Talkin' Cowboys: What To Expect vs. The Broncos

a special guest very soon. Andrew Mason, the senior digital reporter for the Denver Broncos, will be joining us shortly. But prior to that. How come you guys don't have titles like that? I don't know. It's all different everywhere, Rob, senior writer. Are you senior digital reporter? Nope? Your senior writer? Yeah? Are you senior scout? I don't know what I am? But are you? I have? I am me? I have nothing? Senior digital reporter? Yeah? Veteran? What was but what was

last week's your title? Schmelkes? He was digital produced He was general Senior General producer charge of NATO. I think we should have fun ones, Mickey, Yours would be like Captain you know, angry about Vice President Ellie get angry when it means to get angry. Yeah, that's like such a dad comment right there. I am saying I am the happiest guy around till you make me mad, saying that, which is a lot. Got that grump zillion, got it, got it, so many, so many drops already, Apney, But nicky,

we'll get to a positive note. You brought something in here that made me happy? What what made you happy? I didn't bring roses or those are on my desk, right, I'm coming here, coming right, yeah, yeah, But you saw a guy out to practice real briefly, his name Terrence Williams. Came or running onto the scene during the stretching period and had his left ankle heavily tape. But he was running, which is much better than what he was doing on

Monday when he was dragging that foot. And my understanding is that they're gonna list him as limited for today's practice and we'll see how much he does in that limited period. And I'm thinking, from what I've seen a little bit of him, I think he's got a chance. Now, I don't know how well he would play if they want to just rest him, But I think he's got a chance. How about captain right answer, captain right answer? Yeah, I like that. How about captain good information right there?

And then the other guy that ran off the field after stretching was Orlando Scandrick. But he was at least out there with a helmet and jersey on left hand, heavily taped. But I still don't think he's gonna make it. Jerry Jones on the fan today said he would probably be a game time decision. So we'll see. We'll see final injury see if that thin air helps heal that incision. Final injury report comes out at three issues yesterday, I just don't. Yeah, let me make yo, let's make that

predict out. Yeah out yesterday's injury report. Rob kind of scared a few people seeing Byron Jones' name on there. Jones was out at practice. Yep, he was limited yesterday, and I believe Jason said it looked like he would try to do something in practice, so that sounds good. That sounds good on a Friday that if he gets some participation, he'll be ready to go. It was doing all the early stuff that we were allowed to see,

so that's a good sign. That he's out there, Avon Frazier if if trouble arises in the Mile High City or Xavier Woods, yeah, he's better prepared to play that free safety. Kind of kind of think about how we dressed it out last week and the part of that game though, if you remember how they were trying to play some things, well when the first I was just saying, the first safety that was on the field, Frazier came in right and Heath moved up right right, so Byron

Jones was still still on the field. See that just tells me that if something were to happen to Byron Jones, you know that we then then you would get him. I think that Frasier would be your next guy. And then yeah, well if you don't want Woods, because Lewis rookies out there and him all in the field at the same time. Everyone throw them out there. Better about the depth at secondary than you thought you were. Sometimes they have those religions where baptism they throw them all

in the lake at the same time. I feel good about their overall depth. But he does bring up a good point. I mean, the time on task, these guys just haven't had it, so I think, yeah, you would probably go with the veteran guy at least as the season goes on, though, I think things could change and strong opponents to start off with right away. That's kind of the scary thing there. But on the other hand, you know, you brought up a name the other day.

You were talking about defensive ends for the Bronco crick They're a defensive end. We can probably ask Mason about this. He's out of there for this week, so they'll be kind of sounds like back surgery, back surgery. Yeah, he's been having exactly right, he's they talked about spasms, you know, and all of a sudden. I think he tried to practice the other day and it didn't work out too well. So i'd see my guy gots us. Yeah, played pretty well the other day. That was kind of a psychic

prediction about that. Wow. You either that or I jin the crick guy. Yeah, Shane Ray, come back to please. I'd love to see you. Oh, Shane, just stay where you're at. Y you're at. But does that I mean, everyone knows von Miller is going to be just absolutely magnificent rob Yeah, but well that hurt him a little bit, kind of missing a guy maybe having to get back

in step with a guy named gots Us in his line. Yeah, they signed a guy, I don't want to get this pronunciation wrong, a Tiebeau Ruben, veteran guy with the Seahawks who started started a lot of games. He might get some playing time. But yeah, they've had some injuries on that D line, particularly in the middle of the line, so we'll see. I still think with with Vaughan though, you line him up on the edge and whatever. Yeah,

and and look the Cowboys, We've talked about it. They'll probably try to give some help depending on which side he's on certain times throw some different looks. But he is the key matchup to me, easier if you have to just look at one side all the time, then have to really worry about both. Absolutely. Absolutely. We have a few moments until Andrew Mason, senior digital reporter from

the Denver Broncos, will be joining us. But Rob, you kind of broke down some breaking news today of Zeke, and let's have a law report from We're gonna law student over here. I didn't bring my glasses, right, Oh yeah, I think I've got it down. Okay, Okay, So as expected, no surprise The NFL has responded and has skilled Judge Zant. Yeah,

they were to correct a ruling there. They've they've gone straight to the fifth fifth Circuit and New Orleans to get an emergency motion filed for a stay of the injunction, which means they're hoping they're asking for by September twenty six, Between the nineteenth and the twenty six, they'd like a ruling on that, so that could if it's granted, that would pave the way for Zeke to be you know, suspended, to serve that suspension after this game, depending on when

it comes down or possibly week four. We'll have to see. But there's some people in the in the legal world that don't think that's going to happen. It's just all speculation. But again, that's that's where they are. They're trying to do what they can to get that injunction waived. Boy, it's it looks like a political campaign out there, with the NFL throwing their stuff against the wall, the nfl

PA throwing their stuff against the wall. And I think the hard thing that's gonna be for the NFL well is to prove that if he doesn't start his suspension right now that they're going to suffer irreparable harm. Yeah, there's no irreparable harm. If the suspension starts week three, week five, week eight next spring, there's no irreparable harm. I can't imagine they're going to be able to prove that. And I'm simplifying it because there's more to it than that.

