Player's Lounge: Camp Battles to Watch - podcast episode cover

Player's Lounge: Camp Battles to Watch

Aug 14, 20201 hr 10 min
--:--
--:--
Download Metacast podcast app
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episode description

Newy Scruggs, Danny McCray and Barry Church return to break down the start of training camp and give you their camp battles to watch, as well as weight on the signing of DE Everson Griffen and more on this episode of the Player's Lounge!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Speaker 1

The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. This is the Player's Lounge, broadcasting live from Dallas Cowboys World headquarters at the Star. Now your hosts, Barry Church, Danny McCray, and NEWI Scrugs here we are back on the Players Lounge. He's been far too long, far too long, technical difficulties. I will take the blame me, my fault. That's why we are

late today. So I'm gonna jump on that grenae. Okay, I'm gonna be a team player and be a quarterback and jump on that grenae and say to me so thank you for sticking in there. It's been far too long since Barry Church, Danny McCray and I knew he Scruggs had a chance to talk to you. Now. The Players Line is about these two fellows who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Danny McCray and Barry Church. So Barry,

it's good to have you back. I'm gonna let you go ahead with your own personal state of the union as we've got the show back in order. I have some Cowboys football to be exact, and I mean it's just it's just a great feeling to be back. I mean, we've been doing nothing for the past couple of months, learning new trades here and there, but it feels great to be back talking ball with you boys. So I'm ready to get it started. McCray, I'm a second that man.

I'm ecstatic. I'm ecstatic we get to talk about football. We've been locked down in quarantine for a while so just kind of looking for different things to do, and now we got the players lowns back, so man, let's get this thing rolling. And I still haven't got my dinner from from News, but I understand why why you're late. Thank you that I'm not late. I'm not late at all. It's been quarantine time and missus mccraig is expecting a little one, so you and I don't need to be

out face to face having dinner. So I'm not late. We just had to postpone it, okay because Dak did not sign the long term contract as expected, and uh yeah, yeah, so I owe you. I owe you some grub peple. Let's talk about the first camp practice for the Cowboys here, fellas, because Mike McCarthy got the guys out this morning at

eight am. Ninety degrees at the star at Frisco. Let's start right out of the bat here with one CD Lamb, the Cowboys first round draft pick, taking number seventeen overall. He opened up at the slot wide receiver position. He ended up with a one handed grab that was very nice. If you haven't seen it, going over to my Twitter page Unwis scrubs, any Wy Scruggs or Dallas Cowboys dot Com. I put the picture up there, So fellas, your thoughts start with you first, Danny Cede Lamb opening up at

that slot receiver with the stars. Yeah, man, I think that's smart, and I also think that's the only place that he fits. Um Gallop, you know, proved itself that he's capable of being being a top receiver last season, and we know Mark Cooper was going to be on the outside, so you know, it's natural for CD to be in the slot. And so I think him starting out there and being able to learn that position and seeing what McCarthy wants him to do and how he can be a playmaker is real good for them with

this open and practice. And it's great that he may made that one hand catch, but I just want to see it with those pads on. Man, it's a different game. Barry, Yeah, yeah, I gotta agree with Daniel hundred percent of this one. I feel as though the slot position is the spot that CD's gonna learn for at least his rookie season. Like you said, you got Gallop out there who emerged as a as a great number two receiver out there who over a thousand yards, had multiple touchdowns. He played

great last year. Hopefully he can duplicate that. And then obviously we have our number one we've paid a boat to on the money money too, and Mark Cooper out there. So this is a place that CD was gonna fit. I don't think it's the easiest position for a rookie receiver to come in and transition into the NFL. It's

a slot. I mean, you got to be a very intelligent, very quarterback friendly receiver when you're in a slot because you gotta figure out where those zones are, where to sit down in between the zones and making your your position pretty much open for the quarterback. So it's kind of just having a second quarterback out there, kind of like the tight end position. So it has to be extremely intelligent. So it's not going to be the easiest transition as playing rad receiver outside. But I think he

can do it. And with his talent as we've seen yesterday with that one day heard today with that one hand and catch. I mean, he has all the talent in the world. Let's just see if he can do it with the pads on. All right, some other camp notes. Here's the Cowboys hit there had their first practice. Or to Mike McCarthy right tackle Al Collins, he didn't practice. He was off to the side, so Wyatt Miller was

the first team right starter. There no cam irving your thoughts on Collins not being there to practice but working out on the side. Yeah, I don't think. I don't think it's that big of a big of a deal. I man, it's practice number one. They don't really have pads on. It's really a footwork thing that's going on right now. So if there's any reason for him to be safe and get in shape and make sure everything is loose enough for him to compete at a high level,

don't take a risk on it. It's day one, So I don't see it being a big deal, and it's probably good for those backup guys to get get a look at the first team reps anyways, because we all know what Lyle can do once he gets on the field as a start. Yeah, I agree with you there once again. I mean, we all know Lyle's a he's a Pro Bowl caliber player. I think he should have made it last year. But he's a Pro Bowl caliber player. And it's day one, Like you said, there's no pass.

They're kind of just installing or just getting in the in the float of the rhythm of things. I mean they just got back into camp there, you know, pretty

much just filling each other out right now. So if there's any time for him to you know, get a couple of wins printing or get get some extra conditioning in since he's not practicing, this would be the best time to do it before they get into the whole nooks and crannies of the of the new offense putting in and how he wants to block and how different

schemes need to be au solved. I think this is an opportunity for him to get some extra cardio in and um pretty much you know, get it in early so it's not a big deal later on as a camp progressive. Let's stay with the offensive line. Mike McCarthy this week in the Cowboys State of the un said that car Williams was slowly working his way back, but

here it is first practice. Carter Williams was out there with the first team in left guard and then Joe Looney ended up being the starting center right there, So, Danny, what do we make of that? Right there? Here's here's the coach saying, Carter Williams is going to be out here at all season knee surgery, and there he is right there, ready to go. I'll tell you this, The

pandemic and COVID has changed changed these things. If this was a normal camp, and it was and it was starting on time, and McCarthy said that, you could take it at face value, right, you would understand that they're going out there, they're probably going to be moving fast and he needs to slow down coming off that knee surgery. But with it being as slow as it is and walk through pace and moving slow and no pass I don't think. I don't think it's a big worry for him.

So if he can go out there and he felt like he could get those reps and just get the movements in, then I think he'll be okay, but once they start moving a little faster, I think that's when you'll see McCarthy kind of limited reps. Also note here Barry Carter Williams is also where the knee brace too when he was out there. H's that's perfect. Um, And if I'm not mistaken, But Connor was injured last year. Correct. Yeah, he had the knee surgery in the offseason, so so

he's trying to he's trying to get back. Yeah, he's trying to get back. So oh yeah, Like I said, I agree with Daniel on this one too. I mean it's it's very slow paced, it's very kind of just kind of more mental reps than actually going out there physically. So um, I can see them, you know, kind of limiting his reps, wants to practice, push his back up. But this is also a guy who, like you said, last year, he was injured. He's trying to come back. He's trying to be part of that main stay of

that offensive line. So I can see him going out there saying, hey, I can do this walk through, I can do it at this pace. Just let me go out there and kind of get get accumlated with this starting offensive line scenes though he was injured last year. So this is a guy that's I think he's willing and ready to get out there as fast as he can. Hopefully he doesn't push it too fast to re injure himself. But this is a guy that's ready to get back out there. And I can see why he was like, Nah,

