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Cowboys, This is.
Media Mash, a roundtable of Cowboys insiders trumping wisdom and offering sizzling takes on the current state of your Dallas Cowboys.
Now your host, Newie scrugs.
It's not Newie, but we are live in direct from the Dallas Cowboys headquarters here in Frisco.
It is the media Mash.
And uh, I got three gentlemen with me that are gonna make me feel much smarter. Every time I'm around Clarence Hill Junior, I feel a little bit smarter. He's a goat start at Fort Worth Star Telegram is in the building. My man, sobbed yourself with.
The Athletic Athletic.
I ain't gonna mess that up. I'm not gonna mess that up. My man John Jock Taylor is in the building from the Dallas Morning News.
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. There's likely a decade ago used to be.
Well.
Look like you said, you learned something new every day, So.
Let me just set it up.
This is John John Taylor jj T Media Group Deon Sander's on biographers got a book out on Deon Sanders and making the men long time Cowboys beat right?
Who the only one I.
Was going to get to all that and all that up with the Dallas Morning Noon stuff.
So I want to this table to cover the super Bowl, the only one that covered the Super Bowl with the Cowboys in with the Cowboys in.
That whos wait whole that holds a lot of weight. He was here ninety five, So wait a minute the other day when you say you covering the team longer than it was because he wasn't in the room.
Now he's the longest tinged beat, right, Okay, he took a hiatus. He he don't cover the beat.
Okay. So that's what count all the years, put it all together, put it. I'm gonnaorder that book and I need to sign I got you, Okay, that's what That's what I need. Fellas glad to have y'all here for the media mash and I want to ask y'all. The October thirty, first three pm came and it went okay, and a lot of people had a lot to say about the trade deadline and what the Cowboys were going to do and what they did not do. What were your feelings on it, John Jock, I started with you since I messed it up so bad, man, I'm nuts.
I don't really get all that caught of it. I think there's some subtle moves they could have made. But the thing about it is, for the most part, to me, all the players who were added to other teams, most of them are what they got flawed, so they were traded for red They were traded for third and fourth round picks. Like Chase Young, my Bucky brother. Okay, he's a guy with potential, but it's not like he's done anything because if he did anything, guess what he would they'd be trying to sign him. Now. You know some guys you hope we're getting because maybe they can make a play at some point to help us win a game. It's not that this is a perfect team, but I'm just not all been out of shape because they didn't do anything.
It's a double edged sword for me. I think you don't want to do something just for the sake of doing something. The same way we talk about this with coaches being fired or changing players and stuff.
You don't want to do it just for the sake of change.
You got to have.
Something better on the horizon and uh and and like, like JJT said, I don't know if that was necessarily out there in bunches. I do think they could have upgraded at different positions. But at the same time, another thing you have to consider is that this is a team that drafts really well. And you see this with Michaeh Parsons contract coming up, Ceedee Lamb coming up, Trayvon just signed. You all these guys in house, Dak Prescott they signed, so they should be a little bit more reluctant to just give out their premium draft picks for a rental.
So I think I see it both ways.
At some point you do want to go all in the way the Rams did a few years ago, but again that's that's not their way. That's not their way of doing things. And also the last thing for me on that is it wasn't a mid season trade, but Brandon Cooks and Stefan Gilmore both trade acquisitions.
They did. They did make moves to upgrade the roster. It was just a different.
Times handless logically for a one minute, the issue, the main issue is this, the Cowboys did not have any capital because they don't have a fourth round pick.
They don't have a fifth round pick.
They don't have a sixth round pick in this year's draft to trade with. And those are premium pick picks that you a lot of guys have moved for fourth, fifth, middle round picks.
They don't have the draft circulation.
They're gonna get some later picks, you know, when it comes to compensatory at you know, in the spring, but right now, because you traded for trade last you know have a fourth round pick. You know, you don't have a fifth round pick. You don't have a sixth round pick. For other moves they made. Uh, So that limited what they can do unless they're going to trade a first, second or third. And then if you're gona trade a first, second, third, you're really not doing that for a rental. You know you can, You're not doing that for rental. On the flip side, the frustrating thing for Cowboys fans is this, Yeah, you you made your moves in off season, and then you got Brandon Cooks and you got Gilmore.
But everybody had an opportunity to make it was an off season.
Okay, Now that we're in the season and you know where you are where everybody know your jockey position. Other teams are now making more moves to improve their lot, to to improve their lot for the Super Bowl, and the Cowboys are standing pat.
That's the frustrating thing.
You say, they drafted well, and they and they you know, have done well. But you don't get super bowls for drafting well, you know, you don't get super bowls for balancing the cap and then make sure they got money two years from now?
Are we talking about what fans think?
We're talking? Let me, can I finish my thought just for a second.
With fans think and they think Trey Lanz would be the starting quarterback?
