Player's Lounge: Game Day Eve

joining me at the Desperate Usual. All my guys, d mac uh and my man BC is in the building. And fellas, fellas, fellas we are on the eve. We are on the eve of game day. And yes, new Newy Shrugs is out today. He is on a plane on his way to the fiestas. Yeah, Phoenix one one of them. A yea to you. He's trying to he gonna go get set up for the for the Super Bowl. Got scout out. Oh yeah, get things ready for us. But guys, it's uh, it's on the eve of game day,

and so we have the Players Lounge in the building. Uh. Today and we're gonna break down some things. But per usual, how I get things started is I check in with my guys just to see where y'all all, how your mentals doing, and d Mac, I'm gonna start with you, brother, how are you? I'm good man, you know, I'm I'm I'm having a blast. The Christmas is over, thank thank god,

Christmas is over. Okay, birthday, the simple birthdays. I got one left my bass, the nomally got New Years and then my pockets would be I'm gonna get my break. They need to replay it. But other than that, there's a lot of smiling faces in the mc gray household. So I'm okay, that's what I'm having a good time. Man. That is good to hear. Brother, what about you? BC? As usual? Things are going great, man, things are going great,

extremely blessed out here. It's a beautiful day. It's warming up, so you know what that means for Menna be out there swinging them clubs here soon. So it's been a bloodsday. Family good, everybody's good. So you know, I can't complain, man, What about you, big dog man? You know what, it's been a holiday season and you know I'm always feel abundantly blessed during the holiday season. Man, having my children in town. My daughter came home from New York, so

that was amazing. Just to be able to have, you know, all of my children under one roof, you know, for the holidays is awesome. Man. But you know, it just doesn't get any better, bro, doesn't get any better. Today. I will say this. Today is the twenty eight Today is the eleventh anniversary of my brother's passing. My brother, best friend and business partner, died eleven years ago, thirty nine years old, died of a massive heart attack. Man.

And it hey, man, it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to get over in my life. And I say this and I share this with the people that's out there, man, because I want you to know as much as during this season, as we deal with everything as a family, uh, and during the holiday season, it's very important to always point out, man, that people are dealing with loss in grief, you know, during the holiday season. And so, man, this is one of those days it took me a long time to get past.

But brother, I'm in the building and I'm in here and I'm rocking with y'all. So We're gonna do our thing to day. You feel what I'm saying, We're gonna do our thing that day. I got one question. Go ahead and they sell go bas at Walmart? Yeah they do. They don't know if they do. If they do, Heat don't Targets. We know what is it? Now? I gotta ask this question. Now? What is it about Target that everybody, like my little sister she won't shop. She has to go every day, and I'm like, man, you need to

buy Target stock. Is it something that they Is it a pheromone that they spraying in the air. They got everybody going back and forth to tard J. I think it's I don't know, somebody put some marketing scheme out where, like for some reason, because when I was growing up, Target wasn't like the boogie stuff like it was just you know, it's the same as it bills everywhere else. For some real I don't know they caught a celebrity in there or what happened, but I feel like, like

you said, people pronounce it. Now, what did this come from? I remember Jamie Fox did that, But I mean it's it's the same reason like you go to the mall and you see like the line outside of the Louis store and the Gucci store and all that stuff. Right, Like, why do people need to go spend that much money on the purse or wallet or whatever it is? Right, It's just because it makes you feel a little bit

more rich. So when you pull up the Target and it's a status Walmart a crossed the street, You're like, I'm too rich for that. The buggies are better, cleaner, the clothes are better and the Target than they are and Walmart people feel like they got a little bit more better quality to them, you know what I'm saying. So that's why why why would I go that I could just cost street the Target, and I feel like I'm just a little bit more expensive. I feel better

about Well, I'll tell you what. The t The Titans are not dealing with a targa at the quarterback position right now. They probably wish they could upgrade a lot of things right now. And this is interesting, man. This is an article I read from the Tennessee And about sixty two quarterbacks have started this year this season in the NFL, all right, And so that means there's only twelve teams in the NFL that has had their starting quarterbacks start for all seventeen weeks, so teams have been

down to a second and third forty nine us. All right, you look around the league. Pittsburgh stillers back and forth with with with guys. There has been no continuity at the quarterback position. It's weird to have such a year that they've had. I mean, the Cowboys Google Rush, I mean, so we know what this is all about. It sometimes most of the time when you have to go to your backup quarterback season down the drain. Malik Willis blessing. So, Okay,

this brother has had it tough. Yeah, he's had it tough. And right now three stars, thirteen first downs, that is second to last in the NFL. And I remember me and Kyle called his game when he was at Liberty. Man Urpo specialists had a little touch on this ball. And I think that the promise that they had for Malik Willis coming out of the draft was probably a little bit over his head. But when I was watching him and just going back and just watching the film

on him, I just cut it off. It's it's garbage, it's out. It's bad. It's like taking off the trash. It's bad. It's bad. No no no, that the type of no, no, no, because you know what my thing is and you know why I can't get over that, So don't do that to me. It's not even in the same building. Now, I come on, now, now you trying to take me all the way out to get it. And I'm not saying that. I'm telling you that Malik

Willis as a quarterback is having his struggles. And you know, if we see Dobbs, who they just signed ten days ago, it wouldn't surprise me because Rabel is trying to find something on this office. But just starting with the Tennessee offense, what are you guys thinking about them? When you break down the tape, you take a look at them, and BC I start with you. I think you know, and it has been this way for the past, you know, a couple of years, even with Ryan Tannehill being there here.