I'm not waiting till the next couple of practices. I'm ready to get out there right now. He needs he needs those rips. You see somebody in the rim. Liah doesn't see anybody in that review miracle will not at all things and the things in the middle bigger than he's saying. Somebody creeping up from that rear view. He said,

hold on, I gotta put this gas on. I mean there, we've all been there when when there's somebody right behind this and we know they got talent behind you, and you gotta step this stuff up and you don't want to miss any practices because there's some linker and injuries. So we've all been there, and Connor's in that same situation right now. If he was on coaches, he would still be out there. And they walked through like, man,

I'm gonna get this everything. So this is definitely um I was I'm trying to find the right word here, but this is this is what's caused when you bring in a new coachings down the other These coaches don't know you. Joe philp In the new offensive line coach, he doesn't know Connor Wills. He doesn't have a familiarity with him. So I understand your point and saying, hey,

look you see somebody else behind you. They took Connor mcgovernor out of Penn State, didn't play last year's rookie year at all, and but here's the guy that everyone in the building says, hey, he him play. So Joe Looney gets the opportunity to replace Travis Frederick, who retired. Joe Looney filled in for Travis Frederick the year that

he had Jabari syndrome and didn't play. Looney spoke to the media said he learned a lot from Travis during their time together, but he feels confident in what he can do here. Do we think, Joe Looney when we start talking about position bouts, do you think he can hold off Connor mcgovernment who at Penn State his last two seasons was a starting center there Yeah, absolutely, I

think he can. And once again is what iut. Having OTA's and mini camp and being familiar with the coaches, I think they're gonna go with the person who has the most experience in the NFL to start. So I think he can hold him off at the beginning. Now, play play in the first two or three games will decide, you know, who ends the season as a starter. But I think he has a good chance of holding them

off just just because lack of reps and lack of experience. Yeah, I think he has a good chance to hold him off just because there's there's there won't be the same like a regular season, and there won't be any preseason games or anything like that to where you can see him going and get Joe Looney going against opposite defenses in the opposite competition, and he's going against guys that he you know, he's played against or he's practiced against

over the years, so he's kind of familiar with their moves and how they practice. So it's gonna be hard to evaluate, you know, those two guys on different competition where we're not playing that during the preseason. So I think he'll be able to hold him off. For camp. Now, when we get into the regular season, if he starts to struggle, I think he'll have a short lease. As far as you know. He might not be able to give up one or two sets and then he might

give a play. So we'll see how it goes during this preseason and once the regular season starts. But I think he'll be able to hold him off just for the simple fact that he doesn't have to go against any other competition and they won't have to judge those two on different competitions, seen as though they're playing against the same players each and every day during camp. All right, fellas, let's keep it going here. The Cowboys have their first practice.

So right here on the players eyes, we're going through some of the practice notes where you die hard Cowboys fans. The starting secondary now at camp today, at right quarterback it was Anthony Brown. Left quarterback it was cheetoh A Woozier. Safeties haha, Clinton Dix, and then he had Xavier Woods and then at the slot you started with George Lewis. Now throughout the practice they kind of did a little flip flock, going back and forth. Rotating is the secondary.

So Trey Bon digs the first second round pick, I should say, from Alabama, got reps at right corp. Then he had Darryl Worley playing some left quarterback there. So those two guys, Diggs and Whorley were starting the team portion at the end of practice. So this is your specialty fellas here, Danny, you take it your thoughts right there on what they laid out there to start to see Cheeto playing quarterback. We talked about it possibly go to safety, but he gets the first run out here

with Brent Man, I think across the board. For me, it's probably be the same man. Just because it's day one and these guys haven't had the chance to see some of these rookies that they picked up. Its natural for them to go with the previous years starters because they have that experience. So I'm not really buying too much into the starting second in there that they have now.

With the exception of Woods, Clint Dix and Jordan Lewis, I think those two outside positions, I think they'll be playing and competing for those starting jobs throughout training camp and probably about the first two or three games, and then well we'll see how how the doomin those falls in but I'm not buying too much into what they rolled out on day one. Yeah, for me, I think this is gonna be one of the biggest position battles throughout all of camp, probably the most important and probably

the biggest. And I would have to say it's the corner position. I feel as though those safeties pretty much got it locked down. I know they said it Wouziers might you know, switch back and forth and playing safety, but I'm not sure if he could supplant you know, how hot Dicks or Xavier Woods back there at safety for them. So for me, it all comes down to this corner room. I mean, this is gonna be an

extreme battle right here. I mean, like you said, you had Anthony Brown over at one corner and you had che Whozia at the other. But you see that said, by the end of practice, they had, you know, the other two guys they picked up in free agency, and the rookie out of Alabama was getting some time in there with the first unit. So on the first day, if they're already rotating like this, they let you know that it's going to be a heck of a competition

out there at the end of the day. I do I don't see Anthony Brown being that number one corner out there on the right side. I feel as though he's suited perfectly for a slot nickel type position. But the only problem that is is we already kind of have a perfectly suited nickel in Jordan Lewis. So I think that's gonna be a great position battle right there. It's gonna be a great to watch that and see

how that develops. But I think it's gonna be one of the most important camp battles throughout all of camp that they're both there. All the corners in there can play and have experience out there, So it's gonna be a great, great battle out there. But looking forward to seeing how it plays out. In Cannon. Let's stay with the safety position. Donovan Woods, the kid that done the second year out of Texas A and m how to pick six of Dak Prescott as Dak was trying to

find Blake Jarvin right there. So something we know the Cowboys defense has to improve upon is getting some turnovers. And here's Donovan Lewis going ahead putting his name out there to let everybody know he is here to make this foot team. It possibly get some run as a safety. Oh, that's huge, especially coming in and I think he's in a second year coming in. I mean, if you're getting if you're getting interception off of the starting quarterback, I mean,

that's already turning heads for coaches. I mean, like I said, coming in, younger guys trying to trying to make the team or just trying to get your name out there. I mean, making plays like that in practice. If you can make one a day in practice, I mean I don't get your name rising up there, and you'll for sure make the team. You just got to keep on making plays throughout each and every practice. Yeah. Absolutely, making those type of plays, especially as a first impression in

front of these coaches, is huge. And if he continues to make those type of plays, they'll find a way to get him in the game. They'll create some packages if he's not a starter, or their movement to that spot. Because the most important thing is creating turnovers and being able to be disciplined and defense. And if you can create those takeaways, you will be on the field. They will not have a guy who can get interceptions and cause fumbles sitting on the sideline. So that's that's a

great start for him. I want to see him continue to do that. All right, You guys both made the Cowboys undrafted free agents. Danny you went on from Dallas to go to Chicago. Barry you went on from Dallas to go to Jacksonville. When you have that first practice and these coaches are seeing you on the field for the first time, what is that like? What are some of these Cowboys going through as they show a new set of coaches what they can do. You got to Jacksonville.

Oh I'm sorry, I thought with mccraye, but you gotta when you come into a new situation, better being undrafted or you got a whole new coaching staff coming in, you first want to get acclimated. From me, it was getting acclimated with a special team's coach because that's for me every time throughout my whole NFL experience, that's the coach that is kind of most most connected to the players.

I feel like every special team's coach is pretty much best friends with all the players out there because they want them to be able to play on their teams. They want them to come and want to play on their teams, even as starters. So for me, going to a new team or being as an undrafted free agent, you make your make friends with a special team's coach

and then you go on from there. You make sure that you get all that teams batted down before you worry about offense, defense, all of other stuff, because that's the quickest way to make the team. Now, if you're already establishing he's like a free agent being paid to go somewhere else, then you have more of a leash, You have more of lee way. The coaches are coming up to you to kind of be your best friends.

