Player's Lounge: Chasing Down the Bandwagon?

five minutes NFL content coming at you. I have new he scroos, longtime Cowboys reported joined by two former Dallas Cowboys safeties, Danny McCray and Barry Church. Church. Are you back on that narcotic because the Cowboys one? Are you chasing down the bandwagon trying to jump back on it? That's what I want to know. As the Cowboys demolished the forty ninety one thirty? What what chasing down the bandwagon? Not? I I told y'all before man, I got I told

y'all I got off of that narcotic. You know what I'm saying. It wasn't good for me. It wasn't good for my blood. You know, I had high blood pressure all that good stuff. So I had to get off of that narcotic man. But I will say this, man, we got a chance. We got a chance. Man. I tried to tell y'all we got a chance. Man, y'all, y'all doubt as long as y'all want to, But we got a chance. That's all I'm gonna say. Man, I'm not here to rant glow, just here to say we

gotta you're glowing enough. You got an NC NFC East Championship, had on. What are you talking about? You you're talking about this right here? Oh you're talking about this. Oh man, you're talking about this NFC. Yeah, you know, it's just a little, a little early gift. Someone saying I'm not too supposed to give that away. It didn't didn't guarante say give that to somebody. I thought you're supposed to get that happen. It's memories, man, it's memories. It's all memories.

So you didn't you didn't do what the coach asked you to do, did you. Huh Nah? I can't do that, man. So so so so let me get this correct alright, So you're not back on the kool aid, but you win your NFC East Champ had to insinuate that we're going to win the NFC Championship, but we just got a chance. I just want to make sure we clear on this one. I'm saying. What I'm saying is I think, like I said last week, we got a we got

a low chance to get to the playoffs. All right, I'm gonna say thirty five percent chance to get to the playoffs because we don't control our own destiny. And what those guys are doing up in Washington, I just don't see them losing all three of their final games. They got to probably the best front seven in football right now, so I don't think they're gonna lose all their three games up there, And that just leads me for this. I'm gonna think. I think we're gonna go

seven and nine, like I predicted last week. I think we're gonna win these final games, but we're gonna be out of the playoffs just because Washington's gonna end up winning one of those two, even if Haskins is at the quarterback position. Okay, all right, Okay, so so you're kind of this seems to me, McCray, Is this a half measure by Church like he's got one. Okay, it's a half measure. That's what I thought. What you're talking about, what you're talking about hands, it's called hedging your miss

that's all you're doing. We were feeling you, though, we got you what you mid. I admitted. I admitted last week, Hey, I'm probably gonna be wrong on us going to the playoffs. I admitted it. I said, hey, I'm gonna end up Owen McCray a snake from Nick and Sam's. I admit that. But what I did say is seven and nine is coming, man, seven and nine is coming. And y'all wrote it all off like it was nothing. McCarthy can't win back to back.

Ain't did that since two thy seventeen. All right, all right, middle boy, many look at you saying okay, now all right. So so so I'm going to ask this. First off, you know, the win and the way they won, good to see complimentary football. Okay, four turnovers, twenty four points off the turnovers defense created three of them. How should I look at this game? Because I talked about this

last night on NBC five. Do I look at it as it's wins against the Bengals and wins against the forty nine Ers quarterback by Nick Lullins and the Bengals. I forgot who quarterback there? Who? Who quarterbacks from McCrae, who rank? Okay, okay, so so yeah, so so do I look at it that way, because I mean, I'm sorry, Nick Mullins was was dark. He might as well just pointed at dudes before he threw it to you and threw the ball. I mean, that was that was some

terrible quarterbacking. That was a terrible quarterbacking. Man m one saying that on Friday. You actually you did say that on Friday. You said that on Friday. Know, you said, if they have to throw the ball, then Nick Mullins is going to throw the ball to the opposing team's defense.

We know what You're I'm looking. I'm going back and I'm looking at my notes and it says right here, Nick Mullins turnover machine interceptions in five straight games, twelve turnovers in the last five games for the forty nine Ers as a team. So when when I did talk about, you know, what needed to happen, and I did say, okay, thank you, Yeah, I appreciate you, Danny, because you're not

jargon my memory. Because I did say this is the only statistic we need to know, and it was twelve turnovers and that the forty nineers are a turnover machine. That was the whole and Dallas ended up getting four of them. But mullins, he was worse than I thought. I mean, this guy really is. This is a bad guy. And if Kyle Shannahan brings him back next year, I'm shocked because I've seen everything I need to see out of this dude. This dude's bad and he's not getting better. Okay,