I think their offense starts and stops with Derek Kennedy. I mean, they call m King Henry for a reason. The guy has been the best running back in the league for the past couple of seasons. This year he struggled a little bit, you know, fumbling the ball a lot out there, and he hasn't really gotten those yards that we've come accustomed to see him. But it still starts and stops with him. When you talk about Molique Willis, the guy is superbly athletic, Like the guy can run

around anybody. He can create, you know, he can create extended time for his ride receivers to get open out there, So he has that bag. But I just don't think he's matured as a quarterback enough to go out there and do that. Like, I feel like if he's extending to play, he's looking to run, like he's not even looking down field. He's looking all the pass rushers here, Let me get out of here with my legs. So I don't think he's even looking to extend to play

for his wide receivers out there. So I feel like as if the Cowboys can come in here, and if Derrick Henry even plays, like if he even plays, if you can contain him or kind of slow him down, then on the offensive it's shot. It's shot. Because if you look at Malik Willis what he does on tape, he hides the ball, he looks at his number one option. If that's not there, he's taking off. I mean does. He hasn't going through his progressions yet. He's not seeing

what number two is doing, number three he's doing. He's not checking the ball down, he's using his legs or looking at that number one option. So if they can slow down Henry, it could get extremely ugly for the Tennessee Titans. Comes at or come tomorrow actually, and Danny knowing that Malik Willis average pass yards are between you know,

four and five yards. As a defense, are you licking your chops saying that, look, man, we can You know, we're gonna put all the pressure that we possibly can on this young man to make sure that we force him too into a mistake and also flush him out because we know he's a running Yeah, I mean knowing that if you're looking at the stats and the tape says the same thing about the routes that they're running.

I imagine Trayvon Diggs and and dron Bland and they shown right to be sitting on every route, every route. You sit at the sticks, thirty six, sit at the sticks, thirty four, sit at the sticks because his average distance of throwing the ball pass pass attempt is that low to where you know that that's most likely where it's going. And if you're able to get that same type of pass rush that we had gotten three to four weeks ago,

then the ball has to come out fast. But I think the issue with Malik is that it would work out for him if that guy in Philadelphia was still there. When you're looking for your number one read and you got a J. Brown, Yeah right, Like that's that's the type of guy who that you need when you have a backup quarterback end. You need one of those guys who who they're gonna be open anyways, And I could just take that shot and throw to him, you see,

And they don't have that. And then when you also don't have a Deck Henry playing in the game, or if he if he's having a bad Russian game. Now you don't have that number one receiver guy who's a superstar who you can throw it too. Dereck Henry's game isn't working. So yeah, it's his legs, right, Like you gotta play the what you know, and that's what it looks like. So if we stop the run, this should be a good game for us. This should be a good game for my fantasy team. This should be a

good game for Cowboys. I hope your team win. They should have a good New Year's But you gotta stop the run. Man, you got you can't sleepwalk in here's the Thursday is Thursday game. Yeah, So you gotta come in here with your mind right, doing the right thing, stopping the day run. Because we're going into the playoffs. You have to stop the run. Whatever team you play,

they're gonna try to run the ball against you. So I'm hearing you schematically, you're saying that, Look, you know, crowd a line of scrimmage that needs to be number one because you're not as worried about Malik Willis trying to throw over the top. Now he does have weapons. The rookie also trailing Burkes. He's coming on. He has you know, he has Robert Woods and he also has Austin Hooper as his tight end. Not no, no, big difference,

all right, big difference. Now, there's no comparison between that and the Tennessee Titans. Didn't do themselves any favor by trading away A J. Brown. I mean, well, they made the same mistake that they paid Ryan Tannehill. Before you pay Derreck Henry, then you trade away A J. Brown makes no sense. Yeah, no, it really is. Like it's one of those things that it really boggles the mind

you try and find out what they're gonna do. And Ryan Tannehill has been nursing a ankle injury, I believe, and he's had his his his shortcomings also as a as a quarterback, he's had his shortcoms in they have been documented. But this is a team in Tennessee. They may not have to win this game in particular, but they are against the ropes. So this is a struggling team. And for me, I'm saying, this is a team that doesn't deserve to be on the same field with you.

So the things that we've struggled with in the last couple of weeks is just take Philly out of that. Let's just say the Houston game, all right, where you can't come in playing with your food. Go ahead, you gotta step on them, you can't. I don't see them in the same vein as Jacksonville. And this that's the common opponent that we have in Jacksonville. And Jacksonville handled their business first, boy, I'm telling you, they handled their business.

