December 23, 2024 • 44 mins
Bryan Broaddus, Derek Eagleton, Nick Harris and Ambar Garcia discuss the Cowboys’ gritty win over the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com
and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Cowboys Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Are you ready for a break? Yes?
Speaker 4 (00:16):
Are you ready for a break?
Speaker 5 (00:18):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Ready for a break? Yeah, and so much for that.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
It's time for the Break on Dallas Cowboys dot Com
were on with Mbar Garcia, Brian brought us, Nick Harris
and Derek Eagleton.
Speaker 6 (00:38):
It is Monday, December twenty third, twenty twenty four, Season twenty,
episode number ninety. Welcome to the latest edition of The Break.
We are live from that s WBC Mortgage Studios at
the Star were presented by LGLG is the world's number
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See why at LG dot com Ford slash O lead EVO.
It is Christmas Eve Eve, and we get to.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Talk about why are you laughing? You never heard of
call that?
Speaker 7 (01:02):
I've never heard of someone.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Christmas Eve? We are we are We get to talk
about a Cowboys win. That was That was a.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Look anti climactic.
Speaker 6 (01:15):
Well it was a little anti climactic because I was
I was maybe the only person that was still like
Cowboys are still in it and the game I thought
would be, Oh, of course they're going to win. That
game ends up just falling apart. The Eagles had the
game against Washington and they just found a way they
refused to win, and uh so they gave up that game.
(01:37):
So by the time the Cowboys started their game, they
had already been eliminated. But we get to talk about
a win Cowboys player, I think pretty well, uh in
the twenty six to twenty fourth victory over the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. So start first going
around the table, I want to hear from you guys,
what you think was the story of the game.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Nick, Let's start with you.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, there's still a lot to fight for.
Speaker 8 (01:56):
If you're looking at this team, there are twenty six
guys on this on this roster that are heading into
free agency whenever the season ends. And you look around
at some of the big contributors yesterday and you'll see
a lot of those twenty six names that popped up.
You could look at Jordan Lewis having the interception and
a season where he's had probably the best year of
his career. I think he had his best game of
(02:16):
the season last night, and he had that interception on
Jayla McMillan and the end zone that was just incredible,
rip the ball away from him. You can look at
a Rico Daubto over the course of season has been great.
Obviously last night was not. And then Cooper Rush the
night that he had, specifically the first half that he
had in being able to establish momentum for that offense.
If you had told me coming into this game that
the Cowboys would win with only thirty one rushing yards,
(02:39):
I would have said you were crazy. So you got
to give credits to Cooper Rush in that sense. But
this team fights man and Ceedee Lamb, you know, going
through this ac joint injury that he's been battling for
the last eight weeks. We asked him in the locker
room after like why why do you keep playing? He's like,
I'm fighting for my brothers. I love this game that
much I want to be out there with them. So
you know, that is not the sign of a culture
(03:00):
or a deeper conversation, not a sign of a coaching
staff that is going to let this team lay over
over the course of these next two weeks. Still a
lot to play for with a lot of these guys
with so much uncertainty ahead in the offseason, and they
certainly showed that last night.
Speaker 9 (03:13):
Yeah, I wanted to start off. I think a lot
of this game was about Cooper Rush. Yeah, because I
honestly I was not too the thoughts about him having
to deal with linebacker pressure, him dealing with secondary pressure,
him dealing with potential pressure right in his face. Hacked
the touchdown pass. You know, he had to tot her.
I mean he right in his face. You know, he
(03:35):
he had you know, he was defensive lineman right there
in his face. B tove right in his face. And
you know, I think that he managed this thing really
really well. I was worried about him being a statue
back there, and but you know, when he had to
make the pressure throws, he was able to do it.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I was glad to see him throw the ball down
the field.
Speaker 9 (03:52):
You know, we were breaking down the Buccaneers. We were
talking about where this ball needs to go. That these
guys give you a little cush and they play a
lot of single high and they're going to give you
some opportunities.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And they did that.
Speaker 9 (04:04):
Dallas did a great job with some of the route
combinations to get the ball into the middle. Of the
field to make some easy throws for Cooper Rush. But overall,
you know, I mean the second half their offense was nothing,
but he didn't do anything to mess that game up,
you know, And I think that's exactly you needed.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And be steady he was. He was. We're at pinpoint
with where he needed to be with the ball.
Speaker 9 (04:24):
He had some really good reads and you know, I
want to say this, I think he outplayed Baker Mayfield
last night. And it's not very often that you could
say that your backup quarterback is going to outplay a guy,
a quarterback who is, you know, one of the more
accurate quarterbacks in the league and his team is fighting
for a division championship. So a tip of the captain
(04:45):
Cooper Rush on that one.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
Yeah, and some of his movements, I'm like, oh, okay,
come on, go for Rush. I'm like, I knew I
liked you at some point. No, but great job by him.
Also a great job by Ceedee Lamb. Once again, I
think he's made up for him missing training camp and
that whole conversation when he was out holding out looking
(05:09):
for that contract. The fact that he's playing the way
that he is despite the injury that he's been suffering
with along the whole season. Has been very, very impressive
and kudous to him. But even though this is not
the storyline, necessarily the biggest storyline of the game, I
am wearing the T shirt over here. So I wanted
to give mister Brandon you can't even say how mister
(05:32):
Brandon Aubrey a huge, huge shout out, because man, again,
I feel like we apologize about something every week. This week,
I'll bring it back again that apology from us wondering
what's gonna happen with the kicker position when we were
about to get hit in the face with balls at
(05:52):
training camp and it was a whole mess. And while
he keeps impressing everybody, breaking wreckers, I think he has
what fourteen field goals fifty plus yard field goals of
the NFL record in a season and there's still two
games left and he's just he was great last night.
(06:14):
He was perfect, he was amazing, and just wanted to
give him a shout out.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I will say he has the playoff for me.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
There you go, there you go.
Speaker 8 (06:20):
I will say he is in like a Barry Bonds
Mark McGuire race with Kyami Fairburn because Kyamie Fairburn has
Thirteen's like it's going to be like back and back
and for the way, like they're just going to keep
breaking each other's record until one of them finally just
etches it.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
I think one of the big keys will be what
we saw last night, that team still fought even though
obviously they were eliminated before the game. My question will be,
and what I'll be looking at is how do we
see that same fight these next two weeks, because now
that you know you're eliminated, what does the preparation look like,
because that's where sometimes he can get in people's heads.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Once on Christmas it's over, Yeah, and it's just like
I don't have to watch this much film. Yeah, I
don't necessarily I forget this.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Where're starting to make to get out of the town.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
It changed a little bit.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
And again, everything we've seen from them up until this point,
they don't give up, like they keep fighting.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
This coach has kept them engaged. Uh, this will be.
Speaker 6 (07:12):
I think the hardest part for the coach to keep
them engaged during these next two weeks because it's just
natural everybody in the country, it's natural you kind of
let down a little bit. When you get to this
part of the year because it's it's the holidays, and
especially if there are no games that really are going
to matter for the postseason. Obviously I wonder how that works.
But everything I've seen so far, I give a lot
of credit to coach McCarthy and this coaching staff because
(07:34):
despite everything that's happened in season, and how much they
could have just let everything go in the tank, they
did not.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
They kept playing hard.
Speaker 7 (07:43):
It's an interesting point you make there because even though
they found out they were already eliminated before playing the game,
the preparation of the race was there, it was done.
They took care of it. They were heading into that
game as if they were still in the run or
there was still a chance. So you saw the reflection
of that. Now it's gonna be interesting watching what happens
(08:05):
is in this next two weeks. But like you said,
everything we've seen so far is that they're not giving
up and they're gonna keep going out there and again,
when you loose, when it comes down to the game,
they're gonna show up and play hard because physically that's
how you get through the game and you it avoids
you from potential injuries that could occur, but it'll be
(08:27):
interesting to see you. As far as preparation throughout the weeks.
Speaker 9 (08:30):
Yeah, I think they're playing hard for each other. You know,
McCarthy and the coaches. You can absolutely tip your cap
to him. Nobody on short weeks gets his team ready
more than this guy. I'll give him credit for that.
Nick mentioned it in his open statement though, twenty seven guys,
twenty seven guys, you're trying to put good film out there.
Guys like Jordan Lewis, Guys like OsO Diggi Zua, guys
(08:51):
like Chauncey Golston. You know, they've got some guys that
really aren't established as well. You know, you look at
brock Hoffman making nine hundred and twenty seven dollars, not
established as a as a right guard, not established really
as a player, really first time opportunity playing.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
At a very high level.
Speaker 9 (09:07):
If you look at the value over how that kind
of translates, he's like a sixteen million dollar player playing
guard for you right now. So they're getting a lot
of guys that are stepping up way beyond what their
pay is, and I think that's impressive. I think that
they're like I say, if this was a team like
say the New York Jets or another team that's a
(09:29):
veteran team, this thing amount have gone south a lot faster.
You know, we're seeing some teams that are just older
veteran teams that are like they don't see they see.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaker 9 (09:39):
Its the oncoming train, you know, and they're trying to
get out of the season. Nobody's trying to get hurt.
But there's you know, the coaches are coaching for their jobs,
the players are playing for new contracts.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
You know.
Speaker 9 (09:50):
It's it's it's a recipe for to continue to try
and do things the right way instead of throwing in
the towel and letting the think.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Fall completely heart.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
If I give credit to one more player that I
don't think we mentioned, Nick Vigil played his ass off
last night for you. And Nick's usually the guy who
never practices because he's got Nick tells you he's got
a foot injury. Every week he tells you he's not
going to practice foot injury. He's out playing. Last night,
his ten tackles you were worried about. You were worried about,
where were the tackles going to come from, and especially
(10:22):
against a team that physically runs the football. You know,
Kendrick's last minute scratch. Basically, Nick Vigil having a step
in probably didn't get a whole hell of a lot
of work.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Great job by.
