'm gonna try and do this for you. I'm gonna try and help you with technique. I'm gonna try and

get you better. We're gonna think about things. We're gonna go back to some of the things that were good at you know. It's it's like Paul Oxander maybe said, hey, I want you guys to do it this way. For twenty four years he did it that way, you know, but maybe that doesn't work. Well. Obviously it doesn't work with this group because the man lost his job, you know. And I didn't point it out, but in seven games, the quarterback has also been hit forty six times. Yeah,

so let's do the math on that. They're not even halfway through the season. He's on pace to get hit a hundred times. Seriously, something's wrong. And I agree with with Brian that you know, the guy's got to play better. But maybe there's a reason why they're not playing so aggressively. And you know how many times have we seen you know, I mean, Tyron Smith is not going to be perfect, but he's close to it, and he's getting beat off the line of scrimmage, like he's thinking instead of just

reacting and playing. And I just I don't know, I you know what. And the other thing that's going to help out also is having Travis Frederick. They're still there helping in practice. Yeah, because those guys he was their guy, right, he was the leader of the band, and he's still there helping. And maybe he has a bigger voice now, yeah with Colombo there, and maybe he feels like he can say more. I don't know if these guys would

admit it, but there might be some relief here. Yeah, yeah, I mean maybe they might be in their mind there might you know, Buddy will probably say the right thing, but but deep down inside, when they all get together for a state dinner, they'll say, you know what, it is on us, but you know what, let's let's let's listen to Mark let's figure out. You know, Mark is a hard nosed guy, and I just see I see him bringing a different attitude to this. I love watching

I love watching Mark coach. I really just fourth year, fourth year on the staff here. He was hired as a coach here in twenty fifteen. He was here throughout the twenty sixteen scouting before that too. Yeah, and uh, you know we forgot about the scouting. Yeah, so you know. And the good thing is, normally it's very hard for a player to step off the field and into a coaching routine because you were buddy and now you're in charge.

But he's had enough time span. But I mean when he last played till now, and I think that, you know, you gained some respect. But it's almost like he did an internship. Well, he didn't play with any of these guys except for Tyran for maybe a year, maybe tyrantson his last year. No, I don't even think that twenty eleven, think he left left was his last year here. His last year playing was with the Dolphins in twenty eleven,

which would have been Tyrant's first year here. So he did scouting now, but he was he did play four Hudson Holk here. Yeah, right, So I just think I just think it's a better fit. Well, I think the room will be more Mickey's nailed it here. No, No, he's right, what's more relaxed? I don't know. That's the feeling you get around here after this move was made. However, the question I have and you played offensive line, is like,

not very well, well you talked about consistency. Yeah, Do they just say scrap what you've learned in the last six months and say, let's go back to what we used to do. Can you do that on the fly? I mean, how how does that transition work? You know? I think I think you have one rookie guy. You have one rookie there left guard that probably will be a little bit shell shock to begin with. His heads

are going to be swimming. But but he's also the good thing about this is Mark Colombo has been around these guys, so they they that he knows their deficiencies. You know, he knows Okay, they they're good at this, they're good at this. Okay, they're bad at this. They're bad at this. They're bad. He could at least work on the things, but scrap Yeah, I think that I think that you have to say listen, like the hand yet, listen, We're gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna teach you back at

Mickey's talking about. I'm gonna get you back to malling, guys, I'm gonna get you back to that two hand punch hands in side control feet all that. You know, That's where I think there's some pride in this group too. You know, I think I think this group is also looking at each other and saying, Okay, we just got coach fired, and say what you want. I mean, their play ultimately was not good enough for the owner and

general manager. They had to make a decision or make a choice, and they made the choice to get rid of the coach. And that's on the players. And that is ultimately on the players. Now we talked about fits and all that stuff, but you know that that is a group they have to and hopefully they see this as an opportunity like okay, breath of fresh air, Mark in the room, Hud helping out. Oh this ought to be interesting. Now let's go out and play some football.