Now it was some of them do some of them think, you know, the Cooper should be too. But that's not the point. The bottom line is this, whether it's fans or whoever else, the bottom line is your way has not worked.
In thirty years, right, so try something different.
So try something different, you know. Again, that's the frustrating thing. Certainly, logically, I'm telling they don't have the capital. But you understand the national teeth when the forty nine ers who spent he got a lot of talent, They made movesing off seasons and they gonna get a Chase Young, whether Chase Young is who he thought he was. Adding Chase Young that defense line is scary, especially after Yeah, I mean they're they're adding scared again.
They're adding pieces to that defensive line.
Seattle added little Young to you.
Know, to to go and help their team.
Detroit made move the Eagles after every day they'd done in the off season. They go get Kevin Bilready safety to help fulfill holding the secondary that the Cowboys that that that they have, they go get. Whether you wanted that Julio Jones are a big deal or not, they already have a great receiving court.
They still wouldn't got Julio and.
They wouldn't added they wouldn't added them to the receiving court.
I'm just saying that there he was out there with the Cowboys add their receiving court or you know, or just like, what's the running back that was Tampa Bay with the Buffalo Leonard Fournette and we talk about, you know, them needing you know, a.
Hammering the running game.
You know, he could have been partic that piece, but the Cowboys did nothing.
And I think that's where Clarien's people are kind of up in arms. Yeah, because you see Philly, whether you call it making a move just to make a move, but they are satisfying the masters by going out again.
But they're not satis. I don't think there's I mean, let's know, words matter. I don't think they're making moves to satisfied the masters. They're doing things they think they need to do to help improve their team. And they're leaving no stone unturned that too.
And the thing is, at the end of the day, it looks like this is a roster that has gone from great to super Bowl caliber as from where they were last season, and you guys covering to the Cowboys as long as you have you know what that super Bowl roster look like. Now I've asked you this question about this roster, and I don't want to feel like I'm seeing something that other people aren't. But I felt like coming into the trade deadline, there could have been some pieces that you could have added, like what I mean for your wide receiver. I felt like your wide receiver room was lacking. I feel like your running back room was lacking. I feel I felt like there was a piece that you need to add in your defensive line or either at your linebacker position. That was something that you needed to do to fortify at least make better what's already good.
I think the wide receiver one. You just need your guys to step up. This isn't this is in twenty eighteen where you got to go get someone to get you up to average.
You need Michael Gallup to play better.
You need Cooks to be more involved, you need CD to be involved on the running game, I hear you.
And on the defensive line.
I still wonder if they at some point, if the defensive line, for example, you know, gets to a point where they need more help, if you go out and get like a sue or something like that, someone who's already out there on the street, you know what I mean.
No, No, they did this withy Newton last year.
They did it a line linebacker, cornerback, other positions they could have potentially added.
He's they didn't. And it's great to say you like your roster.
Certainly you like what Bell is doing it linebacker and plays with Leyton Vanderresch.
You still don't know what Layton Vandersch is going to be towards the end of the season, but at some point it's his size is going to get you in trouble? Is he too small and too markis Bell?
Yeah, at two hun and fifteen pounds, you need a bigger guy in there, the traditional linebacker type in there. You know, those are the type of things that I thought they could have addressed with what's the potential guys out there?
But again, what it costs and you have to weigh the cost.
And again when you don't have a fourth filter or sixth round pick, that makes it tough.
I think that's where someone like and Donaldkuan su is a little bit more of an Austria. Yeah, he's on the street, So I think that could be an option down the road.
Now, you guys is as writers, this is Philly Week. Everybody knows what this is about. And you've been writing these articles on the Philadelphia Eagles and what this matchup has been like over the years. And John Jock I saw it with you. What do you think about this matchup for the Dallas Cowboys. A lot of people are putting this in the must win category from a divisional aspect. I think they all are. But what are your thoughts going into this game for the Dallas Cowboys?
Can they play better than they played against San Francisco the last time they had a big time game.
I mean, that's really just what I want to see.
Obviously, everybody knows the Eagles are good championship caliber, so it's time to see it's time for you to have your second chance to show that you a championship caliber team. You ain't no problem beating up on any bad teams or these average teams. We know you could do that, but this is.
A different kind of thing here, So I'm looking forward to. I think it'll be fun.
I think be tightly contested, and it's a matter of you know, like what the offense show up.
I feel like the defense will show up. I have no idea if the offense.
So you're not impressed by the wins versus the Jets are in.
I mean, they get credit for it, but can we can we see them be some good teams because none of those teams are getting good and so can we see them be some good teams? And they, I mean, they got good teams coming up. It's just the next one. And so yeah, can you beat Philly up there, get back to six and two, be tied.
For the division.