But that's one of the basis for a stay, would be proven that if he doesn't start his suspension, the league's gonna suffer irreparable Is this as simple as saying that Zeke, because he got granted the injunction, would serve more irreparable harm than the league itself because because he's off the fields games and that was where the ruling came down from the tests from Zant. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So now these other three judges get to decide on I if that is so or not. So it gives

you tired head, but it goes on. It does. And you know, last week we discussed Zach Martin and this will tie into it, so just bear with me for a second. We talked about how Zach Martin was understanding of the fact that his contract extension negotiations have kind of been tabled at least for now, we don't know what will happen during the season agents that type of thing. But he said in his article, I think you wrote this, Rob,

I could be corrected. He said, you know, he's just happy he has the chance now to completely focus on football. He did say that, and I thought that was an interesting thing. And how you tie it back to Zeke is you know, Mickey just said it. It goes on and to kind of say, okay, today, where am I at with this? Hey? Lawyer? Can you tell me what I need to be doing? Where do I need to be that? Football is obviously first and foremost. I don't ever want to question his priority of his job, but

to have to continually think where am i? Am I going to be playing next week? Am I not? Who's after me? Now? Where am I with this? That's a lot for a twenty two year old to handle. Yeah, and that's a lot for me or anybody in this room. It is and in your right today it's going to keep going on until they decide Okay, we're not going to stay this injunction. It's going to stay in place. There's not going to be an expedited appeal hearing there

either one. So if that injunction stays in place and this hearing gets pushed out by months, then he's got some relief in his mind. Over. Yeah, I'm probably playing this whole season, but right now it's focus on today. Yeah, right now, it's still up in the air. It's just a feel for situation for us. Every Friday it's it's new news. It seems like every day it seems like new news. It's just completely mind blowing. But really quickly before we get into Andrew Mason. I'm excited to have

him on here. We'll get to one of Nikki's, Nicky's point, my points, one of your points. We've talked about high altitude here this week, and people are going to be looking at maybe a closer game than they think. Obviously, if the defense for the Broncos just shows up and hurts the Cowboys offense, it's going to be closer. So special teams will really matter in this game. And Mickey, you brought up a point of outstoot effects on Dan Bailey's range, so it should increase this range one of

the benefits of high altitude. I mean, the Bronco kicker has the same deal. But if you figure that Bailey over his career has hit fifty seven field goals of fifty yards or more. Twenty seven field goals of fifty yards or more with a long of fifty six, I would think the altitude extends that by five to ten yards. So now if you get in a situation where you can try something safe from sixty five, then you say, yes, send them out there. But the deal is with those,

and it depends how the game's going. Normally you don't try those end of the half or desperate at the end of the game because it's certainly in the middle of the second quarter. Aren't going to go say, okay, let's go try a sixty five yard or and if I miss, I'm going to give them the ball at what the forty five yard line? Right? That ain't happening, no, I think there. But your point two is at the

end of game game management, right, you know. Now, if this thing turns into a tough, tight game, you know, and absolutely the Cowboys are seventeen and seven on the road since I think twenty fourteen, if i'm if I'm right about that. So if you if you think about that, and they're they're and they're I want to say, they're eight and four in games decided by one score or less.

So to me, if it turns into you get into a tough, tight game and all of a sudden you're out of timeouts, you mean you're work in these situations all week, out of timeouts, trying to move the ball, got to get the ball, wit it's gonna make a catch, gets out of bounce. Okay, now it's a sixty yard field goal. You know you to Mickey's point, you have to feel somewhat good about that. I mean not great. Yeah, you're gonna have to win a game with maybe with

a sixty yard field goal. But it's a little different than say if you're playing in Cleveland or Pittsburgh or one of those other New England and one of those other places where you're not going to get that carried because I mean, altitude might win you a game, believe it or not. Just on special teams. It changed how you call plays in general. I mean you go a little more conservative if you if you're driving in the in the drive stalls and you got a short yarded situation.

But see what we saw it. But Denver blocked the field goal. Denver blocked the fuel goal to save the game the other day, so you have to be that's in your mind. But they also, you know, the Chargers made a fuel goal and then had the time out. Yeah. This reminds me of the Thursday night football game that opened up the twenty sixteen season. Last year, Grant Graham Gano, a great kicker in the National Football League, missed a

long field goal at the end of the game. Yeah, and unfortunately I think it was Brandon mcmaan as their kicker made it, right, he's used to practicing up there. Yeah, but what what what he was explaining? You don't want to miss a field goal in the middle of the game, right, getting the ball at the fifty yards right. See that's yeah, yeah, she's I totally understand what you're saying there, because, like

I say, it's you. It's one of those things that you might have to figure out how you want to manage if you're if you're say you're in the in the hurry up mode, no time outs, you gotta do whatever you have to do to win the game, tie the game, whatever. But if you're a situation where you're trying to milk clock and think about, okay, how close can I I mean, what can I keep running the ball here to keep you know, to have to throw a third down? No, I don't have to run it again,

you know that kind of thing. So yeah, I think the way that Jason Garrett, you know. But I'm gonna give you guys an assignment, you know, because we do the pregame show here. Oh, we'll watch for you watch because please watch. Yeah, please watch when Dan Bailey goes out there and tell me which side of the field he's better kicking field goals into, because that might make a difference too, of which direction they want to play

in the second half. Talking to him yesterday, he said, yeah, he'll go out before the game, and part of it will be they always look right, what they're distance is distance, find that distance way each way. Well, this time it's gonna be okay, let's see how far. It's sort of like when those guys come to AT and T Stadium, the punters, and they all want to see if they can punt and hit the video board video which the guy last week Marquette whatever is the king is his name?