If they don't do that, this season won't be good enough. This season will not be good enough. This this team will go on its offensive line. That's this is where it's like to going to get in a receiver. It's just like going to get in a receiver. The owner is trying to help the quarterback. He's trying to help the offense. He's trying to help the defense. Now he's trying to help the offensive line. He's trying to say, Okay, I understand, I get it. We're not playing well enough.

My assessment is not playing well enough because of the offensive line coach. I'm changing that guy out. He's doing everything he can to get this team in a position to compete, and if it's good enough, we'll see it. If it's not, then the evaluation starts at the end of the year. A quote from Jerry Jones from his radio show This Morning on the Fan, You're on the spot a little bit when either playing or coaching our offensive line, because that's an area we want to be

a symbol of what this team is about. I'd say after seven games, we weren't getting the job done to the standard. Yeah, that's what Jerry said, and flat and you know what could have said that after week three, Week four, it was obvious. Yeah, everybody wanted to come up with a narrative that the quarterback can't read the field, the quarterback can't throw straight. You know, you gotta go for it on fourth and one in Houston because this team is built on the offensive line. The offensive line

is the strength of the team. Well, the offensive line wouldn't get it was not right, and you know, the offensive coordinator suddenly doesn't know how to call plays. Well, the whole thing starts right there. And everybody avoided that. No one want to talk about then we didn't want to believe that. Yeah, I think that's I know, I didn't want to believe. There was too many people coming up with other stuff when you saw the root of the evil, and it was the offensive line not playing

to the level we've been used to seeing. And the other thing. I don't know how long this is in play, this decision they made back dating back to last week, but the Washington game had to be the trigger for this, in large part because it's not just the past protection. It's I think Zeke's yards per carret's the second lowest he's had in his entire career, and against thirteen yards on ten carries. Yeah, and it's not all on him.

I mean, I think and I didn't see a ton of you know, loading the box all the time either. I just think they got and Jason Garrett spoke to it last week. The communication upfront was better. They just got beat up front by a really good defensive line, and it's like, okay, something's got a change. Several several Basically they were chump plays on offense got eliminated because of holding better old penalties as well. That was huge.

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This isn't still an optional day for the players to come up here and they officially get back to work tomorrow. Of course, they got a longer week this week at being a Monday night game tomorrow, so Wednesday will be like a Tuesday, Thursday will be like a Wednesday, and on and on. Another thing on the coaching staff change.

There were so many changes made on the coaching staff and back in the January February the decision to hire Paul Alexander Overmark Colombo, Jason Garrett and everyone involved in the hiring process. There were promotions made from within the staff as well, Ben Bloom the linebackers coach. Yeah, uh, Kellen Moore, I mean Quinn, Yeah, Keith Quinn exactly. It

gets promoted a special teams coordination. So it's not like this this staff or the the hierarchy here was immune from they want to hire from within two But they looked at Paul Alexander's got twenty four years experience at Cincinnati and Mark Colombo with three years experience as a coach, and they decided to make that move. And they have quickly discovered sometimes this coaching higher stuff doesn't work. Look what that's going on in Cleveland right now exactly, and

that's a head head coach, right. The only thing that'll probably is, yeah, you know, you make changes on the coaching staff. Okay, well you you only have available what's out there at that time. Sure, so there there are people that you may want to hire, but they're under contract with other teams and so there's a limited inventory of candidates. I'll say this, I'm gonna I'll ask you this question, Bill, because you've been in the broadcasting world

for a long time. Are there other broadcasters, young broadcasters you look at that you would like to work at work with sure. I mean, do you have an idea? Yeah? See, that's that's my That's something that I always myself when I was involved. I took a great deal of pride in knowing who the guys were around the league and no one scouts and knowing minorities and knowing you know, I've had people. I've had people asked me from other

teams because I do. And I'm not trying to brag or pat myself on the back, but I've had Really, I'm gonna be honest. Jeff Lourie knew nothing about Andy Reid until I told him about Andy Reid. He knew nothing about Andy Reid. I'd worked with Andy Reid, you know, I'd known Andy Reid for a long time. I knew what kind of coach he was, so I mean, that was an easy one for me. Andy was a quarterback coach,