So it's kind of opposite that way, but definitely if you're a free agent or if a young guys trying to make the team, definitely go ahead and go straight to that special team guy. I mean, he's your ticket. Yeah, Church, You're absolutely correct, And that's exactly what I did. But when I left Ballast, I went to Chicago and Joe D. Camillas was a special team's coach there, so he was

already familiar with me. He kind of kind of wanted me to come and play there, but he did make it known that, you know, I needed to make an impression in the dB room as well, just so I could solidify my place on the team. So I was trying my hardest to be seen as a hard worker and be known as a guy who study and could pick up the defense fast enough. So if they needed me to go in the game, I would be able to go in there and compete at the highest level.

Gonna make a few plays. So special teams won. Like Church said, but if you're already established, you just want to kind of hold that that standard that you already have for those coaches. You want to prove them right. Whatever they heard about you that was good, you want to prove that right. And whatever they hurt bad, you want to get that out of their head. All right, This is the players' lounge right here on Dallas Cowboys

dot COM's continue with the camp notice. Mike McCarthy held his first practice at the Star in Frisco, and they held at eight am outside ninety degrees. Already the North Texas. He is, it'll get to you. We touched on special teams. Let's continue there. So Cedric Wilson and Cede Lamb were taking punts. Cede Lamb had fifty four punts that he returned at Oklahoma University. So I'm gonna start with you on this one, mccraig, What do you think that says?

And can you think we can have anyone else in the mix when it comes to who will be the punk returner for the Cowboys? No, I think this position is his as long as he gets out there and he's able to catch catch those punts and not make big mistakes. I think this spot is his fun of taking the difference between him and we had with Das back in twenty ten when Davis was returning those punts. Is Daz was like set out to be our number

one receiver. He wasn't the slot guy. Cedee Lamb will be the number three receiver, so he will be looking for more opportunities to get the balls in the ball in his hands, and this is the perfect opportunity. So I think he'll be out there, this is his position. Any other guy who's competing will probably be out there for safe punts, just the fair catch. But you can see the big time plays and the big time opportunities

giving the Cdee Lamb in the punt game, punt return game. Yeah, I think this is I think this is Taylor made for him. You're one hundred percent prec when you said like the difference between Deaz when he was returning. I think he had like three or four touchdowns return during that rookie campaign, But the difference was he was our bona fide number one. He was a guy at a we'd rather have him making big plays on offense than

we'd rather him returning punts. But he just went out there and wanted to do it anyways, and he was spectacular at it. But cde lamb Ry here, he'll be that number three option, I think at the slot, and that'll give him more opportunity to go back there and be he won't be asked fatigue to go back there and return punts. Returning that's a dangerous game back there. He's got guys flying at you one hundred miles an hour, and hopefully guys in front of you are picking up

their blocks. But I think he'll be able to excel at it, and I think he'll be able to make more and more plays for this team as a whole, not only on offense, but as returning punts or as returning kicks. So I look forward to him in that role and hopefully he can duplicate what Dez did in his rookie season returning punts because that helped our team immensely. It's just yes, mine is the injury as they got heard, they snatched them right off the field, that was cracked.

It's just one practice. But the media in attendance falling and loving what they're seeing from CD Lamb. Here my question to you, and I'll start with you, Barry Church. Is there too much expectation already for CD Lamb, for someone who will not have any preseason games to play and it's gonna be thrown out there right away to start their NFL career against the La Rams. Oh yeah.

I think for me personally, I think there's a lot of pressure and I'm gonna say a little bit too much pressure put on cde Lamb, and a lot of it is kind of is kind of brought on by himself. I mean him choosing to where the eighty eight, and then that brought even more pressure because that's you know,

that's Michael Irvin. Then you get the or Drew Pierson, Then you got the Michael Irvins, then you got the there's perhaps and now and now we're sitting with cde Lamb with the eighty eight and he has to represent that jersey as well. Then you got going out. I'm here in reports of oh, we're gonna have three one thousand yard receivers this season because of our receiving corps is so dangerous, and you know they have the potential

to do that. But then you also got Blake Jarwin, who you just gave him all that money to you got Zeke in the backfield. If you gave all that money, I just don't know if there's enough footballs around to do that. But that's adding even more pressure to go out there. It's just I think he's putting a lot on himself. But if he's confident in himself to be able to get these things done, then more power to him.

But for me, I feel like there's a lot of pressure he's putting on himself and hopefully he can come through because if he has, like I say, like under maybe five hundred yards and only five tubs or something like that, for most that rookie season is pretty pressive. But for him it's not going to be that well, just because of the pressure put on him. Expectations Huh, let me tell you so this is I don't think it's too much expectation because Church. You played for the Cowboys.

Knee you've been reporting on the Cowboys every year. Is this expectation of Super Bowl? Or we hike it up and we're supposed to go out there and when you know thousand yards this thousand yards that you know, leading leading Russia in the backfield, and we're supposed to go out there and when the Super Bowl it doesn't happen. We put expectations on ourselves as the Cowboys organization. M Cnie Lamb to me, I think that I just for us to expect them to have three one thousand yard

receivers and high profile tight end and Zeke. You're looking at guys who have to we have to average probably five hundred yards of game on offense, which is going to be super difficult if you want all these guys to get you look at Zeke trying to get fifteen hundred yards Russian. Uh, you know, put some respect on his name. You're looking at Amari Coople who has to he has to get over a thousand to just to

prove that he's worth a hundred million dollars. You got Gallops who's still fighting it to prove that he can do it. Uh. In a second year. It's it's a lot of stuff going on out there, man, So I think the expectation is high. I think we will see a drop off from someone. I'm not sure who it is, but I don't see it's having three one thousand yard receivers to one hundred yard rusher and a seven hundred yard tighten and I just don't think that's gonna happen.

I mean, it's it's the CD effects. I mean, we got the CD effect. Man, we got now Dak's third place or third in the MVP ballot coming up. I need this. It's CD. It's the cdfect man. Listen, it is. It is what it is. Nwi knwi. If you disagree, we can make another bet. You know, I'm trying to see for you standing on this one. Um. Look when when it comes to the offensive output numbers here, I'm still of the belief if the Cowboys give this foot and to me give more opportunities Ezekiel maybe find more

ways to use him. Allah Marshall fall if you make this thing about Ezekiel Elliott, well, the pass the game and everybody else is going to be They're all. This thing should start with Zeke and then derive from there everywhere else because play acts and pass becomes a killer at that point in time. So, and maybe you're sitting here running a lot of eleven personnel and even some zero at times if you want to put Zeke out there. But I truly believe this thing needs to start with

twenty one. And if twenty one is eating, then four can throw it to any and everybody and they can really go next level. So to me, I feel like this has got to start with Ezekiel Ellie and trying to make sure he has twenty five touches a game. Somehow, I agree with you. I agree with you one hundred percent on that newly as far as we got to get Zeke the ball in order for this offense to

get rolling. But let me ask you a question. Do you feel as though with Mike McCarthy's coaching styleist philosophy, do you feel like that's possible for Zeke to be the at this end at its offense needs. Mike McCarthy was asked this question when he got here, and I think I may have even asked it, because I know I asked him something about the running back. But basically,

he's never had a guy like Ezekiel Ellie. The coaches he had up there was Ryan Grant in their Super Bowl season, and then Ryan Grant ended up getting hurt, and then he had Eddie Lacy, and look, with all due respect to those players, they're not Ezekiel Ellie. And to me, you just go back and think of how they used him at Ohio State. Everyone ate around him, and I just go back to even Tony Romo. What's the best season Tony Romo ever had for the Cowboys.