And so you talk about a team that's stopping the run and doing it. They kind of gave you the blueprint on how you do that. But switching over to the other side, Mike Vrabel is from the Bill Belichick school of defense. And some things never change, death taxes and they and the one thing that I think is really surprising about these guys is that their ability to shut you down with just four up front. They can do They can't get they create pressure. They don't blitz

a lot. As we know, Dak Prescott is one of the better quarterbacks in the league when you under pressure. What is his Achilles hill is when you go after him with just four guys, you can leave all those guys in the back end. Talk to me, BC, and I'm telling you right now, Jeffrey Simmons is a grown man in there. Yeah, that dude is a beast. Like I understand, there's Aaron Donald, but blutche below that is Jeffrey Simmons, right. That guy he eats double teams alive,

and he can he can affect you both ways. He can stop the run and he can also get pressure up the gut against the quarterback. And as we've seen, you know that a lot of his pressure comes from the edges. You know, having that young you know Tyler Smith out there, you know, having a you know Tyron Smith coming back, you know, still a little bit russy. A lot of that pressure has come from the edge and he's been able to step up in the pocket

and still make those throws down the field. It's gonna be interested in this game because you got Bud the pre on the outside. You got Jeffrey Simmons who can force that pressure on the inside. So I think it's gonna be a long afternoon for Connor mcgoverning out there because they're gonna try to get their best interior russer, which is Jeffrey Simmons on probably our worst interior guy, which is mcgoverny, because you know, not none against him,

but he's knows Zach Martin. So they're not gonna have those two battle and all day. He's gonna try to take the weakest option, which is mcgoverny. You gotta be able to block this dude, because if you can't, we've seen this guy in the past be a game record like he can come in there and he can destroy the whole entire game for you. So they still got that man out there, and defensively as a whole. You know, they're not the greatest. You know, you're not a lot

of household names outside of Jeffrey Simmons. But they play as a unit. If you see out there, they play off each others strength and weaknesses. They're fast out there, and they make you earn your yardagees like you're not just gonna give you something over the top. So it's gonna be a little bit tougher for our offense, but overall, I still think we have the ability and the depth

to handle this Tennessee defense. Yeah, in the piggyback of what you said, like the defenses that play that way, they make it really hard on offenses, especially offensive coordinators who want to take those big shots, who want to who want to Hey man, it's a five plays drive for eighty yards and then we score. We when we play defense, our defensive coordinators will usually say, hey man, they're gonna make a mistake, they're gonna get in patient, and at some point on a twelve play drive, they're

gonna make a mistake. They're gonna get in patient, and then all of a sudden, that's when you can make a big play, get your sack, get your force, fumbl your interception. This is the type of defense that they're playing. They play solid defense, solid enough for you to where like you said, they have they force you to earn every yard. Got to work for it, right, So this is a killing more game. When trust becomes a thing, right, you have to be consistent and you have to make

sure you're sticking with the run. Like Mike McCarthy praised you for last week and say, hey, no matter what happened, we still ran the ball. You still have to be able to do that and not not get out of source. If the running game isn't working at the beginning, or if you're not all of a sudden able to get those deep shots, you still got to be able to stay in some type of upflow and not let the defense dictate what you're trying to do, because that's all

they want to do. They want to line up in whatever look disguise and try to force you to get into a running play or a favorable pass play to where they knew exactly what you're doing. So this is a killing This is this is killing more thing right. We talk about him possibly being in the running for head coach for the Denver Broncos. This is These are those games where you say, all right, man, it's on you. You show me what you can do. Yeah, And I think the thing for me coming out of the Philly

game is this offense has some momentum to it. You know, this is multiple touchdown throws for Dak Prescott. And you talk about Tennessee and what they present, You're right, not a lot of household names, but bore that they play together and they run to the ball. They're not gonna let a lot of slippage happen. It's been because the offense had been setting them out to drive. I mean, you can. You can only go so many three and outs to your defense. That's what's been breaking the back

because they get tired. But as far as an offensive game planning, you were breaking that down a little bit. Um you're saying heavy run game. No, I'm saying you gotta you gotta be balanced. You gotta be balanced this time. So we have been talking about ceedee Lamb and hit him not arriving. How we thought that these show right, okay, And then the last couple of weeks we said, all right,

this this is the guy. This is a guy. So if you have a game to where you say the Tennessee Titans don't deserve to be on the field with the Cowboys. This is your chance to then continue that momentum, continue to get ceedee lamb rolling because you're gonna need them once you get into the playoffs. Make sure you get t t Y Hilton involved because you picked them up. You want them to be a part of the offense. So if they're taking away CD, tak it taking away

Michael Gallup, t Y Hilton, who hasn't played much. Now he's getting some he's getting some reps. And then you gotta continue to feed Z and you gotta continue to feed Tony Poler. So you gotta be balanced. But you want to use this as something to keep continue to help your game momentum going into the playoffs. Not just running running forty five times and make it a bland type of game plan. You need to make sure you

mix it up because we need momentum. You need the offense to be clicking on all cylinders when we get into the players. And this is why I think it'll be a big game for Dalton Scholtz, Like I feel like this can be a big game where you're work in the middle of the field because from what we understand, you know, Tennessee, they love to run that two high safety system, which means they want to keep everything in front of them. So I don't see a lot of

you know, deep shots being had. You know, cd Land, he might be able to work that slide a little bit as well. But whoever's working in that middle of the field, it's gonna be a big day, and I think it'll be Dalton Shots against those linebackers out there. We've seen he has the ability to get open versus one on one cover rich as well as his own coverage.

