Talkin' Cowboys: What’s Next On Defense?

frist Go. Glad you're with us. Everybody. Hope you had a fantastic weekend, because we're about to make your Monday a little bit better by talking some Cowboys. Is March Madness, of course still around for a couple of days in the basketball world, but the NFL free agency periods still just heating up, it seems like around the Star, and we're gonna talk about some of the recent movers and groovers in NFL free agency. Also going to talk about a little bit of the Mike McCarthy press conference that

happened on Thursday. But first we gotta give a little props because our very own Isaiah Standback has done some of his homework this offseason and ink. And it's pretty obvious, gentlemen, because well, nobody predicted the Pac twelve domination in March Madness on the basketball floor, but our very own Pac twelve alumni has dominated our winners, losers and Cinderella segment we had a couple weeks ago because Isaiah predicted Keonamel to be signed, predicted Alden Smith to be moved on

from and then he's his Cinderella. His dream pick is kJ Wright, who at the moment is still out there and is also being rumored connected me with the Cowboys. Rob, you're telling me so you're saying this chance, right, yep. Well, Isaiah has done very well in that segment, much better than we did in that segment. But whenever it comes to the NFL offseason, so far, Isaiah got it right. And really the reason for that, Rob, I think is

mostly because it's been very predictable. Yeah, I mean it's been It's I didn't chat with you guys last week, but I mean it's been the first week and second week exactly kind of what we said it would be. And fans don't like it. And I think fans are probably a little bit happier this week than maybe last week after the Neil signing and some of the other

moves they've made. But this is what they do. They are not going to be active the first two three days other than maybe resigning a couple of their own guys, and they're gonna look for opportunities, and this year in particular, there might be more opportunities after the first week than ever before because of the market so weird. And but they're doing exactly what they've done for like the last

ten years. Guys. They're covering their bases. Not really anything that's going to prevent them from addressing any position in the draft. I don't think. I think they can still go anywhere they want to go, but they're doing a pretty good job of trying to cover some bases on defense. I like what they've done, particularly in the last week or so. Beckma so so. Robbie's saying, slow and steady

wins the race. And we hadn't made any splash signings, and I think that's what everybody's looking for, that one or two splash signings. And you know, Isaiah did get it right with kJ Wright being rumored to be affiliated in some kind of way with the Dallas Cowboys and never thought than a million years if we'd see that

Bobby Wagner and kJ Wright combo break up. But man, if we are able to land the guy like that, you know how special he is and how instinctive he's mostly one of the most instinctive linebackers that we have in the league right now. But you're right, pe Uh, just off season alone hadn't been a lot of splashing guys, nail and now with the addition of Cauzee, Um, you know, look, we're looking like we're going in the right direction. We are refilling or restocking the covers. But I think there's

still a lot. Uh if I'm sure we're all of agree that there's still a lot that we love. Yeah, there's no uh, definitely no doubt about that, fellas hum And I appreciate you guys giving me a credit. I'm just trying to make up for my predictions this season. Um, they were a black luster, so my game pick from pigs. But uh, but no, overall, man, I think that the

Cowboys are doing a good job. It's kind of like the It's kind of like the the girl at the or guy, you know, a girl or a guy at the at the at the at the pool party in the summertime. Heck, you know when they come out there and they got they got the shirt on it. They get into water, but they walk with their hands like this because they really don't want the hair to get wet, because they got somewhere to be after the pool party.

So no, not making us flash, but you're still getting from one end of the pool to the other, right, so you still give them so love that, so you're still reaching your destination. But I think I think they have some things up their sleeves in terms of the draft, and I think that they're really addressing the areas that they needed to. They grab some some some d linemen that fit their needs. I think they got some competitive guys. They got some guys that are hungry um at this

point in their career. I think at the safety position, we all knew that needed to be addressed. And I think that they did a great job getting veterans not only who are who are proving guys in the league. They're experienced guys, and they're guys who are having some things to overcome. Right, There's there are guys that have some things that they have some things to come back from, improve reprove who they are in this league. Um, and you're always looking for guys who can come in and compete,

especially when you can get veterans to compete. Right. It's one thing to get young guys to compete, but getting veterans who are proven who just need to get their confidence back, that's a whole other deal. Oh and by the way, they're familiar with with the with their defensive coordinator,

so really excited about the things that they're doing. I know it's not fancy, and the fans don't really like it because you guys mentioned it's not a splash, but I think they're being very strategic and the moves that they have made with these veterans are positioning them to be able to go the directions they really want to go. In the draft. You know, all Isaiah's analogies, we didn't want to show that. My favorite one, it was perfect.

I mean the water, the waters of free agency. The mental image in my head is Heckma keeping his hands above water so that way he doesn't get his hair wet all the way. Yeah, that's that's my that's my visual that's going through my head right now. Don't don't get it. Don't get it twisted. I'm not a T shirt all. Just know that. And also, I never had no problems with worrying about getting my hair with so he was letting that six pack shine, letting the head shine,

and it's a whole thing. Oh my goodness, it's a whole I'd say you brought up a really good point, though, and I don't want to go back and hit this. We're going to talk about all of these free agent signings throughout the course of the next hour. However, you brought up the point of veterans competing because you can go out and get veterans. Veterans are available readily on

a market, and usually they will be pretty cheap. And that's exactly what we saw in twenty twenty when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, as they went to Dantaripo, they went to Haha, Clinton Dix, they went to Mary's Kennedy, and I know Kennedy opted out for family reasons, but out of those three guys, the veterans that they went and signed, competition and competing that will that dog that we've talked about so many times on this show was lacking whereas you start looking at the guys that they've

brought in here in twenty twenty one, then Brent Urban, he's known to be a guy that plays with a mean streak. Same thing with Royal Basham, same thing with Keon O'Neil. There are these guys that may have had some either past injury issues for it, maybe not played as well as they thought to have been played in the past. But they're going and getting guys Isaiah, that you think are gonna come in and compete and and

and fight for those positions. Yeah, I mean, we just became too deep at safety last last year we were hoping to be one one deep. Right now we have Now we have Kazy and Curse gonna be competing, right and we have freaking Key O'Neill and freaking Wilson going to be competing those that's too deep. We're too deep as safety, just like that, right, just like that. I don't know if that's the thing about the guys that we have, but I don't know. That's a little too