It was when DeMarco Murray was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. And if I'm Mike McCarthy, you go back and you just think of this guy used him like Marshall fall and everything else. All these great schemes could just revolve around there, because if you're throwing three guys out there, I mean, imagine, if you're okay, you got three receivers set and you got Zeke going one on one and ketching some passes out of the backfield against linebackers, how are they gonna slow it. They're just

not gonna do it. And so when they have to start to try and you know, get get to the line and worry about the run in the past, even even Dak it can set up here with the with the run pass option, it eat. I mean, it just really does, in my opinion, revolve around twenty one, and then he can make everyone else happy. If this Cowboys often scores thirty five points a game, like we believe

they can. If they're scoring thirty thirty two, thirty five points a game, next thing, you know, you're able to just drop some serious bombs throwing to these wide receivers or finding Blake Jarwin down the scene for fifteen to twenty yards. But to me, it starts with twenty one eating and making everybody else making a difference of coordinate to figure out how do we stop twenty one? Stop twenty one? Then you can actually stop the Cowboys, that's my opinion. So who we had Do we have three

one thousand yard receivers this year? No? No, No, you should. I'm just I'm just asking. I just want to see where are you staying on if you think it's possible for us to have Zeke ing open it up a little to field for Blake Jarwin and then also having three one thousand yard receivers out there on the field. I mean, you watch LSU play this year. Shout out

to them. It would have to look something similar to that for you to have three one thousand yard receivers and all those other players also racking up those yards. And we still only had two one thousand yard receivers and were going almost fifty a game. So it's just difficult that the offense will have to look like spectacular for those numbers to come to fruition. All right, Danny, if there's three one thousand yard receivers, that means Zekie La got hurt. That's my opinion. I mean that means

Zeke s had a knee injury or something happened. Okay, that's the only way I see three thousand yard receivers because that means you basically don't have a running game and you and you're behind in a whole lot of games here, which I don't think that's going to be the case here. I just believe if they go where they want to go. And also, let's bring this up too. We hadn't talked about it yet. We'll take a break

and we'll come out here talk defense. But if this offense is going to help the defense, they need to run the football and try and control the clock. As much as they're scoring points here, they need to try and control the clock here because that's going to be the best friend of a defense when these guys can get out here fresh and tee off on a couple of people. So that's my take on that. Let's get a break in here. Everson Griffin is now the Dallas Cowboys.

I wanted to make sure we waited and have a break in and dive all into that. We'll tell you when we can expect to see him and can't practice. And one statistic Cowboys fans need to be thinking about if they want this defense, okay, if they want this team to play on Super Sunday. I'm NUIs Scrugs, got Danny mccraig, Berry Church, this is the players lives on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. Hey, they're Cowboys fans. With Ty Cleaners at home pickup and delivery. Cleaning your clothes

has never been more convenient. Simply sign up at your local store, set out your dirty clothes, and one of our tight Cleaners professionals will come directly to your home for a totally contactless experience. Your clean garments will be returned promptly the next scheduled delivery day. So skip the errand and enjoy life not laundry. Visit ty Cleaners dot com or your local store to sign up for Type Cleaners at home pickup and delivery today. I'm Jay Novachek,

former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Back in the day. I was a guy who always got the tough yards, and that's why I run with John Deer today. In fact, I have a John Dear three zero twenty five E tractor that can handle any yard work I need to do, even the tough yards way out back. So if you have one acre or a thousand, John Deer has the equipment that's just right for you, Visit a John Dear dealer today and run with us. We are the official

tractor provider of your Dallas Cowboys. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor and Cream Soda. Is he a new Combonut's music to my ears? Okay, doctor music to my ears and mouths New Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. I delas just do slora is a proud sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys, helping fans see more and do more with our best vision solutions. Our lens technologies reveal a world more beautiful than you

can imagine. For a limited time, get the slur next Gen Offer, where you buy the latest generation of Transitions lenses with select slor lenses. You can choose a second pair of clear lenses for free with qualifying frame purchases. Restrictions apply. Find a participating eyecare professional by visiting slur usa dot com. See more, Do more to the players. Loud Friday plays lounses back for you right here on Dallas Cowboys dot com. Knwis Scrugs, longtime Cowboys reporter, joined

by former Cowboys players Danny McCray and Buried Church. Um. Before we go any further, McCray Church let everybody know where they can find on social media. On Twitter, you can find me at Danny d mcfoy before. On Instagram, it's Dannie Underscore mccrai forty for me, it's the same on for me, it's the same on both Instagram and Twitter. It's a Barry Church at Barry Church forty two. And that's Instagram and Twitter. All right, find me on Twitter

at Newey Scrugs. It's n E w Y Scruggs. A's n E w Y Scruggs, and it's Newey Scrugs Sports on Facebook. The Cowboys lost Robert Quinn in his eleven and a half sacks in the offseason. Is he went to Chicago. It's a lot of talking about, Hey, how do you feel it? So the Cowboys ended up bringing

Olden Smith. But it's been a number of years since Olden Smith played, And now the Cowboys have signed Everson Griffin to a one year deal, four time Pro Bowl player with the Minnesota Vikings, former USC Trojan teammate of one Tyrant Smith Barry, I'll start with you your thoughts on Everson Griffin coming to the Dallas Cowboys being able to fill in on that right defensive indspot where Robert Quinn left. I think this is huge and I think this is this arguably probably the biggest signing of the

offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. I feel, like Everson Griffin, we need, we needed somebody to replace that production that Robert Quinn gave us last year off of the edge, and I think we got a perfect specimen in that. I mean, this is Everson Griffin. He's a PROS probate in the league ten years. He's a Pro Bowl caliber player last year coming off of the Pro Bowl. I mean, this guy, he's just a true stud defensive end. I mean, he could play the run well, and he created in

he can create cash rush from his defensive position. You can put him on the inside, you can put him on the outside. And to me, most importantly, he has great leadership characteristics. I mean, he was a captain for that Minnesota team in that Minnesota defense, which was outstanding for the years that he was there, and he was a captain. We have a young defense, we have a

young defensive mind. I feel like he's one of those guys that can go in there and kind of shape and mold this defense into what it can be and what it has the potential to be. So I feel like this is a huge, huge pickup for the Dallas Cowboys team and the defense does. He just brings great leadership, He'll bring great productivity on the field, and I think he's just an all around Pro Bowl player And I think it was a great pick up. Yeah, yeah, same here.

I'm starting to see that we're kind of going the route of the New York Giants when they had the it was a JPP and straight hand. They had that incredible D line and they and they really just reaked havoc and created turnovers and it helped them get to the super Bowl. And uh, I think what are starting for the starting for that was out there the day and you throw Everyson Griffin in there, if if he is the player that he was last year or any year, I think that we have a real real chance of

being a great D line. With that being said, it all looks good on paper, It all looks good. We got we got a lot of talent on paper, as we always do, and I think the side of the ball that's going to be affected the most is the defense without having all that all those reps for the offseason, so I think it'll be interesting to see if we can translate the talent that we have on paper to sex and big plays in the game. Let me dive

back into some camp notes here. So starting defensive line looked like this for the Cowboys today, Tank and Old and Smith at defensive ends. Then you had Gerald McCoy and Tyrone Crawford at defensive tackle don Terry Poe, who was signed in the off season, is on the pup list, so he was not there. So your thoughts on that front flour for the Cowboys thought, go ahead, great, go ahead, go ahead, Oh listen, I don't I don't really have much. I think, like I said, I think it's great on paper.