tied inline coach, all that stuff. You know, He's a guy that deserved an opportunity to be a head coach. And you look, but I think that we all in our profession to have people in mind, you know, and shame on them if they didn't have, you know, a guy, there are two that they said, you know what, and you're right, guys are under contract and stuff, but they're also opportunities, you know. I remember John Harbaugh was a special team's coach at you were of Indiana when we

got him as a special teams coach in Philadelphia. I mean, there's guys. You have lists of guys you'd like to work with, and I'd like to hope that they had the same kind of thing going here. They just made a mistake, like Mickey was saying, with the fit and and I agree with him one hundred percent that to me, was not a good fit for this organization. I've never understood whether it's a college football, high school of whatever

it is. Yeah, if you're in a position to make hires, okay, right, and you have to anticipate that you're a head coach or you're, in this case an offensive line coach, right, they make a move to and you need to have a handful of candidates that you these are guys that I would want, and so you're always looking for that those type people out there. I've never understood the search committees and people will throw and yeah, you're right, if if an athletic director has to hire a search committee,

he doesn't need to be exactly. He doesn't need to be your ad because his responsibility his responsibility. But what does will McClay always have? He has a short list for personnel roster wise, yea, something happens to abc D exactly whether and that's whether his running back gets hurt or his third string tackle offensive tackle gets hurt. He's got to have a list of guys or he loses his Midwest scout. That's right, you know you got the list,

and that's why he brings in guys for workouts. Last week. Everybody, well, why didn't they Why didn't they hire these guys or why they sign them? Yeah, it's like, well, okay, but when I'm doing my research, you know, I've always uh god, I wish I can tell you how many sports editors I've had over in the years, and they've changed, right, and the new guy comes in and and he wants all his own people. Yeah, Well, the key thing is can you come in and take what you get, becau

as you don't always get your own people right. You know, they're maybe they don't want to move, maybe they don't they don't like you as much as you like them. Yeah that's fair. No, But you got to work with what you got. You can't just you know, and I think that's always important. Now, just rab boy, are you laughing? I just there as a sports editor. Two you didn't like so much, I can give you about five or six. The shorter list would be the ones that really knew

what they were doing over the years. That's right, all right? Alan is not Ra You're next up here on Talking Cowboys. Hello, Alan, Good morning, gentlemen. Thanks for taking my call. I want to make a comment or two and then ask a question,

and I guess the couple of comments are. I do commend the Cowboy organization for trying to address the different issues that we are all concerned about about why the offense hasn't been functioning as it should, and to go out and get a number one receiver to now address the offensive line and the way that they're doing. I'm happy about that as a fan that they're taking action.

But my question is and about Amari Cooper. I just want to say that I think the whether that's a great decision or a bad decision is going to be like any other draft pick. If we consider him a number one draft pick, a number four pick in the draft, If he performs like a number four pick in the first round, I think we'll all be happy that we got a wide receiver at number four, whether that pick

came this year or three years ago. If he doesn't perform like that number one pick, I think we're all going to be upset that we don't have a number one draft choice next year. But my question is about I need your guys expert opinion on what you're seeing about Dak Prescott. If we come back to the quarterback, they've addressed the offensive line. Now they're addressing the receivers when it comes to the quarterback play. And Mickey asked

that question a couple of times. You know, what's the difference between Dak Prescott now and through the first year and a half of his career? And I know, when I go back, I think about his decision making in the pocket. Ever since that middle of the year, ever since that Atlanta game and some other games, he definitely seemed to be from the casual fans perception, quite rattled.