he's not getting better at all. Look, look, listen, listen. I'm all for the win. It's as a matter of fact, it may not sound like I'm happy as we go throughout this show, but anytime you can get a win, I will continue to repeat this. Any win in the NFL, NFL it's earned and deserved. Let me walk out of there with the duba I will now. Now, I will say this, if you talk about a team you like, as much bad luck as we've had over these last few weeks, it's some good luck that have been rolling

our way. If you talk about the injuries that some of these teams sustained throughout the game, when we're playing them. I'm talking about some high impact players get hurt during the game and it helps us, you know, be able to play offense or defense. I'll tell you what. When Morstat went out, I was like, all right, you know, maybe the next guy comes in and he does the same thing, because you know, when you play against the Cowboys, it's it's put whoever in there and they can run

the ball. And then the second team running back went down, and then we Tevin Coleman and yep, and then you see and then you see Mullers have to go out there and try to throw the ball. And I was like, well, here it is because one thing about it. We were not stopping to run. But that injury saved us and helped us. And I take it. Whatever whatever happens throughout the game, you have to be able to adjust. And the forty nine ers weren't able to do that and

Nick Mullins kind of burying them. But we've had some good luck throughout this season, especially these last few games. Call it what you want. You can say what you won't say we played against Mullin better. You can call it luck saying Mozart went out. Whatever you want to call it. I don't care that Cowboys did what they had to do and they got the dove. Did they stop absolutely that they gave up four hundred and fifty some yards. Yes, and Mike, Mike, no one's on his

way out. Of course, he's on his way out. But you know what, the Cowboys did what they had to do. Tony Poller came in there, shows some juice out of the backfield, receiving the ball, running the ball as well. That offensive line, that offensive line, I gat to give him a little kudos because I mean I wear on them time and time again. But they played pretty well.

They kept Andy Dalton up right, they kept holes for for Tpter run through in and the other running back I think his name is Rico dow Well, if I'm not a butchering NKO down from South Carolina. He was able, he was able to perform well. And you know what, they didn't get their playmakers the ball. I think Almari Cooper only had two catches. But Cede Lamb Ceedee Lamb showed out once again and he's becoming that number one

threat as as this season progressing. As his rookie season's progressing, and this guy is becoming more and more of a guy. And I could see him taking over that number one role next next year. But overall, it was a great team win, even the special teams. The special team showed up. I mean it was. It was just an all around

great victory for the Dallas Cowboys. And I will say this, I think Chris Jones punted his last ball as a Dallas Cowboys because that guy we got back there at the punting, a new founder or new Wander, whatever his name is. He's down in those things like a like a like a golf like a golfer man. He's just checking it up right by the hole. He played great, great overall team under miss Wander. Come on, miss w

miss Wander. That's what it. Come on. Listen, my man on the kool ai and no nobody on the roster. The boy was right, because your boy right, it's all good. It's a church. He's not gonna be able to get off. You're not gonna be able to be like a key to leave to get on Fox TV if you can't get the key to man, y'all, we're talking about a key to key. How did he get on box? We don't don't don't even don't even Richardson texts you own

a key to le that. You know, key will he will get dealt with if you message we're talking that he really you brought it up Church, you brought the hell. He was terrible. He was terrible. I don't can't you hear this from that? He wasn't. No, he wasn't terrible. Okay, that's just your boy, man, that's your boy. Man. I was that's all good, man, that's all good. I was entertained you in the feud. Hello, I was you know

what I listen. You know, I'm not gonna say I'm not gonna get on the kids to leave man in his stories on the fifth you know, I didn't hear it, but but I can't. I heard him when he was when he commentated against the chroche, so I can imagine, you know what what was going on on that broadcast. And he was trending on Twitter, so I knew it must have been something crazy going on. Yeah, it's never a good thing to keep trending. The kid kept it real, that was all. He just kept it real. And he

had on Christmas suit. You know it was it was a Michael Irvin special. It was a special Okay, the green the green suit, you know, the plaid on there, the jack plaid in the red tie. So anyway, he's getting the names right church. You gotta get their names, Rico down all Okay, you gotta get the names right here.