far for me to say we're too deep at safety. Whatever. You've got a guy like Kazi and what was the other signing that I'm completely blanking on his name from Detroit. Yeah, curse, curse. I mean those two guys, you could say that their bodies there, but I wouldn't say that we're deep at safety. I'm saying you're I'm saying you're too deep. I didn't say that you Oh like g W seems with talent. Yeah,

like like two like two two, like two guys, two guys. Okay, I thought you were saying, like no, no, no, no no no t W. Let me classify that. Yeah. So at free safety and the strong safety positions, we went from having one guy that we were confident with because in Donovan Wilson coming up and hitting people right and that was pretty much it last year. Any anybody else

have anything contested with that. So so we felt we felt good about one guy being on the field competing right now, you literally have four guys that you're like, you guess what if nothing else, I know, these boys gonna come out here and compete. If nothing else, They're gonna come out here, compete. They're gonna run around, the're gonna hit. At the free safety position, we have two guys that are gonna go out there and their ball hawks,

their ball hawks. These guys are ball hawks. I'm not now, I'm not putting them in at a category with you know, some of the greats. Let's don't don't get mixed up. However, I'm not calling them at every reason that. But but these guys, these guys, these are guys that you will say, Hey, if these guys are on the field, I know, at least they're gonna play the ball, right, They're gonna play the ball, They're gonna run out, yes, sir. Let me.

Let me just add to that point that you may is that you know, you talked about this at the beginning of the season, there being a necessity for competition and that breeding the kind of culture that you're looking for. And you could tell dan Quinn has already come in with that mind state that we're gonna have competition and OTAs two of days, all of that, and that's the way that this roster is going to be churned and

not gonna go into Michcarthy's interview. But still you know that that's a necessity, and if you can go back to the season of twenty twenty, we didn't have a lot of that, and I think all of that was a by product too of COVID and everything that we had to go on. I mean, it wasn't a lot of contact or any of that. But still when you look at the Urbans and you look at the Watkins and guys that free agent acquisitions on the D line, you could tell there's gonna be some churning going into

that final fifty three man roster. I think all of that is going to be interesting, but I look for a new look competitive defense going into twenty twenty one, for sure. One more thing about the safety position, you guys jogged my memory. I forget which game it was, but there was one game early in the season where

Stephen Parker, remember him, was signed. He was promoted from the practice squad just to be active for the game and wound up getting like forty snaps in the game, you know, And it was it was indicative of them trying to find answers at that position. You know, they signed Haha last year and a week into camp it was like they threw him for a loop. They really, I mean, he was not getting it done for whatever reason.

They weren't happy there, tried to go with darry and Thompson, and then like you said, I mean it wasn't until Donovan just kind of showed up that they had kind of one answer there. So I don't think they're done looking there. I think the draft could still be a possibility, sure, but they're bringing in I think Isaiah hit on it. You bring in a couple of guys that dan Quinn knows and can adjust to his scheme and have a comfort level in it right off the bat. I think

that's important. One of the things that I mentioned, I think I mentioned it weeks back. I think actually when before when dan Quinn's name was mentioned as a deep potential defensive coordinator. One of the first things that I told you guys about was the fact that the culture he's trying to duplicate the culture in Seattle, Right, that's what happens. He's a He's a byproduct of Pete Carroll. It is what it is. And the culture with Coach Carroll is all competition. When it was at USC, it

was competition, when it was the Seahawks, competition. That's all he breeds off of. And every day at practice there was a theme, Right, there's a theme that you would that whether it was takeaway takeaway Thursdays or whatever it is you know, strip mondays, like there's all kinds of stuff, right,

Like every day had a theme. And he started to practice off with a one on one right with this defensive line versus over offensive line, and he would call guys out and everybody would circling around him, and like that was the environment. That was a culture. And I've mentioned that before and now you guys are awesome that you guys were starting to see this. Now he's doing that, right, He's doing that with the roster he's gonna bring in.

He's gonna bring veterans that compete, that are gonna compete. Like this is where you guys are at in your career. If you guys want to get this money next year, y'all better come show up, right, And he's gonna bring in some young blood too, that's gonna compete with these guys. So I'm gonna take this old school blood, I'm gonna take this young blood, and I'm gonna mix it together and we're gonna see who comes out and wants to crawl to the top. And guess what, All the while,

we're all getting better. You're getting better as a player because you're learning how to compete and elevate your game, and we're getting better as a team because now everybody has elevated their game. He's going to do that at every single position on that side of the ball. That's why he's nowhere near done to adding to this roster.

And I think that's where it goes back to what we've talked about whenever we say that dan Quinn was the best acquisition free agency wise this offseason and Will I think all the way through that's exactly what we're gonna say going into next year because of the addition of dan Quinn and the step up from what was Mike Nolan, I think is going to be something that Cowboys fans will look at this year as a huge

win for this organization. Now, what's that I want to ask you a question, Man, ask me, so when you say dan Quinn is the biggest acquisition in the offseason, what's gonna be the biggest difference between dan Quinn's philosophy that differed from Rob Mill, Rob Marinelli and Christmas Show. What's going to be the difference between what he brings as a defensive coordinat I think the simplicity of the

defense from Marinelli to Quinn is similar. However, Marinelli tried to force round pegs into square holes in terms of scheme fit, and he said, let's fit these players to our scheme, whereas Mike McCarthy has already come out and said on Thursday, it's all about the players. It's about fitting your scheme to the players and allowing them to play. That's what we were excited about with Mike Nolan last year. That's what we were excited about because he said the

same thing. However, it didn't end up looking like that. Actions speak louder than words, and the actions where that we're gonna try and do way too much. We're gonna try and do too much, especially out of a virtual ops season, and I think moving into twenty twenty one, even if there is a virtual off season, I think there's gonna be a step up because of the veteran ability of Dan Quinn and the success that he's had of running a simplistic defense and allowing these players to

dictate what that defense is. Answer is that an answer did I stump you? Would you ever rebuttal? No? No, no, I absolutely have a rebuttal. And the deal is is that I think the same thing that you're saying about Mike Nolan is the same round pick square, whole mentality guys that don't fit the scheme that you're trying to

run on the fly. And so look, the thing that I love about dan Quinn, and maybe not the simplistic approach, I think that his cell packages are going to be different than what you got from Marionelli, won't be asked, predictable, and the whole ideal of hybrid or guys that can play multiple positions in your scheme doesn't tilt your hand. So that's the thing that I like about dan Quinn.