And when he gets back in the pocket and the pressure starts coming in around him, this is when it looks to me like he's really not performing like an NFL quarterback needs to And the question that Brian, you watch so much tape, what I'm wondering is do you see a guy who isn't making NFL quarterback decisions that you need to be able to do under pressure or is it more that he's rattled that he is just uncomfortable and looking around too much and he can't find

the open receivers. And that's what I can tell, sit and get home from my couch. What the bigger problem there is? So I would really love to hear your opinion on that. All right, thanks, Alan. I think the owner answered one of your questions why he's looking around if guys aren't immediately open, I mean, they wouldn't have gone and spent a first round pick on a wide receiver.

And and you know the other thing, would they have just gotten any receiver or was this something they thought they could take advantage of, Like if Amari Cooper wasn't available, were they traded for somebody else? Thomas, Yeah, yeah, thirty one years old. Yeah, I wouldn't given up a first round. So the question is did they see something they thought they could take advantage of for not only now but the future, that maybe he was good enough and this

is my guy, he's twenty four years old. Or would they have traded for a Larry Fitzgerald, Not that he was available or will be available, but would you have done that a guy that as at the end of his career. So I think they just saw an opportunity to try to take advantage of, not necessarily going, oh my god, I gotta have somebody and give up a first round pick. I think it had to availability and need had to coincide, and the skill set was a fit for what they needed. But there's a reason why

the guy's looking around in the pocket, right yeah and rattle. Well, yeah, if you got hit forty six times and taken down twenty three times, do the math, that's seventy that's seventy hits on your quarterback. That's way too many. I actually give him credit for hanging in there and trying to make plays when he's getting hit a lot. You know,

this last game was an example. He kept hanging in there, and the protection finally kind of cleared up those last two drives in old Lo and behold, they're in position to go tie the game. That's why that stupid next gen stat is bs about. Oh he's had the best protection. He gets three point zero zero or whatever seconds. Well, the reason is is because he's got to hang in there for forever loving time just to try to get

a pass off to somebody. What's his biggest fault? If you had to just pick one, holds the ball too long? All the real good? Why is he holding the ball too long? Now, we just went to his instincts, his instincts, so he didn't have he he had instincts in a rookie year, and he had instincts his first eight games last year, and suddenly those instincts have gone away. No, that was as big as fault coming out of school was that he held the ball too long thirteen and three.

So it was the fourth round pick thirteen and three. I I understand that. No, but you can overcome it. Bill, What do you got? I mean, what's this? What do you if you had to if you? I mean, if you I mean, I'm not trying to blast the guy. I'm just saying if we could work on one thing, you know, And and and Mickey's right that the guy he's I give him in Rob you're right too, I give the guy credit. There's there should be a lot more secks. How many he's escaped a lot of bad situation.

He's he's perfected that spin move he have, he's he's gone. I'm trying to get thrown from different platforms. Maybe you know, he's he's. Yeah. He seems to be the type that he needs to have his feet. He has to have the proper technique in order to throw accurate passes, and so he needs a clean pocket, okay, and so it helps ninety eight percent, right exactly? I mean yeah, I mean we saw it even in his rookie year. Remember the game against the Eagles in mid season. He was

not sharp and he let him back in that game. Sure, but he was able to and it leads to one of his greatest strengths his competitiveness. His competitiveness, and he will work at it too. He's got tremendous desires and there's no question at that. But it is a desire and a willingness in practice to work on his his put placement and so forth, you know, and his technique

in order to correct an issue. But he's not he doesn't seem to me to be a natural passer passer, you know, in a lot of ways, I like, for instance, it's not it's not fair to compare toive mahomes, but you see, the home is not a natural pastor. Though if you look like the way he he's more of a street ball guy. He is a very street ball game, you know, yea, and Dak is not so much, although I'm seeing signs it. I think he's improving along those lines.

