Talkin’ Cowboys: Failing Grades Mean Unfinished Business

The report cards continue as Kyle Youmans, Patrik Walker, Josh Rodriguez, and Tommy Yarrish grade the Cowboys by position. The crew also reacts to the Divisional Round playoff games and the College Football National Championship, explaining why disappointing grades don’t signal the end but unfinished business heading into the offseason.

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Episode Transcript

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. This He's Talking Cowboys Straining live from.

Speaker 3 (00:16):
The Dallas Cowboys World Head Course at the Star in Frisco.

Speaker 4 (00:22):
Tag Burners, that's got t takedown.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
And now your hosts Isaiah Standback, Patrick Walker, Josh Rodriguez,
and Kyle Yeomans.

Speaker 5 (00:39):
It's sent off season edition of Talking Cowboys, presented by
Black Rifle Coffee Company, live from the Star in Frisco, Texas.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
In the s W Beat Sea Studios. Welcome in everybody.

Speaker 5 (00:49):
We've got Patrick Noci Walker, Josh Rodriguez, Chris Beam in
the back. I'm Kyle Yo. What's filling in for Isaiah Standback?
We've got the one, the only, Tommy Yarish of Dallas
Cowboys dot Com.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Oh brother, Oh brother, where's the drop bea?

Speaker 6 (01:02):
What happened to warm? Welcome even before on the show.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
I'm welcome. You're already a part of the show.

Speaker 6 (01:09):
Yelling at me in my ear, He's yelling at me.
I didn't yell at you?

Speaker 3 (01:12):
You did? Did you part of the show already?

Speaker 7 (01:14):
Man?

Speaker 5 (01:15):
She comes, He comes forward, trying to up in the
whole rundown trying to talk draft Dude, there's.

Speaker 3 (01:21):
A whole show, Brother.

Speaker 6 (01:26):
And a half.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
We've got an hour until that show starts, so we'll
be well.

Speaker 6 (01:29):
He was talking about something and fully separate.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
I know, you know we are going to put together
some cool draft block content today.

Speaker 8 (01:35):
Though.

Speaker 6 (01:35):
Let's go Cowboys dot Com.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Come, no, no, Isaiah, I can't hit that note. Sure
he can't.

Speaker 8 (01:43):
I can't.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
You're sitting in the chair.

Speaker 9 (01:45):
You gotta hit the you'll be studios and you got to.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
Hit the docks. Someone said, Isaiah looks pale.

Speaker 6 (01:53):
Just a little bit.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
Sorry, guys, just that guy a little bit.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
Shouts after that guy. Appreciate you all joining us here.
I gotta love the chat.

Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, the fan morning, family, Yeah, family. I hope everybody's
doing okay, wonderful to see you.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Do everybody have a good, safe holiday weekend?

Speaker 3 (02:11):
Oh yes, absolutely, it's good.

Speaker 7 (02:13):
Good calming. Uh, you know, spend time with the family.

Speaker 10 (02:16):
Good.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Yeah. Do you compressed for a little bit, for a little.

Speaker 5 (02:19):
Bit, didn't have the stresses of NFL playoff football?

Speaker 3 (02:23):
I hate Watch was utterly successful. Okay, just tell me
about it.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
How would I get watch?

Speaker 4 (02:29):
I mean, well, you know, last week obviously, you know,
the Eagles went down and then so then up next
was seeing the San Francisco forty nine ers hopefully lose.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Not only did they lose, they washed. Oh brother, what was.

Speaker 7 (02:42):
Left of the San Francisco for they got taken out?

Speaker 2 (02:45):
Have you ever seen that many injuries in one particular?

Speaker 6 (02:48):
Goodness, that was horrible.

Speaker 5 (02:50):
I mean it was like every other play there was
somebody leaving. But that's been their whole season, really had.

Speaker 4 (02:54):
I really want you to scan my face and see
how if you can find any fs do I give
because I do not.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
I'm scanning and I do not see it.

Speaker 6 (03:03):
You can buy into the power plant theory.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
Okay, so I was going to bring that up. Is
that a real thing?

Speaker 6 (03:08):
Yes, that's a real thing.

Speaker 5 (03:09):
So there's a power plant that's next to or nearby
the San Francisco forty nine ers training facility and headquarters
as if as is the Star in Frisco is close
to the Camerica Center and the Frisco Rough Riders.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
In Ikea, it is close to a Kia. Yeah, Ikeia
is over there. That's a staple.

Speaker 5 (03:27):
Then you go to the opposite side and you've got
San Francisco. It's close to this power plant that apparently
is putting off too much radiation.

Speaker 6 (03:35):
I don't know what it is. Look, I'm not a scientist.

Speaker 3 (03:37):
That's not either. If Chernobyl and the Simpsons have taught
us anything, it's that radiation is not great for a
human being.

Speaker 6 (03:44):
That's that's a pretty good analysis.

Speaker 11 (03:45):
But like you can see some sometimes they take videos
of practice to it forty nine ers beat Writers or
whoever it is, and you can see it in the background,
and it's like that clar I don't know, maybe this
is too much, too much scientific theory. And I mean,
I'm sure they've they've been practicing there.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
For on brock Party.

Speaker 3 (04:00):
He has a third eye. Next year, they're going to
be real entertained.

Speaker 11 (04:04):
Joan Jennings has four legs and he's galloping around.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
So the USA.

Speaker 4 (04:08):
Today like feavers need four legs because they keep tearing
a clue two of us.

Speaker 5 (04:14):
The USA today like publish an article about it. So,
I mean, there's there's legs to the rumor, right, I mean,
there's several of them. Yeah, maybe that might be running
in the right direction. But it's a conspiracy theory and
I think that's really all it is. But that is
pretty wild. Oh no, I could see it being a thing.
I mean, just like the power line, there's not even

(04:35):
a theory. Let's say they have scientific you're a big
science guy. Let's say they have scientific evidence that this
is the case. How quickly would they build a new
front like new headquarters elsewhere I think is it would?

Speaker 2 (04:47):
It would have to start immediately, right tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (04:49):
It would bring those Olympic construction workers. See, then the
question non stop.

Speaker 7 (04:54):
First the country first.

Speaker 4 (04:56):
Then the question becomes you're saying, if that, if that,
if those findings became public, You're not going to tell
me that a multi billion dollar stadium was built within
this proximity of a power plant and no studies were
done prior, Like nobody thought twice, Like.

Speaker 5 (05:14):
People think twice before doing things that are capital gains.

Speaker 7 (05:18):
Yeah, that's what I mean.

Speaker 4 (05:19):
So some somebody knew something. But at the end of
the day, it's a San Francisco problem. I hope they
get that figured out.

Speaker 6 (05:25):
Actually, when I think, hey, we got to play there.

Speaker 11 (05:29):
When I think about designings and play leaf, you know,
designed my expansive knowledge in designing buildings typically, you know,
when I'm scanning the terrain a nuclear power first thing
I'm saying for right, just prime prime positions.

Speaker 2 (05:43):
Maybe cheap real estate. Maybe that's why they did it cheap,
That's what I'm saying.