I think the one thing that we really need to focus on is none of this matters if we can't stop the run. All right, So yeah, all the pass for us is all the sacks in the world, all is great. The most important thing to me is I want to see these guys stop the run. All our defensive coordinators will say, you have to earn the right to rush the passer, all right, So you got to make the players on first and second down in order to be able to pin your ears back and go

and try to get the quarterback. So we could get six guys who get ten to fifteen sacks a year, all on the d line. But if we don't stop the run, they'll never be rushing the passer and our offense will never be on the field. So it's great, but I want to make sure that that that that we're focused and our defense can control the run, so we can let these guys get out there and do it their best at Yeah, you're right, we definitely do got to stop the run or or we'll never see

the potential in this offense or this defense. But as far as that starting lineup goods that you planted out, he said, you have Tank, Lawrence, Alden Smith, mc coy and Crawford. I think that's a great lineup right there. I think that'll be more of a pass rushing situation or like a third third down rush group because you know, as a defensive line, they like to rotate in to

get fresh bodies in there and fresh pass rush. So I see that lineup that you said is more of a third down situation, more of a pass rush situation minus Alden Smith. I think you put in Everson Griffin right there, and I think you have a great pass rush third down situation. When it comes to the first and second down, we have so many pieces that we can just plug and play and rotate in here. I

think we have a great defensive line. But for me, it would be you know, Tank on the outside, then maybe either Crawford or Everson Griffin, and then you would have on the inside. You have Poe once he's able to go, and you have McCord, and I think that'd

be great for stopping to run. I think you have those two big, huge defensive tackles on the inside being able to generate rush, but also being able to take up space, take up rush lanes, and most importantly, take up those offensive linemen from getting up to the second level, from getting up to Jalen Smith and Layton van Dress, letting them do what they do best, which is running

from sideline and sideline and make play. So if we can get that deepensive line rolling, rotating in and just getting fresh bodies in there, I think this has the possibilities to be a strength of this defense and of this team, and they can make everybody's job a lot easier, especially in the secondary. Stay with pass rushers here, Randy Gregory has not been reinstated. At what point in time did the Cowboys just kind of move on down the road last year the year before, the year before, I mean,

I mean, what are we talking? What are we talking about here? And they brought guys in and I'm all for giving guy's second chances, and the Cowboys are known for it, but I mean, it seems to me like they're making signings and they're moving on and they're focusing on the guys that they have in the room. And at this point, you know, they haven't reinstated them. I see them on Twitter, you know, going back and forth with some people and getting blocked by people who may

be reinstateing them. This is just some some some attention that's not needed with the Cowboys. Let's let's get this new regime and focus on football and whatever happens to Randy Gregor, we wish the best for them, but let's focus on the guys were having the room up little up on Twitter, but they needed to be done with the Randy Gregor experiment two years ago. I mean, people said, you know, how dare you do that? He's got mental

health and we need to take care of me. Fans were mad at me when I said move on for Randy Gregory. Yeah, it gonna be like it'll be Josh Gordon my bad Church. They're gonna be Josh'll be joh Like for the last two years, getting moving from team the team, and the Patriots depending on him, and then the Seahouse depending on him, and he just letting them down. I brought that. They didn't want to hear that. Like you said at one point, I mean, you gotta get

you gotta let the man walk. I mean I understand, like I said, I've seen on Twitter as well. He's been going on there and talking about how frustrated he is about the whole situation. But all in all real and all realness, you just need to realize that you put yourself in a situation. I mean, this is like the fourth or fifth opportunity he's had, and he's failed these tests from sultans abuses, and I know that. I think the fear is that without football, I mean, what's

gonna happen to him? You know, no one really knows without football if he's gonna, you know, go back into his old ways or kind of self destruct. So I think that's the big fear, and I think that's why, you know, maybe the Cowboys kind of holding on to him. But at the end of the day, you kind of have to, you know, let the man grow up and be on his own. I mean, and he can't baby him forever. And I mean he's had chance after chance after chance, and he hasn't been able to come through

and pretty much salvage his career. So um, you know, I hope he does, you know, get it, get reinstated, maybe one more chance. But the Cowboys, I think they've done enough for him on their own. They should bring Dance back before they bring Randy Gregory back, all right, get Dans back in the building and stop sleeping on beds, and get Randy Gregory out of here somewhere else. I don't want to hear the the you know, without football, he might self destructive. Football is going in one day,

all right for everybody. So so you got to figure that out, man. You got to figure out out get the right people around you. The Cowboys, even if they don't pick them up, I'm sure they have people that to reach out to them and get the and have the resources for him to get the help that he needs. But this is football, all right, with the focus on football.

This is football. Well, that was something I pointed out to someone who I said, Randy Gregory does not have to be on the Dallas Cowboys for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to help Randy Gregory, he doesn't have to be here. I mean, we all see what they've done with Josh Bryth. Josh Bryth is still a part of the Cowboys team, and they have him, so they can do whatever they want to if he's not playing football

to help him from a personal standpoint. But I go back to that line that Bob Sugar talked about in the movie Jerry Maguire, it's not show friends to show business.

And at this point in time, if the Cowboys are gonna go where we think they can possibly go with this talent, which is the playoffs, how long does the train wait on someone like Randy Gregory who's shown you that he has not been a person that you can rely upon them nine, especially with the with the pandemic going on, you cannot trust somebody to be available and

be on the field. And this is this is the most extreme part of it, right because if you are not if you are not able to have people that you have on the roster, and on a Saturday and all of a sudden, you like this guy can't be here, or you find out that somebody is going to miss the next four games, you're in a hole. Right. So this year is specifically and especially not one of those towns when you want to have a guy on the field that you can't depend on to be there the

entire season. All Right, we have not spoken the name of Mike Nolan, and we really do need to do that. To me, one of the most important pieces of the Cowboys in their hopes for twenty twenties, a new defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. He used to be the head coach of the San Francisco forty nine ers and Mike McCarthy was his offensive coordinator. So now the roles are switched, where McCarthy's head coach and you've got Nolan in here

as a coordinator. I believe that Mike Nolan can help make a difference for these guys right out of the gate by just changing up the scheme and being a little less predictable. What are you all expecting to see from Mike Nolan his first year as of coordinator, Barry, I'll start with you. For me, I'm thinking it's gonna be It's gonna look a lot different than the Marion Ellie system. And I was a fan of the Marinelli system. I played in it for seven years. But I think

it'll be a lot different. I mean, he's already brought in bigger defensive linemen, and you know that Mary Ellie was all about his fast quick we need to get you know, hit the gaps and you know we need to get off these offensive linemens. So and he's brought in more. Nolan's brought in more, big, bigger, physical defensive lineman. You know, you got Poe in there, and you've got McCoy also. I also feel as those hopes up the

scheme as far as disguise. I feel like in Marion Ellie's system, it was mainly you had that cover two shell for the whole entire you know, the whole entire game. And we'll just pretty much do everything out of the Cover two shell. We'll rotating to the Cover three, will tating to man and man coverage out of that cover too shell. But with Mike knowing, I feel like there'll be a lot more exotic looks. I feel like there'll

be a lot more exotic blitzes. I've heard Jaylen Smith might get some run off of the edge, which he's shown that he can do it in the past. He can pass rush as well, So I think we'll just have a lot more dynamic looks, a lot more um extreme and exotic blitz is kind of similar to Rob Ryan's defense back in the day. So I think it's gonna be a good look for this defense and a new fresh start and something that they need. Yeah, I see it as as meaning in the middle of two extremes.