But I just wanted to know. I've heard this a bunch about dan Quinn being the biggest acquisition in the offseason and not people not the perception being that players coming in and actively, you know, executing the system being the difference maker. So just wanted to know, you know what, that's a That's a great point though, because it can't just be oh, we got a new defensive coordinator, everything's fixed. I mean, he he has a great reputation. Isaiah did

a great job talking about it. I think I think the biggest point that Mike made last week in his press conference was a tighter blend of three to four four three, you know, using both because every defense around the league is pretty much doing that. Everybody's kind of multiple to some extent, but not and probably cutting down

on the volume. If it's a virtual offseason. I don't think they're gonna overflow with major changes like they did last year because it just it was too much and it didn't work given the way the league worked last year. But you still got to have players. I mean, you got to have some upgrades, and I do think to to Heckma's point, I mean, i'm I'm I agree that quinn Is that's a huge acquisition and it may be the biggest one, but Neil has a chance to be

the best acquisition they have from the player's side. I think has has been to a Pro Bowl. It's just injuries. Same thing with because he if they can stay healthy, you know, I think last year we talked about and I think we all kind of got excited about some of their additions. They were mostly guys in their thirties. He's he's twenty five years old. I think he could still play some good football. And I think I'm not

going to use the word heck the hybrid world. I just used it the word, but he can be kind of that Swiss army knife and help you in a lot of different ways. That was That's an interesting signing the second week of free agency. I think it was a good one. And I do want to preface this by saying, we're not talking about dan Quinn coming in and taking this defense from the bottom of the barrel of the NFL and putting them all of a sudden in the top five and we're gonna see the legion

of boom and this is going to be incredible. We're talking about dan Quinn going from thirty two to twenty two like that. That's the only jump you really need. And that's why you're so good on the offensive side of the football. It's because you don't need a defense to be in the top fifteen to be a Super Bowl contender, at least with an offense like this. So I'm not saying it's a it's a be all, end

all fix with dan Quinn. I'm just saying that I think where you're going to see more disciplined football, You're going to see a more understanding football IQ from the defensive side than we saw in twenty twenty. That's my way of looking at it. And Isaiah, I know you've mentioned it in the past. The energy is another thing that I think dan Quinn is going to bring for this defense that at times lacked. In twenty twenty, we looked at the defense and said, where is that energy?

It wasn't there, There was nothing, It was dead. And now it took almost to what week nine against the Eagles to finally see a little bit of a jolt, or Week eight against the Eagles or whenever that game was, to finally see a little bit of life out of that defense. That's not gonna happen this year, at least I don't think it will. Yeah, I think, you know,

I know we're going back and forth. Heck between the how important that deep as a coordinator, If that's the greatest you know, pickup we've had, acquisition we've had this off season, I would say yes, absolutely, hands down, without a doubt. And yes, you you definitely need players obviously, right, you still gotta have talent. We can't. You can't just have an amazing coach and just sucky talent, right what. I don't think that we lack on talent on this

team on that side of the ball. I really don't. I think we lacked in awareness, execution, just talent. It's not just talent, it's really not. It's confidence, right, and not only that, it's wanting to play for your coach. So, I mean, you got plenty of people out there say, oh, these guys are getting paid a lot of money, they shouldn't have no motivation? True that guess whether that checks coming regardless of that, coaches there or not. So here you go. Sorry, you don't like to hear that. That

is what it is. Debt check's coming. So now what's your motivation? Do you have a coach that you want to play for? Do you have a coach that says that that makes you want to give more when you're going to receive the same check no matter what you do, the check's coming. The check is coming. Now, what is my motivation? Do I have somebody that I want to go out there and be a dog for? Do I love my teammates? Do I love the environment? Do I love the culture? Do I love the city? Is an

organization treating me well? Or all these things really on one accord? Because if those things are on one a court, then guess what. Ah, Now, now we got a culture, Now we have an environment. Now we have something that I can I can I can get hyped off of. Right, I got some gutt, I got a young buck, or I got another veteran right behind me. If I slip up, guess what they coming to get my spot? Right, I'm not just getting this just because I'm getting paid X

amount of dollars. Right, I have to earn my keep, and I gotta earn it every time I step on the field. Kind of reminds me of something like what like camp. Right, Guys get excited about camp because what you gotta earn your keep. You gotta earn your spot. You gotta earn your spot on the team. So when the season comes and you have that same culture that exists the camp culture during the season, that's when your

team elevates. So, yes, the defensive coordinator has the defensive coordinator, officsive coordinator, special teams, all that stuff has a huge effect because now I now embody the personality of that potential of that particular coach, and it's so important. So don't let's not undervalue how important he is in the inspiration that he has the mentorship that he can that he can provide for these guys young and old, because now you're he's literally taking him and put it into

the players. And you will see that represented in every single successful organization in this league. And if you can find one that doesn't embody their coach, show it to me. Yeah. Now, I think you're right, And I think that can't be understated enough the influence that a coach a coordinator has on this group of guys. But if you have a bunch of tomato cans out there, you can try and coach him up as much as you want. They run

up against Yeah, that's gonna handle defense. That's what happened to them in a lot of situations where teams were just running it right at us and we didn't have the talent level to compete. Whether it be done Pole or other disagree, suspect, Well, I disagree. Check, I disagree, But I don't think it's a talent thing. It's not a talented These guys are the one percent of the one percent of Heck, that's a it's a it's a it's a one two. Paul did not want to play.