Speaker 5 (05:48):
Yeah, Melvin said they've practiced by a power plant for
like thirty years. I don't know when they built the facility,
but they haven't won a Super Bowl in thirty years.

Speaker 6 (05:56):
That's my point. I feel like they've been now.

Speaker 4 (05:58):
Okay, so Devil's advocate, I'll say it. So no one
in the family has.

Speaker 3 (06:02):
To there's no power plant here.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
That's just procure bad luck.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
No, we just do oil. That's pretty.

Speaker 4 (06:13):
Oiling natural gas here in the Great state of Texas.
So yeah, but you know, my hate watch was fantastic
and uh down to and I'm sorry Miami fans, but
I'm not a Carson Bank fan. Everyone could know why.
I don't need to get into that, but Carson Big
Go Dogs. Can't say Carson.

Speaker 7 (06:29):
Bick ended his career Go Dogs.

Speaker 4 (06:31):
Wow a loss on an exception that was so on brand,
so on South South to Indiana, Man, Indiana. I mean,
just just what they've been able to achieve is unbelievable.
And I honestly say this objectively. Even if my dogs
had advanced. No one was beating Indiana this year.

Speaker 11 (06:49):
That's the best, the best turnaround of a program in
football history.

Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, that's I don't think you could structurally sound, physically sound,
I mean just all the above. The best team in
college football sixteen.

Speaker 2 (07:01):
And o Heisman Trophy winner, just unbelievable.

Speaker 3 (07:03):
Their pictures.

Speaker 5 (07:05):
There are pictures of their season opener two years ago
in August and there was like forty five hundred people
in the stands.

Speaker 2 (07:12):
And now they're national champions. You see the riots and
not the riots, but like the celebration right in Indiana, j.

Speaker 10 (07:21):
C.

Speaker 2 (07:24):
If you've been out there, what they have like.

Speaker 3 (07:25):
Gristo stop signs, buddies, right, not.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
A lot of whole lot. There's not a lot going
on in Bloomington. And you.

Speaker 7 (07:34):
If you can get to the top of the stop
side when.

Speaker 5 (07:37):
You hurt your ankle on the way down, dude, it's
the highest elevation in Indiana.

Speaker 3 (07:40):
Dude.

Speaker 7 (07:41):
Yeah, stops they got fair.

Speaker 3 (07:42):
But good for them.

Speaker 4 (07:43):
I'm sure they did it with more class than Philadelphia.
I mean everyone does.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yeah, that's true.

Speaker 3 (07:47):
It's easy. Someone says, best championship money, come buy shust
to Melvin. You said it, buddy, money.

Speaker 5 (07:54):
It doesn't even hate any money, not the same that
it has that the teams that they beat along.

Speaker 11 (07:59):
Melvin Indiana just has a bunch of thirty year olds
from James I played James Madison.

Speaker 5 (08:08):
Anything that should show that, like group of five teams
aren't as far far off from those power forward.

Speaker 2 (08:12):
Teams as you just joke power then what fun? What
was fun?

Speaker 3 (08:16):
Power?

Speaker 2 (08:17):
Power? No, that wasn't purpose. Let's get into news purpose.
Talk about the Dallas Cowboys a little bit.

Speaker 5 (08:22):
When we talk about the coordinator search, that's always got
to be number one.

Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yep, it's expanded a bit since last we met here
on this great panel called Talking Cowboys. So we'll work
it from back to ford. So we'll talk about who
we knew about, who we spoke about, and then we'll
go into who who's new as far as the candidacy
is concerned. So we know that the Cowboys have interviewed e.
F ring banda Brown's safety's coach, Deronte Jones, Vikings defensive

(08:47):
pass game quodinator Jim Leonard, a lot of people like
Bronco's defensive pass game coordinator Jonathan Gannon currently a free agent,
Aaron White, Cotton incumbent Cowboys defensive line coach, zach Or
Ravens defensive coordinator. Now these next three guys, these next
three guys are new to the fold as far as

(09:07):
most recently interviewed. So Christian Parker Eagles past game coordinator
slash defensive backs coach interviewed. We'll talk about him in
a moment. DeMarcus Covington Packers running game coordinator and defensive
line coach also spoke with the Cowboys and Charlie Bullen
Giants interim defensive coordinator. He was also he also spoke
with them, now key jeff Olbrick. The Cowboys were initially

(09:31):
not an interview by the Atlanta Falcons for speaking with
jeff Olbrick. Cowboys were hoping to circle back there in
the event that whomever became the new head coach now
we know it's Kevin Stefanski was going to move on
from Olbrick. As it turns out they are not going
to move on from him. So they still look at
the Cowboys and say, no soup for you. So the
Cowboys will not speak with Jeff Olbrick, but Charlie Bullen,

(09:52):
DeMarcus Covington, Christian Parker add those three to the list
of interviewed candidates or soon to be interviewed candidates, and
then we have others that might get a look. We'll
see Cowboys fans are asking for a Q and A
with Sean McDermott, for example. So some some new names
are out there that coupleys haven't spoken with you.

Speaker 11 (10:11):
I would be shocked if Sean McDermott was the interview
only because I think he'll be a head coach next.

Speaker 6 (10:16):
I think he'll be a head coach again.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
I don't wear that was the most surprising coaching movie.

Speaker 11 (10:20):
I don't know, Well, it'll be something. I mean, you've
got six openings, yeah, after the NFL. That's this is
an unprecedented offseason in terms of the amount. Just ten total, right, yeah,
ten total, and that filled four with Robert Sala being
hired by the Titans last night. I think the interesting
part about this search is that now we're kind of
getting into the second phase of it in terms of
guys coming in for second in person interviews. Some interviews

(10:43):
may have already been in person. I think Patrick Ee
reported last week that Zach Orr might have been here.
It makes sense he's he's from the area, North Texas
guy went.

Speaker 7 (10:50):
To U n T.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
Hey, thank you, but their next game, by the way,
so product.

Speaker 11 (10:55):
So you know, good luck, we open at it, good luck,
good luck, better ramp up, keep it to within fifty.
But some guys that have interviewed or will be coming
in for in person interviews Derante Jones, the Vikings pass
game coordinator, Jonathan Gannon, the former Cardinals head coach, and

(11:17):
then the Eagles pass game coordinator in DB's coach, Christian Parker.
I'll tell you what I think. I'm really impressed by
Christian Parker's resume. I think he's done a fantastic job years. Yeah,
started out in Denver and was the DB's coach in
Denver and started when they drafted Patzertan led into three
straight Pro Bowls before he went to the Eagles, and
then he's done an excellent job there developing Quinnon, Mitchell

(11:40):
and Cooper dejan both of those guys all Pros this
year in his second year with the team. So he
has a knack for developing the defensive backfield. And when
you think about this Cowboys defense, obviously the secondary, much
like every unit on their defense, was a massive struggle
this year. But they feel like they have guys in
placed there in Savonne. Revel Trequez Bridges is a guy
there high on. Who knows if that's to be the

(12:00):
case for twenty twenty six. Do they go first round
with a draft at corner? But they want to develop
these young defensive backs that they've got back there, and
I think Christian Parker has an incredible resume, maybe the
best resume in terms of the developing of defensive backs
of all the candidates that have been interviewed so far.
So consider me a fan of Christian Parker and we'll
see how the rest of this goes. But those three

(12:20):
names kind of just naturally because they're coming in for
those second interviews. We talked to Steven Jones last week
and he was telling us about that that they're starting
to get into that process too. Those names kind of
rise a little bit more to the top in terms of, Okay,
these are more probable hires in terms of maybe guys
that have only been interviewed.