That's what this thing is all about here, Okay, all about because I'm right, man, hey Son knew it, KNEWI listen, you started off the season talking about my man d law and I told you that he was going to show up. He's worth the bread. Now. He might not have the twelve or thirteen sexs that I called him out for. No, but he's been playing playing, He's been playing his tail off for the last few games, and

he's been playing amazing. Earning that check. That's that's that he's getting paid, unlike a couple of other guys that's on the roster. About to say, he might be the only one earning that check on the day. I feel like this is a side swipe at me, Danny. I feel like I feel like you just tried to take Definitely was a saw. It was definitely, And I'll simply go back and stand on this merit that I've said all alone. When you get the rickest richest contract in

Cowboys history. There are expectations that come with it. Last year, the expectations were not met, and so coming into this year, I'm just simply asking for the expectations and for the player to be the player who got that check. I'm not asking for anything other than that, Okay. I mean, it's the same thing that we asked for any big time athlete. When you get that the money is hey

play up to the contract. Playing to the contract, that's all I listen, listen, you said that, And then last week I heard you talking about people saying Zeke is having you know, for all that's going on him, averaging sixty yards a game is okay because all this stuff going on on the offense. So I'm just saying, if you're gonna do that at the d Law hits five sex, then you got to do that, Zeke and hit sixty yards a game. And then you also got to do that to a man coop out here getting two catches,

two catches, three targets of the game too. All right, leave law Law. He is outperforming the rest of the dudes that got these big time contracts on the roster. Wow. Think he's outperforming the other guys in his same tax bracket. You tell me on our roster, okay, on our roster. I want you to go pull a tape here, Okay,

please go pulls to tape. What have I said he hasn't been worth the money when I talk about Zeke saying hey, well, I think I don't think Zeke is quote unquote problem and a guy that wasn't worth away or a guy who shouldn't have said ab I haven't said that about Tank. I just said when you that you have to live up to what they want from when you. Okay, that's what I've said. That's we said.

No as as coming out of last year, you said that he did it, and I'm saying going into next year, I just need to hear the same stuff about Zeke. I need to hear the same stuff about Coop. And I don't want to hear about d Law because the way he's closing about the season, he's bringing bringing it into next year. That's all I'm saying. Okay, here's the different one of the big differences for Tank versus Zeke and Cooper, and I come back to what you have

said here. Danny McCray on the players lives coming. Kellen Moore does not use these guys properly. You know, it's a little bit different for a guy like Tank versus these guys now obviously, and I said it last week. Any defense, it doesn't have Tank lords the vault, did it defensive coordinated? It needs to be fired. That's a fireball offense right there. And you got a base package and you're telling Tank to run off the field. But the first play against the Bengals for Doran's Armstrong, that's

a misuse of the town. But you can't sit up here say that Ezekiel Elliot and Amory Cooper have been used properly. We can't see. And you have to think about that when you start talking about the use of the money. I do not believe that Kelly Moore has used these two guys correctly. What how many targets and Cooper have yesterday? Let me say, let me tell it he had. He had three targets yesterday, two catches for

ten yards. I watched the third down play where he had single coverage on Richard Sherman and I'm like, okay, Andy Dalton, throw it over here to Coop. Let Coop go make a play doesn't happen. I'm sitting here later on watching the Cardinals game. What do I see? I see Kyler Murray throwing it over here? DeAndre Hockeins would due dreed out over the end. Zoe went out there and made a play. Come on, man, come on, okay, listen,

and you're better say that. I'm really became because I'm gonna bring it low, because I'm gonna bring I bring up by Church in because this will happen. Now you're talking about Zeke and not being used correctly, and I listen and Church has been on this too. How many times to do fumbled this season? How many times is he giving the ball away? When you're talking about performance, you're also talking about being able to be reliable holding

on to the ball. Some of those games where he fumbled, they snatched him out and then they let Tony Poler get in. And if you watch the game yesterday, you start the question yourself and say, man, which one of our running backs and member performing the best in the season. I'm going I'm going TP now I'm Aari Cooper. Yeah, I don't understand, listen, I don't I don't understand, you know, I'm lost for words with the SamArt Cooper situation. He's on a fantasy team, like I said, and uh, I'm

gonna luckily scratch out to win. But as I watched this, I'm just like, oh, I don't know, man. Noah Brown got in there and got more targets to coop. Ceedee Lamb got more targets to coop. The tight end got more targets to coop. Tony Powler got more targets. Listen, if you name you can name him on the roster. They had no targets to coople this game. But it doesn't make any sense. But at the end of the day, we won the game. Like at the end of the day,

we won, And maybe that's the new formula. Maybe that's the new formula for us to just spread the wealth around, get the tight ends involved, get Tony Pollan involved, getting Noah Brown involved. It said Wilson, I don't know what it is, but we how many yards if we have all I'm all for it. I'm all forty how many yards that we have offen could have we could have had ten yards on offense. No, but but that's what I'm saying. But that's what I'm saying you're not gonna

win that. You're not gonna win many games that way by by our defense getting four turnovers, you know, giving giving an offense to ball on our own terry, I mean in the defense territory each time. That stuff not gonna happen. You have to find a way to be able to make long drives on offense consistently and traded. We played the game, it's not gonna happen. You have to be able to get your star players involved or

you're not gonna win. You know, the really significant games, right, you'll beat the forty nine like that, You'll you'll beat Minnesota like that sometimes. But when you get into some real competitive games and you're not able to sustain long drives and get these players involved, you ain't gonna win. It's just not gonna happen. And I'm Mark Cooper getting to the three targets and two catches, but nine yards. The dude needed four catches to break his own personal record.