Let's be honest. Pole did not want to play. Could he play? Hey, yeah, it's a light switch. He didn't want to play. You know why because he mentally, I'm assuming I don't know the man. I'm assuming in his head. Look, I hate this environment. I'm just gonna call a spade a spade. I hate this environment. This check is coming whether I go one hundred miles per hour or I don't go hundred miles power because guess what, I'm a veteran and I'm like, this is guaranteed. So I'm gonna

get this check regardless. So if I'm not, I'm just telling you, sir, I'm telling you a certain people's mindsets. Heck, I mean it's a second. And he didn't deserve to be in the league anyway to be a part of that one percent off what he What you're saying is, I'm just gonna get this check. I can get paid and go back to the house, saying you're putting out

bad You're putting out bad tape. And so for guys that are free agents on these that went to other places, they had no tape to talk about to dictate the terms with new teams because they sucked, right, And I'm just saying, if you had that kind of year, and you expect to get paid handsomely for your services, you're gonna have to put it on tape. And we had a guys that are not putting it on tape. Whether that's talent or whether that's coaching, all those things can

be dissected, but I think they go hand in hand. Okay, And I don't want to jump ahead because Kyle's gonna slap me. But Xavier Woods is he does he like Let's see. I didn't say that because that's what I'm talking about it, But does he like telling in some aspects, yes, because somebody else wants them for what not for a lot to play the same position he was playing here.

It doesn't somebody wants That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is Xavier was if he had balled out and put it on tape and all of that was there, his turns would have been different in free agent. No, No, I don't disagree with that. I do not disagree with that. But but what I'm saying is guys will put out what they're willing to put out, and if they have somebody who they want to play for, you're going to get better production out of that. I agree, that's that's facts.

I think. I think y'all are both right because I think I think it comes it comes down to player execution. Obviously. I do think because a lot of people said, you know, this is the same defense that was middle of the pack the year before. So what happened. Well, I think they missed Malie Collins last year. I think they miss Jeff Heath at safety last year. I think they missed Byron Jones at cornerback last year. They didn't replace the

guys they lost. They didn't replace them well enough last year. By the same token, though, like Isaiah's talking about culture and and what the defensive coordinator can can instill in you wanting to play for him, a confidence level, I think something was missing last year installing this thing in the virtual side things. Mike said it last week in the car, in the in the press conference, we got to do better in terms of our virtual component of things.

They they didn't. They didn't reach a point defensively where guys were confident and fat playing fast now free and confident until late in the season. And so that that goes on coaching too, in terms of communicating a system and putting guys in the right spot. That's where dan

Quinn comes in. But you gotta have players too. I think I think it's so rob if these guys, if these guys are these guys that were on our roster this year, heck right, if they come out and ball out this year just all of a sudden, these guys just we got eight all pro guys on this side

of the ball. Were they that less talented this previous season? No? No, I think it's an understanding of the scheme and what your responsibilities are in it, and you can play fast and what I think and you know that too because you have player Yeah, you know the hesitant, the hesitancy and the scheme and the game plan going up to each week. Guys have to be confident and what the what the system is? Asked? Absolutely, and if last year I guys never had an understanding of that, us finishing

last what's a by product of not understanding. But that's not talent, No no, But when you turn on the tape and you see your one tech getting pushed yards down the field, that was a choice. Hey man, let me ask you this. Do you think that pole is gonna keep playing this year, or you think he's ready to wrap it up, he's rap. It should be a rap, exactly exactly. He was good. He got past that first game, he said, check mark, money's coming. I'm done. Look no

more guys like that then. So that's that's what I'm saying. So it's not it's not a talent thing. It's what can you get out of that player. That's what I'm saying is it's not talent. Everything that you just labeled was all about understanding the scheme, confidence, right, being able to play fast. Those things have nothing to do with talent, all right. You get to be lasting the NFL on defense for a reason. Yes, And and that's why I agree with Rob and I think it is a combination

of the two. You can't have one without the other. However, everybody, tap gloves, go to your corners. We need to take a break whenever we come back. Whenever we come back, we're gonna keep this conversation going, but we're gonna throw in the recent news with Xavier Woods signing elsewhere. There were a couple huge draft trades that I kind of want to get your thoughts about. Whenever it affects the

Dallas Cowboys. We're gonna talk about it on the other side of the break when we return on Talking Cowboys presented by Geico Funny Big News. Gary. Are you okay? Oh? I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only for new customers. So to get a new customer deal, I changed my name to Jackie Flash. Okay, but the best smartphone deals at AT and T are for everyone, new and existing customers. That's huge. Then guess who's getting

a deal. Is it Jackie Flash, Jackie Flash? It's not complicated at AT and t our best smartphone deals are for everyone. Restrictions apply. Is it att dot com for details? There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why SLOR pioneers ways to make lenses unique as you. Varilux for super sharp vision, Essential Blue for protection, and Crisol for freedom from glare. Three cutting ex solutions in a

single unique lens. So whatever your needs, insist on selor visit your local SLOR experts and find a perfect lens for you. See more, Do more SLOR. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping air waves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Is he a new combone? That's music to my ears? Okay, Doctor Pepper time music to my ears and mouth, new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda.

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

Copyright twenty twenty. Bank of America Corporation to Talking Cowboys. Back here on Talking Cowboys. And whether you're listening to us on this podcast or to music while you work out with both quiet Comfort earbuds, you'll experience audio at a whole new level. Both Quiet Comfort earbuds the official earbuds of the Dallas Cowboys. Heck, what are those earbuds sound like? In that in that room of yours? It's like a symphony in my head. Kyle, dang it, thank you. Purpose?

Come on purpose? Okay, I will say because I thought we would. I apologize. I apologize. I will give credited they I will give credit. Heck one did give a little pose to the camera. He had a little, nice, little smirk on his face. The presentation was better, the audio was not great at all. And remember this is a podcast. Wow, so I missed the presentation. Sorry yeah, wow Wow. Well, uh, let's talk about some more Cowboys

free agency. Let's go ahead and move on. Yes, I flipped the reds on you guys just to keep your keep you on your toes. Uh. I want to talk about exactly what you guys mentioned and what Isaiah of course looked ahead to. And that's Xavier Wood signing a one year, two point two five million dollars deal with the Vikings up in Minnesota, replaces Anthony Harris after he of course left and signed with Philadelphia. Will Xavier Woods

be missed in this defense? That's my biggest question, because I mean, you guys already kind of went back and forth on his want, his talent, and I want to kind of start that engine right back up because he's replaced by Demante Kazee, who, of course, like we talked about, reunites with Dan Quinn, has that familiarity and he's also on a one year deal to money. I don't think the money's come out yet, right, Rob, No money yet on Uh you know what I just saw a tweet about.