Speaker 3 (12:34):
Once and just again on Leonard to reiterate, we can't
have an in person interview with him until the Broncos
season is.

Speaker 11 (12:40):
Broncos needs to need to lose first before they can
speak to him.

Speaker 5 (12:43):
Does that hinder your thought process on how Dallas could
attack this, because it's allowing all these other head coaching
vacancies to shore up now, right, the head coaching vacancy
started with nine, they filled a couple.

Speaker 2 (12:58):
Now there's a couple more. Yeah, Buffalo that's open now crazy.

Speaker 5 (13:01):
So by the time a lot of these head coaches
are hired, everybody's caught back up in Dallas. Doesn't necessarily
get a head start on talking to guys like Leonard
and talking to guys like.

Speaker 9 (13:14):
Anybody on that list, really, because there are now nine
or ten other teams that are trying to do the same.

Speaker 2 (13:19):
Green Bay's got to hire a defensive coordinator now, so all.

Speaker 5 (13:23):
Of that to be said, does that hinder it now
that you're waiting on a possibility.

Speaker 3 (13:27):
To try and hire a guy like Leonard?

Speaker 7 (13:29):
I don't know that it hinders it.

Speaker 4 (13:30):
I mean you're seeing these guys get, you know, interviews
from multiple teams, and rightfully so, Christian Parker, when you
talk about these guys and Leonard, he's going to he's
right there in the mix with several teams as well.
But I think when you look at a guy like
Jim Leonard for example, since that's the one we're talking about.
I think that based on what he's been able to accomplish,
I think that if push comes to absolute shove and

(13:52):
you finally have the come to Christ moment and you're like,
Jim Leonard's our guy. We just haven't been able to
get him in office just yet. But maybe you've had
a couple zoom calls, you have his resume, you've had
him speak with several of the coaches already. I think
you pulled the trigger there if that's your guy, right,
So I say that to say, col I don't think
that this hinders the process. And keep in mind, we
still have we being in the NFL, still have six

(14:13):
coaching vacancies. Head coaching vacancies fill out, so that's going
to take a few more days.

Speaker 3 (14:17):
Now.

Speaker 4 (14:17):
They're starting to kind of trickle in Robert Salad to
the tight ends, Kenis Stefanski over the weekend, obviously, John
Harbaugh to the Giants, but there's still you know, Pittsburgh
and several other teams out there as well. So there's
a lot of sorting to be done at the NFL level,
from head coaching downward through the coordinator so I think
the Cowboys have a little bit of time to get
this sorted out. But again, if if they absolutely feel

(14:40):
after speaking with all of these candidates that Jim Leonard
is their guy but they haven't been able to speak
with him in person yet, I say pull the trigger.

Speaker 7 (14:47):
I don't see I said, don't wait for that.

Speaker 3 (14:49):
One thing that I love from Nick Harris over the weekend,
he kind of like laid it all out on Twitter.
Just check him out on Twitter. Of course you probably
already follow him. But I think it's safe to say
that this is by far the most expand search for
defensive coordinator in franchise history. We're looking at nine coordinator
interviews so far, plus three that are in their second round,
and in the past you've had upwards of three to four,

(15:11):
so this is quite a difference. This feels like a
shoddy move to be able to widen the search, be
expansive about it, and really make sure you're picking the.

Speaker 4 (15:20):
Right guy, and also look at the age range. Yeah,
this is a that's further evidence that this is a
Brian shot.

Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, not all of them have been head coaches.

Speaker 9 (15:27):
That was my point is we talked about the experience
level is different, the age group is different, the schematics
of it all are all different, very clearly.

Speaker 11 (15:36):
And in terms of the weight and like, Okay, are
we going to wait for Jim Leonard? I don't think
the Cowboys are the only team that are waiting for Jim.
I think the Packers are another team that if they
get a chance to get him after this week, because
I'm sorry, but it probably will be after this week,
then I.

Speaker 6 (15:52):
Think that's.

Speaker 11 (15:54):
That makes you feel a little bit better maybe about
waiting because you just kind of think, Okay, if this
guy's the top of the list for several teams, maybe
some of the other guys that we still like but
maybe not like as much as Jim Leonard are going
to be around because they're not going.

Speaker 6 (16:07):
To get scooped up.

Speaker 11 (16:08):
But then again, you think about the fact that you
have six head coaching openings, and that doesn't mean there's
going to be six defensive coordinator openings as well. But
there are other defensive coordinator openings just from natural firings
and such around the league as well. You know, the
Packers being one of those teams. So but in terms
of it being an expansive net, it needed to be

(16:28):
frankly like, this is this could not be a you know,
we know who our guy is going into the interview process.

Speaker 3 (16:35):
I mean, how long did the Eberflues take? Like a
few days?

Speaker 6 (16:38):
It was.

Speaker 11 (16:39):
It was pretty clear when Brian Schodheimer was hired that
that's the direction they were.

Speaker 3 (16:43):
Going to go, right, which is.

Speaker 4 (16:46):
That Josh got you early, I got to get you know.
Melvin said, a study long study wrong. Well, the problem
is that they didn't study at all last time. So
I don't begrudge them for actually studying for a good
period of time with so many worthy candidates.

Speaker 3 (16:58):
So yes, that's the definition of insanity.

Speaker 4 (17:00):
Repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting
different results.

Speaker 9 (17:04):
I don't know how you could go into a decision
this massive and not study and not give it any
sort of extra thought. No stone left under means you
had one of the top three offenses in the NFL
with a franchise quarterback that is on the back half
of his career. Whether you look at the age or
the play or whatever it is, he's still playing at

(17:24):
a prime level, but he is going into his age
thirty three season. The fact of the matter is this
defensive coordinator higher is going to determine.

Speaker 5 (17:34):
Whether your window stays open or it's slam shut. That's
what this defensive coordinator higher is. So to put in
a little extra effort, to put in a little extra
due diligence to interview the right candidates and to find
the right person. I would rather that than to say, yeah,
we like this guy and let's just go aheat and
hand pick it and leave from with it.

Speaker 3 (17:51):
Who's a head coaching.

Speaker 5 (17:53):
Yeah, so this is a massive decision on whether or
not the Cowboys are going to be competitive over the
next four to five years or not.

Speaker 11 (18:03):
Especially you've had four in the last four years. I mean,
you just can't. You just can't do that. And this
offense is so good, especially if you keep George Pickens
and you keep Javonte Williams, that you have to expect
a lot of the same next year. And I don't
see this offense taking a step back. If they do,
I don't think it'll be to the point where you

(18:23):
can't win games because of it. So, yeah, this is
very important. But at the same time, as much as
we talk about the coordinator, and that's very important, no
doubt they.