Could even get it this game, couldn't even get it. Maybe in Philly, maybe see And and and that's the mad part. It's it's a possibility that the man still might not even break his own personal catch record and he needs too, I believe, and he still might not even do that in Philly. Don't make no sense, it makes It makes absolutely zero sense to me. And that is the biggest one hundred million dollars suck to me that I've seen. You look at the numbers and all that, you say, oh, yeah,

the dude got this many catches this video. You watch the game. It ain't the same like new he said. You look at the hop yesterday. You look at Metcalf, you look at look at Calvin Riddard, you look at whole look at these guys, and you watch the games and you can see that their numbers match up with what you see when were you watching on the film. When you look at Coop, it doesn't match up. And it's not his fault in my opinion. All right, all right,

let's take a break. Gotta take a break. Okay, take a break. When we come back. Since Danny's in this run, let's run Zeke down. We'll let you continue to run down z as we talk about by Tony palm upon him and trying to snap Zeke's money. When we return on the Players brought to you Hotel dot Com Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. Hey, they're Cowboys fans with Tight Cleaners at Home pickup and delivery. Cleaning your clothes has

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and Barry Church. Tony Polyde started for Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott out with a calf injury, did not play. Tony Poler with a one hundred and thirty two total yards of offense, had two rushing touchdowns and looked very good social media buzzes. They were trying to figure out ways to cut Ezekiel Eli. People are double with Zekiel all out Tony Powder. Obviously I don't feel that way, but uh, you know, Danny McCrae, you've been on your soap box running people down, So

go ahead, go down and rundown. Listen. I've been on this show many times saying Zeke deserves all the money that he got. And I've been on this show saying that Keller Moore doesn't know how to use the guy, even coming into the season saying, yeah, we're gonna get

this dude the vault. He out there running routes. And then I watched the game and I'm saying, this is what I thought that they were gonna do when Zeke they the one the ball to Tony Poler, he running the ball, all these creative ways to give him about especially in the first drive, it was Tony Pollard the whole drive and I'm looking like you got a ninety million dollars running back and you said that you were going to have him involved in the passing game, in

the running game, this is what I envisioned for. And then soon as Zeke is out, this is the game player that you put it for Tony Pollard. It was very confusing. So I don't know if it's something that they don't feel like Zeke can do, or that they thought he was that he could do before they actually seen him on the field, or what's going on. But what I see from Tony Pollard is what I expect to see expected to see from Zeke as far as creativity and getting them involved in the in the game.

Zeke deserves his bread. Tony Poller got out there and did it for a game. Nothing against him, But we've seen Zeke be the workhouse for many years and I think he still has that in him. This year had lived up to it with the fumbles. Uh, you know, other than that, his use has just been off. But me. I'm just big on him with how many times he's fumbling the ball, But I still think I think he still has it. Yeah, look, I think I think Zeke's

you know, he deserves the money. How he got I mean, you know, he was a workhorse back for since he's been in the NFL. But I don't think it's not fair to ask the question, has has Tony Poller looked better than Zeke this year? I think he has. I mean, so far, when we give Zeke the ball, the ten or twelve, we do give him a game. I mean there's three or four yards in a cloud of dust. I think his as longest running this season has been twenty six yards, and during that run he looked like

he could have got tracked down by d Lyman. So I'm not gonna sit here and act like this guy's he's he's Christian McCaffrey, or he's he got all the juice. He doesn't. Right now, he looks more like a fullback than a running back, and Tony poll looks a little bit better than he does, looks like he has a little bit more, looks a little bit better out of the backfield. I mean, I'm not I don't think I'm telling any lies out here. When we see t I ain't gonna go that far. He's called Mary breaks when

he's got his long breaks. Man, he hasn't looked as fast as he had in the past. I don't think that's a I don't think that's an unfair judgment. I don't think that's an unfair judgment like that the black cow use check. You called it the black collar man. You can't say nothing on this show, y'all will take something with it. When he was out there, he has not looked as fast as he's had in the past. And Tony Pollard looked like he has a little bit

more juice. That's all I'm saying. I mean this dude, okay, but coming to the game is dude eighth in the league In Russian you called him a full back. Wow, just a tough craw You guys are tough today. Man, you got a tough crow said he looked like a full back. Tough, tough four yards in the cloud of dust. That's what we've gotten so far. He not better than Tony, I mean, Tony Poler, not better than Zeke. But I'm still on that he's not better than Zeke. That's like