As Rob Marionelli was, We're gonna line up, but we're gonna We're gonna hustle, and our effort is gonna out effort your effort, and that's how we're gonna beat you on defense. And then Rob Ryan was We're gonna disguise everything. We're gonna put every defense that known the man in and we're gonna run it when we see a certain look. I think this defense is going to be in the

middle of that. Right, They're still gonna hustle, They're still going to try to outwork you, but I think the disguises and the way that they can fool the quarterback will be something that's huge U this season. And then now we have a bunch of guys that can go out there and play cover one. So I think that will free up the linebackers in the D line to

work a few more stunts. In the linebackers the blitz off the edge or up the middle and Jalen Smith and with a healthy LVE and my guys Sean Lee, I think I think we'll make a lot of players on defense. He has a lot of a lot of big, big time playmaking pieces to work with. Yeah, because I think it is dating. The name of the game is

creating interceptions and creating takeaways. And if you're out there in the bland cover two looks, I mean, the quarterback pretty much knows half of the time what you're in. So if you can disguise yourself and kind of mess with that quarterback, you're already won half of the battle. And I think that's what this defense is going to come into this year, and I'm all for it. If Vintage League can go out there and create some takeaways, I'm all for that as well. Man Hey Church the

church for this. So just to get into disguise, because every every defense and every defensive coordinator speaks on the skuise and it's more of when Mary Nelly was there. If we disguise covered two, the quarterback knew that it was gonna be covering two or covering three. Right, usually gonna drop down or you just gonna play that defense when you get into you know, like a Rob Ryan type thing. If you line up and cover two priests pre snap, you could be in cover zero, Cover one,

Cover three, Cover six post snap. Right, So I think that's what I think that I think that's what Nolan's gonna bring. It's going to be a lot more difficult for a quarterback to to decipher what what we're running on defense. The only problem I have with that is that if since we don't we didn't have OTAs, we didn't have priests, or if we don't have any preseason

games or anything like that. Only the only thing if Mike Nolan makes it a little bit too difficult, can these players pick it up in such a short time to when a regular season come around, they'll be firing on all cylinders. That's the only thing they got to worry about. But if they can pick it up, I think the skuys limit for this defense. That's why those young guys won't be out there to start the season.

It'll be it'll be those guys would have experienced the start, and then once those young guys pick it up, those starters better look out and start making some places. And the interesting test for this cowboy defense out of the gate is Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, and we know Sean McVay likes to throw it around. They don't have Brandon Cooks there anymore, but they still have Cooper Cup. You've got Robert Woods, so it's going to

be interesting. And remember the Cowboys took on the Rams late in the season last year and they handled them pretty well. So I'll be interested because this is a great test for the defense right out of the gate, because Sean Sean mcvays basically have all summer long to uh to get ready for the for the Skowboys, all defense and new Jared Goffer is still their quarterback all right, so uh, I think I think we'll be okay. I'm still I'm still upsetting salty from him being on my

fantasy football team last year. So with him at quarterback and then they lost Brandon Cooks, I think I think it will be all right. Jared Goffer is just letting me down, needless to say, you didn't win a championship if you were rolling out there with Jared go I, on the other hand, had had Data Prescott and Drew Brees it's my quarterbacks and walked away with the championship. If you need help trying to figure out who to take this year, you call me, baby, call a winner,

because I got I ended my scene. You know, I ended my season with Dak Prescott as my starting quarterback, and I got beat by Jameis Winston fifty five pointer with six in deceptions and six touchdowns. We all right, We've gotta's another break in here. I've got a fantastic stat that I think the Cowboys defensive they can hit this, then they're gonna have an opportunity to possibly go where they want to go. You're listening to the players Lounge.

You watch the players lines also, and Dallascott was com hey, they're Cowboys fans. With type Cleaners at home pickup and delivery, cleaning your clothes has never been more convenient. Simply sign up at your local store, set out your dirty clothes, and one of our high cleaner professionals will come directly to your home for a totally contactless experience. Your clean garments will be returned promptly the next scheduled delivery day,

So skip the errand and enjoy life not laundry. Visit ty cleaners dot com or your local store to sign up for ty Cleaners at home pickup and delivery. Today, we can't wait to see the Cowboys back on the field, and we can't wait to pack eighteen te Stadium to watch them play when that time comes. Sea Geek is the place to get all of your tickets plus tickets to the hundreds of games, concerts, rodeos and other live

events will all be able to enjoy against soon. Every Sea Geek purchase is protected by a buyer guarantee, which means you'll get your money back if your event is canceled guaranteed Sea Geek, let's go, ladies and gentlemen. It's that time again for tailgating with the Auterbox boys. Autterbox the company that builds wildly overproductive phone cases, the one and only, but cases are just the start. Auterbox is

the official outfitter of tail. If they can keep my phone safe, what can they do for my parking lot party? How about protecking your beverages from suboptimal drinking temperatures with their elevation tumblers. An Auterbox elevation tumblers come in three sizes, a ten ouncer, a twenty ouncer, and even a sixty four ounce growler. Check out all the colors and sizes of their elevation tumblers at auterbox dot com. It's football season and when your tailgating with your friends and your family,

you want the best meat on your grill. Petagen Meats makes the best hot dogs. The Petagen griller or they'd all be Franks will score to complete that tailgate meal. Piagne Meets has hickory smoke sausage, hot links, polish sausage, and the best hickory smoke bacon and ham around available at your local retailer. And a proud sponsor of the

Dallas Cowboys, It's Petagyne Meats Taste. The difference to the players loud ue scruts back here with the long time Cowboys reporters joined by former Cowboys players Danny mcraig Barry Church. This is the players lines. You do it every Friday right here on Dallas Cowboys dot Com. All right, guys, got a stat here that I really am excited about. Rick Goslind, Hall of fame, writer who's been on many

Dallas Cowboys platforms, had this. He says his twenty thirteen all Super Bowl champions have ranked top twenty in scoring defense. In forty seven of the fifty four champions have ranked in the top ten in scoring d last year. Here your top ten scoring defenses in the NFL New England, Buffalo, Baltimore number three, Chicago for Minnesota, Pittsburgh tied for five. Then he had Kansas City, San Francisco, Green Bay, and Denver Fellas. Can this be a top ten defense in

your opinion? Start with you, Dan, Absolutely, if the if the offense does what they're supposed to do, controls the clot and we get the other team having to throw the ball because they're behind, that just opens up opportunities for us to make those big players, get those turnovers

and lead the league in scoring defense. So I think if all works well how we expected to go on offense with all these weapons that we have, I think this will be a year of the defense making huge plays and we will not be hearing about us not being able to create turnovers. Yeah. For me, I definitely think this team can be. This defense could be a top ten defense even without the offense playing up to where they could play. But I think this defense is legit if they played it with if they played in

their potential. I feel as though this defense can be legit. They had plenty of depth at each level linebacker, defensive line, and in the secondary. The only thing that's might that might block them is they haven't had that experience of playing altogether. At the same time, you got a couple of new pickups on the defensive line, you got a couple of new guys in the secondary. So I think once they gel as a unit and pick up this scheme as a unit, I think the sky's the limit.

I think they have great pass rush and great interior play. On the defensive line. They got young linebackers that can run from sideline and sideline and can pretty much run with anybody, and a veteran and shann Lee that can pretty much teach him how to how to go about their week or weekly assignments and everything like that in film watching. And then in the secondary, you're just loaded with young talent and guys who've played and experienced ball

and they're still young. So I feel as though this defense, this guy can be the limit. They just got to play up to their potential and hopefully get after that quarterback, because if they can, I think they can be even a top five defense go back to you woe. Well, so how do you feel with LV and Sean Lee as far as health wise, Yeah, that's that's the only drawback I think, um lve that neck. Like I said before,

that's nothing to play with. I mean we've we've had teammates in the pass Devonte Holloman who had a similar neck injury, and he was done for the you know, for the remainder of his career. So that's something you cannot play around with. But if he's able to stay healthy throughout the entire year, I think he'll he'll revert back to his rookie season as far as how he was all over the field making tackle and making big plays, and as far as if if he goes down, I

think Shaun Lee played the perfect role last year. He wasn't asked to be a starter. He wasn't asked to play you know, sixty snaps a game until those guys got injured. But if they can stay healthy and limited Shaun Lee's role, I think that that'll be great for their health and I'll be great for this defense. Danny, you talked a point that, um, you're gonna need to be able to play. Uh, you guys were there last time.