Speaker 6 (18:34):
Need better players, amen, they just do not have the personnel.

Speaker 2 (18:37):
But you can't necessarily go find your personnel without knowing
who your leader is on that side, that's right.

Speaker 11 (18:42):
But the good news is one you have the other
one you have the time to get that because it
won't take them to a free agency to do no,
I hope not. And two you get two first round
picks in the draft. So whether or not you pick
those two first rounders or you trade one of them away,
they have an opportunity here to build a much better unit,
and you know, they have the cap flexibility to create
some space to sign some more free agents. They were,

(19:04):
you know, I think more aggressive than people thought they
would be last year in terms of the number pure
number of signings that they made. And now it's about,
you know, quality over quantity.

Speaker 3 (19:14):
I think there was some risk there too, sure with
the signings that you had, because they're still sort of
in that cap the pie of it all, right, But
to your point, it's about making the better decision and
finding the right guys and getting the better personnel.

Speaker 5 (19:29):
Well, and the goal here is not just to win games.
Going back to Tommy's point, you can win games with
a substantial improvement on defense, but that's not the ultimate goal.
The ultimate goal is to be playing this upcoming weekend,
next year, playing in the NFC title game, have a
chance to go to a Super Bowl. All of those
things are your goal and what you're trying to do

(19:49):
and what you're trying to accomplish. So a complete revamp
on defense is possible, but it's got to start with
the right leader on that side of the ball. And
so this is the most important thing you've got all season.
Who's kept it in the ship and you gotta take
your time kind of figuring that out, all right, speaking
of the defense and speaking of what we thought of
the defense, any other news and the.

Speaker 4 (20:09):
News before, no transactions or anything. So just adding those
three candidates to the defensive coordinator pot and we'll see
how that goes.

Speaker 2 (20:15):
We'll see if they have one by next Tuesday. Maybe
that would be fun.

Speaker 5 (20:18):
When we come back, we're going to continue our grades
or report cards series where we're gonna grade the defensive
side of the ball. If you missed last week's episode,
we went all through the offense gave our grades.

Speaker 2 (20:28):
This is probably gonna be a little.

Speaker 5 (20:30):
Bit more harsh when it comes to the defensive side
of the ball. More talking Cowboys right after this.

Speaker 3 (20:38):
How's it going? You see that Cowboys game? Oh? I watched.

Speaker 7 (20:41):
I've been seeing some good things totally. They have some talent.

Speaker 3 (20:45):
You have some great talent, and.

Speaker 7 (20:47):
They got some fight hoping.

Speaker 3 (20:48):
This is the year me too.

Speaker 7 (20:50):
Oh I'm Cody.

Speaker 3 (20:51):
By the way, I'm Travis. Nice to meet you, Travis.
Go Cowboys Go.

Speaker 4 (20:55):
Cowboys make a new friend based solely on their shirt choice.

Speaker 3 (21:00):
What would you like the power to do?

Speaker 10 (21:02):
Bank of America, the official bank of the Dallas Cowboys,
Copyright twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (21:06):
Bank of America Corporation. Cowboys fans, We've got big news.

Speaker 5 (21:10):
Black Rifle Energy is now available at Texas seven eleven stores,
and for a limited time, you can score two cans
for just six dollars at participating location. These cans pack
a serious punch, two hundred milligrams of caffeine, veteran crafted flavor,
and the clean energy you need to.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
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Speaker 5 (21:27):
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Speaker 2 (21:35):
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That's our promise to you, because no matter the project
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Speaker 3 (22:02):
Where are you, where are you?

Speaker 10 (22:03):
United at at and T We guarantee our network so
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Speaker 2 (22:12):
Hey, yeah, I can't believiate the whole thing of chicken.

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Speaker 3 (22:36):
To Talking Cowboys.

Speaker 5 (22:41):
Back here on Talking Cowboys presented by Black Rifle Coffee Company,
the official coffee of the Dallas Cowboys. This segment is
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Speaker 2 (22:51):
That's a sweet cup there, Josh, yeah, you like that.

Speaker 3 (22:53):
It's available in Dallas cows Pro shop, is it.

Speaker 5 (22:56):
I didn't bring it today, but I got a black
Rifle coffee Mum. It's a yettie with a Cowboys logo almost,
but I'm working on getting it for the whole cruiser. Okay,
I'm working on. I was about to say, man.

Speaker 2 (23:07):
I worked an event, and then they were like, here's
the gift.

Speaker 5 (23:10):
I was like, well, if you would have known this
ahead of time, I would have asked for five of them.

Speaker 2 (23:13):
So that way we have it one forever.

Speaker 7 (23:14):
Say a live one on global live streaming.

Speaker 5 (23:19):
But that's just because I can clip this and okay
to them and then trying to get this working out
of direct. Yeah, there's thousands of people watching on dallascowboys
dot Com.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
Tens of thousands.

Speaker 3 (23:33):
I like that. The millions and millions.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
Maybe not a off season, but seriously, no like per year, oh,
per year.

Speaker 3 (23:40):
Absolutely, it's in the millions.

Speaker 9 (23:43):
But we are in January and all right, Kyle, so
it's a little different, but our talking Cowboys family is
who is here?

Speaker 2 (23:50):
I'm sorry.

Speaker 9 (23:51):
All right, let's talk speaking of Let's talk about defensive
season grades. O god, let's start.

Speaker 2 (23:58):
Let's start. Let's start positively start positive. Interior defensive line
A plus, A plus.

Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah, I'm go B minus.

Speaker 2 (24:06):
That's the highest grade of anybody.

Speaker 5 (24:08):
You've getten so far, better than the quarterback, better than
the wide receivers, better than the running backs, better than
your fair.

Speaker 2 (24:14):
I mean, you're giving it an A plus.

Speaker 3 (24:16):
Fair?

Speaker 2 (24:16):
What I know comparably well?

Speaker 4 (24:17):
The reason I didn't give the quarterbacks in a plus
was it because of Dak. It was because you don't
know who your backup is, and when you had a
chance to look at your backup, albeit later in the season,
it didn't look great. All right, So I mean Dak
could be an A plus. But then I mean you
got like an F behind him. So, but was the
interior perfect post quinnin? It was sensational and then it

(24:39):
kind of fell, but not because of Quinn.

Speaker 7 (24:42):
So you know what that's fair? Let me go with.

Speaker 4 (24:46):
Let me go to B plus and I'll say a
B plus looking at the totality of it, being that
Quinn was not here the first half of the season,
when he was not here the first half of the season.
You needed to see more from Osa, who's coming off
of that big contract extension.

Speaker 7 (25:00):
You didn't necessarily see that.

Speaker 4 (25:02):
Solomon Thomas, he had a massively hot start, kind of
cooled a little bit though. Now that was a little
bit due to injury as well, so to be fair
to Sally, but it wasn't into and Kenny Clark. Kenny
Clark came on strong following that trade with Michael Parsons.
So Kenny Clark, I like what he did for the
majority of the season. Had a couple of slow patches,
but for the most part, Kenny Clark was exceptional.

Speaker 3 (25:23):
In my book.