Speaker 9 (10:33):
Him doing what he needed to do to get that
done for the defense last night.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yep, all right, let's take our first break.
Speaker 6 (10:38):
When we come back, we'll dive deeper into some of
these conversations. We'll talk about the offense and we'll talk
about First up, we'll be Cooper Rush and his night
last night. We'll talk about it. And when we come back,
this is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio.
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You know, you start playing well at the end.
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The playoffs, the scheme now.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
And knows you didn't have to get on another plane.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
After the Philadelphia game, don't even bring not just that
game was so they just everything about it that the
Eagles were just so far advanced, Like it's like, how
are they?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
How did they not win that game?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
It just they reverted back to some of their old
ways of playing defense.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
I mean, I know they lost some guys so that
that certainly didn't help.
Speaker 8 (14:40):
But man, your head coach, you were always.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Always in the game, always.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
In the game of ni in the game.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
Okay, anyway, anyway, the man I would have been on
this show today, like there's a chance, there's a chance.
Speaker 9 (14:54):
They're breathing Cincinnati game and you can there's so many
games you wish There's so many games you wish had back.
He wish he could be playing New Orleans this week. Yeah,
I mean just playing Atlanta this week. I mean, I
know Atlanta, I mean, how about Atlanta?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Quick? How about Michael Pennick? Though? How about that? Your
your division is on the line, and you've now gone
to the rookie quarterback.
Speaker 9 (15:13):
Yeah, to go win the same Michael Pennick though one
at Indiana, won at Washington.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
He's been a winner.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
He played his butt off. Yes, yeah, that was a
good game for him.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Good game to play against the Giants though.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
No doubt to get you started.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
But yeah, but it got you.
Speaker 9 (15:25):
It got you momentum you needed to maybe close this
thing out and win the South.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Yeah, no doubt. All right, let's let's talk about Cooper Rush.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Yesterday, he was twenty six thirty five seventy four percent
completion rate, two hundred and ninety two yards in the air,
one touchdown, zero interceptions, a one oh eight point three
passer rating. Here's what I what I also noticed as
I was looking at some of the advanced stats on
the game, he actually only faced pressure on seventy five percent.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Of his dropbacks.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
And on those drop backs he was twenty three of
twenty seven for twohundred and sixty eight yards. On the
ones where he faced pressure twenty five percent of them,
he was only three of eight for twenty four.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Yards with an eighty five passer rating.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Do you think a lot of what we saw yesterday
from Cooper Rush, which I think may have been his
best game this year as a starter, do you think
a lot of that was about the fact that they could,
in a stat or the Buccaneers could not consistently get
pressure on him, and when he's not pressured, he can
tear you apart.
Speaker 8 (16:18):
Yeah, I think that's fair. I think it's also a
combination of him just being more comfortable. As a season
goes on, we're starting to see what reps could do
for him. Because even on the Jalen Tolbert touchdown, specifically
third down play, Vidavea absolutely blows up Brockaffman. Bro Kaffman
had a tough day yesterday, but Vidavea blows up brock
Kaffman and get and Cooper Rush knows he's going to
take a hit, he stands in and puts a perfect
(16:40):
ball over the middle of the Jaalen Tolber, who hauls
it in for the touchdown.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I think it's just that type of comfortability.
Speaker 8 (16:45):
I don't think we saw in the first two or
three games that that he had whenever he came in
a start of this year. He had said last week
after the Carolina game that he feels like he's playing
the best football of his career right now.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
And I understand why.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
He sees that, why he believes that he's starting to
stack really good reps and it's starting to pay dividends
for this offense. I think also some credit has to
be given to the play caller as well. Coming out
and just establishing confidence for Cooper Rush in this game,
I think was really important. You understood that you had
you were most likely going to have a running game
that cannot get going against a really good defensive front,
(17:20):
against a really good second level in Tampa Bay. It's like, Okay,
I need Cooper Rush to help me win this game.
Let me build confidence for him. Let me take the
ball on the coin toss let's let's receive, let's build
confidence for Cooper. They come out on that first possession,
they run a bunch formations the whole time, quick past
the entire time, six for six, twenty one yards on
that opening drive, and just quick, quick, quick, quick action.
(17:40):
Get his brain moving quick, get those completions out in front.
Even if it did end in only three points, it
ended in points and an established confidence for this offense.
I think it did wonders for this offense as the
game went on. And when Cooper Rush is confident, I
think he plays it his best.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
He's a Heisman Trophy killer, isn't he.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Yeah look for that, Yeah, four of them.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
He's taking down these Heisman Trophy winners. So I love that.
I'll tell you what.
Speaker 9 (18:01):
Both these quarterbacks played really well against man coverage, though,
and you watch the game and stuff like that. I
mean it was like a Baker Mayfield was just looking
at his numbers. He was eleven of twelve for a
buck thirty nine and Cooper was five or six for
sixty three. You know, against man coverage, and you know
both guys. Cooper was a little bit better against the
zone coverage stuff that sin say that Tampa bay was
(18:22):
thrown at him.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
I'll say this if you want to.
Speaker 9 (18:24):
You know, I was critical of Tolbert the route he
ran on the touchdown. I mean, give Cooper Rush a
lot of credit because you're going to watch the tape
and you're going to see Cooper Rush drop back and
he holds the ball. They're going to try and run
that thing across. They're going to try and run Tolbert
inside along the goal line and see if they can
hit him in the.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Middle of the field.
Speaker 9 (18:43):
But what happens is David the linebacker, cuts him off,
and so now he has to adjust the route to
go north. And so Cooper Rush realized what was about
to happen, and he just allowed Tolbert to clear and
then got him the football. David fell down in the route,
So that was a really good read by Tober to
get north, and then Cooper rushed to standing there knowing
(19:04):
that a three hundred and fifty pounds man was about
the delivereral blow on him. So good for good for
both those guys getting it done.
Speaker 7 (19:12):
You know, I'm having a hard time trying to not
allow myself mentally to get fooled by what's happening at
the end of the season, keeping in mind the opponents
that they faced this a few weeks, Yes, and they've
been competitive. And what you've seen on the offense, you
have to give credit to Mike McCarthy and the way
(19:34):
he has adjusted the play calling and helping position his
players in a better position with the calls. And also,
like Nick mentioned, I mean Cooper Rushia. Obviously you expect
anybody to come in and get better as the weeks
go by, so you can see him be more comfortable
and more confident. But when I said me not getting
fooled by what's happening at the end of the season,
(19:57):
it's like I've been very set on why I mean,
Mike McCarthy back as the head coach, but not as
the play caller. And even though I like what he
has done this past couple of weeks, I'm trying to, Hey,
remember what what happened throughout.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
The Remember the whole season.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
It's and the knives that went through my heart every loss.
So it's going to be interesting what's going to happen,
you know, with his contract and what the Cowboys decided
to do with.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Him extending Yeah, going to extending, Yeah, run this thing.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Back you're extending Mike Zimmer as well.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Yeah, I mean they're they're the package.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Yeah, it's the package.
Speaker 9 (20:36):
It's like I think the people, I think, the people
that want Mike McCarthy back to appreciate Mike McCarthy, are
probably going to get their wish. Never seen the general
manager more giddy about a seven and eight team than
he is right now. He is him and Mike McCarthy,
and you know what, the folks like me that that
want to move on from him, you know what, we're
(20:58):
probably not going to get our wish here, and this
is you know that ed happens. But this general manager,
obviously him Stephen Jones, feel very comfortable. Will McClay feel
very comfortable with him. They're excited about the way the
team is playing. I think he has a hand of it.
I also think, as I mentioned, the players have a
hand in it, trying to get good tape out there
in case they move on. So never seen the general
(21:19):
manager this happy about a coach, and so to me
go ahead and extend and make everybody happy, get on
the phone called don Yee right now and get this
thing done.
Speaker 8 (21:27):
I think part of the conversation that has to be
had specifically on the offensive side of the ball as
it pertains to McCarthy as a play caller, as the
head coach all of those things. Is you have Dak
Prescott for four more years, and looking at his age,
you would have to assume that it might only be
four more years. Are you willing to risk This is
just the question they have to ask themselves. Are they
willing to risk signing him to a to three year
(21:49):
extension and if it doesn't work out, changing coordinators with
only about a year or two left and down now.
I think that's that's something that they really have to
think about when it comes around.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
I don't think they have. I don't think they have.
You think they have what I don't think they have.
Speaker 9 (22:01):
I think they've made a decision on Mike McCarthy. I do, Yeah,
I do. I think they're I think they're totally comfortable
with Mike McCarthy. You know, I'd love to I'd love
to hear them this week talk about you know, hey,
we're going to extend Mike McCarthy. We're working on an
extension right now.
Speaker 7 (22:17):
Are you kidding him? As a boy caller?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Sure? Sure? Keeping everything the same.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
M you like pain?
Speaker 2 (22:27):
I I don't know if I I don't.
Speaker 8 (22:29):
I don't know if they've made the decision, though I
think that Jerry was pressed about it a little bit loud.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I think they have. I think they're really I don't
think that.
Speaker 9 (22:35):
I don't think you would if you were not tremendously
happy with the direction this thing has been going, you
wouldn't have the reactions that he's been having, and we've had.
We've had Jerry Jones Stephen Jones on our station four
times a week, all four you know, four times a week,
and every single time nothing but positivity. And some point
you say, yes, you have to be positive, or you
(22:56):
just say no comment about that, you know. But I
I the way that the way that they're acting right now,
I think they've got their guy in mind.
Speaker 6 (23:03):
Well, I don't know if they have their their mind
made up or not. What I will say is being positive.