And even against Washington, I thought that that was one of his better games as far as being able to throw off different platforms and so forth. And are we just asking him to do something he just might not be capable of doing. But again, I think he's improven at it. Yeah, it kind of gets back to what Garrett was talking about. Yeah, I go back to what you said before, and I agree with you. I don't expect Dak to be a three hundred yard passers. I

don't think that every game. Think. I think what worked in twenty sixteen is what Bounced needs to work for. But you know, you could say that about, like you said, the quarterbacks in the league. There's a small handful of guys, and we watched a few of them the other day. They're in the bye week. Just put it on my shoulder. I'll do it, you know, I think and maybe some of this too is Wilson right now, that's another one. Yeah, Dak's in that group that you know, you need to

support and casts around you. And I don't know if that's necessarily a huge criticism, that's just that's just kind of a fact for most quarterbacks in the NFL. Jim Jim McMahon won a Super Bowl. Yeah, he was not a pure passer, right, he was kind of was my next point where he's kind of yeah, you know, Alex Smith is that's one of his greatest trips time and too. I don't think he's thrown for over two hundred yards the last many weeks, but he's won in the league.

Oh yeah, and a lot of games. Yeah yeah, I mean we last week we were we were talking about he's like the third winning is quarterback in the regular season since twenty twelve in the league. I think this guy depends on so much around him. I just think that's the I think that's the biggest thing. I think that's why the owner of general manager did what he did to try and get the receiver, because he knows how dependent this quarterback is. That the quarterback's not going

to be technique sound. You know, he's gonna have his fault standing in the pocket and not seeing everything and stuff like that. He needs help. He needs guys that can get open. So who doesn't. No, I'm saying though, him more than others, him more than others. Go back and watch the documentary we did on Dak Prescott. We have the war room footage of the conversation that they were having when they drafted him, and the conversation was how is he Jerry asked Jason, how is he different

than these other quarterbacks? And he said the difference between him and Jason said, the difference between him and Jared Goff is Jared Goff is about a second and a half faster in his release in the NFL. That's a big deal. And then Jerry asked, well, how do we compensate for that? And then he said, whoa, we have a running game. We do this play action stuff, like we look at what Caroline is doing with Cam Newton and some of these other running quarterbacks, and that'll be

our plan. And then Jerry's like, let's do it. So that was the plan all along. It was for him to utilize him in other ways. Other than just be a pocket passer. Very good, King Garrison. Let's go back and watch that. That's good. Yeah, check it out. Oh yeah I did. Yeah, check it out the documentary. Now, I just I just you know, I'm kind of I'm just kind of feel like he is what he is. I think he's always going to work hard. I think

he's always going to compete. I think he's gonna make some incredible plays with his feet and you know, him throwing on the move. But maybe we're asking him to be something that he's not. Well, think think about it. How many guys in the league have that the quick release of a Jared Goff or an Aaron Rodgers or a Drew Brees. I mean, how many of Tom Brady?

I mean, how many of those are there in the league. Well, think about even with a quick release, how do you keep Drew Brees from throwing for two hundred yards Minnesota Vikings through for one hundred and something. Ye first time in like one hundred years. How did the Cowboys when they beat New Orleans, how did they beat him? Yeah, they beat up Drew. They breed up Drew Brees. Right, that's the key. So if you keep a clean pocket, all these little faults go away. Yeah right, Yeah, I

mean it's pretty simple. You know, we don't have to come up with stuff. Yeah, everybody thinks Eli Manning's done, and you know he's down. He's through three yards. I got beat. He's on the downslope of his career. Obviously he's approaching forty years old. But if he had more protection with those weapons, I think he might be there'd be an entirely different narrative in New York. Right now, what did he get sacked Sunday? Was like five or

six times? He threw for three hundred yards. Washington Howard was Jared Goff before they redid their offensive line. Well, they got changed Curly and a bunch of receivers, but they also got Andrew Whitworth at left tack. Yeah, they went out and they went out and changed that all up. They got they got rid of Jeff Fisher, which really helped. Yeah, all right, we continue on talking cowboys. In a moment, You're like, I mean, if you have a thing, then

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the conference champions. Get their tickets now. Don com the official ticketing provider of AT and T Stadium, who will play Oklahoma and Harlington on December first. It should it should be part of I'm setting up for a Texas Tech upset over this Saturday. We're having a party at our house. Wife is a Texas Tech grad. A nephew who lives here's a tech grad. And I've got two daughters who went to OU. And so we're gonna have a watching party. You guys got like a wrestling ring.