Not last week, but the Raiders guy. Uh, he hit it. So I asked, I asked, Dan. I said, so, do you have a feel like you have you ever kicked an altitude? And he goes, not that I was aware of. He didn't sound like he'd ever kicked in Colorado. Um I think although No, he said he kicked in Boulder. Yeah, so that means he kicked. So he kicked an altitude. I said, well, that's us high. Yeah. They were playing Wyoming or those Yeah, yeah, and so but that'll be key,

that's when they warm up. Just yeah, that's a distance. That's something that'll be a good pregame. Note which way he is going and how far the distance is. Well, we will bring that to you. And now we have our altitude expert, but more importantly the Broncos expert, Andrew Mason, Senior Digital Report for the Denver Broncos. You are joined Andrew by Mickey Spagnol and Rob Phillips and Brian brought us. We're very excited to have you on. So, how's everything

going up there in a Denver going great? How are y'all doing great? Any snow in the mountains? If we could take an hour trip, you know, I think some of there's a couple of peaks up there. I saw some pictures where there's a little bit of snow on some of the peaks. But the big thing is if you get up about forty five minutes up from here, up towards about fair play places like that, the colors

on the aspens are really popping through. But what a picture you've painted for us, and we're gonna get right into it. This is obviously a big game for the Cowboys coming up to Denver. They haven't won there since nineteen ninety two. Now, the first question that I think we're all wondering is how is this offensive line really built up in the off season. I know that was a big thing last year that Trevor Simeon was never really protected. But adding one of our guys, Ron Leary

in the free agency, what do you think of it now? Well, they definitely love what Leary can bring. Certainly you saw that down there death. They liked the toughness and tenacity that he's brought the introg interior the line. Of course, right now he's in the post concussion protocol, so they're hoping he's a He's back. By Sunday, he was standing on the sideline, was wearing a helmet on Thursday, which is a a good sign for how he's coming through

the post concussion protocol to this point. But the rest of the restaurants kind of kind of a work in progress. Aside from Matt Partis, who was a Pro Bowl selection last year's center. Uh, you know Garrett Bowls first round picket left tackle. Uh. You know, he's gonna come along and fits and starts. You know, they like the add

to the nastiness that he's brought to. You know, had a had a rough preseason game against San Francisco, three holding penalties, but he's had some some flashes of brilliant Menelik Watson at right tackle, uh, allowed some sacks on Monday night. I think of they want to make sure, they want to get him up to speed. I think that's kind of what they're they're concerned about right now. But you know, the line, it's a little I think

the thing you'd say is work in progress. Maybe they'll try to kind of chip, but to chip on the right side to help mintel a Watson out a little more week too. Andrew, you know much was made about the Broncos. You don't want to throw the football against the Broncos, but running the football seemed to be a good avenue of moving to football, made some offseason adjustments. Some guys actually bulked up, wait wise, So kind of talk about where the Broncos run defense is right now

as you went through the preseason. Obviously you got San Diego in a passing situation, But where does the team feel like they are right now with their run game defense. They're pretty confident in where it stands. And the Chargers, you know, that was a run, that was a running game that that caused the Broncos some problems last year. You know, Melvin Gordon had one hundred yard game against them, against them, had and it was pretty consistent in both games,

consistently productive. And uh yet after that, after that first run, a twenty one yard or yard run to start the game, the Broncos really clamped down. You mentioned now that the lineman got bigger, Derek Wolfe Adam Gotsis. Get that those guys add about fifteen to twenty pounds. Jared Crick now he's he's out for the season. He's out, he's out on injured reserve because he just underwent the back surgery. But he had added weight as well. But between wolf

and Adam got to the second year guy. They're high on adding adding weight and then bringing in Domtotecco from Cincinnati, a big three, you know, three thirty five pound veteran nose tackle who is a kind of guy that can occupy two blockers and three the inside backers up to you know that they hope not have to take on guard guards as often as as they were last year. They feel like that can kind of help the rundee events. But the big thing is the big thing is it

is upfront. I mean, last year, one reason why the Broncos you know, struggled again struggled against the run. They simply weren't making plays of the line of scrimmage so many times, you know, most of their you know, it's not they were allowing explosive runs twenty twenty five yards. It was repeated four and five yard gashings over and over and over again. Which is why the Broncos, you know, we're in the bottom five in the league and run defense.

You go to Monday Night, they're they're getting a lot more stops at the line of scrimmage or you know, for one two yard games, and so they're getting the kind of stop but with what they're getting up front, bigger, stronger, you know, defensive linemen. They're able to get stops of the line of scrimmage or within one or two yards, and so they're able to get to kind of stop that knock an offense off schedule and force and force to become one dimensional. So they're pretty happy with where

the run defense was in week one. That being said, the Cowboys present a much bigger channels in week two. So with Jared crick out, who takes his plays and how do you think that guy moves in there and how well would he perform? Well, they started Shelby Harris in week one, and he's a guy he was with the Raiders, actually was cut four times by the Raiders. U Joe Woods, the defensive coordinator. He had worked on the Raiders' staff a few years ago and kind of

brought him to the Broncos attention. He's he's been really the big find of camp for the Broncos this year. You know, impressed or impressed earlier in OTAs did now he did a good job getting his hands up, knocked down a lot of passes. So that really was the first way he started getting a lot of attentions, so you'll see a lot of Shelby Harris zach Kerr who