They're being being overly powered. Positive for Jerry is normal
like that You're we're acting like that's not normal for Jerry.
Jerry is extremely optimistic, and Jerry is extremely That's why
I always That's why I But my point is, even
(23:26):
when the decision ends up being something different, Jerry tends
to be publicly very positive, like he tends to be
a very positive, sure person when it comes to how
he portrays the team to the general public.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
So I don't know if that means.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I don't know if I'm taking any clues from that
that he's made a decision one way or the other.
I think this is typical Jerry, that Jerry's gonna always
be optimistic, and when he sees something that gives him
even more reason to be optimistic, he's gonna be even
more optimistic.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Like that's just how he is.
Speaker 6 (23:55):
I don't know that that necessarily means anything to me
about what the decision will be.
Speaker 9 (23:58):
Yeah, I respect, we disagree, and I disagree in a
way because I feel like to me that they are
totally comfortable with Mike McCarthy as their head coach.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
They are totally comfortable with him as that.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
And that may be the case.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
All I'm saying is I don't think that that how
Jerry is portraying the team and his happiness for the
for the fact that they're playing well the last five weeks. Sure,
I don't think that that's necessarily the indicator. I just
think that's who Jerry is Jerry. We always always talk
about Jerry being so optimistic. He's extremely optimistic when it
(24:32):
comes to how he portrays the team.
Speaker 9 (24:33):
How hard would it be for him to walk away
from Mike McCarthy if in fact that that the way
that they're they're playing right now.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
To be honest with I do I do think that
if you would have gone back, if you.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Say where was Jerry six weeks ago to where he
is now, then I agree with you.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
I think he's probably more in a boat right now
where it's like, man, it's it's hard to let him
go when I've seen the last.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
I don't think he wants to go through another interview
process myself. I just don't.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Again, I don't know that.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
We don't know McCarthy wanting to come back. That's another
thing like we don't. We don't know because again, he.
Speaker 9 (25:08):
Was really disappointed before in pregame you listened to Brad
shamp ask him.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Questions, Yeah, he was, he was totally he was totally.
Speaker 9 (25:15):
Uh, just in the tank about not being in the playoffs,
you know, and so you know, to me, I mean
I think that a guy that if he didn't want
to be here, I don't think he would be that way.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
I don't think he would feel that way.
Speaker 7 (25:29):
The only reason I bring that up. And I'm not
gonna bring a bunch of stuff on the air about this,
but we have heard little things in inner. I'm trying
to keep my job. No, I'm just kidding. No, I
am keeping my job. But my point is when you
listen through to interviews throughout the season from my McCarthy,
(25:51):
there have been times where he gives that an answer.
What it makes you wonder or think more when whenever
he maybe about the running backs and the running game
or what was happening in the game. So you hear
his frustration and it leads me to think, Okay, is
he actually happy here? Not to say that he's not,
(26:15):
because he's been here and he's committed to the team,
and you've seen that, and you saw that specifically in
that interview that you mentioned, Brian, but it makes me wonder,
is he wanting to go through all of this in
this scene where it's the Dallas Cowboys and we're in
the start And sometimes when you watch the frustration and
just the toll that it takes on you emotionally having
(26:38):
to deal with the amount of pressure here, it just
makes me wonder is he wanting to do that again
and stay here in Dallas. Well, I don't know, we'll see.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
The reality is he has just as much say in
this as the organization does because he is a free
agent essentially after the.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Season is over.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
So if he chooses to leave, he has every right
and ability to be able to leave. So it is
a two way thing here. This is not just the
Cowboys's eye whether.
Speaker 9 (27:02):
Sees how that signed players, he's going to get He's
gonna be the highest paid coach in the league.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
I'm saying that, kidding.
Speaker 8 (27:09):
Yeah, the perspective.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
That on air, right, because people that are just listening,
if you if you, if you wait and if you
wait around here, you get your extension.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Yeah, get nick saving money.
Speaker 8 (27:24):
I'd be curious to know from Jerry's perspective, if his
mind was made up, why not.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Just come out and say it last night after the game?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Oh I think you know what that That's what I've
been asking. Yeah, I mean I've been asking the same thing.
Speaker 9 (27:34):
As happy as they are about this guy, as happy
as in giddy as he appears to be, and talking
about him in such a glowing and my gosh, you're
playing hard for him, and they're doing this and doing that.
That's what I'm saying, Go go extend him now. I
don't need I don't need you to tell me that
they're you know that, they're just go do it.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Go get the extension done this week and and and
or put it all the rest.
Speaker 9 (27:55):
Maybe he will, Maybe he'll come on our shows this
week and say, you know what, I've made it this decision.
We're gonna bring Mike back, and I'm working on a
contract extension with Don Ye right now.
Speaker 8 (28:05):
I doubt McCarthy would want to do that with two
weeks left, Just knowing how he's been communicating about this
process the whole time, I doubt he would even open
that conversation till the season's over. I'm just kind of
thinking and thinking out loud here.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Let's take our final break. We'll come back.
Speaker 6 (28:18):
We got more talk about from this Cowboys versus Tampa
Bay game. We'll be back, Kylascowboys dot Com Radio.
Speaker 15 (28:24):
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Speaker 8 (29:23):
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Speaker 4 (29:55):
Erica how much have I spent on concessions?
Speaker 17 (29:57):
For questions about their money, Dallas Cowboys fans can turn
to Erica, the virtual financial Assistant in the Bank of
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Speaker 10 (30:22):
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Back to the break.
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Welcome back.
Speaker 6 (31:03):
We are in the final segment of the break Live
from the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star talking about
the Cowboys versus Buccaneers. Cowboys get to win twenty six
twenty four. This segment's brought to you about blockchain dot com.
All right, so let's talk about the running game. The
running game had really been kind of the backbone of
this offense for the last couple weeks, really few weeks,
(31:23):
and then yesterday it just was not there.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Ric o'daldle was.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
Thirty, had thirteen carries for twenty three yards of one
point eight average check out some of these advanced metrics.
He was fifty four percent against the stack They ran
fifty four percent of the time against a stack box, so
he was facing it up.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
Bill Battle.
Speaker 9 (31:40):
It's some one of the worst teams in the league
when it comes to run against stack boxes, and the
Buccaneers play at more than anybody.
Speaker 8 (31:46):
Cooper rushed that yes, right too. So just backing up
your your great scouting on last last week, I was like, oh,
Brian brought it said that last week.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
He must have been watching the break.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
So here's my question, though, do you think that the
stack box and what they were doing there actually opened
up the passing game more? And that's why you saw
such great production by the passing game in Cooper rush.
Speaker 8 (32:06):
You saw more one on ones yesterday was I think
you've seen all season? So yeah, I think that's that's
certainly the case. And dealing with a backup safety on
the back end with Antoine Winfield out, there were advantages
that could be taken here. I again respect to the
play caller, there was a couple instances where they were
able to just isolate guys and have speed against non speed.
(32:26):
And for example, the play that comes to mind is
you think back to last week when they had those
two Cavante Turpin carries for twenty seven yards in Carolina
and just lining him up in the backfield, handing it
to him like a straight up running back. They line
him up in the backfield for the first time last
night and they go play action to him. Cooper rolls
to his left and Brandon Cooks and one on one
with a guy is just blowing by his coverage. It's
(32:47):
the longest reception Brandon Cooks had all year for twenty
nine yards. I believe that was in the first quarter.
Set up that first touchdown pass, and I think with
those stacked boxes it certainly helped a lot with his
passing game.
Speaker 9 (32:59):
Yeah, I think to me when you when you watch it,
and Mike did a nice job.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
You're talking about set it up.
Speaker 9 (33:03):
He gets a twelve yard run with They get the
thing blocked on the backside really well. Smith does a
great job of cutting off his guy and then they.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Kind of get Vida Veya.
Speaker 9 (33:13):
Secured and you know, next thing you know, Turpen's to
the hole, through the hole, makes a guy miss, and
now you're got a twelve yard gain. They come back
in the very same formation like Nick's talking about they
go heavy play action right off it and it and
the play. The fact that they'd ran a play for
twelve yards the previous brought all the linebackers up and
brought the safety up off and that that's exactly where
(33:35):
Cooks went. So safety comes up. Cooks runs by a
ball right there. You know, Cooper did a nice job
but kind of sliding to his left and making sure
that ball got out.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
But just the threat of.
Speaker 9 (33:45):
That brought the brought the the Buccaneer defense up and
then created some space for them to work with. But
it was going to be tough to run the ball
against these guys. I mean it was you know, they
like say Dallas just does not run well against the
stack box three point four yards of carry. I mean,
even with Rico Daddle, he's one of the been one
(34:06):
of the most successful running backs in the league when
it comes to you know, with the positive carries or
you know, gains of four plus yards of carry successful carries,
and yesterday he you know, you just look at the
you look at the metrics and with guys on and
off the field for the Buccaneers, their defense, I mean
one point six one point six one point six, one
(34:27):
point five, zero point nine, you know, two point one.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
I mean that's nothing.
Speaker 9 (34:32):
That's nothing when it comes to yards to carry with
those defenders on the field, and then you flip it
on the other way, you know, Dallas said some guys
on the field it was about almost six yards of
carry and some of those instances. But you know that
it was the passing game is what got it done
because you were able to handle the linebacker pressure and
you and you didn't get you didn't get hurt by
(34:52):
any stuff that they usually do from the secondary.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Cooper Rush did a great job of getting the ball
out for that.
Speaker 8 (34:57):
I'll tell you what you talking about the rush defense
for the Cowboys. Complimentary football helped this defense out more
than any other game in the season because have you
not been playing from ahead the entire game, that running
game would have caught up and it would have beat
you down before the end of the game. So I
complimentary football really worked for the defensive side this time.
I think that's the first time we could say that
this year unless I'm forgetting a game where it was
(35:17):
more evident.