We got a big green egg. We're gonna have a pig up party on the big Green Egg on Saturday to watch the game. Ye better chance of losing to Tech or Oklahoma State or West Virginia or West Virginia. I don't worry about West Virginia. I worst Virginia's back. You worry about West Oklahoma State. I'd worry about Okahoma State, Bedlam's it's in Norman. That didn't matter. You guys lost to Iowa State and Norma. Last year, Tyree Hill in Oklahoma State in Norman when Bob Stoops came a second

time to him, Yeah you remember that. I remember? Oh you had a oh you had? They punted. It's like the last minute of the game. Two stupid pills in a cup of Gator egg. They they were at the OSU forty yard line, punted and Tyreek Hill at a fair catch at like the ten yard line. There was a running into the kicker call that did not give him a first down, and Bob Stoops elected to kick again to Tyreek Hill and he ran it back ninety yards for a touchdown. Big game, Bobs, big game he did.

So what did I heard discussion? What did Texas Tech do in like punt formation or field goal formation? They ran some trick play on Texas. They haven't played Texas yet. Now Oklahoma State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma State. And that's what caused the no no, What happened at the end of the game. Punted, they ran motion? What did they do? They? Oh, yeah, that's right. What they set off? They set up in punt formation and then they and no one was down

in a three point stance. Otherwise it would have been a penalty automatically, I mean, none of the offense, not none of the offensive simon. But what they did They then all rushed to the line of scrimmage like they were going to run a play. And um they said it was in the in the official and so Texas player, I guess, jump jumped, and um the officials said it

was a legal play. But what Texas contended was the right guard for OSU made a move simulating a snap whatever he made, he moved to his left when all that happened. And so once again it's officials. Mickey know better, and so it should not have been it should have been a false start. It should have been a false start. False Texas got screwed on the play and then Osu I think maybe scored on that possession. Whatever. Yeah, so Tom Herman went ballistic more than one time in that game.

That's better than the coaches getting at each other. Yeah, yeah, all right, We've got Palmer in Georgia. Next up, I'm talking cowboys. Hello Palmer, Hello, gentlemen, how are you great? Good? Hey, here's I'm a Chasmal observer. Right, but here's my stuff on Dak Prescott. I've owned restaurants for years, and with hiring people and training people, one thing you have to have in the restaurant business is a sense of urgency. And I've come to find out the hard way urgency

is not something you can train. And I would assume that anticipation is not something you can train either. I think you have anticipation in urgency or you don't. And if you look at Dak Prescott's throwing charts, you don't see anything in the middle. There's no crossing route, there's nothing, no deep end slants, and that's Brian. Isn't that anticipation to be able to throw the ball twenty twenty five yards to a receiver in the middle of the field.

Don't you have to anticipate the throw? Yeah, you do, but you also have to anticipate when the guy makes his break. There's going to be some separation there, understood, And I'm really excited that we have Cooper because we're about to find that out right. Sure, absolutely, If you get to this game and you see separation there, but you don't see the accurate and the anticipation, then then you've then you've done your your due diligence. You now

figured that out. And then my next question with with Colombo is last the last game against Washington, I saw one top sweep the whole game to Zekiel and went into the boundary. Yeah, I went to the boundary. Are we going to see more wide runs, some top sweeps, hopefully to the white side? And with that, I'll get off and listen. I appreciate all you guys. Do want some holding calls shop block? Do you want tight ends getting compressed? You know? That was another problem that they had.

If you if you can't capture the edge, it's hard to run the ball on the edge. And that's been a little bit of an issue. But do have lineman that can get out in space? You do. They were better on the move. They are better on the move, There's no question about that. But remember what kind of def defense Washington plays. Three to four, they got five guys on the line of scrimmage, big defensive ends. It's hard to get on the outside. Yeah, it was. It was.