didn't play in Week one. He was a free agent signee from Indianapolis and he had a knee bruise, but looks like he's going to be back in the lineup of week two. He's a three hundred and thirty pound guy, so he's a he's a bigger defensive end and you usually see will see him rotate in as well. And then Adam Gottis, who was their second round pick last year. You know, he had a frustrating rookie season for him coming off the torn acl his team year at George at Tech. He was not all the way back, but

had five tackles Monday night. Most of them were were at or within one yard or the line of Scrimmish was doing it was. You know, he's a guy that added fifteen pounds of muscle in the offseason, much stronger at the point of attack than he was last year. Last year, Rul was really kind of getting pushed off

the line way too often. This year much stouter, and I think those are the guys that are going to step up and you're going to see plenty of them, and of course Derek wolf is a is a guy that you're gonna see that You're gonna see a lot of He had an ankle injury throughout the preseason, but he recovered from that and he said in week one the only issue was it wasn't the ankle, it was Stammond. I guess, getting his conditioning back, getting his win back

under him. All right, Andrew, will you just gave so much information. I know you have to run to go get your coach Vans Joseph and we will see you Sunday. Thank you so much for joining us today. My pleasure. Y'all get here and gore, thank you. Well, there you go. I wonder if fans is still having a wonderful time or what was the what was the saying best time, the last time of his life, still best time of

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Bank of America Corporation. It's bowling night with brands and you're hanging out together, bits of us there, but you're craving something better, But they're flos depensie. You don't know what to do. Pepper. You like to believe the doctor Pepper when you're craving pepper. When you crave a doctor Pepper, nothing else will do. Pick up an nice cold twenty ounce bottle today, doctor Pepper to you crave. I hear all this talk about what it takes to be a cowboy.

Everyone's got their ideas, but I just say to myself, it's what's up top that matters. Sure, you need men with the muscle and heart to get her done. But if your scouts and coaches are listening out there. A word of advice. Pick the man with the most well worn stetson. That's the one most cut out to be a cowboy. Stetson hats are handmaid right here in Texas and have been on cowboys heads for over one hundred

and fifty years. The rest of you can visit stetson dot com slash cow Boy to find a retailer nearest you. This is talking Cowboys. Tommy John Underwear is in a league of its own. Mind blowing fabrics you can barely feel, and designs to fit the modern man Mickey and Brian the eliminate bunching in weggis. Plus, it's backed by the

best pair you'll ever wear, or it's free guaranteed. Shop exclusive Cowboys Underwear at Tommy john dot com Forward slash Cowboys for twenty percent off your first order Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys. I just saw on the television there they had supposed to look at the wardrobe provided by and they all had polo Shirtside sure, it's like, we don't have that. I know you do have that, and you're in charge of the show. Why can't we

get wardrobe here? That's true. I want us to all be in matching Polo Speca, Rob and I were the other day we did we had scouts. This is a podcast, though, so you're only hoping that people will watch. We are the people are watching us. Yeah, R Mick, it's better to watch than just listen. That's an option. You have watch or listen every single time. Welcome watch list Yeah, that's true. Visual learners, welcome back into the SWBC Mortgage Studio.

We got in to a little bit of what the practice was doing, and then of course we got the great information from Andrew Mason. But it's time to realize that not all fifty three players can play on Sunday, even though you wish they could, especially when you're dealing with certain depth at certain positions. Now I want to ask you, guys, we did this last week. I went around and kind of gave you my guesses. How did we do last week? By the way, we did? I think we nailed it to knocked it out of mark.

I think I think we hit it. I think the only question mark that we had, or at least I had written down on my notes, was really seventy nine or sixty four. Obviously, it ended up being sixty four. We understood that going sure, Okay, ready ready for this week? Cooper Rush, I'm gonna stick with Darren McFadden. Banay've been Wickery, Orlando Scandrick obviously the new one there with the hand injury, fifty nine, Anthony Hitchens, and then Jonathan Cooper and Noah Brown. Okay,

is there anyone there that you disagree with? I know that certain people might be looking at a Terrence Williams or maybe switching out Darren McFadden with Alfred Morris. Yeah, could you consider going heavier at receiver because of Terrence's status? Could you keep Noah Brown active instead or along with him? But then you'd have to go light. You know, you don't want to go light on the defensive line. You would take that would be when the linebackers would come off.

Probably don't want to do that either really, or no, you can't take another running back off. Yeah, it only got six healthy lineback fullback. Fullback wasn't a huge factor in it the other day. But in this football game, you could have probably need to run. Yeah, probably need to move. You're gonna need to run, They're gonna need

to move them heavyweights in the middle too. Exactly. Yeah, I mean, I only I see what you're saying, Rob, But I think if they were to do that, they would just have to switch Charance Willy James and Noah Brown. They couldn't both be active. If he's a go, If they think Terence is a go, then he's a go. That's what I'm think. They've got to feel good about him. So yeah, I think you nailed it. Is there any reason to think that they might switch, Darren McFadden offered Morris.

Jerry Jones said the other day and the fan, it's kind of a close decision and it might be something where they alternate. Do you see the matchup being any different, Brian No. I feel like though that there. I feel like that they they want to talk about there's competition between the two, but I really don't think there is.

I think that, you know, peck, Brian, I'm probably gonna be wrong about this later on, but you know, looking at it the way it is, I think it's still the same way, find a way to get to the line, get through the hole. I feel like the coaches they liked what he's able to bring. They like Morris's ability to take the ball in the slash a little bit, you know, And I mean you get a defense that can tackle that. They've struggled against the run, you know.

