Hangin' With The 'Boys

Are the Cowboys beating lesser opponents? Maybe, but who cares? Playing winning football is contagious, and they’re building confidence. Also, how impactful has Micah Parsons been since his return? Huge. Not only is he getting it done, but he’s making those around him better. And do the Cowboys need to get KaVontae Turpin more involved on offense? Or has he found his role?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nate and Jesse give us some great behind-the-scenes stories about trash-talking and who among their teammates were some of the best. Want more stories? Do players sometimes give away what’s coming? You bet they do. Plus, let’s break down the Giants a little. If defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is so good, why is their run defense so bad? And watch out for Malik Nabers. Let’s eat!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Given the Cowboy are set to face the Giants in AT&T Stadium on Thursday, are there more distractions when they’re playing at home? You bet there is. But how can they avoid them? Can they avoid them? Plus, if the Cowboys can go on a run to finish the season, could Mike McCarthy be back? “It’s not crazy,” said the owner. And what might be next for this ever-shuffling offensive line?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although double-digit underdogs going into the game at Washington, the Cowboys played hard and came away with a crazy win. Who were some of the young guys who stood out? Will this get them even more opportunities? Guys like Josh Butler and T.J. Bass just might deserve them. Plus, is it just us or are these games starting to get more physical? It’s a Victory Monday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it a big deal when the Cowboys and Commanders get together? You can bet it is in Washington. Plus, as one who used to have that job himself, Jesse breaks down fake punts and who makes the call, while Nate (you know, the six-time Pro Bowl guard) explains what he looks for in offensive linemen. It’s a little bit of everything on this Football Friday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As fans are we okay if the Cowboys lose now? Are the expectations that it’s time to play for next year? How do players feel? Does building a winning culture start now? If you don’t practice hard, do you stick out? Or is it accepted? Plus, can DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis make a big impact when they return? Yes, they can, but it might not be in the way you think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the season not going as planned, are these injured players in a hurry to get back or would they rather just wait? It’s all about their mentality. Do they get to play football? Or do they have to? For those who love the game, they enjoy playing even when losing. Plus, how does the Cowboys offense match up against Washington’s defense? It may be time to seriously run the ball.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With desperation setting in, how do the players now approach each game? From Nate’s experience, it’s about making it personal. Each player must find his motivation. And that goes for coaches too. But was there anything from the game the Cowboys can take into next week? Plus, is it time to see Trey Lance play? And maybe it’s time to let the great Zack Martin rest and get healthy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Friday, so time for some fun. Jesse shares a great interaction he had with DeMarvion Overshown and explains the art of “breaking down.” We also say farewell to our man Kaden, who’s headed off for bigger and better things, and we’ve got some Rico Dowdle talk and a key stat of the game. Plus, our predictions for both the Cowboys and the big boxing match.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Texans’ offensive line is a little soft in the middle, but can the Cowboys attack them there? Can Mike Zimmer get creative? Can they slow down Joe Mixon? Plus, Nico Collins is expected back. Could Dallas catch a break while he ramps up? And since two of the NFL’s top receivers will be facing off in Collins and CeeDee Lamb, let’s break down some of the best in the business at the position.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys offense better be ready because the Texans defense is coming. They play hard and they flat-out hustle. So how does Dallas help Cooper Rush attack downfield? He’s not as bad as he showed last week, but is he as good as he showed two years ago? Let’s hope so. And is it time to give Asim Richards more action on the line?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where have all the turnovers gone? Is it a different defensive scheme? Do they have the right players for that scheme? Or does it simply begin and end with getting pressure up front? Also, if there was one thing that we could change on the field what would it be? (Hint: health). Plus, fans are getting emotional, and they have a right to. After all, sometimes you pick the team; sometimes the team picks you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite what the final score says, the Cowboys were in that game against the Eagles in the first half. So what happened? Plus, is it time to sit the great Zack Martin and let him get healthy? And how about a few positives from the game? Micah Parsons, DeMarvion Overshwon … there has to be a few, right?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys have one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league in Cooper Rush, but he hasn’t played much the last couple of years. Does that give him an advantage against the Eagles defense? Plus, are there rivalries in the NFL anymore? There are for fans, but do today’s players feel the same way? Here’s betting they do when Philly comes to town!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do the Cowboys have the manpower to stop offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and the Eagles? Is there any alignment that could help? Micah Parsons could be back, but will he be at full strength? And just how does Dallas slow down maybe the best running back in the NFL, Saquon Barkley? It’s a big rivalry game on Sunday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Cooper Rush now behind center, will the Cowboys get more basic with their game plan? Or do they need to get more creative, given the circumstances? Plus, does Dallas desperately need a second tight end to step up? And how will the team handle CeeDee Lamb and his sore shoulder? Better to prepare for the worst, than hope for the best.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So why did they make the trade for Jonathan Mingo? This is a deal for the future, but can he help right now? Let’s hope so. Plus, while Cooper Rush is now the starter at quarterback, should they try to work Trey Lance into the offensive mix some too? And how much better would the offensive line be if Zack Martin was healthy and again playing at an All-Pro level? We’d vote for that!