Hangin' With The 'Boys

NFL players seem immortal. They are machines who can conquer anything. But in honoring the memory of Marshawn Kneeland, Jesse shares his own mental health journey, telling us what it’s really like for the players and the behind-the-scenes challenges they battle daily.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nate Newton, Shannon Gross and Jesse Holley discuss the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes on Hangin' With The 'Boys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our man Nate has been wanting a big man in the defensive middle for years now, and he was finally rewarded as we found out with breaking news at the top of the show that the Cowboys have acquired Quinnen Williams, one of the best defensive tackles in the league. How big of an impact is this? Is Dallas finally showing signs of going all in? Let’s break it down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So are all these communication issues we keep hearing about really on the coaches? Seems like that’s on the guys wearing the jerseys. Also who has been a treat for us to watch this year and, well, you know the other side of that. Plus, Dak Prescott calling plays, the run blocking of Terrence Steele, Jesse’s stat, our predictions and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trey McBride might be the most dangerous player on the Cardinals offense, so how do the Cowboys stop him? Can a tight end really beat them? We don’t want to find out. Then there's shifty quarterback Kyler Murray, who has never lost at AT&T Stadium. Can the Dallas defense contain not only Arizona’s passer but also its leading rusher? Don’t let the Cardinals’ record fool you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Cardinals defense tougher than we might think? They play a similar scheme as the Cowboys, and they don’t have any big stars, but they’ve been in every game they’ve played. So what’s the difference? Is Arizona just more consistent and in sync? And because of that, what does the Dallas offense have to do? Be darn near perfect, it seems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why have the Cowboys struggled to draft defensive players? Is it because they don’t know what they’re looking for? After all, Dallas has had three defensive coordinators in three years and different schemes require different players. Plus, would it make sense to use draft capital to bring in new players for the future? Why not get a known commodity or two on defense while the offensive window is wide open?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve asked it before, and we’ll ask it again – what’s wrong with the defense? Mental mistakes, physical talent, bad assignments, schemes, it’s all not good enough. Is there any hope in sight? Plus, we all knew Dak Prescott would have a clunker of a game eventually. He can’t be perfect all the time (though the Cowboys desperately need him to be). Let’s commiserate together after a tough loss in Denver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could this game in Denver make or break the Cowboys' season? Beat a good team on the road and you could go on a nice streak and maybe be a buyer at the trade deadline. Lose and, well, things get that much tougher. So can Dallas’ strength (the offense) overcome the Broncos’ strength (defense) in a tough environment? We’ve got key stats, players to watch and predictions coming your way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Broncos offensive line is no joke. Can a Cowboys defensive front that’s struggled to stop the run at times match them pound for pound? And quarterback Bo Nix and Denver like the short game with a lot of rollouts and screens. Can Dallas keep him in check? Plus, tackling, double-teams and Nate's thoughts on shaking hands after the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys have a tall task ahead of them facing Denver’s defense, which leads the NFL in sacks. Still, even though they also have one of the game’s best corners, can they stop the Dallas passing attack? Plus, what former Cowboy in his prime would you take today to help this team? White, Ware, Haley (sensing a pattern?) …See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several injured players are now entering the 21-day window to return, including rookie cornerback Shavon Revel. What can we expect from him? Should he be brought along slowly? And is too much pressure being put on DeMarvion Overshown to be the linebacking savior? Plus, will we continue to see more blitzing and man coverage? Sounds like maybe not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coordinator Matt Eberflus sure looked happy on the sidelines, and he should have been. Using more man coverage and blitzes, the Cowboys defense played their best game of the season. Now, can they do it again? Plus, with the trade deadline coming up soon, will the Cowboys be buyers or sellers? And Nate shares what it was like seeing some old teammates during the alumni weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're feeling kind of sorry for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator today. After all, he was put in a tough situation, one that could only get worse with Trevon Diggs now sidelined. So does that mean we could we start seeing the offense take more risks? Hey, they're already starting to. Plus, Jesse’s key stat, players to watch and our predictions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been some criticism that Cowboys defenders are trying to punch the ball out instead of making tackles. Is that true? We’ve also heard a lot of talk about the defense playing man-to-man coverage, but is this the right week to do that against a mobile quarterback and an up-tempo offense? Plus, Nate has a sure-fire way to beat an offense … but does Dallas have the players?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s looking like star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb could return on Sunday against Washington, but what’s that mean for George Pickens? He’s been a beast in his own right in Lamb’s absence. What changes? The Cowboys also need to try to establish the ground game. Can they do so against one of the best run defenses in the league? Better rush to the edge, my friend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been hearing that the pass rush has the potential to be strong, and that there aren't one or two major problems but a lot of little ones that can be fixed. Is that true? Or is that just hope? And what exactly are some of those little problems? Coverage schemes? Gap integrity? Discipline? Accountability? Let’s get in-depth and break it down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys ran into a lot of big bodies along the Panthers’ defensive line and couldn’t get anything going in their running game. Meanwhile, Carolina’s rushing attack simply dominated the Dallas defense. What the heck happened? We can blame Matt Eberflus all we want, but sooner or later the players need to show some discipline, right? Are there any solutions to these ongoing problems?