That'd be a big deal, and be tied for the conference. I mean, I mean that's the other thing. If they win this week, they're tied at top the conference, you know, with the Detroit Lions and stuff. And I also to your point about about you know, not beating quality petition. If they don't take care of business here after this, it's gonna it's gonna be a while before they have a chance to prove themselves again, because after this you got the Giants, then the Panthers, then the Commanders, and then after that, once you do get back to your next chance to prove yourself, you're entering an absolute gauntlet towards the end of the season where you got Seattle, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Miami, and Detroit all back to back. So they need to do this one to feel something better about themselves before they do go again to another three weeks of a cupcake schedule.
See I I'm pausing on making a referendum on this game.
Now.
They can't do what they did against the forty niners. But losing the game is not the end of the season. Not showing up, Yeah no, that's tway. They can't do it against the fort ninis. I'm ready, you know, losing the game and not the end of the season, because you have them at home, you know, and you're better at home. They should win on the roads by Vegas as a three point favor, which is is a push. But you know, I, you know, I'm glad you about the schedule because I think the Cowboy need to go five and they have for the next six games at home really before a ten day break before they played the Eagles again at home.
They need to go five to win that stretch, you know.
And and and certainly that Seattle game on the back end of that is important because that's gonna be the toughest team. But you got Philly. It's gonna be a push. You know, they may win, may lose. They probably will lose on the road in the Philly That's just what it is. But of course you're out there factoring out the success Deckers had against the Eagles when he's played quarterback. But you got Carolina, they got Johnts, you got Washington, you got Seattle.
This is an important stretch. And and and.
I I pause with saying that because they haven't beat any good teams and record wise, no, but they've they've done what they're supposed to do.
Against those teams.
You know, we compare with what the forty ninerd did against the A Round, Compare what uh the Eagles did against the Rams. They didn't do what the Cowboys did against the Rams and Rams team.
Uh. The record is what it is.
But that defense only give him a four passing touchdowns all season four in seven games.
They gave that up Sunday and.
They gave a four Sunday gainst Dak presional and so we can't say what Dak did it and he had the success. It's not that big of a deal because there was against a bad Ram team. That defense given a four four passing touchdowns all season.
But class, why are you reluctant to call this a must win in the face of the scrutiny that's going to come from the media. If you have that repeat performance like you did verse the forty nine ers, all you lose this game.
But repeat performance is a whole different level. If you get blown out, yeah I'm talking about.
But we can you can play good and lose. Yeah, you can play good.
This is a good team is on the road, I mean, and certainly you would love to win the game. It would really sell a lot about you and your season and where you're planning to go. But I don't think it's the end of the world if you lose the game. You just can't go forty two to ten. You can't, you know, go belly up is what you did in no shows because that that that that that puts a different referendum on who you are. But I mean, it's not a harassment to lose to a team that has the best ruking league in a close game at their place.
Yeah, I think going into the forty nine Ers game, that whole this is a this is a measuring stick game, maybe fed into what in the end of the world kind of mentality that went into that game.
You got embarrassed forty two to ten.
This is a division fold that you know you're gonna have to see again and you may have to get through in the playoffs.
And and unlike the forty nine let's be honest about this, unlike the forty nine Ers, who you had not had success against, you have success. I have had success this legle phil and that has known nothing but success against Eagles. So it's just a different mindset, different mentality going this game than the forty nine Ers game.
I also think I also think that.
And you know, players can say Brandon Cook said this to you in the locker room where they're not measuring up against other teams and standings and things like that.
But it's November.
It's getting to that point where you start looking at that stuff. And you know, if the Cowboys take or the Eagles, like I said, they control their own destiny or the top seed in the conference. I'm obviously a lot of football left to be played, but they'll be top of the conference and they'll have a lot of football.
Ahead of them.
I mean, they goes to winning division. Okay, in division game. You know, division games matter if you're trying to win it. That's the first goal, win division, okay. And so they understand the importance of the game and they don't need to look at standing one of else.
It's the Eagles.
They're the division defending champs, they got the best working in the league, they're in your division. They know this is a game that that's that's gonna be big and it's important to try to win, especially on the road.
Man.
I love that this is this is this is big time, but this is big time football. It's Sunday everybody's watching got their eyes on this, Dallas Cay.
It's funny because we've been covering this team a long time and you know, we were talking to Curse the day and he was talking about, you know, since he's been there, the Eagles have been the story, you know, and I remember when they was the Giants, or I can go back around, was child and was the Redskins?
And who was the biggest rival for the Cowboys run? All of them?
Are the Cowboys biggest their Cowboys their biggest rivals before as the Cowboys a concern, you know, during the Romo era, it was it was the Giants, you know, and O See and and all those guys, it was that was their biggest rible That's who they had fights against and all this stuff. And before that it was Washington and now it's the Eagles's but it's always the Cowboys, but because they're always playing for something. But it's just interesting how the cycle is gone now Philadelphia is the big doll the Cowboys.