I think it's just over a million bucks, like one point one one point two, um, like a nine hundred thousand dollars base salary. That's off for report. Okay, well that's a lot chamber back in the second wave. What'd he get? Did we see from Minnesota? One year two and two and two and change basically one year two and change for yeah, for for Woods. Now will he be missed though, Rob? Will he be missed? I mean if Casey because he can do what what the Xavier

did well, then I'd say no. I think that. I think if he can stay healthy and again that's it's there's a caveat here with both Neil and because he I mean we're talking about Achilles injuries. Cowboys have done a great job working with guys coming back from those injuries.

Buried Church, we can and go down the list, um Greg Ellis, But that's got to be proven, you know, if he can come out and again, we'll see what they do in the draft, but I think he might have an opportunity to earn that free safety spot and he is at his best, he does a good job of preventing big plays, you know. I think he can. He can be that single high guy, keep things in front of him, and when the ball presents itself, he

goes and gets it. I think that's a difference. He's got ten takeaways in a two year span, ten interceptions. Cowboys been missing that. So that's where you know, that's another element that maybe the Cowboys can build off of that. Xavier a lot of times ball's coming right at him, he didn't catch it, and so maybe there's a difference there. It's never a good thing. Whatever. You have to repeat the question miss him? You say you said that gonna missim. Wait,

hold on, they're gonna miss him? Yeah, yeah, I don't know. I don't let the heck around this one up. Yeah No, I don't know. I don't think we're gonna miss him. I don't think the Cowboys miss him. I think that um, I think that they replaced him with competitive, hungry veterans and uh for that for that alone. Um, and you can take his one quote that he had. Um, I think that we that we that we have an upgrade in terms at least if anything else mentality. So are

we gonna miss him? Um? First of all, I just want to wish him well and relations on signing with the Minnesota Vikings. And we play the Vikings this year. So I'm gonna wish him well now because I won't be wishing him well in a few months. Uh. But you know, I think you know, coming from Louisiana Tech, there was some expectations for for Woods, I think you know, for us and just safety being an issue for the Dallas Cowboys for so very long that expectation or potential

was never realized. He never took the next step. He did some special things and special teams. He also, obviously I'm hearing great teammate in locker room guy. But again, there was so much there that he left on the field just bad angles, bad playing. Like Rob said, ball coming right at you and blue blue blue, you know, just not here for to make a play. And you know, because he and just you talk about his twenty eighteen

form and him being able to get seven interceptions. I mean, we hadn't had that and a very very long time a guy, a safety with or any dB with seven interceptions. So I just think, you know that is that is uh, that gives him one a leg up on any of the guys that we have on the back end. But look for our secondary with dan Quinn, he is he is trying to turn mud to marble and he has a huge undertaking at the safety position cornerbacks as well.

And you know that the Cowboys are going to steal going to the draft, and you say we're too deep right now, and say, I think we may be three deep after the draft because there's gonna be competition all around and we have to get better at the back half, especially if we're going to be playing with that you know center fielder as Dad Quinn likes to play with.

So you know, either way, I think you know, again, I wish Xavier Woods well, but no, won't be missed around here, Isaiah, break it down for me here whenever it comes to the cover three defense, that single high look that we're going to see a lot from dan Quinn's system, or at least what we anticipate to see a lot because he fits better than Xavier Woods because of blank What is that missing piece that Cauzee has that Xavier Woods didn't, Because I mean, the money ends

up being cheaper, which is fine. I thought it would probably be right around the same for those two. So why was Kaze the guy they went and got, even though I know the money was a little cheaper as well, well, discount double check. First of all, right, I mean, well that's why i'm syscount. I mean everything, take the money out of it, I won't know why the player was

chosen for sure. Yeah, so you talk about somebody. First of all, one of the things that we all keep coming back to in terms of our our defense's ability to perform or lack thereof last year was familiarity, right, Um, So you got a guy who comes right into the system, confident, already boom, handclap, just right off the back, confident, right, already already a hand up on what we had last year.

So then you take them to the fact that he's hungry, right, you got injuries and all these things, and then you got another aspect that he knows how to find the ball right when you pull up his highlights. You know, if there's a tip ball. Right, if a defensive back, cornerback makes a great play chips the ball. Listen up, that's not just gonna hit the ground. If it does hit the ground, is gonna hit the ground after it

hits his hands him trying to get an interception. So as you already heard of Heck saying like he's a ball hawk, he wants to try to get the ball. And that's what you need when you have that sit or fielder. You need somebody who has range. You need somebody who has awareness, and you need somebody who wants to go get the dog on ball when it presents itself. And that those are all things that I don't think.

I mean, Xavier had a little bit of range, but that was about it, right, So this is that is the reason why they went out there and got Kazi versus versus versus Woods. The one thing I'll say about Xavier is he did have some some good moments, some good games here. I thought I thought last year. I thought last year he kind of played out of position. Honestly, I mean, they had him in the box probably the

most that he's ever been in his career. Because you know you're you're only playing two linebackers and you're in a lot of sub package work, and I don't know if that's the best thing for him. I think he's a you know, he's a center fielder free safety type, that's what because he is probably going to be here if he wins the job. So again, it kind of goes back to what we talked about first segment. Are you putting your players in the best positions to be successful?

I don't know. I don't know if they did that with Woods last year. Yeah, And as everybody's trying to get an understanding as to how important it is Kyle that center fielder, right, that free safety in a dan Quinn scheme is that much more important because there's only three guys that are responsible for getting deep right, if a ball is thrown deeper than than twelve yards, there's only three guys on that field that are responsible for getting to that ball. You got your right corner, to

your left corner, and your free safety right. That's it. So when you talk about defending the whole back half of the field, that guy is responsible for literally a third of the field. And you know, when you have that scheme, there's eight guys underneath cover three scheme, there are literally eight defenders underneath. So pretty much dan Quinn's coming in and saying, you're not gonna run the ball, You're not gonna throw any of these little short routes.

