1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: Joining us now here the gbag nation of one to 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: five three, the fan, the chief operating officer, executive vice president, 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys. He's Stephen 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: Jones here on the fans, Stephen first and foremost, Merry 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: Christmas to you and yours Christmas guys. You know, the 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: first question I had for you was, and I know 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: it's different being you know, for you and an executive, 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: but you've been doing this long enough with games that 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: are right on a day like Christmas or the day 10 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: before after a holiday, this with family and everything going on. 11 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: Does that make it more difficult because of those circumstances? Oh, 12 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I lost you, you broke up. Could you 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: say that one more time? Sure? Christmas? Does it make 14 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: it any more difficult because of the how close it 15 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: is to the holiday with all the things that we 16 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: always have going on with family and Christmas? I don't 17 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: think so. I mean, I think it's you know, it's 18 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: part of it's like Thanksgiving, it's just part of being 19 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: in the NFL. Part of it in sports, especially football. Uh, 20 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: you know you're gonna be playing football around the holidays, 21 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: and whether it's college, whether it's pro I think, uh, 22 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: you know, if you're in the business, it just comes 23 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: with the territory and you kind of work your holiday 24 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: time in in and around your your work schedule and 25 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: your practice times and your game times and and make 26 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: it happen. I actually think it makes the holidays all 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: the more enjoyable. And certainly I know people who aren't 28 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:39,279 Speaker 1: involved in teams still enjoy watching these games while they're 29 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: sitting around and enjoying their family and really you know, 30 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: having a great time in and around the holidays. They 31 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: enjoy these great football games. But I don't think it 32 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: makes it harder. Well, I can certainly agree with you there. 33 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: It certainly makes my Christmas and Thanksgiving much better. Look, 34 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: we've been talking a lot last few weeks because of 35 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: the offense, you know, and how it has looked. The 36 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: first ten weeks of the season. It just seemed to 37 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: be like a locomotive, and since then it certainly hasn't. 38 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: Now we get the opportunity to talk to you, talk 39 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: to Jerry each and every week, and at times, you know, 40 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: we've heard, well the running game has been mentioned and 41 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: how big of a key that is. And in other 42 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: times today like earlier, you know, Jerry mentioning, throwing and catching, 43 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: you know, being a big part of it. You know 44 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: how balance does play a role. But do you think 45 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: right now this offense is going through sort of an 46 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: identity crisis at all. I wouldn't call it an identity crisis. 47 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: I just think we have to you know, you have 48 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: to go out next one of the things, uh, you know, 49 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: Jerry's how we're talking about too. You know, this time 50 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: of year, you know, these defensive coordinators are smart, and 51 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: these coaches are smart, and they start to, you know, 52 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,239 Speaker 1: really get a lot of take on each and every 53 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: team's option. I mean, don't go any further than Tom 54 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: Brady and the Buccaneers. And you know a team we 55 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,679 Speaker 1: played in the Saints, and they obviously have a really 56 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: good defense, but you know they pitch a shout out 57 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: against the Buccaneers. So you know it's you certainly want 58 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: to be able to work through the different looks that 59 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: you're seeing and the way teams are defending you. But 60 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: at the same time, you've got to put in enougher ankles. 61 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: You've got to go out and execute. You've got to 62 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: go in and have the continuity, you know, to be 63 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: able to play good offense. And certainly we can be better. 64 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: One thing I happen to agree with you too. I 65 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: think a little bit this offense is suffering from comparison 66 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: of of just how efficient they were in the first 67 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: half of the season. But certainly, no excuses. We've just 68 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: got to go out and execute better. We've got to 69 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: have the continuity and in my mind, we've got to 70 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: you know, execute in all phases, the run game and 71 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: the past game. And you know, I think we're heading 72 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: in the right direction. I think we've gotten better the 73 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: last three weeks. I think we've got to build on that. 74 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: And uh, certainly what you want to be doing is 75 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: peeking at the right time. But you know, these these 76 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: defensive get harder and harder to move the ball against, 77 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: especially the more tape they get on you. You just 78 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: got to be able to throw in enough wrinkles and 79 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: as I said, execute to get to the level we 80 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: want to be to win a championship. Stephen A, congratulations 81 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: though on getting in on the tournament last night. You know, 82 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: the Tennessee Titans helping you get in. But I know 83 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: there's bigger, bigger things, bigger aspirations for you guys and 84 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: the team. But the news came down this morning about 85 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: about Jordan Lewis now going into the safety protocol area. 86 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: Kelvin Joseph, in my opinion, will probably get an opportunity 87 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 1: to play a little bit more for you guys, maybe 88 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: even kick Anthony Brown into some nickel stuff. Where have 89 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 1: you seen the pro how well the progress of Kelvin Joseph. 