Has to play against. Not necessarily Johnson watching anymore.
You know, Clariens, I had a conversation with you last season about this team, and you alluded to pedigree and this roster and having the pedigree to be a championship level team this year.
Do you see that pedigree?
I mean, you know, I've been all over the place because you know, we've been so long talking about the stepping stars to winning and its rangers are showing us champions season. You know, you don't necessarily have to go through no process, you know, and we've seen teams in NFL do.
The same thing.
You know, the Eagles, Eagles when they wanted they just just go do When the Giants won and took it from the out Boys and the Patriots. You know, that championship stuff rises. You go back to when the Cowboys first started in the nineties and they were a year away in ninety two. They weren't supposed to win ninety two. But champions rise to the occasion and seize their moment. I'm waiting for this team to seize their moment. I don't you know, I don't know if it's pedigree or whatever else, but but it's time to show up and show out and if you truly omit to be living to your championship destiny.
Pedigree, I mean I agree with that.
I think there is something to it and the building blocks and all that kind of stuff.
But I think at some point.
You and and the Cowboys have had a lot of this with the forty nine ers in the recent years as well, So at this point it's kind of all on the table.
They just got to go out there and.
Do it right, Go and take it.
What's the rightest modo, Go and take it, and take go and take that thing. It's time to go take that thing.
It's been thirty years since you covered the Super Bowl, So it's.
Always about your best players showing up in winning time.
I mean, look at Cory Singer, look at Marcus Simon, Mark Simmon and done nothing. Now in the moment presents itself, here I go. And so your best players got to lead the way. Your best players got to play their best football at winning time. And if they're gonna win this week, guess what that gonna ball out? Ceedee lamb On, ball out, Micha's gonna ball out, tangle ball out. Their best players will ball out if.
They win it.
Yeah, and and and as we all know, and it's it's that's the whole narrative with the Cowboys. They can win this week, they win next week. What they gonna do in the playoffs?
The question.
San Francisco, but can't you do it in the playoffs?
I mean that that's the monkey on the Cowboys, what you're gonna do in December? And you know it's funny because it's hard not to refer to the Rangers, and even going back to the maths, I mean, when they want the favorite this, go and seize that thing. You know, your players, your best players, show play your best the best players you know. And you know, whether it's Corey Seeger, whether you know or Garcia who was giving away.
You know he's thirty, you know he know young, can people thinking you know, he thirty years old. He's been around this thing.
Saint Louis basically gave him to the for consideration and for considerations. But those guys are living in today, Mumba living listen, and you know, and I go back to you know, you go back to the Rumbo era and all those guys and they did, you know, Cowbo whatever whatever the reason dropping is fumble in Seattle, you know.
Where it was time to win, they didn't do it.
And that's the same destiny right now or the same rap on this era of Cowboys.
But it's time to win.
They didn't get it done, and it's you know, time out for this time for y'all to show up when it matters most.
Hey, man, this a medium mash as we continue, going to take our first break. I got Clarence here, a junior young I sighed yourself from the athletic.
Like I didn't say that.
I keep messing it up, man, just like I was so busy trying to be athletic. I keep doing that. Then I just John John Taylor, my man, I can't believe I just did that. But Claires got it right. We're taking a break. We'd be right back.
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To media mash. Back here on the media mash, I'm HEC Maharrison, Clarence Hill Junior side yourself and John Jock Taylor is in the building.
Man.
We've talked a lot in the first about the expectations.
Is this a must win?
Now? I want to gravitate towards this offense and man, the kind of performance that they have to have versus a really good still very good Philadelphia Eagles defense. Philadelphia Eagles, as we've talked about, they have gone out and gotten better at the safety position. Obviously, their cornerbacks are really good. They've drafted really well with bringing in a Jalen Carter and the whole Georgia defense. To be honest with you, so this is what we're going against. Guys, what's your expectation when you talk about this this offense and going into Philly. We haven't had much from the running game, and the passing game has started to explode over the last couple of games. But expectation going into Philly on Sunday.
When I was looking at the number last night and Philly is the top ten run defense, They're like twenty six against the past. That tells y'all you need to know about what the Cowboys need to do. They want have to throw the ball against the team. And good news is Dak is in a rhythm. He's you know, says in a rhythm. He's played his best football the last two years. Last Sunday's game maybe in his best game in a couple of years going back to twenty twenty one.
I agree he was in.
That much of his own and feeling it, and his connection with Ceede Lamb is off the charge.
The good news about Dak is that he's going.
He's not Mississippi State DAK, but he's early Cowboys deck in the way he's using his legs. And you know, if you I was looking at the numbers and since the injury, you know, his rushing totals, his attempts, his yards were down in twenty one and twenty two compared to where they were early in his career, and that's because he was trying to be smart.