He's extremely smart. He's that security blanket. So I can see a big game for Sholts out there working on those linebackers because like I said, they're gonna make every everything you know, they're gonna make you earn it. And what we've seen, when they have to earn it, they go to Dalton, Sholtz, Dak and Shots have that connection. When they got to earn their yards, they have to make big plays. So look out for Shots having a big game this week. Fantasy team too, he got yeah, No,

it's all about the fantasy team, man. When you pick up I'm like you, bro, I got Dak Prescott, I got Dalton Shoulton, I got the Cowboys defense. I'm heavy Cowboys. Well, when you look at the you look at the Tennessee Titans and you look at their linebackers, it is a queue next to everybody's name. They are hurting at the line, boy, Yeah, they are. They are hurting at the linebacker position. So you're right. Look for Dalton Sholtz, hinder shot Ferguson to

have a big game. I think these guys go heavy run package against him. I do understand, believe in what you're saying and agree with you wholeheartedly. The balance that they have to have. It's going to be important. Last game thirty five thirty five passive tips to thirty one.

Russia attempts ballast and then and it was only that that way in passing because you had to make that drive at the end of the game and he was trying to fight back into exacting down ten at the beginning, or else it would have been more probably been spot on it. Well, I tell you what, we got a guy we need to talk about when we come back from the break, boy, because I think the Bizocle tripping a little bit. You man talk about the briefcase one of the latches don't work right now, but we'll be

back with more players Lambs sponsored by Tostitos. But Smithie King's original Angel Food and New Angel Food Slim without added sugar. You no longer have to choose between treating yourself and hitting your goals this summer. You don't have to choose between great taste and feeling great because that's Smoothie King. Every blend is made with whole fruits and no syrups, so you can satisfy your cravings without compromise. The only choice you will need to make is which

one is best for you. Try your classic Angel Food or the New Angel Food Slim Blended without added sugar. Smoothie King Rule the day. Attention Cowboys fans looking for the best shave of your life. There's a new official razor of the Dallas Cowboys, Shave Logic. Imagine not having to buy blades as often and getting more smooth shaves

than your old razor. Guaranteed or your money back. After more than ten years of research in over one hundred and fifty company patents, shave Logic is proud to offer Cowboys fans a special offer for a limited time, visit shave logic dot com and get a free ten dollars gift card with your purchase. Go to shave logic dot com now for more smooth shaves guaranteed. Nobody protects you from mayhem like All State. You hear that I'm a

torrential downpour torrential, what does that even mean? It means you can't see out of your windshield and if you have the wrong car suris you might have to make it rain to fix your bumper. So switch to all State, save money and be better or protected from mayhem like me. Based on coverage in limit selected center to terms, conditions and availability. In most states, prices vary based on how you buying All State barn Causht the insurance company and

affiliate Strthbrook, Illinois. I'm Dak Prescott, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, and they snapped the fresh Scott who looks why it's not there? He escaped flapp He'll walk full first style. Just like football. When it comes to crypto, it's important to have a team you can trust. When blockchain dot com, I know I'm in good hands since twenty eleven. They've been trusted by millions around the world to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency. Prescott's gonna run the sham show, run

it up the middle, and he scores. Whether you're new to crypto or an active trader, They've got you covered. What are you waiting for? Get started at blockchain dot com. Back to the players, loude, this is how we country. Country Music. Party of the Year is coming to the Ford Center at this star in Frisco. The Academy of Country Music Awards are always bringing you country musics right as stars together under one roof, and no one does it country like Texas. Witness history on May eleventh and

get your tickets at SeatGeek dot com. The Maaca be in the building with his boots own, ready to go building. Man. I ain't I ain't got my cowboy boots and cowboy boosts. Bro, But you from y'all, don't you from make sound? I ain't riding the horses, though I see the dudes riding horses around neighborhood and stiff you gotta bamboost. Got some Chelsea boots about it. We got a boost bringing a boost that might be something we can you know, get some boots. B I mean we I'm gonna get somebody

Lucaees somewhere, because that's that's what I'm saying. Get you some Get you some boots, some professional made, some real boots. Bro. I watt you get you some ostrogen? You're Frynna sound Bro? You don't see plenty of them? Man, everybody. Well, I was thinking about going to Tennessee to not this game, but you know I want to go to Nashville, so I'm gonna get fitted. They saying that whatever the street, what's the name of the street down something like that. Yeah,