We're gonna get to you before you have time to drop back and throw the ball and actually threaten our three guys that we have deep, our defensive ends are gonna get to you. Our linebackers are gonna get to you before you have time to sit back there and have the time to throw. So if you do make that throw right, that ill advised throw of that risky throw, then I have a guy back there that can go catch the ball and make you pay for it. Yeah,

and I think that's ideal. I think that's what you as a defensive coordinator, that's what you want your guys to do. But if we put on the twenty twenty tape and we look at our safeties, there are a lot of times our guys were staring in the backfield and all they had was past protection, you know, and the ball goes right over their heads. So there was a lot of bad reads of our safeties last year, whether that's you know, playing out a position or just

not being very sound in the scheme. Those two things cost us a lot. And I think with you know, because he his range, as you pointed out, Isaiah, is very important. He is ranging and his ability to go be patient back there as a cine fielder and read and react and and I guess reading and reacting achillings injury don't go together quite as well. So hopefully he's healed up. And obviously he's healed up, or I'll they

wouldn't have signed him. So those are just things that I think that he brings to the plate for the Cowboys. And don't expect there to not be those blown plays because even with that that system and even with the like you said, the three people that are three players that are are assigned to that deep part of the field, there's gonna be lapses and it's gonna happen, especially whenever you have a player like Cazee who goes for the ball and his aggressive enough to try and go and

force a turnover. He'll get some. I don't know if he'll get seven. That expectations should not be seven interceptions by any means. That's a great number to look back at twenty eighteen. But if you think you're gonna get seven interceptions, You're purely mistaken, and he's gonna give up big plays now and again. But it's something that I think you could look at as a defense you might

have upgraded. I hope it isn't upgrade because last year I thought Xavier Woods, and I said it on this show multiple times, I thought Xavier Woods was going to take the next step. I was wrong. He didn't take him the next step. If anything, he took a step backwards. And that's why Minnesota signed him for much cheaper than I think his initial deal would have been if he would have actually taken that next step. Now, I do want to ask this before we get into the draft

moves that happened. We may have to push that to the third segment, but really quickly here, does the lack of adding a corner speak volumes for this Cowboys defense right now? Because there is a huge glaring hole on that defense and it's called the cornerback spot. Does that kind of give away and show the hand of the Cowboys as they lead into the final month leading into that NFL draft, because well, heck, but they need a

corner and they don't have any at all. So you're saying that they may need one just Sam Man, I think, yeah, thank you for you just walk me right into that one. I thank you, though, but no, I think, you know, I think corner is important for this team. But I pulled back from that too. I think there's still a need at a one technique. I believe that we still

need to get better interior wise. And Isaiah's bought this up and we've said this a few times on the show, is that you know, if you can improve in your interior, guys don't have to hold so long on the outside. So what do you do? Do you put the egg before the chicken or the high over that saying whatever, terrible, whatever you gotta do, you gotta you gotta get your parties. You gotta get your parties in line. Where is that

going to be. Is it gonna be fixing uh, your interior, your line or is it gonna be putting lipstick on a pig and fixing what you got on that? Really? You got that farm analogy right? Who couldn't you get the first one of correct? I'm a city I'm a city boyhouse that's all right, I'm I mean plays making stakes. I just made it with a smile on my face.

What it's the best way to do it, right, Robber, They are they showing their hand before the draft of who they're looking at it ten If they don't, if they don't do anything in the next couple of weeks, then yeah, probably, I mean and look, I mean it could break their way where they might have their pick of a couple of different corners right in the first round if it works out for them. Um, there's some

veteran corners still out there. I mean, you know, and again though, it comes down to what their cap looks like, what you know, what guys are looking for, and what's the name? Rob Oh, I'm just I'm just looking at names. I mean, what Richard Sherman's still out there, They were still out there. I'm just talking about talking about veteran veteran guys. But um, I mean, you resigned Jordan Lewis Kesey could probably help you in the slot if you needed somebody to do it. So you know, I'm thinking

draft at this point. I mean, when I look at what they you mentioned, corner is a big hole. Do they need another linebacker like Neil can play linebacker? And they're talking about him starting off a linebacker week side linebacker. He's two hundred and fifteen pounds. Is he going to be exclusively a linebacker? Or do you need to find somebody else you lost Joe Thomas. We'll see what happens with Sean Lee. I'm looking at Isaiah's a free agent

list and it's very interesting to me. You know, so, um, you know, is kJ right of possibility or are they looking at the draft potentially for for that spot as well? They've they've got other needs potentially too. What do they do a backup quarterback? I don't think they need to be done in free agency, but I don't know exactly how much space they have to really work with at the moment. It's a good point. And Michael Parsons ran a four to three. Yeah he did. There's another one.

There's another. I don't stop it. Yeah, let's not let's not go into that. Let's go into the draft talk though. We're gonna go ahead and step aside when we come back here on talking Cowboys. The Cowboys are now picking in front of the entire NFC East, and we'll tell you exactly how that happened and how the Cowboys could maybe take advantage of that when we return on Talking Cowboys presented by Geico. Hi, I'm Clint Tillison with you nan at agg in Turf. When there's work to be done,

a real workhorse can make all the difference. Like the range Boss package. Our fifty seventy five E John Deere seventy five horsepower tractor features a bell, spear and loader and starts at three sixty nine per month. And the price you see is the price you'll pay. No surprises. It works like a horse, so you don't have to visit United agginturf dot com offer its February first, twenty twenty one restrictions applying You see dealer for details. Now

let's get to work, Honey, big news scary are you? Okay? Oh? I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only for new customers. So to get a new customer deal, I change my name to Jackie Flash. Okay, but the best smartphone deals at AT and T are for everyone, new and existing customers. That's huge. Then guess who's getting a deal? Is it Jackie Flash? Jackie Flash? It's not complicated.