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So how about those Eagles last night? Then again, do we need to start worrying about the Giants? But let’s focus on the Cowboys. Are they growing as a group? Are they gaining confidence? Could that be the difference between a good season and bad? Plus, Nate shares stories of Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer and we make our predictions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Panthers (and ex-Cowboys) running back Rico Dowdle has hinted that the Dallas defense should be ready for him. But is he ready for Dallas? Could that defense be in some trouble if both starting safeties are out? Or does this give others an opportunity? Speaking of, is Jonathan Mingo going to get a chance soon? If so, who comes out? And what about James Houston? Does he need more snaps? Maybe … not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dak Prescott’s game has gotten so cerebral that there’s likely nothing the Carolina defense can do to surprise him. So does that mean if the Cowboys don’t have success, the errors will be self-inflicted? And how does Prescott compare to Tony Romo after matching him in career starts? Plus, should the Cowboys spend draft capital to trade for defensive help?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been outstanding as a play-caller, but how has he been doing as a head coach? Plus, are some of those tough teams late in the schedule as tough as we thought? And will playing lesser opponents like the Jets now pay off then, especially with the young players? Let’s hope. Regardless, why do we discredit those wins? It’s Nate’s fault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys got a dose of the medicine they needed with their victory over the Jets. So are they where we thought they’d be after five games? Are we any closer to knowing what type of team this is? One thing is for certain – Coach Schottenheimer and his staff are cooking right now. And Dak Prescott is better than he’s ever been. But what about that offensive line? Who saw that coming?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys have four games under their belt now, so should we expect better play? Can they still improve the defense? Also, is George Pickens limited by the routes he runs? Why is it harder for some guys to go in motion and expand their route tree? Jesse breaks it down for us. And is Jaydon Blue ready for his NFL debut? Let’s hope so. Plus, a key stat, players to watch and our predictions!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys are not only facing another mobile quarterback this week in Justin Fields, they may be facing the best one. So is it better to keep containment than actually go for the sack? We’ve also heard a lot about communication in the secondary, but is communication between the defensive line and linebackers even more important this week? And about those injuries ...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could these next two games on the schedule be the turning point of the season? Does that bring any added pressure? Plus, is Jake Ferguson essentially part of the run game now? Is that bad? On the other side of the ball, last year the Dallas defense was one of the worst at stopping the run. Now they’re one of the worst at stopping the pass. Which is better? And is help really on the way?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should the NFL even have ties? Can the overtime format be changed? Plus, Jack Sanborn has come under some criticism, but does his knowledge of Matt Eberflus’ system help the team? Also, is this secondary built to play this defense? And how about the defensive line? Can pressure be manufactured? One hall of fame head coach doesn’t think so.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should the Cowboys have gone for it on fourth-and-goal in overtime? If they wanted to really build a culture, maybe they should have. Because does a tie really mean anything? Should you let your best player go win it? Plus, missed tackles were a killer for the defense. You got to get off the field. Let’s talk about that crazy overtime tie!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can the Cowboys manufacture more pressure in this Sunday night showdown with Green Bay? Does that mean blitzing more? Or maybe having Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland roaming in the secondary will help. Also, what about Kenny Clark? Is he being overlooked in all this? Might he have something to prove? Plus, players to watch, Jesse’s key stat and our predictions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We heard a lot of talk during the offseason about culture, but does it really work if you’re not winning games? Is there a risk now that the message will get lost? And the coaches have said they’re simplifying things. Does that put pressure on the players? And how does that sit with them? The grace period may be running out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hold onto your hats because this Green Bay defense plays fast, and they’ll throw a multitude of coverages at you on the back end. And then there’s that defensive line. The Packers’ front is led by a certain player we’re all acquainted with, but he’s not the only one to worry about. So how do the Cowboys attack this defense? Could it be handing it off to No. 33? Let’s get low and slow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said changes could be coming to both the teams's scheme and personnel. But what changes? Are there better options available? Plus, with a new coordinator, new scheme and no preseason action for the starters, shouldn't we have known the defense was going to struggle out of the gate? Also, is George Pickens ready to step up and be a movable piece in the offense?