I gotta give Preston Smith and and Carrying a lot of credit. You know, they they do. You know, those are two really good players. We knew that going into the game. You know, this challenge this week will be just as you know, just the same, you know, with with with what Tennessee presents this journal Casey who plays like as a defensive tackle. He's just as disruptive as any guys I've seen this year. So most underrated players in the league, there's no question about that, no question

about that. Derek Morgan's a good player. I mean, they've got some guys up front. The Cowboys are going to have their hands full. You know, if they don't block this front, Brian or Rock Poe is part of this, uh, this team. So yeah, it's gonna be about they're gonna have to find a way to get some push, especially if they're gonna run the ball on the edges, and a little bit, not a little bit. A lot of it has to do with the way that the tackles and the tight ends have have handled that right now.

It just hasn't been good enough. And you know, we've we've I shouldn't say. It seems like to me that on the road again, they've had the more problems running the football than they have at home. We've seen them run the ball in the edges with some success. I felt like in the Lions game they had some success running the football. I felt like in the Jacksonville game they had some success running the ball in the edge. But when they've gone on the road, it just has

not materialized like it needs to. And a lot of it has to do with what's going on as a point of attack blocking. Okay, does it have to do with the opponent opponent's good, no question. Yeah, that's what I'm all right, I'm hearing this this excuse whatever it is that they're playing on the road and it's different whatever, It's not that different. No, the opponent's been very very

good defensive. The defensive they played if have been better, and everybody thought Jacksonville was it right, Well they're still did they lose, They're not. They did, they did. Jacksonville's defense was very good going in this game. They still have a good personnel, and to me, that gives that's impressive what they were able to do. I'm giving them credit for it, but I'm just saying that that kind

of debunks the trend. For me, it's all about who they're facing on the road, because I still am very impressed with what they did against Jacksonville. I don't, I don't. I don't can't put my finger on why it's different on the road. I really don't. Because crowd noise. You know, the run game is supposed to travel, you know, it's really not supposed to be that much. Yeah, you know, um so if the other guys are better than you, sometimes it doesn't travel. I think they took advantage of

Jacksonville's aggressiveness on defense. I thought that's what they needed to do going into the game. We talked about that. I felt like they needed to take advantage of their aggressives and the lighter linebackers for sure, right, Yeah, and they were able to do that. Good for them. You gotta win. It was like everybody everybody was, you know, kind of well not everybody but Drew Locke was getting

sacked by Kentucky. Yeah. Well, guess who was doing Guess who was doing the don't start, guess who was in the sacking. The guy from Kentucky that's leading the SEC in sacks. Yeah, he got two. There's a reason why he gives us a name. I can't remember the guy's name. I've seen that I got to help the draft show, and he's Mickey's right. Though. Mickey's right about the player. Guy's pretty good. I haven't seen him yet. I've watched several players, but I haven't seen this Kentucky defensive end

that's been outstanding. I don't know if he's all right. Named two Kentucky football players who have made it in the NFL Randall Cobb, but I'll give you one. Yeah, who's another one who's a high draft pick still still plays in the in the NFL. No, it's still plays in the NFL. Antonio, who's an edge Rusher, Walter McCarty, bud Dupree Dupre. Yeah, yeah, that's right, So they're the next bud Dupree Kentucky. Yeah. Okay, all right, let's go

to Joe Joe in Maryland. You're next up. I'm talking Cowboys, Joe. How's it going, guy? Um. I was at the game and landover and I had a front row view of seeing our quarterback run for his life. I'm also we'll be at the game this Monday night in Dallas, so I'm really excited to come down. Last time I got to meet Mickey. Hopefully I can get to meet mister Brian brought us. But to uh get to my point,