And Andrew said that though they've done a better job at least in the San Diego game of tackling up front and so, but I still think it's I like, exactly what you've done. I think that McFadden's the guy just because of the fact of this offensive line. They need to hit the whole quick, and they need to get through the whole quick, and they need to finish runs,

and I think he can do that. Now. Question, is there any part of you that thinks they're keeping McFadden in his in their back pocket to keep them fresh in case Zeke is has to service? Very reasonable? I don't you know what that Yeah, I make that change things. If Zeke wasn't here, if Zeke, well, if Zeke wasn't here, then he would be you're saying he'd be the starter. Yeah, I don't disagree. I think that's it's a Grassy Knoll theory that going back to the Grassy Knoll being the

Kennedy deal. I'm sorry I dated myself there, but I'm saying, I totally understand what you're saying, and I totally think it's the plan that if you want to keep a guy fresh and then spritting and we figure out this court thing and it doesn't work out in the cowboy's favor. Now you got a fresh back and you put him out there. And because didn't they do that, Well, he

was in their back pockets sort of last year. He was ready, but on bad he was hurt though, you mean they well they had him on a reserve list for most of the season, but they put him on I R and then they just didn't activate him till what the last four games he was back in December. Yeah, I was fresh. Yeah, So that's why that I don't I think it's a brilliant deduction on your part. I remember the injuries he's had. Sure, it's like what they

should have done with the cornerback here, Mo Claiborne. You should have kept him in active for nine weeks and then put him out the second half of the season. You probably have. Yeah. By the same token, though, wouldn't you want to keep Morris fresh too? Like? I think it does come down to the two of them in some respect, because Rod Smith is active because of special teams. That's that is something he's earned. Yeah, no, one of

those two guys. But maybe you look at Morris as your your prime backup guy, right like he you know, all he's gonna get is maybe four carries a game like that, I think you're McFadden well made. Where else does McFadden help you if he's yea, Switzer's doing it right. I kind of liked one of them, one of them I didn't like. I see a lot of touchbacks on Sunday.

So your point as well made, Mickey. But then does that answer the question of if this whole situation has really become a distraction for this team because they have to now kind of do Granted they had good depth at running back, but they did it affect him in the first game. I don't think so. But she's just asking the question. I understand it. Yeah, I know. I'm just not a big person on I know, I know you're not, but you know, now it's showing that if

that's the case. And I think that's a great point because of the fact that they kind of have to tailor certain things knowing that this is the sixteen week season. Yeah, sixteen games. Well, well, I tell you what, maybe we'll

know this if this thing goes full. If it goes full on where next week or whenever the league, whenever where we get the final rule, then then then if then if McFadden comes back, Mickey's theory is absolutely or I mean, like what if what if they would they find out he's playing the rest of the season, they change and then they say, you know what, Yeah, now now it's well, we've given Alfred a few games, let's give McFadden a few games, and then it becomes about ability.

Then I just yeah, but I just go back to your point. You said, based on preseason work, you you would I win the nod. I would. They both ran well at times in preseason, but I think a body

of work, you could say Morris was better. And I don't want to say distruction because I know Mickey, you know that's more of the fact, like they can't focus on football, and maybe it's more about managing your team, right, you know, because they've had to manage their team right now with Demontre Moore out for these first two games, right, So I don't necessarily think it's considered a distraction, But it's definitely a kink in the way that you're going

to manage your team the rosters six rus. Just remember what was the rotation in preseason? Who went Firstcfadden died, Fadden did right, and who sat out on the practice when they sat out all the veteran guys mc McFadden, yeah, Morris practice, Yeah, whole body. No, I you're you're nicky, You're you're onto something. You're absolutely onto something, and I think it's I think it's worth putting out there. I'm glad you did that because that's something that you know,

this team thinks about. They do think about. Okay, well, if we're going to lose a guy, always say protecting themselves. They're protecting themselves right here. They get say they do put McFadden in there, but I think that Morris out played him the summer. I do that. That's me personally.

We'll see how they how they played, and you know, Mickey could absolutely be right about how do you handle that as a player though, if they're like trying to kind of almost sugarcoat it, like, hey, you're not going to get an active game week check this week, because no, you'll always get it. They get us check. But but yeah, but yeah, you're right. It is tough. He's a veteran guy, sat out most of the last year. It is check.

But there's difference between being active and inactive. Sure, absolutely. I mean this is a guy he carried the mail for them two years ago. It's got to be tough to say, can you keep sacreds? It's like, hey, Yaren, here's what we're doing. But don't say anything. Don't be upset. You're you're gonna have the nicest sweatsuit out there. You are gonna be just swaggy out Christine. Yes, but yeah, this is why. But we do have a caller all the way from Hawaii, Denny and Hello, Hello, how guys, Hello,

see you guys. Uh see Brian, see you on November nineteen with Star Sports Stories. Thank you, thank you. Yea. I have a Smith and Smith question, but not the Smith brothers. Um you guys brought up Keith Smith earlier. I think with the three four defensive linement, I think you know how you say, he can really dig up those linebackers. Sure, and not only that, UM mean a leage boker. But I like the way he receives the ball, you know, in the screen passes and those swing passes.