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This season is only getting worse. Poor play on the field is now compounded by injuries to key players. So how bad can it get? And what should they do with the trade deadline looming? Is it time to sell? Do they have anything to sell? Plus, what do they do with Ezekiel Elliott? If they want to start changing the attitude of this team, there’s only one thing they can do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is this Falcons game going to decide the Cowboys’ direction? Win against a good team and there’s hope? Lose big and things go downhill? Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy both hinted that players aren’t studying enough, aren’t communicating enough and are still having to work on the basics. Is that surprising in Week 9? Let’s step it up here on this Friday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will take what you give him, and if you give him a lot of time, he can take a lot. So can the Cowboys get any kind of pass rush on him? How do they stop tight end Kyle Pitts? And then there’s Atlanta’s ground game. Oh, boy. Plus, is there any reason for Micah Parsons to rush back? And why not a little candy corn debate on this Halloween?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will the Cowboys’ offensive line maybe catch a break this week? Atlanta’s defense could be diced up by a quick, cutback runner. The problem is, does Dallas have such a guy? And by not leaning on one running back, is that throwing off the whole offense? Speaking of, Dak Prescott isn’t running the ball anymore. How much is that hurting the team? Maybe more than we think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So are the team’s struggles an issue with the coaches? Or is it the players? Are the coaches making the necessary adjustments? Or are the players doing what they’re supposed to? And is all this related to why they’ve been so bad in the third quarter? Plus, with the trade deadline next week, should they be buying? Or maybe it’s time to sell?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lot to review after the Cowboys’ loss to the 49ers. Was the first half just a mirage? Why did they bother activating Dalvin Cook? Could they have done anything differently to stop George Kittle? How about stopping the run? And yes, what the reporter questioned in his post was probably wrong, but is that an excuse for Trevon Diggs’ actions? Nope. The frustration mounts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The word is the Cowboys have been practicing better this week. That’s great but, uh, what took so long? And can they now carry these great practices into the game? After all, the 49ers are pretty banged up and maybe worn out. Are they ripe for the picking? Plus, word is Dalvin Cook is ready, so who sits? Would they rather be right or win games? Showdown Sunday is coming!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a football player get picked for jury duty during the season? Is this yet another “distraction”? Plus, we’ve talked about how the Cowboys need to do something different on offense coming out of the bye week. Does the defense need to make adjustments as well? And Nate gets fired up about the pass rush (or lack thereof) while Jesse shares his theory about Dalvin Cook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lot of buzz about the tours that go on around the team’s practice facility. Ah, such is the life of the Cowboys. But is it really a problem for the players? Only if they let it be. As far as this coming Sunday, what is Dallas going to do on the offensive line? Will Tyler Guyton be back out there? And what should they expect from Fred Warner and the 49ers defense? One thing is for sure – the Cowboys can’t be predictable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For fans, the thought of playing the 49ers again brings a sense of dread, but how do the players feel? With so much roster turnover, do they care about what happened in the past? Are there mental hurdles to overcome? This might be the best time to face them, though. Are the Cowboys catching a break, given San Francisco’s injuries? Plus, who remembers the Jesse Holley game? We do!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So Mike McCarthy said he’s going to tweak practices some, committing to more team work. In what way will that help? Plus, Cowboys great Troy Aikman had an interesting opinion on the receivers. Was he right? (Hint: yes.) So what’s the problem? Is frustration setting in? And do tough losses affect today’s players like it did back in Nate’s day? (Hint: sure doesn’t seem so.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Gross is joined by Nick Harris, Jazz Monet and Josh Rodriguez in a podcast mix-up episode to give grades on the Cowboys skill positions so far and make their picks for the rest of the year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Gross is joined by Nick Harris, Jazz Monet and Josh Rodriguez in a podcast mix-up episode to discuss where the Cowboys are heading into the Bye week and if they can still find their identity at this point in the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nothing went right for Dallas as Dan Campbell and the Lions didn’t just want to beat the Cowboys, they wanted to embarrass them. So was there accountability? Were business decisions made? Could it get worse? This team is still 3-3 and just one game back in the division race, but something has to change during the break. Will it? Let’s get through this misery together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How big of an advantage is it the Lions are coming off their by week? And could it be a disadvantage the Cowboys are heading into their bye week? Regardless, Dallas has to figure out a way to stop Detroit’s running game and equal the force its offensive line will bring. Can Mike Zimmer become the new Freaky Mike? It’s Friday fun as we get ready for a big Sunday showdown!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys have built a little momentum with back-to-back wins, but are they ready to face one of the bullies on the block? The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the league, so how does the Dallas defense stop their potent running attack? Or for that matter Jared Goff? Is he one of the more underrated quarterbacks? Plus, Eric Kendricks popped up on the injury report. How important has he become to the defense? (Hint: Huge!)