I really like to move with Amari Cooper. But on all of the shows and all of these social media, it seems to be like everyone thinks that our offense is a run first offense, which I think is focus because we no longer have that two thousand and sixteen offensive line. This offensive line is terrible. Besides Zack Martin, I would like to see it get back to similar to the twenty fourteen, which was more balanced, where you had an eighteen hundred yard rusher man wide receiver on

the on the edge. So I was wondering if you guys think that was adding Cooper or that the Cowboys will be more more frequently able to throw it down the field and get some heat off the Z And I'll hang up and listen and hopefully I get to see all you guys on Monday night. Thank you. All right, Joe, We'll look for you. How do you think defenses are going to play them? Cooper again? A manam you know what I need to feel. I need to go back and really study this and see and we talk about

how really stacked. I think the linebackers have been playing tighter. I think that safeties have been playing near the line of scrimmage. You know, if you're a Cowboy fan and the team, you got to hope that you can back some people out of there. But you got to prove to them you can make some throws, right, you know you gotta And I know you were talking about just air the damn thing out and go for it. I'm

with you on that. I'm also though the previous the call before was talking about the end routes and the cuts and things like that. Yeah, I'm all for if you can get the ball down the middle of the field. I think that would be I think that would be very helpful. But I also think that watching Tennessee play, they really struggle when they play his zone defense. They give up some big plays. When they play zone, they give up some big plays. Now I'll tell you another

thing they give up. They give up some long passes playing man. People have taken shot me. In the last three games Chargers Baltimore Philly those games I watched, every team has taken a shot down the field and hit a play. The Chargers opened the game in London with the pass that was for a touchdown on a deep on a deep ball, you know, against a Dory Jackson. So this team is going to offer the opportunity to make some plays down the field. Are you good enough

to do it? That's the question you have to And if they're not, then it's going to be another one of those tight games. It's gonna come down to the bitter end. But this team will allow you to make some plays. And I think that Amari Cooper can make some plays. You know, if you go back and watch this guy play against Tennessee last year when they opened the season, he made plays a lot of the same eyes out here in coverage. Malcolm Butler's a little bit different.

He's from New England. But still, I mean, they've got to prove to people they can complete some passes before they do anything. Have you liked taking a close look at Tennessee's defense? How do they play their corners? They can say they when they play zone, they're they're a disaster. Who's playing? They've used a lot of Yeah, they've used a lot of different Dory Jackson has been off and on as a starter, Logan Ryan has been off and on as a player there, and Butler's been playing as well.

They've got an They've got a guy they're safety. Kevin Bayard is good. He said he's a good player. And you know they got Kenny Veakaro now yeah, and he has not been playing. He's been banged up. They've been using they've been using Kendrick Lewis at safety in his spot, and he hasn't been very good. There's some places to be made against this group. You just got to go out there and make some plays against these guys. In my opinion, If you don't, then, like I said, get

ready for a nineteen to seventeen game. Trying to drive the ball to kick a field goal to win the damn thing. Who do they play in the slot? The slot will be Jackson's been playing in the slot because Butler, Butler and U Ryan Logan Ryan had been playing and then Jackson was the starter. He's against the but against the Chargers, he was the slot player. Dorry Jackson was

a slot player. And he's a really quick footed guy, and he's kind of a little bit of a gambler, and the way he plays, he will pick off some passes, but he will also miss some place too. But every team that I watched has opened the game with a shot down the field against this guys. And it started

against Philadelphia. And I wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys immediately opened this thing up and take a shot down the field to see they did it against the Michael Gallop both at Gallop and let get vertical on and then use and use Cooper the way you need to use Cooper inside and and and and you know, hit some play. They just need to get some confidence that they could throw the ball successfully down the field. And this,

hopefully Amari Cooper brings that to this group. Hopefully Mickey's offensive line can get a little bit better protection, so you guys not getting hit in the face as he's throwing the ball. They're at home. All's well, all's well, at home, calling to w here in the gut, feeling already, Yeah, why not? Okay? The early prediction by Rob Phillips and y'all are gonna enjoy talking about the big trade you're gonna make this afternoon tomorrow here on talking, Oh boys, right,

know something well, you know o'clock this afternoon. See they hear about that big on Twitter. You know now something forth see you tomorrow, Go take a shower. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.