the Jude, that's like the Juju Smith thing. Right when when Antny o'brown left, you realize that Juju Smith really wasn't a number one receiver. He was kind of feeding off the fact that Antonio o'brown was get so much attention. I think that's the same thing that's going on with TP. No offense to him, but he's still not Zeke and he doesn't have a body of work that says so either okay, so what do you make of the people saying cut him or get out the contract? I mean,

what are your thoughts on that? Mccraig. I got the same thought. If Keller's not going to find a way to utilize him correctly and he's gonna come out with all the creative stuff when Tony Pollard gets in the game, then you got to find a way to move on because other than that, you're just seeing ninety million dollars to a guy into a guy that you're not really taking advantage of it. It makes no sense to me.

So you either got to find a way to use him and let Kelly Moore know that this is what we want to see from Zeke, or you know, some of these people might be right. Then if you're gonna utilize Tony Pollard in a better way to use Z, then find a way to move on from or get something to return from him for him. I just don't see how we can get out of this deal. I mean, it's it is, he's lied. I feel like he's locked

up until at least twenty twenty twenty three. So I don't know how we can get out of this deal. And I don't see anybody trading for him to get a ninety million dollars running back. I just don't see it happening. So, like you said, Danny, I think we're gonna have to just stick with this guy. We're gonna see what he has to do next year when he gets a full, healthy offensive line, and hopefully if Kellen his back, he has a better game plan implemented to

get the most out of Ze. So let me this question. Okay, let me ask this question here, because you guys have been in the locker room and you have been around players who've had down teasons, would it be prooting for the head coach and even the owner, Gerald Wayne Jones, to come out and say, look, last year, Zy that's a bad year. We don't blame it all on you. We had issues, offensive line issues, quarterback issues, but you need to be better for us in twenty twenty one.

Is there anything wrong with them saying that? Because around here nobody ever wants to tell anybody they've had a down you and if you how tell somebody they had a down year, you're hating or you're not respecting them. As I the charge was leveled against me about what I said about Tank Lawrence. When you look at dudes and just say, hey man, I need you to be better because you can be better. And oh, by the way, what have we seen when Tank turns it on in place?

This a better football team. If Ezekiel Elliott plays better and gets it on, guests, what I think we'll see. I think we'll see a better football team. But who's the person that can come out here actually say the twenty one Hey, bro, that ain't what we paid for. You're right, I think it's got to be upper management. I think they because it's not like they're telling lies. They're being honest with him and saying, hey, look, you

had a down year. And I think he even himself would admit, like Hey, it's not the best year that I've had out here with it in a Dallas Cowboys uniform, and I can be better. And I think that's what they need to tell him this offseason. They need to get it in this head, like, look, man, we need you to be that workhorse. We need you to be that guy once again, and we're gonna ride with you because look, I mean, it's all coming down to how he's gonna be able to respond to this. I mean

there's two ways that can happen. They can tell them this. They can break them to him like this, and he can go on the shell piled about it and just become a worst player. Or he can feed off of that oh saying, oh they think I lost it, they think I don't got it anymore, they don't think I got the juice, and he can go out there and prove them wrong. So I think it could go both ways. But knowing Zike, I think he'll feed off of that

and become a better running back. Let me tell you something, whatever room they sit him down there and talk to him about you better have killing more Mike McCarthy in there and get on the same speech. You need to utilize this guy the way they we're paying them, because, like I said, it's not all on him. When you get on the seat, you say, hey man, we need you to hold onto the ball. The number one thing we need you to do, and the number one setback

that you had this year was fumbling the football. That calls us to have to put Tony Poulin in because at certain points we couldn't trust you in the game. That is the number one thing that you need to fix. Other than that, the offensive coordinator, head coach, they need to find a way to utilize you and your skills to your maximum ability. So they need to have Zeke whoever the offensive coordinator is, Kelling or Mike McCarthy in there,

and they need to have a group conversation. Zeke needs to take some honors and the coaches need to take some honors on this as well. All right, let's take a break when we come back. There was one player yesterday that I looked at and I said, maybe this guy has a starting role for this defense next year. Let's dive into that next and NEWI scrugs along with Barry Church and Danny McRae. This is Players by Hotels dot Com on Dallas Cowboys dot Com radio each game day.