Speaker 4 (25:25):
You didn't get much of anything from j Toya continues
to develop. He was on the inactive's list the majority
of the season. Perryon Rent Winfree came off IR later
in the season. Didn't really get any reps he got
I think one game activated post IR return, so didn't
really see anything there. So I guess what carries the
grade obviously is quinning post by Kenny Clark all season.

(25:48):
Sally the beginning of the season, Osa during a three
game stretch, nothing from Toya, nothing from Winfree. Out out
landed B plus carried by Quinn and Kenny.

Speaker 3 (25:59):
I'm going with beam because you did have for a
long stretch of the season you had Mazzie Smith as
an inactive player on your roster on game day. To me,
that is good point. I mean, obviously the interior defensive
line was not playing well in those weeks, and that's
why you needed the help. And of course they wanted
the help early on. That's why they got Kenny Clark,

(26:20):
who did a very serviceable job. I'm not saying he
was perfect. I don't even think it was a great
year statistically for him, but I think once you added
quinnin Williams, he was able to shine a little more.
And of course you saw more from Osa as soon
as you got Quinn Williams. Quinn Williams is the barometer
now for your interior defensive line. That's why i'm B minus.
I don't think it was perfect in all stretches, especially
Kenny Clark in that the Panthers game. That was really rough,

(26:43):
but it was just an amalgam of things that were
against you. In that game. It got ran over by
Ricodoubel over and over and over again, because that was
they were like, oh, this is what we're going to
do and you cannot stop it.

Speaker 2 (26:55):
But maybe not even their running back one anymore.

Speaker 3 (26:57):
I think there is a different position on this there anymore.
Maybe defense that was able to really bring down the
score for everybody else, and we'll talk about that here
in a bit, but be minus for the interior defensive line.
I like it.

Speaker 6 (27:11):
I agree with you minus.

Speaker 11 (27:12):
I think personnel wise they're really good, especially now with
Quinn Williams. And you know, I don't think Osa as
a top your top guy is necessarily the best. So
I think now that the Quinn Williams is there, that
certainly will benefit him. Kenny Clark, just being a veteran president,
Salomon Thomas, you hit the nail on the head. I
think as he started out the year really well. I
think he was one of the better run defenders in
the on the defensive tackle room throughout the entire year.

(27:36):
But you know, I don't think they generated as much
interior pressure as we thought they would. I don't think
that they towards the back half of the season played
the run as well as they did when Quinn Williams
got traded. And I think that some of that is
because of the fact that the next levels of the
defense didn't necessarily do their jobs very well. But I

(27:57):
think that their their personnel is there in terms in
when it comes to being able to have success in
the future. Now it's just kind of building around it.

Speaker 5 (28:06):
So yeah, be minus for me, I'm probably splitting the difference.
I'd say be the same reasons. Y'all just outlined. You
made a trade for one of the top players at
the position in the Micah Parsons trade. Kenny Clark probably
a top fifteen, top ten defensive tackle in football right now,
played that way for much of the year.

Speaker 2 (28:26):
But was he perfect? No still room to grow, still
room to dive in.

Speaker 3 (28:30):
And I mean it was all at him at a
certain point.

Speaker 5 (28:32):
Exactly like he was the best player on your team
at the first part first half season. Yeah, then you
turn around, you pay, you make a trade for a
better player at the position in Quentinn Williams. But you
needed to make that trade initially in the first place,
so it wasn't perfect to begin with, and even post
Quentin Williams it wasn't perfect afterwards. But I still think
a B is very fair now compared to what it

(28:55):
was previously.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
I don't think there's.

Speaker 5 (28:57):
Another position that made a monumental MP the same way
that that one. Actually, I know there isn't because even
you look at the other improvements wide receiver vast improvement
from last year, running back vast improvement from last year,
there's nothing quite like the jump the defensive tackle took,
and it took two major trades to get it done.
But you're set up and that's the core of your

(29:19):
defense moving forward, so be as good.

Speaker 3 (29:20):
It sets up your future as well room to grow.

Speaker 2 (29:22):
I think Osa could probably be better.

Speaker 5 (29:24):
We'll see what Solomon Thomas does this offseason and how
if he's back and where he goes and that kind
of thing.

Speaker 2 (29:30):
I think there's room to improve there behind.

Speaker 5 (29:33):
Those two guys, But just having those two guys is
a huge piece moving forward now.

Speaker 2 (29:38):
Defensive end moving over a little bit to the edge
rusher spot. Tommy, I'll let you start this one. Good
radio here, d Wow, Okay.

Speaker 6 (29:49):
Let's maybe deep less it best.

Speaker 11 (29:51):
I mean, Javian Clowney at the end of the year
was sensational in terms of, you know, where his expectations were.

Speaker 6 (29:58):
You just kind of wanted them to be.

Speaker 11 (29:59):
A veteran president, and then he comes out and he's
your best pass rusher at the end of the year.
That should not be the case. All due respected to
Davian Clowney. He's a fantastic player. He's unbelievable as an
athlete to be able to still do the things that
he does so well this long and new his tenure
in the league is remarkable and all the power to him,
and the Cowboys should try to.

Speaker 6 (30:19):
Bring him back this season. But you know, you spent
a second round.

Speaker 11 (30:23):
Pick on donovanz Roku, who was a monster pass rusher
at Boston College, led the country in sacks, and he
ends up being a better run defender than he was
a pass rusher in his first year. That skill hasn't
gone anywhere. He hasn't forgotten how to rush the passer.
Is there a part of it that you need to
learn how to rush in the NFL? Sure, But you
know he should have been getting after the quarterback more

(30:44):
and being taught to get after the quarterback more. I
think with the right coaching going forward, and I think
Aaron whity Common does a good job and I think
he'll continue to do a good job, but with maybe
a new voice in terms of defensive coordinator and new
ways to scheme up pressure and get home on the quarterback.

Speaker 6 (30:59):
I think he can take the next step.

Speaker 11 (31:01):
Aside from that, you know, James Houston was really cool
for a while. He was a great story, you know,
showing up on the second day of training camp and
led the team in sacks for a majority of the season.
But you can't you can't bank on that going forward.
If those three guys are the guys that we're talking
about here and saying, yeah, there's our pass rush unit, Yeah,
you're You're not gonna have a lot of success defensively.

(31:23):
I think it starts with making the quarterback uncomfortable. We
were talking about Indiana earlier. You want to know why
Indiana didn't just roll over Miami yesterday like they had
the rest of the college football playoffs because Miami was
getting pressure on Bernano Mendoza. That's how you win football
games on defense. If you can affect the quarterback, if
you can make them uncomfortable, it makes everybody's jobs easier
in the linebacker room and the secondary. And the Cowboys

(31:45):
did not have a great pass rush this year, and
that's why we're sitting here.