Speaker 7 (35:18):
Well, I was just gonna say that's where it comes
down to, because you look at all the stats. I mean,
the Bucks they beat you in every stat just by
a little bit more time, possession, the yards, and when
it comes down to it, the only place that the
Cowboys beat them at was in turnovers with the defense
and what they were able to do. And it just
(35:39):
goes to show once again that when you are able
to turn if you win the turnover battle, more often
than not, you're winning that game. And the defense once
again showed up. They made so so many plays. And
I know we were talking about the offense here, but again,
if the defense wasn't playing the way that they are,
I don't think this offense can get it done by itself.
(36:01):
But you still saw improvement and in a game where
there was the lack of the running game, you finally
saw some efficiency in the passing game. Now, the secondary
is not great. It's not the best second and I'm
talking about the Buccaneers. Their secondary is not the best
in the league or anything, but they were able to
take advantage of that. And we go back to talking
(36:22):
about Cooper Rush and him feeling more comfortable and being
more in connection with the receivers and Brian you mentioned
earlier Tolbert, a guy that disappeared the whole season, and
then all of a sudden, now he's starting to show
up again, making two key plays back back to back weeks.
So I think it comes down to just practicing more
(36:44):
time together.
Speaker 6 (36:46):
Yeah, let's actually dive a little deeper into that run
defense yesterday. That that was I agree with you, Nick,
I think there's without the fact that they had they
were playing with the lead for so much of the game.
I think that could have been a real turning point
for this game. I think that kind of been the
difference in this game. The one thing I noticed in
some of the advanced metrics was that they got the
majority of their success running inside left.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:08):
What did you guys.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
See from the run defense specifically that you think was
most problematic for Dallas.
Speaker 8 (37:14):
It's too early for me to comment on that specifically.
I haven't been able to go back and see what
work in the trenches are.
Speaker 9 (37:19):
Yeah, I think to me, what, you know, the one
thing that that early in the game, you get Mossy
playing pretty well and Linville Lynville Joseph, I mean, they
the Buccaneers, They've got their backs all finished going forward too.
That's that you know, And you really don't have to
get a lot of their black I mean, the Buccaneers are.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Good about getting a little bit of a guy and
then the ball is to in past.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
I mean that's where it's not like they're hard to
Bucky Irving. It's hard to bring down in the open
field or you know, in space. But that when you
look at the way that they're able to run the ball,
it was they got push on the tackle, you know,
Nick Vigel and those guys were having to fight some blocks.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Maritly if out fighting blocks.
Speaker 9 (38:09):
You know, it got it got to the point where
they were able to get you know, they were winning.
They were playing on your side of the line of scrimmage,
and that's where I think that they took advantage on
some of these runs. It was contact past your point
of the line of scrimmage and then they were and
then everybody tried to rally to to kind of slow
(38:29):
some things down. But I thought it was gonna be
a lot worse, to be honest with you, the way
I thought that they were just going to commit with it.
But you talk about the complimentary football and the way
that they were able to to play. They were able
to play, you know, together on that and force Baker Mayfield.
I mean, you know, playing they did a great job
of rushing the past especially did a great job. Mike
(38:50):
did a really great job of timing up his his
secondary blitzes because you look at Donovan Wilson getting home
a couple of times free, you look at George Lewis
getting home.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
You know.
Speaker 9 (39:01):
I think they had four rushes during the game. I
think three by Wilson, won by by Jordan Lewis. Three
of those all turned into pressures and hits and stuff
like that. So and and I think one of the
one of them up in a sack. Wilson had a sack,
so that there was some really timely Butson. But I
think to answer your question, Derek, Tampa Bay does a
(39:23):
great job of playing on your side of the line
of scrimmage, and I think they created some some opportunities
doing that off off your right side of the defense.
Speaker 6 (39:31):
Yeah, talk about complimentary football. The fact that they were
making Tampa play down two scores for a good part
of the game. That allowed Dallas defense to do what
they do best, which is pressure the passer. They got
pressure on thirty four percent of the dropbacks, seventeen pressures,
four sacks yesterday some of the guys that really stood
out there, and Micah of course had six pressures and
(39:54):
a sack. Marris Lefile had five pressures, Olso had four pressures,
Nieland had three pressures, Chauncey Golson had two pressures in
a sack. Talk about what you saw from the from
the pass rush particularly and how they were able to
get there. Obviously understanding the blitz, but just in the
base back at some of the guys that they were
able to get get home or at least get get
pressure on Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 8 (40:15):
It's just a unit that is understanding what they have
to do now here on the back end of the season.
There was a lot of dialogue in the beginning of
the year about guys not necessarily understanding their assignments, what
pass rush lanes, things of that nature. Michael Parson's talking
about guys trying to be heroes, this, that, and the third.
I think everyone understands what they're doing now and it's
allowing Mike Zimmer to send guys like Donovan Wilson and
(40:36):
Jordan Lewis here on the back end of the season.
On situational blitzing, Mari Sleafel as well. I mean, Donovan
Wilson has gotten in the sack category in three of
the last four games. That does not happen if that
front is not playing a schematically sound and they're and
they're making the right assignments, are doing what they have
to do.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
You know, Michael Parsons has talked about it.
Speaker 8 (40:54):
He's like, hey, I've had to embrace on some snaps
just being the guy that takes takes on more and
allows others to get home on the quarterback. And I
think we're starting to see that trickle down throughout the
entire defensive line. And I think that's what really worked
in this game too. Everyone's just schematically sound right now,
because you go back to the Detroit game specifically, when
this defense was in a very similar situation, not having
(41:16):
Eric Hendricks having to figure out what to do on
that second level, you saw that defensive front being out
of sorts affect you more than any other game in
the year. It happens again, what are we ten weeks later,
I don't know, something like that, and you don't have
Eric Kendricks in that second level, but the defensive front
is helping them out so much more and it's trickle
down effect, and vigil is able to have a great
(41:37):
game on the back end as well. Yeah, talking about
the password's perspective, specifically, this defensive front is just playing well.
Speaker 9 (41:43):
Yeah, Marshawn kneeling, Carl Lawson, Yeah, those aren't on your
being go cards?
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Are they?
Speaker 9 (41:48):
Talking about guys that you know? I mean, Carl Lawson
has done a nice job for you. You talk about
the guys that are making no money, and then all
of a sudden his value is more like a fifteen
to sixteen million dollar.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
Rusher the way that he plays.
Speaker 9 (41:59):
But yeah, them, and and and and Neelan have done.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
A really really nice job of com Golston.
Speaker 9 (42:05):
I mean they they they've figured out this, the twist, stunts,
the blitz is the movements. Uh, they've they all work
together well with each other. You mentioned about uh Parsons
taking on blocks. Yeah, I mean he's he's I mean, guys,
he's getting double teams.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
It's freeing up other guys. Mike's calling a pretty good game.
Speaker 9 (42:26):
They're getting these teams to have to drop back and
pass and and all of a sudden, you've got guys
that Jimly can rush. It's not just Michaeh Parsons. Oh
so Diggy's you got some guys like him, and mentioned
Neil and Goldston Lawson. They've done it, Lynnville, Joseph hell
who had him for a sack yesterday laying down.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
Yeah, well yeah it was yeah, but they.
Speaker 9 (42:47):
They they really they bullied that Tampa front on a
lot of those pass rushes and able to get home
that way.
Speaker 4 (42:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (42:54):
I think now comes the big test for this offense
and this defense, because the next two games you're gonna
have teams that I think are better than the teams
you've played the last two or three weeks, and we're
really gonna see what they can do, especial in situations
with those teams are a bit more desperate Phillies trying
to win the division, Phillies trying to stay in hunt
for maybe a first round by and.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
That number one seed.
Speaker 6 (43:18):
That's gonna be tough at this point with that lost yesterday,
but there's still got something they're playing for. Washington IVY
is still playing to get into the playoffs. So you're
gonna have some real challenges here these next two weeks,
and we'll figure out just how much this Dallas team
is resilient and wants to keep playing in these situations.
Speaker 7 (43:34):
I was gonna say, well, we're playing for our jobs here,
and there we go. We got something that we're playing
for too, for our jobs.
Speaker 8 (43:40):
We we're gonna have a conversation in the offseason on
one of these offseason shows about you know, what they
will have to do in free agency, what they can
do in free agency. These next two games are going
to determine a lot about what that conversation looks like,
especially when you look at guys like Golseno Digize Will
All right.
Speaker 4 (43:54):
We're gon. We appreciate you guys going. So we're back tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (43:56):
Remember we will not have a show on Christmas Day,
So tomorrow jump in, Brian, Can you want to get
us a little started on the Eagles offense tomorrow? So
we'll jump into the Eagles offense a little bit. I
know Brian usually have some questions for us on a
Tuesday as well, so we'll do a little.
Speaker 4 (44:10):
Bit of that too.
Speaker 6 (44:11):
Get you guys all primed up before Christmas, and then
we'll be back on Thursday and uh and finish our
preparation for Cowboys versus Eagles till then for Nick Harris
Brian brought us Ambergarcia. I'm Derek Eagles and this has
been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio.
Speaker 1 (44:25):
This has been a production of Dallascowboys dot Com and
the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.
The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com
and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Cowboys Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Are you ready for a break? Yes?
Speaker 4 (00:16):
Are you ready for a break?
Speaker 5 (00:18):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Ready for a break? Yeah, and so much for that.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
It's time for the Break on Dallas Cowboys dot Com
were on with Mbar Garcia, Brian brought us, Nick Harris
and Derek Eagleton.
Speaker 6 (00:38):
It is Monday, December twenty third, twenty twenty four, Season twenty,
episode number ninety. Welcome to the latest edition of The Break.