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything went wrong for the Cowboys in their loss to the Bears, especially on the defensive side of the ball. And the problems all start with the defensive line. Can they fix it? Will Jadeveon Clowney be the answer? Not that the offense gets a pass on this either. Would it have made a difference if CeeDee Lamb hadn’t been injured? Should he have been in the backfield to begin with? Let’s commiserate together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said fixing the defense is easy; they just need better communication. But what does that mean? Is it in the huddle? Before the ball is snapped? During the play? And talking might be easy, but is understanding? And will there be any communication problems with Brock Hoffman now at center. Plus, Nate talks trash-talking, Jesse’s key stat and our predictions!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams certainly has the arm talent, but can the Cowboys force him into some of the bad habits that have hampered him? And can they contain him in the pocket? Plus, Chicago likes to throw short, which is tougher to defend with a zone defense. Can Dallas adjust? And is Trevon Diggs being set up to fail? Not intentionally, but …See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The crew discuss Aubrey's NFC special teams weekly award and the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So Matt Eberflus’ defense is supposed to be easier for players to handle. But does that mean it’s also easier for opposing offenses to attack? Sure seems so. And was this scheme designed to have a stud pass-rusher, which is why the Cowboys are now bringing in Jadeveon Clowney? Plus, the chess match that goes on between players during games to gain an advantage. Hear it from those who know!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are we feeling after that exciting victory over the Giants? Hey, a win is a win, but it sure did raise some concerns. Like, should the Cowboys still be playing a zone defense in the secondary? Is it time to change the scheme to fit the players? Plus, did Jerry Jones pick up the phone and make a deal for Jadeveon Clowney during the game? And how soon can the new pass rusher be ready? And thank goodness for Brandon Aubrey!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best NFC teams can endure an injury. Well, can the Cowboys endure the loss of DaRon Bland? We’re about to find out. But let’s have a little fun on this Friday by reviewing the Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 all-time Cowboys (including our man Nate at No. 42), and we’ll rank the 88s. Plus, Jesse’s key stat (hint: watch the slot) and our predictions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Giants offensive line is, well, not good. So can the Cowboys defensive line take advantage? And just importantly, they struggled to contain Jalen Hurts last week. Can they stop Russell Wilson from breaking loose? And Nate’s philosophy is that if he has an A player and four B+ players on offense, he can make the rest work. Do the Cowboys have that? How about on defense?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So can Dak Prescott find an open receiver before that vaunted Giants defensive line gets to him? Can the Cowboys make the screen game work to their advantage? Because if they can get by the likes of Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, that New York secondary can be got. And if they don’t? What does 0-2 look like? Yikes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fans are hanging with us today as we take a few calls and get your feedback on all things Cowboys. We’re talking CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Hunter Luepke, the Super Bowl timeline and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know football is a physical sport, but just how much classroom work goes into every game? With all the different personnel options and formations and the plays that run off each, it's more than you might think. Plus, is there any concern that George Pickens didn’t get enough targets? Also, there were only four penalties in the game. Are they doing anything different to fix what has been a problem in the past?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So yes, the Cowboys lost … but they hung tight on the road against the defending champs. Lot to be positive about, right? Or did they fall into the same old trap of not being able to make the plays needed against a team who is just as good or better? Either way, football is back. Let’s get into it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The crew preview the Cowboys vs. Eagles Week 1 showdown, discuss DaRon Bland’s contract extension, their final thoughts on the Micah Parsons trade, moving on from it, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s talk trade! So is this a good deal for the Cowboys? Or did they make a big mistake? What’s the direction going forward? They’ve got money to spend and resources to use, so can this be a quick turnaround? Or are we in for a long recovery? Nate also shares how he negotiated with Jimmy Johnson as we talk all things Micah Parsons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens be the best wide receiving combo in the NFL? Is CeeDee ready to take yet another step? Let’s ask our former NFL wide receiver. But what about that running game? What’s it take to have a good one? A great line? A great back? Let’s ask our former NFL lineman. Get in the know from those who know!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You feeling good about what’s ahead? It’s time for us to go through the schedule and make our game-by-game predictions for how the Cowboys will do this year. Of course, there are also more moves being made to talk about, and Nate gives us a vital key to the Cowboys being successful this year (and it’s not being more physical).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last season, Asim Richards looked like he might battle to become a starter. Now, he’s been traded. Meanwhile, Damone Clark was an afterthought a year ago. Now he’s shining. But that’s what happens when a new coaching staff comes in. Plus, should we be that worried about losing those guys on the bubble? Would they really make an impact anyway? It’s cut-down day, folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the tonight’s release of the Deep Blue documentary “Coach Joe,” Jesse and Nate share stories of their time around former special teams coach Joe Avezzano. Plus, Joe Milton had some comments after practice that caught our attention. And how about a few players fighting for roster spots will we be watching in the final preseason matchup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.