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

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Cowboys gonna win. They would have five and nine in this win the DP. It's played well, creating three turnoverst was with four turnovers overall. And I asked this question to you here all the players line about you by Hotels dot Call, Barry Church, Danny McCrae, what's up when we think about next year? It's Donovan Wilson, a guy you look at who can be a starter for your defense next year at safety. Go ahead, d mack Uh,

listen the way that he's played this year. I would say, yes, Um, I don't think you could keep both of those guys back there, So you still have to bring in a venturing guy us. He's made some plays, and I think that he has the potential to be a starter. I would still have him come in and compete. Uh, you know what a veteran guy see if he could beat him out. But I think from what we've seen from him as long as he continues to get better, he has the possibility to be a starter. Yeah, I'm with

McCray on this one. Um, he definitely has the possibility to be a starter, as you've seen him out there flashing making plays, and it's not just you know, wanting you know, one play here, one player there. It's been a couple of weeks. I mean it started in Minnesota when he was striking guys out there and causing fumbles, and in this week we see his coverage skills in the back end, being able to break on passes and

read quarterbacks eyes back there. So he's not just a box safety or one dimensional safety that you can play is basically an extra linebacker. This guy has talent. He has talent in the coverage, and he has talent when he strikes opponents, and he has talent in the run game. So for me, he can be a future starter. And he's young, and he's young, and he's coachable. You don't see this guy really out there blowing coverages, making big time mistakes like we've seen in the past. This guy,

I think he has it. Do you think he has the ability to be one of the better safeties in this league? But it's gonna take a little bit of time and better coaching, and I feel like he'll be able to do it. So this is true. He's very cheak right now. So let me ask this question to you guys, because when I was watching him in preseason action and you guys, hey, here's the guy who's making some plays. But they never looked at it. You know, they go this offseason, they go give Akaha Clinton Dick's

money and they say, hey, wen, go it again. And then they had Darrey Thompson. So why is it taking so long for them to see things that? Yeah, I and other media people, you know, people like Dave Helmett, people who watch this team are saying, hey, man, that that guy's making plays here. How Come? How come it's taking so long for them to see what other people are seeing? And we're not trained professionals, you know, these coaches.

It's the safety position. I mean we all noticed going back, you know, since I think who was the last safety they paid around here? Ken Hamlin. I feel like it's just the safety position and this organization, and it's this organization they just devalue that position. I don't know why. We've seen it over time and time again that safeties can make a huge impact on a defense. Look at Tyrn Matthew with the Kansas City Chiefs, look at due to Baker's doing in Arizona and when Earl Thomas was

in his prime. I mean, the safety position can have a huge impact. But for some reason, if Dallas Cowboys, I don't know why, they just do not value this position. They feel like they can just plug and play anybody in there. And we've seen it hurt this team in the past and hurt this defense. So for me, they need to take a stronger look at Wilson and feel

like he can be the starter going forward. Yeah, and then and then then for me, I think sometimes what happens is a player of practice is different than they play, right, So sometimes what you see it practice isn't what you

see on the field. So I think once he was able to get on the field and actually make those plays, and he was able and they were able to see that he was out there and he could make them consistently, I think they kind of threw the practice take to the side and was like, this guy's a true baller.

He can do this on a consistent basis. That's that's the only thing that I can see, you know, especially since they don't really let us in and you know, to see practice or getting any details or what's really going on out there. So that I mean, that's the only thing I can come up with in my mind. Okay, um, all right. So so I just wondered because I think that he's that guy that, um you look at it, you know, with Xavier Woods coming up to it right now,

I would not I would not resign him. And you know, looking at a player and Wilson, who you get cheaper? And do you go back and revisit in Earl Thomas if you're the Cowboys, because now you have the ability to set the price you want for it. Earld Thomas, who did not play football this year. No, I don't think you go in that role. I don't think you go with a you know, a very high price veteran

free agent out there. I think you go with a lesser known commodity, maybe a Trey Boston if he's up, somebody in that realm where they're not gonna cost you an arm and a leg to sign them. But they're very good as far as leadership and being a quarterback of the defense. Because that's all I think that they need back there in the secondary. I think they got their striker, I think they got their playmaker and Wilson.

I think the last key piece missing in that secondary is a guy to put all the pieces together, the guy that's back there kind of like a Sean Lee, kind of like a quarterback of the defense, to get these guys lined up and let them let their playmaking ability go ahead and go ahead and be out there and be great. So for me, I just think they need a quarterback back there, and you can get that

for relative and cheap. Yeah, And I think it really depends on the defensive coordinator and what type of scheme they're trying to run, because the safety position has evolved into guys blitzing off the edge, some guys covering some guy's free rum, and some guys playing in the middle of some guys playing in the box. So you just need to find out what type of scheme you're gonna run and what type of player fits that fits that scheme best before you just kind of go out there

and just just throw anyone in there. Because all safeties are different. All of them specializes in something different and they can maximize their opportunities in different ways. So find out what you're doing defensively, find out what scheme you're running, and then pick a player that fits that scheme, because it's obvious that that players don't come first defensively in terms of who fits the scheme or we're just going based off what the players can do and making a

scheme fit around them. All Right, tough tough day for Team Tank on Sunday, Cowboys win. Get the five wins this year. So Dallas went from having the fourth overall pick before the win over the forty nine ers to winning the game now having the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft with two games to go, So doubled up from four to eight. And it's gonna keep dropping.