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lions are downplaying last year’s loss, saying its history. Should we believe them? Yeah, right. So what’s ahead for the Dallas offense? They’ll have to deal with one of the best pass-rushers in the game in Aiden Hutchinson, but what about the rest of the Detroit defense? Plus, is Jake Ferguson getting too tied up in blocking instead of running routes? And let’s throw in a little Dak, Lamb and Tolbert talk as well!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We saw some fight and fire on Sunday at Pittsburgh. Could it have been because of who wasn’t on the field? And is this the start of something good? Still, there have been red-zone problems this season. What can they do differently to get in the end zone? Is Zeke the answer? If not, why not? Or has Freaky Mike become Michael from Pittsburgh?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys had plenty of reasons to lose that game – injuries, weather, turnovers – but instead of folding up their tents and going home, they fought. And Dak Prescott did so especially. And Rico Dowdle and Jalen Tolbert. What led to the big win in Pittsburgh? Plus, in the case of Tyler Guyton, what will 1,000 reps tell us? Let’s talk about it all on Victory Monday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coach McCarthy said, “It’s about the players. It’s not about the plays.” Is that true? What if your players just aren’t as good as theirs? Don’t the coaches have an obligation to get creative with calls? Plus, there could be nasty weather in Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Who does that benefit more, the offense or defense? How will it affect special teams? And are team identities important? It’s a Wingstop Friday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great job of preparing for Cowboys-Steelers Sunday night. Comprehensive injury update, including what happened to Brandin Cooks, running game talk for both sides, what the Cowboys must do to neutralize T.J. Watt, the emergence of The Maz and some Cowboys-Steelers history, including the 2016 meeting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cowboys still have two Pro Bowl-level guards and a solid veteran at right tackle, so should the offensive line be struggling this much? Can they find some cohesiveness this week against one of the toughest defensive lines in the league? Or should they even worry about running the ball? (Hint: Yes!) Plus, now with Brandin Cooks out, who is going to step up in the receiving corps?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So is it time to make a change along the offensive line? Because he’s struggling, does Tyler Guyton need a chance to take a step back and develop his technique? Or do you hope the rest of the line improves, so they can give the young rookie more help? Also, why don’t the Cowboys use more motion in their offense? Is it all about teaching an old dog new tricks? It’s time to let the fans sound off.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know the old saying, “The best defense is a good offense.” That may mean more now than ever before. So what are Mike Zimmer’s troops going to do to get to the passer? Will teammates rally around and collectively pick up the slack? Can someone like DeMarvion Overshown step into a larger pass-rushing role? Or is it truly all going to all fall back on Dak Prescott to win games?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would changing the defense to a 3-4 scheme instead of a 4-3 help free up Micah Parsons? Maybe. There’s just one big problem. Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, why are Cowboys receivers struggling to create separation? Turns out, there’s one big problem there as well. Plus, can CeeDee Lamb really change, our predictions and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to believe that Dalvin Cook isn’t ready. He’s been here nearly a month. So why not see what he’s got? Then again, will he really make a difference? With the way the offensive line is struggles right now, does it matter who is carrying the ball? Plus, there’s been so much talk about guys doing their jobs, could we see an overcorrection on Thursday? Let’s hope not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, the loss was bad, but what’s really concerning is the sideline body language, the bad preparation in practice and the leaders continuing to talk about players not doing their jobs. So can it be fixed? Have the players tuned out the coaches? Or do they have the right guys on the roster? The season is still young, but can the Cowboys find the answers?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesse, Shannon, and Nate share their final thoughts before the Cowboys take on the Ravens this Sunday at AT&T Stadium and make their predictions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Been a lot of talk about guys not doing their jobs last week. So why couldn’t they recognize that during the game? Nate and Jesse provide some perspective. Plus, is it better to all-out rush Lamar Jackson or spread the umbrella and try to contain him? And who scares you more in the run game, the speed and shiftiness of Jackson or the size and strength of Derek Henry?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ravens defensive line is stout. There won’t be much pushing them around. So do the Cowboys not even worry about running the ball? Along those lines, center Cooper Beebe has been great in pass protection but has struggled some in run blocking? What does he need to do? Plus, someone has to step up and help CeeDee Lamb in the passing game? Who’s it going to be?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was there a problem with the Cowboys’ effort in that game against the Saints? Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer took the blame but said, “They beat us off the snap quite a few times.” Isn’t that effort? More importantly, can it be corrected? And, uh-oh, is Zack Martin starting to look mortal? Good thing we’ve got a six-time Pro Bowl lineman who has been through this himself and can give us some insight!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you break it down, that game was lost at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Sure, the Saints had a scheme and motion that kept the Cowboys guessing, but they were also just more physical, continuing an ongoing theme. From questionable play-calling to questionable effort, this was ugly. So can they now put this debacle behind them and forget about it? Or should they?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So should tight end Jake Ferguson play this weekend? Why rush him back this early in the season? Plus, Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was on Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s staff in Minnesota. Will that give one or the other an advantage when they face off on Sunday? And could defensive end Chase Young be an even bigger challenge for Tyler Guyton? It’s a freaky Friday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.