At at and t our. Best smartphone deals are for everyone. Restrictions apply. Is it att dot com for details? I want to use what the pros use. How about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The Starter includes four Jackflack skincare favorites,

plus a full sized and tense therapy lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code word team JB. That's get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys The Jack Black Starter ten bucks, free shipping. Since eighteen sixty five. Stetson hats are American maid with pride right here in Texas, and Stetson is proud to be on the field with America's team. Want to show your Texas and team pride too? You can by purchasing your own stepson. You can look just like how the

flag guys do on field at every home game. Stetson hats the official crown of all self respecting Cowboys and your favorite football team. Get yours today at shop dot Dallas Cowboys dot com or at Stetson dot com to talk in Cowboys, whether you're listening from the home or actually wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait, whether you're watching from home or cheering in the stands. With essel Or lenses, you can see every exciting playbook an appointment at your local essel Or experts and see what

Esselor can do for you. See more, two more esselore as always on Dallas Cowboys. My goodness, I threw me. I threw myself off the whole time. I mean like I threw a chage up to you guys to try and throw you off and keep you on your toes, and it messed me up. Anyways, the entire NFL draft order was thrown a curveball on Friday, to say the least. As well, there was some shifting and some moving, as the San Francisco forty nine ers trade up to number three with the Dolphins and they give up a haul

to do so, moving up from twelve. The Dolphins then moved back to twelve or excuse me up, yes, that's what it was. Back to twelve. Then the Dolphins traded up with the Eagles to go back to six, where the Eagles now are picking at twelve, and the Eagles apparently wanted to go up and go get Zach Wilson. They said, we wanted to move up to three, but it was only for Zach Wilson. So it looks like Zach Wilson's not going to be on the board at three,

or at least Philadelphia doesn't think so. So my question to you guys is now that the Cowboys pick in front of both the Giants and the Eagles, and then I guess we could throw Washington in there as well. They're a little bit further back at nineteenth. But how big of an advantage does this give Dallas the fact that well they're now picking first and picking before anybody

in the division, at least in this first round. Yeah, I mean, I think I don't know so much about picking in front of the division, but now it pretty much assures four quarterbacks in the top in the top nine, probably Kyle, Yeah, is that we're looking at. I mean, maybe you know who's being mocked now in the top three besides Trevor and besides Zach Wilson. Is it mac Jones? Is it Fields? Would it's probably either Trey Lance or

Justin Fields at three? Okay, oh, Lance too, I've seen, but I've seen Mac CBS had a mock of Mac Jones at number three today, so I don't know about that. That seems kind of high. But but again, that to me, that's just like I never want to hear again that this is this is kind of a weak quarterback class, you know, because because we're hearing about that like for next year, and and just don't buy the hype man

because teams it's too important a position. Teams are gonna fall in love with guys and they're gonna go in the top five, top ten. And that's good for the Cowboys in terms of just keep pushing defensive players down to them, whether it's a cornerback, whether it's I mean, heck heck mentioned a linebacker. Whoever, that is good because that's got to be the top top writer in my opinion.

You could talk offensive tackle maybe, but they're they very well may have their pick of their top cornerback that they might want, which would be huge. And I mean we've mentioned last week on the show, Hrob, you weren't here, but we were talking about Denver in the fact that they signed a couple of veteran corners. Maybe they don't go after a corner at nine, and so that way you do get your pick of either Patrick's or Tan or jac Horn or even Caleb Parley still if you

still want to throw his name into the mix. But I think all over, like Friday's moves, the biggest question was, now, all right, Miami's not gonna take a quarterback. But that's good for the Cowboys. They're probably gonna take an offensive player. Of course, the first three picks are all going to be quarterbacks. Maybe the fourth pick with Atlanta. You're right, everybody in front of the Cowboys is pushing these defensive players down the board, and I think these moves helped

that out. Heck Bunn and I think it's something that the Cowboys could certainly benefit from. Plus I put this out on Twitter the other day, Kyle Pitts may not be in the division anymore, and Jamar Chase might not be in the division anymore. Yes, and that was my worry looking at six of who they may have chosen, and just knowing that Kyle Pitts may end up being the nfcast. But I think, you know, obviously every draft has his shake up, and there's a player that no

one's thinking that will be in the top five. That will be and that may be Kyle Pitts. And so it really is intriguing to look at Zack Wilson and the way that he's ascended on everyone's draft board in the COVID year where he is, and a guy that is beating a lot of teams, big name teams that have been out there, and how some of these other guys like Justin Fields has kind of fallen. So really intriguing to see where that whole top five thing goes.

But for us, you know, I'm not going with you know, BPA, As Rob would say, we gotta get we gotta get some defensive help. It's there unless you get a if there's just a guy there, it's just culture, generational changing talent there at ten. And that'd be the only way that I would take an offensive guy. So I'm looking at Pat Satan, he could be one. But also man Michael Parsons running at four three. That changed my mind by him Za, yep, that's Zach Roll is going with this. Heck,

I know we need a corner. I know we need a corner. However, Michael Parsons pops up in your lap. That's a physical specimen. So yeah, I think, yeah, if me, yeah me, I'm gonna go give me some Michael Parsons. And I'm sure up that front seven because you are in the NFC East, So our understanding that and understanding where you need to be solid at. And again, who almost said a bad word, A nasty front seven, Let's keep it that way at nasty front seven can can

beat a good secondary any day. A nasty front seven is better than a good secondary any day in this league. So you get to the quarterback, he doesn't have a chance to throw the ball, Da boom, there you go. So I think us being in the position that we're in now in terms of the NFC East, we're in a great position because, like you guys already hit on, we don't have to worry about anybody trying to grab some players that we're interested in, and we get to

dictate the moves that they didn't have to make. And it's always, it's always always good to be in that position. So what you don't what don't you agree with Kyle the shelf life of a linebacker. I don't know if Michael Parsons is as good as a player. I'm scared about the opt out year. I don't like the off the field issues that he's had in the past. There's a lot of stuff I don't like about Michael Parsons going at ten. Now, if he falls and you trade back, sure,

I mean late teens. If you're trading backwards and you want to give up ten, I would take him in the late teens, not a ten. And the shelf life of a linebacker in this league right now, we're seeing it a year in, year out. It started with Sean Lee, It's moved on to Laton vander Esh, even jayaln Smith a little bit here and there. The shelf life in a top ten pick, it's not worth it for even a guy that is a generational type of athlete, athlete. Let me throw that out there. I didn't say a

player at that. Michael Parsons is yes, Isaiah cuts your question all right? Coming out of this right? I asked, is all you guys, I know we gotta get going. You get certain? All right? Yeah? You get him? Do you say, oh, hey, we're about to be nasty. I wouldn't say that with Parsons. I wouldn't say that with

Parsons either. No, No, I wouldn't say that. You're you're telling me that a rookie linebacker who you're gonna replace with a guy you also drafted in the first round two years ago, is gonna all of a sudden make your front seven that was one of the worst in the NFL automatically nasty talking about I'm talking about your your Wow. Rob talked to him, Why is he getting mocked at high? Then? Because he's a good fight all the question, and he's very talented. He's a talented player.