I think he does a great job with that, and I think I would like to see more of that package for this game especially. And then um, but for Janen Smith, um, he looked good as a blitzer. And I don't think I saw where that he blitz at all in the last game. But do you see him do you see him utilizing him more and more? Um as a season? Goals aren't in this game. They still get that pressure up the middle with right with see in right And I'll hang up and listen to you guys,

Thank you so much. Are you like Jalen Smith blitz in there? Mick? I do if if if they're going to play that, But yeah, it seemed like when they were going to go to their three four package that was going to be durant right, and they really didn't use it all that much. They placed basically played four man front with a dime package with short linebacker. Sure, I'll say this about Jalen. I know you've always said you like especially while he's still recovering or getting strength

in that foot going forward as opposed the backward. But I like the way he was moving. I liked his drops in the way he was turning and moving and planning in game the other night. He's shown progress there. He looked he really truly does look more and more comfortable movement out there than he has no he has. I think you're absolutely right about that, Rob, I mean

that's to me, but Mickey's right too. I mean, could we you know with a with a rookie quarterback, and if you go back and look Simeon's one of those guys that he does take sacks, but he actually thrives when you pressure him. It's it's a strange dynamic with him. He's almost a ninety five percent rated passer when you pressure him, So he knows that's what I'm saying. He doesn't.

He doesn't take sex. I think in one hundred in his career, one hundred and thirty eight snaps or drop back attempts, he's only been sacked four times, so that when you blitz him, so that you have to be a little a little bit cautious about that. But in normal down to distances, he's like six percent of his times he gets sacked. He's one of the worst in the league when it comes to that. So maybe we're

going to see more what Mickey's talking about. Three down lineman, clog and cover, try and make him make some accurate throws there. If you can maybe get some pressure, maybe if you bring the fourth rushure a is a slot or one of the linebackers. But I just kind of have a feeling though that they're not gonna blitz this guy as much. They're gonna make him have to make some throws. And we talked about what the problems are, Andrew even brought it up with the offensive line work

in progress. He's being really nice saying that because their tackles have struggled, not to the Giants levels of struggle, but you have to say, okay, tank Lawrence, go beat, go beat Watson because he can do that. He has that capability and you know, we could see it in this game, and maybe it won't require them to blitz. Yeah, if you can just get home with four. I think that's what I think to me, that's the game plan

if a guy. If a guy's proven to me he's got a short, you know, fifteen game career so far, but if he's showing to me that he can handle pressure and read, like you said, get rid of do all that and he's complete and passes. I'm not gonna blitz him. I'm gonna make him have to make some throws. But if you telling me whoa he gets sacked on normal down and distance situations, that's kind of where I'm going. Hey, you just brought up a matchup that we haven't really

thought about this this week, DeMarcus Lawrence and Watson. But are there other matchups that we're just not really even thinking about right now? You know? Is it the one the slot receiver versus the slot corner? Yeah? Who are we really looking at? Yeah? Robie and Beasley matchupy, really good matchup. Can Beasley win in space? Robi's a good player, He's a good space player for them, much like how Scandrick is when he's healthy here. So that's a matchup

to watch for me. Yeah. Frederick at Pico mean again, you know, Andrew talked about that they get this big three and thirty pound, and last year Frederick was able to handle if we were doing our shows we were about to Cincinnati Bengals and game matchups and Pico and his ability to clog up the middle, big body doesn't get turned, you know. And and last year I felt like that Travis Frederick did a really nice job on him. Matter of fact, him and Ron Learry and Martin were

able to control that middle. I think they're gonna have to do. That's something we're not really focusing on. But at the Cowboys, the way they run the ball, I think you got to find a way to get that noseman secured. And especially though if they're playing, if if we're get him in a nickel and they start spreading out. Now it's about getting those guys all taking care of and getting to the second level. That's where the Cowboys can have some success. A good thing. He got a

three hundred and twenty pounds center. Yeah, yeah, moving him, he's done a lot better remembering his first in his career, though he didn't handle the guy in his nose very well, right If you remember, like early in his rookie year, it was everything where it was athletic, moving was just fine. But when a guy was on his nose, that's when it was a problem. Now last week, the guy you know that snax wasn't on his nose. Snacks was like

a man removed or in a gap. That's a little bit more of a difficult block and Denver will play a little bit more head up, true three four type of affront, so you have to be ready for it. I mean, he's gonna have to get on that to get on Peco quick and then they're gonna have to get him up to the set level, get that thing secured, and then allow twenty one to make those cuts. Mickey, what do you think about the matchup of a Rod Marinelli versus Trevor Simeon. You know, I don't know that

Rod does a lot of fancy you know things. I think they do what they do, I don't. I don't know that up that's his identity. Like these great schemes, the trick people I now, changing up the formations sometimes I think that can affect a young quarterback. But I just don't think he comes up with these exotic blitzes.

Everybody wants a blitz. Well, when we talk about the three four with two linebackers, where the linebackers are coming in the gaps right, So it's not a matter of the guy knowing how to blitz, it's a matter of are they picking everybody up? Did they read it right? You know who's coming, because when you do it that you know you got three up there, but sometimes one

guy falls off and two linebackers blitz. So it's more of a confusion thing than it is your ability to blitz and get through, because when you're blitzing through the gaps, they're they're they're shooting the gaps basically on each side of the center. Right. How much room is there? Right? You know, if those guys just kind of closed down in the middle, then maybe you freeze somebody on the outside. But I just don't see Rod doing a lot of

fancy stuff. I think he gets guys ready to play, teaches them great technique, and you know, have at it. He relies really on their team speed defensively, and he watched the Giants game. The Cowboys got to a lot of a lot of tackles with speed. Rally to the sound technique the tackle. Denver has trouble with defenses that can run. You know, if you're a defense that can run, they have problems with that. So that's gonna be the Cowboys calling card. Mickey's absolutely right. I don't think you're

gonna see the exotics. You won't. That's just not gonna happen. But what you're arguing to see is there, gonna try and be sound. They're not gonna allow the underneath stuff. They're gonna try and choke off the run the best they can get hats to the ball and tackle. That's the team. They don't give a big place. Neither one of these defenses give up big plays. That's that's going to be huge in this game. He's always tried to

force the quarterback to drive the entire field. Yeah, and you make a mistake for a young quarterback, that's what your hoping is going to happen eventually. If you got to put together ten twelve play drive, there's your altitude play too. You kick the ball in the end zone. I think something too. You need to think about here, guys. You gotta make this guy score along with you. I mean, make Trevor Simeon have to score along with shoot doubt. Yeah, may you turn it into a game where he has

to make a bunch of plays. I'm willing to bet that Dak Prescott will make more plays. So at that quarterback, Yeah, that's where and which team can make more plays and what team can force the other one to have to score around score right along with them? Yeah? All right, Well we're gonna take our last break here on Talking Cowboys. We will be right back and get into some rank them. To work this big land, you need equipment with values