90 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: I know he's been playing special teams and stuff for you, 91 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: but have the coaches kind of give you an idea? 92 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: And I know you watch practice a ton. Where do 93 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: you think Kelvin Joseph is as far as being ready 94 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: to play in some of these games for you? Oh, 95 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: I think he's ready. He's chomping at the bit. Of course, 96 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: between he and Nashan both we've got high draft picks 97 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: in them and certainly think think a lot of them. 98 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 1: It's just been that between Gigs and AB and Jordan Lewis, 99 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: they've they've been playing at a high level and it's 100 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: been hard to you know, get the playtime. But certainly 101 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: when something like this happened, it gives uh, you know, 102 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: players like Kelvin Joseph and Nishan Right an opportunity. And 103 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: you know we also have Mo Kennedy on this roster, 104 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: which is great to have. He's played a lot of 105 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: nickel force, uh, you know during training camp and the 106 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: first part of the season before he had a concussion. So, uh, 107 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: you know, the good news is we do have uh, 108 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: you know, one of the strong points to this team 109 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: as we do have depth in that area, and the 110 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: certainly come in handy with Jordan let Us not being 111 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 1: able to suit up more than likely this week. Stephen 112 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: dan Quinn continues to amaze us with his ability to 113 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: the coaching, the teaching putting players into situations to have success. 114 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: That Usually when coaches say that, you kind of roll 115 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,239 Speaker 1: your eyes and you think, oh, it's just coach speak. 116 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 1: But this guy really really believes that. There's I kind 117 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: of feel like I was gonna ask you. I feel 118 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: like he's got even more bags of tricks for you 119 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: guys coming up in these games where you know, you 120 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: start the thing like, oh, he's covering all these guys 121 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: and he's blitzing these guys in this and that are 122 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: dan Quinn's not finished for here by any means, showing 123 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: us everything he's got in that arsenal. A right, No, 124 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: I think you're right. I mean you know, just as 125 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: I mentioned earlier when we were talking about our offense, 126 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: you know, these defenses are one the peak at the 127 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: same time, especially the good ones. And certainly Dan's no different. 128 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: I mean, he's got things that you know, he knows that. 129 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: You know, we've got bigger plans than just getting in 130 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 1: the tournament. We certainly not only want to get in, 131 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: we want to get in and have success. Hopefully we'll 132 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: have as high as seed as we can possibly get 133 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: here down the home stretch and certainly playing defense at 134 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: a high high levels of that. So no, I think 135 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: Dan will do a great job getting this team prepared 136 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: and even though we're maybe missing a man here uh 137 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: this week, I think we can step up and execute 138 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: and do what we need to do to play defense 139 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: at a high level. Yeah. Well, Steve, I mean he's 140 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: proven that missing guys that that doesn't bother him. Ian 141 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: He you know, you guys, the whole season have really 142 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: kind of gone without some of your best players, and 143 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: he continues to find combinations. That has to be something 144 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: as a personal guy like yourself to be very satisfying 145 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: that the players that you've brought in that he's been 146 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: able to find places for them to work and thrive 147 00:07:56,120 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: in those those situations, no question. And that's why to 148 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: get with a guy like Dan. I mean, this guy's 149 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: a super Bowl coach and play I play here to 150 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: play there and a little uh forts good fortune and 151 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: he's a you know, he's a super Bowl champion, so uh, 152 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: you know, he's got skins on the wall. He's a 153 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: uh you know, at the end of the day, he 154 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: understands what it takes, uh you know, to get a 155 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: team to the super Bowl, and you know, and and 156 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: part of that is being able to have guys ready 157 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: to play when you lose good players. And as you said, 158 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 1: he's done it all year. We've been missing a lot 159 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: of good players at different times and he's been able 160 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: to overcome that and with different combinations of guys as 161 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: you mentioned, and we've had success. And I think he'll 162 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,199 Speaker 1: continue to do that. I think we'll do it again 163 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: on Sunday. We'll certainly figure out how to put the 164 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: right combination of guys out there to uh hopefully make 165 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: some big plays against the Washington football team. Stephen Jones 166 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: joining us here on little five three the in and 167 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: we'll get you out of here on this one. Let 168 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: you enjoy your Christmas Eve. I know that you're obviously 169 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: looking for a win on Sunday night, But what specifically 170 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: are you looking for and hoping to see with your 171 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: football team coming up against Washington. I didn't just to 172 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: continue to get better. Obviously, the defense has played really 173 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: well the last three or four weeks since we started 174 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: getting our guys back. Hopefully they'll build on that. And 175 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 1: then the other thing, as you mentioned, is just take 176 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: the next step and getting this offense back to where 177 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: we all wanted to be in terms of the efficiency 178 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: it was having in the first half of the season. 179 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: And certainly you know we're probably gonna be missing Tyrant 180 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: Smith another week, but hopefully have him back against the Cardinals. 181 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: But get these guys playing with good continuity, get him, 182 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 1: execute him, then play good offense and build build each week. 183 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: But right now we've got to take care of the 184 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: Washington football team. If we do that will win our 185 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: division and then next steps after that. But right now, 186 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: all eyes are on the are on the football team. 187 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: If you will, we're looking at the exact same Stephen, 188 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: always a pleasure, Thanks so much for carving out today. 189 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 1: I know it's a it's a busy Day and a 190 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: special one. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Appreciate you guys. 191 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: Hopefully enjoy your family and Merry Christmas to you guys.