Speaker 3 (31:49):
I'm yours was c or d he said D plus
D plus. I'm going C minus for all the reasons
you just said. I mean, of course, j Davin Clowney
was the best pass prussure that you had. I was
disappointed with the performance of Dante Fowler throughout the season.
He talked about, you know, dealing with injuries throughout, but
I just don't think that that was necessarily what you

(32:11):
banked on whenever you signed him for the one year deal.
And then on top of that, as Araku, I expected
more of a pass rush from him. Granted, you guys
are talking a lot about his run defense, which was,
you know, fine, I guess, but I didn't see the
big playability from Aseraku. I hope that changes. I hope
with a new defensive coordinator that you were able to

(32:33):
find more of a consistency there with his pass rush
the moves that he makes. But this season for me
was really disappointing. For Azraku and the rest of the
defensive end.

Speaker 7 (32:45):
D minus minus almost failing.

Speaker 3 (32:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (32:49):
The only reason, well one of the only reasons obviously
that it's not an F is because Jadeveon Clooney. I mean,
like Tommy said so eloquently, I mean he's a freakish athlete,
even at you know, in his early thirties. I mean
the fact that you can come in with no training
camp off of the couch. Yeah, he had a slow
start because he had to knock some rust off, but man,
when he.

Speaker 3 (33:06):
Got going, did he every November December on?

Speaker 7 (33:08):
Just unbelievable.

Speaker 4 (33:09):
And he wants to sign early with a team so
that he can get a full offseason program. So there
you go, Cowboys, make it happen. But I'm also with
Tommy on the aspect of we I think we all
agree to David on Clowney needs to be back in
the building. But it's also true that he cannot be
the guy leading the charge like he simply can't be,
because if he is, then that means no knock to him.

(33:31):
That means that you have question marks elsewhere. And that's
where those question marks get you out of D minus
coming out of twenty twenty five. You said it, Donovanzroku
ceiling is unbelievably high. Now, whether you put that on
him and or Matt Eberflus and trying to, you know,
fit him into the DeMarcus Lawrence mode versus the DeMarcus
where Molde after you, you know, lose DeMarcus Lawrence, who knows,

(33:53):
whatever the case may be. What we do know is
that Donovan is rocu. He flashed on some occasions, but
he didn't develop as quickly last year as we thought
he would coming off of a nation leading record setting
sack season that he had at Boston College. So you
need a lot more from Ezrak who James Houston was
great in spots. Struggled against the run though, which is

(34:14):
why he struggled to get on the field and stay
on the field when he came to coaching decisions. Right,
So James Houston, I give him a bee because this
is a guy who was brought in off the couch
and a lot of people thought he was just a campbody.

Speaker 7 (34:25):
He proved he was much more than that.

Speaker 4 (34:27):
He made plays in more than one game, okay, in
more than one fashion, Jenevion Clowney covers. Outside of those
two guys, the majority of the pressure came from the
interior of your defensive line.

Speaker 7 (34:39):
Sam Williams was in a contract year.

Speaker 3 (34:42):
Yeah, I know that. What'd you get there?

Speaker 7 (34:44):
Right?

Speaker 4 (34:44):
Dante Fowler contract year because of one year proven deal
coming off of a career best season with Dan Quinn
and the Washington Commanders. You thought you were getting that
Dante Fowler you be an injury or coaching and or coaching,
you got a shell of that version of Dante Fowler.
You have Jadeveon Clowney A plus yep, you got Donovanzraku.

Speaker 7 (35:04):
A plus late, A plus late.

Speaker 4 (35:07):
You got Donovanzroku as a C, James Houston as a
B and the rest is f FF. So when you
got that many, you know f's for me. It just
drags it all the way down to a deep.

Speaker 3 (35:17):
Too many to give.

Speaker 5 (35:20):
It's the cumulatives GPA average, Right, It's like what the
schools all trying for sure get going on.

Speaker 3 (35:26):
And also to kind of reiterate that point to again
about Dante Fowler. He criticized, you know, and not so
in certain terms the defensive coordinator and not being able
to have certain plays that fit the personnel better.

Speaker 7 (35:39):
Listen.

Speaker 4 (35:39):
The bottom line is when Quinn Williams is traded from
the Jets to your team mid season and immediately over
the first two or three stretches of games, has through
that stretch of games has the most secks of anyone
on your defensive line. This is your defensive tackle that
just got here, doesn't know the playbook, doesn't know the scheme,

(35:59):
and he's the one generating the most pressure. That's credit
to Quentin for being able to do so. But when
you look at the Dees, that is unacceptable.

Speaker 2 (36:07):
Yeah, would you guys believe me? Actually let me let
me phrase it this way.

Speaker 5 (36:12):
Which one do you feel like was a lower ranking
among the thirty two NFL teams for Dallas? Was it
quarterback pressure percentage or was it sack percentage?

Speaker 7 (36:19):
Sack percentage?

Speaker 2 (36:20):
You think it was a lower lower overall?

Speaker 9 (36:22):
Do you do you agree or do you just what
was the first option? Pressures, pressure percentage or sack percentage?

Speaker 3 (36:27):
A lower sack percentage?

Speaker 2 (36:29):
Out agree?

Speaker 9 (36:30):
Sack percentage it was twenty sixth in the NFL out
of thirty two teams.

Speaker 5 (36:34):
Sack percentage. The pressure rate was sixteenth in the NFL.
So you did get pressure at times, but a lot
of and you mentioned it the key there it was
on the interior, but you got to be able to finish,
and that's where your edge rushers come in, and that's
where you lacked. So I think the stats and the
analytics kind of backed that up a little bit. We
got to move on because we got linebackers, corners, safeties

(36:55):
on the other side of the break, and we're gonna
have to roll through these pretty quickly. Here more talking
Cowboys right after this.

Speaker 10 (37:01):
At AT and T, we guarantee our network so you
can talk college football with your bff while taking Buster
to the vet.

Speaker 2 (37:09):
Hey, yeah, I can't believiate the whole thing of chicken.

Speaker 10 (37:12):
Wings, and I can't believe we're staging a comebacks.

Speaker 3 (37:16):
Staying connected matters.

Speaker 10 (37:17):
That's why, in the rare event of a network outage,
you'll automatically get a bill credit for a full day
service for wireless downtime lasting sixty minutes and more. Cause
by single incident impacting ten more towers must be connected
to impact tower. Don't set about it. Restrictions and exclusions apply.
Se eet dot Com slats guarantee for full details.

Speaker 5 (37:31):
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now available at Texas seven eleven stores, and for a
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(37:53):
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Speaker 3 (38:01):
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That's get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys with a
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Speaker 2 (39:00):
He's vp.

Speaker 3 (39:02):
To Talking Cowboys.

Speaker 5 (39:06):
Back here on Talking Cowboys with Patrick Walker, josh Rod
Reguaz I almost said Isaiah stand back, but filling in
for from Tommy Yarish Chris Beam in the back of
Kyle Yellmans. All right, let's go to linebackers here. This
should be pretty consensus. This is not gonna be a
high grade, right pat If Okay, do you really need
to give a ton of explanation on.

Speaker 4 (39:26):
The The only only promising aspect was tomorrow and overshowan
return to the field and.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
He's gonna have a healthy offseason.

Speaker 7 (39:33):
He's this offseason. He's back.