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you'll travel like a pro. Visit Cowboys travel dot com to book your travel package today. This is talking Cowboys. Hey, guess what what? I got? A script? Do you do? You know why Papa John's pizza tastes so great? Why the ingredients like the veggies never frozen and the pepperoni, pork and beef? And tell you what what? There off the script? Now? If you order an extra large with two toppings. You get it for eleven dollars. Okay, that's a deal, and that's Papa John. You can't, you can't

do it, that's can't Colby's special. Hey, we lead to Denver tomorrow and uh, Mickey, you're gonna be ordering some Papa John's tonight. Kind of get the packing ride and everything ready to go for you know, they have pretty good pizza in Denver. By the way. Oh, it's funny with the altitude and what if the ovens? Sure, I

think it helps. Hey, when I was younger and I would bake brownies or do anything like that, it was always like my mom would make sure look at the high altitude instructions because mine always came out discuslay with high altitude tennis balls I did. I did tennis and tennis is something that Mickey and I have a common ground. You get this scheduled? Can we get this matchup film? I think Rob? I think Rob and I could take you two. No, yeah, it's not a hype thing, not

even me not having played a match basketball. I think we'd be okay, Rob, We're fine. We could, like I understand, maybe a team sport, maybe football for sure. Flag football, no doubt, Tennis. Watch me. I'm a good player. I get up to that. Now. You could wait with nail Or from disc and Basketball, Chip, Chip and Chase all day for these two. You wouldn't get a shot off.

You wouldn't get a shot would and frustrated after let's get back to fo Okay, you're not frustrated because drive right Hu hut damn Marino hard count on that Rob Before we get to your pool. We gotta call her Kenny and tennessee what is up? Hey? How's everybody doing? Kenny? Where are you been? I man, I've had a little bit of change in life and change jobs, and it's hard for me to get when it's live now, you know. Yeah, well we miss you. Well, I miss I missed calling in.

I mean, I don't like watching it on the delay either. I like watching it live. But I just got two quick questions and I'll let you go. All right, Yeah, this is Zeke situation. First of all, I just think it's a conspiracy against Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. But anyway, if it continues home and goes like towards the end of the season, is the league really that common and with suspending and the miss playoff games. Sure they would, yes, you know what, and it would depend

on when the courts decide. Absolutely here in the case if it's x AD died, right, it could be heard later in the season, and then it just depends on what it's heard. Yeah right, absolutely, yeah, they certainly will. You know, in that case, I want to look at it like I might want to go ahead and get his old wids if it's bound behind us theory. Yeah, well, I got uh one more question because it really messed me up. Drafted my fantasy team because all I get

to do is watch preseason games and stuff. Did Alfred Morris really out play McFadden Because when I got to seek in the draft and I drafted McFadden as the handcuff, and then when that game started us to day, it blew my mind. Alfred Morris was some second team I feel you. And uh so that add did Alfred Morris really out playing this year? He did. Brian thinks he did miss Kitty and Tennessee. Yeah he really did. Been like ten years. Yeah he did. He did outplay it.

But we'll see. But to them, like Micky said, Mickey threw you a great nugget right there about that, and so I don't I like what he's saying. But if they the coaches feel like that, Nick Fadden, when this whole Zeke thing comes to light completely to the end, if they suspended Mickey's right, I wouldn't be surprised to see mcfaddenback as your starter. I hope Kenny's keeping his neighbors at Bay two, by the way, because they would

give him trouble when the Cowboys lost. Yeah, Robert Poll and then to some rank up Okay pole today recap and we did a great job. I think, are recapping all these matchups throughout the week. We're gonna ask the fans what's the key matchups Sunday at Denver? Okay? Number one does Bryant versus a keep to Leib Two Nolan Carroll against Damarus Thomas. Three, the Cowboys offensive tackles against mister Miller von Miller, And fourth Zeke against the Broncos

front seven. How will the running game fairs or four good ones? Yeah? What do you guys think? How I think they voted or how did we Who would you say I would take for? What do they say or what do I say? Your pick? I'll take or number three. Okay von Miller, Okay, von Miller. That's an easy one. I guess I'll say Zeke's a good one. Ryan, give me the front seven seven. Zeke. Yeah, go load the wagon and go, you guys, load the wagon. You guys are on the money. Those are the top two answers.

Door number number one was door number four, Zeke against the Broncos front seven, followed by the Cowboys tackles against von Miller. Your choice, Micky of the vote there. Well, if the tackles don't play, then Zeke doesn't play. No, that's true. But I think that you cannot allow von Miller. That would be captain obvious here. Don't let him wreck your game, right, you know, don't let it be second

and nine. Say, this is where the Broncos thrive. They thrive in making you when you have to throw the football, they love it. That's how they they you know, and you know Brad Allen is the official in this game. Brad Allen had the Philadelphia Washington game last week. Brad

Allen's crew only called one defensive holding penalty. This is gonna be a key, and this is gonna be a key if they and I have a feeling that Brad Allen's crew is going to let this defense play, you know, so Cowboy receivers had better be ready for a clutch grab hold game. Yeah. I just feel like it's that's what's going to be. I don't like to compare this team to the twenty sixteen team. Obviously there's a lot of returning guys and their identity is pretty much the same.