We are live from that s WBC Mortgage Studios at
the Star were presented by LGLG is the world's number
one O lead TV brand for eleven years in counting
See why at LG dot com Ford slash O lead EVO.
It is Christmas Eve Eve, and we get to.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Talk about why are you laughing? You never heard of
call that?
Speaker 7 (01:02):
I've never heard of someone.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Christmas Eve? We are we are We get to talk
about a Cowboys win. That was That was a.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Look anti climactic.
Speaker 6 (01:15):
Well it was a little anti climactic because I was
I was maybe the only person that was still like
Cowboys are still in it and the game I thought
would be, Oh, of course they're going to win. That
game ends up just falling apart. The Eagles had the
game against Washington and they just found a way they
refused to win, and uh so they gave up that game.
(01:37):
So by the time the Cowboys started their game, they
had already been eliminated. But we get to talk about
a win Cowboys player, I think pretty well, uh in
the twenty six to twenty fourth victory over the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. So start first going
around the table, I want to hear from you guys,
what you think was the story of the game.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Nick, Let's start with you.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, there's still a lot to fight for.
Speaker 8 (01:56):
If you're looking at this team, there are twenty six
guys on this on this roster that are heading into
free agency whenever the season ends. And you look around
at some of the big contributors yesterday and you'll see
a lot of those twenty six names that popped up.
You could look at Jordan Lewis having the interception and
a season where he's had probably the best year of
his career. I think he had his best game of
(02:16):
the season last night, and he had that interception on
Jayla McMillan and the end zone that was just incredible,
rip the ball away from him. You can look at
a Rico Daubto over the course of season has been great.
Obviously last night was not. And then Cooper Rush the
night that he had, specifically the first half that he
had in being able to establish momentum for that offense.
If you had told me coming into this game that
the Cowboys would win with only thirty one rushing yards,
(02:39):
I would have said you were crazy. So you got
to give credits to Cooper Rush in that sense. But
this team fights man and Ceedee Lamb, you know, going
through this ac joint injury that he's been battling for
the last eight weeks. We asked him in the locker
room after like why why do you keep playing? He's like,
I'm fighting for my brothers. I love this game that
much I want to be out there with them. So
you know, that is not the sign of a culture
(03:00):
or a deeper conversation, not a sign of a coaching
staff that is going to let this team lay over
over the course of these next two weeks. Still a
lot to play for with a lot of these guys
with so much uncertainty ahead in the offseason, and they
certainly showed that last night.
Speaker 9 (03:13):
Yeah, I wanted to start off. I think a lot
of this game was about Cooper Rush. Yeah, because I
honestly I was not too the thoughts about him having
to deal with linebacker pressure, him dealing with secondary pressure,
him dealing with potential pressure right in his face. Hacked
the touchdown pass. You know, he had to tot her.
I mean he right in his face. You know, he
(03:35):
he had you know, he was defensive lineman right there
in his face. B tove right in his face. And
you know, I think that he managed this thing really
really well. I was worried about him being a statue
back there, and but you know, when he had to
make the pressure throws, he was able to do it.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I was glad to see him throw the ball down
the field.
Speaker 9 (03:52):
You know, we were breaking down the Buccaneers. We were
talking about where this ball needs to go. That these
guys give you a little cush and they play a
lot of single high and they're going to give you
some opportunities.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And they did that.
Speaker 9 (04:04):
Dallas did a great job with some of the route
combinations to get the ball into the middle. Of the
field to make some easy throws for Cooper Rush. But overall,
you know, I mean the second half their offense was nothing,
but he didn't do anything to mess that game up,
you know, And I think that's exactly you needed.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And be steady he was. He was. We're at pinpoint
with where he needed to be with the ball.
Speaker 9 (04:24):
He had some really good reads and you know, I
want to say this, I think he outplayed Baker Mayfield
last night. And it's not very often that you could
say that your backup quarterback is going to outplay a guy,
a quarterback who is, you know, one of the more
accurate quarterbacks in the league and his team is fighting
for a division championship. So a tip of the captain
(04:45):
Cooper Rush on that one.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
Yeah, and some of his movements, I'm like, oh, okay,
come on, go for Rush. I'm like, I knew I
liked you at some point. No, but great job by him.
Also a great job by Ceedee Lamb. Once again, I
think he's made up for him missing training camp and
that whole conversation when he was out holding out looking
(05:09):
for that contract. The fact that he's playing the way
that he is despite the injury that he's been suffering
with along the whole season. Has been very, very impressive
and kudous to him. But even though this is not
the storyline, necessarily the biggest storyline of the game, I
am wearing the T shirt over here. So I wanted
to give mister Brandon you can't even say how mister
(05:32):
Brandon Aubrey a huge, huge shout out, because man, again,
I feel like we apologize about something every week. This week,
I'll bring it back again that apology from us wondering
what's gonna happen with the kicker position when we were
about to get hit in the face with balls at
(05:52):
training camp and it was a whole mess. And while
he keeps impressing everybody, breaking wreckers, I think he has
what fourteen field goals fifty plus yard field goals of
the NFL record in a season and there's still two
games left and he's just he was great last night.
(06:14):
He was perfect, he was amazing, and just wanted to
give him a shout out.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I will say he has the playoff for me.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
There you go, there you go.
Speaker 8 (06:20):
I will say he is in like a Barry Bonds
Mark McGuire race with Kyami Fairburn because Kyamie Fairburn has
Thirteen's like it's going to be like back and back
and for the way, like they're just going to keep
breaking each other's record until one of them finally just
etches it.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
I think one of the big keys will be what
we saw last night, that team still fought even though
obviously they were eliminated before the game. My question will be,
and what I'll be looking at is how do we
see that same fight these next two weeks, because now
that you know you're eliminated, what does the preparation look like,
because that's where sometimes he can get in people's heads.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Once on Christmas it's over, Yeah, and it's just like
I don't have to watch this much film. Yeah, I
don't necessarily I forget this.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Where're starting to make to get out of the town.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
It changed a little bit.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
And again, everything we've seen from them up until this point,
they don't give up, like they keep fighting.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
This coach has kept them engaged. Uh, this will be.
Speaker 6 (07:12):
I think the hardest part for the coach to keep
them engaged during these next two weeks because it's just
natural everybody in the country, it's natural you kind of
let down a little bit. When you get to this
part of the year because it's it's the holidays, and
especially if there are no games that really are going
to matter for the postseason. Obviously I wonder how that works.
But everything I've seen so far, I give a lot
of credit to coach McCarthy and this coaching staff because
(07:34):
despite everything that's happened in season, and how much they
could have just let everything go in the tank, they
did not.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
They kept playing hard.
Speaker 7 (07:43):
It's an interesting point you make there because even though
they found out they were already eliminated before playing the game,
the preparation of the race was there, it was done.
They took care of it. They were heading into that
game as if they were still in the run or
there was still a chance. So you saw the reflection
of that. Now it's gonna be interesting watching what happens
(08:05):
is in this next two weeks. But like you said,
everything we've seen so far is that they're not giving
up and they're gonna keep going out there and again,
when you loose, when it comes down to the game,
they're gonna show up and play hard because physically that's
how you get through the game and you it avoids
you from potential injuries that could occur, but it'll be
(08:27):
interesting to see you. As far as preparation throughout the weeks.
Speaker 9 (08:30):
Yeah, I think they're playing hard for each other. You know,
McCarthy and the coaches. You can absolutely tip your cap
to him. Nobody on short weeks gets his team ready
more than this guy. I'll give him credit for that.
Nick mentioned it in his open statement though, twenty seven guys,
twenty seven guys, you're trying to put good film out there.
Guys like Jordan Lewis, Guys like OsO Diggi Zua, guys
(08:51):
like Chauncey Golston. You know, they've got some guys that
really aren't established as well. You know, you look at
brock Hoffman making nine hundred and twenty seven dollars, not
established as a as a right guard, not established really
as a player, really first time opportunity playing.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
At a very high level.
Speaker 9 (09:07):
If you look at the value over how that kind
of translates, he's like a sixteen million dollar player playing
guard for you right now. So they're getting a lot
of guys that are stepping up way beyond what their
pay is, and I think that's impressive. I think that
they're like I say, if this was a team like
say the New York Jets or another team that's a
(09:29):
veteran team, this thing amount have gone south a lot faster.
You know, we're seeing some teams that are just older
veteran teams that are like they don't see they see.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaker 9 (09:39):
Its the oncoming train, you know, and they're trying to
get out of the season. Nobody's trying to get hurt.
But there's you know, the coaches are coaching for their jobs,
the players are playing for new contracts.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
You know.
Speaker 9 (09:50):
It's it's it's a recipe for to continue to try
and do things the right way instead of throwing in
the towel and letting the think.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Fall completely heart.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
If I give credit to one more player that I
don't think we mentioned, Nick Vigil played his ass off
last night for you. And Nick's usually the guy who
never practices because he's got Nick tells you he's got
a foot injury. Every week he tells you he's not
going to practice foot injury. He's out playing. Last night,
his ten tackles you were worried about. You were worried about,
where were the tackles going to come from, and especially
(10:22):
against a team that physically runs the football. You know,
Kendrick's last minute scratch. Basically, Nick Vigil having a step
in probably didn't get a whole hell of a lot
of work.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Great job by.
Speaker 9 (10:33):
Him doing what he needed to do to get that
done for the defense last night.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yep, all right, let's take our first break.
Speaker 6 (10:38):
When we come back, we'll dive deeper into some of
these conversations. We'll talk about the offense and we'll talk
about First up, we'll be Cooper Rush and his night
last night. We'll talk about it. And when we come back,
this is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio.