Come off the leg injury. You know, we don't run the ball anymore.
But now just talking to back McCarthy, talking to Brian Schottenheimer, the scrambled drill.
They need him using his feet.
That's gonna make this office go, whether it's to scramble to pass or scramble to run when you see first downs out there. And he's been more decisive about doing this, and that's another reason why this offense is taken off the past couple of weeks.
So I also think CD Lamb's involvement is huge, and it's all tied together with DAK, you know, being mobile and the things that he's doing. But you're seeing Ceedee Lamb become more of the number one wide receiver focal point that he should be and also Brandon Cooks and and I think once.
You have all the weapons at your disposal.
With Jake Ferguson, I thought took a nice big step the last game. It's not just about the total numbers and stuff, but you can see the trust that Dak has in him, especially that touchdown pass to throw it.
The way they did.
I think all this stuff is kind of coming together. But as Clarence said, I mean against this team, you have to throw the ball a little bit more. Mica talked about it today with what the what the fronts really setting the tone and it's gonna come down to the offensive line, which has been kind of spotty.
And you know, we've talked about how good.
Of a game Dak had last game, and that's fair, but three of the first four plays he was on the ground in the backfield and.
So didn't start well.
No, so the offensive line has to play a lot better.
Yeah. But but but we say that, and then we never heard from Aaron Donald.
Again, right, because they got put in another game situation.
They what I'm saying, the offensive line did play better. I mean they yeah, after those first three snaps and actually the.
First was on back because they should have got the ball out, but they did play better, and you got to give the line credit and what they did, because they wouldn't be able to pass them all the way to pass the ball if the offense line didn't take care of the business.
I mean, I think sometimes coaches people forget you can run them. I mean, you can throw the ball to set up the run. You don't have to say we're gonna run the ball. Yeah, you can start and loosen them up by throwing the ball, getting up ahead and dictating the pace in the game and then let your running game find the flow in the rhythm. And I think they did more of that the other day. And so I think you know right now the best asset is throwing the ball. Tony Pobly doesn't look like he lived last year. And we can come up with a thousand different reasons why, but the bottom line is you haven't seen the long runs and the five point two average and that, and so you don't have that explosive running game right now. So what you do best is throw the ball. What you do best is get it to cde Lamb. And now maybe Brandon Cooks can cook a little bit.
I'm glad you abrought that up because you know, I think Mike admitted as much regrudgingly yesterday. But coming into the season, we want to run the ball. We run the ball, protect off defense. I'm not trying to like score board and trying to win games.
You know, that's that's been his motto.
He realized that you he cannot be conservative on offense to win games in this league. And he said on Monday, we cut that loose. You know, they cut that loose. You know, they were more aggressive with the passing game, because, let's be honest, he brought up the running game Tony Poller. You know, last year, I would say that Tony Poler was the best most explosive weapon on this team.
No doubt.
That's not the case this year. And the best weapon on his team is Ceedee Lamb. And whether that's getting the ball to him as a receiver, let him run through a short little routes and whatever else, the hitches getting about outside the CD and cooks and letting them cook.
That's what's gonna make this offense go to do.
Don't be wasting passes throwing them to people not named CD Lamb.
I mean, you can throw it o like the turk of distribution.
Fourteen, they had a lot of distribution. That's how it should be.
Because why he your best player got that is the folks of all time. Now Chill is not gonna get this because he's not really a video game guy. But all y'all who play Madden, do you waste carries on anybody who ain't your best player? No, that's just no, And so it needs to be the same thing in the NFL. You don't waiste carries on guys that ain't the studs, and you don't throw the ball the guys that ain't the stud.
So your offensive line, think you guys talked about it. You're talking about this offensive line and where you are right now with number seventy seven, the stinger happens, Chimadoga comes in, he's injured, high ankle, sprain or whatever's going on with his ankle. How where's where's your level of confidence right now? Because it sounds like to me, we're going back into this musical chairs offensive line.
You know.
Funny thing is because I was down, I'm looking at this the report that just came out, and.
I was just I was just thinking about that.
Limited was limited.
So that's good news. Okay, Tuman was limited, so I mean.
It wasn't I mean he did little something.
What I'm saying is it wasn't Sunday we thought it was.
It was dire when everybody came, look like to bring the card out and it's a low eggo spring out a high and spraying there's a good chance he could play this week, so he should be available. Tyron had the stinger and they rested him last week and they didn't press him to day, but they're confident he could go this week. And I was, you know, I was talking to myself. Okay, self, you know all last season? Can you trust Tyrant to stay healthy? Can you trust Tyran to say why they keep messing around with tying?
Can you.
You don't know if can say he did not. Look at some numbers. When Tyrant's healthy, he's still one of the best tackles of the league.