It's gonna keep dropping because I'm telling y'all, man, these last two games Philly, New York, I believe we got whichever order that is, they're gonna get you two games. So you think they're gonna end up probably picking fifteen ish sixteen ish. And I don't know if Team Take loves that. I don't know if the Dallas for Worth loves that, but that's what's gonna happen. Well, Jalen Hurts is going to start for the Eagles on Sunday at

Jerry World. Their head coach Doug Peterson confirmed it. Lake Vanderesh, Cowboys linebacker, underwent an MRI on Monday to confirm a ligament issue, but it's possible that he could play on Sunday ligament in his ankles. So look, the Cowboys are gonna have an issue with this young fella here. Four hundred and one total yards against Arizona, three hundred thirty eight yards on the road, three touchdowns, and then he ran the ball sixty three times I should say eleven

times for sixty three yards, had a touchdown rush. So this is basically another Lamar Jackson type situation. And Mike Nolan didn't exactly call a really good defensive game when they played Baltimore. And that's just being kind. So Church, you know, if you look, this is a tough this a battle if Philadelphia's favorite in this game, by the way, yeah,

you're right. And this out of these last two games, this is the game that pretty much scares me, man, because I thought we were gonna have hurtson or wins in there, but he seems that he's gonna be riding the pine for the rest of this year. Hurts, Man, he looks good. He looks good, and against Arizona they were trying to bring the pressure and he's just he has this cool kind of calm, collected just feel about him. He just feels like he's beyond his years as a rookie.

When he goes out there, He's moving the pocket, he's good on the run, and he's a lot more accurate

than I thought he was coming into this NFL. So for me, this game scares me, man, because not only can you know, can Hurts you know, bring out the best of these receivers, but he seemed to bring the best out of mouse Sam who you know this year, I mean, it's been up and down for him, but with that added threat of Hurts's legs, it seemed that read option with Miles Sanders has come alive in Philadelphia.

So this game scares me overall. And plus Philadelphia's defense, they still got that front seven, and that front seven can get after the quarterback with Cox and those boys. So for me that this game scares me, But I still I still got them boys coming out on top. We went in three straight. We went in three straight. We're gonna go seven to nine. Count on it. Listen, I'm gonna go ahead. I'm gonna go ahead and continue

where I lived off with Jalen Hurts. And listen, the greatest thing for this dude because he is battle tested, he's been through the Alabama lost his job, went to Oklahoma, and the best thing for me to see is Jalen Hurts performed better than two of which I wanted that to be happened in the National Championship to where Oklahoma. We're going there and beat Alabama. But we're gonna see it.

In the NFL. Jalen Hurts is out there playing cool, calm and collected, and knew he compared to the Lamar Jackson. I'm sitting there saying he throws a ton better than Lamar Jackson. Right now, we have our hands full with this We have our hands full with this guy. Yes, he throws better than Lamar Jackson. Look, I wasn't comparing him. It's I was because I was contrasting the game that

the game plan they had against Baltimore. That's what I'm talking about with Lamar Jackson and what they were doing. So I'm not I'm not comparing the quarterbacks at all. I'm just comparing that they had to go up against a quarterback, a running quarterback, and a team they wanted to run the ball if you got another one in the game. Playing against Baltimore was bad. So I'm not comparing the two quarterbacks at all. Okay, Hurt Jayleen Hurt Jen is a cute dog, so you know I'm gonna

beat I'm a dad for my boy. Came down for dad for the dog team. So no, no listen, and and and and and and I said to this extent to the fact that Jalen Hurts is less of a scrambling quarterback then than Lamar Jackson. The game is less tailored for him to run quarterback powers and quarterback sweeps than it is when you play a team like Baltimore. This guy is going to drop back and then create

those plays, kind of more like Russell Wilson. After he dropped back, he doesn't see it, then he's gonna make that smart decision to take off and run versus when you play at Lamar Jackson, it's probably run first and make sure you're on your keys and then defend the past. Well, late Vanderesh's ability to and I've never had an ankle

ligament situation. Maybe one you guys have, but it just seems to me when you're playing a team where you got to worry about the quarterback using his legs and as a linebacker, that could be that could be a tough, tough go for Vanderes to really be ready and get down on Sunday. So it may be seeing more Sean Lee, which we saw yesterday when Vanderesh had the league football game.