I was uh again, So you're going to see guys because they have the regular work of the office season, get hurt, so and you're here. You're gonna have an opportunity to play. Based on shot Lee's history. And also because what we saw last year with Lake Vanderesh is he battled injury. So if you're backup linebacker on this football team, be ready to play, be ready to know

all the positions on the football field. Yeah. Absolutely, And and is this will be this is more extreme than the than the lockout, mainly because there will probably be no no real contact with another team until the first game. Like when you're going against guys in practice with paths on, it's still practice. These are guys on your team. You go hard, but the intensity is picked up when you're playing against a different opponent and they won't see the

head until the first game. So this is going to be a very interesting season of trying to keep guys healthy and keep guys on the practice squad that can step up and play when when you have those injuries. So I think it's gonna be huger to be something to see, something to watch. Yeah, I think it'll it'll be huge going into the season, I mean, and that's why I'm glad they brought in those kind of better in leaderships, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

At the defensive line, got Everson Griffin, you know, linebacker Jordy Gas, Shawn Lee, and in the second dary you got guys like clinting out how Dix who who played this game a long time. So they can get those young guys ready to play. And it's going to be hard, especially for the rookies, not going against any other competition throughout the whole preseason and then boom, the regular season starts in and you got to be at the top of your game. And I'm transitioning from college NFL is

not easy by any stretch of the imagination. So I think it's gonna be a hard, hard, first couple of weeks, especially for the younger guys transitioning, but hopefully they'll be able to get over it and get productive. What I was talking about that stat of the top ten defenses last year, New England, Buffalo, Baltimore, Minnesota, Kansas City, San Francisco, and Green Band. All of those teams made the playoffs.

The three teams on that list that didn't Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Denver all had QUARTERBA Cowboys Scott even their backup, and you don't house of the quarter position. So the defense top ten devens, the Cowboys will have an opportunity to make the playoffs. And when you're talking about trying to make a Bowl, this is doable. Okay, since we've

seen it, but I'm just saying it's doable. The defense can just pull a little bit better way if Mike Nolan can get to these guys lined up that they don't get beat by who hadn't played to beat out a month with the model tis oh that third Okay, I was there that Thursday nights Chicago, and and so normally during the game, you know, I'm writing down every play. It got to the third quarter and this dude scoring another time. Time, I put I stopped writing this. I'm

about taking any more notes. This thing is I mean, this is is just done. I mean when mental Trubisky is out here bawling on you looking like a pro bo like this is a this is a rap that you know, Mayor Nelly needed to go, your boy j G needed to go, Like this is just bad it's bad. Oh that was awful. I mean really that was one of those that was one of the saddest nights that I've ever covered. The Cowboy game. I just look like, this is just this is not represent sorry baseball. How

did we know? How did we know j G was coming up in this conversation? I didn't know, Like I said, I'm sorry. Now you talked about defense and no Onelan and then it's the way stall away from he went Mary and Nelle and he shot up. Oh, j j G had to go to We had to get him up out of the unless I feel, you know, go ahead, man, gohead. You know it's been a while. Did I did I? Did I lie at any point time? Did I lie at any point time? You you can't tell? All right?

What was the most disappointing loss of the year last year for you? Guy? Was it? Was there a more disappointing loss in the Bears Jets game? I mean, you tell me it was the most disappointing loss When you just looked at them, you just said, dang, yeah, yeah, it had to be the Bears. It's a Thursday night game. You know, you're still in first place, and but it's slipping away, and and Mitchell Trubisky was not good. I mean,

think about it. Mitchell Trubisky was so bad the all season they didn't pick up his option, and then they traded for Nick Foles, who had that crazy contract in Jacksonville. I mean, that's the dude who went oops upside your head on Thursday. But I'm sorry that I brought it up. I'm sorry that I didn't have ready was it was it? Ready to play the listen, they was the play. They got fat, they got beat. That's what That's just what happened. It happens in football. You get beat. They got off

the bus and they thought they was gonna win. They was ready, and then once they got on the field and they got hit, they wasn't ready in the moment. Man, It's all right. Shout out to JAYZ out there in New York. We'll see how that goes. So Okay, speaking open up that Jason Barrett and talking about to press, say about between the head coach a super Bowl help coach you the former coach who started them off here NFL. I'll I'm gonna think I'm gonna say this. I woulda

say this. They probably met twice so far, and they've been doing zoom zoom meetings throughout the whole summer, so I'm taking that with a grain assault. They haven't even been around each other or played in the game or being able to really do anything for him to say the communication is that girl. They haven't had to communicate except on Zoo. So I'll see how. I'll see how what happens as the season goes on. But communication throughout

the summer during the pandemic, absolutely, Okay. I understand it's automatically better than it was previously. What else is he supposed to say? He's got to say positive stuff about his new his new head coach. Oh bad. If I'm gonna play Devil's advocate here and I'm gonna you know, I'm gonna read between the lines, so to speak up, I'm saying he said this man, he's saying, you know, it's finally nice. And I'm not saying it's true or not,

but I'm just I'm just saying. What I think he's saying is that he's saying it's finally nice to you know, have all position groups on the same page. I mean, we're not, you know, officive Lineman doesn't think we're blocking it this way, and the running backs thinking we're going with it this way. And I just think he's kind of saying that, like you know, in the past, it just wasn't communicated as well throughout position groups. That's that's all I'm thinking. Maybe that maybe I'm out of pocket,

but that's all I'm thinking. That could be. That could be accurate, right, it wasn't. It wasn't a cohesive unit. But what we don't know is if it's a cohesive unit now. They haven't had to do anything. They haven't been in a situation to where the person they all came in wrong, or you know, or they had to stop the clock, or they was in a two minute situation. All the communication had to be on point for them to go go down there and get a field goal or touchdown. They haven't had to do any of that

in practice or the game. This is something that we will we will learn as they get into those to those things and our hold. I hope, please, please, I hope that they're able to get this stuff correct so we could be a better team than we have been in the past. So I'm hoping for McCarthy, but I'm just saying we haven't been able to prove it yet. I've seen you smiling over the new we go ahead, man, go ahead. I understand that the listen players in expertation.

So if the defense improve and they can get turnovers and they're not predictable, if according to what Dak Prescott says, there's some more communication going on here, a team that went eight mate last year should be able to find two more Vegas gentlemen, should we raise the expectation based off you think the Cowboys can do with this? Knwi,

Come on, come on, NEWI we talked about communication. You watched the same games I did, and then going out there and losing to Chicago and losing to New York. I didn't see nothing wrong with communication. They did not play well, all right, when they was dropping passes with the ball, communicating with your hands and you dropped it, what are we talking about? They didn't play They didn't They didn't play well enough. I didn't see like some of the stuff right special teams was crazy and they

had communication problems on that end. And we see that they made the change change from that, but that didn't lose them the playoffs. They didn't play well enough and communication to play the key in it, but the player wasn't enough to part from them to be able to say we're making a super Bowl run. Yeah, I'm gonna hold I'm gonna hold off my reservations until at least

the first at least the first game. I gotta see how they how they play together as a team or some maybe some maybe they'll have some type of scrimmage on TV or something. I gotta see something before I get my reservations. But um, yeah, I think, I mean they might make it. I got them going nine wins. I got them at nine wins, so we'll see, all right, So let me let me spin it back this way. Okay, Um, You've got some players, key players in my opinion, who

who I think will be better. For instance, Michael Gallup in year three, Michael Gallup's numbers compared very favorably with the Mariti Cooper's last year, and the offense will some terminology will change. They're kind of saying it shouldn't still be in the same way you got Ezekiel Elli. I mean, here's another guy here who've talked about the offseason not

getting enough respect. Here. If we have some players that one has some players step up a little bit and and in my go better by Michael Garthy, I don't think it's a reasonable do you say that this should be a ten win team? Now? The one thing that I will say could be attachment. There's two things. One not having enough time all seasons to work with a new coach, and then two we don't know what will happen with COVID health. I mean, that's that's kind of

out of your control. But I think it's crazy to sit up here and say that this is this is a ten win type of talent team that they have here. Because we know Washington is going to have some bumps this year and the Giants when we're not expecting this thing is supposed to be between the Cowboys and Philadelphia. We know whever you year, somebody could change a little bit. But I'm thinking that the Cowboys ten wins is not crazy.