That's why you play the game. Everybody said, that's why you that's why the consid when Tyron's healthy. If you look at some of them now looking at some some analytics and tiring. When he's been on the field this year, he's been one of the best tackles, left tackles in the game. And so that's why you still play these musical chairs and take the chances and hope he played this week, because when he's on the field, he's one of the best.
When he's not on the field, you got you.
That's what's so maddening about it, Clarience, is that everybody before they even say his name, they have to reference and like a preface to even talking about him, first ballot, Hall of Famer, all Pro all of those things you say about him. But then in these moments, you you don't know if you have them right.
But when you do have him, you know he's gonna play at high level.
Hey man, old players get hurt, They get hurt more frequently, they take longer to get help.
And it's one reason why they addressed this contract offseason.
They made him take a pay cut, they made him earn his You know, he don't get paid when he don't play. You know, he got he got roster game bones that way, the way he looked.
You know, he don't get paid when he don't play.
For him playing and being on the roster, been active for game days.
But but yeah, so it's it's it's you.
You you theoretic Ideally, you want a long term solution. You want to be able to trust that your left tackle is gonna be there. That's not the situation are in and there's nobody we talked about predn see everybody looking at the office lineman. Everybody got office line issues, okay, And so there's nobody out there who could help them fix that problem in mid season.
And so they're gonna have to roll the dicing.
And go with what you've got now, I would say that, And and what other thing is that Tyler Smith is playing.
So well and left guard? Do you really want to make a left tackle?
No, not unless you out there for the year.
I'm just saying. But even going forward in the future, I mean he could be. He may be playing as well as any the left Let's be the dirty little secret. He's playing better than Zach Martin.
Is that a little si well for most.
People don't want to believe that, But he's playing the numbers. He's been their best office of lineman this year. He's playing better Zack Martin. You know, he's he's one of the best left guards in the league. And if you're playing better than Zach Martin, you one of the best left guards in the league. Why won't you leave me a left guard for your career.
And a valuable position.
For it is. We'll go get your tackle.
That's a draft issue.
Right, that's a draft Next you go get your track tackle.
You know so and and and I guess as we talk, and it just all these things come to mind.
You know, let Collins is out there right oh man, there's a reason.
Well he's healthy, you play in MiGuard and move to Tyler to left tackle.
That's intrigued right there. Boy.
You see how the wheels everybody's wheels are spending right now when you say Layol Collins, because I think people are that we're down the street with layel is he may be shot from from helps being able to move.
Man, I just don't like to spend the block with you know, you spend the block.
Is he broke up?
I said, they broke up. Go find somebody else.
Ain't nobody else out there, But you know what you got when he's healthy and ready to go?
Is the healthy question? Isn't healthy? If he's healthy, do you kick the tires? Yeah?
I mean, I guess what I'm saying, is this and we're talking about missing the magic, would you rather have Tyrans Smith's I mean, if Tyre Smith not available, would you have rather have too many of Doga and left tackle, Tylas Smith left guard or Tyalas Smith to left tackle and Leo Collins and left guard.
That's what I'm talking about.
Yeah, that's what I left guard.
No, No, he's more of attack. He's better attack.
He's been a he has not been a disaster tackle, right.
He's not.
But they but they don't want to play in mcguard because he's not as good a guard as a tackle.
And that's where his experience is.
I mean, he came into the league as as a tackle, have all the reps and experience as a tackle. His first snaps as a guard was here in Dallas and he was serviceable. But but either way, this week, rage is on guys, and there's been a lot of stories coming out in the media. Have you guys stumbled upon any back stories you saw the coordinators talk, the head coach talk, anything juicy happening for you guys and what you're writing, Well.
I think I think just seeing the way that the players are approaching it is kind of interesting it's a little bit, it's a little bit all over the place. I mean, there are some guys who are just like Micah said today, there's nothing or was it Jay Ron, one of the players up in the locker room said, you know, there's just nothing left to say.
There's nothing. There's not a whole lot more talking to do.
Nothing like that, no bulletin.
Well no, but then you have your starting quarterback who was like, pour some honey on me if you see me in a bear fight. So it's kind of Jerry Jones is saying he doesn't want to talk about it and so.
Not gonna poke the bears what he said.
No, it's funny because that was incredulous. He's like Jerry talking about why is Jerry saying this? You know, we ain't scared of nobody, We ain't scared to talk about nobody, and realistic just.
Didn't believe that Jerry wasn't gonna be talking.
Yeah, but but but he also like, whether we talk about it or not, this is a big game.
Everybody knows a big game. And you can't have from Cowboys.
Eagles right there.
You know, it's there, so sitting there, you can't had from it.
You know it's it's cowboys Eagles and and you know when he saw he just made a play.
You know, look, we love spicy Dack. That has been more colorful. Yeah, he's been, Yeah, he's been more colorful.