I think you're thinking Bill Street. I don't know what to do, but in Nashville right now? Man, Okay, yeah, look see why you said. Look, I'm starting to get my give see what I'm saying. Come on, like I'm fronting on you, like listen, don't let me hop know what you're talking about? The runa. No, they got they got a song called cold Beer calling my name. It's me right, Yeah, you don't even get right? Yeah, may

just want to pop up on that Miller light. Yeah, well you want to pop that over and call me caution beer, man, it's not gonna make that mistake. He get that right, you know who the official sponsor is a show, but a show and it's so good when

it's cold, believe that. But guys, yesterday Michael Parsons was in the locker room, man, and they interviewed him and was asked about the you know, only one sack in the last three games, and man, it sounds like to me that the pressure is starting to get to Michael

a little bit. Yeah, I can see that happening. You know, cats don't realize unless you play for the Star, unless you've been around here, there's a lot of pressure when you got that on the side of your helmet, especially if you one of the best players on that said team. Like we understand how it works. Even even the ware, you know, Hall of Fame guy when he gets into it, he was getting scrutinized him. You know, if you're not

making these players, are you still that good? Every time you step on the field and you got that star on your helmet, you're under a microscope from everybody. We all understand what it is. When when the Cowboys play, they could be playing Houston and y'all been there, so y'all already know what the pressure is to me. I wasn't one of them, you know, top flight guys or where they were. Every move was you know, under a microscope.

But for him, you know, being a up for defensive Player of the Year, having that star in your helmet, you're gonna get the thisism you go and get scrutinized for every little thing you do. Um, Look, he hasn't had those sack numbers. He's past a couple of games that we've you know, become accustomed to see him. But he's still affecting the game. The guy's still able to get pressure out there, he's still able to beat double teams, and he's still opening up things for the other you know,

defensive lineman out there. It's just that you don't see those numbers on the stat sheet. And I can understand him. Being a younger player is frustrating. You know, you used to having your way out there. You used to you know, getting sacks and being that guy. And when people start to criticize you and say, I don't think he's fell off, you know, it gets to you a little bit. It hurts you a little bit. So I can understand where he's coming from. But you know, being a leader of

that defense. Understanding where you guys are at this stage in your career and this stage in the season, you got an opportunity to do do big things. Don't worry about what the outside people say. Man, just go out there and keep doing your things. So hopefully he uh

he takes that and you know, runs with him. Come on, come on, first of all, leader, the defense is to Marcus Lawrence and curse and and I say this, and I say this because I remember having these conversations about d Law right, d law franchise twice getting fifteen sixteen sacks, and then all of a sudden he gets paid, and then people to scrutinize, oh man, you didn't get sixteen Again, you didn't get this because you ain't get that right. Right?

One wasn't the same? What's it? The same attitude? Law Hey man, I'm worried about what I'm gonna do. As a matter of fact, they asked Mike McCarthy about the pass rush. He said, the only people who need to be worried about our pass rush is the people that we're going against. That's the only people want to talk about it with. Michael Parson, you're a great player. Bro, you're doing your thing. Keep on doing it. You are disrupting the game. But we got to keep that same

energy though that you have for d Law. All Right, Law was out there. We get thirty sacks in the season. I was like, you know, he still is effective in the run game. He's still getting presses. He's just not getting no sex. It's not showing up on the stat sheet. Everybody's like, I don't know, man, I don't know. I don't know. So get you some sacks, big dog. He still got one, like thirteen twelve thirteen sacks. Yeah, ye, like he's still doing what. He has twenty seven sacks

in two seasons. The only two players they ever do that is all the Smith and Reggie White. Yeah he needs some more r Yeah, he needs some more right. He's like, this is what we have come to expect out of Michael Parsons. So and he seems like a guy who wants to live up to the expectations or he always wants to be better. That's why you see him talking to to the to the Marcus were and going to seek out some of the best players in the world at whatever sport they're playing, because he wants

to figure out how to be better. So he's holding himself to a high standard. That's cool, but don't take it personal. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, do you tell him like, come on, doll, pump your breaks?

You know when, especially when I think the expectation is what really is starting to get to him because people start throwing around names like Lawrence Taylor, you know, Derrek Thomas, the greats of the game there start his name is starting to become synonymous with is that's what's throwing a young guy if you gotta think he's still what twenty three years old, he's a young guy, So like, do you believe like even with what you're seeing, Like when you watch him on film, are you are you saying

to yourself, here's a guy that's pressing for those numbers. Are a guy that's playing within the system. He's getting better. Yeah, he's getting better. He's getting his past, moves are getting better. He's trying out new things. He's still causing pressure. He doesn't look like he's trying too hard. You see him chasing down quarterbacks after he makes spend move inside. He's

still playing as hard as he can. He just isn't getting no sex at the moment, and then two games from now he'll get four, right, he can do like That's that's how that's the game of football. Man, it happens that way. The greats have been through three or four games where they got one second then they came in and got four. That's just how it happens. But the way that you handle it inside the locker room and the way that his DQ was talking to him say, man,

don't worry about that. That's what he needs to listen to. I don't think it's a big deal that he said. He seems like a guy who's gonna say what's on his mind anyway. You know. But he's I know when when he gets out there, he's still gonna be the same Michael Parkson. But you guys have played with some elead pass rushers being secondary players, but you've played with those guys that have had those high sacked numbers. What

was there, you know, mentality? You know, going through those big numbers like that, I mean, just just staying consistent or just from your experience, we're playing with guys like that, like the guy the two biggest shack leaders that I've been around and had a chance to or pleasure to play with. Was the Marcus ware here, you know he was and it was prime to Marcus. He was doing work.