I'm not being a homer when I say that. When you based on the kind of talent that they have here, this is so familiar newly in the last five six years. When if you went into the season and say, with the talent, we shouldn't win ten games. Hey man, you know but we know at the pro But you know,

I'm just asking. I'm saying with the teller, the taler' teller when you get when you went into a season how many times in the last however, however many so years, and you said, you know what, with this talent, we should win less than ten games, all right? And I've always put up the number two. The last head coach was good for two losses a year that they shouldn't have. Too many times the Cowboys under Jason Garrett would win

games because they could out talent. You but if it was your talent against their talent, and then coaching got involved a lot of times Cowboys check that out or the other teams. We're talking about talent Cowboys. But but we thought about talents. What But but guess what now you got super Bow winning coach. There got it? I believe, I don't care. I know you don't get that. You get that, Preston already saying it. The communication is better. I'm just trying to tell you, man that my marriage

had on zooe calls for five months ago. You've been on zooe calls. I mean he got good Wi Fi you got, That's what Danny, Are we're gonna have to put a bet on this. Yeah, that's a little you already You're already owe too. Knew it, You're already owe too. My listen, my myth that has been working all right, yours is not. So i'moula stick with what I've been doing, all right, I woulna stick with what I've been doing.

I got two three meals on this four man, I might have to do I might have to just do it uber eat, But but I feel this confident in Mike McCarthy. I'll put something down on it. I'll put something down. I feel that confident. Okay, I do that. That's just that that they'll be able to I mean, look there, they haven't been that far away. Now. I'm not sitting and you know, man, I'm not the homer Homer kind of guy. I like to keep it real.

But at the same time, when your coach is gonna get you beat twice a year because things are not going correct, the New England game, the Jet game, Chicago, that embarrassment against the Buffalo Bills, I think you got a guy here who can go ahead and help them get better. McCarthy reminds me a lot of Rick Carlisle. When Rick Carlisle got to Dallas and started coaching the Marriage.

He'd been a coach of the Year with Indiana and Detroit, and when he left Detroit, Larry Brown comes and then wins the championship, and a lot of people thought, you know what, Carlisle can't coach, He's not that good. He also had a team that was a contender, a NBA championship contender, but they had that thing called the Malas and the Palace when he was coached in Indiana. And then of course, you know, Ron Artest and Stevie Jackson got suspended, that team got blown up, and you saw

what happened. When you got a guy who had his coaching ability mixed in with some talent, he was able to win. I believe Mike McCarthy is that type of coach. I believe that to a guy who's in a Super Bowl, he may right now be the coach who has the least amount of respect in the NFL right now who has won a Super Bowl. Can you name another coach in the NFL who has less respect for having won a championship to Mike McCarthy right now, I can't think

I can't do it. I can't do it. Right now, I'll tell you this, let's start to let's start to show up next week with you coming up with ever you want to lose, and then I accept, and then you owe me two or whatever whatever you owe me. Right now, let's let's just let's just do that because you're trying to go double you trying double lug double n No, you know you go. You're gonna get my deal this style. By the way, remind me what, dude, I owe you what? So? Okay, So, but I picked

the place. Okay, but I picked the place right, Yes, but it has as you know, it can't be McDonald's. You know what I'm saying. No, no, no, no, no no no, no, no, no no, it can't be no none of that McDonald It got to be something worth worth while. Uh and the Pikes and my Neil gotta my entree has to be over twenty five dollars. Okay. I ain't going to take you to a place that Lyle Collins absolutely loves. Okay, and he's a fellow LSU guy.

So if it's good enough for Le Collins, I believe it'll be good enough for you Danny, listen to me, and don't see you don't eat the same though. We don't have the same taste around. Gonna be open in twenty twenty four. Let me let me look at yo first, send me what it is. Let me look at yelp. I decide, right, because I wanted the best. Let me decide. It's gonna be two sisters. It's a it's a fan. Okay, all right, I do that, and I do that. I like that. Okay. Ninth War in New Orleans and what

they and here's what they did, danny. Um, they redid the bread. They mad so the breath that the poor boy breath they have here, Danny is this is the legitimate you know, it's all about the good bread. Um, it's legitimate. So um. So Collins goes there, he loves it. Um. Who's the old running back, who's from uh Lanny Orleans? Play yes, so dunbar, dunbar used to take a bunch of cowboys. That's how I first heard about it. By

the way, So I will take you there. It'll meet all your requirements of of of the taste, the pricing, everything will be good. And if it gets to a point in time where we really can't get this thing done. I'll meet you someplace, I'll get it to go. We can social distance out in the part someplace or wherever you want, and we can eat the meal. But I will take care of it. Okay, I will take care of that. Okay, I will take care of that. So I will, I will. I will gladly pay that back.

But yes, my George, it'll be much better than that last place we went to. And you'll say you were right. You'll say new or you were right, and that's good. That's what all we talk about thecast. But but I will come up with a bet where I get coach Mike McCarthy's back, and you'll just sit around here at the end of it and have to pay me back, and I'll be very happy because I believe. I believe that Mike McCarthy will be able to make this a

better football team. I believe that this is a man who, while he tries to downplay it, feels like he has something to prove. And I'm telling you, for a man who's won a championship, tell me, I mean, who else out there is won a Super Bowl that has I mean, all of them get more respect. Than him, Bellichim. Then he give you some money before this own podcast some rules I'm mad to. Oh no, nothing happened. He can't he can't even end the show. McCarthy. McCarthy, McCarthy, I

got you, man, I like I like it. That's a boy. Hey, you all you you know what you are. Go sit out here and say something. Boy, we did, we didn't know, and that's okay. That's okay because you know what, Math fans were the same way. Mad fans when they got Rick Carloli were like, man, this is just another every Johnson. In fact, they were calling him Ivory Johnson, like he's just the same old guy. Ended up with a championship. Everybody was quiet. I remember everybody said fire fire Ron Washington.

I was like, leave Ron Washington, you know it. Let Rangers the two World series winning his manage. I'm telling you I'm going down that same road. Okay, I'm put chips in. Shout chips in on, Mike McCarthy, Okay, put chips in, man, chips. We'll see exactly exact trust me, trust me, all right, producer extraordinary, Chris Bean. I appreciate you getting this on. UM. I know it's always an adventure when you deal with when you deal with us, especially me mccraig Church. This was fun. It was good

to talk to you guys one more time. And we'll write it again next week Friday, and I'll come up with that Mike McCarthy bet Danny mccraig, So she don't want to believe in the coach the way I believe in the coach. But we'll come up with something here for the players. Note, all right, it sounds good. We should see sounds good to me. All right, Cowboy Nation, we appreciate you checking this out. This is the players line is Danny mccraig. It's very Church and I am

Deuis Scrubs. This has been a product of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.

Transcript source: Provided by creator in RSS feed: download file
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android