Speaker 4 (39:35):
But I mean didn't get much from merist, not entirely
on merit coaching. More than anything, the Jack Sambourne experiment.
He held onto that far too long. Kenneth Murray experiment
held onto that far too long. The Logan Wilson trade
didn't pan out, and it goes on from there. I
like Samar James. I like his potential. Uh he flashed
in a couple of more than a couple of situations,

(39:57):
but then he showed some rookie growing pains as well.
I like the upside o Shamara James. I need to
see marisliafoul unleashed in the year three as he was
in year one, and marvinovshown is on the upswing with
you know, being back from injury. But as far as
the twenty twenty five season as a whole, the linebacker
corps was an F for me.

Speaker 3 (40:14):
F and the F stands for fundamentally bad. The biggest
and most immediate issue that you have is linebacker coverage.
You had. I mean there were at times solid tackling
ten twenty yards down the field. But that's why for me,
at least draft wise, free agency wise, that's your most

(40:34):
urgent and need over defensive end, over safety, over cornerback.
One thing Matt Orflus had right is that you can
scheme pressure, but you cannot scheme around linebackers who can't cover.
Fixing linebacker, find you some dogs in free agency add
one stabilizing coverage safety. In my opinion, I think you're
gonna see an identity change for the Dallas Cowboys defense.

(40:58):
But linebacker was Achilles Hill all season long. Isn't that
bad dog?

Speaker 7 (41:03):
In the drafted linebackers.

Speaker 3 (41:04):
Maybe C J. Allen possibly or free agency, I don't care.

Speaker 2 (41:08):
Styles go get a solidified either one.

Speaker 5 (41:11):
Of those guys in the first round. I think I'd
be all good. Yeah, Apony Hill.

Speaker 11 (41:15):
Junior University of Texas is z minus A grade? Can
can that become one? Was that the lowest one?

Speaker 2 (41:23):
Or that was only when Zimmer was here?

Speaker 11 (41:24):
Because why minus f minus?

Speaker 7 (41:31):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (41:31):
It was bad, man Eber, it was. It was really bad.

Speaker 2 (41:34):
Alright, that's probably me.

Speaker 13 (41:35):
Wow.

Speaker 6 (41:36):
I'll give Matt credit for this.

Speaker 11 (41:38):
Over the course of his career, he has done a
really good job of developing linebacks except for here.

Speaker 6 (41:44):
I don't know what it was about here.

Speaker 11 (41:46):
Maybe it's personnel, maybe it was something different, but for
whatever reason, it did not work here.

Speaker 6 (41:51):
But he does have a good track record of that.

Speaker 11 (41:53):
He was a linebacker Stokes here, linebacker here. He did
that in Indianapolis, he did that in Chicago. Chicago has
some really good linebackers, but for whatever reason, it didn't
work here. The most jarring thing for me, especially in
the run game, was so many times we would see
these linebackers engage in blocks and not give any effort
to get off of them. It was like, as soon

(42:14):
as they got into block, it was like.

Speaker 6 (42:16):
I'm in nothing I can do. Yeah, he tagged me,
see you, Jamir Gibbs.

Speaker 11 (42:20):
It's like no, It's like you can get off the block,
you can go towards the ball and try to make
a play. And sometimes it just seemed like they were
they were disinterested, and you know, I don't want to
call anybody out here. Obviously these guys are NFL players.
You never questioned effort, but it just seemed like they
they for whatever reason, wouldn't want to get off blocks.

Speaker 6 (42:41):
And it's gonna be tough.

Speaker 11 (42:42):
You know, Marius leaval for what he did in his
last year at points when they turn him into a
blitzer and he was really good, you didn't see as
much as that this year. Samar James, I mean, he
made some plays here and there, but is that's somebody
that you're going to bank on long term.

Speaker 6 (42:57):
For the future.

Speaker 11 (42:57):
So this is an area that the Cowboys definitely need
to look at in free agency and through the draft.
And that's why, you know, one of the conversations in
the draft show we've been talking about so much is
linebacker and the sunny styles from Ohio.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
State j linebackers in this class from.

Speaker 11 (43:12):
Georgia, Anthony Hill junior from Texas. So it's a position
that you know, not only not only do you need
to throw bodies at it, but you need to throw
bodies that can get the job done here for you.
And then the Logan Wilson trade too. I don't think
Logan Wilson's a bad player. I just don't think he
can run like he used Well they threw him into
the fold immediately.

Speaker 2 (43:31):
And said get after it. And then you're like, you
didn't get out of there, sandboard, you get out it.

Speaker 5 (43:41):
Was It just all didn't make any sense. And yeah,
I'm giving an after linebackers.

Speaker 2 (43:45):
And it's funny.

Speaker 5 (43:46):
I had a conversation with a good friend of mine
that works in collegiate athletics and he grew up in Indianapolis,
was a huge Colt fan, And it was right after
the news broke and I was talking with him. He said, yeah,
like I could have seen that coming, because even at
the end of his tenure in Indian Apples and people
forget this, He's like, there was talks that he would
not be brought back as the defensive coordinator Indianapolis and
he failed upward and ended up taking the head coaching

(44:08):
job with Chicago, And I was like, this would have
been a great conversation to have last off season when
he was hired.

Speaker 2 (44:14):
Why didn't we have this conversation then? And he kind
of chuckled about it.

Speaker 5 (44:17):
But it ended up working out the way that it did,
especially a linebacker, where you anticipated development, you anticipated steps forward,
and you didn't get it. And that was what I
think was most disappointing in terms of the downfall for
ibra Flus's tenure here in the one season is your
linebackers were not good, and that was supposed to be
the one area of expertise that was supposed to be good.

Speaker 3 (44:36):
Now arguably horrendous.

Speaker 2 (44:38):
It was awful f all away. Now the big thing
here is we are running out of time.

Speaker 5 (44:46):
I'm going to combine corners and safeties into just secondary grade.
You guys are professionals. We gotta get these grades out there.
I'm going to let you start here, Pat, what you got?

Speaker 3 (44:55):
Yeah, well, okay, let me say this because I was
watching Seattle and I was watching ten over the weekend
and just looking at their safeties, particularly because I was
so high up on drafting a safety in the first round.
It's not that the safeties are bad here in Dallas.
I just think that they weren't used as just that
they weren't used as safety. Seattle safeties shined and limited

(45:18):
opportunities because their linebackers closed windows. Early. Denver safeties had
strong coverage grades throughout the season because throws never went
down the middle against them. They didn't have that luxury
because guess what, guys, linebackers were pretty darn good for
both of those teams. Yeah you could. You didn't have
those easy throws over the middle for me. Safeties wise,

(45:38):
f but I think it's because of the way they
were implemented throughout the season. Cornerbacks see minus okay minus who.
I think you have room to grow with your cornerback room.
I really do safeties.

Speaker 4 (45:53):
He lost one, ya to my grains, you had a
lot of injury there. Lee Cooker before the injury did
not look like himself. He looked like himself after the injury,
but then it cooled down towards the light a few games.
M Harky spell has some play. I don't know, safeties,
I'm going to give a C minus. Overall, you wanted more.
There weren't terrible, weren't great cornerbacks. Ready Steward showed some things.