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Speaker 4 (14:02):
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Speaker 7 (14:07):
You know, you start playing well at the end.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
The playoffs, the scheme now.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
And knows you didn't have to get on another plane.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
After the Philadelphia game, don't even bring not just that
game was so they just everything about it that the
Eagles were just so far advanced, Like it's like, how
are they?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
How did they not win that game?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
It just they reverted back to some of their old
ways of playing defense.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
I mean, I know they lost some guys so that
that certainly didn't help.
Speaker 8 (14:40):
But man, your head coach, you were always.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Always in the game, always.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
In the game of ni in the game.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
Okay, anyway, anyway, the man I would have been on
this show today, like there's a chance, there's a chance.
Speaker 9 (14:54):
They're breathing Cincinnati game and you can there's so many
games you wish There's so many games you wish had back.
He wish he could be playing New Orleans this week. Yeah,
I mean just playing Atlanta this week. I mean, I
know Atlanta, I mean, how about Atlanta?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Quick? How about Michael Pennick? Though? How about that? Your
your division is on the line, and you've now gone
to the rookie quarterback.
Speaker 9 (15:13):
Yeah, to go win the same Michael Pennick though one
at Indiana, won at Washington.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
He's been a winner.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
He played his butt off. Yes, yeah, that was a
good game for him.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Good game to play against the Giants though.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
No doubt to get you started.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
But yeah, but it got you.
Speaker 9 (15:25):
It got you momentum you needed to maybe close this
thing out and win the South.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Yeah, no doubt. All right, let's let's talk about Cooper Rush.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Yesterday, he was twenty six thirty five seventy four percent
completion rate, two hundred and ninety two yards in the air,
one touchdown, zero interceptions, a one oh eight point three
passer rating. Here's what I what I also noticed as
I was looking at some of the advanced stats on
the game, he actually only faced pressure on seventy five percent.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Of his dropbacks.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
And on those drop backs he was twenty three of
twenty seven for twohundred and sixty eight yards. On the
ones where he faced pressure twenty five percent of them,
he was only three of eight for twenty four.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Yards with an eighty five passer rating.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Do you think a lot of what we saw yesterday
from Cooper Rush, which I think may have been his
best game this year as a starter, do you think
a lot of that was about the fact that they could,
in a stat or the Buccaneers could not consistently get
pressure on him, and when he's not pressured, he can
tear you apart.
Speaker 8 (16:18):
Yeah, I think that's fair. I think it's also a
combination of him just being more comfortable. As a season
goes on, we're starting to see what reps could do
for him. Because even on the Jalen Tolbert touchdown, specifically
third down play, Vidavea absolutely blows up Brockaffman. Bro Kaffman
had a tough day yesterday, but Vidavea blows up brock
Kaffman and get and Cooper Rush knows he's going to
take a hit, he stands in and puts a perfect
(16:40):
ball over the middle of the Jaalen Tolber, who hauls
it in for the touchdown.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I think it's just that type of comfortability.
Speaker 8 (16:45):
I don't think we saw in the first two or
three games that that he had whenever he came in
a start of this year. He had said last week
after the Carolina game that he feels like he's playing
the best football of his career right now.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
And I understand why.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
He sees that, why he believes that he's starting to
stack really good reps and it's starting to pay dividends
for this offense. I think also some credit has to
be given to the play caller as well. Coming out
and just establishing confidence for Cooper Rush in this game,
I think was really important. You understood that you had
you were most likely going to have a running game
that cannot get going against a really good defensive front,
(17:20):
against a really good second level in Tampa Bay. It's like, Okay,
I need Cooper Rush to help me win this game.
Let me build confidence for him. Let me take the
ball on the coin toss let's let's receive, let's build
confidence for Cooper. They come out on that first possession,
they run a bunch formations the whole time, quick past
the entire time, six for six, twenty one yards on
that opening drive, and just quick, quick, quick, quick action.
(17:40):
Get his brain moving quick, get those completions out in front.
Even if it did end in only three points, it
ended in points and an established confidence for this offense.
I think it did wonders for this offense as the
game went on. And when Cooper Rush is confident, I
think he plays it his best.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
He's a Heisman Trophy killer, isn't he.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Yeah look for that, Yeah, four of them.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
He's taking down these Heisman Trophy winners. So I love that.
I'll tell you what.
Speaker 9 (18:01):
Both these quarterbacks played really well against man coverage, though,
and you watch the game and stuff like that. I
mean it was like a Baker Mayfield was just looking
at his numbers. He was eleven of twelve for a
buck thirty nine and Cooper was five or six for
sixty three. You know, against man coverage, and you know
both guys. Cooper was a little bit better against the
zone coverage stuff that sin say that Tampa bay was
(18:22):
thrown at him.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
I'll say this if you want to.
Speaker 9 (18:24):
You know, I was critical of Tolbert the route he
ran on the touchdown. I mean, give Cooper Rush a
lot of credit because you're going to watch the tape
and you're going to see Cooper Rush drop back and
he holds the ball. They're going to try and run
that thing across. They're going to try and run Tolbert
inside along the goal line and see if they can
hit him in the.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Middle of the field.
Speaker 9 (18:43):
But what happens is David the linebacker, cuts him off,
and so now he has to adjust the route to
go north. And so Cooper Rush realized what was about
to happen, and he just allowed Tolbert to clear and
then got him the football. David fell down in the route,
So that was a really good read by Tober to
get north, and then Cooper rushed to standing there knowing
(19:04):
that a three hundred and fifty pounds man was about
the delivereral blow on him. So good for good for
both those guys getting it done.
Speaker 7 (19:12):
You know, I'm having a hard time trying to not
allow myself mentally to get fooled by what's happening at
the end of the season, keeping in mind the opponents
that they faced this a few weeks, Yes, and they've
been competitive. And what you've seen on the offense, you
have to give credit to Mike McCarthy and the way
(19:34):
he has adjusted the play calling and helping position his
players in a better position with the calls. And also,
like Nick mentioned, I mean Cooper Rushia. Obviously you expect
anybody to come in and get better as the weeks
go by, so you can see him be more comfortable
and more confident. But when I said me not getting
fooled by what's happening at the end of the season,
(19:57):
it's like I've been very set on why I mean,
Mike McCarthy back as the head coach, but not as
the play caller. And even though I like what he
has done this past couple of weeks, I'm trying to, Hey,
remember what what happened throughout.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
The Remember the whole season.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
It's and the knives that went through my heart every loss.
So it's going to be interesting what's going to happen,
you know, with his contract and what the Cowboys decided
to do with.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Him extending Yeah, going to extending, Yeah, run this thing.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Back you're extending Mike Zimmer as well.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Yeah, I mean they're they're the package.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Yeah, it's the package.
Speaker 9 (20:36):
It's like I think the people, I think, the people
that want Mike McCarthy back to appreciate Mike McCarthy, are
probably going to get their wish. Never seen the general
manager more giddy about a seven and eight team than
he is right now. He is him and Mike McCarthy,
and you know what, the folks like me that that
want to move on from him, you know what, we're
(20:58):
probably not going to get our wish here, and this
is you know that ed happens. But this general manager,
obviously him Stephen Jones, feel very comfortable. Will McClay feel
very comfortable with him. They're excited about the way the
team is playing. I think he has a hand of it.
I also think, as I mentioned, the players have a
hand in it, trying to get good tape out there
in case they move on. So never seen the general
(21:19):
manager this happy about a coach, and so to me
go ahead and extend and make everybody happy, get on
the phone called don Yee right now and get this
thing done.
Speaker 8 (21:27):
I think part of the conversation that has to be
had specifically on the offensive side of the ball as
it pertains to McCarthy as a play caller, as the
head coach all of those things. Is you have Dak
Prescott for four more years, and looking at his age,
you would have to assume that it might only be
four more years. Are you willing to risk This is
just the question they have to ask themselves. Are they
willing to risk signing him to a to three year
(21:49):
extension and if it doesn't work out, changing coordinators with
only about a year or two left and down now.
I think that's that's something that they really have to
think about when it comes around.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
I don't think they have. I don't think they have.
You think they have what I don't think they have.
Speaker 9 (22:01):
I think they've made a decision on Mike McCarthy. I do, Yeah,
I do. I think they're I think they're totally comfortable
with Mike McCarthy. You know, I'd love to I'd love
to hear them this week talk about you know, hey,
we're going to extend Mike McCarthy. We're working on an
extension right now.
Speaker 7 (22:17):
Are you kidding him? As a boy caller?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Sure? Sure? Keeping everything the same.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
M you like pain?
Speaker 2 (22:27):
I I don't know if I I don't.
Speaker 8 (22:29):
I don't know if they've made the decision, though I
think that Jerry was pressed about it a little bit loud.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I think they have. I think they're really I don't
think that.
Speaker 9 (22:35):
I don't think you would if you were not tremendously
happy with the direction this thing has been going, you
wouldn't have the reactions that he's been having, and we've had.
We've had Jerry Jones Stephen Jones on our station four
times a week, all four you know, four times a week,
and every single time nothing but positivity. And some point
you say, yes, you have to be positive, or you
(22:56):
just say no comment about that, you know. But I
I the way that the way that they're acting right now,
I think they've got their guy in mind.
Speaker 6 (23:03):
Well, I don't know if they have their their mind
made up or not. What I will say is being positive.
They're being being overly powered. Positive for Jerry is normal
like that You're we're acting like that's not normal for Jerry.
Jerry is extremely optimistic, and Jerry is extremely That's why
I always That's why I But my point is, even
(23:26):
when the decision ends up being something different, Jerry tends
to be publicly very positive, like he tends to be
a very positive, sure person when it comes to how
he portrays the team to the general public.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
So I don't know if that means.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I don't know if I'm taking any clues from that
that he's made a decision one way or the other.
I think this is typical Jerry, that Jerry's gonna always
be optimistic, and when he sees something that gives him
even more reason to be optimistic, he's gonna be even
more optimistic.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Like that's just how he is.