And then Clay's Campbell down in Jacksonville. And what both of those guys had in common, at least in my opinion, is they went a hundred I'm talking about one hundred and fifty percent once they got on them field, Like they don't make once you're get in between those two lines. They go on one hundred and fifty miles an hour and one hundred percent all the time. And to me, they didn't let any type of outside noise, you know,

bothered them getting double team, you getting chip blocked. I mean we saw earlier in the season when when Tampa Bay was Chip bockling, um, who's your name? Parsons? They was Chip blocking Parsons and he was over there, oh man, as soon as yeah, I'm on Twitter. It is how they're gonna do it. Not that they didn't worry about none of that. They were just like, Hey, I'm gonna get double team, I'm gonna get triple team, but I'm gonna find a way to affect the game no matter what.

And both of those guys were able do that, and I believe Michael Parsons has that ability to do it as well. He just got to cancel out all that outside noise, focus on his job, his responsibility, what he's supposed to do out there. He'll be just fine. But you gotta block all that other stuff out and you can't worry about you know what guys in the media like us say about you just go out there and

help your teammates do what they gotta do. Where it was a guy you just you never heard, especially not outside. He might come into the locker room be like, hey man, I like this is my time. I know I need to get some more, I need to do more or whatever, but I was it was never anything like that. You never heard. He just went out there and played Mike Vinck got four sacks. Just it just happened back to me. It's some of these things are starting to to wreak

of immaturity. You know, yeah, he says, okay, see what he says some of them. No, it is it's just starting the reek of immaturity. And you know, a guy that has a bright future and you and you hope that there's someone in the locker room that he goes to that he can talk to like you guys have had and then and have talked about the leadership in the locker room and because he's a great football player. And to me, when I when I all that, when I saw that quote, I'm like, Michael, you don't need

to get nobody because can't nobody feel your shoes. So you already know that you know, can't nobody play and do what you do. And so this defense going into this week, to me, I want we talked about momentum for the offense, momentum for the defense. Just as important the takeaways, being able to get to take the ball back. I think a lot of times we were from last season to this season. Can we continue with the interceptions.

That's a big ask, right and now you see a lot of the fumbles get taken just a whole other facet of this defense starting to take over for you guys. Look going over the next two games to end the season, what is your what is your big thing about this defense that you need to see, especially coming into this game with Tennessee that you know, the momentum that they can carry from the Philly game and all the other games that they've had to come out of this one

with the victory as well. Oh man, that cornerback position, like we like, we're gonna get the reps there, but I want that to be a little bit more solid than it hash been. I want whoever's in there to have the confidence to be able to say, hey, man, if we play man to man, then DQ trust him enough to say that that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna play the we're gonna we're gonna try to stop the run because that leads me until my next one.

We gotta figure out the way. We're not gonna get a whatever ton better and being able to stop the run, but we have to at least hold the line of scrimmage a little bit better. At some point before we get into the playoffs. We have to see a concerted effort of these guys and these coaches saying, hey man, the thing we have to do is stop the runs, okay, because we have to earn earn the right to rush the passer. And if we can't do that, that's how you get teams coming in here running from one fifty

one ninety two. And that will be another thing that happens to you in the playoffs like you did last year. If you don't figure out a way to share that up, what do you do. You play man to man and you put a lot a lot more guys in the box. You're putting guys on the line of scrimmage. We need to figure out a way for teams to fear just a little bit more when they say, hey man, we're gonna We're gonna run the ball on this team all day. That's what I need to see in the next two

weeks from from the Cowboys. Now, I agree with you. First you gotta stop the run, and then second you gotta earn the right you know, all that good stuff. But to me, I need to see that swag abump the defensive line come back. You know, once you're able to stop the run, I gotta see these guys be able to pressure the quarterback. I mean, that was huge for this team and this defense, especially the first one

twelve thirteen weeks of the season. They were able to throw waves upon waves upon waves of pass rushers at the quarterback. You know, from Parsons and d Laud and you got Armstrong and Fowler and all the guys in between there, they were able to hit you with fresh bodies and able to get after your quarterback out there. For the past I'm gonna say three weeks, it hasn't

been that way. You know. I think they have one sack in these past three weeks, and I was against Trevor Lawrence early in the games quarter and the first quarter. Ever since then, quarterbacks have had a clean pocket and they've been able to pick this defense apart. I mean, if you go back to the Houston game, there should be no way Inhale that Driscoll and Davis Mills were able to go back there and throw the ball like they were able to. Then you go to Jacksonville. Ill understand,

they're extremely talented out there. They got a lot of weapons outside, but you shouldn't have had Trevor Lawrence out there looking like Peyton Manning. The guy was dicing the secondary apart. And with the injuries they have in the secondary, you gotta rely on that d line to get pressure