(46:20):
Keep Ready Steward in the building to Ron Bland injured again,
Trevon Diggs fiasco, blah blah blah. It's the cornerbacks outside
of Ready Steward is an F. For me, it's an F.
So I mean you roll those two together, what I
give a ceed to the C minus to the safeties
F so I land on a D for the secondary.

Speaker 2 (46:35):
And even when it comes to.

Speaker 5 (46:39):
Stewart, I mean, how I know he played significantly, but
how much of an impact did he do to bring
that grade?

Speaker 4 (46:45):
So yeah, I'm just highlighting him as far as saying
that he shows some promise enough to keep him on
the team, but not to the point where he was
able to carry that grade from an F to a
higher grade from the cornerbacks perspective. So F for cornerbacks
for me, C for the safeties, I land right on
a D.

Speaker 3 (47:00):
Literally opposite there.

Speaker 11 (47:02):
Uh yeah, if we're just doing the entire secondary, I'll
give it an F. Russell Wilson, JJ McCarthy, Josh Johnson.
I mean, if you're letting these guys throw for some
of their best career days on you, it's just not
a good year, man, It's really not. I agree with Patrick.
I thought Ready Stewart was a pleasant surprise this year.

(47:23):
He was, He was better than I expected him to be.
Deron Bland injury is just brutal. You know, hopefully he
gets he's able to recover in time to have some
of an off season and get to training camp fully
healthy and be able to.

Speaker 6 (47:36):
Get back physically there.

Speaker 11 (47:37):
Obviously, the foot is really scary for you know, players
of that position and especially guys need to cut and
shift so much.

Speaker 6 (47:45):
And then Savone revel what.

Speaker 3 (47:48):
I know, I'm just messing with that.

Speaker 6 (47:49):
Okay, you at all thought I had a pause moment.

Speaker 11 (47:51):
No, you know, the bright spot for me looking ahead
for this corner room and the secondary is Savone reveel
that that knee brace was.

Speaker 6 (47:59):
Really bugging them all year.

Speaker 11 (48:00):
And you know, credit the kid for going out there
and giving it effort to go and play, but he
needs to get healthy this offseason. He needs to get
that brace off of him because you can tell that
it just hinders his movement and he's a step late,
or he doesn't have the same burst that he did
on his table.

Speaker 6 (48:15):
He's Carolina.

Speaker 11 (48:16):
I think this kid's gonna be a really good player
for Dallas a secondary, but he needs to get that
brace off first. He's gonna have a healthy off season
for the first time in a while.

Speaker 6 (48:22):
Which is good.

Speaker 11 (48:23):
But you know, your safeties, I agree with Josh. I
don't think they were utilized the right way all the time.
You know, when you've got Donovan Wilson in single high
safety multiple times, that's.

Speaker 7 (48:35):
Just not right.

Speaker 11 (48:35):
And that's not going after Donovan Wilson. That's just not
his that's not his thing.

Speaker 3 (48:40):
That is fundamentally not a good idea.

Speaker 11 (48:41):
No, that's a terrible idea, and sure enough everybody would
pick on it. And then Malie Cooker when he was healthy,
he was serviceable for you. I think he's got that
veteran presence. I don't think he's a negative player for you.
He's not a difference maker for you. And Janya Thomas,
I don't think he's a bad player either, but I
don't think he's a difference maker for you, and at
the safety position in the NFL. Now, I think you

(49:02):
do need a difference maker to win in the secondary
in general, you just need difference makers. Look at like
you guys mentioned Seattle, So yeah, it gets.

Speaker 3 (49:09):
A get you a true coverage safety.

Speaker 4 (49:12):
Bobby and Chat made a point that I was sitting
here thinking while Tommy was was regaling us with just
beautiful takes.

Speaker 7 (49:19):
He was regaling good job.

Speaker 2 (49:21):
Man, I've got a beautiful brother.

Speaker 3 (49:23):
This guy, I'm hanging up. He's awesome.

Speaker 4 (49:26):
He's sitting here thinking, and I think we can all
agree it looks like not only with the brace, but
it just does not look like savone Revel is mentally
confident in that knee.

Speaker 7 (49:34):
Yet it feels like.

Speaker 4 (49:35):
He's overthinking, and it feels like he's over compensating in
his movements. Feel it feels as if that he's still
slightly concerned. So I'm glad to see that he will
get a full off season to get healthy and get
that confidence built, because his first off season with the
Cowboys was built in rehab. Right, So we'll see. But
at this point, I agree with Bobby. I don't think
he's confident in it yet.

Speaker 6 (49:55):
And I think it's because of the brace.

Speaker 3 (49:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (49:57):
I mean, how many times the season did we see
him get taken out of the game him to adjust
it and fix it and you know, maneuver it around.

Speaker 2 (50:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (50:05):
I hate in practice.

Speaker 5 (50:06):
I hate that it's an excuse, but it's it's part
of yours. It's an extension of your game, an extension
of your body for a certain player. He didn't you,
you can't do it.

Speaker 6 (50:14):
You have a training camp either.

Speaker 3 (50:16):
Yeah. He was thrown into the fire early on.

Speaker 11 (50:19):
So basically savone revel was okay. The last person he
guarded was I don't know, a Marshall wide receiver. It
was Appalachian stated, and then it's congratulations, you're going up
against Ceede Lamb and George Pickens. In practice, what I
mean talk about baptism by fire like that. That's that's
a lot to do one knee from a rookie on
one knee.

Speaker 2 (50:36):
Good after dude.

Speaker 4 (50:37):
Yeah, I think I think he will show some really
good things in twenty twenty six. It was just a
rough go with the rehab and who he had to
kind of hit the ground run and then the knee brace,
and he's just not mentally there right now, so full
off season savone Rebel signed me up for him being
a starter in twenty six.

Speaker 2 (50:52):
There you go.

Speaker 5 (50:53):
All right, that doesn't for us here on Talking Cowboys.
Hope you had fun today? Was F Yeah for secondary?

Speaker 3 (50:59):
Okay, sorry, no, I needed.

Speaker 2 (51:02):
Glad you asked me yes, F for secondary. Across the board,
it just wasn't good. All right. That is it for
us here on Talking Cowboys.

Speaker 5 (51:08):
Next week we're gonna spend all forty five minutes talking
about how Josh won the Pickham segments this year.

Speaker 2 (51:14):
He's gonna have episode to be able to brag about that.

Speaker 5 (51:18):
Also, congrats. We do like celebrating everybody's achievements on this show.
Your movie podcast was voted a best podcast of a
profitable media.

Speaker 3 (51:28):
Source absolutely discover Pods. Check it out. There's a movie
podcast that I'm on. I will not say it on
Cowboys Airways, but uh follow me check it out.

Speaker 7 (51:35):
Yeah, that's good to the bottom line is there's just
there's too many movies.

Speaker 3 (51:38):
I mean that's what people say.

Speaker 2 (51:39):
There are definitely too many movies. All right, That does
it for us.

Speaker 5 (51:43):
See you later for Patrick No c Walker, for Josh
roderig Getz Tommy Rish, Chris Beam in the back. I'm
Kyle Yoman saying so long from Talking Cowboys, will see
you next week.

Speaker 1 (51:51):
This has been a production of dallascowboys dot Com and
the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.