Speaker 6 (23:55):
I don't know that that necessarily means anything to me
about what the decision will be.
Speaker 9 (23:58):
Yeah, I respect, we disagree, and I disagree in a
way because I feel like to me that they are
totally comfortable with Mike McCarthy as their head coach.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
They are totally comfortable with him as that.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
And that may be the case.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
All I'm saying is I don't think that that how
Jerry is portraying the team and his happiness for the
for the fact that they're playing well the last five weeks. Sure,
I don't think that that's necessarily the indicator. I just
think that's who Jerry is Jerry. We always always talk
about Jerry being so optimistic. He's extremely optimistic when it
(24:32):
comes to how he portrays the team.
Speaker 9 (24:33):
How hard would it be for him to walk away
from Mike McCarthy if in fact that that the way
that they're they're playing right now.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
To be honest with I do I do think that
if you would have gone back, if you.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Say where was Jerry six weeks ago to where he
is now, then I agree with you.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
I think he's probably more in a boat right now
where it's like, man, it's it's hard to let him
go when I've seen the last.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
I don't think he wants to go through another interview
process myself. I just don't.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Again, I don't know that.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
We don't know McCarthy wanting to come back. That's another
thing like we don't. We don't know because again, he.
Speaker 9 (25:08):
Was really disappointed before in pregame you listened to Brad
shamp ask him.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Questions, Yeah, he was, he was totally he was totally.
Speaker 9 (25:15):
Uh, just in the tank about not being in the playoffs,
you know, and so you know, to me, I mean
I think that a guy that if he didn't want
to be here, I don't think he would be that way.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
I don't think he would feel that way.
Speaker 7 (25:29):
The only reason I bring that up. And I'm not
gonna bring a bunch of stuff on the air about this,
but we have heard little things in inner. I'm trying
to keep my job. No, I'm just kidding. No, I
am keeping my job. But my point is when you
listen through to interviews throughout the season from my McCarthy,
(25:51):
there have been times where he gives that an answer.
What it makes you wonder or think more when whenever
he maybe about the running backs and the running game
or what was happening in the game. So you hear
his frustration and it leads me to think, Okay, is
he actually happy here? Not to say that he's not,
(26:15):
because he's been here and he's committed to the team,
and you've seen that, and you saw that specifically in
that interview that you mentioned, Brian, but it makes me wonder,
is he wanting to go through all of this in
this scene where it's the Dallas Cowboys and we're in
the start And sometimes when you watch the frustration and
just the toll that it takes on you emotionally having
(26:38):
to deal with the amount of pressure here, it just
makes me wonder is he wanting to do that again
and stay here in Dallas. Well, I don't know, we'll see.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
The reality is he has just as much say in
this as the organization does because he is a free
agent essentially after the.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Season is over.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
So if he chooses to leave, he has every right
and ability to be able to leave. So it is
a two way thing here. This is not just the
Cowboys's eye whether.
Speaker 9 (27:02):
Sees how that signed players, he's going to get He's
gonna be the highest paid coach in the league.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
I'm saying that, kidding.
Speaker 8 (27:09):
Yeah, the perspective.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
That on air, right, because people that are just listening,
if you if you, if you wait and if you
wait around here, you get your extension.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Yeah, get nick saving money.
Speaker 8 (27:24):
I'd be curious to know from Jerry's perspective, if his
mind was made up, why not.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Just come out and say it last night after the game?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Oh I think you know what that That's what I've
been asking. Yeah, I mean I've been asking the same thing.
Speaker 9 (27:34):
As happy as they are about this guy, as happy
as in giddy as he appears to be, and talking
about him in such a glowing and my gosh, you're
playing hard for him, and they're doing this and doing that.
That's what I'm saying, Go go extend him now. I
don't need I don't need you to tell me that
they're you know that, they're just go do it.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Go get the extension done this week and and and
or put it all the rest.
Speaker 9 (27:55):
Maybe he will, Maybe he'll come on our shows this
week and say, you know what, I've made it this decision.
We're gonna bring Mike back, and I'm working on a
contract extension with Don Ye right now.
Speaker 8 (28:05):
I doubt McCarthy would want to do that with two
weeks left, Just knowing how he's been communicating about this
process the whole time, I doubt he would even open
that conversation till the season's over. I'm just kind of
thinking and thinking out loud here.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Let's take our final break. We'll come back.
Speaker 6 (28:18):
We got more talk about from this Cowboys versus Tampa
Bay game. We'll be back, Kylascowboys dot Com Radio.
Speaker 15 (28:24):
If you can't be at the stadium, there's no better
way to watch your Cowboys than an.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Lg O lead Evo TV.
Speaker 15 (28:30):
That's because everything you see is more lifelike, every play,
every hit, I mean you might just will be on
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Speaker 4 (28:35):
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Speaker 15 (28:37):
It's all thanks to LG's legendary technology, perfect black over
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Speaker 16 (28:53):
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Speaker 8 (29:23):
If you shout how about them Cowboys, you have that
undeniable passion that's the heart of Cowboys Nation. And if
you like to drink Doctor Pepper, you love the unique
blend of its twenty three flavors.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Together, you're one of a kind.
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Fandom paired with the one of a kind taste of
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Speaker 2 (29:50):
The wins will be even tastier. It's a pepper thing,
and we're going to overtime.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Erica how much have I spent on concessions?
Speaker 17 (29:57):
For questions about their money, Dallas Cowboys fans can turn
to Erica, the virtual financial Assistant in the Bank of
America mobile banking app. Learn more at Bankofamerica dot com,
slash Erica by your Side. Bank of America Official Bank
of the Dallas Cowboys. Erica responses may very digital tools
featured required downloading the mobile banking app and may only
be available on select mobile devices. Erica is a mobile
feature only available in the Englis language. Your chap may
(30:17):
be recorded and monitored for quality asurance, message in data
RAS and additional terms may apply. Bank of America and
a member FDIC.
Speaker 10 (30:22):
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AT and T connecting changes everything.
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Welcome back.
Speaker 6 (31:03):
We are in the final segment of the break Live
from the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star talking about
the Cowboys versus Buccaneers. Cowboys get to win twenty six
twenty four. This segment's brought to you about blockchain dot com.
All right, so let's talk about the running game. The
running game had really been kind of the backbone of
this offense for the last couple weeks, really few weeks,
(31:23):
and then yesterday it just was not there.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Ric o'daldle was.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
Thirty, had thirteen carries for twenty three yards of one
point eight average check out some of these advanced metrics.
He was fifty four percent against the stack They ran
fifty four percent of the time against a stack box, so
he was facing it up.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
Bill Battle.
Speaker 9 (31:40):
It's some one of the worst teams in the league
when it comes to run against stack boxes, and the
Buccaneers play at more than anybody.
Speaker 8 (31:46):
Cooper rushed that yes, right too. So just backing up
your your great scouting on last last week, I was like, oh,
Brian brought it said that last week.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
He must have been watching the break.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
So here's my question, though, do you think that the
stack box and what they were doing there actually opened
up the passing game more? And that's why you saw
such great production by the passing game in Cooper rush.
Speaker 8 (32:06):
You saw more one on ones yesterday was I think
you've seen all season? So yeah, I think that's that's
certainly the case. And dealing with a backup safety on
the back end with Antoine Winfield out, there were advantages
that could be taken here. I again respect to the
play caller, there was a couple instances where they were
able to just isolate guys and have speed against non speed.
(32:26):
And for example, the play that comes to mind is
you think back to last week when they had those
two Cavante Turpin carries for twenty seven yards in Carolina
and just lining him up in the backfield, handing it
to him like a straight up running back. They line
him up in the backfield for the first time last
night and they go play action to him. Cooper rolls
to his left and Brandon Cooks and one on one
with a guy is just blowing by his coverage. It's
(32:47):
the longest reception Brandon Cooks had all year for twenty
nine yards. I believe that was in the first quarter.
Set up that first touchdown pass, and I think with
those stacked boxes it certainly helped a lot with his
passing game.
Speaker 9 (32:59):
Yeah, I think to me when you when you watch it,
and Mike did a nice job.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
You're talking about set it up.
Speaker 9 (33:03):
He gets a twelve yard run with They get the
thing blocked on the backside really well. Smith does a
great job of cutting off his guy and then they.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Kind of get Vida Veya.
Speaker 9 (33:13):
Secured and you know, next thing you know, Turpen's to
the hole, through the hole, makes a guy miss, and
now you're got a twelve yard gain. They come back
in the very same formation like Nick's talking about they
go heavy play action right off it and it and
the play. The fact that they'd ran a play for
twelve yards the previous brought all the linebackers up and
brought the safety up off and that that's exactly where
(33:35):
Cooks went. So safety comes up. Cooks runs by a
ball right there. You know, Cooper did a nice job
but kind of sliding to his left and making sure
that ball got out.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
But just the threat of.
Speaker 9 (33:45):
That brought the brought the the Buccaneer defense up and
then created some space for them to work with. But
it was going to be tough to run the ball
against these guys. I mean it was you know, they
like say Dallas just does not run well against the
stack box three point four yards of carry. I mean,
even with Rico Daddle, he's one of the been one
(34:06):
of the most successful running backs in the league when
it comes to you know, with the positive carries or
you know, gains of four plus yards of carry successful carries,
and yesterday he you know, you just look at the
you look at the metrics and with guys on and
off the field for the Buccaneers, their defense, I mean
one point six one point six one point six, one
(34:27):
point five, zero point nine, you know, two point one.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
I mean that's nothing.
Speaker 9 (34:32):
That's nothing when it comes to yards to carry with
those defenders on the field, and then you flip it
on the other way, you know, Dallas said some guys
on the field it was about almost six yards of
carry and some of those instances. But you know that
it was the passing game is what got it done
because you were able to handle the linebacker pressure and
you and you didn't get you didn't get hurt by
(34:52):
any stuff that they usually do from the secondary.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Cooper Rush did a great job of getting the ball
out for that.