But last year brand we were on Cowboys break, we weren't with these lovely gentlemen here. But I felt like you would tell me a guy like von Miller, right, they watch about an example in my mind is Vontes perfect, right, And this team really found a way, whether it was just in you know, the way they played and changed it up in the game, but they found a way to really not make block him yet to block them and to make them not the big factors in this game,

you know. And we're talking about Damarius Thomas yesterday. I feel like Rod Marinelli knows how to kind of take down these big time receive Alshan Jeffrey aj Green, the ones that he's faced in the past couple of seasons here, they really haven't Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't know why that is. He wasn't calling the place when Johnson tore him up Calvin john Troit No, Yeah, was that was that? That was? I think that was that Rob was that two? Oh?

That was Marion Ellie's first year here? So which was here? He just wasn't charging to your point on my shoulder in Kansas City, Yeah, that's right for von von Miller matchup. This is what Loo Collins has been working for for four months. I mean, this is what he's been taking all the reps for back in OTAs he's gotten He's watched cut ups of every guy he's gonna face, and I would imagine that includes von Miller. It was Jpp. They ever faced each other in college. Vaughan against Elia

was a SEC or Vaughn was in the SEC. He was out, I don't think so he was out in the first ten, the seventh. He's in his seventh year. Solf. I was trying to think because sometimes you see SEC matchup guys and you forget that Texas A and m was, Yeah, he might have been a freshman Bonds last year. I have to go back and look, but I mean, this is this is what he's prepared for all year long.

So look these guys, the Petco guys three thirty three, twenty five, Ker three thirty five, Wolf is two eighty five. Well he's bigger than that, now they might so it's probably three hundred. So with those big old guys in the middle, just make them go laterally, you know what. The altitude bothers them too, by the way, So you get them running laterally, you'll run talk here, yeah, talk talking at altitudes like water. It sees it sees no

difference in any right. Everybody's don't use to use to excuse. Manuaco tried to do that and it's like, did you guys win that game out there? No? They lost. I'll see you, you know. I think you're on to something though, to take Yeah, every time we want to talk about a matchup that maybe the game hinges and I like the fact that you win on is there a secondary matchup? We're not. I don't think we all went into and we're gonna do rank them here, I'm sure before we

get out of here. But we none of us really thought about DeMarcus Lawrence and the impact that he had. He would have, you know, it's somebody like that it's gonna be somebody in this game when you've got it, when you've got a matchup with with both sides, having star players on both sides, and you always kind of think of the star players. It's always good to kind of think of that that X factor guy that I got one might be the difference maker. You got one?

You want to lead us off rank? Oh, or do it right now and rank them four minutes, Tyrone Crawford. I like it. I think Tyro and Crawford will be like heydla, let me have a few I mean a few rushes or a few sacks. Sacks. Oh, there we go. It's get a little better a week later from the ankle. Yeah, he'll be. He'll be the guy that you're like, I forgot you were on this team. Yeah, how are you there?

It is there, it is, Mick, you got one. I'm still thinking, still brewing Anthony Brown, Anthony Brown, good Way, Yeah, Anthony Brown, I think is you know rank he's gonna he was outstanding. I thought last week playing I didn't pick him already, seems like an obvious choice. Okay, then I would go I'll go for another one. There, I'll go out. I'll go good if you want to. If you want an X factor player, maybe a Woozier. You know,

somebody's gonna have to step up in the secondary. It's gonna coming, Yeah, somebody's somebody's gonna have to pick off a ball, somebody's gonna have to make a tip play. Somebody's gonna have to turn this game. It's gonna come down to possessions and how you do in your possessions. If you could deny the Broncos possessions, if you could deny their court breaks, if you deny, send me in the ability to throw the football and make him have to make some tough throats. It's gonna have to come

on some of those guys. Brown, a Woozier, you know, Nolan Carroll, he might Nolan Carroll might be an X factor. He was kind of just just did his job last week, but he might have to be a big or X factor player this week. May say every one of your players, Mickey, I am going with the champ. Who's that Marcus Lawrence got the belt? Yeah he does. He does have the belt, which a matter of factly, when he showed up for his interview with us for the Jason Garrett Show. He

brought his championship WBC belt with him. We were looking over his shoulder. What was we get a belt? Marinelli's belt. The commissioner of the WBC showed up at training camp. Oh, I see everyone. He gave him a belt. Oh wow. And so now the defensive line votes give it a player of the game and whoever has the belt, I mean, whoever wins, it's the belt for the week. Great idea. So he came with draped over his shoulder and the other guys were yelling at him, and he goes, I

ain't giving it up. I'm the champ. That means if he wins again, I'll tell you what. Though, him against Watson, I like that. I like the matchup. You said pick him, You didn't say pick somebody obscurc it right. I mean we could we could Joe Zeke Dak, We could do that. We could know we could switch this and make this more of than X factor type who won last week? I got co belts, They got co belts. All right, I'm gonna just because he made a job, they made

a T shirt. Did you get a T shirt from that? No? But I'm in buy one for Mickey, dude, perfect catch. And then at the end of the show, it's gonna say wardrobe provided by Taylor Stern for Mickey, that's all right. For Captain Angry Pan, we'll just pass it around. We'll pass the shirt Aptain Angry. Interesting there, I'm gonna go Stephen Paia. Can they shut down the game? C J Anderson kind of between the tackles? Guy, how does their nose tackle fair in the game? I like it. Rob,

We'll see. Well. Here we are, end of the week. Time to get on the road. Thank you guys so much for joining another edition of Talking Cowboys. This has been a duction of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.