This next question must he's been more color about with the media.
But you know he's sassy with cop sassy, icys, sassy, all of that. He's been those spices. And so when when he said, I, you know, you see me in a bare fight, helped the bear, you know, post money on me. I I scared of poking the bear. Jared talking about poking the bear. Poking the bear. He liked it from your quarterback.
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Mash, Back your own media mass John Jack Taylor, Taylor, shot yourself, my May, Clarence Hill Junior. All in the building, man, it's been great getting a lot of insight on what's going on. Backstories in the locker room, side would and give us the locker room material.
He got all the goods.
But it's okay, we're just gonna keep pulling down and finally he's gonna tell us something. But I want to talk about this defense, yow deron Bland, and I don't think he's a He's on a historical march. He has three pick sixes this season. And for you guys that have been handling that's been covering this team for so long, have you ever seen a guy coming to the league and have the impact that d ron Bland is having right now?
No, I mean, let's be honest about it.
And you know, you know, I remember last year he showed up training camp making plays. You know, I remember training camp and late in the season last year he was when he had with forced a star, he was making place. He's the game has not been too big for him. And some people have that neck because I was asking Mike and I was asking Dan, you know, because we've seen cornerbacks here who can cover, who don't make plays.
On the ball.
Jones, Brion Jones will make no players on the ball. What's the other cornerback? Same way, what's the other cornerback? In calling about the second round pick. Then what this is and that that came to my mind is gone che He would be hell, be around the ball, be around, be right on the man, make no plays on.
The ball, wouldn't know is it catch me?
But but but seriously, I mean this guy, you know, he makes plays. He has just a knack for the ball, showing up, making players at the ball. The other night, everybody talking about pook pooka, pooka pooka. Okay, seen pook pooka pook a cock one. He said blue, it's a blue. But I mean just saying just he just has a knack. He he just makes plays, makes plays on the ball. And so yeah, it's been import I remember I was telling people when when when when uh dis got hurt? And everybody's complaining about what they gonna do, what they're gonna do, And I was like, it was the same weekend they had all the Arizona again the office line. When I went down, I said, you got better officers of back up cornerback.
You have backup office line. Okay, I ain't worried about.
The cornerback position, and I'm more worried about the offensive line. And and certainly he's certainly lived up to that. He's just been amazing for a young kid. I mean, he's he's certainly he first team out pro right now.
And I don't think that in Dallas we've seen anything like that. Obviously, maur As Claiborne had all the hype and everything, but that.
In Paneza is like two years ago, done right.
But we're talking like aside from the current iteration of players like you know, going back, I don't think so. But at the same time, I think Deron Bland, what he's doing is also not all you know, It's not just a happenstance.
I mean, this dude puts in a lot of work. He's he's always prepared.
He always knows exactly where you know, how to anticipate the ball. But you know, I asked Jayron Curse about him after the game the other day, and jay Ron did laugh and say, just quarterbacks forget how to throw the ball when they're throwing in his direction sometimes. I mean that past Matthew Stafford threw the cup. I mean, it looked like there was a miscommunication there between him and Cup, but I mean it was just it was right to Dron blaand and and he capitalizes on it. So I think I think credit goes both ways. I think it's really important for him to be that way because you know, I talked to Mike McCarthy about this today a few weeks ago. He said, the defense is the identity of this team. So if the defense is the identity, they got to show up every single week and they got to set the tone.
Well, they created a lot of turnos. But you know, think about it, and I think we talked about it one day. The reason why Larry Brown's the MVP of the Super Bowl is why he caught them. He caught them easy passes.
Because prime, because he was going because I can't call them cats.
Always dropped these ease interceptions like hey, how you dropped that? In Well, he doesn't drop them, and that's the whole key, because a lot of guys have them and can't make the play and you just shake your head and go, I can't believe you dropped that.
Uh, matter of fact, say he was dropping one.
I mean he one last week he dropped one against the chargers. He had one three he would have been because the chargers. He dropped against the charges and he was going too fast. But yeah, the league is littered with defensive backs who dropped interceptions.
Littered. So let's let's get into these Eagles wide receivers. Because the setup for Deron Bland is the matchup that you have coming up with A. J. Brown and Davonte Smith. Now you without Stephan Gilmore.
I would put Gilmore on Brown, you would, And because he's bigger, I don't think Brown is fast, I'll put Gilm on Brown and and and put uh Bland on Smith.
That's what I would do. If you would, you would travel, you would travel. I would do that.
Man.
I wish he was on the last show. I just did.
Yeah, we had a we had a whole conversation about that, and just the whole the d run Bland uh being on DeVante Smith and also uh A J.
Brown being on Gilmore.
That that was to me the thing that made sense from dan Quinn's uh schematically, But other people see it other ways because of the emergence of d run Bland, trusting him on one side with Stephan Gilmore on the other side of the.