on them. And then you fast forward the last week against Gardner Mischi, who hasn't played at all this season, he goes for over three bills on you, like it's you gotta get that swagger back alongst that defensive line. I don't know if that's sending more people, making it more exotic, but they've got to be able to win their one on ones because that's what they were able to do earlier in the season and get pressure on

these quarterbacks. And if you're not able to get pressure on the quarterbacks, when you get to the playoffs and you're going against a guy like you know whoever, even Tom Brady, you give him a clean pocket, he's still able to dice you up. So I gotta see that swag amongst the d line back in there. How much do you guys consider or put into to play. I mean, I think everybody's hurt at this point in the season. Everybody's dealing with injuries, but the Cowboys have been decimated

by injuries. And Jonathan Hankins and that was a I mean, he came in with a big question mark. People didn't really know who he was, but he came in he handled this business right. Jordan Lewis going out that that's a big miss and our defense. Anthony Brown, as much as people have been dragging him through the mud and talking about him, he has been sorely missed. In this secondary Does any of that come into consideration for you as you start talking about this Cowboys defense and where

they are right now, I'm gonna Anthony Brown. Yeah, only Anthony Brown. Yeah, because you had durn Bland who came in secondary wise, I'm sorry, Anthony Brown to me is the biggest because you had durn Bland who who could come in and and and be serviceable. I think the Kelvin Joseph experiment kind of put you behind the eight ball a little bit. So hopefully nat shown right, can can be a little bit better. Hopefully it can't be worse. It can't be worse. Hey man, I've seen some yeah, yeah, okay,

you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right. Yeah, Okay, we've seen some of that. But I think that is going to be a focal point for other teams who play against us. Right, if you are able to figure out a way to stop the run, then you know the pressure is going to that left corner. They like, they out there, they looking for a guy who they can say I'm throwing at him every time. What type of scheme can I get to make sure that this guy ends up in one on one against whoever on

my offense. And if we don't figure out a way to show that up, you have a hard time even if you do stop the run like we're asking for, because it's gonna be checked all day. He going Hey, yeah, right, the cut fade, whatever, whatever secret sign they got, you'll see that for the entire game, kind of like how you saw against Kelvin Joseph. Yeah. Yeah, I just don't believe Malik Willis has that in this wheelhouse anybody else? No, no, no, no, no no no, I'm not talking about for him. I'm

talking about everybody else. Yes, no, absolutely, But hey, we're gonna take a break, but when we come back, we're gonna talk about my favorite subject one, two, three, four coming up next on the Players Lounge. Nobody protects you from mayhem like all State. You hear that, I'm a torrential downpour. Torrential What does that even mean? It means you can't see out of your windshield, and if you have the wrong car insurance, you might have to make

it rain to fix your bumper. So switch to all State, save money and be better protected from mayhem like me. Based on coverage in them, it's selected sect. The terms conditions and availability. In most states, prices vary based on how you buy. All State Garden Causalty Insurance Company and affiliates, strunk Brook, Illinois. I'm Dak Prescott, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, and they snapper the Freshcott who looks white. It's not there.

He escaped flap. He'll run full French style, just like football. When it comes to crypto, it's important to have a team you can trust. When blockchain dot Com, I know I'm in good hands. Since twenty eleven, they've been trusted by millions around the world to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency. Prescott's gonna run the sham show, run it up the middle, and he scores. Whether you're new to crypto or an active trader, They've got you covered. What are you waiting for?

Get started at blockchain dot com. I want to use what the pros use. How about the official men's skincare brand or the Dallas Cowboys Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Clack skincare favorites, plus a full sized and tense Therapy lip Bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and use the code

word Team JB. That's Get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys. The Jack Black starter ten bucks free shipping, but Smoothie King's original Angel Food and New Angel Food Slim without added Sugar. You no longer have to choose between treating yourself and hitting your goals this summer. You don't have to choose between great taste and feeling great because that's Smoothie King. Every blend is made with whole fruits and no syrups, so you can satisfy your cravings without compromise.

The only choice you will need to make is which one is best for you. Try your classic Angel Food or the New Angel Food Slim Blended without added sugar. The Smoothie King Rules a Day to the players, loud in Jar, premier dining, shopping and experiences from over twenty plus restaurant shops and more at the Star District. Make sure to shop into stop into the district's newest additions, Women's Boutique, Monkeys of Frisco, Shree Fine Art Gallery, Lombardi

Casina Italiana, and the Talk of the Town. The Glenn, the Glenn and the Monarch stage. Visit the Star District dot com for the full directory. Man, yeah, stag my bad. I'm sitting there like, Okay, what that stack? Okay, appreciate it. I'll appreciate it all down Cepend School District. That but either way back here on the players lounge, man, getting things wrapped up for you, w uh the game tomorrow, Man, so many things that we have tried to go over

to get you paid. Feeling like hey, you stocking like Rocky buff like the hoop, feeling like you do you know? Because uh, look man, it's one of those It's one of those games where you feel like you could go into it. You could blow this team out. You can have the weekend to yourself, bring in the new year, everybody feeling good. Uh, everything goes your way. On Sunday you could be potentially looking at give me my Cuban Ruby to exist. Things get started happening for a boppy,

you know. But look, man, it's it's one of those things where you have everything to play for this Thursday. I know the question that's starting to circulate, do your rest guys, it is that man? I think this is that weekend this Thursday. You gotta all hands on deck. You gotta approach this like, look, we got everything to play for and everything to lose, all at the same time.

