Hangin' With The 'Boys

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.

After one game, were there any big differences between Mike Zimmer’s defense and Dann Quinn’s? How about the way Micah Parsons is used? Is it okay to empower him to do what he does best? You better believe it. Plus, how worried should we be about this Saints offense? With the formations and schemes they run, they might just be better than we think. Don’t miss the breakdown from Nate and Jesse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, the Saints played a bad Carolina team in Week 1, but that doesn’t mean the Cowboys can take them lightly, right? Was winning on the road at Cleveland in Week 1 a big game for Dak Prescott? What happened in that second half? And will things get easier for the rookie linemen? Or tougher because now there’s film?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that Dak Prescott has his money, what should the return on investment be for this to be considered a successful deal? Does he have to win a Super Bowl? Reach the NFC Championship Game? And speaking of contracts, is Mike McCarthy changing his approach any now that he’s in his last year? Plus, how much will it affect the offense if Jake Ferguson misses time?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a way to open the season. There are plenty of accolades to go around after that impressive win in Cleveland. How did the offensive line look with the two rookies? How about Mike Zimmer’s defense, including the likes of DeMarvion Overshown, Eric Kendricks and Jourdan Lewis? And think Dak Prescott had a good day? It’s Victory Monday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for our yearly trek through the schedule to see what games we think the Cowboys are going to win or lose. Are we looking at another 12-win season? A division title? Are they Super Bowl contenders or still building toward something? Plus, a few calls and more. Let’s play some real football!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Micah Parsons may want to be a stealthy assassin moving around in the defensive scheme, but he’s going to be the first player offenses look for on the field. So how can the Cowboys keep him from wearing down? And how long is it going to take for the defense overall to gel in Mike Zimmer’s new scheme? Plus, can Deshaun Watson still be a game-changer?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon, Jesse, and Nate discuss the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes and preview Cowboys vs. Browns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So is this running back by committee thing going to work? Will it be hard for the backs to get in a rhythm? Some say yes, others say no. Plus, of the starting rookies, which one do you have the most concerns about – Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe or Caelen Carson? And the latest on the Cowboys negotiations with Dak Prescott. Is the team smart to want a shorter-term deal?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lot going to discuss on this hump day. Were there any surprises in the final cuts? Dalvin Cook is being added to the practice squad. Can he contribute? What should we be concerned about as we head into the season? The team’s health? A new defense? McCarthy in his final year? A tougher schedule? Plus, a rant from Nate about young linemen and, um … feet talk?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look who got signed right before we went on the air. Now under contract, will CeeDee Lamb be ready come Week 1? How long will it take for him and the offense to get in sync? And what’s our concern level with DaRon Bland’s injury? Can the Cowboys ride out his absence? Plus, early cuts, Deuce on the loose and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With one preseason game left, who are some of the players who really need to show out? And then what happens? How many might the Cowboys keep at wide receiver? Linebacker? Running back? Plus, what do all these additions on the defensive line mean? A lot of questions are about to be answered.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the case of CeeDee Lamb, it’s time to purchase now, please. His presence alone will not only help the other receivers and tight ends, but the running game will improve as well. But once he does sign, how long will it take for him to ramp up? Plus, is Trey Lance improving? And what does Tyler Guyton need to work on?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a few teams who tackle to the ground during training camp. As Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “You can’t box without sparring.” So if the Cowboys want to get more physical, should they be following that same philosophy? Plus, how much should Guyton and Beebe play against the Raiders? They need reps, after all. And Jesse had a chance to catch up with some coaches during his trip to training camp.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure we wanted to see what Trey Lance could do, which was both good and bad, but yesterday’s preseason game was about more than just the QB. There were standouts on defense, others who showed improvement, and a few who raised concerns. Time to break down the Cowboys’ first game action of 2024!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are joint practices with other teams a good thing? You bet, especially for the first-teamers who won’t see action in the preseason games. Speaking of, what should we look for this Sunday? Aside from Martin, this offensive line needs reps. Will they get any? Plus, why are so many linebackers in the building?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should we start worrying yet about CeeDee Lamb being on the field come Sept. 8? And what will the Cowboys do with Cooper Beebe if Brock Hoffmans wins the center job? Plus, will we really see a running back by committee, how tough is it to transition to linebacker, and a great breakdown from Jesse on what happens after the MIKE is identified.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do CeeDee Lamb’s teammates feel about him holding out? They’re not worried. Heck, they get more reps. Plus, Micah Parsons had good things to say about coordinator Mike Zimmer. Will we really see the star edge rusher used in different ways this year? And we got a chance to see the new kickoff rules in place on Thursday night. Could be some exciting (and scary) times ahead. Time to bring in the weekend!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Tyler Guyton look yesterday in the padded practice? Our resident expert Nate Newton said good but not great. Hear what he has to say about the rookie and some of his fellow offensive linemen. Plus, Jesse digs deeper into the Dak Prescott contract situation. Hey, he’s going to get paid, no doubt about that, so what’s taking so long?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.