Main thing you just got you got to put your hands on AJ Brown. You can't be giving him free releases. And get into his rap undisturbed. And so as long as you can do that, you know, and if he can, And that's why the size matters, because he's a big physical dude.
He is.
Yes, that's why it's the side think because Gilmore was a little bigger, and so that that's why I would.
Put him on and and and and and.
I think that you know, uh, from the speed stamp, we he can match it with his speed, but they could match up with smith speed. So if I had to match him up, and I don't know if they gonna match mu, make to leave him on the same side.
That's how I would match him up for sure.
So yeah, I mean I think I think traveling with Bland is a lot easier, uh and a lot more convenient because he's obviously played in the slot, played outside, so he can travel with the receiver inside and out.
I think you put Gilmore on on the top receiver.
So let me okay, so let me get this right. You're saying, travel Bland with a J.
Brown, travel Bland with whoever go If if a receiver goes into the slot, whether it's AJ Brown or DeVante, you can put him in and keep Gilmore on the outside, because you know, Gilmore's a top notch on the outside.
So that matchup for me, that's the most intriguing one. And then on what is front of mine is this Philadelphia Eagles running game. I think that's one of the things you have to come into this game saying we got to stop this running game because Swift, I mean, he is a physical downhill runner.
Yeah, but he just a guy. He ain't special.
Just a guy.
Yeah, he ain't.
Why do you think he was free the summer?
Okay, Okay, he's a he's a solid back, but he ain't special.
I think you turn a guy that may be a mid level guy into something that's a little above average with that offensive line that you have.
Okay, I stand the quarterback.
I still ain't worried about note would you how did you describe him a little bit above average?
Yeah?
Okay, Like I said, he just a guy.
I mean, I mean, a good running back in the National Football League, But he ain't. Ain't nobody sitting up at night tithing Dan Quinn ain't sitting up at nighttime about oh my god, we got We.
Just went up against Connor.
We just went up against James Connor and in Arizona, and I think James Connor switched the mentality between a mid if above average running back that gassed you.
Well, I mean that was if the defensive line they supposed to do, then a guy like that Andre Swift, I mean he gonna get what he gets, which is.
Have a decent game or whatever.
So to me, it's much more about the Cowboys being physical at the point of attack and doing what they're supposed to do with they run fits and getting lined up right that it is the running backs. Now you got to deal with the Eagles offensive line, which has been better, and they create problems for you. But you know there's a reason why they got three four running backs and ain't none of them special.
Also, I think Jalen Hurts is just the X factor. I mean that that dude, That dude, he helps your running game with just his presence.
So now watching the watch the Swift go hit him for.
He may hit it for one thirty because he's got I mean, he's fast. It's just like the running back dead last year. I mean he doing nothing in Carolina.
I mean the passing.
What I'm saying. He's a system back and he fished the.
Passing game, the threat of Jalen Hurts as a runner, you have to worry about that. That opened things up. That offensive line is amazing. That that helps me. And he's fast and so that that that helps him. But I don't think he's no great back, but yeah, he fits that since the reason why.
They try to let him go too.
And last thing, guys, it's Jalen Hurts probably hasn't been having his great statistical year because of the interceptions and losing the ball, but still they will win and I don't want to say in spite of but there's still seventy one.
All right.
So when you look at this offense and you look at this quarterback that did have an MVP vote and took them to the Super Bowl last year, what are your thoughts on Jalen Hurts in the way that he's approached these first eight games of the season.
What the plays a winning time man, And so I mean he's a winner and so he can have a bad game or bad have or bad quarter, bad series at the end of the day, if you can put him in a position to win.
And he's his career's college like you know Alabama, ohe you whatever?
So he's a winner.
He don't get flustered, you know, and you watch it. He's so calm and he never is ad up. But the thing for the Cowboys, he has turned the ball over, so you have to take care of take advantage of turnovers.
And this is Jaylen Hurts is not hure percent. He has a knee injury. He is playing with a brace on his knee.
Got a bone bruise.
Okay, well he's playing with a brace on his knee. That's what they call it, a bone bruise.
I remember some people had broone bruised and then it was microfacture. But I'm just saying, whatever it is, it's something. It's something that's limited him from being full onslaught Jalen Hurts, who can you know, run down the field.
But Cowboy did take advantage of that. Take advantage of that for sure. Wow, this is a big one, man.
We got so much to talk about, so many great stories that you guys are going to be writing this week. John Jock Taylor, I apologize brought.
That stuff like that. Man, come here, man, he had his business.
Every time sod from the athletic.
He got it.
I got it all right, Clarence Hill Jr.
In the building.
Man, we'll see y'all.
Get on media match all right man, Thank you man
I appreciate This has been a production of Dallascowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.