If I'm vander esh Man, make sure you healthy before you come in there, because the worst tag you want in your NFL career, especially as early as his NFL career, is you don't want that injury label. You don't want them guys to say, hey, he can't stay healthy. He's just a rotational piece. So if I'm late in, man, make sure you're healthy because you don't need any more setbacks this year. Speaking of that, do you pick up do you pick up his fifth year option? If you're

the Cowboys? Oh that's ad you go ahead McCray on this one. I don't know, go ahead, listen. I was wrong. I was wrong. I was wrong on lv Um this season because I had no faith in him to be able to come back from the neck injury and then the columbone injury, and he's he's proving me wrong. Um as far as his play on the field when he's healthy, I think you still have an opportunity to see some

great things from him. So it is a it's a tough question to ask an answer, but as a right now, I'm gonna say yes here, yeah, go ahead, go ahead. Here's my okay, this is just my my, my point on Vanagh. When the new defensive coordinator comes in here, I'd like to really know do you put him back out of outside linebacker when he had a Pro Bowl season when he looked more comfortable, versus putting him at middle linebacker where guys had a neck issue and you're

out here banging in the guys. I would love to see right out of the game. Where do you play the play? This is true, This is true. I don't think he's durable enough to play in that middle. And that's what we've seen so far. That middle linebacker. You've got to be stouting here because you're taking on pulling guards fullbacks each and every down. And look, he has a size to do it. But these soft tissue injuries

his neck problems have. He might be better suited on the outside, where he can use his hands more and he can use his speed to get around blocks. In that middle, you gotta be straight, head on bam every single playing. I don't know if he's built for that well.

To help new Ye out, I think a real important part of playing middle linebacker is having a defensive line in front of you that kind of keeps you, keeps you clean and allows you to see stuff and go attack blockers instead of taking them all you know, five yards in your defensive backfield. So you fix the d lineup, make sure that they are on their p's and ques. And I think it will help v out playing in

the middle of that's what they have him at. All right, all right, but still yes or no on picking up the fifth year option. Oh, I'm I must say yes. I'm gonna say yes. Give him one more year, just full health. Hopefully he's healthy for the entire year and he's able to get back to that two thousand and eighteen for him when he was a Pro Bowl, All Pro player. Mccraig, Oh, I say, I say yes, I said, I said right now is a tough decision, you know,

tough answer. But right now I'm leaning toward yes, because I still think he has some stuff left in the tanking. If you keep him clean and allow him the wrong freebak there, I think he could make some plasures just like it did in twenty eighteen. I don't know. I don't know. And here's what Timmy is gonna be very interesting is when the Cowboys draft, where if they take a linebacker in the first two rounds, then I don't

think you do it. I don't. I don't think you do it because even if he's a free agent, you can tender you know, you can easily tender a contract to pay the player. Denver didn't do that to their tackle Garrett Bowls, and they ended up deciding to you know, okay, hey, we saw enough for you this year. We want to

bring you back on a long term deal. So I just think with these injuries that have piled up right now, I would I would not do it, especially knowing that you're about to sign Dak Prescott to a pretty significant deal and you're gonna have free agent dollars that are going to be tight, and we just overall your cap is gonna be tight. So in order for you to go ahead and you know, get another year out of him, I think you really got to be sure, and injuries

have to play a part in it. And then also the fact that you've got Jalen Smith and right now the contract you've given Jaylen Smith um, you don't look, that's not a winning contract for you. So how much do you want to put it into this line? How much do you want to put into this linebacker position? And these two guys are questionable. You thought these guys were trending up and right now they're not trending up

at least this year. Maybe a new coordinator can come in here and fix this thing, but right now, I don't know if I don't know if I could. Yes, that's that's the key. It's a lot of trending. It's a lot of trending down with this defensive coordinator. It was a lot of trending up before he got here,

and now was a lot of trending down. So yeah, I'm still I'm still on the fact that a new defensive coordinator or or some tidy's up because we never knew if mcnolah's gonna be here or not, so just some fixed fixtures and what he's doing, and maybe another year to have the scheme going on and have these guys learning and execute more properly. Maybe that might help them because like you said, they were trending up. A lot of guys were trending up. Yes, and that has

changed this season. Yes, yes, definitely all right, another fun show. Let's get back on. Get back at it on Tuesday at two thirty pm, right here on the players line for Barry Church, for Danny McCrae and our producer Chris bm new Restricts. Thank you so much for checking us out. Tell a friend about the show, tweet at us. Okay, tweet at the show and retweeted as well. We'll be back tomorrow two thirty right here on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys

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