Speaker 8 (34:57):
I'll tell you what you talking about the rush defense
for the Cowboys. Complimentary football helped this defense out more
than any other game in the season because have you
not been playing from ahead the entire game, that running
game would have caught up and it would have beat
you down before the end of the game. So I
complimentary football really worked for the defensive side this time.
I think that's the first time we could say that
this year unless I'm forgetting a game where it was
(35:17):
more evident.
Speaker 7 (35:18):
Well, I was just gonna say that's where it comes
down to, because you look at all the stats. I mean,
the Bucks they beat you in every stat just by
a little bit more time, possession, the yards, and when
it comes down to it, the only place that the
Cowboys beat them at was in turnovers with the defense
and what they were able to do. And it just
(35:39):
goes to show once again that when you are able
to turn if you win the turnover battle, more often
than not, you're winning that game. And the defense once
again showed up. They made so so many plays. And
I know we were talking about the offense here, but again,
if the defense wasn't playing the way that they are,
I don't think this offense can get it done by itself.
(36:01):
But you still saw improvement and in a game where
there was the lack of the running game, you finally
saw some efficiency in the passing game. Now, the secondary
is not great. It's not the best second and I'm
talking about the Buccaneers. Their secondary is not the best
in the league or anything, but they were able to
take advantage of that. And we go back to talking
(36:22):
about Cooper Rush and him feeling more comfortable and being
more in connection with the receivers and Brian you mentioned
earlier Tolbert, a guy that disappeared the whole season, and
then all of a sudden, now he's starting to show
up again, making two key plays back back to back weeks.
So I think it comes down to just practicing more
(36:44):
time together.
Speaker 6 (36:46):
Yeah, let's actually dive a little deeper into that run
defense yesterday. That that was I agree with you, Nick,
I think there's without the fact that they had they
were playing with the lead for so much of the game.
I think that could have been a real turning point
for this game. I think that kind of been the
difference in this game. The one thing I noticed in
some of the advanced metrics was that they got the
majority of their success running inside left.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:08):
What did you guys.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
See from the run defense specifically that you think was
most problematic for Dallas.
Speaker 8 (37:14):
It's too early for me to comment on that specifically.
I haven't been able to go back and see what
work in the trenches are.
Speaker 9 (37:19):
Yeah, I think to me, what, you know, the one
thing that that early in the game, you get Mossy
playing pretty well and Linville Lynville Joseph, I mean, they
the Buccaneers, They've got their backs all finished going forward too.
That's that you know, And you really don't have to
get a lot of their black I mean, the Buccaneers are.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Good about getting a little bit of a guy and
then the ball is to in past.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
I mean that's where it's not like they're hard to
Bucky Irving. It's hard to bring down in the open
field or you know, in space. But that when you
look at the way that they're able to run the ball,
it was they got push on the tackle, you know,
Nick Vigel and those guys were having to fight some blocks.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Maritly if out fighting blocks.
Speaker 9 (38:09):
You know, it got it got to the point where
they were able to get you know, they were winning.
They were playing on your side of the line of scrimmage,
and that's where I think that they took advantage on
some of these runs. It was contact past your point
of the line of scrimmage and then they were and
then everybody tried to rally to to kind of slow
(38:29):
some things down. But I thought it was gonna be
a lot worse, to be honest with you, the way
I thought that they were just going to commit with it.
But you talk about the complimentary football and the way
that they were able to to play. They were able
to play, you know, together on that and force Baker Mayfield.
I mean, you know, playing they did a great job
of rushing the past especially did a great job. Mike
(38:50):
did a really great job of timing up his his
secondary blitzes because you look at Donovan Wilson getting home
a couple of times free, you look at George Lewis
getting home.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
You know.
Speaker 9 (39:01):
I think they had four rushes during the game. I
think three by Wilson, won by by Jordan Lewis. Three
of those all turned into pressures and hits and stuff
like that. So and and I think one of the
one of them up in a sack. Wilson had a sack,
so that there was some really timely Butson. But I
think to answer your question, Derek, Tampa Bay does a
(39:23):
great job of playing on your side of the line
of scrimmage, and I think they created some some opportunities
doing that off off your right side of the defense.
Speaker 6 (39:31):
Yeah, talk about complimentary football. The fact that they were
making Tampa play down two scores for a good part
of the game. That allowed Dallas defense to do what
they do best, which is pressure the passer. They got
pressure on thirty four percent of the dropbacks, seventeen pressures,
four sacks yesterday some of the guys that really stood
out there, and Micah of course had six pressures and
(39:54):
a sack. Marris Lefile had five pressures, Olso had four pressures,
Nieland had three pressures, Chauncey Golson had two pressures in
a sack. Talk about what you saw from the from
the pass rush particularly and how they were able to
get there. Obviously understanding the blitz, but just in the
base back at some of the guys that they were
able to get get home or at least get get
pressure on Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 8 (40:15):
It's just a unit that is understanding what they have
to do now here on the back end of the season.
There was a lot of dialogue in the beginning of
the year about guys not necessarily understanding their assignments, what
pass rush lanes, things of that nature. Michael Parson's talking
about guys trying to be heroes, this, that, and the third.
I think everyone understands what they're doing now and it's
allowing Mike Zimmer to send guys like Donovan Wilson and
(40:36):
Jordan Lewis here on the back end of the season.
On situational blitzing, Mari Sleafel as well. I mean, Donovan
Wilson has gotten in the sack category in three of
the last four games. That does not happen if that
front is not playing a schematically sound and they're and
they're making the right assignments, are doing what they have
to do.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
You know, Michael Parsons has talked about it.
Speaker 8 (40:54):
He's like, hey, I've had to embrace on some snaps
just being the guy that takes takes on more and
allows others to get home on the quarterback. And I
think we're starting to see that trickle down throughout the
entire defensive line. And I think that's what really worked
in this game too. Everyone's just schematically sound right now,
because you go back to the Detroit game specifically, when
this defense was in a very similar situation, not having
(41:16):
Eric Hendricks having to figure out what to do on
that second level, you saw that defensive front being out
of sorts affect you more than any other game in
the year. It happens again, what are we ten weeks later,
I don't know, something like that, and you don't have
Eric Kendricks in that second level, but the defensive front
is helping them out so much more and it's trickle
down effect, and vigil is able to have a great
(41:37):
game on the back end as well. Yeah, talking about
the password's perspective, specifically, this defensive front is just playing well.
Speaker 9 (41:43):
Yeah, Marshawn kneeling, Carl Lawson, Yeah, those aren't on your
being go cards?
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Are they?
Speaker 9 (41:48):
Talking about guys that you know? I mean, Carl Lawson
has done a nice job for you. You talk about
the guys that are making no money, and then all
of a sudden his value is more like a fifteen
to sixteen million dollar.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
Rusher the way that he plays.
Speaker 9 (41:59):
But yeah, them, and and and and Neelan have done.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
A really really nice job of com Golston.
Speaker 9 (42:05):
I mean they they they've figured out this, the twist, stunts,
the blitz is the movements. Uh, they've they all work
together well with each other. You mentioned about uh Parsons
taking on blocks. Yeah, I mean he's he's I mean, guys,
he's getting double teams.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
It's freeing up other guys. Mike's calling a pretty good game.
Speaker 9 (42:26):
They're getting these teams to have to drop back and
pass and and all of a sudden, you've got guys
that Jimly can rush. It's not just Michaeh Parsons. Oh
so Diggy's you got some guys like him, and mentioned
Neil and Goldston Lawson. They've done it, Lynnville, Joseph hell
who had him for a sack yesterday laying down.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
Yeah, well yeah it was yeah, but they.
Speaker 9 (42:47):
They they really they bullied that Tampa front on a
lot of those pass rushes and able to get home
that way.
Speaker 4 (42:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (42:54):
I think now comes the big test for this offense
and this defense, because the next two games you're gonna
have teams that I think are better than the teams
you've played the last two or three weeks, and we're
really gonna see what they can do, especial in situations
with those teams are a bit more desperate Phillies trying
to win the division, Phillies trying to stay in hunt
for maybe a first round by and.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
That number one seed.
Speaker 6 (43:18):
That's gonna be tough at this point with that lost yesterday,
but there's still got something they're playing for. Washington IVY
is still playing to get into the playoffs. So you're
gonna have some real challenges here these next two weeks,
and we'll figure out just how much this Dallas team
is resilient and wants to keep playing in these situations.
Speaker 7 (43:34):
I was gonna say, well, we're playing for our jobs here,
and there we go. We got something that we're playing
for too, for our jobs.
Speaker 8 (43:40):
We we're gonna have a conversation in the offseason on
one of these offseason shows about you know, what they
will have to do in free agency, what they can
do in free agency. These next two games are going
to determine a lot about what that conversation looks like,
especially when you look at guys like Golseno Digize Will
All right.
Speaker 4 (43:54):
We're gon. We appreciate you guys going. So we're back tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (43:56):
Remember we will not have a show on Christmas Day,
So tomorrow jump in, Brian, Can you want to get
us a little started on the Eagles offense tomorrow? So
we'll jump into the Eagles offense a little bit. I
know Brian usually have some questions for us on a
Tuesday as well, so we'll do a little.
Speaker 4 (44:10):
Bit of that too.
Speaker 6 (44:11):
Get you guys all primed up before Christmas, and then
we'll be back on Thursday and uh and finish our
preparation for Cowboys versus Eagles till then for Nick Harris
Brian brought us Ambergarcia. I'm Derek Eagles and this has
been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio.
Speaker 1 (44:25):
This has been a production of Dallascowboys dot Com and
the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.
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