But I think there are too many question marks at ten. And I mean people are gonna mock linebackers high because they're the best linebacker. He's the best linebacker on my board. I'll tell you that he's above j ok. He's a better linebacker than anybody else in this draft class. I don't like drafting linebackers in the top ten. That's my things.

A different scenario. No, it's a championship team. That's where you want to go, and that's where you want to be, And so you look around the league, especially when everybody's running this RPO, you have to have linebackers that can turn and run and that that costs us a lot of the time. In the comparison between Jalen and Michael Parsons,

it has been fair. But I think as far as the ball ability, his ability to get to just apply pressure alone would be game changing for the Dallas Cowboys where he can go from Sam to Will and give you that size that you need. And he's a playmaker. Man, there's no other way around him. You can't say just because oh he's a linebacker, you don't want to go

that that go that high on the guy. I'm talking about ability and his what he can do as far as changing he's got the game and like you said, Isaiah, Isaiah, like you said, dictating to the offense and not having the offense dictate to you. Absolutely seeing what that's been about, and that's why we have been punished on defense. When you get a difference maker like Michael Parsons, he can

change the game from interior, not from the outside. You have Trey Von Diggs and then there's still a lot of guys out there, and there's still cornerbacks that you can get later in in later rounds as well. So come on, man, there's there's a lot. It takes it takes more. It takes more for a cornerback to be productive in this league than it does for a linebacker. Yes, but also corners can do it for a lot longer than linebackers can. But do you lie? Waw No, do

you have time to wait? As a cowboy, as a Cowboys fan, do you have time to wait? You can solidify, not solidified. You can come very compared. You can improve your secondary. You can improve your secondary immediately. Patrick's tim and coming into the league would be an automatic better. He would be the best corner on your team right now.

I'll say that one. He's better than Trayvon Dicks. We saw that because guess what, they played on the same deal much You just same You just hoisted as the number one corner on in the second What if Sherm, what if Sherman takes two million you bring shrim on a team? Is he the best on a team or is it gonna be certain? It's probably still gonna be certain. Sherm's I think Rode Sherman is a veteran dude. Come on, well, he's not prime Richard Sherman. Hey, Hey, that's good stuff.

I'm mocks her tan to Kyle so I'll jump in the boat with you. But Isaiah and heck Do made good points in terms of just what does the linebacker position look like a year? What does it look like? I mean, you got you got Laton in the final year of his deal, unless they pick up his fifth year option. We'll see what happens there. Jalen got multi years left on his deal, but everybody wants to talk about cutting him this year. They didn't do that. Uman

Shaun Lee's status is still up in the air. Francis Bernard, Francis Bernard's under contract. You got him, but lostep is that room. It's not very deep, it's not at all. Not on doesn't mean you have to spend a top ten pick on it. I'm just saying they're gonna have to address that position if they will, and I think they will. Rob as an offensive line, as an off as ave coordinator, and you played a Dallas Cowboys. You

got those three motors at the second level. Your approach is substantially different than if you have two guys at that level and some okay corners. Get the heck out of here. Man, it's it's it's it's not even a competition and This is really not like you have an opportunity to solidify your D line. They will continue to get some more guys in there to make that that D line. They're gonna correct that. They'll figure that out, right, They got some guys on the age, they're gonna bring some. Sure,

they'll clog up the middle with big body. Just got okay, Now, all of a sudden, you have an opportunity to put three freaking athletes, three vander esh and and him at the at Parsons are freaking huge. Put those guys in there and you and you take the responsibilities off Jalen and let him go out there and figure out how to swipe again. Right, do you let those three dudes run side this dude, that's a problem that scares you

as a as an offense. Not freaking okay, corners that are young, Okay, so you would rather just kind of okay, put a band aid at the corner, signed, move some money around, sign another veteran corner at there's other picks and okay, okay, those other picks. I'm not saying to not draft a corner and say the same sick. You can't. You can't said that because the guys like Jabril Cox

that's out there as well. Baron Browning, but they Bolton, whoa, they're not six four two forty five run and four threes? Thank you? Name another please name another history I've ever done six four two two forty five. I'm two thirty five. Kyle, he's an inch taller to me and tim pounds heavier. Oh and by the way, he runs a four three? Are you kidding me? If you're going by that logic, then let's go ahead and just draft Kyle Pits and let's figure it out because he's a generational talent more

than Michael Parsons is. Let's I mean, if you're going for that, I'm just saying I don't. I don't like it if Micah Parsons is. If Michael Parsons is the pick at ten, I'm throwing my pin against the wall like that's my pin throw moment. If he's the pick at ten, I'm upset about that, and I will be upset about that on this show when we do it all point uh, you know, it'll be one of those like G two ones, like the really nice pins. That's

how upset I'll be. I'm gonna chuck it straight at the wall and there's gonna be like a black mark in the baggas WBC MORTGT Studios logo. It's gonna be real. Unfortunately I won't hit the logo next to it. Heck, might be high five brothers in the corner. Oh well, we hope you enjoyed the last hour of debate because we had plenty of it on this show. It's been saying with your chess Monday again this offseason. Goodness grocious. We've got some aggressiveness. We're gonna hit it again next week.

Plenty to talk about with this Cowboys offense or excuse me, offseason. Never a shortage of storylines. But that's gonna do it for us today. For Chris Beam in the backstay long because we went a little bit long. For Rob Phillips, Isaiah stand back in heck, my Harrison, I'm Kyle Yeoman's see you next week here on Talking Cowboys. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.