So that's where I am. But Dak Prescott again played his tail off on Saturday versus Philly and probably have one of his better games of the season going into this game, d Mac, what do you want to see from that? I need to see that protect the ball. I need the same thing Jerry wants, the same thing all the rest of Cowboy Nations want nation wants. We need to see him protect the ball. Interceptions, fumbles, We

need to stay away from all that. We know it happens, but when it continues to happen every week and consistently, that's when we need to say, hey man, we need a game where it's none of that. All right. I want to see him protect the ball. He don't need to do anything special, he don't have to have three fifty five three testdowns all that stuff. I just need to see him protect the ball and be able to

manage the game. Not be a game manager, just manage the game, keep it balanced, and make sure that everybody's in the right spot to put us receipt, put the ball on his receivers. Get us accuracy right, because once again, we need that momentum going into the playoffs because we end the play but we need you to go into the playoffs with confidence because as we talk about, confidence and momentum are very important. It's whatever team is hot, and how can you get hot as a team? Have

your quarterback hot ready to go? Yeah, and as you said, one hundred percent right there to take care of the football. And I know that's been a you know, a tough thing for that since he's gotten back. I think he leads a league interception since he's been back. But we've seen he's a resilient player. He can respond to that situation. But we need him to take care of the football.

That's that's all it comes down to. Because what we understand is the only reason Houston was able to stick around in that game a couple of weeks ago because we turned the football over. We don't turn the football over, we stomp on Houston. Same thing that comes here at Tennessee. I don't think they have the depth, they don't have the talent to be able to hang with this team. The only way they're able to stick around is if we turn the football over. So Dad, just keep you know,

don't don't try to press for anything. You know, if your number one option ain't there, number two option ain't there, don't be afraid to check the football down to Tony Poller. We see what he can do in the open field. Heck the football down or just throw the football away and live to play another down. But take care of the football. You do that. This should be a no issue game. You know, I forgot one because like there's a fourth option in there. Run that thing like he

was doing against us, take off. Do you realize what it does to a defense when you have that, When you have to worry about the quarterback scrambling and getting first downs with his legs. It's a whole new part that the defensive coordinators like, man, how do we stop this? Do we put a spy on him? Like how we can't play two man because everybody's turning their back and then he could just take off running. That brings a

whole another facet to Dak Prescott's game. So I'd actually like to see him do that a little bit more. You don't have to be crazy, but yeah, man, pull it down a little bit, man, sometimes a little bit. Oh right, now, he gonna catch you on that every time, you know, I'm with you. I'm with you on that. And I think he unveiled a part of his game that we've been clamoring for. We've been asking, come on, Dak, come on, man, we need to see you get out

use your legs more. But man, I think the challenges to our offensive line as well as much as it is to that our offensive line has got to do a much better job. And I know that Philly's defensive line is like that, all right, But Tyron Smith making the adjustment over to the right tackle position hasn't been smooth.

And it's a lot of people that don't want to criticize big number seventy seven because he's first ballot Hall of Famer, all of those, all those things, he's had to struggles, and I think if you look at him, you can say and even when a rookie, even even Tyler Smith played clean all the way up into that

last to the last sack by sweat. Look, they're gonna have a matchup and they're gonna come into a game this week tomorrow where the Tennessee doesn't do a lot of things well, but rush the pass or get after you is what they do. And so I want to see this offensive line clean things up. But I'm with you, Uh Danny, he can't turn the ball over. I mean, that's just become a part of his game that he's got to get rid of. And it's like, I guess, get it over early. If you're gonna do it, you know,

if don't do it, do it, do it. Do it like you did it last week. Get it out of the way that your first fast let it. You don't lit that bit. But you've got to eliminate that because those turnovers, and you know, in the playoff situation, man ain't gona do nothing but bury your team. And so we can't have him, can't allow it. And and for dak Man having them having his best game last week, he needs to come back this week and having an

even better game. And I think the Tennessee Titans are going to uh give him plenty of opportunity to do it. So fellas we did it again. I like that. But he keep throwing these interceptions. Hes gonna be over the in tackling drills, all right, because all right, y'all, y'all just gonna gloss over the tacle, the tac tip all the way. I don't know what my brother check the shoe side or something, which thought he was gonna bodies lab buddy whatever that like all was got out of here. Man.

Boy thought it was all touch. We always been almost what do you know, boy scooting? What did he think that was gonna stop? Tw me through that page? Now, I gotta go that boy was doing. But hey, but but that's it. That's it by a show and how we always ended on game day, Cowboy Nation. I hope your team went here we go. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club